The Dangerous Lord Darrington (30 page)

‘I do not understand why Lord Darrington should want to move into Fentonby,’ observed Sophie as they rattled over the uneven ground. ‘Did he not say anything to you, Beth?’

She swallowed hard and replied with creditable calm. ‘No. But this matter is really none of his concern.’

‘None of his—!’ Davey shook his head. ‘Of course it concerns him, especially if Clarice Cordonnier is involved.’ He reached out to touch Beth’s arm. ‘Pray do not lose faith in Darrington, Mrs Forrester. If he refused to pay Clarice, you may be sure there is a good reason.’

‘Yes,’ said Beth bitterly. ‘Because he will not be beaten by her a second time.’

Davey began to protest, but Beth silenced him.

‘I know you are very loyal to your friend, Mr Davies, but your assurances sound hollow. If he truly wants to help us, he should tell me.’ She thought back to the days she had spent in the earl’s company, and the long, passionate nights. Surely that had meant something to him. She said, the words quiet and despairing, ‘Can he not trust me?’

Davey looked uncomfortable. ‘He must think it safer not to trust anyone.’

Beth found this response very unsatisfactory. She lapsed into silence, convinced in her own heart that she had read too much into those few brief days she had spent with Guy: it was quite clear to her now that he did not love her.

Their visit to the magistrate gave Beth little comfort. He heard her story, shook his head over the explanation of the stolen deposition, but finally declared that he was powerless to help.

‘I am very sorry, Mrs Forrester, but you cannot tell me where I can find this, this Mrs Cordonnier and a deposition, written by a Frenchwoman who is no longer in the country—it all sounds very implausible. Your brother must answer the charges against him.’ Seeing her stricken look, he softened a little, adding gently, ‘The most I can do is to keep Wakeford here in Thirsk until he is called to trial. That way at least you will be able to visit him regularly.’

Sir John escorted them personally to the gaol, where they found Simon in good spirits, although looking pale and shaken after his ordeal.

‘They are treating me very well,’ he told them. ‘Sophie managed to pass me a purse before they carried me away, so I have been able to pay for a separate room and decent food. And to be truthful, Beth, I am pleased to be out of that dashed undercroft. At least I have a window now.’

Beth managed a smile as he pointed to the barred opening high up in the wall. The sounds from the street filtered in, taunting them. Resolutely she refused to think of it.

‘You do indeed look better than when I last saw you,’ she admitted.

‘And what news of the de Beaunes?’

His eager question was met with an uneasy moment of silence before Beth told him what had happened, ending with Clarice’s visit to the Priory.

‘I had hoped Darrington might offer to loan me the money to buy back the letter,’ she ended.

Simon merely shrugged. ‘You cannot expect him to lay out such a sum for a stranger.’

‘You may be sure Darrington has good reason for refusing,’ put in Davey.

‘Would
you
refuse me such a sum?’ Sophie challenged him.

‘No, of course not,’ he replied swiftly. ‘If I had it, which I don’t…’

Beth put up her hand. ‘Please, do not make yourself uneasy, Mr Davies, I do not doubt
your
friendship.’

‘And I would not have you doubt Darrington’s.’

She gave a sad little smile. ‘No, of course not. I think perhaps I expected a little too much of him.’

It was very late by the time they returned to Malpass and Beth acquiesced to Sophie’s entreaty that Davey should be allowed to stay. She gave instructions for a room to be prepared, then went off to see her grandmother. Lady Arabella had retired, but she was not asleep and Beth endured a long and painful interview. She demanded to know why Beth had not told her of Simon’s presence in the undercroft and was convinced that if she had been informed, the soldiers would not have been able to arrest him.

By the time she had settled her grandmother, Beth was exhausted, too tired even to pay much heed to Tilly’s description of the trials she had endured whilst travelling to Malpass in the earl’s baggage coach. She merely told her maid how pleased she was to have her home again and tumbled into bed, falling asleep the instant her head touched the pillow.

