Spoiled (13 page)

‘Very well, Mr Granby,' he said, trying not to sigh. ‘I will act as an unofficial guardian to Miss Granby as you request.'

Mr Granby smiled with relief. ‘My wife will be so thankful,' he said.

 

Later that evening, Mr Granby went to his wife's room to tell her about the arrangement that he had made with the curate. ‘I must confess that I am very relieved,' he said.

‘So am I,' Mrs Granby admitted. ‘Don't stay away longer than you must, my dear. Most of the time she is a dear girl, but I do dread confrontations with her.'

‘I will be back so soon that you will hardly notice I have gone,' he said reassuringly, planting a kiss upon her brow.

‘Do you really think that Mr Buckleigh will be able to keep her in check?' she asked him anxiously, catching hold of his sleeve.

‘I fancy he'll know how to make her do as she's told if necessary,' he replied. ‘I detect a vein of steel in that young man.'

His interview with Evangeline the following morning was rather more stormy. He had toyed with the idea of simply not telling her of his decision, trusting to the fact that nothing of any significance would occur before his return. Then he reflected that such an action would hardly be fair to anyone in the case, especially Mr Buckleigh.

‘Papa! How could you?' Evangeline exclaimed. ‘I'm not a child!'

‘I'm well aware of that,' he responded.

‘Then why treat me like one?'

‘It is not treating you like a child to make those arrangements that will most ensure your comfort,' he answered. ‘If I were leaving Mama on her own, I would make the same request.'

‘Really?' she said doubtfully.

‘Well perhaps not exactly the same. Mama is not likely to become a target of fortune hunters.'

‘Papa, how many London seasons have I had?' Before he could answer, she went on, ‘Two! I have had two seasons, and I am to go to London later on this spring as well! Do you not think that I can detect a man who is after my money by now?'

‘Evangeline, my angel—'

‘Anyway, what makes you certain that Mr Buckleigh can be depended upon? He might not be as reliable as you suppose.'

‘That is a very serious allegation,' said Mr Granby, drawing his brows together. ‘I think that unless you have heard anything to his discredit you ought to withdraw it.'

It was the perfect moment for Evangeline to tell her father about how the curate had kissed her in Sheffield. She could alter the story so that it would not be so much to her discredit. Perhaps she could say that she had been lost and that he had led her astray. Even as the words were upon her lips, she found that she couldn't do it. She coloured. ‘I beg your pardon, Papa. I didn't mean anything to his detriment. I was only thinking that he would soon be very busy with his sister's arrival. You might have given him too much to do.'

‘Then it is up to you to make sure that his duties with regard to yourself are very light,' he responded, finding it easy to be firm with his angel when he was on the point of departure.

 

Determined not to shirk his duty, Michael set out for Granby Park the following morning. He could have thought of a thousand reasons for
putting off the visit. In the end, he concluded that the sooner he went, the longer he could leave it before he had to go again. He devoutly hoped that Mr Granby had told Evangeline of his intentions, otherwise, he could not think of the smallest reason why she should take any notice of him. Not for the first time, he told himself that he bitterly regretted the encounter in Sheffield. It had made everything so much more complicated. The trouble was, every time he came to that conclusion, he ended up smiling as he recalled the taste of her lips.

Evangeline received him in the drawing room and, from the martial light in her eye, he could see that she was acquainted with Mr Granby's plans. Even though it was eleven o'clock, there was no sign of Mrs Granby. ‘Well, here I am, as you see,' said Miss Granby. ‘What instructions do you have for me? Shall I fetch my slate so that you can give me some letters to copy? Or would you prefer to hear me say my catechism? '

‘Miss Granby,' he began.

‘I have already practised the pianoforte this morning, but I will confess that I have rather neglected my mathematics,' she went on sweetly.

‘Miss Granby,' he began again. He had come prepared to be conciliatory, but her aggressive attitude was damaging his intentions.

