Wicked and Wonderful (24 page)

“Not until I am persuaded you are uninjured.”

She stared at him for a long moment. Something in her eyes began to clear. Her breathing became steadier. “Lord Kelthorne,” she stated as though seeing him for the first time. She lowered her hands and arms.

“Yes, that is much better,” he said, drawing close.

“He surprised me,” she explained quietly. “I was just passing there.” She turned and pointed between a pair of tents. “The next thing I knew, he had pulled me over to this wagon. How I despise him.”

“Would you have done it?” he asked, searching her eyes.

She shook her head and frowned. “Done what? I do not take your meaning.”

“The dagger. The one you keep strapped to your leg. Would you have done him an injury?”

“Of course,” she stated in such simplicity that a chill went through him.

“But do you not realize what the consequences would have been?”

She chuckled but her amusement was dark. “And what would the consequences have been had I not used my dagger? Will you answer me that? Will you tell me that such a choice would be preferable?”

“To death, yes,” he said emphatically.

“Well, you are not a woman and I had rather be dead than permit that man to touch me.” Her eyes glittered.

He stared down at her trying to comprehend how she could possibly believe such a thing.

“Pray do not remonstrate with me,” she added, her eyes growing wild once more. “For I fear I could not bear it.”

Compassion flowed through him and without pondering the right or wrong of it he took her gently in his arms, holding her close. “All will be well,” he murmured. “All will be well.”

He felt her begin to shake. She gasped in deep breaths in an effort to keep from sobbing.

After a time, he asked quietly, “Do I understand now that Stolford is the reason you left your father?”

“Yes. Papa was very ill and my stepmother had made an arrangement with Stolford. She had all but sold me to him. My governess helped me escape while she fled to the Colonies for fear of his retribution. I tried to go to my uncle’s but by the time I reached his house, Stolford’s carriage was already in the drive. Though I remained, waiting and watching for an opportunity, his servants seemed to be everywhere, anticipating my arrival no doubt. I slept in one of the outbuildings but grew so hungry and still Stolford remained. Finally, in my young mind, I concluded ‘twas hopeless. I traversed the countryside in a northerly direction, stealing food from gardens and orchards. I wandered for days until I found the troupe. Margaret took me in.”

“Good God,” he whispered, holding her tightly. “How you have suffered. My dear, Judith, I am so very sorry.” He patted her gently on the back but fell silent as he pondered these revelations.

He had heard horrible things of Stolford over the years and here was just one example of his wholly debauched character. Fortunately, the marquess had failed in his attempts to do injury to Judith. He could only imagine the horror she was feeling at having been found after eight long years.

He felt her body relax in stages and at last the trembling ceased. “Thank you,” she said, drawing away from him. She drew a kerchief from the pocket of her gown and wiped at her cheeks.

He looked down at her, wishing only one thing, that she were still locked in his arms. He wanted to hold her forever, to comfort her, to make a thousand promises that the world would now be right for her. He realized that somewhere in the middle of it all, a great sensation of love had formed in his chest.

Good God, was it possible he did love her as Laurence had suggested?

At last, she drew in a deep breath. “But there is something you must promise me,” she said, looking at him intently.

“Anything, you have my word.”

“You must not tell anyone what I have just revealed to you.”

“But Stolford should be exposed,” he said. “You should be allowed to resume your life. ‘Tis not right.”

“Perhaps there will be a proper moment, but not now. You must let me see this to its conclusion in my own way.”

“But why?”

“Because I fear, as I have from the first, that he would do harm to my uncle and my cousins were I to make public his conduct toward me.”

Kelthorne knew quite well that the Marquess of Stolford wielded considerable power. He was a man of great wealth and extensive political connections. In this, Judith was right, perhaps more than even she knew. He thought of his sisters and their belief that Stolford had reformed his character. If the marquess took offense against them, what manner of retribution would he exact?

He had but one choice in this situation, to acquiesce.

“I will only say this,” he began, “that if an appropriate moment arises, I will see the deed done, but not so long as you are in the vicinity. Do not be concerned. I will not bring your name forward on any account.”

“Thank you,” she said. She looked up the alleyway. “There are Miss Currivard and Mr. Doulting.” She blew her nose.

