Lady Allerton's Wager (25 page)

She sighed. It was that love that led her to be free and unguarded, with her feelings as well as her body.
And that was another story…Beth shifted a little as she thought about it. The foolish pretence that she was nothing more than a friend to Marcus had been thoroughly disproved on the very first afternoon that he had spent in bed with her, and since then there had been several others. What the servants thought when they disappeared after lunch was anyone’s guess and at first Beth had been appalled. It had never occurred to her that people might make love during the day rather than wait for the night, nor had she realised the infinite variations that might apply. Marcus had seemed amused at her naïveté and quite evidently delighted to extend her education. And there was no doubt that she had been an apt pupil.

Now, however, all that might change. Being on Fairhaven had been unreal in some ways, a paradise cut off from the rest of the world where society’s rules need not apply and she and Marcus had been protected from censure. Now they were to return to the mainland, to marry and to resume their place in society. There would be their estates to visit and the London Season and the Dowager Countess of Trevithick to contend with…Beth sighed. No, matters could not be the same.

In bed in the following dawn, Beth awoke and lay still, watching the grey light filter from behind the curtains and hearing the faint rhythmic roar of the sea on the rocks far below. She knew that it would be the last time she would wake like this and she was imprinting it on her memory. When she moved a little, Marcus pulled her into his arms, his mouth against her hair.

‘Why are you not asleep, sweetheart?’

‘I was thinking,’ Beth said. She rolled on to her stomach and lay looking down into his face.

‘Marcus, I was thinking that my dreams of Fairhaven were not real at all…’

She saw that he was wide awake and watching her. A tender smile was curving his lips. ‘Oh, Beth. Was it so hard to find out the truth about your grandfather?’

‘Yes,’ Beth said softly. She bent her head. ‘At the time it was hard. But now it is not so bad after all. But, Marcus, I am afraid that everything will change once we leave here—’

Marcus pulled her into the crook of his arm. ‘Do not be afraid, sweetheart. This is just the start.’ He paused. His fingers were tracing the path of her spine and it was most distracting.

‘We are to be married straight after Christmas—and at Mostyn. What could be better than that?’

Beth smiled. ‘I know. It will be lovely.’ Despite her words, a tiny qualm of disquiet remained and she did not understand it. She wriggled a little as Marcus’s fingers drifted lower and his caresses became more insistent. Her melancholy thoughts faded. The urgent touch of Marcus’s hands on her body was enough to send all other thoughts spinning out of her head. He made love to her slowly, with a tender intensity that left them both trembling. And when it was over he wrapped her in his arms and pulled her close to him. Beth was just drifting off to sleep again when she heard him whisper:

‘Beth, I love you.’

Beth’s whole body felt soft and satisfied. A little smile curled her lips. Yet at the back of her mind the doubt returned, faint but disturbing. She tried to push
it away but it would not go, not completely. With a sigh she fell asleep again, but her worries pursued her, nameless and threatening, through her dreams.

When she woke in the morning, Marcus had already gone. That was not unusual in itself. At the start of their affair he had always been sure to be back in his own rooms before the other inhabitants of the castle started to stir, then Beth had pointed out to him what an unnecessary fiction this was and he had gladly stayed by her side. This morning, however, his absence left her feeling somewhat lonely and she was at a loss to explain why.

She had barely finished dressing when there was a knock at the door and Martha McCrae stuck her head round.

‘Oh, my lady, I am sorry to disturb you but an urgent letter has come from London! His lordship is about to depart—’

Beth’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Good God, whatever can be so pressing—?’

Marcus and Colin McCrae were in the study when she hurried down. Marcus was already dressed for travelling, booted and cloaked, and when he saw Beth his face lightened for a moment before a frown returned. Colin glanced from one to the other and withdrew softly.

‘Beth.’ Marcus came across and took both her hands in his. ‘I am so sorry. I have to leave for London at once. A letter has come—’ He gestured to the desk behind him. ‘Well, you may read for yourself. My mother is in despair. She writes that my sister Eleanor has been seduced and abandoned, and begs me to return to help her.’

Beth stared up at him, shocked. ‘Good God, how
dreadful! But who can possibly—?’ She was not sure whether her own heart provided the answer or whether she read it in Marcus’s face. She drew her hands away.

