Lady Phillipa's Peril: Regency Romance Suspense Series ( Book 3) (Lords of Sussex 4) (5 page)

Stopping by a bay fronted Chocolate House, Phillipa peered through the mullioned windows. ‘Good, it is not full. I think everyone is down on the beach.’  Following her, Venetia clung onto the wrought-iron rail, holding up the lemon muslin dress, as they stepped down rickety wooden steps. The aromas of cinnamon, and spice wafted over them as they entered.  A waitress in a black bombazine dress with a starched white apron curtseyed before them. ‘Ladies, you have a choice of tables.’

Although it was brilliant sunshine outside, the interior was quite subdued with the dark oak beams on the ceilings and wood pannelled walls. Even in the height of summer, a fire glowed in the grate. As Phillipa looked over the room, a couple of officers stopped in mid-conversation to cast a flirtatious glance in their direction.

‘I think the one overlooking the garden would be very nice,’ Phillipa said, thinking it would be far enough away from them. ‘Or would you like to sit elsewhere Venetia?’

Seeing the male interest, Venetia murmured, ‘No, that would be lovely.’

‘There are some tables outside if you prefer ma’am,’ the maid said, waving towards the windows overlooking a sheltered expanse of lawn with round tables shaded by large umbrellas.

‘No I prefer inside.’ Venetia said, thinking of the flies, wasps and birds that would swoop down.

‘Dearest, I hesitate to ask, but are you alright? You seem a little pensive?’

‘No – no, all is well.’ Venetia said, deciding not to spoil the day with her woes.

‘Well you will tell me if you need any help will you not?’

‘Let’s enjoy today.’

Phillipa bit her lip; Venetia was never so serious; something was wrong, but she obviously did not wish to speak of it. ‘Do you want some hot chocolate?’ she asked, straightening her Indian chintz skirt.

‘La, I do love your dress Pippa; the material is gorgeous.’

‘Thank you, I was quite taken with the print flowers on the white background. ‘So what would you like to drink?’

‘No thank you; I would prefer an iced lemonade, especially in this heat.’

‘Oh well, heat or not, I can’t resist the chocolate; it is delicious. They also do the café Viennois, which is with whipped cream. Cook is averse to it and declares it is a disgusting foreign concoction.’

‘Our cook is so stubborn and insists coffee, and chocolate are bad for the digestion and can lead to stomach ulcers. So we avoid altercations, as he does cook some exquisite dishes.’

‘Have you tasted the Kapuziner coffee? They whip the milk up into a foam and add spices; they also serve that here.’

‘No I am going to stick with plain iced lemonade.’

After giving the order, Phillipa leant over the table. ‘Venetia, I need to tell you something, but I had to wait until we were quite alone.’

‘Really, it sounds ominous.’

‘It is dearest, at the time I wished more than anything that you were with me.  I have tried, but I cannot still my fears.’

‘Tell me.’             

‘Alright; when I arrived at the manor, we all went to our rooms after tea to freshen up and to rest.  I found a note, sealed with wax on the dressing table, and it was frightening. It said, “Marry at your peril.” As you can imagine my blood ran cold.’

‘Oh my goodness, who was it from?’

‘I have no idea; I thought it might be a jealous woman, or maybe Hector has a mistress. I actually accused him of such, but he said it was a load of fustian nonsense. He said I should tear it up.’

‘And did you?’

‘Oh no, I thought him too flippant over the matter. Anyway, you know how easy going he is, unless crossed of course.’

‘Have you informed the dowager?’

‘Hector asked me not to; she is so caught up in the nuptials that anymore might exhaust her, or send her into hysterics.’

‘I can’t say I’d blame her if she did. I would feel in peril if I received that.’

‘I am so glad you think the same, for I am affrighted.’

‘I think it is more than a joke Phillipa, dear God, you should not be left alone.’

‘All I can do is to be watchful.’

‘Has it put you off marrying Hector?’

She hesitated, ‘I … oh Vinny; I am so miserable.’

‘But my dearest, what is wrong?’

‘I fear you have troubles of your own, let alone mine.’

‘Come tell me.’

‘I wish …I just wish I didn’t have to marry him Vinny. There I have said it.’

‘Oh dear, that is difficult; what will you do?’

‘Nothing, you know it would break my mama’s heart and leave my brothers bereft of an education; poor Louisa would not have her come out either.  Besides we would be ostracized.’

