The Belle Dames Club (19 page)

In the Marquis of Ullenwood’s elegant travelling carriage, Lady Wyckenham sat on the very edge of her seat, her hands
clasping
and unclasping nervously in her lap. Lord Ullenwood lounged in one corner, watching her with a faint smile curling his thin lips.

‘Madam, you should take your ease. We have a long journey, pray, rest yourself.’

She hesitated, then sat back, leaning against the fat, padded squabs. Unwilling to meet the marquis’s amused glance she looked around her at the luxurious interior. The carriage smelled of new leather: a carriage pistol rested in a tooled leather holster next to the door. Thank heavens the Belles Dames Club had false information about her flight: Ullenwood was reputed to be deadly with a pistol.

‘What are you thinking, madam?’

‘That you have a well-appointed carriage, my lord. Do we travel far today?’

‘We will breakfast at Maidenhead and put up at Marlborough overnight. Tomorrow I shall take you to your new home at Clevedon Bassett.’ His paused. ‘You are still nervous, my lady.’

‘Of course I am nervous. I have come away with you with nothing more than a small portmanteau, as you instructed. I have only the clothes I stand up in.’

He smiled.

‘I think you will find I have provided everything you require, including several gowns. A seamstress will be waiting at Clevedon Bassett to fit them for you.’

‘I need more than elegant robes, sir.’

‘Do you think I have no experience, my dear? There is a trunk strapped to the back that contains the very finest chemises, petticoats and furbelows, as well as a very fetching nightgown which I am sure will – ah – enhance your natural charms. I chose it myself.’

She flushed at the thought and they drove on in silence. As they approached Hounslow Heath my lady said, ‘When will you give me my letters?’

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bundle of papers tied with a scarlet ribbon.

‘Whenever you wish.’

He held out the bundle and she took it, quickly counting the neatly folded packets.

‘You need not worry, they are all there. I play fair, my love.’

She put up her chin, blinking to clear the tears that
threatened
to spill over.

‘So do I, my lord.’ She took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself. ‘We are nearing the nine-mile stone on the heath: pray ask your man to stop there for a moment.’

The marquis looked mildly surprised, but he pulled the check-string and the carriage came smoothly to a halt. Lady Wyckenham stepped down and looked about her. Despite the sunshine the heath looked bare and desolate, and she could not repress a shiver. She walked toward the shallow, stagnant pool beside the road, opened the first letter and dropped it into the dark water, which quickly distorted the black writing until it was nothing more than grey smudges on the paper. The other letters followed suit and, as the last one touched the surface, my lady stooped to pick up a stone and place it on the paper. With no more than a few bubbles the stone and the papers disappeared into the black pool. She straightened up to find the marquis standing beside her.

‘Well, Helen?’ Gently he turned her towards him, putting a finger under her chin and forcing her to look up at him. ‘I have no hold over you now: will you take the first opportunity
to leave me?’

She forced herself to look at him, her little chin tilting up proudly as she said, ‘No, Elliott. I have told you: I play square.’

‘But I do not.’

‘What the devil—’ The marquis jumped back and Helen turned, open-mouthed to see Sir Robert Ingleton standing on the far side of the road, a serviceable pistol in his hand. A second armed man, mounted on a black horse, was keeping watch on Lord Ullenwood’s servants, who remained motionless on the carriage.

‘The fools were too busy gawping at you to keep watch on the heath,’ grinned Sir Robert. ‘You should turn ’em off.’

‘I should indeed,’ replied Lord Ullenwood evenly. His cold glance flickered to Lady Wyckenham. ‘Is this your idea of
playing
square, my dear?’

‘No, no,’ she said, quite dazed. ‘I knew nothing of this.’ She blinked and stared at Sir Robert and his companion, who were both wearing caped greatcoats and dark tricorne hats. ‘You look like highwaymen.’

‘I think that is the idea, my dear,’ drawled Ullenwood. ‘They have come to steal you from me.’

‘The lady is not your property,’ retorted Sir Robert. ‘She is here under duress.’

‘You think so?’ The marquis curled his lip. ‘Perhaps we should ask the lady.’

Sir Robert grinned.

‘Oh no,’ he said. ‘I shall not give you the chance to appeal to her sense of honour, Ullenwood.’ He whistled, and his
long-tailed
bay came trotting up. ‘Come, Helen. You will ride before me.’

My lady hesitated, and Lord Ullenwood spoke quietly.

‘Go, my dear – if your conscience will allow.’

