Fenella J Miller (15 page)

‘I apologize, my love. You see
how even a compliment from you affects me.’ He pulled her arm through his and
led her over to join his guests. All the conversation was about her narrow
escape and whether she was fully recovered from her experience. She was
heartily sick of the subject and was relieved when Ned excused himself and went
across to talk to a guest, leaving her to her own devices.

 
The count had arrived shortly after her and
was watching her from the edge of the circle. This was the perfect opportunity
to begin. As she drifted towards him James Weston appeared in the doorway and
hesitated, as if reluctant to come in. Was he embarrassed, as she was, by all
the attention and feared everyone would be talking about his failure to jump in
and save her?

She must reassure him his secret
was safe. ‘Mr Weston, how are you this evening? As you can see, I’m fully
recovered from my experience. I’m afraid the sole topic tonight is of our
exploits.’ She smiled at him. ‘You’re the hero of the hour, and no one, not
even Ned will hear anything different from me.’

She saw the relief on his face.
‘Thank you, Miss Coombs. You’re as kind as you are beautiful. You have no
champagne. Would you like me to fetch you a glass?’

‘I should love a drink, but not
champagne. Lemonade would be delightful, Mr Weston. You shall find me talking
to Count Everex.’

She drifted across the terrace,
the lantern light making her sarcenet overdress sparkle. Her quarry’s eyes
widened in appreciation as she dipped in a formal curtsy before him. ‘Count, I
have spent too little time in your company. It’s something I intend to address
this evening.’

The Frenchman took her hand and
raised it to his lips. Penny held her breath. Would he dare to kiss it? As his
mouth grazed her knuckles she felt nothing and had to restrain herself from
wiping the area on her skirt. Determined not to display her distaste, she
lowered her eyelashes and peeped provocatively through them.

Chapter
Sixteen

‘My dear, Miss Coombs, I have
been waiting with commendable patience for you to acknowledge my existence. I
am yours to command.’ He attempted to gently guide her away from the main
group, intending to continue their conversation somewhere less public.

Penny hid her discomfiture under
a trilling laugh. ‘La! Count Everex, you speak such excellent English. I would
not have known that you are a foreigner.’

‘I attended school in England,
Miss Coombs. My education coloured my feelings for your so beautiful country.’
His expression was open but his eyes were hard. She had the distinct feeling
the count had not enjoyed his schooldays. Perhaps that was why he was now
collecting money to help Bonaparte.

With some relief she saw Mr
Weston returning with her drink lemonade.’ She saw his expression change to one
of disapproval and she knew she had overdone it. He must think her a widgeon to
be simpering and preening to every man in sight.

‘Miss Coombs, allow me to escort
you in to dinner.’ Ned’s tone was decidedly chilly and the rigidity with which
he held himself filled her with a sense of foreboding.

‘My lord, I’m enacting the part
we agreed upon. Was it not our intention for me to inveigle Count Everex to
reveal vital information? I’m merely fulfilling my role as your assistant.’ She
made sure her voice was so low the couple behind them couldn’t overhear.

The muscles of his forearm
relaxed. ‘My dear, I had for the moment completely forgotten your ridiculous
suggestion. I wish you had reminded me before you began to flirt so
outrageously with someone else.’

‘I do believe that you’re
jealous, my lord.’ She squeezed his arm and smiled up at him beguilingly. ‘I
can assure you, you’ve no reason to worry on that score. I find his fulsome
compliments and touch quiet repellent. It was all I could do not to snatch my
hand back when he kissed it.’

‘In that case, my love, you’re
forgiven.’

He had no time to finish his
sentence as they had processed into the grand dining-room; Foster had decided
to place Penny at the far end of the table, in the position reserved for the
hostess, as far away from Ned as possible. Disappointed she was unable to
continue their
têtê
-à-
têtê
,
she
sat in her designated seat resigned to the fact that, whenever they dined in
company, she would be expected to entertain the guests at this end of the table
whilst her husband-to-be did his duty at the other.

To her delight she discovered her
quarry was to be seated on her right. She would be able to continue her
clandestine investigation under the cover of general dinner conversation. She
carefully avoided looking directly at Ned knowing he would try and discourage
her. He had said her idea was ridiculous! By the end of the evening she had
every intention of proving him incorrect.

The count was charming and
circumspect and revealed nothing of interest. However, she pretended to be
slightly enamoured and agreed to spend further time with him the following
evening.

When the final cover was removed
and the port about to be placed on the table for the gentlemen, she rose and
led the ladies through to the drawing-room. Mrs Remington followed her on to
the terrace, her giggling daughters not far behind.

