A Matter of Duty (20 page)

A
s talk of the new race took over on the quay at Cowes, Louisa was still enjoying her ride at Highclare. With Hengist and Horsa still beside her, she rode slowly along the bank of the river in the wooded valley to the south of the park. Through the trees on the other side of the water, marking the boundary of Highclare, there was a high perimeter wall beyond which she couldn’t see.

The river was clear, with fish darting in the sun-dappled water, and the banks were fringed with ferns that dipped so low they almost trailed in the current. There were ferns everywhere, cool and feathery beneath a canopy of oak trees, and she knew that in the spring it would be a place of bluebells. A blackbird was singing its heart out, and a kingfisher darted over the surface of the water, a vivid speck of bright blue that was gone in a moment.

Louisa gave only a little thought to the horseman she’d glimpsed earlier – if glimpse him she had – although from time to time she glanced around, wondering if maybe he’d been an estate worker, a gamekeeper perhaps.

A rustic bridge spanned the river ahead where the valley ended and the wooded land flattened, and the two pointers suddenly ran toward it, crossing over and vanishing among the oak trees on the far side. She saw them again as she reached the bridge. They were moving along a broad ride that had been cut through the trees, and at the far end of this unexpectedly open area she saw that there were some wrought-iron gates set into the perimeter wall. Through them she could just see a flat expanse of marshy creek, with the Solent itself in the distance.

Kicking her heel, she urged her mount across the bridge toward the gates. She only meant to peep through, thinking that such gates were bound to be kept locked, but as she reached them, Hengist and Horsa began to dance around excitedly, as if waiting to be let through, and she realized that simply by sliding a bolt across, she could open the gates and go out onto the marsh.

As the gates swung open, the two dogs dashed out into the wide openness beyond, immediately picking up a scent and setting off along a narrow spit of land between two withy-edged fingers of water creeping in from the sea. The flocks of seabirds on the marsh were startled by the hounds’ sudden appearance, and rose as one into the sky, filling the air with their noise.

For a moment Louisa hesitated by the gates, something again making her glance back into the woods, but there wasn’t anything to be seen, only the gentle motion of the oak leaves as they stirred in the light breeze. She rode out then, watching the dogs until they vanished from sight among the withies. If she’d glanced down at the ground, she’d have seen fresh hoofprints that showed she hadn’t been the first that morning to open and close the gates; she’d also have seen that the other horse had entered Highclare, not left it.

She followed a barely perceptible path that told of firm, safe land. It led down toward a wider expanse of creek, where an isthmus of land reached out into the water, ending at an ancient medieval chapel by a landing stage. The tide was in, so there weren’t any disfiguring mud banks, just the inlets of water and the reeds and flowers of the marsh.

The seabirds continued to wheel and twist noisily in the air. Hengist and Horsa were giving voice somewhere in the distance, but she couldn’t see them. She reached the chapel and dismounted, tethering the horse to the tamarisks that had been planted there in times gone by as a windbreak, then she went to sit on the landing stage, to rest for a while before riding back to the house.

The marsh was colorful. Bright-yellow purslane was washed by the high tide, and blue-purple sea asters nodded in the breeze. The startled birds were beginning to settle again now, their noise dying away so that she could just hear the dogs, invisible on the marsh as they still followed the scent. She gazed at the glittering water where it lapped among the reeds, each gentle surge of the tide making a bed of pink sea lavender sway in unison.

How long she’d been sitting there she didn’t know. It was all so peaceful and beautiful that she felt quite relaxed, able to think about all that had happened to her. But even as she reflected on her feelings for Kit and how she could possibly emerge victorious against a rival like Thea, the birds suddenly rose in another alarmed cloud, their wings flapping and their cries splitting the quiet. Something had frightened them again. But what? She hadn’t heard Hengist or Horsa returning; indeed, they’d been silent for several minutes.