‘Conscience be damned,’ said Sir Robert cheerfully. ‘If you don’t come with me, Nell, I’ll put a bullet through his black heart.’ He dropped the pistol into the pocket of his greatcoat
and held out his hand. ‘Come, madam.’ He threw Lady Wyckenham up on to the saddlebow and climbed up behind her. She felt Sir Robert’s arms tighten around her as he gathered up the reins. ‘I am sorry if this is not very comfortable for you, Nell.’ His voice was warm and comforting in her ear and she leaned back against him, revelling in the feeling of security that had suddenly enveloped her. He lifted his head. ‘Are you ready, Alresford, shall we go?’

She stifled a gasp as she recognized Sir Robert’s
accomplice
, but she was still too overwhelmed by events to speak. They moved off, gradually picking up speed, and Lady Wyckenham clutched at her travelling cloak, which had begun to billow out around her. She risked a glance up at her rescuer. Sir Robert was intent on keeping up with the earl’s black hunter, but despite the look of concentration, there was an upward curve to his lips, and when he glanced down at her she saw the familiar devil-may-care gleam in his blue eyes.

‘Don’t worry, sweetheart, you are safe now.’

She leaned against him, smiling. It was quite nonsensical, she knew, but now at last she really did feel safe.

As the two horses galloped away, Lord Ullenwood’s coachman scrabbled for the shotgun.

‘Leave it,’ the marquis barked out. ‘You should have been ready with that when they were approaching.’

‘My lord, they are still within range. I could—’

‘No.’ The marquis watched the riders gallop away. ‘No, let them go. It is over.’

‘We must find a chaise or something to carry you home. We were in such a hurry to set out that I had not time to arrange it.’

Lady Wyckenham sighed happily and leaned her head on Sir Robert’s shoulder. Once they were sure they were not being pursued they had slowed to a walk.

‘I am very comfortable here,’ she murmured.

‘Aye, sweeting, but have some compassion for the poor horse, having to carry the two of us.’

‘Mayhap we should have taken Ullenwood’s carriage,’ suggested the earl.

Lady Wyckenham raised her head and looked in surprise at Lord Alresford.

‘My lord, I had always thought you the very model of respectability.’  

Something almost like a grin softened the earl’s severe features. ‘So I was, ma’am, until I came off my horse in a wood near Tottenham: I think it gave me a brain fever. But Ingleton is right, my lady: we need a carriage to take you home.’  

‘And I suppose I must take you back to Charlotte Street. My lodgings are not suitable for a lady.’  

She gave a little cry.  

‘Oh goodness! I left a note!’  

He rolled his eyes.  

‘What woman does not? Be still, sweetheart. We may yet get you back before any of the family have left their rooms.’

Realizing there was nothing else to be done, Lady Wyckenham turned her thoughts to the events of the past few hours.

‘But Robert, how did you know what was happening, who told you?’

‘Alresford saw you getting into the carriage.’

‘At five o’clock in the morning?’ She looked at the earl. Returning from some gaming hell, she supposed. ‘But what made you go to Sir Robert?’

A pair of strong arms tightened around her.

‘Everyone knows we are desperately in love, Nell.’

‘They – they do?’

Sir Robert was smiling down at her in a way that put all rational thought to flight.

‘Yes, they do! Now be quiet and keep your eyes open for anyone who might have a vehicle we can use.’

An inn was soon reached and the landlord produced a very shabby gig that he agreed they could have at what Lady Wyckenham considered an extortionate fee. Once the
transaction
was completed, Sir Robert tied his horse to the back of the gig and climbed up beside her. Lady Wyckenham turned to the earl.

‘Will you ride with us, my lord?’ She hoped her warm smile would draw some response, but he merely bowed.

‘If you will excuse me, I will leave you here. You have no further need of my services.’

‘I hope not,’ agreed Sir Robert, gathering up the reins. ‘Goodbye, Alresford – and thank you.’

With a final salute the earl trotted off and was soon out of sight.

‘Well, I cannot understand that man,’ declared my lady. ‘Always so correct and yet he was willing to come with you on this escapade. If only he would smile more – one cannot but think he is carrying some great unhappiness.’

‘Very likely,’ agreed Sir Robert, driving out of the inn yard. ‘He is certainly not about to marry the love of his life, as I am.’

‘Oh!’ My lady blushed. ‘Robert, pray do not say such a thing.’

‘Do you think I have gone to all this trouble to have you refuse me?’

‘Oh no, of course not, but—’

‘But what?’

She began to pleat the edge of her cloak between her fingers.

‘You have not asked me,’ she said quietly.

‘Is that all? Well, madam, will you marry me?’

She did not look up, but a dimple appeared in her cheek.

‘Yes, Robert, I think I will.’

