The Unexpected Bride (21 page)

She tried to convey her gratitude to Lady Castlereagh, who said, smiling, ‘My dear, don’t mention it. I should find it so very vexing to be blind myself that I shall be happy to assist you. Sally Jersey tells me she has promised you vouchers for Almack’s. We shall all be pleased to see you there.’ She made her farewells and moved away to greet other friends and comment on the charming bride Darleston had chosen.

At the other side of the ballroom were two people who viewed the social success of Darleston’s bride with savage anger. Jack Frobisher felt cheated. He had counted his cousin’s title and wealth as his own. To be supplanted by a second marriage was insupportable.

‘Damn Peter!’ he burst out.

Lady Caroline looked at him and said softly, ‘Control yourself, my friend. You are not the only one who wants to scuttle this marriage. From now on we work together! If all goes well we can both enjoy the money and the title. Remember the price of my silence is marriage!’

Frobisher shrugged and nodded. ‘You drive a hard
bargain, Caroline, but if you can help me it will be worth it to get my revenge on the pair of them.’

Lady Caroline said curiously, ‘You’re not in this just because of the money and title, Frobisher. What else are you after?’

Frobisher gave an ugly laugh and said, ‘I would dearly like the chance of a little chat with Lady Darleston, uninterrupted by her dog!’ There was no mistaking his meaning.

Lady Caroline smiled evilly, saying, ‘Done! She’s all yours! Pay me a morning call in the next day or so to discuss ways and means. We had better not be seen too much together. Why don’t you see if you can find out whether your cousin has any suspicion of your involvement in the shooting? For now, I’m off home. Louisa Edenhope’s parties are such insipid affairs!’

‘What you mean is that you can’t bear to watch the prize you lost flaunting another woman under your nose,’ said Frobisher.

Lady Caroline’s colour rose at this taunt. It had already occurred to her that this was Lady Edenhope’s sole reason for inviting her. She turned on her heel and left him.

Well satisfied with the progress he had made, Jack Frobisher helped himself to a glass of champagne from a passing footman. He drank a silent toast to his revenge on Penelope and Darleston. A pity his cousin had had the wench first, but doubtless he could think of any number of things Darleston would be far too gentlemanly to subject his wife to! An unpleasant smile came to his lips as he contemplated the future.

He moved off through the crush of people, nodding to various acquaintances, many of whom commented on his cousin’s bride.

Frobisher merely smiled and said, ‘Ah, yes, poor Ffolliot!’ At this his listeners smirked knowingly. Frobisher observed the success of his efforts to stir up gossip. Already he saw himself as Earl of Darleston. Wrapped in this pleasant dream, he sauntered through the crowd towards the card room. A chance glimpse of Lord and Lady Darleston brought Lady Caroline’s suggestion back into his mind. He stood irresolute, wondering if he dared greet his cousin.

The decision was taken out of his hands. Peter had already seen him. ‘Here comes Jack,’ he said softly to his companions.

Richard said fiercely, ‘Good, let’s give him a fright! Show him we know!’

‘Good idea if it were just Jack involved, but the situation may be different now,’ was the rejoinder. ‘Better to draw him in, lull any fears he may have. That way we may be able to trap him. What do you think, Penny? Can you bear to meet him again after what has happened?’ It sickened him to think of Frobisher being anywhere near her, and Penelope could sense his distaste for the whole situation.

‘If it will help you, Peter,’ said Penelope. Darleston could hear the constraint in her voice. Her fingers resting on his arm trembled. He laid his hand on hers and pressed it reassuringly.

‘Here goes, then,’ said Darleston, beckoning to his cousin with a friendly smile.

Jack approached in some trepidation. Surely Peter had glared at him earlier. Perhaps the glare had been for Lady Caroline. There was no trace of unfriendliness now, however.

‘Good evening, Jack,’ said Peter. ‘You are already acquainted with my wife and her sister, Mrs Winton,
but may I present Mr Winton? Winton—my cousin, Mr Jack Frobisher.’

