Fenella J Miller - [Duke 02] (2 page)

Her friend shrugged and took another swallow from her bowl of chocolate. “Very well, but I shall give the matter some thought. I’m quite certain I read of exactly such a thing in one of the novels I obtained from the circulating library recently.”

“What I do need is to borrow some money for my journey. Sir John will only give me sufficient funds to reach St Albans. I shall need extra in order to get to Romford and this journey will include an overnight stay.”

“How exciting! I do so wish I could have an adventure like that—life is so boring here. I think Papa was grossly unfair to forbid me a season this year just because I attempted to elope with Lt. Blackwell.” She jumped to her feet scattering cutlery and crumbs in all directions. “I’m sure I have several guineas in my reticule. You shall have it all; I do hope it will be enough. Imagine, dearest, if you were obliged to stay in a common dormitory and not have a private parlour at the inn.”

Marianne emptied her bag on the table and gold coins rolled in all directions.

“Good heavens! There must be at least five guineas here. Are you sure you can spare it all?” Anna gathered up the money and stacked it tidily on the tablecloth.

“Yes, take it. Papa is generous with my pin money and will replace it when I ask. Please don’t worry about repaying me as you will need every penny if you are to set out on your own.” She frowned. “I don’t suppose even five guineas will be enough to last until you are five and twenty for that is more than three years.”

“You are a wonderful friend, I shall miss you sorely. Fond as I am of Isobel she does not have a sunny disposition like you.” Anna hugged her friend and blinked away the tears. If only Mama had not been bamboozled into marriage by Sir John, life would be so different now.

On her return to Hadley Manor she checked she was unseen and slipped inside. She was safely upstairs before setting her plan in motion. “Molly, you must pack my trunk and then go to the Red Lion and book us two seats on the mail coach for St Albans. I shall pen a letter to Mrs Cunningham and you must send that at the same time.”

“When are we leaving, miss?”

Anna considered. It would take at least a day for the letter to reach Isobel in Romford and two days for her to receive a reply. “Reserve places for Monday morning—there is a coach that departs at eight o’clock. We will have to make our way across the town to The King’s Head in order to take the coach to Romford. We shall overnight in London and complete our journey the following day.”

Molly curtsied and disappeared into the small antechamber Anna had been using as her dressing room. This letter was a difficult task; she hated to be beholden to anyone and knew Isobel’s invitation was not quite what it seemed. Well aware her life was becoming intolerable at Hadley Manor, her old school friend had offered a home in exchange for working as an unpaid companion.

This was not an ideal plan, but anything was better than being coerced into marriage. She sanded the paper, folded it and sealed the edge neatly with a blob of wax. Molly put her head around the door, her cap askew and her apron sadly wrinkled.

“Miss Hadley, am I putting everything in or leaving the nasty brown behind?”

“The only items that fit me are the brown ones; the others hang disastrously both back and front.” She stared at the pretty promenade dress she was wearing. This was the only garment from her previous life that had been altered to fit. It would be a shame to abandon the remainder of her wardrobe even if the garments were sadly out of date. “Pack any gowns it might be possible to alter. We shall not have the wherewithal to buy new material. Are you quite sure you wish to accompany me to what will certainly be a life of drudgery?”

“Yes, miss, as long as I am by your side I shall be content.”

“I’m glad to hear you say so, Molly. My letter is finished; please take it to the post right away. The packing can wait for we shall not be leaving just yet.”

*

Four days passed and still there was no word from Isobel. Anna hovered anxiously in the shrubbery in the hope that she might waylay the delivery just in case the butler decided to keep the missive until Sir John returned.

“There you are, Anna, I thought I saw you lurking in the bushes. The most amazing thing has happened, I had to come at once and tell you.”

“I wish you hadn’t, Marianne, it would have been far better to have sent a message for me to come to you. Quickly, come inside before you are seen and attract unwanted attention.”