‘Good. Then it is all settled.’

My lady gave an indignant little cry.

‘No, it is not all settled! There is much to be considered, like – like Clarissa, and William.’

‘Clarissa I agree we must consider. She will have a home with us, if she so wishes, but please do not ask me to think about William. I find him a prosy bore, do not you?’

‘Oh stop it!’ she cried, torn between indignation and
laughter
. ‘You know what I mean – this is all so sudden.’

‘No it is not. I have loved you for years, Nell, and if I hadn’t been sailing on the other side of the world when Wyckenham died I would have made sure you didn’t get involved with a man like Ullenwood.’

‘Oh.’

‘That was foolish beyond belief,’ he said severely.

She hung her head.

‘I know it, and I have always regretted it.’

‘And all this business with the Belles Dames Club. I can see that it was very diverting for you, but highly irregular.’  

‘But no one was supposed to know about that.’  

‘Impossible to stop the servants from gossiping. Before you know it, tales are being spread all over town.’  

‘You are right, of course. News of it even reached William in Bath, which is why he came to town to put a stop to it.’  

‘Well, for once I have to agree with him. I have no objection to you trying your skill at dice and cards, and for your visits
to Vauxhall and Ranelagh I have no doubt that you were masked but … wrestling matches in your drawing-room, Nell?’

‘We only did that once, Robert, and – and it was very
entertaining
.’

His lips twitched.

‘I can imagine. Who thought of that little diversion?’

‘Well, Dorothea….’

‘Lady Gaunt; I should have known! The sooner Gaunt comes back to take her in hand the better. I suppose the idea of
holding
up Ullenwood’s coach was hers, too.’

‘You knew about that? Well, at least I was not prepared to allow them to go ahead with that hare-brained scheme. And how can you criticize,’ she said, turning to him, ‘when you have just done the very same thing yourself?’

‘Not at all the same thing,’ he said firmly. ‘When we are married, I think I shall carry you off to Newfield Hall out of harm’s way. You need not be bored; there will be plenty to do. I will set up a studio for your painting and if you grow tired of drawing plants and landscapes and have a desire to try a life study you will have to make do with me for a model.’

The thought of Robert lying naked on a couch made Helen’s insides liquefy. She peeped up and found that he was looking at her, his blue eyes twinkling wickedly.

‘As a matter of fact, I quite like that idea,’ he added.

My lady resolutely turned to stare at the road ahead.

‘Be quiet and drive,’ she said severely. ‘You had best let me recover my composure, Robert, for I really would like to arrive at Charlotte Street with some degree of decorum.’

Clarissa was in the morning-room with her brother when Lady Wyckenham and Sir Robert were shown in. Clarissa jumped up.

‘Mama-Nell – I thought – your letter!’

‘Yes,’ Lord Wyckenham waved a sheet of paper. ‘My dear madam, what is all this nonsense?’

‘Just that, nonsense,’ said Lady Wyckenham, untying her bonnet and casting it aside. ‘You will burn that note, if you please, William.’

Sir Robert came forward.

‘Perhaps my lady should explain.’

‘What have you to do with all this?’ demanded William. ‘This says Lord Ullenwood—’

‘You have already been told to ignore that letter,’ Sir Robert cheerfully interrupted him. ‘I have come to inform you that Lady Wyckenham and I are to be married, as soon as possible.’

‘Married!’ exclaimed William.

‘Oh I knew it!’ Clarissa ran to her. ‘Oh, Mama-Nell, I am so happy for you. But I thought—’

My lady gave her a warning glance.

‘I will explain everything later, my love,’ she murmured, squeezing her hands. She looked up. ‘I was foolish enough to get embroiled with Lord Ullenwood, resulting in my going off with him this morning. William, you will not ask for more details, if you please. It is all over now and far too sordid for you to hear. Thankfully Sir Robert came to my rescue.’

‘Embroiled – married? What … I do not understand,’ Lord Wyckenham spluttered and frowned.

Sir Robert smiled at him.

‘All very simple, Wyckenham. I am off to arrange a special licence, so that we can be married as soon as maybe. Now, why don’t we step into the library to discuss settlements? I am sure you will want to know something of my circumstances.’

‘But I don’t want you discussing my affairs with William!’ objected Lady Wyckenham.’

Sir Robert took her hand and kissed it.

‘No, I am sure you would rather deal with all that yourself my love, but you must see that as head of the family, Wyckenham will want some say in the matter. You stay here with Clarissa. I am sure you will have much to talk about.’ With a reassuring smile he turned and ushered Lord Wyckenham out of the room.

When the gentlemen had gone, Clarissa and her stepmother looked at each other in silence for several minutes.