The following morning brought another trial for Beth in the form of a visit from Miles Radworth. She had just finished breakfast when he was announced. She made her way to the great hall and as she descended the stairs he came forwards, his hands held out to her.

‘My dear, such dreadful news about your brother!’

‘You know of it, then?’

He took her hands, lifting first one, then the other, to his lips.

‘It is was all over Fentonby when I arrived home last night. There was no avoiding it. My dear, you must tell me everything.’

She looked up at him and read the concern in his face. ‘Yes,’ she said slowly, ‘I think I must. Come along into the library, Miles, and I will explain.’

‘…so there you have it,’ she finished, spreading her hands. ‘I did not go to Ripon, as everyone thought, I went to London, thinking I might be able to help Simon.’

‘I wish you had told me, Elizabeth.’

‘I wish I had, now.’ She sighed. ‘Perhaps I should not be in this predicament if I had trusted you.’

‘And Darrington insisted upon accompanying you?’

‘Yes.’ She glanced down at her hands, clasped lightly in her lap. ‘I cannot deny that he was very helpful.’

‘Because he is in love with you, perhaps?’

Beth kept her eyes lowered. ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘I do not think he loves me.’

She heard Miles’s chair scrape back as he rose and took a turn about the room.

‘But you travelled with him back to Malpass—alone?’

‘Yes.’

‘I see.’

I doubt it,
she thought miserably. She prayed he would not ask her any more questions; she did not want to explain just how intimate she had been with Lord Darrington.

‘You realise if—when—word of your exploits gets out, your reputation will be ruined?’

Beth closed her eyes. He would cry off, and who could blame him? Besides, she could not be sorry for it, now she knew her own heart.

‘Yes. I—’

‘In the circumstances I think it best we bring the marriage forwards.’ He continued as if she had not spoken. ‘So far our betrothal has been a private affair, but now it should be made public. The banns will be called and we shall be married within the month.’

Beth stared at him. ‘You still wish to marry me?’

‘Of course.’ His thin lips curved into a smile. ‘An announcement will put paid to any rumours that may arise from your recent—ah—adventures. We will invite everyone to celebrate with us at the Fentonby Assembly next week. My hired house in Fentonby is too small for such a celebration, and the Priory is not suitable for such a gathering, especially in the present circumstances.’

‘But, Miles, how can I think of celebrations with Simon in prison—’

‘Hush, my dear. You must see that once you are my wife I shall be much better placed to help you. From all you have told me, I think the Cordonnier woman is using you to get at Darrington. She thought you could persuade him to pay her off.’

‘She did.’

‘Our betrothal will show her she has mistaken the matter and with Darrington out of the way she may well reduce her demands.’

She looked up at him, saying hopefully, ‘Do you really think so?’

‘I am nearly sure of it.’ He walked over to her and held out his hands, saying, ‘Well, my dear—what do you say?’

Beth allowed him to pull her to her feet. She had planned to tell Miles she could not marry him, but all that had changed now. She felt battered by the events of the past few days, especially Guy’s refusal to help her. The turmoil within resolved itself into a blazing fury. She would show the precious earl how little he mattered to her—she did not need him any more. Resolutely she lifted her head.

‘I say yes, Miles.’

She did not move as he lowered his head and pressed his mouth over hers. She waited for his kiss to ignite the flame of desire that had leapt to life so readily whenever Guy had taken her in his arms. Desperately she forced herself to respond, but inside she felt nothing.

Chapter Twenty

M
iles did not remain at Malpass for long. Lady Arabella had not yet left her apartment and he declined Beth’s suggestion that he should accompany her to Thirsk, saying he had engagements in Fentonby that would not wait. Beth was therefore left to break the news of her forthcoming marriage to her family. She went first to her grandmother’s room, where she found Lady Arabella taking breakfast, her maid informing Beth that her mistress had not slept well. When Beth gently explained to her that she and Miles had at last set a date for their wedding, the old lady merely looked blank.