‘What do you think about my posture?' she asked him, drawing back her shoulders. ‘Would you like to see me sitting with the backboard on?'

Even while his temper was rising, he found himself noticing how her action had drawn his attention to her excellent figure. The powerful effect that this had upon him made him even more annoyed. ‘Enough!' he said sharply. ‘If you think that I wanted this charge any more than you, then you are very sadly mistaken.'

‘Then why did you accept it?' she demanded.

‘What else could I do? Your father has been everything that is kind to me since my arrival. How could I possibly refuse the one request that he has made? Believe me, Miss Granby, I cannot think of anything that I want to do less than keep an eye upon you and your affairs.'

‘Then why do you not simply go away?'

‘Because I cannot reconcile it with my conscience,' he answered.

She laughed. ‘What a very compliant organ that conscience of yours is,' she said, laughing derisively.

‘And what is that supposed to mean?'

‘It conveniently enables you to forget about your own misdemeanours, but suddenly makes you holier than thou about mine.'

‘I suppose that you are referring to that unfortunate incident in Sheffield,' he said, colouring.

‘What else?' she asked. ‘It was the one thing that would have prevented my father from asking you to keep an eye upon me, but, of course, you said nothing of it. Could it be because you know that what would be seen as simply a young girl's foolishness would be condemned as shockingly immoral behaviour in a clergyman? Oh fie, Mr Buckleigh!'

‘You cannot possibly regret that incident more than I do,' he replied.

‘No, I don't suppose I can,' she answered. ‘I should not like anyone to know about it. It would make me look such a fool, after all – the girl who allowed herself to be kissed by a lowly curate. But I would overcome all that embarrassment, if I felt that it was for the greater good.'

‘Miss Granby, are you threatening me?' he asked her.

She looked at him consideringly. ‘Do you know, I think perhaps I am,' she answered. ‘I haven't written to the bishop yet, but who knows, if you were to interfere in my concerns too much this week, I just might find it necessary. Did you want to speak to Mama, or have you discharged your errand for today?'

‘I see no reason to disturb Mrs Granby,' he replied, picking up his hat from the table where he had laid it. ‘It was, after all, to save her anxiety that your father placed upon my shoulders this most unwelcome responsibility. You might consider her feelings before you decide to go your length. Believe me, Miss Granby, you may threaten all you like but nothing will prevent me from doing what I see to be my duty. Good day to you.'

She stood at the window and watched him walk down the drive. For perhaps the hundredth time, she reflected upon how tiresome it had been of her father to put Michael in a position of authority over her. Just that morning she had dropped the copy of
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
and it had fallen open at a page which had stated that:

Her father might have the right to demand obedience, but Michael certainly did not! She was now even more determined not to submit to the curate's authority. The fact that he was exceedingly handsome when angry did not change her view; rather, it made her even more annoyed for having noticed the fact. She was surprised to discover, too, that his principled response excited her admiration and this annoyed her as well. Strangely enough, the piece of his behaviour that rankled most with her
was the way in which he had hung upon Miss Belton's lips at the dinner table the previous Sunday.

Her conscience might give a slight twinge at having spoken to him so insolently, but she firmly repressed it. After all, he deserved to be irritated after how he had behaved. It only remained to discover how best to do this.

Her opportunity came two days later when Lieutenant Fellowes arrived on horseback. ‘I thought you might like to go for a canter – show me the countryside, and so on,' he said, his eyes sparkling. ‘What do you say?'

‘I say give me a quarter of an hour to change into my riding habit,' she answered. Perfect, she said to herself as she ascended the stairs. She would go for a lovely, refreshing gallop with the handsome soldier and she would not take a groom. What's more, she would make sure that Michael found out! She did feel a twinge of guilt as she walked past the door to her mother's chamber, but she did not allow it to disturb her. Mama would be abed for some time longer. They might even have returned from their ride by the time she had come downstairs.