‘You told us the wrong day, Mama-Nell,’ said Clarissa reproachfully, sinking down on to a sofa.

‘I am sorry.’ Lady Wyckenham came to sit beside her. ‘I could not have you all risking yourselves for my sake. I went to Ullenwood and made him change his plans.’

Clarissa nodded.

‘And you told Sir Robert. I cannot be sorry, he clearly dotes on you.’

‘Yes; but I did not go to him: I had made up my mind to go with the marquis. It seemed the only way to protect you and William. I remembered what Dorothea had said about the pool so I made Ullenwood stop and I destroyed the letters. It was there that Sir Robert and Lord Alresford appeared.’

Clarissa stared.

‘Alresford! What was he doing there?’

‘He told Sir Robert I was being abducted. I do not know how he came by such an idea, but I am very glad he did, and that he called on Sir Robert to help him.’

Clarissa hugged her, blinking rapidly.

‘It does not matter how he knew. All that matters is that you are safe.’

‘Thank you. And’ – Lady Wyckenham looked closely at Clarissa – ‘you do not object to my marrying Sir Robert?’

‘Object? Of course not, I think it is just what you need, Mama-Nell. The two of you have been making sheep’s eyes at each other ever since he came back to town.’

‘Clarissa, how can you be so vulgar! We have done nothing of the kind.’

Clarissa laughed at her stepmother’s outraged countenance.

‘Admit it, you are very much in love with him.’

‘Well, yes, I am, but I hope we know better than to wear our hearts on our sleeves.’

Clarissa’s eyes twinkled but she did not reply, and Mama-Nell continued, ‘Robert says that you are to make your home with us, Clarissa, if you would like that. I cannot see that you would want to live in Devon with William.’

Clarissa threw up her hands in horror.

‘Oh heaven forbid! We should be ready to murder one another within the first week. I could go back to live with Anne for a while, of course, but,’ she paused, wondering if it was too early to disclose her plans, ‘I am thinking of going abroad, Mama-Nell. You and Sir Robert will want to have some time to yourselves. Augusta Maramond and Lady Alicia are planning a trip to Rome this winter: I thought I might go with them.’ She saw the surprise in Mama-Nell’s face and hurried on, ‘I have always wanted to see Rome, and Augusta says they will be engaging a courier, and will have an escort, so it will be perfectly safe.’

‘Yes, my love, I am sure but – Augusta and Alicia are so much older than you. Surely you would prefer to go with someone more your own age?’

‘Rome will look the same, whatever the company.’

Lady Wyckenham touched her cheek.

‘That is not quite true, my love,’ she said, smiling. ‘I think
you should be with young people.’ She hesitated, then blurted out, ‘You are too beautiful to remain single!’

Clarissa froze. Something of her despair must have shown in her face for Mama-Nell was looking at her with concern and she quickly veiled her thoughts.

‘Well, plenty of time to think of that,’ she said with forced brightness. ‘For now I am too excited about your wedding to think any further ahead.’

She encouraged Lady Wyckenham to talk about Sir Robert and her plans for the future, and the subject kept them
occupied
until the gentlemen returned. Sir Robert took his leave, promising to join them for dinner and when William went off to his study Clarissa persuaded Mama-Nell to lie down for a few hours. Only then was she free to pursue her own thoughts. The knowledge that Lord Alresford had been involved in the
morning
’s events gave her some comfort: she had been regretting taking him into her confidence, but she had no doubt it was the reason he had sought out Sir Robert. The little clock outside her room chimed the hour. Twelve o’clock. She wondered if Sir Howard had left town or if he intended to meet the earl. The thought made her grow cold with fear. Mr Norwell had said his friend was a crack shot, but things could go wrong. Her
apprehension
grew as the day wore on. She scribbled a hurried note to Norwell House, but although Julia replied by return she could give her no comfort: Barnabus had told her nothing of the matter.

By dinnertime Clarissa was in such a state of anxiety that she could barely eat. A few seemingly careless questions to Sir Robert elicited no information other than he had not seen the earl since that morning. Unfortunately this gave Lord Wyckenham the opportunity to lecture them on the dangers of travel. The servants had withdrawn and Sir Robert was the only guest at dinner, so Lord Wyckenham did not scruple to comment upon Sir Robert’s nomadic existence.

‘You may rest easy,’ Sir Robert said, with a reassuring glance at Lady Wyckenham. ‘I have already told Sir Joseph that I shall not be going on any more expeditions. My travel from now on will be confined to these islands.’