‘Good evening, Mr Frobisher,’ said Richard politely. ‘I don’t believe we met when you visited the Ffolliots last spring.’

‘Er…Good evening, Mr Winton,’ said Frobisher uncomfortably.

He turned to Penelope. ‘I heard you had been unwell. Took a toss from a horse, did you not? I hope my cousin is looking after you properly!’

‘My lord has been very kind,’ she replied steadily, wondering just how he had heard about that ‘accident.’ He continued heartily, ‘Must be difficult, being blind and all, having to find your way around that damned great barrack in Grosvenor Square. You just tell me if you need any help!’ That, he thought, might be the ticket to get into the house and lull any suspicions.

‘How kind of you, Mr Frobisher,’ said Penelope. ‘Lord Darleston has been so kind as to show me around already. But if you call I shall remember to have my dog under control.’

Darleston was startled to discover that he was torn between the urge to laugh at the infuriated expression on his cousin’s face and the desire to plant him a facer on the mere suspicion that he had laid a finger on Penelope.

Somehow Frobisher managed to control himself, ‘Ah, yes. Your dog has such an uncertain temper, fair Cousin!’

‘Do you find him so?’ asked Darleston in feigned surprise. ‘Why, I find his behaviour quite predictable and logical!’

‘No doubt he mellows on longer acquaintance,’ said Frobisher.

Penelope listened carefully. He sounded nervous, ill at ease, and no wonder considering the turn the conversation had taken. The voice was over-eager to ingratiate but he seemed to gain confidence as Peter continued to be civil. Richard, however, sounded as though he were having difficulty containing himself at some of Frobisher’s rather distasteful comments.

‘Believe you live near the Ffolliots, Winton. Must have been a hard choice for you, choosing a wife. Could have just tossed a coin, eh?’

‘I have never had the slightest difficulty distinguishing between my wife and her sister, even when they tried to fool us as children,’ replied Richard in tones of utter boredom. ‘Excuse me, please. I can see a friend I wish to speak to. Come, Mrs Winton.’ He cast Peter a look of apology as he retreated.

‘High and mighty, ain’t he?’ said Jack. ‘Well, I must be going, Cousins. I shall pop in to see how you are going along. Evening, Carstares.’ He moved away in the direction of the card room, confident that his formidable cousin had no idea of the plot against him.

His departure was much to the relief of Peter. Frobisher’s blatant sizing up of Penelope had been almost too much for his self-control. ‘What’s your verdict, George?’

‘Nervous, at least at first. Penny?’

She hesitated before saying, ‘I agree. And he seemed over-hearty towards the end. A little overconfident.

‘I’ve had enough of this business for one night,’ said Darleston. ‘I suggest we find Richard and Phoebe and repair to the supper room. Then we can dance some more before going home!’

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly, and Lord and Lady Darleston arrived home at about three in the morning. When Meadows opened the door accompanied by Gelert Peter stared in amazement. ‘What the devil are you doing up, Meadows? I said you were not to, didn’t I?’

‘Begging your pardon, my lord, but with all this nasty business going on I preferred to know you were safe home. I did go to bed but I couldn’t sleep,’ replied the butler with dignity.

Peter stared at him helplessly and then turned to Penelope, saying, ‘See what sort of a demoralising effect you are having. Even Meadows doesn’t trust me to look after you. Up to bed with you, my lady, while I deal with this insubordination.’

Penelope laughed. ‘Goodnight, Meadows! Thank you. I shall give you a little bottle of laudanum next time we are out late!’

She went upstairs to find Ellen waiting for her, also contrary to instructions. ‘Why, Ellen, you and Meadows are as bad as each other!’

‘His lordship’s valet, Fordham, is up too,’ said Ellen, grinning at her mistress unrepentantly. ‘Now stop fussing, milady. I had a little nap on the day-bed. See how pleased Gelert is to see you safe!’