Slowly she got up. Something was wrong. Suddenly she sensed that there was someone behind her, and she turned with a sharp gasp. The horseman she’d seen earlier was by the chapel, an unpleasant smile on his lips as he savored the fact that he had her alone and trapped. It was Geoffrey Lawrence.

He dismounted, tethering his horse next to hers and then coming toward her, the braiding on his uniform gleaming in the sunlight. Halting at the beginning of the landing stage and thus blocking her escape, he sketched a mocking bow. ‘We meet again, Miss Cherington. Ah, forgive me, I keep forgetting that it’s Lady Highclare now.’

‘Please leave me alone.’ Her heart was racing with fear.

‘I’m merely passing the time of day, my lady,’ he replied.

‘Wh-why have you come here?’

‘To see you.’

‘I don’t want to see you, sir. I don’t want to have anything more to do with you. Please allow me to pass.’ Her riding crop clutched tightly in her hand, she went slowly toward him, her glance moving nervously toward her tethered horse. It seemed so very far away. He stood squarely in her path, and she had no hope of passing him. ‘Please stand aside, sir,’ she demanded.

‘Ah, the voice of authority. My, my, so recently a mere governess, but now a lady of quality. How the pendulum doth swing.’

‘Please stand aside,’ she said again. Her fingers clenched over the riding crop, although she knew it was a very feeble weapon against a man like him. But it was all she had.…

He toyed with her. ‘By all means,’ he murmured, pretending to stand to one side.

It was a chance she had to take. Gathering her cumbersome skirt, she made to dash by, but he seized her wrist, throwing her roughly on the springy grass just beyond the landing stage and then pinning her down bodily by flinging himself on top of her.

A cry was torn from her lips as she desperately tried to wrench herself free, but her struggles seemed to make him all the more determined – and all the more strong. With a low laugh he twisted her wrist back, forcing her to look up into his face, only inches from her own. ‘So, my
lady
,’ he breathed, ‘you think you’ll escape from me yet again, do you?’

‘Let me go!’

He shook his head, his eyes moving hotly to her bodice, where the riding habit’s cloth strained tightly over her breasts as she tried to struggle. His tongue passed over his lips and he looked into her terrified eyes again. ‘We’re at liberty to talk now, aren’t we, my dear? At last there aren’t any disagreeable social barriers to disturb your sense of propriety, for we’re equal now, aren’t we? Well, maybe one of us is more equal than the other, for to be sure you’ll one day be the Countess of Redway, while I’ll never amount to more than mere Sir Geoffrey, but what does that matter, mm? I’ve been looking forward to this, governess – I’ve dreamed about it night and day – and I intend to savor you to the full.’

‘You wouldn’t dare,’ she cried, casting desperately around for some sign of help, but there wasn’t anything, just the marsh and the disturbed birds.

‘Wouldn’t dare?’ He laughed derisively. ‘My poor little fool, how little you know me.’

‘My husband—’

‘Already doubts your virtue, and if you’re unwise enough to say anything to him about this, he’ll think his suspicions more justified. No, my dear, if you want to keep your fancy marriage, which I can see you do, you won’t be saying anything about this little, er, interlude.’

She could feel his breath on her face as she stared up at him. He meant to rape her! He meant to force his vile attentions on her and believed he could use her desperation to keep Kit as a means of keeping his actions secret! Tears stung her eyes, and Kit’s quiet voice seemed to echo in her head: ‘Madam, if Lawrence had any reason to send you that locket, as far as I’m concerned you already
are
a Mrs Siddons. I vow your act of sweet innocence was breathtakingly convincing.…’ He’d never believe she hadn’t arranged to meet Geoffrey, never!

With another low laugh, he pressed down on her, grinning into her terror-stricken face. ‘Oh, Louisa,’ he breathed, ‘you should never have refused me, for I’m not a man to take refusal lightly. You’re about to discover that, just as my dear stepmother will by now have discovered that she cannot flout my wishes and get away with it. I punish those who displease me, my dear, and sometimes – just sometimes – I punish those who please me as well. Your beauty pleases me, Louisa, you’ve ravished my senses since the first moment I saw you, but now I intend to gratify those senses. I’m going to take you, governess, and there’s nothing you can do about it.’

