Emilia
Emilia's reaction to his present
had hurt Lord Elham more than he was willing to show. He did not linger at his
grandmother's but left immediately. During their drive home, he had only spoken
to her if necessary, and luckily Emilia had not been very talkative either, for
he was sure he would not have been able to talk to her without betraying his
hurt.
He retreated to the one place
where he knew females were not admitted, the one refuge a gentleman had -- his
club. It was there his brother found him a couple of hours later, decidedly the
worse for drink.
Gerry was troubled. His brother
seldom took to drinking. True, he had been foxed occasionally, after a
convivial evening with his cronies. But never had the Earl of Elham drunk
himself into a stupor all by himself. Gerry sat down next to his brother,
silently adding his brother's present condition to his mental list of Miss
Emilia Brentwood's offences. There was no question who was to blame for his
brother's pitiful state -- Elham looked up when he saw him and said, "I'm
engaged to the most infuriating woman on earth, Gerry."
Gerry chose to hide his concern
and replied with a lightness he was far from feeling, ""For once,
I would like to meet a girl who does not fall over herself to please me."
Now who said that?"
"I know I said that,
there's no need to rub it in," Elham said. "It's only ... I am
beginning to wonder if she..." He broke off. "She just annoys me."
"To no end," Gerry
agreed calmly. "Just as I predicted."
This remark did not sit well
with his brother. "Get rid of that smug expression, will you?" Elham
glared at Gerry. "Your I-told-you-so is not wanted. You have no idea how
it is."
"I am glad to say I
don't," Gerry said with a laugh. "But, Des, you have got yourself
into that scrape and you will have to haul yourself out of it."
"What scrape?" Elham
demanded. "I'm not in a scrape."
"Aren't you?" Gerry
asked dryly.
"Certainly not." Elham
said and rose, unsteadily. "Emilia's the best thing that ever happened to
me. And now I'm going home."
"An excellent notion,"
Gerry said and rose. "I'll come with you."
"I don't need a
nanny," Elham snapped.
"I'll come with you,"
Gerry repeated. "I know what larks you are capable of when you're
drunk."
The very last thing Gerry wanted
was his brother taken up by the Watch. Especially if his grandmother might find
out that he had been with him and had done nothing to prevent it.
"I'm not drunk," Elham
protested. "A trifle above par, I admit, but not drunk."
Gerry suppressed a grin. A
trifle above par, indeed. Elham was just trying to slip his right hand into his
left glove without noticing his mistake. It was pathetic, Gerry thought.
Terrible what a woman could do to a man. He wondered if there was anything he
could do about his brother's condition. Perhaps he should try to win over the
lady's sister. Miss Brentwood seemed like a sensible sort of girl, and appeared
to have some influence on Miss Emilia. No doubt she would be able to help.
When Lord Elham awoke with a
splitting headache the next morning, he cursed himself for having lost control
of himself so completely. As if drinking oneself senseless had ever solved
anyone's problems! He decided to settle down for a quiet morning and hoped he
would recover before he had to go to his sister's -- Lady Minton had followed
her sister's example and invited the entire family to dine at her place.
Unfortunately, he was not to
have his peace and quiet for long. A short note from his grandmother summoned
him to Clarges Street, and Lord Elham went there without delay. The sooner he
got over the visit, the better it was.
"You look ill," the
old lady said as he entered her drawing-room. He realised Emilia's eyes were on
him -- she seemed to be worried. Giving her a faint smile, he told his
grandmother that there was nothing wrong with him that could not be mended with
a good night's sleep.
"You are getting old,"
his grandmother said mercilessly. "A sleepless night did not have such an
effect on you when you were younger -- and I know there were a great deal."
He laughed. "Yes, there
were," he said. "But not any more, Grandmother. As you pointed out,
they are starting to have an effect on me and besides, I have to admit, they
have lost their appeal. I have become almost respectable of late."
"If you do not take care,
Emilia," Lady Elham said, "you will end up with a model
husband."
Elham watched her closely but
could not detect any signs of embarrassment in her when she replied, "Is
there such a thing as a model husband in existence, Lady Elham?"
Lady Elham laughed. "I have
yet to meet him if there is," she said. "But my grandson is showing
some worrying tendencies in that direction."
"He will grow out of them,
I am sure," Emilia said, giving him a daunting smile. "After a couple
of years of marriage he will be just as tiresome as husbands usually are."
Elham wished he were alone with her to discuss, in detail, the tiresomeness of
husbands -- and wives. Too bad he wasn't.
To distract his thoughts from
what he would like to do if he happened to be alone with Emilia, he turned to
his grandmother and inquired why she had wanted to see him. Her answer came as
a shock -- she wanted him to take her, his mother and the girls to the theatre.
To Covent Garden, to be precise, to see "The Rivals".
"I have heard it is really
worth seeing," she said. Elham was sure it was. Unfortunately, Chloe was
playing a leading part in that production, and a meeting between Emilia and his
former mistress was highly undesirable. Chloe was unpredictable -- one never
knew what she was about. She might choose to ignore them, but she might just as
well make a public scene. It was too bad, Elham thought, that he could not tell
his grandmother why he did not want to take them to Covent Garden, of all
places. He had to find another reason why they had better see some other play.
"The Rivals, you say?"
he asked his grandmother. "Are you certain that it is ... well,
suitable?"
"I have heard it is quite
unexceptionable," Lady Elham replied. "More suitable than
"Lovers' Vows", which is quite indecent, or so I have heard. -- Since
when do you trouble yourself with propriety, anyway?" She gave him a
searching look.
"When my fiancée is
concerned, I naturally take an interest," Elham said stiffly.
"Desmond Ingleton, you are
a hypocrite," Lady Elham said. "Life is full of surprises. - It is
The Rivals I want to see, and if you do not take us there I am sure I will find
someone who does."
"Perhaps," Emilia
intervened quietly, "if Lord Elham thinks the play is indecent ... perhaps
we ought to listen to him?"
"My dear girl," Lady
Elham said, "take my advice. Never give a man the opportunity to
lord over you. You want to see the play, don't you?"
"Well..." Emilia said
hesitantly. "If Lord Elham objects..."
"I see no reason why you
should stand on such ceremony with my grandson when you are going to marry
him," Lady Elham said, sounding amused. "His name is Desmond."
With a wicked grin, Elham said,
"Yes, call me Desmond. We are almost in private, after all."
Emilia's furious look diverted
him. His amusement vanished, however, when he realised that she was pointedly
ignoring him for the remainder of his stay, and when he offered to drive her
out in his curricle she politely refused, saying that she already promised her
sister to accompany her on a visit at Mrs. Sulgrave's. Women, he thought
angrily as he left his grandmother's house. They were impossible to live with.
But without them, life would be unbearably dull.
Emilia realised she had been
rude to Lord Elham again -- and she had not had an opportunity to apologise for
her behaviour in the park yet. When he had visited his grandmother, she had
been persuaded that he bore her no grudge, but one never knew. Lord Elham was
well-bred and could be relied on to behave just as he ought -- unless he decided
to throw propriety over board, which he was not likely to do in the presence of
his grandmother.
To atone for her conduct, Emilia
decided to wear Lord Elham's present at the theatre. She would show him that
despite her decision not to keep the gift she valued it highly. After a
critical glance at her reflection in the mirror, Emilia went downstairs to the
drawing room to wait for Lord Elham's arrival. Mr Ingleton was already there,
and Emilia noticed that though he still treated her with a great deal of
reserve, he seemed to be quite at ease with Tilda. Their conversation did not
lack animation, and he even managed to draw Tilda out of her shell and make her
laugh. Emilia was glad that Mr Ingleton did not let his apparent dislike of her
influence his attitude to her sister. Tilda, after all, was not to blame for
what had happened.
Lord Elham made no effort to
hide his delight when he arrived and saw Emilia wear the ornaments he had given
her.
"The combs look marvellous
in your hair," he said quietly, casting an appreciative glance at her.