‘Oh, Ellen! What could possibly happen to me at a ball?’ asked Penelope, petting Gelert, who was jumping around her like a puppy.

‘I’d have said nothing could happen down at Darleston, but I’d have been wrong!’ was Ellen’s grim rejoinder. ‘We did make Miss Sarah go to bed. She went off to sleep like a baby!’

‘Thank goodness someone did!’ said Penelope, as she submitted to being undressed and arrayed in a very
pretty nightgown. When Ellen sat her down at the dressing table and produced the hairbrush, however, she rebelled, sending her off to bed with dire threats of being sent back to the country.

No sooner had Ellen left than Peter walked through the connecting door in his dressing gown, saying expressively, ‘Our servants! Did you know Fordham was up? I haven’t let him stay up for me in years!’

Penelope chuckled as she continued to brush her hair. ‘Never mind. At least they care about us!’

Peter watched her for a moment before walking over to remove the brush from her grasp. ‘May I, Penny?’

‘If you wish,’ she answered shyly.

He brushed her hair in silence, enjoying the feel of the silken curls, gazing at her in the mirror. Firmly he told himself that she was probably tired, that he should leave her alone, that his lovemaking only increased the pain of the relationship for her. He told himself this every evening when he came to her room, ostensibly to bid her goodnight. And every night he found himself unable to return to his own bed. She never asked him to stay, he understood that her pride would not permit it, but always she responded to his advances passionately.

Now his eyes kept straying from her face to the delectable curves so temptingly revealed by the nightgown. Those soft curves which fitted so miraculously to his own body. His gaze lingered on her lips, such a sweet mouth which yielded to his demands in total surrender.

Unable to help himself, he put the hairbrush down, grasped her shoulders and pulled her up to stand against him. One arm slipped around her waist as he
bent his head to kiss her neck. She could feel the heat of his mouth and turned in his arms, pressing herself against him. Her breath came unevenly. She wondered just how long her legs would be able to support her.

‘I want you, Penny, you’re so lovely!’ said Peter shakily. She simply lifted her mouth to his and kissed him. Then his hands were at her breast, undoing the buttons of her gown. Gently he pushed it off her shoulders. As it slid to the ground with a silken whisper he stepped back to feast his eyes on her loveliness. Swiftly he removed his robe and took her in his arms again, his mouth tender and seductive. His hands ranged over her trembling body, delighting in her response.

Penelope could feel the hard strength of his body and then felt him lift her into his arms, his mouth still locked to hers. She nestled in his arms as he crossed the room to deposit her gently on the bed.

He stood looking down at her for a moment and then joined her. ‘Penny, sweet little Penny,’ he whispered, before his mouth came down on hers.

T
wo days after Lady Edenhope’s ball Penelope sat alone in the cushioned luxury of her drawing room wondering just how many members of the Ton were going to pay bride visits. Admittedly some of them were friends of Peter’s, but many, she was well aware, had come out of sheer curiosity. Lady Castlereagh and Lady Jersey had been among the earliest visitors. They had called together, bringing the promised vouchers for Almack’s. Their visit had been extremely pleasant.

The presence of Gelert had not bothered them in the slightest. Lady Jersey had everyone so far as to say that all women of consequence should have one to discourage unwanted callers, ‘Just think how useful! Lady Darleston, you will be setting a fashion. I don’t suppose you would consider lending him to me?’

‘Nonsense, Sally! Lady Darleston will have enough unwanted callers in the next few days to keep him busy. As for you, if your butler does not know by now whom to admit you should replace him!’ Lady Castlereagh had replied, and continued kindly, ‘I dare say you will receive a great many callers, Lady Darleston. Most of them will only call once, out of
curiosity to see Darleston’s bride. We had all quite given up hope that he would marry again, you see!’