‘Oh, no, not Kit…’

‘It seems so.’ Marcus’s face was grim. ‘I cannot be sure of the precise situation, for the letter is somewhat incoherent. But I must go, Beth. You must see…’

‘Yes, of course…’ Beth stared at the sheets of paper on the desk. She knew that Kit had had a
tendre
for Eleanor Trevithick. She had observed it herself and had even teased him about it, but to ruin the girl was another matter…

‘I cannot believe it!’ she burst out. ‘Kit would never behave so! It cannot be true!’

Marcus’s face was set. ‘Well, I shall find out. I am sorry, Beth, but I must go.’ He came back to her side. ‘Go back to Mostyn Hall—’

‘I shall not!’ Beth screwed up her face, trying to think straight. ‘If you are for London, I shall go too! Charlotte will be distressed and all alone—’

Marcus was controlling his impatience with difficulty. ‘There is no time to talk now. I have to catch the tide. Beth, you must see that this changes all our plans! I fear our wedding cannot go ahead as we had intended, but if you go to Mostyn—’

‘No!’ Beth said again. ‘I cannot stay quiet in the country whilst this is happening!’

Marcus pulled on his gloves. ‘Then contact me as soon as you reach London. And take great care on the journey.’ He took her hands in an urgent grip. ‘Promise me!’

‘I promise,’ Beth said.

‘This was not how I wanted it to be for us,’ Marcus
said, in a hard, angry voice. ‘To have everything spoiled—’ He broke off, gave her a fierce kiss and straightened up. For a moment, Beth thought that he was about to say something else, then he turned on his heel and she heard his footsteps fading away across the hall.

Beth picked the Dowager Viscountess’s letter from the desk and sat down in the armchair. Five minutes later, when she had perused the contents twice, she let the letter fall to her lap and stared into the fire.

The letter had been written a week before and it was evident that its author had been in a tearing hurry as well as great distress. Amidst the invective against the Mostyn family was the core of the tale: how Kit Mostyn had tricked and seduced Eleanor, then promptly abandoned her and disappeared.

Beth frowned. She knew Kit had a rake’s reputation, but he had never stooped to seducing innocent young girls. He had never needed or wanted to. Besides, Beth was certain that his feelings for Eleanor had been sincere and he would never act dishonourably. Nevertheless, the facts appeared damning. She would have to go to London herself and find out.

She crossed to the window and looked out. It was a beautiful sunny morning and she could already see the speck that was Marcus’s boat, growing smaller all the time, as it tacked across the strait to Bideford. Her heart felt heavy. She knew Marcus had not had the time to wait for her and that if the two of them had travelled together it would have slowed his journey down. Nevertheless, she felt an irrational disappointment that he had not suggested it. It felt as though he did not want her with him.

Standing there, she went over the conversation that
she had just had with Marcus. Of course their wedding would have to be postponed, but…She felt suddenly chill. What was it that he had said?
You must see that this changes all our plans! I fear our wedding cannot go ahead…

But she had not seen what he was trying to say, not immediately. She had assumed that he meant only to delay rather than to call it off. It was only now, as she watched him leave without her, that the true implication of his words hit her.

This was not how I wanted it to be for us. To have everything spoiled…

She had thought that he had been going to say something else—something more final, but at the last moment he had not. Had that, perhaps, been when he was about to end everything between them, but had decided to spare her feelings until he had time to soften the blow—when they met in London, perhaps?

Beth watched the boat until the sun on the water made her eyes ache, then she turned back to the room. It seemed darker now, depressing. She hurried out into the hall and up the stairs, determined to press on with her own departure. It was the only way to keep her fears at bay. And deepest and most unacknowledged was the growing fear that Kit’s actions had ruined them all and damned forever the relationship between her and Marcus. Their engagement had not been officially announced and now, surely, the marriage would not take place. For how could Marcus wish to associate with her after her cousin had apparently brought such dishonour on the Trevithick family by ruining his sister? His parting words had confirmed as much. Kit had caused the most immense scandal and all relations between the Mostyns and Trevithicks must, by necessity, be severed once again.

