Fenella Miller (17 page)

‘Marianne, it is for the best. You are not safe with me. Whenever I see you my best intentions are overcome and I cannot resist. You are the most beautiful, desirable woman I have ever met.’ He lowered his head and covered her lips with his in a gentle kiss. The merest touch of her lips on his made him forget his good intentions and he drew her closer.

Too late he heard the door open. Miss Grierson’s shocked exclamation echoed around the library. Theo gently lifted Marianne and placed her on her feet and stood beside her, his arm around her waist, holding her steady.

‘Miss Grierson, you may be the first to wish us happy, Miss Devenish has done me the most inestimable honour of consenting to be my wife.’ The warning squeeze prevented her immediate denial.

Emily’s face dissolved into a happy smile. ‘Oh, that is wonderful news, Sir Theodore. You are made for each other. Why you even look alike.’ She hesitated as if not sure if she should come in and embrace her adopted sister or retreat.

Theo solved the problem. ‘If you would like to convey our happy news to your parents, Miss Grierson, Marianne and I would like a few more moments alone.’

* * * *

As soon as Emily had gone Marianne extricated herself from his arms. This was outrageous! He had had no intention of marrying her when he came; indeed he had come expressly to sever all connection.

‘Release me, sir, I wish to go to my room. I have no intention of marrying you. I shall leave you to explain the reasons to Lord and Lady Grierson.’

‘Enough, Marianne. It is too late for all the histrionics. We have no choice in the matter. Your reputation will be gone if you don’t marry me. Good God! Emily will have the news of what she saw all over Essex by suppertime.’

She stared at him with contempt. ‘I would rather be ruined than shackled to a man who does not love me. I shall leave here, set up an establishment with John and Jane. I will not be passed from person-to-person like an unwanted package. I never wish to see or speak to you again. Good day.’

She spun, her dress a cloud of yellow around her feet, and marched from the room. She didn’t go upstairs. She needed Jane and her friend was outside in her cottage. As she hurried through the house and into the yard, she recalled Jane had received news from London that demanded her attention. She prayed, even in her own heartbreak, this was not bad news about John.

Chapter Fourteen

The small dwelling John and Jane had been given was at the far side of the outbuildings and barns and by the time she reached it Marianne’s slippers and the hem of her dress were soiled.

Jane had seen her approach from the cottage door which was standing open. ‘Miss Marianne, whatever is amiss? Come in, my dear, come in.’

A strange young man sat at the scrubbed wooden table eating bread and cheese. He scrambled to his feet at her entry. Marianne ignored him.

‘I must speak with you, Jane.’

‘Come into the parlour, we can be private there.’

In the small, dark room there was a wooden settle, a selection of mismatched chairs, and an empty bookcase. Jane guided her young mistress to the settle.

‘What is it, my dear? Tell me. I have never seen you so distraught.’

The whole story poured out, including Marianne’s intention to leave Frating Hall and find herself a refuge with her four loyal staff, somewhere else.

‘Oh dearie me! And coming on top of what I have learnt this morning. I hardly know what to say.’

Marianne scrubbed her eyes dry with her sleeve. ‘What news? I am sorry, Jane, in my distress I had forgotten about your problems.’

Jane sat down, her face serious. ‘It is not my problem, miss. I had better tell you what John has written. He sent the letter with that young man out there. He has been gone so long because the lawyers told him that Sir James Devenish died with no male heir and the title is vacant. There is no such person as Sir Theodore Devenish. He is an impostor.’

Whatever Marianne had expected, this was not it. ‘What? What did you say? There is no Sir Theodore Devenish? Then who is he?’

‘That’s what John’s trying to find out. He is also intending to discover if there is anyone else who can be your guardian.’ Jane paused. ‘But if Lord Grierson has offered to take you on, you could stay here. You should not have to leave because of that man, whoever he is. Indeed, when everyone knows he’s an impostor, nobody will receive him and
he
will be the outcast.’

Marianne shook her head. ‘I can’t do that to him. I don’t wish to see him, but I love him Jane, I will not ruin his reputation as he has done mine. There could be a genuine reason for his deception.’

