The House in Grosvenor Square (37 page)

Madame had launched the
on-dit
onto society, had she? If only Mr. Mornay had listened to her to begin with, none of this would have happened. Well, she, Mrs. Bentley, was not going to set things right. Leave it to Mornay to clear his own name! He was the one who insisted upon making the arrangements—keeping his future wife in his house! Little wonder there was such a fuss! She continued on toward the house and was given way by those who knew and recognized her. Of course many wished to speak to her. (“To get her beneath their heels long enough to savour the sensation of crushing her in the dust,” she would later say to Mr. Pellham.) But Mrs. Bentley would have none of it. Soon she was knocking decidedly upon the door of the house. In a second she was faced by uniformed soldiers—the prince's colours!

“I am Miss Forsythe's guardian and chaperone,” she exclaimed, “not to mention, her relation. Now take me inside at once.” They looked at each other but hesitated.

“You know as well as I do,” she said, in a shrewd undertone, “that my niece and Mr. Mornay are at home in this establishment! Take me in, I say!”

One of the men nodded at the other. Mrs. Bentley was brought inside. She sighed inwardly, greatly relieved. So they hadn't eloped! And then she grew worried because they hadn't. Oh, it was all too provoking!

Lavinia and Mr. Chesley had no hope of getting into the square at the rate they were going. It seemed that Mrs. Bentley's carriage had made it just before that crucial time when a crush turns into a complete hubble-bubble, when no one can make headway in any direction.

“You'd think Napoleon was captured!” Chesley exclaimed.

Lavinia's face was creased with worry. “Do you think Mrs. Bentley was able to get through?”

“She may have been. But it might be best to wait in her parlour for her return than to try and squeeze through this.”

“No, I couldn't stand it,” she cried. And with that, Lavinia once again scrambled down from the equipage without help, straightened her gown, and with one hand on her bonnet, rushed into the milling people on the street toward the square. No one must stop her from getting help for Antoine. Had he not rescued her? It was her chance now to do the same for him!

At the house, the soldiers were still guarding entry.

“I am Miss Lavinia Herley! Mr. Mornay sent for me, and I was abducted yesterday when I tried to get here!”

“No, I have no note, but I was to be Miss Forsythe's chaperone!”

“But I know Mrs. Bentley! She wanted me for her niece's companion! You must tell her I am here!”

“Please, I beg you!”

Tears ran down her face. Lavinia was utterly cast down.
Oh, dear Lord, Ariana prays to you and is helped. Please, help me, now!
But still the stern faces of the soldiers blocked her from the house. She turned to go. But wait! The door of the house opened, and one of the soldiers scooted over for a word with someone behind it. Next he turned to look at her and wonder of wonders! He motioned for Miss Herley to come, and the next thing she knew she was inside and sharing an embrace with Ariana.

It couldn't have been a result of my prayer, could it?
Lavinia thought.

“Lavinia! Thank God you are safe!”

“And you, my dearest! You
didn't
elope!”

“Of course not!”

“But Ariana—oh, it is so terrible!”

“
What
is?” Her friend's eyes were large in her face. Mrs. Bentley was
suddenly there, looking on with interest. She wanted to express her satisfaction that Lavinia had been safely delivered but paused to hear this.

“Antoine has been taken! They've got him at Newgate!”

Ariana gave a worried look to her aunt. “Oh, my dearest!” was all she could say.

And then Lavinia saw Mrs. Bentley. She rushed toward her.

“Mrs. Bentley! You know he had no hand in what happened! It was all Lord Wingate! You were there!”

Mrs. Bentley's face went blank. “I daresay I do not know who took you, my gel. I never saw the man before.”

“Ma'am! It was his brother, Lord Wingate. He crossed his own brother to rescue me! Mr. Chesley saw me in Wingate's power, he told Lord Antoine of it, and they came together and got me out! They freed me from the man, don't you see? Lord Antoine put his own welfare and safety behind my own! Wingate is bound to seek his harm, as soon as he learns his brother caused my escape.” Lavinia's eyes were tearing up, and she shook her head sadly. “Mrs. Bentley! You are my last hope! You must say you will aid me in getting his release! They'll transport him! Or hang him! Please, I beg you, tell me you will help me!”

Mrs. Bentley had put one hand to her heart. She was amazed to discover that Miss Herley was in love and that it was with a man she had no doubt whatsoever was a criminal. What could she say?

“I will help you.” It was the voice of Mr. Mornay.

I
do not know what to say, sir!” Lavinia blinked up at Mr. Mornay gratefully.

“You can start by telling me this. Is it not true that while Antoine had no hand in your abduction, he helped to plan the attempts on Miss Forsythe earlier? That her incident at Merilton House and her abduction from the viscount's house were on his account as well as his brother's?”

“Only the first attempt. He had no hand in taking Ariana from the viscount's. I have spoken to him at length regarding all of it! He fully repents of his wrongdoing and was sorry for it from the start!”