"I knew they would."
His grandmother joined them and,
with a look at Emilia's hair and her fan, said, "I must say you have got
taste, Desmond."
"I know," Lord Elham
with a smile. "It is a family trait, have you forgotten?"
"Your present does look a
trifle paltry though," Lady Elham said.
"Paltry?" Emilia cried
indignantly. "How can you say so, Ma'am? It is wonderful, and I must ask
you not to speak about it in this ... disdainful way!"
"Just wait and see what she
is going to get when our engagement is announced, Grandmother," Lord Elham
said calmly, giving Emilia an amused glance. "For an unofficial engagement
gift, I think I was doing rather well."
"Which reminds me,"
Lady Elham said. "Just when are you going to make the announcement,
Desmond?"
Emilia looked at him anxiously.
What was he going to say in answer to that? She did not want the engagement to
be announced. Not if it could be avoided.
"Not before I have heard
from Emilia's father," he said, taking Emilia's hand and giving it a
comforting squeeze. He had read her expression correctly, it seemed. "He
is in India, so his reply to my letter may take some time yet to reach
us."
With a nod, Lady Elham left them
to themselves. Emilia gave Lord Elham a grateful look. "That should give
us some time," she said quietly. "Thank you."
He smiled at her, but did not
say anything.
"Lord Elham," she
said, suddenly worried, "you did not write to my father, did
you?"
"But of course I did,"
he said, sounding a trifle surprised. "You do not expect me to keep up an
engagement with you -- no matter whether it is a sham or not -- without telling
your father about it? He'd hear the news anyway, and though I like you very
much, Emilia, I too have a reputation to lose. So far, I've always been able to
pass myself off as a gentleman, and I'd like to keep things that way."
Emilia shook her head. "How
could you do this to me?" she asked him.
"We already told your
mother about the betrothal," Lord Elham said. "What exactly is the
difference if your father hears about it too -- preferably from one of us? What
is it that worries you, Emilia? I'm not going to put pressure on you. You are
still free to make your own decisions -- as I promised."
"But things will be much
more difficult for me if my father knows about it," Emilia said
desperately. "He will want explanations!"
"I will give him every
explanation he wants," Lord Elham said. "Should he want any."
"But..." Emilia wanted
to protest, but Lord Elham silenced her by lightly touching her lips.
"Don't," he said
quietly. "Let us not argue. Not tonight. Just believe that everything will
be fine -- I will see to that."
Looking up at him, Emilia wanted
to believe him. He smiled at her in a reassuring way that she found most
endearing. That man could be a charmer if he put his mind to it.
Lady Elham broke the spell by announcing that they had better go off to the
theatre if they wanted to see the first act.
At the theatre, Emilia was
almost blinded by the splendour of her surroundings. She had been to see a play
before, but that had been in Winchester, and that occasion could not be
compared to this. It took her a great deal of effort not to gape at
everyone and everything and appear like the unsophisticated country chit that
she was. People took an interest in her -- which was a sure sign that the
rumours concerning her engagement had spread all over London, for Emilia was
quite certain that she would not raise such interest in her own right. There
were some curious glances cast at Lord Elham as well -- gentlemen, especially,
seemed to eye him with a certain amount of curiosity. Emilia wondered why that
was -- surely Lord Elham had been to the theatre before? At least he seemed to
be perfectly at home in this setting.
Just as they were walking up the
stairs, one gentleman came towards them and hailed Lord Elham with an
affability that was belied by Lord Elham's reception of his greeting. He did
not seem at all pleased to see him.
"You here," the
stranger called out to him and shook Elham's reluctantly proffered hand.
"I would not have thought it! And in such charming company too!"
He gave Emilia an appraising
look that she did not quite like.
"Won't you introduce
me?" he said to Lord Elham, with a look of challenge in his eyes.
"Why, yes, certainly,"
Elham replied coolly and made the necessary introductions. The gentleman was a
Mr Henry Bosworth, an acquaintance of Lord Elham's.
"Is this the first time you
see a play, Miss Brentwood?" Mr Bosworth asked Emilia.
"No, sir, though it is the
first time I see one in London," Emilia replied politely.
"I hope you will find this
evening tolerably amusing, then." Mr Bosworth said and added with an
insolent grin, "I know I shall. Good evening!" He bowed, and
disappeared in the crowd.
Emilia gave Lord Elham a
questioning look. "Are you well acquainted with Mr. Bosworth?" she
asked him.
"No, I am not," was
Lord Elham's curt answer.
"He seemed to be on
friendly terms with you, however," Emilia said.
"Do not trust appearances
in this case," Lord Elham said with a rather strained smile. "We have
some common acquaintances, but we are not friendly with each other."
Emilia remembered Lord Elham's icy reception of Mr Bosworth's salutation and
decided not to pry into this matter any further.
Their box was at the front,
almost directly overlooking the stage. Lord Elham apologised for this
circumstance, saying that this was the only box he could have procured at such
short notice, but Emilia assured him that she did not mind at all. She was
thrilled by the idea of being so close to the action on stage, and was looking
forward to a novel experience.
Emilia found the play most
entertaining, and she could not understand why Lord Elham had objected to it.
It did not seem so very inappropriate to her, but then perhaps she was not the
best judge in such matters.
All in all, there was only one
thing that marred her enjoyment of the evening -- when the actors assembled on
the stage for a last time, it seemed for a moment as if one of the actresses
was staring right at her. Emilia involuntarily drew back. But the woman looked
away shortly after that, and Emilia wondered whether she had actually been
looking at her. There was nothing remarkable about her, after all, and
she was certain she had never met the woman before.
So this was Elham's
fiancée, Chloe Watson thought as she went back to her dressing room. It was a
good thing Mr Bosworth had told her she was there.
The girl did not look like Elham's type, Chloe thought. There was an air of innocence about her that made Chloe strongly suspect Elham would tire of her before long. Not that it was her business, of course. But it was good to know whom she had to deal with. She had better plan her revenge quickly -- there was no point in trying to hurt the chit once Elham had lost his interest in her. She had an idea that might work out pretty well -- she would talk it over with Bosworth to see what he thought of it. Elham would pay. Too bad the girl would have to pay along with him, but it could not be helped. With a chuckle, Chloe anticipated the look on that innocent's face when she, Chloe, would rob her of her illusions concerning her future husband. It was cruel, yes -- but on the other hand Chloe would be doing her a favour. A woman should know what to expect of a man. While men in general -- and Lord Elham in particular - should know that one did not trifle with Chloe Watson.
Chapter 9
Slowly but surely Emilia began
to feel more at ease with her new surroundings. Both Lady Elham and Lady
Gilmorton were very kind to her, and Emilia had reason to believe that this was
not just for Lord Elham's sake. They were equally friendly to Tilda, and in
Lord Elham‘s sister, Mrs. Sulgrave, Emilia thought to have found a valuable
friend. Her advice did much to bring Tilda into fashion - and Tilda began to
enjoy her new popularity.
Emilia was not yet sure
regarding Sir George Harbury. He treated her with due respect and
consideration, and never showed any signs of a broken heart. This was most
satisfactory, Emilia thought. On the other hand, he did not seem too eager for
Tilda's company, and that was bad news. Emilia did not care to think that her
plan to bring those two together had failed. She had been willing to do things
totally uncharacteristic for her; she had put her reputation at risk. And all
this should have been for nothing? It was not to be thought of.
Thankfully, their sojourn in
London had only just begun - there were opportunities aplenty for Tilda and Sir
George to meet. He could not avoid her, and the more often he'd meet Tilda the
more he'd notice Tilda‘s superior qualities that made her the perfect wife for
him.
