Pride of the Courtneys (12 page)

‘Charles,' I cried at the same time as he spoke. ‘How glad I am to see you, when did you get back?'

He must have caught my conversation for he asked.

‘Back, where from?'

‘London!'

‘But I haven't been to London.'

‘Evelyn said,' I faltered not wishing to distress him if his sister had deliberately lied to me.

‘Evelyn?' he said sharply. ‘What did she tell you, Louella?'

‘Charles, I do not wish to bring trouble between you and your sister. Please forget it. You are here and that is all that matters.'

‘No, Louella, I must know.'

I sighed.

‘Very well. I called to see you at your home this morning but Evelyn said you had been called to London on business and would not be back before the weddings.'

I saw Charles' gentle mouth set in a hard line and he looked more angry than I had seen him before.

‘It seems my dear sister is trying to keep the Courtneys and me apart. She told me that we had better stay away during all the marriage preparations. But come, Louella, what is it you wish to say to me?'

I glanced round the hall, fearful that we should be overheard by a member of the Courtney family.

‘We'll take a walk. It is a warm night, and what I have to say must not be overheard.'

I collected my wrap hurriedly and we left the great house and walked through the orchard in the moonlight to the river, where we sat down on the bank, to talk.

‘Charles, what I have to ask you is not at all easy, and I beg you to listen with patience and—and kindness.'

I felt rather than saw Charles smile gently in the darkness, and he took my hand in his and pressed it warmly.

‘Dear Louella, how could I do anything else?'

‘It is best to come straight to the point, I think. What are your feelings for Georgiana?'

I heard Charles' startled gasp in the darkness and his voice when he answered was unsteady.

‘I hardly expected to be asked that when Georgiana is betrothed to be married in less than a month. But since you ask, Louella, and it is
you
who ask, I will tell you truthfully. I love Georgiana with all my heart, but I know that I love in vain, for the Courtney family, however good they are to me, would never consider me as a suitor for their daughter. Besides, I am sure Georgiana could never love me in return.'

I smiled to myself, gaining pleasure from the knowledge that now I could bring the two people in the world I cared about most, together and to happiness.

‘But you are wrong, Charles. Georgiana loves you as much, I am sure, as you love her.'

Again he gave a startled gasp, and this time his voice trembled with emotion.

‘Louella, do not trifle with me. Are you serious?'

‘Charles,' I spoke with mock severity, ‘how could you think I would jest about the happiness of you both? You misjudge me.'

‘I am sorry, Louella, but what you say is hardly credible. But,' his voice fell with disappointment, ‘what are we to do, she is promised to Cedric Rothbone.'

‘That you must work out for yourselves. I cannot arrange for you to meet tonight for poor Georgiana is having to entertain Cedric. But I will tell her of our talk and you must meet tomorrow.'

‘Tomorrow,' he sighed softly. ‘It may never come.'

‘Of course it will, you love-lorn softie.' Then rising I added, ‘I must go back to the house or I shall have some uncomfortable questioning to answer.'

Charles and I made our way back to the house and in the driveway before the great doorway, he clasped my hands impulsively and kissed me on both cheeks.

‘Louella, you have made me the happiest man alive, till tomorrow, then.'

‘Till tomorrow,' I echoed laughing. How love changes a man, I thought.

Charles turned and left me and disappeared down the driveway into the darkness.

I turned towards the house, climbed the steps and stepped into the porch. As I reached for the door handle, I felt myself grasped roughly by the shoulders.

How I did not scream I do not know, perhaps it was too quick, but as I looked up into Bassett's face, the scream died on my lips.

‘So, Louella, you go for moonlight strolls with another man less than a month before your wedding? What is the meaning of it, may I ask, or am I to form my own conclusions from the sweet words I heard just now?'

I had never heard such bitterness in a man's voice, nor seen such emotional anger. I feared he would strike me.

I opened my mouth to defend myself, to tell him the truth and then, just in time, I realised I could not.

