Lady Jane's Ribbons (24 page)

Lewis caught up with Jane at the foot of the staircase. ‘Jane, I must speak with you for a moment.’

‘I don’t think there’s any point, sir.’

‘You have every right to be angry with me. I behaved abominably and I wish with all my heart that I hadn’t said those things to you.’

‘But you did say them, Lewis, and I could tell that you meant every word. Your opinion of my integrity is evidently very low indeed, which I had not realized until today. But still, they do say that it’s better late than never.’

A cold light passed through his eyes then. ‘Oh, you’re so right, madam, for after tonight I’ve seen you in your true colors as well.’

‘And what do you mean by that?’

‘I was referring to the touching little scene your aunt and I interrupted on our return. You and Charles were clasped so intimately in each other’s arms that I can only imagine that I’ve been wrong all along about your
feelings
for him. You evidently want him as much as he wants you.’

‘Shouldn’t you be leaving, sir? No doubt Alicia is becoming quite
impatient
.’

‘Yes, no doubt she is. Very well, Jane, I will leave, since that is quite
obviously
what you wish. However, in spite of everything, I will still honor my word concerning the race. I will go now and inform Lord Sefton that the Swan is a late entrant. There seems little point in delaying the matter any further, especially as we now have the new coach.’

‘Then by all means do that,’ she replied with an icy mien which concealed completely the hot misery she felt deep within.

His eyes were very dark and angry. ‘You may rest assured that your involvement will remain secret. Good night, madam. I trust that you will be very happy in the future as the Marchioness of Bourton.’ He strode across the vestibule to snatch up his hat and gloves from the table, leaving the house and slamming the door behind him before Melville had time to come to his assistance.

Jane remained motionless for a long moment, and then she went slowly on up the stairs.

News of the Swan’s last-minute appearance on the race scene spread over Town like wildfire that very night, with Lewis’s association adding a new dimension which electrified the coaching fraternity and caused a
considerable
stir throughout fashionable society. Before the night was out, there was brisk betting at Brooks’s and White’s, with the Swan being given a very good chance of holding the other two to a close finish because it had Arthur Huggett on the box and Lewis Ardenley’s bloodstock in harness. At the
Black Horse, Chapman was already in a disgruntled mood because of the mysterious disappearance of his fascinating widow; he was more disgruntled and displeased than ever when told about the Swan. A great deal of money rested on the race, money he intended to win, so something would have to be done to keep any unwelcome latecomers well and truly out of it. The Nonpareil must be free to deal only with the Iron Duke if the Earl of Felbridge was to be relieved of his cash. Chapman was disquieted on another score too, for Lord Ardenley’s involvement with the Swan was disturbing; he was too good, better than the earl, and his presence made the Swan more of a threat than ever. The Swan would have to go as quickly as it had come.

By breakfast time the next day, there was hardly a household in London where the race wasn’t being discussed, and by mid-morning it was evident that the start of Tower Hill was going to be more of a crush than ever, with the Brighton road a mill to end all mills as society sallied forth
en masse
to watch.

Henry was at the Fleece when he heard about the Swan, and the news brought him back
post haste
to South Audley Street in order to change to call on Lord Sefton and find out all he could. He bounded up the staircase two at a time, almost colliding with Jane as she was coming down from sitting with poor Ellen, who was feeling most unwell with hay fever.

‘Jane! Have you heard?’ he demanded.

‘Heard what?’ she inquired innocently.

‘Your damned Lewis has had the gall to back Wheddle and enter the Swan in the race!’

‘He isn’t
my
Lewis.’

He hardly heard her. ‘No wonder he refused to horse the Iron Duke – he had designs on the race himself all along! By God, I should have known when I was told about him being at the Feathers, he wasn’t there just because he had an eye for a….’ He cleared his throat, once again deciding not to mention Lewis’s activities with the serving girl in the stable. He looked at his sister then, noticing that in spite of her pretty apricot muslin morning gown she was rather pale. ‘Are you all right, sis? You look washy.’

‘Thank you, I’m quite all right.’

‘You don’t look it,’ he answered, untying his cravat and drawing it thoughtfully off, forgetting her again. ‘I had a feeling about Wheddle from the moment he somehow managed to keep going when other coachmasters would have caved in under such pressure from Chapman. Of
course
, he could keep going, he had Ardenley’s money behind him! Still, I’ve seen the new Swan, and to be quite frank, it doesn’t stand an earthly.’

‘Why do you say that?’

‘Because it hasn’t got brakes.’

‘Nor does the Iron Duke.’

‘That’s what you think,’ he said, tapping a conspiratorial finger against
the side of his nose.

‘You mean you’ve had them fitted?’

‘Yes. Chapman’s not going to steal my money as easily as
that
!’

‘But I don’t understand, I thought you disapproved of brakes.’

‘I do, but the new Nonpareil has them.’