‘Y
ou are looking very sickly, my love,’ Charlotte said, holding her cousin at arm’s length and looking her over critically. ‘It is all this worry over Kit and Miss Trevithick, I suppose! And travelling in winter, of course. That is never to be recommended.’

There was a certain strange hush about the house in Upper Grosvenor Street, a gloominess that mirrored Beth’s own feelings most accurately. She had been travelling for four long weeks in the most dreadful conditions and had finally reached London ten days after Christmas. The capital was shuttered and silent, for everyone had left Town to celebrate the twelve days of Christmas in the country. The streets were empty and cold, the skies a dull grey and the joyful Christmas spirit most noticeably lacking, particularly in their townhouse where everyone looked pinched and fearful, waiting for information about Kit and yet dreading that it might be bad. Charlotte had been relieved to see her, but the first piece of news that she had imparted was that Kit had not reappeared and there had been no progress in finding him.

‘I am sorry that you had to chase all the way to
Mostyn Hall only to find that I had come up to London,’ Charlotte said, leading Beth into the drawing room. ‘My letter must have passed you on the road. How was everyone at home?’

‘Well enough.’ Beth gave her cousin a watery smile. She stripped off her gloves and cloak, and hurried gratefully over to the fire. ‘They are all very worried, of course, but there is no news from Mostyn either. Kit certainly did not go there after he disappeared.’

Charlotte wrinkled up her face. ‘It was the first place that I thought he might go to if there was trouble—’ She broke off. ‘I am sorry! You are barely through the door and here I am regaling you with nothing but bad news! Let us at least wait until the tea is served!’

Beth laughed. ‘Or let us speak of more pleasant matters! Despite our troubles you look radiant, Charlotte! I believe you must have some good news for me!’

Charlotte’s worried expression immediately dissolved into a glowing smile. ‘Oh, Beth, it seems all wrong to be so happy when Kit has caused so much trouble, but…yes, that is…Mr Trevithick and I are betrothed!’

Although the news was not unexpected, Beth had to fight hard to crush down an unworthy feeling of jealousy. She gave Charlotte a tight hug that left her cousin breathless. ‘Charlotte, I am so happy for you! You see, travelling in the winter
can
be beneficial!’

Charlotte blushed. ‘Indeed, it was all settled by the time that Justin—Mr Trevithick—had escorted me back to Mostyn Hall…’

‘Just as I had thought it would!’

‘And we are to be married in the spring!’ Charlotte hugged her back hard. ‘Oh, Beth, how can I be so fortunate when Kit…’

‘You deserve your good fortune,’ Beth said staunchly, ‘if that is what it is! Personally, I feel that Mr Trevithick is the lucky one!’

Charlotte blushed and disclaimed, ‘Of course, I was concerned that this dreadful behaviour of Kit’s might put an end to our engagement, but Justin—’ she blushed harder ‘—assured me that it did not weigh with him. He has no position to uphold within the family, of course. If it had been his cousin the Earl it would have been a different matter—’ She broke off. ‘All the same, it is decidedly awkward!’

Beth nodded sadly. Charlotte’s words had only confirmed her own conviction that Marcus could not possibly have anything to do with her in the future. Once again his parting words came back into her mind. But perhaps it was for the best. Their relationship on Fairhaven had been decidedly irregular. Beth shuddered to think what would be said in the
ton
if it all came out—the callous seduction and abandonment of Eleanor was bad enough and the scandalous affair between herself and Marcus could only be grist to the gossips’ mill. She had had plenty of time to think about it on her journey up from Devon—and plenty of time to tell herself that she had to try to learn to live without Marcus. Her heart was not listening to her head; she had missed him dreadfully and her love had not weakened but her hope had, with each hour that passed.

She sat down a little heavily.

‘Let us have tea at once,’ Charlotte said, ringing the bell. ‘Indeed, dearest Beth, you look worn to a
thread! Tell me what has happened to you! I have been so selfishly full of my good news—’

‘Nonsense!’ Beth said. She was finding it very difficult to remain bright when she found that all she wanted to do was to cry. ‘Besides, I have nothing to tell you! I have agreed that Fairhaven Island should remain the property of the Earl of Trevithick and that is the end of the tale!’