‘Oh my dear.’ Venetia narrowed her eyes, ‘There is your aunt in France. You could go there ‘til it all died down. I know it is a bit dramatic, but it would be a way out for you. ’

‘I cannot. That did cross my mind, but I still have to think of Hector too. How can I break his heart? I love him dearly you see, as a friend. Oh Vinny, I am trapped, I must bury my feelings, rise above them.  At least having you here has distracted my morbid thoughts.’

‘Oh Pippa, why do we have to obey them all the time? We are so restricted even in the matter of love?’

‘You know how it is; we were paired off as babes even. It was always the plan that we should marry.’

‘Their plans not ours. Trouble is we would lose everything if we rebel. So you have no idea what you could do?’

‘No, I am trapped. However, enough, I must try to lift my spirits and yours. I just felt I had to tell the true state of affairs. Maybe it will all sort itself out.’  

‘Well at least Horatio and I are now here, and other guests will arrive over the next few days, so you shall not be alone.’ She leant over, a small smile tugging at her lips. ‘So let me distract you more. Those officers cannot take their eyes off us.’

‘Ignore them, they will soon lose interest.’ Phillipa murmured, stirring her coffee and spooning the cream.

‘Hmm, I must say they are both quite handsome.’

‘Oh no, tis the uniform does that.’

‘Rather the dark locks and blazing blue eyes.’

‘Vinny – you are almost a married woman.’ Phillipa said, her lips twitching despite her melancholy. At least that lightened the subject somewhat. Phillipa spooned up more of the whipped cream, dabbing her lip, ‘Mm tis worth the journey just for the coffee n’est-ce pas?’

‘You have some cream on the tip of your nose.’

Dabbing at it, Phillipa blushed, hoping the officers did not see.

‘Excuse me prying, but will the dowager live with you after you marry?’

Phillipa put down her cup, ‘Yes; she actually wanted to move to the dowager house, but the twins are still with her, and she has the younger son who returns for the holidays. So it would be cramped; no, I insisted she have the right wing of the Manor.  We have numerous bedrooms anyway.’

‘How many?’

‘Over forty.’

‘Good Lord Pippa, I didn’t realize there were so many. I mean as children you don’t think of such things. To us, it was just like a fairy castle.’

‘Well, they will come in handy when we entertain, especially on the long weekends. The dowager says she often has more than fifty guests at a time.’ Phillipa frowned, ‘Thing is Vinny, as you know; I am not one for these huge entertainments. Neither is Hector.’

‘But won’t the dowager insist?’

‘Oh no, she too is rather relieved with my sentiments on such. It seems it was the baron who encouraged it; mainly to do with his various business outlets, the mines, plantations and mills. Of course, we will still have events; I mean we love having our friends, and of course, the men must have their hunting weekends and the shooting seasons.’

Venetia sighed, ‘Oh; I suppose t’will be the same for me when Horatio inherits, but for the time being, we can enjoy the small estate.’

‘So you will move when you marry?’

‘Not far, Horatio inherited Pensdown from his grandmamma, and tis only a few miles away. ‘

‘Pensdown is delightful; you must be excited.’

‘Yes, there are such lovely gardens and then of course, there is the river, Horatio enjoys giving boating parties and there are some cottages to house the guests. I cannot say I am enamoured of the river, you know I have a fear of boats.’

‘Yes, and you never would come with Henrietta and Isabella and me when we swam in the pool of an evening. I shall certainly miss that. But they do have the lake. D’you remember Isa, Etta and you and I creeping out at night to swim in it? You used to sit on the bank and keep watch. La, if the dowager had caught us.’

‘Hmm, we never did invite the boys did we?’

‘Hardly, seeing you swam naked. Wouldn’t do to get your clothes wet would it? The governesses would have tweaked our secret.’  They both giggled, and Phillipa suddenly felt heartened, even uplifted. ‘I must say Vinny; you have cheered me up already. Maybe it is nerves; I've heard it can be quite excruciating – some young girls actually swoon at the thought of it.’

‘That’s good. I confess, I too am feeling anxious and fairly tremble when Horatio and I talk of it.’

‘Yes, tis nerves – just nerves. After all, I do love Hector.’ Finishing her coffee Phillipa grinned, ‘Let’s make the sun, come we shall go and see the fun by the bathing machines. That does not worry you; some of them are in the water?’

‘No – no, not as long as you don’t expect me to jump in the sea.’ As they made their way across the room, the two officers bowed slightly and grinned.

The sun blazed down on them as they walked protected by parasols, along the promenade. Phillipa looked over to the Regency’s dwelling, ‘I thought we would walk by the Steine; we can then glimpse the Prince Regent’s farmhouse. He built some additions just three main rooms, a breakfast room, dining room and library; the central rotunda is quite charming – all in the neo-classical style. He loves the Mughal and Islamic architecture.’