She stared then. ‘How do you know that?’

‘One of my men managed to get into the Black Horse while Chapman was wining and dining a new lady friend. It’s funny, actually, I’m told she looked a lot like Aunt Derwent. Anyway, the new Nonpareil he’s got hidden away under wraps is a new-fangled safety coach, very flashy and
revolutionary
. No doubt he fondly imagines it’s going to give him the edge to lift my
£
50,000, but he’s sadly mistaken, tried and trusted is still best.’

‘Did you say
£
50,000?’ she asked faintly.

He shifted a little uncomfortably, for he hadn’t intended to let that slip. ‘Yes.’

‘Oh, Henry!’

‘It’s safe as houses, sis. The Iron Duke’s going to win and it’s Chapman who’s going to have to cough the money up.’ He grinned then. ‘Safety coaches indeed! They’re nothing more than wide carts. He might think it’s going to be faster on corners and so on, but I don’t. He’s going to be eating the Iron Duke’s dust all the way to Brighton, and so is Lewis Ardenley’s Swan.’

The irony of the situation was enough to make her want to laugh out loud. After all the anxiety of the previous day because of her aunt’s
dangerous
visit to the Black Horse, the information they’d wanted had fallen into their laps anyway, courtesy of Henry.

Henry smiled at her. ‘Cheer up, sis, it might never happen. Well, I must toddle on up to change. I have to collar Sefton and find out all I can about the Swan.’

‘I thought you’d dismissed the Swan as a nonentity.’

‘I have, but it never does to be complacent, especially when someone like Lewis Ardenley is involved. Besides, chit-chatting with Sefton will while away a pleasant hour or two, and whiling away the time’s all I have to do now until tomorrow morning.’

‘You could while it away making it up with Blanche.’

His smile faded. ‘The onus is on her, Jane, not me.’

‘Rubbish. You’re the one in need of manners, not Blanche.’

‘She was in the wrong at the theater and has been ever since.’

‘You’re being very stubborn.’

‘Then it must be a family trait, because you’ve given a splendid display of Derwent obstinacy where Lewis is concerned. Mind you, after what he’s done now, I can’t say I really blame you – the fellow’s a blackguard.’

‘Because he’s involved with the Swan?’

‘Yes.’

‘You’re being very childish. But I don’t want to talk about Lewis. I’m more concerned about you and Blanche.’

‘Then don’t bother yourself, the whole matter is closed.’

‘Why won’t you admit that you still love her? You
know
that she loves you.’

‘Then let her come to me and tell me so.’

‘Why don’t
you
go to her and tell
her
so?’ she countered.

‘Because she’s in the wrong. Damn it, Jane, don’t start on your dog-
with-a
-bone act again, I’m not in the mood.’

‘Do you still love her?’ she asked again, determined to corner him.

He hesitated. ‘She made her choice at the theater.’

‘Answer me, Henry.’

‘Oh, very well, yes, of
course
I do, but I’m not crawling to her while Dursley’s still sniffing around.’

‘Isn’t she worth fighting for?’ Oh dear, how very familiar
that
was.

‘I’ll go to her after the race.’

‘
After
? Henry, on your own admission you have nothing to do today but while away the time – put that time to good use.’

‘I said after the race, and I meant it.’

‘You’re still being very shabby.’

‘She was in the wrong and so she can wait until
I’m
ready to let her have a chance to beg my forgiveness.’

He went on up the stairs then, leaving his incredulous sister to stare after him. Of all the pompous, conceited, arrogant, mutton-headed beasts, Henry, Earl of Felbridge, took the biscuit!

The rest of the day dragged by on leaden feet. Jane wanted it all over and done with now, but each hour seemed to tick by so slowly it was like a day in itself. She sat in the garden with her aunt, attempting to read
The Corsair
while her aunt continued with her tambour work. It was warm and sunny, promising well for the following day, and the sounds of London were muted by the more immediate drone of bees in the flowers, and by the full-throated song of the blackbird in the branches of the walnut tree.

She gazed at the page before her without really seeing it, for her thoughts were elsewhere, with Lewis Ardenley. He would be at the Feathers now, seeing that the brakes were fitted correctly to the new coach, because he wanted to be certain there was no risk to his costly horses. When that was done he was going to Maywood, to wait there during the race in case he should be needed at all, Maywood being placed so handily along the ground. She knew this from a hasty note he had dashed off to her aunt. The words of
The Corsair
swam before her. She couldn’t help remembering what he’d said the night before about her intentions toward Charles. Let him think it, because that at least would make it easier for her to face him when his
forthcoming
betrothal to Alicia was announced. Easier? It would never be
easy
.

‘Will you read aloud for me, my dear?’ There was no reply and the tambour hook stopped. ‘Jane?’

‘Mm?’

‘I asked you if you would read aloud for me.’

Jane smiled apologetically. ‘I’m so sorry, Aunt Derwent, I didn’t hear what you said.’