He forced his mouth down on hers, ignoring the feeble flaying of her arm as she tried to beat him off with the riding crop. The blows rained uselessly upon him; he was oblivious to them all as he forced her lips apart, bruising her. She could feel his hands moving over her, sliding over her breasts. She writhed beneath him, and her struggles aroused him more and more. He ripped at the buttons of her bodice, and then his hard fingers were pressing her warm skin, seeking her breast, forcing, prying, and hurting.

She struggled all the more, and then she felt his other hand beneath her skirt, sliding up to clasp her thigh. She cried out then, suddenly finding the voice to scream. The piercing sound lanced over the marsh, echoing above the racket of the birds.

She felt his lips on her throat as his hands moved hotly all over her, and every fiber of her being recoiled in revulsion; but she was powerless and completely at his mercy. Please, don’t. Please.

Suddenly Hengist and Horsa erupted from the withies, splashing through some shallow water and bounding past the frightened horses to where Louisa was struggling helplessly. Their every instinct was to protect her, and with loud bays of warning, they leapt against Geoffrey, knocking him violently aside.

She needed no second chance but scrambled away, sobbing as she ran to her horse. She fumbled desperately with the reins, for it was as if her fingers didn’t belong to her. As she mounted, she heard Geoffrey’s frightened cries as the dogs attacked him. He cowered back from them and then tried to get away, but he lost his footing, stumbled, and fell into the deep water of the creek by the landing stage. He flailed about, trying to tread the water in his heavy uniform as Hengist and Horsa gave loud voice from the shore, delighting in his vanquishment.

Louisa managed to mount and urged her horse away. Immediately the dogs left their prey and followed.

Geoffrey managed to wade ashore, dragging himself up onto the grass and lying there for a moment to regain his breath. His heart was pounding and his mouth felt dry with lingering fear. He’d thought he was going to drown, or that the dogs were going to tear him to shreds, and so he lay thankfully on the grass, taking great gulps of air.

The nearby woods echoed as once again Hengist and Horsa gave defiant voice, and with a sharp gasp of renewed fear, he got up and ran to his horse, mounting and spurring it swiftly away from Highclare. The governess had managed to escape him yet again.

L
ouisa managed to reach the house and the sanctuary of her suite without anyone seeing her. Once inside she quickly took off the torn, mud-stained riding habit and then hid it at the back of the wardrobe. Still fighting back tears, she washed her face and hands, and then recombed her hair, pinning it up into a creditable-enough knot. Putting on the primrose-and-white gown she’d worn to breakfast, she surveyed herself in the cheval glass. Did she look as distressed and upset as she felt? Her eyes gazed anxiously back at her, and her lips trembled a little. She felt defiled, as if Geoffrey Lawrence’s hands still moved over her skin. She drew a long, steadying breath. No one must know what had happened on the marsh, because if Kit found out he’d never believe she was innocent. Taking up her shawl, she left her rooms.

She found the earl in the gun room, and he smiled as she entered. ‘Louisa, my dear, you’re back as well!’

‘As well?’

‘I saw Kit riding back a moment or so ago. The race must be over already.’

‘Oh.’ Her heart sank. She didn’t want to face Kit just yet; she needed a little time to pull herself together.

The earl was polishing a rather ancient flintlock. ‘Did you enjoy your ride?’

‘Very much.’

‘Were Hengist and Horsa a nuisance?’

‘Oh, no!’ She glanced gratefully at the two pointers, who were stretched on the floor asleep.

‘From the mud all over them, I rather guess you went onto the marsh.’

‘Yes.’

‘You must take care out there, my dear, there’s water everywhere and sometimes you simply cannot see it. Next time I wish you to take someone with you, someone who knows the creek well.’

