The Belle Dames Club (20 page)

By eight o’clock the following morning Clarissa could bear it no longer. She would call on Lord Alresford. She had heard him tell Sir Howard that he would meet him Saturday morning and now she was desperate to know if he was safe. In under an hour she was dressed and ready to leave the house. The butler looked up in surprise as she descended the stairs.

‘Miss – are you going out? Will you not step into the
breakfast
-room first?’ With an agitated hand she waved him away and was out of the door before he had time to tell her of the note Lord Wyckenham had directed should be given to her at
breakfast
.

The footman who opened the door of Lord Alresford’s mansion in Bedford Square showed no surprise at finding a heavily veiled lady requesting to see the earl so early in the morning. He allowed her to step into the marbled hall, where a second, equally impassive footman showed her into the morning-room while a message was sent to the earl. Clarissa breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was not dead, then. A quarter of an hour later Lord Alresford entered, dressed with all his usual
neatness
in biscuit-coloured small clothes and a coat of blue superfine. Another relief, no sign of any injury. He stood by the door, regarding her with his impassive stare.

‘Madam?’ She lifted the veil and saw the look of surprise on
his face as he recognized her.

‘I had to come,’ she said quickly. ‘Forgive me, I had to know if you had met Sir Howard.’

‘What? Oh … no. He had left town when Norwell called yesterday.’

‘Oh thank heaven.’ She sank down on to a chair.

‘Miss Wyckenham.’ He was staring at her, as if trying to memorize every detail. ‘You should not be here.’

‘I know it; I am sorry.’

‘You are very pale, let me get you something to drink—’

Her heart ached when she observed him: he looked as
miserable
as she felt. With a jolt she realized how wrong she had been to come: it added to his pain, as well as her own. She summoned up every shred of resolution.

‘No, I am sorry. I must not stay. I-I wanted to … to thank you for helping Mama-Nell.’

‘It was nothing.’

‘That is not true,’ she cried. ‘Ullenwood is very powerful—’

‘I did it for you.’ He gave a short laugh. ‘I had not realized how incredibly dull my life had become before we met.’

Tears welled in her eyes. She rose.

‘I must go.’

She ran for the door, but he caught her and pulled her to him.

‘Not yet. Tell me, tell me what you are going to do.’

She could not look at him: just the touch of his hand was enough to set her pulse racing so fast she thought she must faint.

‘I – um … oh, this is dreadful!’ she cried. ‘I wish I had not come, I wish I had never met you!’

She tried to pull away, but his grip was too strong.

‘Don’t say that,’ he muttered. ‘Tell me you don’t mean that.’

She found herself being pulled into his arms where she subsided against his chest, sobbing.

‘No,’ she swallowed convulsively. ‘No, I could never regret
knowing you.’ With an effort she pushed away from him,
drawing
on her pride to help her through this ordeal. ‘Lady Wyckenham and Sir Robert are to be married, is that not wonderful?’ She managed to walk away a few steps. ‘They have offered to let me live with them, but they will want some time alone first, so I shall return to my sister Anne for a few months and then … then I think I shall go abroad, to Rome. I have always wanted to see Rome.’

‘I believe the antiquities are fascinating.’ He was following her lead. ‘There will be plenty to divert you.’

Not enough to make me forget you!
She closed her eyes as tears threatened again. He walked to the window.

‘If you have the opportunity you should travel to Florence. You would like that. I was there— Good God!’

She started. ‘What is it?’

‘Sir Gordon Medway. He is coming in.’

Even as he spoke a distant bell jangled and there was the sound of voices in the hall. Clarissa stared at him.

‘He must not find me here!’

Sir Gordon’s booming voice could be heard clearly.

‘In there, is he? No need to announce me!’

‘Quickly.’ He hurried her towards a door in the far wall. ‘Wait in there.’  

She found herself in a small, book-lined room. The earl pushed the door shut just as Sir Gordon entered the
morning-room
.  

‘There you are, Alresford!’  

Clarissa noticed with alarm that the door to the little room had not closed properly. She heard the earl walking away but she dared not pull the door in case Sir Gordon should notice and discover her. She bit her lip, disliking the role of
eavesdropper
.  

‘I am glad I find you up, sir,’ declared Sir Gordon. ‘I’ve distressing news. Come, my lord, we must be off at once.’  

‘Off, Sir Gordon?’ Alresford’s deep voice came clearly to her.
‘I do not understand you. Where are we to go?

‘To the border, sirrah!’ There was the rustle of paper. ‘Read that, sir, read it! My little girl has run off with Lord Wyckenham!’

Clarissa thrust her gloved fist into her mouth and bit hard to prevent herself from crying out with surprise. William and Florence Medway? Her heart seemed to be trying to leap out of her chest, and it was a struggle to hear the earl’s quiet reply above its heavy drumming.

‘What would you have me do about it, Sir Gordon?’

‘Do? Why, man, we must catch ’em, and bring her back. From her note I know they left at midnight. If we set out now we shall catch up with them before nightfall and this whole sorry business can be hushed up.’

‘But, Sir Gordon, if she has run off rather than marry me….’

‘Bah! The girl doesn’t know her own mind.’

‘Pardon me, Sir Gordon, but I have always had the
impression
that Miss Medway is very strong-minded.’