As Evangeline descended the steps of Granby Hall, she saw that Snowball had already been brought round. Lieutenant Fellowes dismounted from his own horse and stood ready to throw her into the saddle. Really, he was quite handsome in an ordinary sort of way, she decided, looking at him surreptitiously as she took hold of the reins. Perhaps she might even allow him to kiss her. That would serve Michael right.

M
ichael had not intended to return to Granby Park so soon. It happened, however, that he heard in the village that Mrs Granby's housekeeper had suffered a bereavement, so he decided that he had better call upon her. This would also give him an excuse for seeing Mrs and Miss Granby at the same time, without looking as though he was spying upon their concerns.

Naturally, he called upon Mrs Granby first, and found her in the drawing room looking anxious. Her brow cleared at the sight of him. ‘Oh, Mr Buckleigh, I am so pleased to see you,' she said. ‘I am a little concerned about Evangeline.'

‘Not already?' he exclaimed involuntarily. Then, conscious that he had leaped to an unwarrantable conclusion, he added hastily, ‘I beg your pardon. Is she unwell?'

‘No, she is well, at least as far as I know.' she said quickly. ‘It is just that she has gone riding with Lieutenant Fellowes and she has not taken a groom.'

Michael could feel the anger rising up inside him. Her father had only been gone a matter of days and already she was worrying her mother by her wilful behaviour. Not only that, but she had ridden off with the very man from whom Mr Granby had wanted her protected. Involuntarily, he clenched his fists. Then, conscious of his hostess's anxious expression, he forced his expression to relax into a smile.

‘Come, ma'am, she will not come to any harm, I'm sure. She is an excellent horsewoman, is she not?'

‘Why yes, but—'

‘And Lieutenant Fellowes is a cavalry officer; so no problems there.
What's more, she is of good family and well connected. He will not risk harming her, even if he has any such intention, which I very much doubt. It's just a case of high spirits, you may be sure. Remember that they are in the country, not in Hyde Park.' He smiled as reassuringly as he was able, and was rewarded when Mrs Granby smiled back at him.

‘Of course you are right, Mr Buckleigh,' she said in relieved tones. ‘I am making something out of nothing. You must blame my nerves, which have never been of the best. Would you care for a cup of coffee? And please stay for nuncheon.'

Michael had plenty to do, but he had no intention of leaving Mrs Granby until Evangeline had returned. He accepted her invitation, but pleaded the need to speak to the housekeeper about her recent loss.

‘Oh yes, poor Mrs Gibbons. I know that her aunt's death was expected, but, even so, it was distressing to her.' Mrs Granby herself conducted Michael to the housekeeper's room, where she left him to offer what comfort he could.

When he returned to the drawing room nearly an hour later, he hoped he would find that Evangeline had returned. His hopes were to be disappointed and Mrs Granby was once more looking anxious. He sat down with her and proceeded to ask her about her family in Sheffield, gently drawing her out, so that she was soon talking freely, her worries forgotten.

The two riders had not yet returned when nuncheon was served and, for a few moments, Michael saw the anxious look return to Mrs Granby's face. In the nick of time, he had the happy notion of asking her about a portrait which hung over the fireplace. He seemed to detect a likeness between the lady in the portrait and Mrs Granby herself. Were they related, perhaps? This turned out to be a most fortunate choice of subject, for the portrait was of a distant relative of Mr Granby. There was a link between his family and that of his wife somewhere in the past, and they had been trying to discover where and when that link had occurred.

They had only just finished eating when noises in the hall alerted them to the fact that Evangeline had returned. Immediately, Mrs Granby's expression lightened. ‘You said that everything would be all right,' she said to Michael. ‘I wonder whether they would like anything to eat.' She turned to the footman. ‘Christopher, will you be so good as to find out whether Miss Evangeline and Lieutenant Fellowes wish to join us?'

The footman bowed and withdrew.

‘I am glad that your fears have proved to be groundless,' smiled Michael, wondering how he could contrive to speak to Evangeline on her own without distressing her mother. If he allowed this blatant piece of bad behaviour to go by unremarked, he might as well abandon any pretence at doing as Mr Granby had asked him.