Anna grabbed her friend’s arm and bundled her around to the side of the house and through the door. She whisked her into the schoolroom. Breathless, she embraced Marianne. “I do beg your pardon for my abruptness, dearest, but you know how things are at Hadley Manor. Although Sir John is away from home for a few days he still has his spies watching out for everything I do or say.”

Her companion stepped back, her eyes sparkling. Anna’s heart dropped to her boots;

such an expression always meant Marianne had done something outrageous.

Shalford Hall

Ralph rubbed his eyes and tossed his pen down on the desk. The clock had stuck twelve; high time he turned in. Digby, his valet, must be anxious to get to his own bed. A hesitant tap on the study door startled him.

“Enter.”

The butler, Foster, stepped inside and bowed. “Your grace, I beg your pardon for disturbing you, but there is … there is an incident in the village that requires your attention.”

What now?
“Does this mysterious event involve my brother?”

“I’m afraid that it does, your grace.”

“Is the carriage ready? Have you sent for Evans and Digby?”

“I have, your grace, they are waiting in the vestibule.”

Ralph strode through the Hall grateful that at least the evening was clement and he would not have to put on his topcoat or gloves before departing. He gestured to the two men hovering by the front door and they trooped after him. A closed carriage was standing outside, the team of four matched bays no doubt eager to be done with this escapade.

The carriage rocked as he climbed in, Evans and Digby caused less movement. Being so large was a damnable nuisance and unbalancing the carriage was the least of it. “Have you any idea what my brother has done this time?” He addressed the remark to the far side of the carriage; one or other of the men would have the information he wanted.

Evans cleared his throat. “It would appear, your grace, that Lord Rupert is in his cups and urged on by his friend has decided to pay his addresses to Miss Ashley.”

This was the last time his younger brother would embarrass him. He had been too lenient. He had paid his gambling debts and extricated him from several unfortunate liaisons—but enough was definitely enough. From now on his younger brother would have his allowance curtailed until he came to his senses. Rupert must live a blemish free life and not continue to cause their beloved mother so much pain. He should have stepped in sooner but, since mama’s accident, he had been loath to upset her by curbing the excesses of her favourite son.

The carriage completed the journey in a quarter of an hour. Ralph jumped from the vehicle without waiting for the steps to be lowered. Thank God all was quiet outside the vicarage, no lights on in the house and no crowd of disapproving villagers gawping at his brother’s latest tomfoolery.

He stood listening. Yes, he could hear voices further down the lane. “With me, Digby, Evans, Shalford is on his way. We have arrived in time to prevent an unmitigated disaster.”

As he walked briskly towards the two indistinct shapes Ralph became more incensed with each step he took. He was heartily sick of being dragged from his bed to attend to this young puppy’s misdemeanours, or being obliged to go to Town in order to settle his brother’s debts.

Fortunately there was sufficient moonlight to see without the necessity of taking the lanterns from the coach. “Rupert, enough of this nonsense. Bid your friend good night and come with me.”

His brother staggered against the tall brick wall and stared blearily at him. “Ralph, what you doing here? Come to help me wake up my future bride?”

Ignoring his brother’s equally inebriated companion Ralph stepped up and gripped Rupert’s arm. “No, you nincompoop, I’ve come to take you home before you make a bigger fool of yourself than usual.”

“But Jack says Miss Ashley smiled at me when we passed in the street this afternoon. Must mean she likes me, don’t you see?”

“No doubt she did, for some reason the fair sex find you an attractive fellow. However, that’s no excuse for larking about in the middle of the night. I can assure you we shall discuss it in detail tomorrow morning.” Allowing his brother no room for manoeuvre he took one elbow and Evans took the other. Together they marched him to the carriage where Digby was waiting to pull him in.