Penelope was turning this tactful warning over in her mind when Sarah came in and said, ‘Can I go to Hatchard’s to buy a book? Ellen will go with me if you say yes.’

Penelope stood up and stretched. ‘Give me twenty minutes to change into a walking dress and I’ll come too. Peter won’t be back for some time and I haven’t been out all day. I’m tired of visitors. We’ll take a walk in the park afterwards. Gelert needs one.’

Half an hour later they set out with a footman in attendance to carry the parcels, for, as Sarah said, ‘It’s no good going to a bookshop and expecting to only buy one book! Besides, Roger will probably enjoy the walk because he likes Ellen so much!’

Sarah was full of energy and skipped along, laughing at Ellen’s remonstrances which were the more forceful due to her embarrassment at Sarah’s wholly accurate observation of the regard in which Roger held her.

‘It’s no good, Ellen!’ said Penelope in amusement. ‘We’re not used to London and having to be so terribly well-behaved. I’m not sure who is in more need of exercise, Sarah or Gelert!’

‘Well, there’s no doubt who’s the better behaved!’ said Ellen bluntly. ‘Give over, Miss Sarah! You’ll never get a husband if you’re not more ladylike!’

‘Pooh! Who wants a husband? I’m not going to get married until I meet someone who can give me a good game of chess! Why, Phoebe says she actually
lets
Richard win occasionally just so that he can feel superior. I won’t do that!’ said Sarah in disgust.

“I’m sure you won’t!’ said Penelope. ‘What is the book you want to buy?’

‘Peter told me about it. It is called
Northanger Abbey,
he thinks I would enjoy it. What are you laughing at, Penny?’

‘Nothing, Sarah!’ said Penelope unconvincingly. ‘It is nice to see you have enough respect for Peter to take his advice on the choice of a book!’

‘Oh, well, he plays chess properly, even better than George, and he said he’d pay for the book if I didn’t like it,’ said Sarah ingenuously. ‘But I think I shall because it is by the same person as
Pride and Prejudice,
and we liked that excessively. Actually, he offered to buy me the book as a present, but I didn’t think I should let him. I wouldn’t like him to think I was
sponging
off him. Even if he was like Montoni in
The Mysteries of Udolpho,
which doesn’t seem very likely.’ This last in tones of infinite regret.

‘Did you tell him that?’ enquired Penelope with a grin.

‘Yes. He said he could see my point but that he ought to be prepared to back his advice, and that was why he said he’d buy the book if I didn’t like it.’

Amusement at Peter’s tactics made it difficult for Penelope to maintain her gravity. Obviously he was determined to win over her suspicious young sister! Equally obviously Sarah’s vivid imagination was having a hard task in the face of Peter’s kindness and good nature. What she would say when she started to read this book Peter had recommended was anybody’s guess. No doubt, thought Penelope, it would be distinguished by a certain directness of expression!

They continued along South Audley Street, discussing books and music happily. The conversation was
not limited to Penelope and Sarah only. Ellen’s opinion was frequently sought, since she often read aloud to her mistress, and she swelled with pride to think that her thoughts and ideas were valued. Even Roger, a young man who knew his place to a nicety, was dragged into the discussion of music.

‘It’s no good saying, “I don’t know, I’m sure, miss!” You hear us playing all the time and you must know which bits you like, Roger!’ said Penelope firmly. Roger gave in and admitted that although he quite enjoyed Mozart, Beethoven held more appeal for him. More stirring, if they took his meaning.

‘Hmm. I can see we’re brewing a revolution below stairs, Sarah!’ said Penelope in amusement. ‘No more Beethoven when Roger is about. A straight diet of Haydn and Mozart with perhaps a little Handel should curb these dangerous tendencies!’

Roger blushed and disclaimed any revolutionary tendencies, saying that Ellen and Mr Meadows would bear him out. In this fashion they beguiled the walk to Hatchard’s in Piccadilly. The sheer noise of the traffic in this thoroughfare smote on their country-bred ears with stunning effect. Penelope was hard put to it to make any sort of sense out of the jumble of sounds and maintained a firm grip on Gelert’s collar.