‘She has been dazzled, sir, that’s what it is. Dazzled by Wyckenham.’

Hysterical laughter threatened and Clarissa was obliged to bite hard again on her glove. That anyone should be dazzled by her prosy brother!

‘You have been too patient with her, Alresford,’ grumbled Sir Gordon. ‘Not enough of the lover. Well, that can change.’

‘I do not wish for an unwilling bride, sir.’

‘She ain’t unwilling, my lord, you have my word for it. No, the notice has been sent to the papers – think of the scandal if we have to revoke it. It must not be. My carriage is outside, we must be off—’

‘Let us not be hasty about this.’ Lord Alresford’s measured tones broke in. ‘You know, sir, that Lord Wyckenham is a wealthy man—’

‘Not as wealthy as you,’ came the swift reply.

‘Perhaps not, but he is destined for parliament.’ Alresford paused to let that sink in. ‘I believe he is standing at the next election. Think how that would help you in your good works, Sir Gordon.’

There was a long silence. Clarissa longed to shift her
position
, but dared not move. At last Alresford pressed home his advantage.

‘Miss Medway is cut out to be a political hostess: she was most disappointed to learn that I have no real ambition in that direction. Wyckenham is an honourable man, Sir Gordon. That he has taken the step of flying to the border shows that his affections are deeply engaged. Go after them by all means, sir, but tell them that you come with my blessing: I will not stand in the way of their marriage.’

‘But – the announcement—’

‘I will attend to that, Sir Gordon. I shall draft a notice today. I think you will find that it will explain everything most
satisfactorily
. There will be no hint of disgrace attached to your daughter.’

‘Hmmm, I suppose it might do.’

There was the sound of footsteps, and a door opening.

‘Then I suggest you move with all speed to overtake your daughter, sir. Tell her I bear her no ill-will. Indeed, I wish her every happiness with one who, I believe, is ideally suited to be her life-partner.’

A silence.

‘Very good of you, my lord. But, will you not come with me? I—’

‘Sir Gordon, my presence could only complicate matters. It is better that you go alone.’

‘Aye, aye. Well, I’ll be away then. Good day to you.’

‘God speed, Sir Gordon, and good luck.’

Clarissa was still standing by the door when the earl pulled it open.

‘You heard everything?’

She could only nod. He took her hand and led her back in to the morning-room.

‘William,’ she said at last. ‘
William?
’

He grinned.

‘When you introduced them at Holborn you could not have guessed how it would end.’

‘It begins to make sense,’ she said, a tiny crease in her brow. ‘His remaining in London, the trips to Mount Street.’

‘Your worthy brother has met his match.’

‘And I am very happy for him but …
William
, elope?’

His arms were around her.

‘Love is a very powerful emotion, Clarissa. We cannot always control it.’

He reached up and tugged at the ribbons of her bonnet.

‘What are you doing?’ she asked

‘I cannot kiss you while you are wearing it. It is in my way.’

With a laugh she removed the offending bonnet and veil and dropped them to the floor.

‘Is that better?’ she asked, looking up shyly.

‘Much.’ He kissed her. ‘How soon can we be married?’ he murmured, nibbling at her ear.

She shivered deliciously.

‘As soon as possible, if you please.’

He kissed her again, then dropped on to the satin-covered settee and drew her on to his knee.

‘Very well, and I shall take you to Rome for our honeymoon, then Naples, and Florence.’

‘Mmm.’ She leaned against his shoulder. ‘And when we return, will you continue your support for Mr Sharp and the anti-slavery campaign? I should very much like to help.’

‘I don’t see how we can avoid it, if my brother-in-law is involved.’ He bent a frown upon her and said severely, ‘Is that why you are marrying me, ma’am? For my wealth and
influence
?’

She pulled his head down towards her. ‘No,’ she murmured, ‘because I cannot live without you.’

‘Nor I you.’ His voice was unsteady, and his burning look sent her spirits soaring.

‘I love you, Clarissa.’

With a sob she threw her arms about his neck and kissed him. When at last he released her she leaned against him, her head resting on his shoulder, listening to the beat of his heart.

‘That night, in the hut,’ she said slowly, ‘when you turned away from me, I thought….’

‘What?’

‘I thought you did not … want me.’

He shifted his position so that he could look at her.

‘Not want you!’

He gently pushed her aside and got up to walk to the door. She watched him, frowning.

‘What are you doing?’

‘Locking the door.’ He said. ‘I don’t want us to be disturbed.’ He walked back and dropped on his knees beside her. ‘Now,’ he smiled, ‘let me show you just how much I want you.’

The following week all the major newspapers carried the announcement of the marriage of Lord Wyckenham, of Wyckenham Manor in Devonshire, to Miss Florence Medway, only daughter of Sir Gordon Medway of Devizes. At the same time Marius, ninth Earl of Alresford would be married to Miss
Clarissa Wyckenham, sister to the above Lord W., the marriages to take place in a double ceremony at St George’s Hanover Square, on Tuesday se-ennight and would be followed one week later by the marriage of dowager Lady Wyckenham to Sir Robert Ingleton (Bart), renowned scientist, explorer, and member of the Royal Society.

Maid of Honour

The Bargain

Lady Vengeance

The Dream Chasers

The Highclough Lady

A Lady at Midnight

Dance for a Diamond

Gentlemen in Question