Charlotte looked startled. ‘But, Beth…After you were so anxious to claim the place—’

‘I know!’ Beth clasped her hands together. ‘Well, now I have been there I realise how different from my imaginings was the reality! I will tell you about it all some time, Charlotte, but not now if you will forgive me. I am a little tired.’

‘Of course.’ Charlotte frowned a little as she watched Beth’s face. ‘But, Beth, I thought that Lord Trevithick was intending to ask you—’

‘Let us not speak of that now,’ Beth said hastily. She had no desire to explain the complexities of her stay on Fairhaven to Charlotte. ‘The matter of Kit and Eleanor is surely more pressing…’

The tea arrived at that moment and Beth was relieved when Charlotte appeared distracted, although sorry to bring the frown back to her cousin’s face with thoughts of Kit’s disappearance. Charlotte pressed her hands together distressfully.

‘Oh, Beth, is it not terrible? I came up from Mostyn Hall as soon as Gough informed me, although I do not know what good I can do here! How could Kit ruin and abandon the poor child? I can scarcely believe it of him!’

‘But is it certain?’ Beth enquired, accepting the cup of tea Charlotte handed her. She was glad to be speak
ing of someone else’s affairs rather than her own, even if they were so bleak. ‘I simply cannot believe that Kit would seduce and desert an innocent girl!’

Charlotte looked dubious. ‘Oh, but it is worse than that apparently! Eleanor claims that they are married!’

‘Is that worse?’ Beth asked, a little bitterly. She saw Charlotte give her a curious look and said hastily, ‘At least Miss Trevithick does not have the shame of being ruined—’

‘No, but such a scandalous marriage!’ Charlotte looked as though she was about to cry. ‘And then to desert her and disappear only a day later! I cannot believe he could be so dishonourable!’

Beth put down her teacup and came across to take Charlotte’s cold hands in hers. ‘He is not! Something must have happened to him that we do not yet know—’

‘That could be even worse!’ Charlotte clutched Beth’s hands. ‘Needless to say, I have had Gough look everywhere, but to no avail! Oh, Beth!’

Beth sat down beside her. ‘You had best tell me the whole story,’ she said. ‘I may not be able to think of anything new, but at least I can try!’

The tea had gone cold and a fresh pot had been delivered before Charlotte had finished the tale. Much of it was third-hand from Justin, who had apparently heard the whole from Marcus, who had in turn spoken to his sister. It seemed that six weeks before, Eleanor Trevithick had taken exception to the man that her mother had indicated she should marry and had foolishly fled to Kit for help. According to Eleanor, they had been married by special licence and Kit had abandoned her the very next day. Since then there had
been no word from him and Eleanor had returned to Trevithick House, heartbroken and disgraced.

‘The Viscountess has been most intemperate in her condemnation,’ Charlotte said, with a little sniff. Her tragic blue eyes met Beth’s. ‘I cannot believe that she has helped her daughter’s cause by speaking as she has done! Why, the entire
ton
is aware of all the intimate details, even down to why there can be no annulment!’

Beth raised her eyebrows expressively. ‘Oh, dear, poor Eleanor! I suppose we must be grateful that most people are out of town now, and the scandal must surely die down through lack of interest!’

Charlotte smoothed her dress with nervous fingers. ‘Justin feels that matters will improve now that the Earl has returned, for he and his sister are close. But if we cannot find Kit I cannot see what else can be done—’ Her voice broke on a sob. Beth pressed her hands.

‘Oh, Charlotte, do not! All will be well, I am convinced of it!’

She was not, but she knew that it would do her cousin no good to sink into a fit of the dismals.

‘Excuse me, my lady.’ Carrick was in the doorway. ‘Mr Justin Trevithick has called.’

Beth jumped, terror coursing through her. On no account could she face seeing Justin, for he would undoubtedly bring news of Marcus and just at the moment Beth did not feel strong enough to hear it. She saw Charlotte’s face brighten immediately and knew her own had lost what little colour it had. She got to her feet.

‘Oh, excuse me, Charlotte! I have not yet washed
the journey off and am in sore need of a rest! Please give Mr Trevithick my best wishes.’