To Mr. Mornay's look of doubt, she added, “His brother is the
real
villain! All Julian cares about is money—for gaming and drink. Antoine tried to dissuade him from taking Ariana, but he was adamant. Antoine feels certain, sir, that there is something in your past history with his brother that is fueling his resolve—”

“I am aware of my history with the man,” he said, making Ariana look at him with curiosity. Was there something between the men she did not know about?

“Nothing fuels his resolve so much as spleen and depravity,” he continued.

“I am sure you are right,” Miss Herley agreed sadly. “But I warrant you that Lord Antoine intends on nothing in the future but to live lawfully. I am certain he wished to—” and here her voice broke again, “to get a special license so that we could marry. I am hopeful that his helping me has made my parents view him with more favour.” She looked at him pleadingly.

Mr. Mornay walked up to Miss Herley so that he could see clearly into
her eyes. “Tell me, Miss Herley, are
you
convinced of his worthiness? Do you have any doubts regarding his intentions whatsoever?”

He studied her face and eyes keenly. And for a few moments, the question hung in the air while everyone waited for her response.

“I trust him, sir. I'd trust him with my life!”

Mrs. Bentley came forward. “Miss Herley, forgive me,” she said, “but I must speak.” To Mr. Mornay she said, “The constable told me both brothers had a long list of offenses against the Crown. What do you make of that?”

Miss Herley watched Mr. Mornay, fearful of what he would make of it, indeed.

“Is that news to you, Miss Herley?” he asked.

She hung her head a little. “No. I know everything, I daresay, there is to know about Antoine's past activities.” Here she raised her head again, and her eyes were glowing with conviction. “That is all in the past, sir! Unless we are on the street starving, I am convinced there is nothing that could induce his lordship to act in such a manner again!” To Mrs. Bentley she added, “He rescued me, I tell you! He'd have done the same for Ariana!”

Ariana walked up to the girl and gently took her arm. “Come, Lavinia, here we are, standing in the hall all this time.” She met the eyes of her beloved, looking at him with her own silent plea. She hoped he would help Lavinia, as he had said.

He said, “Go to the morning room,” a bit automatically, as he had not yet eaten.

En route and despite her distress, Lavinia could not help noting that the house appeared to be in quite a shambles. “What has happened here?” she asked Ariana, who did not wish to supply the information that her own hand had caused the mess. In the room while they all sat at table, it was evident that Miss Herley was unable to relax.

“Sir,” Lavinia said, with a flattened voice, “I am sorry to ask you, but I must know. Will you help us? Do you intend to give us your aid?” The tension in the room was palpable.

Mr. Mornay put down his coffee and looked at her squarely. “Of course. I said I would, did I not?”

“You may not be able to free the man, Mornay. Not even you,” said Mrs. Bentley.

Ariana frowned at her aunt. To say that in front of Miss Herley—now of all times!

Lavinia nearly dropped her plate. “Do you think so?” she asked very
earnestly. “That Antoine's innocence and help in this matter shan't be enough to gain his freedom?”

Mrs. Bentley shrugged and met her eyes. “I do not know.”

Mr. Mornay didn't betray the least concern but asked, “Did his lordship say what started their hare-brained scheme against me?”

“He said, for his part, it began on account of your interference between us.” She looked at Ariana and couldn't help but to smile. “That made him realize his love for me! When he was crossed in the matter!” She looked back to Mr. Mornay. “But later, after sobering up, he came to view the scheme differently and wished to drop the plan, but Lord Wingate refused!”

Mr. Mornay fell into a pensive gaze. He finished eating and stood. “You're certain he's at Newgate?”

Miss Herley looked to Mrs. Bentley who offered, “That was where the constable said they would take him.”

“Was it not unfair,” Lavinia added, “that when he called to bring the news of my safety, at my bidding, that he was snatched into custody?”

“His lordship was discovering the consequences of his past choices,” put in Mrs. Bentley. “But if he rescued you, then he has my gratitude. I felt sick with the thought that harm had come to you on my account, Miss Herley.”

“On your account?” Lavinia asked Mrs. Bentley.

“Because I was too foolish to come here with Ariana in the first place! It would have settled all! You would have not suffered your abduction, and there would be no rumours of an elopement,” she said, looking in the direction of the street, where traffic still moved more slowly than usual as everyone stopped to gape at the house of the famous eloper. “And none of these upsetting events would have taken place.”

“Nevertheless, Wingate's plans would still be in place,” Mornay said. “And regarding the rumour—if the marquess hears it, perhaps he may withdraw his claws, at least for the time being. Long enough for me to get to him before he tries again to get to us.” He went round the table and gave Ariana a kiss on the hand. “I'll return as soon as I can,” he said, looking into her eyes. Turning to Ariana's friend, he said, “In the meantime, remain here as Miss Forsythe's companion, if you would.” To Mrs. Bentley he said, “Would you prefer to be in your own house now that Miss Herley is here? I can take you home if you like.”