On her other side Sarah pressed close, sensing her sister’s confusion. Upon reaching the shop they stood outside for a moment while Sarah gazed through the bow windows at all the latest publications.

‘It is nice,’ she said, ‘to be able to walk here as a matter of course, change books at Hookham’s and so on, but I think on the whole I prefer the country. Town is so dreadfully noisy!’

With this comment she led the way into the shop.
This was Penelope’s first visit to Hatchard’s, and an assistant at once rushed forward to protest at the entrance of a large dog. However, his outrage was transformed into fawning obsequiousness when he realised that his new patroness was none other than the Countess of Darleston, whose dog was already an accepted presence in Tonnish circles.

He assisted them to find the book they sought and diffidently suggested that they might also enjoy the latest works by the author of
Guy Mannering
, if these had not previously come their way. Penelope was entranced at the suggestion. Papa had read
Guy Mannering
to them all with great success, so she unhesitatingly invested in
Rob Roy
and
The Heart of Midlothian
, commenting that Peter would probably be reading aloud for a year!

Sarah was struck speechless at this extravagance, especially when Penelope told her to choose an extra book for herself. ‘And if you dare to say a word about
sponging,
Sarah, I’ll slap you!’

By the time they left the shop Roger was laden with parcels, for Penelope had been struck by the happy thought of buying a present to send off to Mrs Ffolliot in Bath, as well as Southey’s
Life of Nelson
for Peter.

It also struck her that Roger might not relish a walk in the park thus burdened. ‘Roger, if you would prefer to take the parcels straight home rather than walk in the park you may do so,’ she said with a smile.

Roger, however, had no intention of being sent home, and stated his complete willingness to carry twice as much before he would even consider deserting his mistress.

Accordingly the entire party set off towards Hyde Park Corner. It was drawing close to the hour of the
fashionable promenade and many members of the Ton were converging on the park. A great number of people greeted Penelope with pleasure, among them Lady Edenhope and her friend Lady Wickham, who promised Penelope a card for her ball the following week.

‘Such a pleasure that Darleston is back in such good spirits, Lady Darleston. We are all delighted! And this must surely be a younger sister. Charming, quite charming!’

Penelope laughed and said, ‘Indeed, this is my sister Sarah. She is staying with us at the moment while my mother is nursing a sick friend. I hope you will visit us soon, Lady Wickham.’ They parted merrily, with Lady Wickham promising to visit and bring the invitation card personally the very next day.

A waft of powerful scent announced another presence, and a cooing voice said, ‘Dear Lady Darleston, you must forgive me for presenting myself in such an informal way! I am Lady Caroline Daventry. I saw you at Lady Edenhope’s the other night. Such a squeeze, was it not? But you and dear Peter were surrounded. I vow there was no getting near you! Permit me to wish you happy! What a conquest you have made! We all thought Peter would remain single.’

Penelope’s mind worked swiftly. The name was familiar. Surely this was the woman who had been with Jack Frobisher the other evening! Peter had changed the subject as soon as her name was mentioned. He and George had both seemed somewhat embarrassed.

Lady Caroline managed to insinuate herself between Sarah and Penelope. For days she had walked in the park, hoping for just such a chance as this to get into the Countess of Darleston’s good graces. Well did she know that she stood not the slightest chance of being
admitted to the house, but she was counting on Darleston’s fastidious nature to have recoiled from warning his bride against her.

Lady Caroline seethed with suppressed fury as she stared at the slender girl who held the position she had counted as hers for the taking. She could not for the life of her understand what Peter saw in the chit. Red hair, for heaven’s sake, although the generous might call it auburn. A bit on the thin side, and blind, if you please! Yet she could have screamed in vexation as she recalled the way Darleston had gazed at his bride, the pride in his bearing as he presented her to high society. Damn the wench! She had stolen Darleston!