She saw Charlotte’s look of amazement as she sped from the room with just a whisper of time to spare before Justin came in. Once in her bedroom, she collapsed on the bed and tried to still her trembling. It was going to be decidedly difficult if Justin persisted in calling on Charlotte every day, as her cousin had intimated he did. Even now he would be aware that she had returned from Fairhaven and he would certainly tell Marcus.

Beth lay back against her pillows. On the journey up from Devon she had decided that she must not see Marcus again. There were a hundred good reasons that said that this was the best course of action. Firstly there was Kit’s behaviour, which had destroyed even the remote possibility of an alliance between the two families. Unlike Justin, Marcus
did
have a position to uphold within the Trevithick family and that made any link he might have with the Mostyns quite untenable. Once Beth had accepted the truth of this, any remaining hope she had harboured of marrying Marcus had died a swift death. She had only to remind herself of what he had said that last morning on Fairhaven, to know that there was no hope. Yet the irony was that there was now a reason why marriage might be even more desirable…

Beth closed her eyes. She loved Marcus too much to torture herself with seeing him when she could not have him. The thought of meeting him, talking to him and agreeing that they must part was exquisitely painful to her. She had already decided that once she had done the best she could to help with the search for Kit, and had given Charlotte the moral support she
needed, she would return to Mostyn Hall. It would be a strange and lonely January without either of her cousins, but at least Charlotte had Justin to look after her now…Beth impatiently dashed away a tear that persisted in squeezing from under her eyelids. She had never felt sorry for herself in all her life and she did not intend to start now.

The following morning, rather than feeling an improvement from having a good night’s rest, Beth felt so sick that she could scarcely raise her head from the pillow. Charlotte came to see her, most concerned, and Beth felt quite angry with herself for adding to her cousin’s troubles.

‘It is nothing serious,’ she croaked, in answer to Charlotte’s anxious enquiry. ‘I shall rest here today and be as right as rain by the evening!’

Charlotte was wearing a smart walking dress and confessed shyly that she had started to venture out a little with Justin as her escort. London was quiet and the crowds were small and not too frightening. Beth watched her go with pleasure and not a little envy, then turned over and fell asleep immediately.

She awoke in the middle of the afternoon, uncertain just what had disturbed her, until she heard a familiar voice down in the hall.

‘I understand that Lady Allerton has returned to town?’

Marcus! Beth struggled to sit up, then changed her mind and lay very still, as though her immobility might actually convince him that she was not in the house at all. She knew Marcus was perfectly capable of walking right into her bedroom—he had done so
often enough, after all, albeit in Fairhaven, not London. She held her breath as the butler replied.

‘Lady Allerton is resting after her journey and has asked not to be disturbed, my lord. I will tell her that you called.’

‘Please do so.’ Beth could read a wealth of displeasure in Marcus’s tone. ‘Pray tell her that I will call on her tomorrow.’

She did not relax until the door had closed behind him, when she slid supine beneath the covers and lay trembling. So Marcus had come to find her, as she might have imagined he would do. Beth knew Marcus was not the sort of man to ignore a difficult situation and hope it would just go away. He was far too honourable for that. He would deem it his duty to see her and tell her that their betrothal must end. It was a private matter between the two of them, for the engagement had never been officially announced, or at least only on Fairhaven. She could leave the island in Marcus’s care, could write to Lady Salome explaining that family circumstances prevented the marriage, and could then return to Mostyn Hall and forget the whole thing. Except that she could not. For in addition to her feelings for Marcus, which would not simply go away, there would soon be a very real reminder of what had happened between them…

Beth groaned and rolled over in the bed. In her heart she knew it was going to be hopeless to try to avoid Marcus but just at the moment she did not feel she had the strength to face him, and certainly not to keep secrets from him.

In the evening Beth managed to struggle from her bed but as soon as she joined Charlotte for dinner she
realised that she could not bear to eat a mouthful and promptly retired to the drawing room. Charlotte reported that Gough had no further news of Kit’s whereabouts; he had sent word to all the ports but to no avail and none of Kit’s friends claimed to have seen him for well over two months. It appeared that he had vanished into thin air.

‘Justin says that his cousin the Earl is most anxious to see you, Beth,’ Charlotte said, when they had fruitlessly discussed Kit’s disappearance for half an hour. ‘Apparently Lord Trevithick called here earlier—’