Lady Ellingham and the Theft of the Stansfield Necklace: A Regency Romance (24 page)

‘Yes,’ she
sighed reminiscently, ‘it was ridiculous wasn’t it,’ but it served its
purpose.’

 ‘‘So ridiculous
Felicity I have left it behind in the barn.’

 ‘I am glad you
did. They were nothing like Harry’s clothes; those breeches itched like the
devil. You should have seen the shopkeepers face when I left the shop wearing them.
His jaw had dropped to his knees and he looked ever so comical.  If I had not
been a little apprehensive I would have laughed at him, but it is always best
to keep a low profile in such situations, don’t you think?’

Alex shuddered
at the thought of it. ‘Felicity I truly hope there is not going to be any more
‘such situations,’ you cannot go racing about the countryside dressed in men’s
clothing,’

It was only five
miles to Middleham but as they were travelling slowly with Artemis in tow in
took them nearly an hour.  They reached the town square, Felicity dismounted,
and Alex jumped down onto the pavement beside her.  ‘Well the first thing we
must do is find the blacksmith and after that I think breakfast may be a very
good idea.  I do not know about you but I am famished.’  He looked around him
and spotted the White Swan situated in the square. ‘Stay here for a moment with
the horses, I shall go to that Inn and order a private parlour and some
breakfast. We can breakfast while Artemis is being shoed.’

‘Is it not too
early?’ she asked doubtfully.

‘Nonsense,’ he
countered,’ it is never too early if you let them name their price.’

The Blacksmith
was none too pleased about being knocked up so early but on the discovery of
Lord Thorndale’s’ identity and the promise of generous remuneration he soon
revised his ideas.  Before they knew it, he was up dressed and quickly leading
Artemis into his workshop.

After seeing
Artemis settled they walked back into the town square Felicity keeping up with
his long stride. ‘I say Alex; the blacksmith looked none too pleased.  I really
thought he was going to refuse.’

‘So did I,’ he
replied, ‘I deliberately made a point of telling him exactly who I am,
something I do not like to do, but I have got to say a title can come in rather
useful sometimes.  Anyway, let us get back for some breakfast for my throat is
as dry as sticks. I could really do with a coffee.’

As they were
crossing back over the town square, a rider came cantering into view.  They
both looked up together to see who was approaching so early in the morning. He
spotted the pair and headed straight toward them.

‘Richard!’
Felicity squealed as she ran across to greet him. He looked grey and tired, his
face was lined with pain and he appeared very grim indeed.  Felicity thought
she had seen a brief look of relief on his face but the look only proved momentary.
‘I will have words with you later,’ he boomed as he climbed down from his horse
and limped across to Alex. ‘And pray, where did the two of you spend last
night!’ he demanded in high dudgeon.

Alex scowled and
gritted his teeth. ‘Get off your high horse Richard, nothing is ever as it
seems.’

Felicity not realising
the source of his anger interjected. ‘Oh is it all right Richard, We found a
nice dry barn and Alex lit a fire to warm us through, and we had food, so we
were just fine. Weren’t we Alex?’

Alex smiled at
Felicity’s artless disclosure, ‘Flick I suggest that you be quiet for you are
only making matters worse.’ He turned back to her brother, ‘Come Richard I have
bespoken breakfast at the White Swan.  I suggest we discuss it in the privacy
of the parlour instead of out here in a public square.’

Richard by no
means pacified, acquiesced. The street was no suitable place for a public
brawl, even a deserted one. Moreover, he was more tired than he realised.  He
had reached Lealholme manor after dark, being cold and wet and having had a
fruitless journey.  He had given himself an hour to dry off, change and eat
some food before he had ventured out again on the Richmond to Middleham Road.