‘But even that is not without its dangers,’ objected William. ‘All the roads from London are beset by highwaymen; no one is safe, even in daylight. Why, Maramond was telling me only yesterday that his cousin – you know the one – the sea captain we met a couple of times when he was in town recently. Well, he was set upon on Hounslow Heath earlier this week—Mama-Nell, did you speak?’

‘No, my dear, it was a piece of nut caught in my throat,’ replied my lady, reaching for her wineglass.

‘Was that reported in the newspaper, William?’ asked Clarissa.

‘No; Maramond said his cousin had some warning of what was planned and had men waiting to surprise his attackers. Dashed villains, it’s the gallows for their kind!’

‘And do they report duels in the paper?’ said Clarissa,
pursuing
her own thoughts.

‘Duels, Clarissa?’ Lord Wyckenham looked down his nose at her. ‘Yes, I suppose they might. Mostly if the authorities find them out and prevent ’em.’

‘Why ever should you want to read about such things, Clarissa?’ Lady Wyckenham broke off her conversation with Sir Robert to enquire.

Sir Robert winked at her across the table.

‘Perhaps there is some young man fighting for her honour.’

Clarissa tried to smile at the jest, but it was Lord Wyckenham who replied, saying testily, ‘My sister would not be involved in anything so ill-bred, Ingleton. I would thank you to remember that.’

‘I suppose you consider what happened this morning was shocking, also,’ retorted Lady Wyckenham, disliking William’s tone in replying to her beloved.

William lifted his napkin to dab at his lips.

‘We will not talk of that, if you please,’ he said heavily. ‘Although how you could think that going off with a man of Ullenwood’s stamp could possibly save the family from
scandal
—’

‘I think it was a very noble thing to do!’ cried Clarissa.

‘So do I,’ said Sir Robert, raising his glass to Lady Wyckenham, who blushed fierily.

Clarissa giggled, and Lord Wyckenham looked revolted by this display of affection at the dinner-table.

The gentlemen did not linger over their brandy once the ladies had withdrawn, and Clarissa excused herself before the tea-tray was brought in, pleading a headache. Since William retired soon after, saying he had papers demanding his attention, Lady Wyckenham found herself alone with Sir Robert.

‘What an obliging family you have, ma’am,’ he remarked, coming over to sit beside her and pulling her into his arms.

She opened her mouth to protest and found herself being ruthlessly kissed. It was the most delightful sensation and she responded immediately, allowing him to push her back against the sofa before she remembered where they were. With a little groan she tried to push him away.

‘Oh Robert, no more, stop. William might come back.’

She struggled to sit up as he released her.

‘Are you going to make me wait until we are married before I can touch you?’

She began to straighten the muslin kerchief, keeping her eyes lowered.

‘No-o, but we must be discreet. I will tell Simmons to have the guest-room prepared for you for the night: it adjoins my dressing-room, and I have keys to all the doors – I have learned
something
from Dorothea Gaunt.’

He met her twinkling glance and laughed.

‘You are a darling!’ he said, kissing her again.

A discreet knocking at the door made her jump away. She looked at Sir Robert in horror, but he merely adjured her to straighten her cap.

A footman entered to announce that a delivery had arrived for my lady.

‘A – a delivery?’ she repeated, looking blank. ‘At this time of the night? What is it?’

‘A trunk, my lady. The carrier has instructions that he is to deliver it to you personally.’

She looked at Sir Robert, who shrugged.

‘I suggest you let them bring it in.’

With much huffing and puffing two of the footmen carried in a large corded trunk, which Sir Robert directed them to set down before Lady Wyckenham.

‘Thank you,’ she said, ‘that will be all. Pray ask Simmons to pay the carter for his trouble.’ The footmen withdrew and she looked down at the trunk.

‘Well,’ said Sir Robert, ‘it is not locked. Are you going to open it?’

Slowly she unfastened the clasps and lifted the lid to release a waft of delicate perfume. The trunk was lined with blue silk, and seemed to be filled with silver tissue. She drew aside the top layer of fine paper and lifted out a length of filmy muslin, gossamer thin and decorated with blue ribbon.

‘Robert,’ she breathed, wide-eyed. ‘It-it is a bed-gown!’

Sir Robert lifted the material: even through two thicknesses of muslin his hand was visible. He looked up at her, his eyes dancing.

‘Nell, have you not guessed yet? Look at the crest on the side.’

She stared at the trunk and her eyes widened.

‘It is from Lord Ullenwood,’ she gasped. ‘He said he had bought me – oh! How dare he do this!’

‘It seems he dares very much,’ grinned Sir Robert. ‘He has
sent you a wedding gift.’

With that he threw back his head and laughed.