Bassett would undoubtedly be against Georgiana's marriage to Charles. How could I now betray her and Charles, whatever it cost me? I faced Bassett, my future husband, the man I disliked, and remained silent.

His fingers dug into my shoulders with brutal strength as if he wished to force me to speak. I bit my lip with the pain of his grip, but held my peace. He could beat me for all I cared, I would not give way.

Then suddenly he released me, flinging me from him so that I lost my balance and fell against the wall bruising my arm.

‘Go,' he hissed between his teeth. ‘Go before I do something I shall regret.'

And he turned and strode away into the darkness.

I watched him out of sight as I had watched Charles.

One man had left me in happiness and one in anger and humiliation. For I had humiliated the arrogant Bassett. Even if he did not love me, he was not the man to take kindly to his fiancée taking moonlight walks with another man. And I blushed with shame that the exchange of conversation he had heard would lead him to believe that Charles and were in love.

I went to bed that night an unhappy creature, for though I disliked Bassett, I did not like making him angry and more unhappy than he obviously already was.

The next day was full of excitement and joy for
Georgiana and Charles. When I had gone to her bedroom late that night and
told her of my conversation with Charles, it had been all I could do to
keep the dear girl from shouting out her happiness aloud and waking the
whole household.

The beauty and brightness returned to her eyes and I knew that Charles
Corby was the only man for her, and whatever her family said, he was the
one who would bring her happiness, never Cedric Rothbone.

She lay down a happy woman in love and when I returned to my room to lay
and watch the moonlit ceiling for the rest of the night, thinking of them,
I was sure I was not alone in my sleeplessness, for I knew Georgiana, and
probably Charles too, would be lying awake thinking of each other and the
happiness they would share.

I went with Georgiana the following morning to wait for Charles.

We did not know how or when he would come, but come we knew he would.

We had only an hour or so to wait in the summer house before we saw a
boat round the curve in the river and knew by the impatient strokes of the
oarsman that it was Charles. Georgiana jumped to her feet and would have
rushed to the water’s edge to meet him, but I held her back. ‘No, wait
here. You must not be seen from the house.’

Impatiently we waited whilst Charles drew nearer. He moored his boat and
bounded up the path to the summer house.

He hesitated on the threshold as he saw Georgiana.

There was a moment’s silence as the two met each other’s gaze, for the
first time unashamedly filled with love. Georgiana’s face broke into a
smile and Charles followed suit. With a delighted girlish laugh she ran
into his arms and was folded in his loving embrace as if she would never
leave it.

With tears in my eyes, I left them together to work out their future. Now
I was alone once more, for their world held no place for me. But their
happiness left me with a warm glow. I had been instrumental in bringing
them together and I must draw comfort from that. As I walked slowly back
to Courtney Hall, I felt suddenly very sad that I could never experience
such a love—never feel it for a man, nor enjoy the love of a man such as
was Charles’ love for Georgiana.

My marriage to Bassett Courtney would bind me for ever to a man I feared
and disliked.

I crossed the smooth lawn in front of the house and entered the shadow of
Courtney Hall, the building which shadowed my life. Would I never be free
of its clutches? It seemed not, now.

Bassett was in the hall with Millicent when I entered. His hard glare
reminded me of the previous night. And as I neared them, for I could do no
other as I passed by to the stairs, Millicent’s feline smile preceded some
scathing remark, I was sure.

I was not disappointed.

‘Miss Lloyd has returned once more from her amorous stroll, I see.’

My glance rested on Bassett. I was surprised that he had confided in
Millicent. But it seemed that he was as surprised as I was that she seemed
to be of the same opinion.

‘But what are those I see sparkling in those fine eyes?’ she continued,
sarcasm lining her every word. ‘Surely not tears from you, Miss Lloyd, or
has your lover spurned you, now that you are promised to Mr Courtney?’

‘You are misinformed. Miss Bassett. I have no lover, and it would seem
unlikely, now, that I shall ever be so blessed.’

And I hurried upstairs, for I could no longer bear their remarks and
slurs.

