A Matter of Duty (14 page)

Before Kit could reply, she spoke again, her bitterness spilling, over into each angry word. ‘I speak for myself, sir, and for myself alone. I trust that one day you’ll pay the full price for having killed my brother, and I also trust that in the meantime you’ll suffer every torture imaginable from the wound he inflicted. I find you beneath contempt, sirrah, and I wouldn’t stain Tom’s memory by agreeing to make your despicable acquaintance.’

There were shocked gasps at this, and she knew she was guilty of great impropriety, but she wasn’t repentant. Nothing,
nothing
, would ever make her take back her words.

Rowe’s face was now white with fury. ‘Highclare, I sincerely trust you’ll deal appropriately with a wife capable of such misconduct.’

‘I fail to see why I should chastise her,’ Kit replied.

There were more gasps, and Louisa’s eyes flew disbelievingly to his face. She’d disobeyed him – ignored his warnings and made a scene – and yet he was defending her?

Rowe’s lips parted in momentary surprise, but then his eyes hardened like flint. ‘Don’t provoke me, Highclare,’ he warned.

‘And don’t make the mistake of thinking I go in awe of you, Rowe. I know you better than you think, enough to be certain that you’re too fond of your elegant hide to risk challenging me. You prefer to restrict yourself to opponents you can be sure of bettering.’

From pale rage, Rowe’s face now suffused with dark color. His lips became a thin, malevolent line, and Louisa noticed how his fist briefly clenched. ‘You’re wrong if you think I shrink from calling you out, Highclare, for believe me, given good cause, nothing would delight me more. For the moment, however, I’ll content myself with congratulating you upon your misalliance – you richly deserve such a bride. I’ll further content myself by warning you that I’m about to take appropriate revenge for the loss of the
Mercury
. I’ve bought Lawrence’s yacht and I’m going to extinguish you at Cowes.’

‘You’re welcome to try.’

‘Oh, I will, you may be sure of it,’ breathed the other. Then he gave a chill nod of his head and turned to quickly descend the staircase.

Geoffrey had been standing awkwardly by throughout, and for a moment he was caught unawares by Rowe’s sudden departure. But then, as he made to follow his new friend from the scene, Kit’s hand suddenly shot out to seize his arm. ‘Not so fast, Lawrence. I want to have a few words with you.’

Geoffrey tried to pull his arm free. ‘I say, Highclare, there’s no need …’

‘Any more tricks like yesterday’s, and I swear you’ll soon be breathing your last. Do I make myself clear?’

Geoffrey stared uncomprehendingly at him. ‘Tricks? What tricks? I don’t understand.’

‘The locket. Just stay well away, or you’ll regret it.’

‘I – I don’t know anything about any locket!’

‘Just remember you’ve been warned,’ said Kit releasing him contemptuously.

Geoffrey rubbed his arm a little, for Kit’s grasp hadn’t been gentle. For a moment he looked as if he’d protest his innocence again, but then he thought better of it, swiftly following Rowe down the staircase.

Among the intrigued, entertained onlookers, there were more astonished whispers as Kit steered Louisa down as well. Louisa felt both defiant and dismayed, for things couldn’t have gone more wrong had they tried, and she knew that by morning the whole sorry tale would be in full circulation.

Their carriage was brought immediately, and a moment later they were driving swiftly back through the lamplit streets toward Grosvenor Square.

Kit’s eyes were dark with anger as he sat opposite her, and he didn’t utter a word. At last she couldn’t bear the heavy silence. ‘I – I went against you in every way, and yet you defend me. Why?’

‘You left me precious little choice. I could hardly stand by and let him insult you at will. What possible purpose do you think was served by that lamentable display of yours?’

‘I thought I behaved with honor,’ she replied stiffly.