 After thirty
minutes on the road, it had been necessary to turn back. The moonless sky, the
relentless darkness and the rain had beaten him back and his horse had stumbled
numerous times on the uneven roadway.   He had not slept a wink and had tossed
and turned in the realisation that he could do nothing but put his trust in
Alex.  In normal circumstances, this would have not been a problem but Richard
was well aware of Alex’s reputation and was assailed with doubt. Richard cursed
to himself for he did not like losing control and when they did not arrive, he had
saddled up in the dark and left Lealholme Manor at the first light of day.

The three
entered the White Swan, Richard limping badly as he entered the parlour. ‘Oh your
poor ankle, is it no better?’ Felicity cried looking at the pain on her
brother’s face.

‘No! Neither
will it be if I have to go chasing across the countryside every time you decide
to go on a jaunt,’ he snapped.

Felicity lifted
a determined chin, ‘I told you I was just going home and it could be no more
than 40 miles away. You did not have to follow me.’

Richards’s
normally sober face looked furious. ‘Only 40 miles!  Let me tell you Flick that
forty miles on a cold, wet November day with shortening daylight is a long way
and when we get home you have not heard the end of it.’

Alex decided it was
time to interrupt their quarrel and interceded. ‘Do not blame Felicity for
running away.  It is entirely my fault, if you must, take it up with me.’

Richard turned
on Alex, ‘Maybe that is true, but that gives Felicity no right to be running
off like she did. Does she not realise that I have been tearing my hair out. 
And what kind of argument you could have had, to have caused such a thing I
cannot imagine, unless!’   He turned to Alex with renewed fury.’

Alex just
laughed and held up his hands. ‘Before you say anything, it is not what you are
thinking. I have never forced myself on a woman in my life.  No it was entirely
something else and as I am not prepared to discuss it you will have to take my
word for it.’

Richard turned a
questioning look to Felicity, ‘Flick?

‘I am sorry
Richard but I am not prepared to discuss our argument either, but I am sorry for
the trouble I have caused. I did not think that the journey would be so arduous
and did not expect you to be so worried.’

Richard looked
frustrated and turned back to Alex growling through gritted teeth. ‘You have
not answered my question. Felicity said you spent the night in a barn.  You
have some explaining to do.’

‘Richard I am
quite happy to tell you everything if you can get down off your high ropes for
long enough to listen.  I think you will find that things are not as bad as
they appear.’

After Alex had
related an accurate account of finding Flick half frozen on the road and that the
decision to take shelter in the barn was made out of necessity, Richard calmed
down but Alex could still see the flicker of doubt in his eyes and the hard set
of his chin.  He turned to his sister.

‘I know that you
once refused this man but you do realise that you will have to marry him now,
whether you wish to or not.’

‘But I do wish it
and I accepted his proposal last night,’ she retorted in exasperation.

‘So it is as I
thought,’ he stormed taking hold of the wrong end of the stick.  ‘Damn where is
that landlord with the coffee? Flick go and seek him out will you.’

‘Oh Richard, you
are intolerable, you could at least congratulate us,’ she stormed, as she
flounced out of the room in search of their host.

Richard turned
to Alex, ‘Well now she has gone you may tell me!’

Alex grinned. ‘I
well know what you are asking.  You want to know if she is still a maid.  Well
at the risk of permanent damage to my reputation, I can reassure you that I behaved
impeccably.  I will not deny that my restraint nearly killed me, it is as much
as any man can stand to be cooped up with such a beautiful woman for a whole
night and not be tempted.’

Richard slumped
in his chair visibly relieved. ‘Thank god for that.’

Alex could not
resist the final teasing word. ‘Well impeccable may not be quite the word but
as we are to be married, what passed between us is neither here nor there. I am
sure you would not begrudge me a stolen kiss. We are to be married so I do not
see that you need to be so disturbed.’

In the light of
his previous suspicion, Richard accepted his explanation with equanimity, ‘I am
sorry. I should have known I could trust you.’

‘Yes Richard,
you should have. I would have you know that your final words to me yesterday
when we parted taunted me the entire night.’