‘I will.’

‘Good. Ah, is this Kit now? It sounds like him.’ The earl slowly put the flintlock down as he detected the anger in the brisk approaching steps.

Kit came in, his piercing, suspicious gaze swinging directly toward his wife. Had she come fresh from her lover’s embrace? Did she think she’d gotten away with her assignation?

The earl was looking at his grandson. ‘You’re back very early. How did the race go, if go it did in so short a time?’

Kit hesitated, wanting to say so much to Louisa, but knowing that he couldn’t in front of his grandfather. ‘The race was canceled; Grantham’s tub went to the bottom at dawn.’

The earl’s jaw dropped in amazement. ‘The bottom? In weather like this?’

‘A wherry broke from her moorings in the fog last night and rammed it.’

‘Heaven forbid. I’ll warrant there was great disappointment at being deprived of the big match.’

‘They’ll have their race. I’ve been challenged by Rowe instead. We meet tomorrow.’

The earl pursed his lips disapprovingly. ‘You’d have been wiser to refuse him.’

‘He left me no choice.’

‘He’s never forgiven you for the loss of the
Mercury
.’

‘There’s nothing I can do about that.’ Kit’s glance moved fleetingly toward Louisa again. She looked so lovely, but he could see something in her eyes that told him his suspicions were well-grounded.

She met his gaze, conscious of a chill foreboding that somehow he’d found out about her encounter with Geoffrey. She toyed anxiously with the folds of her skirt.

The earl suddenly glanced at his fob watch. ‘I believe I may have an appointment with one of my tenants. I’ll just go and check.’ Inclining his head, he left them.

Kit faced her immediately. ‘I understand from Newton that you went for a ride earlier.’

The awful foreboding intensified. ‘Yes.’

‘Did you meet anyone?’

He knew, somehow he knew! She forced herself to meet his eyes. ‘No.’

‘So, there isn’t anything you feel I should know?’

‘No.’ Guilt swept miserably through her and she had to tear her glance away.

He came to her, roughly seizing her wrist. ‘Are you quite sure about that?’ he breathed, his jealous fury on the point of finally bubbling over.

She could only stare at him, her tongue suddenly tied. To him her silence signified a guilty conscience, and his fingers tightened savagely around her wrist. ‘Well? Have you nothing to say?’

‘You’re hurting me!’

If he was, it was as nothing to the pain she was causing him. He loved her, in spite of everything he loved her, but she’d done him only wrong. ‘I don’t like being lied to, madam. You had an assignation with Lawrence, didn’t you?’

‘No! I won’t deny I saw him, but I certainly didn’t deliberately meet him.’

‘You lie, madam, just as you’ve always lied!’

‘I’m telling you the truth.’

‘I’m not a fool, Louisa. You were up to something this morning. Why else were you so accommodating about being left here while I went to Cowes? Do you imagine I’ll stand idly by while you put horns on me?’

With a gasp she struck him with her other hand, the bitter sting of her fingers marking his skin. Tears were wet on her cheeks, and her lips shook. ‘You – you hypocrite! How dare you insult me by crediting me with your own despicable standards! You lack all honor, Kit, and I can’t believe I ever thought of you as a gentleman, for that is the last thing you are.’

For a moment she thought she’d goaded him into striking her in return, but then the door opened and unexpectedly the earl came back in.

Kit released her immediately, stepping away and avoiding his grandfather’s eyes. ‘I have things to attend to, so if you’ll excuse me.…’ His voice trailed away and he went to the door, leaving it open as he strode along the corridor.

The earl turned inquiringly to Louisa, but she was still too overcome to say anything. She wanted to hide her distress from the old man, but somehow she just couldn’t. Tears shone in her eyes and she was trembling.

He went to her in great concern. ‘My dear, what ever has happened?’