‘Yes I hear the interior is all Indian and Chinese in décor. I am not sure I could live with that, tis too overwhelming and hardly comfortable.’

‘I prefer the Egyptian style, tis so elegant and clean cut. I find the Chinoiserie décor too busy and I care not for the black paint.’

Yes but that is hardly patriotic Phillipa, seeing as it is Napoleon’s influence there.’

‘Hmm, well tis more preferable than the Chinese style. I hear Prinny purchased land around the house and built riding stables for sixty horses. The architecture again is quite magnificent in the Indian style.’

As Venetia turned to look at the expanse of ground, she espied the two officers from the Chocolate House. ‘Don’t look back Phillipa, but I think those officers are following us.’

Phillipa almost giggled, twirling her parasol. ‘Oh my, we shall ignore them.’

Venetia grinned; it was good to see her friend lighten her mood; she was usually such a jolly girl.

‘As I was saying.’ Phillipa said, ‘Prinny has exquisite taste, and even more so with the ladies. I hear there are plans to extend the pavilion in time.’

‘T’was there he took Mrs. Fitzherbert, the true love of his life, at least they had some privacy away from the prying eyes of the court. It is so sad it ended you know. He was mad for her.’

As she turned to peer at the buildings, she saw the two officers now only a few yards behind. Averting her eye quickly, she whispered, ‘La, they are following us.’

Phillipa grinned trying not to turn her head. ‘I expect they want us to drop a handkerchief.’

‘Or trip’ Venetia replied, her laughter bubbling.

‘So they can pick us up in their manly arms.’

‘Yes and accidentally touch our bosom, Oh yes,’ Venetia said. ‘Look, most of the bathing machines are pulled into the water.’

‘Tis so hot, I envy them. I would dearly love to bathe right now.’ Phillipa peered at the beach. ‘Hector said he will purchase one for me when we return from Brussels and a separate one for him. He is lucky I must don a bathing costume, but he can bathe naked.’

Venetia giggled, ‘Maybe you could start a new fashion.’ Glancing back, she murmured, ‘They are nearly upon us; I wonder whether they will try to engage us in conversation?’

Phillipa playfully tapped her friend on the arm. ‘Venetia – you are a cake.’ Nearing the edge of the promenade, she leaned slightly over, ‘Look there are the bathing women helping some of the ladies down the steps of the machine. Those women are very necessary, many a life is saved.  Being the wives of fishermen, they are strong swimmers and can pull a lady from the waves quite easily.’

‘Hmm, Tis said it is so beneficial for the health, in fact, they encourage the females more than the men.’

Taking a step nearer the edge Phillipa looked over, as another machine was driven by the driver into the sea, over wooden rails. ‘That one actually has a window and a curtain across.’ Upon which she gave a slight shriek as her foot slipped over the edge. With arms flailing, she fell to the promenade.

Lying on her back on the stone, she saw a pair of legs in breeches jump down beside her. Phillipa gazed into sapphire eyes framed in black lashes, with black hair tousled over a noble forehead. ‘Are you alright m’dear?’

‘I don’t know.’

She heard Venetia’s voice overhead, ‘Oh do be careful she may have broken a limb.’

‘Allow me – I’ll try not to hurt,’ her rescuer whispered.

Venetia called out, ‘Touch her not; we have need of a physicker.’

‘Be not alarmed ma’am, I am one.’

Phillipa blinked, ‘Oh dear, oh dear; I don’t think I can move my legs.’

Looking around him, he shouted up to his friend, ‘Alleyne, move the crowd away, I need room.

To her embarrassment, Phillipa became aware of people jostling nearby, craning necks to see her.

‘Oh dear, I am a spectacle.’

‘Do not fret; my friend will clear them. Now come let me examine those legs.’

As he went to pull up her skirt, her hand shot down to hold his.  ‘Sir, desist, you cannot—’

‘Spare your dignity for the drawing room; we are trying to save your legs.’ Without more ado, he drew up her skirts whilst his friend cleared the crowd of observers away. She could hear them arguing, but he soon dispatched them.

Phillipa bit her lip as her rescuer’s strong hands gently prodded her limbs. ‘Hmm, I think you will survive m’dear, you’ll have a few aches and bruises, but I would like to examine your hips and back, just to ensure all is well.’

‘I forbid it, how do I know you are a physicker? And here, tis too public.’

Ignoring her, he looked up at his friend, ‘Alleyne, bring the lady’s friend down here, whilst I procure one of the bathing machines. Then I can examine her in private.’