“I would prefer to take Ariana with me to my house, sir. Her family will
be arriving any time, and they will find it most irregular that she is here! No, she must come with me, or I believe I'm staying here as well.”

“Then you are my guest,” he said settling the matter. “I'll smooth over any concerns the Forsythes have regarding this arrangement.”

Mrs. Bentley was frowning. So much for putting her foot down with the man. “Do give word to your house guards that they must allow Mr. Pellham entrance, if he comes.”

“The prince's men,” he said, “are coming with me, but I'll tell Freddie.”

“Obliged.”

“Be careful, darling!” Ariana cried, alarmed that he felt it incumbent on him to take the soldiers.

He stopped once more and bent down to kiss her cheek. “I will. Stay in the house. Do not cross me in this.”

“I have no wish to cross you in anything, sir.”

Miss Herley smiled into her teacup, and Mrs. Bentley sighed.

At Newgate it wasn't difficult for Mr. Mornay to get an audience with the prisoner. To his repulsion, he found that Holliwell hadn't enough money to get into the state area but was in the commons. Further, the area for felons was past the women's section and then the debtor's section. By the time he finally came upon the man, he'd had more than his fill of odours and sorry-looking prisoners.

Mr. Mornay had paid the warden so that he could sit in a quiet spot with the prisoner, and after they'd been shown the way down a narrow corridor and brought to a small, empty cell, Lord Antoine looked interestedly at his visitor. Mr. Horton, Mornay's steward had remained at the entrance of the place, ready to make another financial transaction if necessary.

Mr. Mornay met Holliwell's eyes but said nothing. He was determined to ascertain the man's character by his own words and actions rather than relying chiefly on Miss Herley's opinion. She may have been sincere, but women were known to be sincerely wrong about men, weren't they?

“What is your business with me?” Holliwell asked.

“I might ask you the same,” came the smooth reply.

The prisoner turned his head. “I have no business with you, sir, that I know of.” His face was bland.

“I believe you do, sir. You and your brother have twice attempted to abduct my future wife. That gives us business.”

Antoine made a small grimace but was silent for a few long seconds. Then he said, “So you're seeking a confession? To ensure that they hang me? Surely you realize I shan't say a word to further incriminate myself. At least I've a chance at transportation then!”

“That is not my errand.”

This got the man's attention. “Then what?”

“You'll need to be frank with me. I need to understand the situation entirely. Is it true that the scheme against Miss Forsythe was for revenge? For my interfering with your hopes of Miss Herley?”

The young man gave him a resentful stare. “If I answer, that's as good as a confession! You'll have me hung by the neck before I can say ‘Jack Robinson'!”

“I thought we settled that. I am not here to see you hung.” They stared at each other.

“
Was
the cause of your revenge my interference in your hopes?”

“Yes, dash it! But I was in my cups! I thought better of it afterward.”

“Did you? And when did that happen? Miss Forsythe was twice approached and once taken. That doesn't support your thinking better of it.”

“I realized it was sheer folly shortly after the night of our first attempt. I've broken with my brother over the thing. He is acting entirely on his own. When he sent that pigeon Whiddington, I had nothing to do with it.”

“You knew about it though.”

There was a pause. “I knew something of it, yes.”

“You could have warned me.”

“You have not been my friend, sir!” This, with great feeling.

“Neither have I been your enemy.”

Another few seconds of silence passed. Antoine said, “It seems you understand the whole business. So what do you hope to accomplish here? What do you want with me?”

“Explain to me your disappointment when you lost the prospect of marriage to Miss Herley.”

“Eh? Why I was disappointed?
That
is what you came here to discover?”

“It is part of what I hope to learn, yes. Miss Herley's family is not wealthy. She has little to offer you. Tell me why her loss prompted such a drastic revenge.”

“I can't see how it signifies, sir, but I will tell you.” He swallowed hard, thinking carefully. He had been taking restless steps in no particular direction throughout the conversation. “My brother undoubtedly has his own reasons for wanting to cross you, and I do not know what they are. For my part, yes, I wanted revenge. I wanted very much to marry Miss Herley.” He swallowed again, and his gaze drifted toward the walls. He then shook his head with discomfort and finally forced his eyes to meet the other man's. “I love her, you see. It is that simple.”

“And your intentions were honourable?”

“Yes!” His face changed. “Not at first, I grant. But when I came to realize my feelings for her—I was astonished, you know—I had only honourable intentions. Unfortunately I could not accompany them with an honourable name! I know why you did what you did to discourage our union, and I cannot fault you for it. If I had been in your place, I would have done the same. I am responsible for my own troubles. I know it only too well.”

There was silence. Mr. Mornay eyed the young man keenly. “Do you still wish to marry Miss Herley?”

The prisoner gave a bitter laugh. “Yes, if she'll move to Newgate! No, sir, I fear that avenue has been closed to me for good. I saved her from my brother, and that is my only consolation as I sit here. I did something right for once in my life—and now I pay for it, by God!”