The footman soon returned. ‘Miss Evangeline has gone straight upstairs to change out of her habit, ma'am,' he said. ‘The young gentleman who brought her home sends his regrets that he cannot stay.'

‘Has he left?' Michael asked abruptly.

‘He is doing so, sir.'

Michael turned to Mrs Granby. ‘Excuse me,' he said. ‘I must speak to the lieutenant.' He left the room as quickly as he decently could and was fortunate to find that Fellowes, having removed some burrs from his horse's mane, was only just climbing into the saddle. ‘One moment, Lieutenant,' Michael called out from the top step.

‘Yes?' answered the officer, raising his brows at Michael as if the curate were a stable boy who had exercised too much temerity in addressing him unbidden.

‘You surely do not intend to ride off without speaking to your hostess,' said Michael, as he descended the steps.

‘I am expected elsewhere,' Fellowes answered haughtily. ‘I sent my regrets, as courtesy requires.'

‘Unhappily, you were also expected
here
earlier and Mrs Granby has been anxious,' the curate told him. ‘An apology from your own lips would be appreciated, I'm sure.'

The lieutenant knew this. Under any other circumstances he would have been out of the saddle, ready to soothe Mrs Granby with glib words, but Michael's criticisms had nettled him. Not for anything would he enter the house now, as if he were meekly obeying the clergyman's instructions.

‘You may tender them for me,' he said insolently. ‘I'm sure that you are better at grovelling than I am.'

Quick as a flash, Michael caught hold of the horse's bridle. He said nothing: his warning look was sufficient.

‘Out of my way,' the lieutenant bit out, before setting his horse on its hind legs then galloping away.

Michael went back inside to where Mrs Granby was waiting. ‘You will stay and see Evangeline before you go?' she said to him. Her tone seemed to him to be pleading.

‘If you wish it,' he answered calmly. The last thing that he wanted
was another battle with Evangeline, but something needed to be said and he doubted whether Mrs Granby would say it.

A short time later, Evangeline came downstairs. She was dressed becomingly in a gown of her favourite shade of blue. ‘Did you have a pleasant ride, dearest?' Mrs Granby asked her tentatively.

‘Oh, delightful,' Evangeline answered. ‘We rode towards Matlock and saw some very fine scenery.'

‘Such a pity Lieutenant Fellowes could not stay for some refreshments, ' said her mother.

‘He had another engagement,' Evangeline replied. ‘Anyway, we had already refreshed ourselves.' She looked at Michael with narrowed gaze. ‘Good of Mr Buckleigh to bear you company,' she added.

‘He has been so kind,' beamed Mrs Granby. ‘He has been with me all morning.'

‘How fortunate he is not to have had anything else more pressing to do,' Evangeline replied.

‘Evangeline, dearest,' murmured Mrs Granby.

‘I have also been visiting Mrs Gibbons, who has lost her aunt,' said Michael in an even tone. Evangeline had the grace to blush. An awkward silence fell.

Eventually Mrs Granby said, ‘If you will excuse me, I think I will go and lie down.' She turned to Michael, holding out her hand. ‘Thank you, Mr Buckleigh. You have been so kind.'

‘Not at all, ma'am,' Michael replied warmly. ‘I was glad to be of service.'

‘I'm sure you were,' said Evangeline, after her mother had gone upstairs. ‘I wonder whether my father ought to know about the way that you are lavishing your attention upon my mother.'

Michael bit back the angry words that he knew would start a confrontation immediately. ‘She needed some attention this morning,' he replied. ‘She was very anxious, and I fear that that must be laid at your door.'

Evangeline coloured. ‘You are impertinent.'

‘Impertinent – or rather uncomfortably truthful?' he asked her. ‘Did it not occur to you how worried your mother would be when you rode off unchaperoned to God knows where with a man you hardly know? Or perhaps your chief concern in this matter was how best to annoy me.'