The tears rolled miserably down her cheeks as he took her hands and drew her to the sofa, making her sit down and then joining her. He took a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed at the tears. ‘Please don’t cry, my dear, I’m sure nothing is as bad as that. Even the most adoring of lovers have quarrels. Do you want to tell me about it?’

‘I c-can’t.’

‘Nonsense, of course you can,’ he said soothingly, patting her shaking hands. ‘Besides, I doubt very much if you’ll be telling me anything I haven’t already perceived for myself. To begin with, your marriage isn’t quite what it appears to be, is it?’

She stared at him through her tears. ‘Why – why do you say that?’

‘Come, now, you can’t pull the wool over this old bird’s eyes. Your marriage isn’t the love match you’d have me believe, is it?’

Miserably she shook her head.

‘Do you want to tell me about it?’

She hesitated, but then drew a long breath and nodded. ‘Yes.’

‘I’m listening, my dear,’ he said, still holding her hands.

She told him everything, except Kit’s affair with Thea, for that wasn’t her secret to tell. She told him she’d fallen in love with Kit, and she even described what had happened to her on the marsh.

At that he leapt to his feet, his face pale with outrage. ‘The blackguard!’

‘Hengist and Horsa came when I screamed. They saved me.’

‘I’ll have him flogged off the island!’

‘Please, I’d rather nothing was said.’

‘But the felon attacked you!’

‘I know, but it would just be his word against mine, and who will believe a former governess? It will be said that when I was at Lawrence Park I was more liberal with my favors than I should have been.’

‘But why should they think that?’

‘It’s what Kit already believes. That was what he’d said a moment ago when you came back. Somehow or other he’d found out that I’d seen Captain Lawrence, and he didn’t believe that the meeting was an accident.’

‘And he believes such ill of you simply because of that locket?’

‘Yes, and because he heard me mentioned in a conversation between Captain Lawrence and Lady Lawrence. Captain Lawrence admitted wanting to seduce me, and I think Kit wonders how much I may have encouraged such thoughts in his head.’

‘And Lady Lawrence was jealous of you?’

‘Yes.’

The earl’s lips pursed thoughtfully and he sat down again. ‘Somehow that business with the locket smacks of a woman’s hand, a jealous woman.’ He smiled gently at her, patting her hand again. ‘My poor Louisa, you’ve suffered a great deal, haven’t you?’

She lowered her eyes. ‘Have I? How can that be when I’ve made one of the most advantageous matches imaginable?’

‘Wealth isn’t everything, especially when one loves in vain.’ He studied her face for a moment. ‘You haven’t told me everything, have you?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean that you haven’t told me about Kit’s less-than-creditable affair with Lady Rowe.’

She stared at him. ‘You know about that?’

‘My dear, I have eyes in my head. The wretched creature came here one day with a group of other ladies and gentlemen, and I perceived certain glances passing between her and Kit. I came to the correct conclusion about their relationship and was therefore extremely relieved to discover that she was already very much married. She wasn’t at all the sort of woman I wished to see ensconced here at Highclare, for she didn’t appear to have an honest or sympathetic bone in her admittedly beautiful body. You are the perfect woman for Highclare and for Kit, Louisa, and I intend to do all in my power to help you keep him.’

‘You – you do? Even though I’ve been deceitful?’

‘Deceitful? In what way? Are you telling me you aren’t in love with him, after all?’

‘No, of course not.’

‘Then as far as I’m concerned, you haven’t been deceitful.’ He looked earnestly into her eyes. ‘Will you place your marriage in my capable hands, my dear?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Exactly what I say. Will you place your marriage in my hands?’

She hesitated. ‘Yes.’

‘Good. To begin with you must go to Cowes with Kit tomorrow, whether he wants you to or not. He’s not to be allowed to go anywhere where that creature will be free to exert her influence over him. Promise me that in the morning you’ll be ready to go with him. I’ll go as well, and I want you to come down to the breakfast room the room the moment you see the carriage come to the front. Will you promise to do this for me?’

She searched his face and then nodded. ‘Yes, I promise.’