As far as Lord Elham was
concerned, Emilia began to feel more at ease with him, too. There was an
irrepressible streak of mischief in him, Emilia could not deny it, but
considering the circumstances of their acquaintance, Emilia did not think she
had a reason to complain. True, he teased her at times, but there could be no
doubt as to his good nature. His brother turned out to be a bit of a problem,
however. Mr Ingleton showed no inclination to become better acquainted with
Emilia. His manners towards her were impeccable, but there was an underlying
coldness in his conduct that she found hard to explain. She supposed he knew
the truth about her engagement, and fully aware that this might serve as a
valid reason for his dislike, Emilia did her best to show him that she was not
the gold-digger he believed her to be. Her attempts failed. The more she tried
to win him over, the more reserved he became. Emilia could only hope that he, too,
would learn to like her. Mr Ingleton was not without sense, after all. His
growing friendship with Tilda was evidence enough.
Though Emilia had been seen in
London society sufficiently often by now, one thing was still missing to make
her stay in Town a success. She had not yet made her début at Almack's. In a
way, the first appearance at Almack's was more important for a young lady
aspiring to fashion than a presentation at Court. To be acknowledged by the
Queen was one thing, but to be approved by the stern Patronesses of Almack's
was quite another. Emilia and Tilda's first appearance at Almack's was
therefore a most important issue with them, and they made their preparations
for the event with great enthusiasm, no matter how much Lord Elham laughed at them.
"Naturally you think
this is a laughing matter, sir," Emilia said angrily when he teased her
about her ambition to make a good impression on the Patronesses.
"Gentlemen of birth and fortune will always be welcome at Almack's."
Lord Elham laughed. "This
is where you are wrong," he said. "Even gentlemen of birth and
fortune have been turned from the place. For my part, I do not care for it. I
have always found it a trifle flat."
"You will be glad to hear,
then, that you need not escort us," Emilia said irritably. "From what
I gather, Mr Sulgrave will take us there."
"What, not escort my
fiancée to Almack's?" Lord Elham asked. "Unforgivable. It is not
done, Emilia. I'm afraid you will have to bear with me." He looked almost
apologetic, had it not been for the playful sparkle in his eyes that, Emilia
thought, was quite irresistible.
"I am sure I am to be
pitied," she said with a mischievous smile. Why was it that one could
never be angry with Lord Elham for long?
"Certainly. You have my
sympathy," he said. Emilia's smile warmed his heart. He loved to see her
at ease with him. Her smile was a good sign. "May I add to your misery by
asking you to dance a waltz with me?" he asked.
"You have no mercy,
sir," Emilia said, laughing. "I shall - provided I am allowed to
waltz. Lady Gilmorton said one must not waltz at Almack's without the
Patronesses' consent."
"It is just like my mother
to drive a spoke in my wheel," Lord Elham said with a laugh. "But do
not worry - I have never had any difficulty with obtaining their
approval."
Emilia reined in her horse - for
their conversation took place during an outing in Hyde Park - and looked behind
her to see where her sister had got to. Tilda and Mr Ingleton followed them at
a leisurely pace, apparently engrossed in their own conversation. Lord Elham,
too, looked back at them.
"It seems your sister and
my brother are getting along famously," he said. He had noticed his
brother‘s attempts to win Miss Brentwood‘s favour and had his own theory as to
his reasons. He did not mention it to Emilia, though. It was quite obvious that
she had set her heart on making a match between her sister and Harbury. That
someone else might find Miss Brentwood attractive was not part of her plan -
though it was not at all unlikely.
"I am glad Mr Ingleton does
not let his dislike of me influence his opinion of Tilda," Emilia said.
"You think my brother
dislikes you?" Lord Elham knew Gerry disliked Emilia, but he had not
thought she would notice it too. The girl was too astute at times - and yet
failed to perceive the obvious occasionally.
"I think it is fairly
evident," Emilia said. "Does he know how our engagement came
about?"
"He does," Lord Elham
said.
"That explains it
then," Emilia said calmly. "I would greatly dislike anyone who played
such a trick on my brother."
It was a sign of her lovable
nature, Lord Elham thought, that she did not seem to resent his brother's
opinion of her.
"But surely you
would get rid of your prejudice once you found out that the seeming coquette is
a sweet girl, and not at all dangerous," he said lightly.
Emilia blushed. He thought she
was sweet! The idea delighted her. Though the notion of being not at all
dangerous did not quite suit her. "Not dangerous" could be
interpreted as "not attractive", and for some reason she wanted
Lord Elham to find her attractive.
"The thing is, will your
brother ever believe that what is my real character is not just
counterfeit?" she asked.
"Sooner or later he
will," Lord Elham said, giving her a reassuring smile. "He does not
want for sense, Emilia."
This statement coincided with
her own opinion of Mr Ingleton, and Emilia could not help but smile at this.
She looked up at Lord Elham and realised that he was smiling back at her.
Embarrassed, she turned away from him. She did not like it when he assumed the
lover‘s role.
A barouche with Emilia's aunt
and cousins drew up alongside them. Emilia greeted them politely, and with a
certain amount of relief. Lord Elham made his bow to the ladies, but apart from
that remained uncharacteristically silent, a fact that was both noted and
greatly resented by Mrs. Brentwood. It was therefore no wonder that she
approached her husband the moment she returned home and demanded to know what
he was planning to do about his niece's shocking conduct.
Mr Brentwood denied all
knowledge of any of his nieces' unseemly behaviour.
"And what do you say to
Emilia's forever being in Lord Elham's company? Openly flirting with him, not
considering who might see them? You should have seen them in the Park
today!"
"They are engaged to be
married, aren't they?" Mr Brentwood said calmly.
"Are they?" Mrs.
Brentwood snapped. "I have yet to see an announcement. As things are he
may still drop her and ruin her - and crush our girls' chances for a suitable
marriage into the bargain. Do you want that to happen? Do you think your
brother will thank you for not interfering?"
"My dear," Mr
Brentwood said, "I see no reason for interfering. Lady Elham is a
respectable lady, and can be relied on to guide my brother's girls in questions
of propriety."
"But Lady Elham is growing
old, I fear," Mrs. Brentwood said, not without malice. "I am sure
that in her younger days she was an epitome of fashion and correctness, but she
must be almost eighty if she's a day. It might do no harm if you made it known
that your nieces have you to protect them, besides Lady Elham's rather
inefficient chaperonage."
Mr Brentwood realised that there
would be no peace and quiet in his house unless he did something to smoothen
his wife's ruffled feathers. He therefore promised to call on Lord Elham the
next day and consequently had his study to himself again.
The next morning, he left the
house early enough to catch Lord Elham at home before he set out to pay his
morning visits. Mr Brentwood was ushered into the library of Lord Elham's town
house, and a few minutes later his lordship came into the room, a picture of
amiability and consideration.
After offering Mr Brentwood a
glass of wine - which he declined - and a cigar which he accepted gratefully,
Lord Elham was quick to inquire into the purpose of Mr Brentwood's visit.
Haltingly, Mr Brentwood admitted that his object was a rather awkward one. Lord
Elham's eyebrows went up.
"This almost sounds as if
this is going to be serious." he said.
"Well, in a way it
is," Mr Brentwood said with an apologetic smile. "I have come here in
my capacity as my nieces' guardian."
"I beg your pardon,"
Lord Elham said. "Am I to understand that Sir Harry Brentwood has passed
away?"
"Good heavens, no!" Mr
Brentwood said. "But during his absence, I am acting as his deputy in such
matters as ... the protection of his daughters."
"And you consider me a
danger to them, sir?" Lord Elham asked, mildly amused.
"You cannot deny, sir, that
your way of life must cause concern among Emilia's relatives. Your affair with
a certain actress, for example."
Elham laughed. "This is a
matter of the past, sir," he said. "Other than a certain MP's
involvement with a young opera dancer. How is Miss Fournier? May I ask?"
Mr Brentwood reddened. "Are
you trying to blackmail me?"
"Not at all, sir. Unlike
others, I do not care about things that are none of my business. I have many
faults, but hypocrisy is none of them. I am the first to admit that my past
life would not stand the test of closer inquiry, but whose does? You may rest
assured that I won't cause Emilia a moment of anxiety in that respect. One
grows older - and wiser."