I was truly alone now with no one to turn to, for that night Georgiana
left Courtney Hall under the cloak of darkness to elope with Charles.

Georgiana did not want me to help at all in her flight, for she said I
would have enough disapproval to bear because I had helped them this far,
without being involved in the actual elopement. But I might as well have
been there to wish them ‘God Speed’ for I lay awake in my room listening
for every creak in the silent house, imagining Georgiana creeping silently
like a shadow down the wide stairs in her dark blue cloak, across the
moon-streaked hall, gliding through the huge door out to join Charles and
happiness.

Once I thought I heard the soft click of a door and wondered if it were
her, but I did not go to see. I might wake the household and spoil
everything.

It was not until the early hours of the morning, when I knew that the
young lovers would be well away from Courtney Hall, that I fell into a
dreamless sleep.

I arose next morning, prepared for the onslaught of abuse which was bound
to come my way. It was some time before Georgiana’s disappearance was
discovered. The family thought she had overslept. But as we were finishing
breakfast, we were interrupted by the hasty arrival of Miss Corby in great
distress.

She entered the dining-room and ran straight to Bassett. He stood up
immediately and steadied her as she flung herself into his arms, weeping
hysterically. She had given no one else in the room a glance at all.

‘Bassett, oh Bassett, you must help me, please. Charles has left home,
gone away,’ she raised tearful eyes to look at him. ‘I am sure he has
eloped—with—Louella.’

I remained where I was, but I could hardly keep the smile from my face.
There was the reason for her dislike of me, she had indeed thought her
brother and I were in love. She had obviously never considered Georgiana
as being the real object of his affection.

Bassett looked at me in puzzlement, above her head.

‘Miss Corby, Evelyn,’ he said, ‘please calm yourself and sit down. As you
can see, Louella is still here, she cannot have run away with Charles.’

Evelyn spun round and the shock and disbelief were apparent on her face.
She stared at me for a few seconds before sinking slowly into a chair.

‘Then—then—who is it? Who can it be?’ she whispered mystified.

‘Who can who be?’ asked Lady Courtney gently, as yet unaware that this
was to affect her so nearly.

‘Charles has most definitely gone away to be married, for he left me this
letter.’

And she held out a sheet of paper to Bassett.

Bassett read the letter with interest.

‘You are right, but he gives no indication as to whom he is to marry.
Have you no idea, Evelyn?’

‘No—no,’ she glanced at me, ‘not now.’

And she lowered her eyes, possibly ashamed for jumping to conclusions.

Then I found Bassett looking at me, his voice hardened from tones of
solicitude with which he had addressed Evelyn, when speaking to me.

‘Have you any idea, Louella, as to whom Charles’ wife is to be?’

I realised I could not lie. There was no point. The couple would be
safely away, and as it was obvious I was involved, it would be better to
get it over with immediately.

‘Yes, I have.’

The room buzzed with exclamations.

‘Then would you be good enough to tell us what you know?’ Bassett boomed.

I sat very erect in my chair as I made the startling statement.

‘Charles has eloped with Georgiana.’

‘What?’ Lady Courtney gave a little scream and promptly fainted.

Sir Hugh seemed stunned, hardly to have taken the news in. Bassett,
Millicent and Evelyn were all too astonished to move, so I sprang to
assist Lady Courtney.

‘Bassett,’ I commanded, ‘ please ring the bell for Mary.’

He did so in a daze. I knew that any moment their anger would burst forth
with me as the recipient, but Lady Courtney’s swoon was far more
important.

Bassett helped me then to carry his mother to the sofa and eventually she
recovered. But I was sure the swoon was genuine for she was really
distressed and looked pale and ill. I felt a moment’s pity for the woman,
for it must be a shock for any mother to hear such news.

‘Oh Bassett what are we to do?’ she held out her hand to her son, seeking
his reassurance and strength.

‘The shame of it, the shame of it upon the Courtneys. How could the girl
do it? How presumptuous of Dr Corby to foist his attentions upon an
impressionable young girl like Georgiana.’

And she fanned herself vigorously.