‘Upon my soul, you take too much upon yourself,' replied Evangeline, uncomfortably aware that that had indeed been her chief motive. ‘What makes you suppose that I should have the slightest
interest in what you think? You, a threadbare curate!' She ran her eyes contemptuously up and down his figure.

‘I do not suppose it,' he answered. ‘The reason why you wanted to annoy me was because you cannot bear to be checked in any way. You have been spoiled all your life. Your father indulges you, your mother is afraid of you, and the consequence of that is that you think that you can do anything you like.'

Evangeline took a deep breath. ‘Mr Buckleigh, you presume too much. Since when did my father give you permission to admonish me?'

‘Let me see. He asked me to be your unofficial guardian, to keep an eye upon you, guard you, watch over you. He also reminded me of the authority of my position. I think he made his wishes perfectly clear.' Recalling one of Mr Granby's requests in particular, Michael went on, ‘You mentioned that you had had some refreshment. May I ask where?'

‘We stopped at an inn.'

‘You took refreshment with him in a public inn?'

Evangeline shrugged carelessly. ‘You know how it is.'

He crossed the room and caught hold of her by the shoulders. ‘Tell me you have not permitted him to take any liberties,' he said fiercely.

She tossed her head. ‘If I had, you should be the last person to criticize, ' she said. In fact, they had taken their refreshment outside the inn, seated on a bench in the open. As for permitting liberties, that had been her intention, but when it had come to the point, she had not wanted to do so. Nevertheless, she would certainly not let the curate know that.

‘I must insist that you tell me. Did you allow him to kiss you?'

She did not answer, but simply stared at him defiantly. For a moment the outcome hung in the balance. He wanted to kiss her more than he could remember wanting anything in his life before, but the temporary responsibility conferred upon him made such an action utterly inappropriate. He released her almost violently and turned away.

Evangeline had been holding her breath, half in anticipation. She was surprised at how disappointed she felt. To make up for that disappointment, she said the most hurtful thing that she could think of. ‘You are forgetting the last conversation that we had in this room. Remember that I could destroy your reputation with one letter to the bishop.'

‘I am aware of that, but I will not be blackmailed and I will not be brow-beaten. You may threaten all you like, Miss Granby, but you will not prevent me from criticizing your conduct when it is at fault.' He took a couple of steps closer to her, and lowered his voice. ‘What is
more, if I hear of any more childish behaviour from you, I shall do what your father should have done years ago.'

‘And what is that?' she asked him suspiciously.

‘Why, I shall simply put you across my knee and give you a good hiding. Good day to you. Make sure you apologize to your mother.'

Evangeline was so angry after he had gone that for a time she was quite unable to speak. The smashing of a small figurine which stood on the mantelpiece gave some relief to her feelings, but did not satisfy the urgent need that she felt to have her revenge upon Michael Buckleigh. How dared he criticize her conduct? She had only gone out riding for heaven's sake. It was enough to make her wish that she
had
allowed Fellowes to kiss her.

While her anger was still hot, she went upstairs to her room, sat down at her writing desk and, after mending her pen, she took a fresh sheet of paper and wrote a letter to the bishop, giving a colourful version of the curate's scandalous behaviour in Sheffield and describing his impertinence since then. This exercise soothed her feelings enormously and, after the letter was finished, she sat at her table in the window, her chin cradled on her hands as she thought about the excursion that she had just enjoyed with Lieutenant Fellowes.

The ride itself had been delightful. She was an experienced horsewoman, who enjoyed the challenge of tackling different kinds of terrain. Lieutenant Fellowes had been an ideal companion, keeping the kind of pace that she enjoyed and not noticeably making any allowances because she was a woman.

When they paused to admire the scenery, or got down to give the horses a rest, however, she found him less than congenial. If he was not paying her compliments that were a little too broad for her taste, he was boasting about his exploits as a serving soldier, or in the hunting field. Frankly, she had found his conversation rather dull.