"You do mean marriage
then?"
"Certainly." There was
an undertone of righteous indignation in Lord Elham‘s voice. He had - quite
conveniently - forgotten that marriage had not always been on his mind.
"Then why has there not
been an announcement of your engagement? Why this secrecy?" Mr Brentwood
insisted.
"I am still waiting for her
father's consent." And Emilia's, Lord Elham added silently.
"I cannot think my brother
will withhold his permission," Mr Brentwood said.
"What, even though my way
of life causes concern among Emilia's relatives?" Lord Elham asked, with
something like laughter in his voice. This entire discussion was preposterous.
"You know very well, sir,
that once an announcement has been made, my niece's reputation will be safe.
There will be no more speculation regarding her visit to Lady Elham..."
"I did not know there was
speculation afoot, sir," Lord Elham said. "I will talk this over with
Emilia. My fiancée's reputation cannot be a matter of indifference to me."
"I am glad you have come to
see things the way I do." Mr Brentwood said smugly. "After all,
Emilia's character also reflects on the other females in her family."
Lord Elham was now quite sure
where this sudden concern for Emilia had sprung from, and though he showed no
sign of it, he was furious. Had Mrs. Brentwood ever taken the trouble to look
after her nieces, Emilia would not have had to accept his grandmother's
invitation in order to make her appearance in Town. And now Mrs. Brentwood
began to worry about Emilia's respectability? The sheer effrontery of it was
quite enough to enrage him.
''You need not worry, sir,"
he said coldly. "No one who knows your daughters would ever suspect them
of an act of impropriety." Though in their case, Lord Elham thought,
virtue was only a lack of opportunity. Those Misses Brentwood tempted no
one to overstep the boundaries of propriety. Which was why Mrs. Brentwood had
not wanted her nieces in London. This, and not her concern for Emilia's
welfare, had made her send her husband to see him. She would love to see her
nieces sent back to Hampshire, where they were no threat to her own daughters‘
chances.
"They are good girls,"
Mr Brentwood agreed, unaware of Lord Elham‘s biting sarcasm. He took his leave,
adjuring Lord Elham not to think ill of him for having brought up an awkward
topic, telling him that he, for one, had no objection to his projected
marriage.
Lord Elham only waited until Mr
Brentwood was out of sight, then he ordered his phaeton to be brought round
immediately. He had to see Emilia - had to tell her that her relations had not
left him any choice but to send a notice to the Gazette. She would not like it,
certainly, no more than he did. He did not like to be forced to do something -
and he greatly resented that Mr Brentwood had done so.
But, on the other hand, the situation had its advantages. For one, Emilia would
be recognised everywhere as his fiancée, and that would keep other
suitors well away from her. Besides, she might have less difficulty in
acknowledging him as her future husband. Women were remarkably adept at
conforming to their circumstances.
Just as Lord Elham had foreseen,
Emilia was furious when she heard about Lord Elham's encounter with her uncle.
"Our engagement is none of Uncle
Cyril's concern," she exclaimed. "Why did you not tell him so?"
"He informed me he was your
guardian in your father's absence, and demanded to know my intentions," Lord
Elham said. "What was I to tell him? I am just posing as Emilia's fiancé
until Sir George Harbury falls in love with her sister?"
"It does sound a trifle
harebrained, doesn't it?" Emilia said sheepishly. "And my uncle was afraid you
would corrupt me!"
"When we know very well it was
the other way round, that I was the innocent victim of your schemes," Lord
Elham said with a grin. "Listen, Emilia, there is no getting around it. I will
have to send a notice to the Gazette. Your aunt and uncle may be meddling in
what is no concern of theirs, but they are right in one respect. Everyone is
waiting for an announcement, and if it does not come ... well, people will
wonder. I do not want you to become a target for public censure, Emilia."
"And what about you?" Emilia
asked. "Will public censure spare you, do you think?"
"There may be some talk about
me, but I do not mind it," Lord Elham said. "I never did, and believe me, there
has been talk before. I have never lived like a hermit, and in certain
circles..." He stopped. "You agree with me then that an announcement has to be
made?"
"I do not agree," Emilia said
sternly, "but I know you will do as you see fit - and enjoy yourself immensely.
My opinion does not matter to you, I am sure."
He laughed. "Still, I had rather
make you see reason."
"I do see reason," Emilia said
with a frown. "I just do not like it."
Before Emilia realised what he
was about, Lord Elham had seized her in his arms and kissed her.
"You're altogether lovely,
Emilia," he whispered in her ear , holding her close. "Especially when you are
being unreasonable."
"Let's become reasonable again,
then," Emilia snapped when she had regained her breath. She struggled to free
herself, and was rather surprised when he let go of her the moment she made her
first attempt. "Send the notice to the Gazette, sir, but keep in mind that this
does not change anything between us. I won't allow you to take any more
liberties than before. Have I made myself clear?" She glared at Lord Elham,
daring him to argue.
"Perfectly clear, my love," Lord
Elham said calmly, but with a roguish glint in his eyes. "Tell me when you have
changed your mind."
The presumption of his statement
made Emilia's anger boil over. "That will never happen," she cried. "I am not
one of your..."
"One of my what?" Lord Elham
asked her.
"One of your ... those ... those
women ... you talked about the other day," Emilia said, faltering. "I am
sure they allow you to do all kinds of ... of outrageous things to them,
but I won't!"
"Of course not," Lord Elham said
with a mischievous grin. "Not until we are married."
"I won't marry you," Emilia
said. "You gave me your word, remember?"
"I remember," Lord Elham said
curtly. "And should I happen to forget it for a moment, you are certain to
remind me." He had been regretting that promise for weeks. Picking up his hat
and gloves, he said, "We will meet at Almack's, I trust."
When he had left, Emilia sat
down and pondered on what had happened. That kiss ... she wished she could say
it had been unpleasant, but that was not true. In fact, she had enjoyed it, and
that frightened her.
To say the truth, she would not
mind if Lord Elham kissed her again some time - though naturally she would
never admit that to anyone but herself. What had become of the perfectly
respectable young lady she had once been? Perfectly respectable young ladies
did not force gentlemen into an engagement. Neither did they allow themselves
to be kissed. Emilia wondered where this would end.
She should have known that she could not trust Lord Elham to behave properly - but that she could not trust herself either was a bit of a surprise.
Tilda noticed that something was
wrong with her sister the moment she saw her, and she did not rest until Emilia
had confided in her. Emilia told her almost everything that had happened
between her and Lord Elham -- the only thing she kept to herself was the kiss.
It was none of Tilda's business, and knowing Tilda would worry if she knew that
Lord Elham had kissed her, Emilia decided not to upset her.
Tilda was none too pleased with
the news that Lord Elham was going to announce his engagement to Emilia.
"Why did you allow him to
do this?" she wanted to know. "I thought you did not mean to marry
him!"
"I don't," Emilia
said. "But there is nothing I can do about it. Uncle Cyril forced him into
this. Can you believe it? He called on Lord Elham and demanded to know his
intentions regarding me! Uncle Cyril, of all people! I want to know what
business of his it is!"
"He is our
uncle," Tilda said. "And Papa is abroad, so I think it is his
business to look after us."
"He was perfectly content
with ignoring us while we were in Little Compton," Emilia pointed out.
"It did not seem to be his business then."
"What dangers does Little
Compton hold for young ladies like us?" Tilda asked her sister with an
amused smile. "What reason could he have had to interfere?"
"For all he cared, I could
have eloped with the apothecary's son," Emilia snapped.
"I had no idea you had a
tendre for Horace Carter," Tilda laughed. "I would not have thought
it of you, Emilia -- but then one cannot argue about taste."
"Horace Carter,"
Emilia said derisively. "He is the very last man in the world... I know
better than to run off with him. I only used him as an example. Uncle
Cyril would not have minded if I'd fled to Gretna Green with Horace Carter --
the only thing he does mind is that I ... that we are in London.