‘How kind of you, Lady Caroline. You are an old friend of my lord’s?’ asked Penelope politely. Her hand gripped Gelert’s collar warningly as she heard the faintest of growls from him.

‘Very old friends, Lady Darleston. Indeed, I am quite wounded that I was not invited to the wedding. But I understand your father and brother…so sad! No doubt Darleston could not bear to wait to carry you off! Quite a romance, is it not?’

All this was said in tones of great good humour, but Penelope was quick to detect the smirk in her voice as she claimed long friendship with Peter. Also she was aware of enmity behind the dulcet accents and wondered at it. What reason could the woman possibly have for allying herself with Jack Frobisher? And why was Peter so reluctant to discuss her? Then Phoebe’s remark about Lady Caroline’s behaviour to her flashed into her mind and everything fell into place.

The conviction that she was conversing publicly with her husband’s mistress—well, ex-mistress, she hoped—did not have quite the effect on Penelope that
one might have expected from a delicately bred girl. Sensible enough to realise that her husband’s past amours were no concern of hers, she found the situation extremely funny, and it was only with great difficulty that she managed to control her features as she listened to Lady Caroline. It occurred to her that in this case the whole situation must be of the greatest interest to all of society, and that a public set-down would only exacerbate the situation. Besides, she might be quite wrong in all her suspicions!

‘Dare I hope, Lady Darleston, that you might join me for a drive in the park tomorrow afternoon? I should be delighted to present you to my friends.’

‘How very kind of you, Lady Caroline, but I have already accepted an invitation to drive with Mr Carstares,’ said Penelope, resolving to inform George of his kind invitation the minute she reached home.

‘No matter. Another day, perhaps!’ replied her ladyship carelessly. To be sure it would have been too good to be true if the chit had accepted her invitation! Anyway, it would be far safer for all of them if she were to vanish without any tangible evidence of complicity on the part of Lady Caroline Daventry.

‘Lady Caroline, may I make my youngest sister, Sarah, known to you? She is staying with us at the moment.’

‘Goodness, is this another sister? No doubt we may look to see her make her début and catch a husband!’ The thinly veiled sneer suggested that there was something rather curious about the swift marriages of Penelope and Phoebe.

Penelope merely smiled and said, ‘At the moment the only use my sister has for an eligible bachelor is
to learn to drive and beat him at chess. She is not quite fourteen.’

‘Ah, well, time enough, then!’ said Lady Caroline, with a patronising glance at Sarah. She blinked slightly as she met that damsel’s steady regard.

Sarah had swiftly come to the conclusion that she did not like Lady Caroline at all. Furthermore she had shamelessly overheard a conversation between George and Peter which suggested that there was some connection between Jack Frobisher and Lady Caroline. It was also plain even to her inexperienced gaze that the conversation between Lady Caroline and her sister was, for an unknown reason, occasioning some shocked looks from various quarters. Obviously Penelope could not extricate herself without an embarrassing scene.

Unobtrusively she dropped back to walk with Ellen and Roger. ‘Ellen, is it just my imagination or should we do something about this?’

Ellen nodded vigorously. ‘That we should! But what? The gossip that it will cause if the mistress openly snubs her ladyship! Though why she should be called “lady” is beyond me!’

Sarah, however, had already made a plan. ‘Roger, his lordship is probably still at White’s with Mr Carstares. You must go at once and tell him to meet us here. If necessary we’ll pretend you have taken the books home. Take this money for a cab and run!’

Roger grinned at her, said to Ellen, ‘She’s got a head on her shoulders, for all she’s gentry!’ and obeyed.

Lady Caroline, quite unsuspecting, continued to chat sociably, and Penelope responded in a friendly but dignified fashion, stifling the urge to bury her nose
in her handkerchief. Listening carefully, she decided that Lady Caroline was under some stress. Something was making her nervous.