‘You behaved foolishly,’ he snapped. ‘And what’s more, you chose to do it as publicly as possible. Rowe may be a snake, Louisa, but he didn’t break the rules, and how many times must I tell you that Tom knew perfectly well what he was getting himself into? You were wrong to behave as you did tonight, no matter how justified you may have felt, and I’d thank you if in future you conducted yourself with infinitely more discretion, for to be sure at the moment I feel I’ve made a great mistake in marrying you.’

Yes, a great mistake, for the wife he’d at first believed to be perfect and for whom his feelings had so misguidedly begun to turn toward love, was proving to be very flawed indeed. Jealousy and anger swung through him as he looked at her, and the shadow of the locket seemed to cloud his vision. He looked away.

She was glad of the darkness, because it hid the tears that sprang to her eyes. She stared out of the carriage window, and not another word was said. When they reached Grosvenor Square, she hurried straight to her room.

S
everal hours later Rowe and Geoffrey returned to the former’s town house in nearby Berkeley Square, having first spent some time at a gaming club in St James’s. A losing streak had done little to improve their mood, and Rowe’s wounded arm was causing him considerable discomfort.

They repaired immediately to the candlelit drawing room on the first floor, a fine cream-and-gold chamber decorated very fashionably in the style of ancient Rome. The chairs and couches were upholstered in fringed velvet, and the low tables exquisitely inlaid with silver, ivory, and mother-of-pearl. There were cabinets designed to resemble temple facades, and an escritoire that might have come from the villa of Julius Caesar himself. Marble busts of emperors stood on pedestals around the walls, and there were handsome murals of scenes from Roman life.

Above the scrolled white marble fireplace, there was a portrait of Thea as the goddess Diana. She held a bow and arrow in her graceful hands, and there was a wreath of oak leaves and mistletoe in her shining golden hair. Her white robe dipped low over her full, flawless bosom, and her violet eyes gazed haughtily down from the canvas as the two men entered.

The windows stood open to the cool night, and the breeze rustling through the plane trees in the square outside moved the long velvet curtains. On the corner nearby stood the premises of Gunter’s, the extremely fashionable confectioners, who remained open until all hours at this time of the year. Laughter drifted in from an open landau drawn up beneath the trees as a party of ladies and gentlemen enjoyed some ices. The sound grated on Rowe, who was in a very sour humor after the encounter at the opera house and the subsequent lack of good fortune at the club gaming tables. He went to close the windows before crossing to one of the classical cabinets and taking out a decanter of maraschino. He poured two glasses, one of which he handed to Geoffrey, who’d flung himself on a couch; the other he carried to the fireplace, where he stood looking up at Thea’s portrait. ‘Not the most rewarding of evenings,’ he murmured, draining the glass in one gulp. ‘Damn Highclare and his
chienne
of a bride. I won’t let tonight’s insults pass, you may be sure of that. No damned governess is going to speak to me like that and get away with it.’ Abruptly he returned to the decanter to pour himself another very large measure.

Geoffrey said nothing. His encounter with Kit had shaken him. He didn’t know anything about a damned locket, but he was beginning to realize who did – his dear stepmother. Before leaving Lawrence Park she’d warned him that she’d pay him back for humiliating her at the Green Dragon and that she’d pay Louisa back for her barefaced presumption. This business of the locket smacked of her hand. It was a neat way of hurting both of those she’d sworn to punish; Louisa’s chastity was called into doubt as far as her new husband was concerned, and that husband’s dangerous anger was directed at Captain Geoffrey Lawrence. Geoffrey drew a long resentful breath. Damn Anne, how he wished he’d never amused himself with her, for she was proving far more trouble than she’d ever been worth.

Rowe went to sit down, rubbing his sore arm for a moment and then looking speculatively at him. ‘You’ve got very little to say for yourself, considering the high-handed snub the governess dealt you tonight.’

‘I’ve got a lot on my mind.’

‘Such as?’

‘After you’d gone, I was warned off her in no uncertain terms.’

Rowe lowered his glass in surprise. ‘What do you mean?’

Geoffrey explained the incident at the opera house. ‘I didn’t know what he was talking about. I hadn’t had anything to do with any locket, but now I think I’m beginning to see the light. Do you recall what I told you about my, er, dealings with my stepmother?’