Though I suspect he does not mind that either. It is my aunt who does
not want us here. I daresay she thought Lord Elham would rather send us back to
Hampshire than announce the engagement. But he didn't."
"No, he didn't," Tilda
said placidly. "But, Emilia -- you know it will become more difficult for
you to get out of this engagement once everyone knows about it?"
"Everyone knows about it
already," Emilia said. "Didn't you know there were rumours?"
"But so far it has not been
made official. By allowing Lord Elham to announce your betrothal, you have
acknowledged that you do intend to marry him." Tilda sounded worried.
"No such thing,"
Emilia said. "I told him I would not marry him -- I told him so
again when he said he'd make the announcement. Marriage has never been an issue
between us."
But it had, Emilia realised the
moment she had spoken those words. Though she had never thought of marrying
Lord Elham, some of the things he had said to her indicated that he did think
of it. Only before, when he had kissed her and she had told him that she would
not allow him to take any liberties with her, he had called her my love,
and had told her that she'd allow him to kiss her when they were married.
Not if. When. Despite the things she had said to the contrary, Lord Elham
seemed to be quite positive that she would marry him in the end. That
man was insufferable -- used to having things his own way. Well, he would
realise his error before long. Emilia would not let him handle her in such a
high-handed manner.
As Emilia had foreseen, the
notice in the Gazette did not surprise anyone. Lord Elham had never denied any
of the rumours concerning him and Miss Emilia Brentwood, and although Miss
Emilia had demonstrated modesty most becoming in a well-bred female and had
refused to answer any impertinent questions, Lady Elham's willingness to bring
her into society had been a certain sign that a wedding was in the offing.
Still, when Emilia arrived at
Almack's Assembly Rooms, holding on to Lord Elham's arm, she found that
everyone's eyes were on her - a disconcerting thought.
"Why is everyone staring at
us?" she whispered to him. Then a dreadful thought occurred to her. Was
there something wrong with her appearance? A spot on her dress that she had not
noticed? Was her hair a mess? Had she committed some social solecism without
being aware of it?
Lord Elham looked at her with a
smile. "Perhaps they have not seen anyone as beautiful as you
before," he said.
Emilia blushed.
"Don't," she whispered, looking up at him. She did not know why his
compliment made her feel uncomfortable, but it did, and she wished he would
stop.
"I beg your pardon?"
He gave her a slightly bewildered look. Of course, Emilia thought. It would be
difficult for her to explain why she felt the way she did. But she tried.
"I ... I do not like
compliments very much," she admitted. "They make me feel
awkward."
"You are a strange
creature," he said, laughing. "I thought ladies liked being
complimented."
"So we do," Emilia
said. "But only if we feel we have deserved them. That is, I know I cannot
answer for other ladies, but this is how ... how I feel about it."
"You did deserve
that compliment, Emilia," Lord Elham said softly. "You are the most
beautiful woman I know."
Emilia's discomfort grew, even
though she had to admit that Lord Elham's remark would have been highly
gratifying if the situation were different.
"What does beauty matter,
when all is said and done?" she finally asked.
"It only matters as far as
first impressions are concerned," Lord Elham admitted. "It gets
people interested. But I am the first one to admit that there is more to you
than meets the eye, Emilia, and I am looking forward to learning all about
you."
"You will never know all
about me, no matter how hard you try," Emilia said with a laugh.
"Is this a challenge, Miss
Brentwood?" he asked with a smile matching the roguish glint in his eyes.
"No," Emilia said
resolutely. "It is a fact."
Lord Elham gave a laugh that
indicated he did not believe her, and then went to find some seats to
accommodate the ladies of his party. While he was gone, Lady Jersey came towards
them, bringing a young gentleman with her. After having offered Emilia her
felicitations, she introduced her companion -- a Lord Scarsdale, who lost no
time in asking Emilia for the first two dances. Both Lady Jersey and Lady Elham
gave her a nod of approval, and so Emilia accepted. He seemed nice, and there
was no reason why she should not dance with him, she thought.
Lord Scarsdale turned out to be
a friend of Lord Elham's. He informed Emilia that they had known each other
since university days.
"Then why I have I not met
you before, sir?" Emilia wanted to know. After all, she had been in London
for a while.
"This is exactly the kind
of question I expected," Lord Scarsdale said laughingly. "The truth
is, Miss Brentwood, I was forced to spend some time in the country."
"Oh!" Emilia
speculated whether a quarrel or a lack of money had made Lord Scarsdale's
absence from Town necessary, but refrained from asking. A well-bred female did
not ask such questions -- especially not to a stranger.
"I will have to ask Elham
what he meant by being so secretive, though," Lord Scarsdale said.
"Until I read the notice in the Gazette, I had no idea he meant to marry!
I admit curiosity drove me here tonight -- I wanted to see the lady who has
succeeded in capturing my friend Elham's heart."
"And now you are
disappointed to find only me," Emilia said with a smile.
"Disappointed? Good God,
no! How could I be?" Lord Scarsdale asked. "The fact is, now that I
have seen you with my own eyes, I regret that I was not there before him! Still
I do wonder that he never mentioned you before, after all I am one of his
closest friends!" He gave her a searching look.
"Perhaps he did not because
my father is abroad, and we did not want to make an announcement until his
return," Emilia said, sticking to the tale they had been telling everyone
so far. "Only somehow the news got around, and we felt it would be better
if we did make an announcement after all."
"But he never even
mentioned your name," Lord Scarsdale insisted. "This is not like him
at all! One usually knows when he's made a conquest..." He broke off.
"I am sorry, Miss Brentwood," he said. "Please forget I said
that. I did not wish to liken you to ... Elham will kill me in cold blood if he
finds out about this."
"Why should he?"
Emilia asked. "You did not reveal any secrets to me - I am well acquainted
with Lord Elham's past. Though I have to say I'd rather not be compared to ...
his conquests."
The thought of Lord Elham's conquests
made her feel almost physically sick, but she managed to look unconcerned.
"Quite understandable, Miss
Brentwood. You are not at all like them." Lord Scarsdale smiled at her.
"Elham was rather wild in his younger days, but I am sure he has put all
that behind him."
When the music stopped, Lord
Scarsdale offered to bring Emilia something to drink, and Emilia sat down next
to Lady Gilmorton, gratefully accepting his offer. Lady Elham had gone to the
card room, while Tilda had gone off to meet some of Mrs. Sulgrave's friends.
Only Lord Elham's mother was there to keep her company but after having
ascertained that her protégée was comfortable, Lady Gilmorton turned back to
her conversation with a friend of hers, and Emilia was left to her own devices.
She looked round to watch
people, to compare the ladies' dresses and ornaments to her own, and began to
feel rather inadequate. When she overheard a conversation between two very
fashionable ladies sitting next to her, her spirits did not improve. They were
talking about her, unaware that she could hear them, because a potted plant
next to Emilia's chair kept her hidden from their view.
"Have you seen Lord Elham's
fiancée?" one of the ladies asked.
"No, I have not," the
other answered. "Nor do I wish to." Her voice sounded quite
determined, yet the other lady continued.
"But she is a charming
creature," she said. Her giggle indicated that she actually meant the
opposite. "Quite ... rustic."
"Indeed?" the other
lady said, with no trace of interest in her voice. "How so?"
"Oh, she is just an
unsophisticated chit," the first lady said maliciously. "Though I
have to say since Lady Elham took her in hand her taste in fashion has
improved, but that doesn't change anything, does it? I wonder what Elham sees
in her -- I suppose it is her hair. Redheads are said to be quite ... spirited,
aren't they?"
Redheads? Emilia wanted to
protest. Her hair was auburn, not red. That woman had not even looked at
her properly!
"And that seems to be his
type," the lady continued. "Just remember that lightskirt he used to
have in his keeping! She is quite a handful, I am told."