“They were with me when I heard you.” He turned and waved.

“You heard me?” she inquired, staring up at him as one shocked. “But how is that possible with so much noise? I vow I can hear nothing of the moment but that wretched man hawking his sheep.”

Kelthorne smiled. “I cannot account for it, but I did hear you. We must have been,” he glanced around at the adjoining tents and gestured at several to the left of Miss Currivard and Laurence, “there, beyond which is the stall with all the whistles for sale.”

“I still cannot believe you heard me.”

*** *** ***

Judith knew the time had come to leave him, but she found she did not want to. Of course, she was still overset about his previous conduct, but his presence today in helping to disrupt Stolford’s wretched advances as well as his tenderness in comforting her allayed much of her former distress.

Miss Currivard smiled. “Will you join us, Miss Lovington?” she called out. Judith felt certain she should not.

“Yes, will you please?” Kelthorne said. “I should like Stolford to see you with us, that he might know his advances are not only unwelcome by you but by me and by Doulting as well.”

He offered his arm. Again, she felt the strongest need to leave him on the instant, but she could not. She took his arm. “Thank you. I am most grateful.”

“You are quite welcome.”

Leading her to Miss Currivard, he felt obliged to say in a low voice, “I found Stolford here.”

Laurence started and Miss Currivard frowned heavily as she searched Judith’s face. “I have always heard he was the worst of libertines,” she said. “Did he, that is, did he do you an injury?”

“No,” she answered, but tears started to her eyes again.

“He tried, though.” Kelthorne explained. “I thought it might be wise if Miss Lovington walked with us for an hour or so in order that
his lordship
might begin to comprehend that she is not without friends.”

Miss Currivard straightened her shoulders. “Indeed, she is not,” she said, taking up Judith’s other arm. “Come. You will pass the day with us and, hopefully, our paths will cross that beast’s a score of times and we may all smirk at him.”

“Well done,” Mr. Doulting said.

Judith glanced at him and noted the warm expression in his eye as he smiled upon Miss Currivard.
How much he loves her,
she thought. She could not keep from looking up at Kelthorne to see if he, too, had noticed the state of his friend’s heart, but his gaze was fixed on the numerous people passing by.

“Well, I know the first thing we must do,” Miss Currivard said. “We must have our fortunes told, all of us. Have you yet seen the Gypsy?”

“No, I have not,” Judith returned, finding it difficult to enter into the spirit of the adventure.

“She is not far. In the next line of stalls, I believe. She is quite swarthy in appearance, so much so that I vow she must be a man in disguise. She has long whiskers to either side of her upper lip. She wears more gold, however, than I possess. Let us cross.”

Mr. Doulting spoke quietly. “And there is Stolford. Come, let us make a jolly parade of it.”

“An excellent notion,” Miss Currivard said. “Leave this to me. Come, Miss Lovington, walk beside me.”

Judith released Kelthorne’s arm and felt Miss Currivard wrap hers more firmly about her own. She then lifted her chin haughtily and led her not away from the marquess but in his direction, the gentlemen following.

“Why if it is not the Marquess of Stolford,” Mr. Doulting cried out, a hard edge to his voice. “How do you go on? Have you met our friend, Miss Lovington?”

Stolford took in the entire party and lifted a rather indifferent brow. “Yes, of course, at the church but a few days past. How do you do, Miss Lovington? Are you enjoying the fair?”

Judith met his gaze squarely. She resolved never to forget this moment. She must never forget how devoid of character, principle and even the smallest proper sentiment he was, never to underestimate the depravity of a depraved man. “Prodigiously,” she responded coldly. “We are to have our fortunes read, but mine I already know.”

He bowed to her. “How very singular, to be sure.”

“No, my lord. ‘Tis purposed.”

He bowed again. “I beg you will excuse me.” He turned and moved away, waving to Lord Radsbury.

Once he was gone, Miss Currivard addressed Lord Kelthorne. “I cannot credit that your sisters would wish him at Portislow. Do they not know what he is? I was not in the least comfortable passing the night at his house. He leered at me so. I was only too grateful to be going on the following morning, I assure you.”