Her aunt smiled too. ‘You were many miles from this garden, weren’t you?’

‘Forgive me.’

‘There’s nothing to forgive, my dear, for I’m sure I more than
understand
.’

Jane smiled. ‘Yes, I suppose you do.’

‘Well, perhaps now isn’t the time to talk about it. I was wondering if you would read to me for a while. I have a notion to hear a little of Lord Byron.’

‘Of course.’ Jane turned back to the beginning of the poem.
‘O’er the glad waters of the dark blue sea, Our thoughts are as boundless, and our souls as free, Far as the breeze can bear, the billows foam, Survey our empire, and behold our home!’
Her reading was colorless and she knew it. She looked regretfully at her aunt. ‘I’m afraid I cannot do his lordship justice this
afternoon
.’

‘No, I think you are right. The wretched fellow may be wicked beyond belief in his private life, but his genius with the written word deserves a little more than you seem capable of giving today.’ Aunt Derwent put down her tambour hook. ‘I’m sorry that my foolishness brought things to such a sorry pass between you and Lewis.’

‘It wasn’t your fault.’

‘If I hadn’t rushed off to the Black Horse, yesterday’s, er, contretemps would not have occurred, you cannot deny that.’

‘It would have occurred at some point or other, Aunt Derwent, whether you’d gone there or not. Lewis and I are incapable of simple polite courtesy toward each other.’

Her aunt studied her for a moment. ‘Once you seemed almost one, one heart, one thought, one will, just as I was with the Duke of Wellington, and would be still if I’d had any sense of my own.’

‘I don’t think it’s the same.’

‘No? Well, no matter, there’s time enough for such deep discussions. My dear, why don’t you stay at the Feathers tonight?’

‘
Stay
there?’

‘Yes. Then you’ll be right on the spot and ready to take your place beside Mr Huggett on the box in the morning.’

Jane stared at her. ‘But I couldn’t possibly.’

‘Why not? Henry isn’t going to know, he’s staying at the Fleece until after the race, and besides, if he does return for some reason, I can tell him you’re indisposed with a headache. Ellen’s ill, I know, but it won’t hurt just this
once if you toddle off on your own, and once there I daresay Miss Wheddle will be delighted to attend you and thus placate convention. Look, my dear, you don’t know what to do with yourself right now, do you? And you’re certainly not sparkling company, I can vouch for that. You need something to divert you, and there will be plenty going on at the Feathers, tonight of all nights. You could leave in less than an hour.’

‘Lewis might still be there.’

‘And if he is?’

‘I don’t want to see him.’

‘Then go this evening. I’m sure it would be the best thing for you.’

‘But what about you? I can’t simply rush off and leave you.’

‘As the senior member of the family here present, I’m advising you to go, and I shall be perfectly happy because I shall invite Blanche to dine with me. The matter’s settled, my dear. The decision’s been taken out of your hands – you’re going to the Feathers. I suggest you have Melville inform Thomas and then send someone ahead to warn them to expect you – I’m sure Miss Wheddle will want to prepare their best chamber.’

‘You seem almost anxious to be rid of me.’

‘You remind me a little too much of myself, when I was so very foolish about the Duke of Wellington. Now then, off you toddle to make your arrangements before we take tea. I will see you in the morning, when Blanche and I come to the Feathers ready to follow the Swan to the start.’ She thought for a moment. ‘Jane, have you considered what you’re going to wear tomorrow?’

‘Wear? No, not really.’

‘Excellent, then after tea we’ll go up and inspect your considerable wardrobe. I’m sure an agreeable hour or so can be passed deciding
exactly
what togs will be best for the occasion.’ She got up, putting a firm hand on her niece’s arm. ‘I’ll hear no more argument, my dear. The rest of your
afternoon
and the early evening has now been taken care of, and after that you are going to the Feathers.’

Jane got up as well then, setting her book down on the seat and then turning anxiously to her aunt. ‘You don’t think I’m being too shocking by being on the box during the race, do you?’

‘No, my dear, I don’t, but then you share my rather unusual spirit, don’t you? Besides, isn’t there a point to be made in all this? Was it not originally your intention to prove to Henry not only that his behavior is odious, but also that a woman is just as capable as a man of seeing a coach to victory in a race?’

‘Yes, but—’

‘Why but? You must ride on the coach, my dear, and I’ll warrant that every woman in the realm will be cheering you on, even if mostly in secret. Blanche and I will not be secret, though, you may count upon it. We’ll be following you every inch of the way and showing them all that we support
you. Men are tiresome creatures, Jane. They need shaking up now and then to show them that they’re the inferior sex. This is one of those times.’ Aunt Derwent sighed then. ‘Aye, tiresome they may be, but what
would
we do without them? Come along now, we’ll see that the carriage is ordered and then take tea, and after that your wardrobe will receive a visitation.’