‘Then you are obliged to accept his offer, pretend everything is as it should be—but you can hardly do that either.’

‘We shall go to London. Mr Sampson, my lawyer, will know what to do. He can take back control of my inheritance and with his help we can find a small estate and live quietly together. What say you, Jane?’

‘In the circumstances this is the only option, I suppose. That young man can take the message to Mr Sampson, let him know we’re coming. We’re not going without your clothes this time, miss, so we will need to borrow carriages. Do you think Lord Grierson will be agreeable? After all, you will be taking away the income which he sorely needs.’

Marianne jumped up. ‘I had forgotten about that. I shall insist he keeps the funds. I must tell him I am going to get away from Theo but intend to return when he is gone. That should do.’

Jane found her pen and paper and she quickly wrote two letters, one for John and one for her lawyer. That done she was ready to return to the Hall with Jane to face whatever recriminations and accusations there might be.

Jane hurried upstairs to begin the packing. The house was quite enough, no raised voices, no dramatic shouts and exclamations. Where was she most likely to discover Lord and Lady Grierson at this time?

She decided to try the small drawing-room which was used when the family was alone. She pushed open the door and found herself face-to-face with the one person she hoped never to see again. He looked tired, his eyes dark, his complexion sallow. He had been expecting her.

‘Marianne, do not run away, we must talk. Please, come and sit down. I shall be brief, I promise.’

Reluctantly she did as he suggested and selected a chair as far away from him as possible. He resumed his seat, staring at his boots for several seconds before speaking. His voice was quiet, his tone sincere.

‘All this is my fault. I am a man grown, I know how to go on, and you do not. No one, least of all me, attaches the slightest blame to you.’ She raised her eyes at that—there was something compelling in his words that caught her attention.

‘But you are in an impossible position. Miss Grierson saw you sitting on my lap. You are compromised. I have to offer for you, you have to accept, neither of us wishes this, but we have no choice. Otherwise your reputation will be gone and I cannot let that happen.’

‘I am sorry—Theo, I cannot marry you. I have decided to move to London, to reside with my lawyer and his family until I decide what to do next. I thought to have Mr Sampson lease me a small estate and live there in seclusion with John and Jane.’

He gaped at her as if she had just escaped from Bedlam. He ran his hands through his hair leaving it standing on end. She longed to go over and smooth it down.

‘You would rather become a social outcast, an old maid, than marry me?’

He sounded so astounded her mouth twitched involuntarily. ‘Well, put like that, I must admit it seems a strange choice, but yes, sir, that’s what I would prefer to do.’

How could he sit there and look so affronted by her refusal? This was all a charade for him, he was not Sir Theodore Devenish and when this was revealed, as eventually it would be, what then? She would be a laughing stock and her name even further sullied. Had he no shame—no decency—to try and foist an engagement on her that could never stand?

She stood up, her face impassive. ‘I am sorry, sir, but I must tell you again that my mind is made up. I have only to arrange to borrow the carriage from Lord Grierson and I will be away from here.’

He was on his feet his feelings carefully masked. He bowed formally, reminding her of their first meeting. Was it only three weeks ago? It seemed so very much longer.

‘Then I will importune you no more, Miss Devenish. I wish you God speed on your journey. Good day.’

She almost called him back, to tell him she agreed to his proposal, tell him she loved him and would take him, whoever he was, on any terms at all. But she did not. She hardened her heart.

She still had to find Lord and Lady Grierson. She could no longer think of them as parents. It had been scarcely three weeks after all—it should not be too difficult to distance herself. If she had the strength to push Theo away she could do anything. She found them on the way back from the summer parlour, having been visiting Charles.

‘I wish to speak with you both, if you please.’ Did she detect a certain reserve in their greeting?

‘Come to the study, Marianne, we shall be private there,’ Lord Grierson said.

She got straight to the point. ‘I must apologize if my behaviour has offended you but I cannot marry Sir Theodore even to put matters right. I am going to live in London, with my lawyer, as you will not want me anymore. The scandal will spread and Emily could become contaminated by association.’ She paused hoping one of them would protest, try and persuade her to change her mind. They did not.