The next hour or so proved extremely pleasant for Judith. Mr. Doulting never permitted the conversation to falter, not even for a second. At the same time, since many of his remarks seemed to be directed toward Miss Currivard, who in turn laughed heartily at his many jokes, Judith found herself more often than not engaged in a lively discourse with Kelthorne.

She was not quite certain how to account for the ease of their exchange except that given the great number of people at the fair and the frequent interruptions by Doulting with some amusing observation or other, she began to feel safe once more. After all, what harm could there be in strolling from stall to stall, conversing on every subject imaginable and, in the end, parting from him near the camp with a shake of the hand and a final offering of thanks for his intervention with Stolford.

She even teased him by saying archly, “For you must know you have spared me the humiliation of a public trial for I was intent upon making use of my weapon.”

His smile was crooked. “You may speak lightly of it if you wish, but I believe I know you sufficiently by now to understand quite to perfection you would not have hesitated in using it.”

She smiled in return. “Then you begin to understand me.”

“There is one more thing,” he said, his voice dropping to a murmur as he overlaid their joined hands with his remaining hand. “I treated you very badly in the orchard and I do apologize. I merely, that is, I think I became overwhelmed. I do not understand what is happening between us and I am not at liberty, nor would it be of any use, that is... the devil take it... I have no answer for you but I do apologize.”

She smiled for her heart was feeling very full again. “I think I understand and I accept your apology.”

His gaze caught and held as it so frequently did when she was in his company. She was struck anew by how handsome he was, the summer sunlight glinting on his blond locks. She did not know just how much time actually passed before she realized she was still holding his hand. The extended farewell bordered on impropriety. She withdrew her hand at last, offered a small curtsy and bid him good-day.

*** *** ***

Kelthorne watched her join Mrs. Ash and Shelly. Judith took Shelly into her anns and gave the child a warm hug and began speaking with her in the sweet, lively manner she always used with her. He could just make out her words. “You saw the bear?” she said. “And was it very big? Were you not frightened?”

Shelly’s eyes grew wide as she responded, “Bigger than even Mrs. Marnhull’s wagon or even…” The rest was lost to him since the ladies moved away.

He turned in the direction of Miss Currivard and Laurence who appeared to be deep in conversation. Miss Currivard even seemed a little sad. When he approached them, fully intent upon doing the pretty with Miss Currivard, he heard her say, “I am come to believe it is a hopeless case.” Surprisingly, it appeared at the same time as though she brushed a tear from her cheek.

“What is a hopeless case?” he asked, joining them.

Miss Currivard blushed and stammered. Her eyes, indeed, were dewy. “Well, we were just speaking... that is, I am not certain... I suppose it hardly matters...”

When she broke off completely, Laurence added quickly, “We were speaking of Miss Lovington and her desire to purchase a cottage one day. I fear Miss Currivard has such a tender heart that she has become increasingly saddened by Miss Lovington’s circumstances.”

“Ah,” he murmured. Miss Currivard did, indeed, have a good heart.

“Yes,” Miss Currivard added, drawing in a deep breath. “We both believe it has become a rather hopeless case for her unless... well, unless she receives assistance from those who care about her.”

“Quite so,” Laurence said, nodding vigorously. “Friends like Miss Currivard and myself. We both mean to be of use to her.”

“Yes, that is what we mean to do.” She breathed a rather strange sigh of relief. “And we hope you will be willing to be of use as well.”

“Of course I should like to,” he responded. “But do you truly believe ‘tis so necessary?”

Miss Currivard regarded him for a long moment, then said, “Though I believe with all my heart in Miss Lovington’s fine character, this life will wear on her as the years pass. And when her choices become even more restricted, she will undoubtedly cave to such material pressures. I know I would.”

Kelthorne was startled by such an admission. “How can you speak so?”

“You forget, my lord. My experience of the world is different from the majority of the ladies of your class. Of course I comprehend extremely well what a great privilege and comfort it is to be, shall we say, ‘well-shod.’ But I have also seen the sufferings of impoverished women, and not just in England but in all the various travels with my father. I think it a rare thing in a culture when a woman has as many opportunities as a man. If driven to poverty, a man may labor in the fields or in the mines or on sailing ships, but what can a lady do when cast from her home whatever the reason? I promise you I am in awe of what Miss Lovington has achieved. And I want to help her as much as I can. I am determined to do it.”