Emilia froze. The thought of any
woman -- lightskirt or not -- in connection with Lord Elham made her furious. He
belonged to her, not any other woman! Then she realised just what
direction her thoughts had taken. She had become quite possessive when Lord
Elham was concerned. Emilia recalled how she had felt when he had held her in
his arms and kissed her, and suddenly the truth dawned on her. No matter how
much she tried to fool herself, she was in love with Lord Elham -- and the mere
possibility of his being in love with someone else made her feel miserable.
"I see you are
well-informed," the second lady said derisively. "It is no matter of
interest to me what kind of women Lord Elham prefers."
"Is it not?" the first
lady asked, with some malice in her tone. "I thought you did take an
interest, some time ago. Well, ten to one his fascination with that country
chit will die down before long. It always did, even with ladies much better
suited to him. As I said, I do not understand what he sees in that Miss
Brentwood."
Lord Scarsdale chose that moment
to return to Emilia, carrying a glass of lemonade, and his grave expression
told Emilia that he, too, had overheard what the lady had said -- at least
partly.
"There you are, Miss
Brentwood," he said loud enough for the ladies to hear. "I am sorry
it took me so long, but there was quite a queue. Are you comfortable?"
For a moment, Emilia
contemplated asking him to take her outside, away from that malicious pair, but
then she decided against it. She would not run away -- she would not let them
know they had hurt her. They had not deserved that satisfaction, she thought.
"Thank you, Lord Scarsdale,
I am quite comfortable," Emilia replied coolly and took her lemonade from
him. "Have you seen my sister, by any chance?" She took a sip of her
lemonade, giving Lord Scarsdale an imploring look. He understood her perfectly.
"She is over there with
Gerald Ingleton and the Sulgraves," he said. "May I take you
there?"
"That would be very
kind," Emilia said, rising. "I have just recalled something very
important I have to tell her."
Lord Scarsdale offered her his
arm, and together they went across the room, where Tilda was talking with Mrs.
Sulgrave and Mr. Ingleton and apparently having a tremendous time.
"Don't look around, Miss
Brentwood," he said quietly. "They are watching us."
"Who are they?" Emilia
asked.
"The Ladies Daphne and
Phyllis Arlington. I am not telling you a secret when I say Lady Phyllis was
setting her cap at Elham, but he kept ignoring her. Lady Daphne seems to have
taken it on herself to comfort her sister now that he is no longer available.
She was the one who ... did most of the talking."
"The one who was abusing
me?" Emilia asked. "Do you think they knew I was there and could hear
what they said?"
"No, they did not,"
Lord Scarsdale said with a chuckle. "You should have seen their faces when
I came back and they realised I was talking to you."
Emilia smiled, but it was a sad
smile. "Is this what everyone thinks about me?" she asked quietly.
"Am I an unsophisticated country chit? Do people wonder what Lord Elham
sees in me? Is it so impossible that he should like me?"
Lord Scarsdale stopped and
turned to face Emilia. "Pay no attention to those two, Miss Brentwood,"
he said earnestly. "They are a pair of malicious, vulgar shrews. They are
not worth your notice, do you understand?"
Emilia nodded.
"Good," Lord Scarsdale
said with an encouraging smile. "Just remember that you have achieved what
Lady Phyllis wanted. That is the reason for their dislike -- it has nothing to
do with you, and what they say is not the general opinion. I think I
know what Elham sees in you -- and I quite envy him for having found his perfect
match."
He led her to the group around
Mrs. Sulgrave, and took leave of her shortly after that. Emilia was sorry to
see him go -- he was a friend of Lord Elham's, and had shown his readiness to
become her friend also. She was sure she would never forget his
kindness, and hoped she would see him more often, now that he was back in
London.
Later in the evening, Emilia was
waltzing with Lord Elham, as she had promised. She felt wonderfully secure in
his arms, and wondered why it had taken her so long to realise that she was in
love with him. Perhaps because she had not wanted to fall in love with
him, she mused. All she had wanted him to do had been to assist her in her
attempt to secure Sir George Harbury for her sister. Now things were quite
different. Emilia wanted him to love her.
"How did you enjoy
yourself?" Lord Elham asked, looking down at her and smiling. "You
seem quite content."
"Do I?" Emilia asked.
"Well, I am, so it is no wonder."
"I suppose I have to
consider myself lucky that you found the time to dance with me," Lord
Elham teased. "You must have danced with every gentleman present."
"Oh no, not every
gentleman," Emilia said. "Your brother did not ask me to dance with
him, and Admiral Smythe begged to be excused on account of his gouty
condition."
Lord Elham laughed. "All in
all, your first evening at Almack's seems to have been a success."
"I suppose so," Emilia
said. "If having a partner for every dance can be counted as a success, it
sure was. -- I must say I quite liked your friend, Lord Scarsdale."
"Did you?" Lord Elham
asked, frowning. "He is not the kind of man you should know, Emilia."
"Isn't he?" Emilia
exclaimed, taken aback. "But ... why not? He seemed so nice and ... Lady
Jersey introduced him to me, so I thought there was nothing wrong with..."
She broke off when she saw the laughter in his eyes. "You are trying to
make a fool of me," she said accusingly. "Why am I not supposed to
know Lord Scarsdale?"
"Because he is everything I
am not," Lord Elham said. "Handsome, kind, respectable ... husband
material, in short. I cannot stand aside and watch while he makes himself
agreeable to you. Before I know it, he will have taken you away from me, and
where would I be then?"
"I do not think he
could," Emilia said unguardedly. True, Lord Scarsdale was everything a
woman could wish for, but he lacked Lord Elham's irresistible charm.
"Could he not?" Lord
Elham asked, with a self-satisfied grin. "I am glad to hear it."
"I did not mean ... that is,
I did not want to indicate ..." Emilia stuttered and, seeing his significant
grin, became angry. "Oh, you!" she exclaimed impatiently.
"What about me?" Lord
Elham asked, laughing.
"You are a ... an ... annoying
person," she said indignantly. "You take delight in teasing me!"
"Quite so," Lord Elham
said and pulled her closer -- as close as propriety at Almack's permitted.
"But I do think I know what you meant before."
Emilia hoped he had mistaken her meaning. She did not want Lord Elham to realise she was in love with him -- not yet, not after all the pains she had taken to make him think otherwise. He was too sure of himself, and though Emilia did not have much experience with men she knew that they lost interest in a lady if they felt she was easy to get. She did not want him to lose his interest in her. She was not like his other women. Emilia wanted to be the one conquest worth an effort. A real effort.
The day after the announcement of Emilia's betrothal had appeared in the Gazette, a throng of visitors came to Clarges Street to congratulate her. Many people wanted to be on friendly terms with her now that she was an acknowledged member of the Ingleton family.
Many of them had hitherto been
unknown to her, others were acquaintances of her parents, and there was a third
set of visitors -- those who hoped to gain consequence through an association
with her. Among this set, there were Emilia's aunt and her cousins. That they
did not care a straw for either her or Tilda had been evident. But now that
Emilia was safely engaged -- and engaged to a man of consequence -- they had
seemed to discover their sense of family duty.
Emilia was greatly surprised to
hear that her aunt was planning a ball in honour of her engagement, but
civility forbade her to question Mrs. Brentwood's motives within her hearing.
She did so, however, the moment the guests had left and she was alone with
Tilda, Lady Gilmorton and Lady Elham.
"Oh, I think it is obvious
why she does that," Tilda said. "You have made a most advantageous
match, and Aunt Brentwood wants to have a piece of the cake."
Lady Elham nodded. "I believe
it is very likely that Mrs. Brentwood is trying to take advantage of your
connections," she said. "She knows that my grandson has many
important friends -- people who would not come to her parties for her
sake but who can be trusted to attend a ball in honour of Lord Elham's
bride."
"So what am I supposed to
do?" Emilia asked. "Shall I tell her that I do not want her to host a
ball for me?"
"That is the worst thing
you could do, for it would set her against you," Lady Elham said. "A
course of action to be strictly avoided, my dear. You will, of course, attend
the ball, and so shall we. Leave the task of showing Mrs. Brentwood her place
to me."