‘Eh what was
that? I do not remember what I said to you when we parted?’ He frowned trying
to recollect.

‘If you do not
remember Richard I am not going to remind you, but your words were a plague on
my conscience and I was cursing the ground you walk on.’

‘Well, I can’t
remember what I said but if it did the trick I am well pleased, you can hardly
blame me for being worried.  You cannot deny that you have a reputation.  You
told me a few weeks ago that you no longer see that Ladybird in Russell Square
but I do not know how many others you have dancing on a string.’

‘Is my reputation
really as bad as that?’ Alex laughed. ‘How wonderful even I would not have
thought it.  You misjudge me Richard. I am no paragon but I only ever had room
for one ladybird at a time.  In Felicity I have found what I have been looking
for my whole life and if it makes your mind any easier I am not intending on
straying.’

‘I am pleased to
hear it.  Anyway, I do not think you will have time to stray for Flick will
keep you on your toes.  You are welcome to her and I hope you have better luck
than I have had. I cannot wait to get her off my hands for I have not the power
to influence her nor the desire to curb her spirit.  The sooner you are married
the better as far as I am concerned.’

‘Do not worry. I
have what it takes to handle Flick.  Her spontaneous spirit is what I love
about her most. She just needs to be nurtured and nudged in the right
direction.   The trouble is you have the misfortune of being the same age and I
have heard that there can be a special bond with twins, an affinity that could
only have served to make your life more difficult.  I am older; Felicity and I
will deal well together as equals.’

‘Yes,’ Richard
sighed. ‘We are very close even though we quarrel constantly but it is never
malicious.  I can never be angry with Flick for very long but she seems to
tumble from disaster to another and lately she has been worse.’

Richard did not
have time to say any more for the door opened and Felicity came in followed by
a servant with the tea tray. He apologised profusely for the delay and advised
them that breakfast would still be another five minutes.  He proceeded to lay
the covers, apologising once again but as it was still early and they had
needed to arouse the cook.

Alex thanked
him, explaining that he realised it was an uncommonly early hour and they were
extremely appreciative of their efforts.

Once the
servants had left Felicity walked over to her brother and gave him a hug. ‘I do
not know what Alex has said to you but at least you no longer look like a bear
with a sore head.  I am glad you are in a better humour. Your brooding looks do
not suit you Richard.’

The three sat
down to a hearty breakfast and discussed what they should do next. They had the
whole day ahead of them and there was some discussion as to whether they should
continue on to Lealholme Manor, which was a matter of only thirteen miles away
or return to Stansfield Park a much longer journey.  It was decided that
Richard and Felicity should return to their own home where Richard could
recuperate properly from the injury to his ankle. Alex was naturally invited to
return with them but as he reminded them, someone had to return to reassure their
mother that all was well, besides which he was anxious to collect his horse
from the Unicorn Inn. Alex promised to escort the Countess back the following
week or if she desired earlier.  The Duke and Dowager were also welcome to
visit if they so desired.  All being agreed the three prepared to go their
separate ways.

Alex accompanied
them to the Blacksmith to retrieve Artemis and they made their farewells in the
blacksmiths yard. With a tear in her eye, Felicity reached up to give Alex a
kiss on the cheek and Richard shook his hand. 

Alex nodded, ‘until
next week then, I shall return with Lady Ellingham and to claim my bride and
make arrangements. I shall also arrange to put the announcement in the paper.’

‘And Tiber,’ Felicity
added, ‘you will remember to bring my little dog when you return?  I hope he is
not fretting but I could not bring him with me. I left him whining and with such
sad doleful eyes.’

‘I expect I
shall have the little mutt under my feet for the next week moping and wondering
where you are, yes I will fetch him if I do not strangle him first,’ he joked.

He climbed up
into the saddle but Richard put his hand to the bridle and detained him. ‘I
need to ask you a favour,’