‘Are you not going to wish me well, Grandmama?’ murmured Beth, kneeling at the side of her chair.

‘Nothing will be well until Simon is home again,’ stated the old lady.

‘No.’ Beth blinked back the hot tears that were never far away. ‘No, you are right, Grandmama.’

Sophie’s response was a great deal more vociferous. Beth had waited until they were on their way to Thirsk to tell her. Mr Davies was with them, but she had accepted that he and Sophie were inseparable.

‘You are joking me!’ cried Sophie, when Beth broke the news.

‘Does Darrington know of this?’ demanded Davey.

‘I am
not
funning,’ retorted Beth, two angry spots of colour burning her cheeks. ‘And it is no business of Lord Darrington’s what I do!’

‘Oh, Beth, what are you about?’ Sophie caught her arm and gave it a little shake. ‘When you came back the other night, and said that you had been in Darrington’s company for the past week—’

‘That is neither here nor there,’ she flashed. ‘If Miles does not object to that, then it is of no consequence.’

She glared at her companions and they sat back, silenced. It could not be forgotten, but it was certainly pushed to the back of Beth’s mind when they reached the gaol to learn Simon had been moved to another cell.

‘A bigger apartment and clean bedding,’ joked Simon, when they were shown in. ‘The view is not so fair—this one overlooks the courtyard, whereas my previous room had a view of the sky. Oh, and I have a new gaoler.’ He pointed to the burly individual standing guard at the door. ‘Logan is perfectly civil, but insists on keeping me within sight night and day.’

‘How perfectly horrid.’ Sophie shuddered. ‘At least you are no longer shackled.’

‘No, and the food has improved, too.’ He grinned. ‘All in all it is not so bad and a lot better than the undercroft at Malpass.’

‘I hope we shall have you free soon,’ muttered Beth.

‘Oh.’ Simon looked up. ‘Is there news?’

‘I am afraid not, but Miles has vowed to help us.’

‘Is Radworth still here, then?’

‘Oh, yes.’ Sophie nodded. ‘And at last they have set a date. Miles and Beth are to be married at the end of the month!’

‘Really?’ Simon beamed. ‘Let us hope I shall be free to give you away.’

His brave attempt at humour overset Beth and she collapsed against him, sobbing.

‘There, there, sis, no need for this.’ He patted her shoulder awkwardly. ‘It won’t help, you know, and I hate to see you cry.’

She pulled out her handkerchief and began to wipe her eyes, huskily begging pardon for such a display of weakness, but the tears continued to flow for some moments and she did not know whether she was crying more for Simon or herself.

They arrived back at Malpass in good time for dinner; as they entered the great hall, Kepwith held out a silver tray.

‘Lord Darrington called while you were out, ma’am. He left this note for you.’

The silence in the great hall was thick with apprehension. Beth knew that Sophie and Davey were watching her carefully. She raised her brows.

‘Indeed?’ She picked up the letter and broke open the seal. She was concentrating so much on keeping her hands from shaking that she barely understood the message. One thing was quite clear from his first sentence: he would not be lending her the money to pay off Clarice. That was the only thing she wanted to know—his warnings to her to be on her guard she dismissed. Clenching her jaw tightly to prevent any show of emotion, she tore the letter in two and threw it on to the fire.

‘There is nothing in it that need concern us.’ She dusted her fingers. ‘Shall we join Grandmama for dinner?’

Beth found little time for reflection during the next few days as she busied herself with preparations for her forthcoming nuptials. She had sent an express to Mr Spalding in London, asking him to resume his search for Madame de Beaune, and received a note by return informing her that he believed the lady had left the country with her sister and brother-in-law. Certainly Bourne Park was no longer occupied.

This missive was quickly followed by a letter from Mrs Cordonnier, couched in the friendliest terms, but leaving Beth in no doubt that unless she found the money soon, the deposition would be destroyed. When she told Miles he begged her not to worry.