Knowing that Lady Elham was more
than capable of giving Mrs. Brentwood a heavy set-down, Emilia let the matter
drop and turned her attention to the latest issue of Ackermann's Repository.
Among the fashion-plates, she found the perfect gown for her aunt's ball, and
was trying to find a way to afford it -- for, judging by the description that
went with the fashion plate, it was shockingly dear. Yet, wouldn't it have been
a triumph to wear that dress and outshine everyone at Mrs. Brentwood's ball?
Her musings were interrupted by
the arrival of Lord Elham, who had chosen that moment to come and request her
company for a drive in the park.
"But I see you are busy
with improving your mind," he said with a laugh and took her copy of Ackermann's
from her. "Even more important than that, I see," he said with an
impertinent grin, looking at the fashion-plate Emilia had studied with such
enthusiasm. "Improving your wardrobe."
"You will make your
grandmother think I am shallow," Emilia said sternly. "And you know I
am not."
"Anything but that, my
love," he said warmly. "Now -- will you come to the park with me or
will you not?"
"I'd love to," Emilia
said, beaming, and, remembering the rules of propriety, turned to Lady Elham to
ask her whether she could be spared. Lady Elham allowed her to go, and advised
her to make haste in changing her dress, for it looked as if it was going to
rain.
"Oh, it will hold off for a
while," Lord Elham said dismissively. "It won't start raining until
we are back."
Emilia did not doubt for a
moment that Lord Elham was convinced the rain would await his pleasure. It was
perfectly in character for him, and she wondered whether it was wise to fall in
love with such a high-handed fellow. But she soon concluded that, since falling
in love had not the least thing to do with wisdom, and hardly anything with an
intention to do so, there was nothing she could do. The only thing she could
do was not to give in to his overbearing ways too often.
Lord Elham had taken her out in
his curricle, and the pair of greys harnessed to it was of a kind that made
many an aspiring Nonpareil green with envy. Some clouds were spoiling the
beauty of the afternoon sky, but as some rays of sun still penetrated them it
was pleasantly warm, and Emilia enjoyed herself very much. For a while, Lord
Elham drove her along Rotten Row in amiable silence, stopping every now and then
to talk to friends of his, some of whom subjected Emilia to an unashamed
inspection while they were conversing with him.
It reminded Emilia of what a
prominent personage her fiancé was, and how difficult things would become for
him once she had called off the engagement. This led her to the conclusion that
it was, perhaps, not wise for them to be seen in each other's company so often.
Though she would miss seeing him -- if she acted now as if everything was
at its best between them, it would be impossible for her to justify their
separation.
"I am not sure we should be
seen together quite so often," she said when Lord Elham set his curricle
in motion once again, after exchanging pleasantries with some ladies who were
friends of his grandmother's.
He gave her a curious look.
"Why?" he asked.
"People might get a wrong
idea," Emilia said.
"Of what?"
"Our engagement." She
knew he had understood perfectly well what she had meant. A lack of
intelligence was not one of his faults.
"You believe they might
assume we intend to follow the usual procedure and get married," he said
with a grin.
"They might, sir,"
Emilia said.
"How absurd," Lord
Elham said dryly. "I wonder what gives them such ridiculous notions."
So marriage was a ridiculous
notion? Or was he making fun of her again?
"It amuses you, I
daresay," she said, not happy with his answer.
"Let's say it does not
worry me," Lord Elham said, giving her an earnest look.
"I will not marry you for
the sake of public opinion," Emilia said, goaded.
Lord Elham stopped his curricle,
and took one of Emilia's hands. "I do not want you to," he said. He
looked absolutely sincere when he said so, and Emilia was stunned. So he did not
mean to marry her after all, and had only talked about marriage to tease her?
"There is only one
acceptable reason for you to marry me, Emilia. Surely you can find out what
reason that would be?" He gave her an earnest look, much more serious than
the ones Emilia had encountered from him so far. "Unless you can find it
in your heart that marriage with me is what you really want, I will not marry
you. Now, what have you to say to that?"
Emilia swallowed hard before she
answered. "I am relieved, sir."
This was obviously not the reply
he had expected, for there was a hint of annoyance -- even hurt - in his eyes.
Yet it only took him a moment to conceal it.
"Do you want to take the
ribbons, Emilia?" he asked, giving her one of his polite smiles.
"Thank you, but no,"
Emilia said. "I cannot handle a team, let alone a team like yours."
"You're right, they can be
quite a handful," he laughed.
"But this is what you like,
isn't it?" Emilia said before she could stop herself. She was not sure
whether Lord Elham had understood what she was getting at, but he seemed to
have caught her meaning.
"Even capriciousness
becomes boring after a while," he merely said, and drove on. Emilia took
the hint for what it was -- it was a warning not to trifle with him. But how
could he accuse her of fickleness, when he did not even know his own
mind in the matter?
Lord Elham was annoyed.
Emilia had misunderstood his hints -- or had chosen to ignore them, which was
worse. When he had told her that he did not want her to marry him for the sake
of public opinion, this had been exactly what he had meant to say -- that nothing
else should weigh with him but her own opinion, her own wishes. But while only
yesterday it had looked as if he had succeeded in winning her heart, today
things looked very different. She was "relieved" he would not force
her into marriage. What did this mean? Had he been mistaken after all? Never
before had any woman baffled him the way Emilia did, and it was not an
altogether pleasant experience.
But he would not let her off
quite so easily, Elham promised himself. Sir Hector Finchley had put his wife's
pair of chestnuts up for sale at Tattersall's. In Elham's opinion, they were a
perfect engagement present for Emilia. Elham smiled. Emilia would spend some
more time with him, whether she wanted to or not.
Emilia could not believe her
eyes when, a couple of days later, Lord Elham called in Clarges Street and
asked her to look out of the window. Outside in the street there was a new
phaeton, with a pair of chestnuts harnessed to it that almost took the shine
out of Elham's own team. The groom holding the horses was unknown to Emilia -
and suspicion dawned on her.
"Whose carriage is
this?" she demanded to know.
"Yours," Lord Elham
said with an unashamed grin. "A present for you."
Emilia turned away from the
window. "You must be mad," she exclaimed. "To spend a fortune on
a present for which you know I have no use! I told you I cannot handle a team
of horses!"
"I am glad to hear this is
your only reason for objecting to the present. Your inability to handle a team
can be mended," Lord Elham pointed out. "I will teach you."
For a moment, Emilia felt
immeasurably happy. His willingness to teach her meant, without doubt, that he
wanted to spend more time with her. He was also willing to make an effort for
her sake, just as she had wanted him to. But she was still unsure whether to
accept the present. This was not a set of combs, or a fan, or any other trinket
she could give back to him and forget.
Lady Elham, after having looked
out of the window and seeing Emilia's new phaeton, turned to her grandson with
a smile and decided the matter.
"Very original, Desmond.
You do seem to put a great deal of thought into your gifts. - I do hope,
however, that you will take good care your fiancée does not break her neck. I
would hate to be the bearer of bad news."
"Rest assured, ma'am. I
won't allow her to go out in this carriage all by herself just yet." Lord
Elham smiled roguishly. "Not until her driving skill matches mine."
"Is this meant to assure
me?" Lady Elham asked. "I am well acquainted with the way you drive,
Desmond."
"You are also well
acquainted with the way I drive when I have a passenger." Lord Elham gave
his grandmother an earnest look. "I'll take good care of Emilia. Believe
it or not, it is in my own interest if I do."
"I do not doubt that,"
Lady Elham said. "Now, I suppose you are keen to try your hand at these
horses, Emilia. Desmond, I expect you back in an hour and a half. Make the best
of it."
Lord Elham bowed in
acknowledgement of Lady Elham's orders and turned to Emilia.
"You heard my grandmother," he said. "Hurry."
"Don't I get a say in the
matter?" Emilia asked.