 
‘Miss Coombs, we do so admire your gown. Such
an unusual shade for a young woman, but it is the perfect on you.’ The
middle-aged lady nodded vigorously sending her many egret plumes bobbing. ‘Who
is your modiste? Surely you don’t have your gowns made up locally.’

‘I do indeed, madam. I should be
delighted to pass on her name and whereabouts to you and your daughters.’

The remainder of the evening
passed pleasantly and even the return of the gentlemen failed to stop the
lively conversation. The ladies decided the following day there should be a
picnic to the beach, if the weather stayed clement. It didn’t occur to her to
inform Ned of the planned excursion.

Penny had no further contact with
either her betrothed or the count, but retired to bed her head full of plans
for the coming picnic and the ball that was to precede her marriage. Her aunt
and Mrs Weston appeared to have matters well in hand and she was happy to leave
it to them. She hadn’t seen her elderly relative so animated for years.

‘Will you join me for a game of
billiards, gentlemen?’ Ned asked as he watched his beloved lead the ladies from
the drawing-room.

‘If you’ll excuse me, Ned, I’m
for my bed. After the exertions of this morning I find myself in need of a good
night’s sleep.’

He embraced his cousin.
‘Goodnight, my friend. I shall never forget what I owe you.’

‘It was nothing. No more than any
man would have done.’

Ned turned to the other
gentlemen. ‘Well, sirs, are you game?’

Followed by Mr Remington, the
count and the others, he led the way across the spacious corridor and into the
billiard room. He hoped he might be more successful than Penny in his
conversations with the Frenchman.

‘Count, Monsieur Ducray does not
join us?’

‘No, my lord, he said he had to
return to the barn to speak to his men. It appears he received a message
earlier that it’s likely the balloon is going to require a new valve in order
to repair it and he has gone out to confirm this.’

‘I’m sorry to hear that. I
suppose that would mean the enterprise is stalled for the moment? What will you
do if you’re no longer needed for a co-pilot in this enterprise?’

‘I’m not intending to stay much
longer with the party. I have business in London.’

‘Is it possible you can postpone
your journey until after the ball? There’s always a shortage of eligible
bachelors on these occasions. I believe Miss Coombs would be quite put out if
you go before then.’

‘In that case, I shall accept
your kind invitation.’

Ned, satisfied he had achieved
his objective, turned his attention to the other gentlemen and soon had a noisy
game under way.

Well after three o’clock his
guests finally staggered off to bed. As soon as the last of them had bid him a
drunken farewell he straightened and his eyes lost their glazed expression. He
was confident no one in the group had been aware he was quite sober. His brandy
had been surreptitiously tipped into a handsome porcelain vase that stood on a
pedestal by the mantelshelf. He’d send the footmen to bed long ago, so the task
off extinguishing the many candles fell to him.

During the evening the count had
become less guarded and Ned was sure the man didn’t suspect him of being any
more than he appeared. The smugglers’ attempts on Penny’s life had to be a
cruel diversion. The bastards obviously believed that trying to kill her would
take his mind off the next high tide and the prospect of a French ship being
able to sail in under cover of darkness.

He made his way to his own
apartments on the ground floor at the rear of the house. Being here meant he
could come and go through his own exit with no one any the wiser. Pale dawn
light was filtering through his shutters when he eventually closed his eyes.

The picnic party gathered in the
drawing-room at eleven o’clock. Penny spotted her aunt, resplendent in burgundy
cambric, holding court from a high backed chair by the open French doors.

‘Aunt Lucy, this is so exciting.
I can’t remember the last time I went on a picnic of any sort and I’ve never
been on one so grand.’ She stared around the small group, which included only
the four Remington youngsters and the ladies. ‘Where are the gentlemen? Are we
to go on this outing unescorted?’

Mrs Remington overheard her
comment and called out cheerfully. ‘My dear, Miss Coombs, Remington didn’t go
to his bed until dawn and he was a trifle bosky. I think the game of billiards
continued well into the night and a great deal of brandy was consumed by all.’
She beamed. ‘I doubt any of them will be abroad before noon at the earliest. We
shall have to go on alone and they can join us later.’

Penny frowned. Ned had been quite
specific about her not leaving the grounds without his permission and his
escort. She glanced round the circle of expectant faces, all eager to leave.
How could she explain to them her reasons for delaying? As far as they were
concerned she had been involved in a series of unfortunate accidents. Her aunt
believed the attempted ambush had been orchestrated by a fortune hunter, but
hadn’t been told the balloon and river incidents were more sinister.