‘Dear boy, I could hardly forget.’

‘Well, I fancy this is her doing.’

Rowe smiled a little. ‘ “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned”,’ he murmured.

‘She’ll soon rue her meddling, of that you may be sure,’ replied Geoffrey darkly. ‘And as to those who’ve been scorned, let me remind you that the governess had the temerity to refuse me, and I don’t take kindly to such treatment.’

‘I take it that Highclare’s warning hasn’t had the desired effect, for your lust for the lady hasn’t diminished.’

Geoffrey hesitated. ‘I’m not a fool, Rowe, and tonight was sufficient to convince me that Highclare isn’t a man to tangle with.’

‘Faint heart,’ taunted the other.

‘You didn’t see the look in his eyes.’

‘On the contrary, I see it every time I meet him. He and I cordially loathe each other, or had you forgotten?’ Rowe swirled his glass thoughtfully. ‘The governess has spirit, I’ll grant her that, and while she may not be a beauty in the mold of my wife, she still has a certain
je ne sais quoi
. A man could take infinite pleasure in dominating her, could he not?’

Geoffrey nodded, a faraway look in his eyes. Yes, a man could indeed know such a pleasure with a woman like Louisa Cherington. Hadn’t he dreamed of it, promised himself it ever since he’d first seen her?

Rowe watched the expression on his face. ‘Forget Highclare’s threats and bluster, my friend. Take her if you want her. We should make a pact.’

‘Pact?’

‘Yes. I’ll take care of Highclare himself while you take your pleasure with his wife. It’s quite clear to me now that you intended to pursue her once we arrived at Cowes, and I don’t think your plans should change simply because Highclare feels provoked.’

Geoffrey gave an incredulous laugh. ‘You can’t be serious! After what he said to me tonight, you still think I should attempt to seduce his wife right under his, nose?’

‘Not seduce – take. From what I saw of the lady tonight, she’ll never be receptive to your overtures, you’ll have to be a little, er, forceful. And you’ll have to see to it that she thinks better of telling her husband afterward, which shouldn’t be difficult; she’ll want to hold on to him. I’d say things weren’t going too well between them so far.’

‘Not going well? How can you say that when he stood up for her the way he did?’

‘He was obliged to defend her. Trust me, my dear fellow, and you’ll soon be enjoying those charms you so evidently crave.’

‘Rowe, I don’t think I—’

‘Don’t tell me you shrink from danger. A fine, dashing officer in Wellington’s army? That won’t do, it won’t do at all.’

Quick color touched Geoffrey’s cheeks. ‘I’m not afraid, I promise you, nor do I have scruples about forcing myself upon that damned governess.’

‘Good, I was beginning to think I’d gravely misjudged you.’

Geoffrey finished his glass and got up. ‘It’s gone one, I should be leaving.’

‘And being the perfect host, I’ll see you to the door.’ Rowe got up as well, pausing to rub his aching arm. God damn Tom Cherington’s lucky aim.

They proceeded from the drawing room and down the grand staircase toward the spacious entrance hall, which was lit only by a few candles, the butler having decided that his master and his guest would be up until dawn.

As they descended, Rowe reminded Geoffrey about the
Cyclops
. ‘I need her brought downstream as soon as possible if we’re to sail to the Isle of Wight in good time.’

‘I’ll bring her to the Hungerford steps in three days’ time. She should be ready then; there are just one or two things to make good.’

‘Excellent.’

They reached the bottom of the staircase, and then a sound caught Rowe’s sharp ears. It was a young woman’s giggle, soft and kittenish, and it came from just behind the door connecting the main house with the kitchens and other offices. Leaving a rather startled Geoffrey standing where he was, Rowe went to fling the door open. A housemaid and her lover leaped apart.

Rowe’s gaze was harsh and cold. ‘What’s the meaning of this?’ he demanded.