‘Sir Theodore is a good man, Marianne. Could you not reconsider and accept his offer? It is the only way you can come about, you know.’ Lord Grierson’s voice was kind and Marianne’s eyes filled.

‘I am sorry, but I find I cannot do that. I have my reasons and one day you might know them and understand why I am forced to take this course.’

‘Very well, my dear. That has to be the end of the matter. You will need transport for yourself and your luggage. I shall send round to the stables. I must bid you goodbye, Miss Devenish, and say how sad I am that we should be obliged to part like this.’

Marianne watched him walk away and knew he was as moved as she but unable to let his feelings show. Lady Grierson took her hands and Marianne could see the tears pooling in her eyes. ‘Goodbye, my dear child. I wish I could ask you to stay, to ride it out, but it would not be fair to our girls. We understand you were not at fault. Sir Theodore made that quite clear, but it is ever the way of the world. The gentleman may do as he pleases and the lady takes the blame.’

‘May I say my farewells to everyone before I leave?’

‘Of course; Emily will be devastated. You have become part of this family in the few weeks you have been here. I pray that, by some miracle, all this blows over and you can return to us.’ Lady Grierson was too choked to continue. She squeezed Marianne’s hands for the last time and hurried off after her husband.

Edward was in the sick room with Charles which made things easier. ‘I have come to say goodbye to you both, I leave for London as soon as my trunks are ready.’

Charles was sitting up in bed, his face grim. The news of the morning's
debacle
had obviously already reached them. ‘It is not fair that you are being sent away. If they knew how you had saved this family last night, they would be thanking you and begging you to stay.’

She went to his side. ‘But they do not and I pray they never have to. What happened between Sir Theodore and me is a separate issue. Unless I marry him my reputation is in tatters and by staying here Emily and the girls will be dragged in. I cannot allow that to happen.’

Edward, who had been lounging against the wall, straightened. ‘We have discussed this and I am coming with you as Charles cannot. It’s not right you should travel unescorted. I have made up my mind, so do not think to argue.’

She smiled—he was offering her a glimmer of light after a morning of darkness. ‘I was not going to. Thank you, both of you; it will make the journey less painful. But what about the letters? How can you deliver them?’

‘There has been a storm at sea; the boat is delayed and will not be here before the end of next week. It gives me ample time to journey with you and return with the empty carriage.’

‘I suppose you cannot leave them in a hidey-hole for so long unattended?’

‘No, the arrangement is that they are handed directly to the man who delivers them in France. I have to keep them safe about my person until then.’

‘I must go. Charles, I wish you joy with Arabella.’ She bent down and embraced him, and turned to leave. ‘Edward, have you asked your parents’ permission to accompany me?’

He shook his head. ‘Of course not, they might say no.’ He grinned, a welcome sight in so much gloom. ‘I shall have my togs in a bag. I will not need much. Charles can explain to them after I have gone.’ She looked unconvinced. ‘It is better this way. They will be glad that I have gone with you. They do not wish you to leave, but understand there’s no other option.’

Emily had refused to open her parlour door and the younger girls were, as was usual on a weekday, at their school in Great Bentley with the daughters of other local gentry.

‘I believe we are ready, Jane. I hope you have had time to pack your own belongings.’

‘I have, thank you, miss. Even with all the new clothes you provided it went into one box. The lads have all they possess stowed in saddlebags.’

Marianne gazed down the rooms she had occupied for scarcely any time but they felt more like home than Upton Manor had after eighteen years. ‘It is all that man’s fault. Without him my flight would not be necessary. I shall never forgive him. I had, for the first time in my life found happiness. I had begun to learn what it is like to be part of a loving family and he has ruined it all.’

Her anger carried her out to the waiting carriage. She noted the boys were already mounted, one leading Sultan, the other Jason, John’s horse. The carriage was empty. No sign of Edward.

‘Jane, where is he? We cannot go without him.’

‘Billy says he is meeting us at the end of the drive just in case anyone’s watching from the windows.’