She had no choice. She must
accompany the group to the beach, but before she left she would write a note to
Ned explaining why she had been obliged to leave without him. Good grief! He
knew nothing of the picnic, unless one of the other men had mentioned it to
him.

‘Mrs Remington, did you tell your
husband about the picnic?’

‘No, my dear, I had no
opportunity. I left instructions with my maid to tell him as soon as he wakes.’

She looked round the circle of
waiting guests. ‘Ladies, did you speak to your husbands about our plans?’ Both
ladies shook their heads. ‘I’m not sure if we should leave without any of our
men folk to escort us. Lord Weston believes there might be smugglers using his
beach.’ Penny hoped the mention of free-traders would scare the ladies
sufficiently for them to wish to postpone the picnic until later on.

Unfortunately it had the opposite
effect.
‘Smugglers?
How thrilling!’
One trilled. ‘I have always wished to meet a smuggler.’

‘I had no idea Lord Weston lived
with such excitement on his doorstep. But he’s the local magistrate, is he
not?’
Another added, her expression animated.
‘I’m
certain this picnic will meet with his approval. No villain will dare to accost
us, knowing where we come from.’

She was undecided. Ned was
terrifying when he was angry and she had no wish to be on the receiving end of
a tongue lashing, or even worse. Her aunt settled the matter for her.

‘Penelope, you refine too much on
this matter. We are travelling on Weston’s land at all times, are we not?’
Penny nodded. ‘Very well, as the most senior member of this group it shall be
my decision. It is a beautiful, balmy day – far too good to stay indoors when
we have the opportunity to spend it sitting by the sea.’

Relieved the decision had not
been hers, Penny nodded her acceptance. ‘I shall speak to Foster before we
depart. He can inform Lord Weston for me.’

The sound of carriage wheels
crunching outside heralded the arrival of their transport. The Remington boys
had opted to ride alongside which meant only two open carriages were needed to accommodate
the seven ladies.

‘Aunt Lucy, will the picnic
travel with us, or have you arranged for the staff to be there to greet us?’

‘I spoke to Brown last night and
she has the matter in hand. She suggested a suitable spot and will have sent
everything we need ahead of us.’

‘In which case
the butler will already be aware of our plans.
Nothing happens here
without Foster knowing of it. Excuse me, Aunt Lucy, I shall speak to him myself
before we leave.’

She rang the
bell. ‘Please, everyone, go out and get settled. I shall join you very
shortly.’

A footman appeared in answer to
her summons. ‘I wish to speak to Foster.’

The elderly retainer appeared
with alacrity and Penny made sure the information would be given to Ned as soon
as he rose from his bed. Knowing she could do no more she hurried after her
guests.

All her reservations vanished
when she saw who was to accompany the outing. Her two men, Billy and Fred were
there and also Ned’s men, Reynolds and Perkins. There were two footmen standing
behind each barouche which meant a total of eight strong men to protect them.
Surely even Ned could not object to her going on this picnic now?

To the sound of several parasols
being opened the carriages rolled away. Penny settled back against the squabs
prepared to enjoy her outing. She was seated next to her aunt. ‘Aunt Lucy, I do
hope Lord Weston is not vexed with me for going out without his blessing. He
was adamant that I must not go anywhere without his permission.’

‘Fustian!
You are not married yet, my girl. He has no right to restrict your movements in
this way. I must say I had no idea his ideas on matrimony were so antiquated. I
thought him a modern man –
that
he would allow you to
be yourself and not insist on his legal rights.’

This conversation was conducted
quietly, making it impossible for the other occupants to overhear.

‘His motives are good, Aunt Lucy.
He’s anxious to keep me safe, not cause me any distress.’

Penny wished she could explain
why Ned was so worried about her safety, but she was sworn to secrecy.

Her aunt sniffed. ‘Well, my dear,
if you are satisfied with how things stand, then it is not for me to
criticize.’

Penny was relieved the subject
had been dropped. She turned her attention to the other ladies sharing her
carriage. The Remington family were travelling alone. Her eyes
narrowed,
angry her new friends had been slighted in this
way. She would ensure that she travelled back with them.

The carriages bowled along the
narrow lane screened on one side by a hedge which gave a welcome shade from the
sunshine which was already almost too hot for comfort. Glad she had decided to
wear her flimsiest muslin and leave her spencer behind, even so she was
unpleasantly warm by the time the vehicles slowed to a walk.

‘Miss Coombs, may I speak with
you?’ Perkins was alongside and his quiet request went unnoticed by all but
Penny.