The maid was terrified. ‘We meant no harm, my lord. Truly we didn’t!’

‘You know the rules of the house. No servant is to …’ Rowe broke off, his eyes narrowing as he looked again at her lover. ‘Aren’t you in my wife’s employ?’

‘Y-yes, my lord.’ The unfortunate young man was pale with dismay.

‘What are you doing here, then? You’re supposed to be in Cowes, aren’t you?’

‘Sir, I.’

‘Spit it out, man. Have you been dismissed?’

‘Oh, no, sir.’

‘Then explain your presence in London.’

‘I – I’m on her ladyship’s business, my lord.’

‘What business?’

The young man looked helplessly at him.

Rowe’s patience, such as it was, was running out. ‘If you value your neck, you’ll tell me immediately.’

‘I’ve a letter to deliver,’ cried the frightened man quickly.

‘That’s better.’ Rowe’s voice was silky. ‘I take it that this missive cannot be for me, or you’d have been more forthcoming, which makes me wonder greatly who it’s addressed to.’

‘My lord, I cannot say.’ The young man’s tongue passed dryly over his lips, and he was trembling. The maid shrank closer to him, her eyes like saucers.

Rowe’s good hand suddenly shot out to seize the man’s lapel and thrust him bodily against the wall. ‘You have a letter to deliver, and yet cannot say who it’s for? I find that a little hard to believe.’

The maid gave a squeal, hiding her face in her hands as Rowe pinned her lover to the wall, his face menacingly close. ‘Now, then, dolt,’ he said malevolently, ‘who is this mysterious recipient?’

‘Lord Highclare, my lord,’ squeaked the man, his already pale face now ashen.

Rowe was motionless, his gaze frozen.

The young man looked as if he would be sick at any moment. ‘I wwas to deliver it straight to him and then return to the island, b-but I couldn’t go w-without seeing Poppy first. We’re to be wed, my lord.’

The maid burst into tears then and begged Rowe to let her lover go. For a long moment Rowe remained still, but then slowly he released the man’s lapel. ‘Have you already delivered the letter?’

‘No, my lord.’

‘Give it to me.’

‘But, my lord—’

‘Give it to me.’

Without another word, the man took the letter from the pouch attached to his belt.

Rowe snatched it, breaking the seal and reading.

Rowe’s face was as cold and chiseled as flint as he slowly folded the letter again and then looked at the terrified man. ‘I want this to be delivered, I’ll reseal it using my ring, and when it’s been handed to Highclare, you’re to go directly back to the island. You’re not to say anything about this to Lady Rowe, is that clear? And be warned, if she’s told, I’ll know, you can count upon it. So, if you value your life, and your sweetheart’s position here, you’ll do as I tell you. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘Very well. Wait here.’ Rowe turned on his heel and strode back to the staircase.

‘I say, Rowe, what the devil’s going on?’ asked Geoffrey.

‘It seems I’ve yet another score to settle with Highclare,’ breathed Rowe in a low, taut voice, walking straight past him and up the staircase.

Geoffrey followed him. ‘What do you mean? What’s up?’ he asked.

Rowe reached the drawing room and flung the doors open so wildly that the draft set the candle flames gyrating. Thea’s portrait seemed almost alive in the moving light.

Geoffrey paused hesitantly at the door, watching as Rowe went to the escritoire and lit a small candle ready to melt the sealing wax. ‘Rowe? Aren’t you going to explain anything?’

‘It seems that I’ve been wearing horns and that Highclare’s the man putting them there.’

Geoffrey’s lips parted in amazement.

The wax was soft and melting, dripping slowly onto the letter and covering what remained of the previous seal. Rowe’s voice was so quiet that it was barely audible. ‘Your precious governess is soon going to be a widow, Lawrence. Highclare isn’t going to survive his next race with me, I’m going to settle all scores at one fell swoop, and when I exact revenge, I exact it to the full. When Highclare returns to the island, he’ll be returning to certain extinction.’ He plunged his signet ring into the wax.