By the time the coachman had turned the vehicle Rupert was snoring loudly in the corner. His sibling was a constant trial but he loved him dearly. His lips curved as he recalled the day his parents had called him into mama’s bedchamber. He had been almost ten years of age and as pleased with the new arrival as they had been. Rupert was the image of his doting mother, blonde curls, periwinkle blue eyes and an elegant physique. Whereas he had the lion eyes of his father, hair the colour of mud and was the size of an elephant.

Rupert’s nature was affectionate and he was universally adored. He thrived on the attention and looked up to his big brother especially after their papa had died from an apoplexy some years ago. Perhaps if his brother had been more firmly disciplined he would not have turned out the way he had. He was mixing with a rackety crew whose influence was not beneficial to one lacking in maturity and common sense. Thank the good Lord Rupert would not have access to his inheritance until he was five and twenty, unless he married before that date.

Ralph jerked upright. So that was why Simmons and tried to persuade his brother to pay his addresses to the vicar’s daughter. The leeches who had attached themselves to Rupert were after a share of his fortune. If Rupert had himself a wife he would be his own master and able to dispose of his money as he wished. Over his dead body! He would do whatever it took to protect Rupert from himself until his younger brother was sensible enough to take care of his estates and fortune himself.

*

Grim faced, Ralph awaited the appearance of his brother in his study. The time was already past noon and there was still no sign of him. He had promised Mama he would go upstairs after the interview and tell her what had been decided. Noisy footsteps in the corridor announced the arrival of his errant sibling. Not bothering to knock Rupert barged in, his eyes bloodshot and his expression belligerent.

“Well, let’s get it over with. I don't want a bear-garden jaw, I can tell you. My head’s thumping like a drum.”

“And a good morning to you, brother. I have ordered strong coffee to be brought; sit down, and stop scowling like a recalcitrant schoolboy.”

Rupert almost grinned as he dropped heavily into the chair on the opposite side of the desk. “I don’t appreciate being dragged out of bed by my valet. If Evans weren't so useful I’d give him his marching orders.”

The rattle of crockery heralded the arrival of the much-needed aromatic brew.

Ralph waved away the footman Preferring to pour the coffee himself. Cook had also sent a selection of pastries, scones and bread-and-butter. No point in offering Rupert anything to eat, after one of his heavy drinking sessions his digestion was in turmoil for several days.

“Here, drink your coffee. Do you want anything else?” His brother shook his head and swallowed his coffee loudly. “Forgive me if I do, I’ve yet to break my fast this morning and, unlike you, am not suffering from an attack of self-inflicted biliousness.”

Ralph helped himself to bread-and-butter and cup of coffee before resuming his seat. He waited until his brother looked up before speaking again. “Rupert, last night’s nonsense was the outside of enough. You are one and twenty; it is high time you gave up your roistering and your ill-advised cronies. Can you imagine the furore you would have made if I had not prevented you from hammering on Mr Ashley’s door last night? What were you thinking of? You have overstepped the mark this time and I shall not allow it to continue.”

His brother scowled. “I ain’t a child, Ralph, and I won’t be dictated to by anyone. I’ve reached my majority and shall do as I please—there’s nothing you can do to prevent it.”

“You forget, brother, that I hold the purse strings. You have no choice. If you don’t live within your means then you are on your own. I shall pay no more of your debts; unless you retire to your estate in Essex and behave responsibly your bills will remain unpaid.”

Rupert surged to his feet sending his chair crashing backwards. “I’ll do as I please. I’m going back to Town tonight. There’s a cockfight in Cheapside and I’ve already wagered fifty guineas on the outcome.”

“Don’t go off in high dudgeon. I have your best interests at heart. I don’t want you to destroy your health and happiness by dissolute living.” Ralph’s fingers clenched on the arm of his chair. Using his unnatural size to intimidate his sibling was not an option. He would drive the boy away and that was the last thing he wanted.

“You’re a killjoy, Ralph. You don’t want to have any fun yourself, can’t even find yourself a bride, so have nothing better to do with your time than ruin my life.” He turned and kicked the chair aside before stomping off slamming the door loudly behind him.