"Certainly," Lord
Elham said. "You get to decide what you wear, and where to go."
"How kind of you,"
Emilia said sarcastically. "Is this what your wife will have to expect in
marriage? Will she have to submit to your wishes in everything? Did you
consider for a single moment that I might have other plans?"
"Do you?" Lord Elham
asked, taken aback. Seemingly, the thought had not occurred to him.
"Have other plans? No, I
don't," Emilia said, feeling some regret that she did not - and that she
was not the accomplished liar she had appeared to be at the beginning of their
acquaintance. Not for the life of her could she make up an acceptable excuse
for not going with him, even though he had deserved a set-down.
"There you are, then,"
Lord Elham said, satisfied. "Don't be a spoilsport, put on your bonnet and
pelisse and come with me."
"Was there ever a woman who
could resist such a charming invitation?" Lady Elham said. "How did you
manage to gain your reputation, Desmond? The ladies must be quite different now
to what they used to be in my day, if behaviour such as yours makes them lose
their heads over a gentleman."
Lord Elham glared at his
grandmother, no doubt to silence her on the topic of his reputation, but she
only laughed and advised them to be off.
The fashionable hour had not yet
begun, and so Emilia and Lord Elham had Hyde Park almost to themselves. Elham
chose one of the less frequented driveways, and for nearly an hour he taught
her, with an amount of patience that Emilia had never suspected in him, how to
handle the reins. Despite her initial resentment, she enjoyed herself greatly,
and when Lord Elham suggested another outing for the next day, she eagerly
accepted before realising that, in order to put him in his place, she ought to
have refused.
During the days to come, Emilia
spent a great deal of time in the park with Lord Elham, practising with her
phaeton. She was doing well, he told her as they were driving along Rotten Row
at a sedate pace -- Lord Elham did not allow her to drive fast yet. A high-perch
phaeton, he told her, overturned easily if not steered by an accomplished hand,
and he did not want her to get hurt in a carriage accident, especially not in a
carriage that had been a gift from him.
"What difference would it
make if it were another carriage?" Emilia asked him.
"It would not be my
fault," Lord Elham said earnestly. "If you came to grief driving my
present I could never forgive myself for making it possible."
"Why did you give me such a
dangerous present in the first place?" Emilia asked.
"I did not think of the
danger when I bought it for you," he admitted. "I only thought you
might like it -- and that this was the kind of present that ensured we'd see a
great deal of each other."
Emilia had already suspected
some thing of that kind, but she could not feel angry with him. He wanted to
see her as often as possible -- and there was no harm in that, certainly.
Especially since that wish -- despite her opinion of what was proper -- coincided
with her own.
Lord Elham continued to take
Emilia out to practice driving every morning, and she soon grew to enjoy those
outings very much. She became more confident about her driving, and her pride
knew no bounds when Lord Elham finally allowed her to drive the phaeton from
Clarges Street to the park without assistance and, when she had done so, told
her that she had done very well.
"Do you really think
so?" she asked, beaming at him.
"Certainly. I do think we
should give you an opportunity to show off your skill. What do you say to a
trip into the country?"
"Just the two of us? That
cannot be done, as you well know, my lord."
"I do know, Emilia. I was
going to suggest that my brother and your sister should come with us."
"Oh! Tilda would like that,
I am sure. She is very fond of the country."
Lord Elham looked at her with an
amused grin. "Shall I ask Harbury to join us, too?"
"Do you think he would
come?" Emilia asked eagerly.
Lord Elham laughed. "To be honest,
I don't."
"I have not seen him very
often lately, coming to think of it," Emilia said. "Do you think he
is avoiding us?"
"I have not the slightest
idea," Lord Elham said. "But then he is not likely to confide in me,
of all people."
"It would be very bad for
my sister if he were to avoid us," Emilia said.
"For your sister or
yourself?"
"For Matilda! Why should I
care whether I ever see him again or not?"
"Shall I be frank?"
Lord Elham said, after a short pause. "Your sister does not seem to care
much, either."
"Tilda is not
inconstant!" Emilia exclaimed indignantly.
"I'd never dare to suggest
such a thing." Lord Elham said calmly. "You misunderstood me."
"I hope so," Emilia
said severely. "Matilda does not deserve your censure. Once her heart is
engaged, her feelings are not likely to change."
"The question is whether
your sister's heart really was Harbury's," Lord Elham said.
"Don't you think you might have been mistaken?"
"She admitted it!"
"Perhaps she was as much
mistaken about her own feelings as you were?" Lord Elham insisted.
"She may have fancied herself in love with Harbury, only to find out on
closer acquaintance that he was not the man she had supposed him to be."
"And that would make her
change her mind about him?"
"It would, I think."
Lord Elham said. "Things like this have happened before."
"Not with Tilda,"
Emilia said, with conviction. Lord Elham knew nothing of the matter if he
believed Tilda to be capable of such fickleness.
"Very well, then. I shall
not argue with you; you must be a better judge of your sister's actions than I
am." Despite this statement, Emilia felt that Lord Elham did not agree
with her.
They drove on in silence, Emilia
reflecting on what he had said. She did not know why Lord Elham's words had
dismayed her so much - Sir George Harbury had, after all, not behaved very well
to her or Tilda and, coming to think of it, she was not certain whether he
deserved Tilda's regard.
But if Tilda had ceased to feel
affection for Sir George, Emilia had put her reputation at risk for nothing. It
did not do to think of it - Tilda had to be in love with Sir George, and
Emilia had to devise a way to bring them together.
Her reflections had taken her
attention away from driving, and she was rudely awakened to the Here and Now by
Lord Elham taking the reins from her hands and sharply advising her to watch
what she was about.
Emilia blushed, and apologised,
realising that in not paying attention to what she was doing, she had almost
run over a pedestrian - Lord Scarsdale. Luckily, Lord Scarsdale did not seem to
resent the incident but graciously accepted her apologies.
They spent a couple of minutes
talking about Emilia's driving lessons and the progress she was making, and the
proud looks Lord Elham directed at her occasionally made her feel warm and
contented. She wished the moment would last forever, but unfortunately it did
not - Lord Scarsdale took his leave, wishing Emilia success in her further
attempts at learning to drive, and Lord Elham suggested they'd go back to
Clarges Street to discuss their outing into the country with Tilda and Mr.
Ingleton. Tilda and Mr. Ingleton... Emilia resolved to speak to her sister in
the evening to find out what to expect from that quarter, and to see if Tilda
still cared for Sir George.
"A moving scene, isn't
it?" Mr. Bosworth said to Chloe Watson as they watched Emilia's
proceedings from afar. "Elham in the role of lover as well as mentor.
Sickening, if you ask me."
"Come, Mr. Bosworth,"
Chloe said with a wicked smile. "You are a cynic! Surely this time Lord
Elham does not assume a role, though I admit it is hard to tell when he is
serious. I rather hope he is."
"Why? What does it matter
to you whether he is - or isn't?"
"A great deal," Chloe
said. "The success of my plans for him depends on it."
"You are still planning
something?" Mr. Bosworth laughed. "Why not leave him alone? Be glad
you are rid of him! You told me he'd become a dead bore of late!"
"I am glad to be rid
of him." Chloe laughed. "But no one abandons Chloe Watson without
consequences. I need to get this message across, once and for all. I am the one
who decides how long my love affairs last, no one else."
"What are you going to
do?" Mr. Bosworth asked suspiciously.
"I am going to do the chit
a favour," Chloe said, chuckling. "She seems to think the world of
Elham. Don't you think it is time someone pushed him off that pedestal she has
placed him on?"
"How are you going to
accomplish that?" Bosworth asked, curious.
"Leave that to me,"
Chloe said. "I have a plan that can't fail. All I need is to catch her
alone."
For some reason, the thought seemed to amuse her. On their way back to Chloe's home, Mr. Bosworth repeatedly observed a cruel smile on Miss Watson's face, and began to wonder if it had been a good idea of him to get involved with such a vicious creature.
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