Phillipa protested, even though she hurt in several places. ‘But – I refuse, I—’

‘You have my word ma’am; I am a physicker and an officer in the Life Guards and as such am quite capable of examining you. You have your friend here as a chaperone.’

‘No desist. I abjure you, please refrain.’

‘Lie still, until we can carry you to a bathing machine,’ he said, ignoring her pleas.

Within minutes Phillipa lay looking at the wooden walls of a bathing machine, whilst Venetia held her hand, the tears streaking down her cheeks. ‘Oh Lordy Phillipa, you were near to death with that fall. We are fortunate to have Lord Delmare to assist you.’

Lord Delmare or not, Phillipa was not about to allow him to undress her. Why t’was pure indecency, even her own physician did not examine her undressed.

However, to her astonishment, the physicker swiftly undid her buttons and ribbons and within seconds, plucked off her dress, followed by her petticoats. ‘At least allow me my chemise sir,’ she said between clenched teeth.

‘Of course, I am not about to strip you bare. Please, I have seen many bodies and am not in the least put out. It would take a lot to shock me.’

‘I am not thinking about shocking you, tis about you shocking me, sir.’

‘Hush now, let me examine you properly. Many a cracked bone has proven fatal due to lack of care.’

To her mortification, he did just that, examining her from top to toe. He even had the audacity to slap her buttocks, as he said, ‘I am done; you will survive young lady, but I want you to rest; you have numerous abrasions, so you will be very sore for some days.’

‘But I am to marry soon.’

‘Marry?’ His eyes narrowed,

‘Yes sir.’

So this beauty was taken, t’was a shame, he was fairly enamoured of her already. ‘Then tis my loss milady. But now let us get you dressed. Where is your carriage if you have one?’

Venetia interrupted explaining where his friend Lieutenant Wilkinson could find the carriage.

As the carriage drove up to the entrance of the manor, Hodgeson came forward followed by a footman. The lieutenant helped Venetia alight whilst Lord Delmare climbed down the steps and reached for Phillipa.

‘I can walk my lord.  I assure you—’

‘Come now,’ brooking no opposition, he reached up and lifting her from the carriage, swung her up in his arms. Hodgeson observed his actions with something amounting to horror.

‘Lead the way my man.’

Hodgeson nodded and whilst grimacing, tottered into the portico. 

The dowager appeared, raising her hands in alarm.’

‘Tis alright your ladyship.’ Phillipa squeaked from Delmare’s arms, ‘I fell and this kind physicker attended to me.’

‘Darling – darling,’ She heard Hector’s voice, as he ran over the stone floor, ‘What the hell?’

Lord Delmare managed to bow with Phillipa still in his arms. ‘Ah Thurston, your fiancé fell from the promenade.’

Hector’s face paled, ‘Phillipa? Delmare?’

‘She is unharmed, but needs rest; she will suffer some aches and pains in the coming days. Now show me her bedroom.’

‘Thompson will take her now.’ Hector said, waving to a footman.

‘Let me,’ drawled Demetrius appearing from the corridor, upon which the footman bowed, and stepped back.

‘Please, I am quite capable of walking now, thank you,’ Phillipa said crossly.

‘No – no m’dear,’ Delmare said, ‘Just rest those limbs, at least for a few hours.’

Handing her over to Demetrius, his smile did not reach his eyes. ‘So, we meet again Thurston, on neutral ground.’

Phillipa raised her eyebrows; it appeared, he had little regard for the bounder. ‘I insist, let me down now. I am not some witless widgeon.’

‘Why dearest girl you sound as cross as crabs.’ Demetrius said, smirking.

‘I am that, and you will feel my pincers; I can assure you.’

‘Yes, put the poor girl down Demetrius. Why Phillipa is quite overset. Put her down now.’

As Demetrius complied, he quietly pinched her waist whereupon; she wanted to slap him, the dirty dish.

Unaware of her distemper, Delmare turned to Hector, ‘Good ter see you again old chap, I hear you are making for Brussels?’

‘Can’t wait to put an end to the little Corsican.’

‘Let’s hope we can put the widow maker to rest, this time.’  Delmare laughed.

‘Come in – come in. Will you stay for dinner?’

‘What say you Alleyne?’ Delmare asked, turning to the lieutenant.

‘Jolly good idea what.’ Wilkinson grinned, rubbing his hands together. 

As they walked along the stone corridor, Hector clapped Delmare on the shoulder, ‘Stay the night, be glad of snooker partners.’

‘Like to old chap; we can stay for dinner, but we’re fixed to attend an assembly tonight, promised a couple of gals.’