A Debt From the Past (13 page)

‘James was ten and Alex but a babe of two years when they came to me.’ The hand holding the glass shook. ‘Alex was too young to understand or miss the parents he had lost, but James knew, and the anger has been simmering in him until he has grown into a hard man.’ She gave Beth a pleading look. ‘He is not a bad man, but he will have justice done or die in the attempt. Nothing else matters to him. Alex is a gentle, loving boy, and I’m sure that, somewhere inside, James is the same, but I fear it is too deeply buried now.’

This was not the story Beth had expected to hear. It sounded as if he had suffered a terrible wrong. Doubts began to assail her – until she remembered the way he was treating her. Whatever he had come here to do, it was not right of him to threaten her. That could not be excused!

‘They both have vast personal fortunes, but James refuses to marry until this has been cleared up, and Alex will do anything he can to help James. They are more like brothers, you see; in fact, that is how they think of each other.’

Lady Trenchard stood up with an exclamation of distress. ‘I have said more than is prudent, but I do so want you to make allowances for his conduct.’

‘Don’t distress yourself.’ Beth stood up, suddenly feeling very sorry for this woman who was so desperate to defend her boys, as she called them. What dark secret did their background hold? Even more perplexing was the obvious fact that her godfather was involved. ‘Nothing will go beyond this room, but, in truth, you have not told us anything of import.’

The lady gave a weak smile. ‘Will you make your peace with James?’

‘I doubt that will be possible with his threat hanging over me, but I shall talk with him.’

James was in the study with Alex when she entered. The two men rose to their feet.

Beth did not waste any time. ‘Lady Trenchard has begged me to make my peace with you, but I fear that will not be possible. However, she has tried to ease my fears.’

‘And has she succeeded?’ he asked, studying her through narrowed eyes.

‘No. I cannot trust you. For some reason you are using your guardianship and this house for a purpose of your own, but I would ask you to remember that I am an innocent pawn caught up in your intrigue.’

Alex stepped forward. ‘My brother means you no harm, Miss Langton.’

She gazed at the presentable boy as he referred to James as his brother, for it was clear that was how he considered their relationship. Alex’s mouth turned up at the corners as if he was used to smiling, and the eyes, although the same colour as his cousin’s, held warmth that was sadly lacking in the other man’s grim expression.

‘I fear he does.’ Beth turned her attention back to James. ‘It would ease my mind if you would explain what you are doing.’

‘You do not need to know,’ he snapped.

‘In that you are wrong. If you carry out your threat to ruin me, then it is very much my concern, and the concern of everyone who depends upon the Langton estate for a living.’

‘Miss Langton!’ Alex exclaimed, stepping towards her again. ‘My brother would not do such a heartless thing.’

‘Yes, I would,’ James snapped. ‘I will crush anyone who stands in my way.’

‘Oh, James,’ Lady Trenchard sighed as she entered the room, ‘there is no need for this. Elizabeth can be trusted, I am sure of it.’

‘You know I trust no one in this matter, Alice, not even you. I will clear this up, no matter what the cost to anyone.’

‘I believe you are a heartless man,’ Beth told him, ‘but we must try to behave in a polite manner towards each other, else it will soon be commented upon.’

‘I agree. I don’t want any gossip to bring attention to this house.’ He gave her a studied look. ‘Is that understood?’

‘Perfectly.’ She started to walk out of the room but stopped. The man was a beast and she did not see why she should dissemble any longer: she would speak her mind.

‘In future, if you wish to creep out in the middle of the night, it would be more convenient for you to keep my father’s pistols in your room, and then you will not have to sneak about like a thief.’ She took a steadying breath and, with a flourish, turned and swept out of the room.

Waiting patiently outside the door and having heard the conversation, Helen gave a smile of approval to her friend. Beth’s mouth was set in a straight line. ‘I do declare that I enjoyed giving him that set-down. He is not going to have everything his own way, and he will soon learn that I am not some empty-headed female who will crumble before his forceful presence.’

Helen fell in beside her friend as she headed for the kitchen at full speed. ‘I am sure he knows that already, for you have always shown a strong will, Beth.’

‘Indeed I have.’ She stopped so suddenly that Helen collided with her.

‘Oh, I do beg your pardon ...’

She caught Helen to steady her, a deep frown furrowing her brow. ‘Father always said I was more like a son to him than a daughter. Do you consider me mannish?’

Helen gave a gurgle of laughter. ‘No, you are beautiful and, with your delicate colouring, you are very feminine, but there is great strength within you. That is what your father meant, and that is why he was content to leave the estate in your hands.’

‘I do hope you are right, but I pray that I have the same inner strength and courageous character to weather this storm as you did when your life collapsed around you. I am very frightened, Helen.’

‘Of course you are.’ Helen slipped her hand through Beth’s arm, giving it an encouraging squeeze. ‘We shall face this together. I do feel more at ease now Lady Trenchard is here, though, and I have the impression that she will try to curb his lordship from harming the estate. And she is very elegant. It could be fun choosing clothes with her guiding hand. We do both need a new wardrobe, and his lordship said he is going to pay.’

‘Hmm.’ Beth became thoughtful. ‘Do you think his lordship was right about me wearing pastel shades?’

‘Yes, you would look most fetching in them, though you have never cared much for fashion.’

‘That is true.’ Beth continued down the passage, a puzzled frown on her face. Why was she fussing about which colours would suit her best? It had never been a thing of importance to her, and it was all due to this foolish talk about her having a season. She would not give it another thought!

When they reached the kitchen, they found Jenkins, Greenway and the footman sampling some of Cook’s tarts.

‘Ah, good, you are all here.’

The men scrambled to their feet.

‘Stanley, when you have been acting as valet to his lordship, does he talk to you?’

‘No, Miss Langton, never says a word.’

‘As I expected.’

‘We haven’t been able to find the smallest piece of gossip about him, or Mr Edgemont,’ Jenkins informed her, with obvious regret.

‘Well, I have managed to glean one piece of information. His lordship is from Scotland, and that is why no one has seen him before.’

‘Ah.’ Greenway nodded. ‘Then we are wasting our time.’

‘Exactly, and I now want you to forget our plan to unearth his identity.’ She picked up two tarts, handed one to Helen and proceeded to eat the other.

The men waited patiently for her to finish.

‘The only thing we can do now is see that he does not harm the estate.’ She smiled, hoping she appeared relaxed and at ease. ‘In less than a year I shall have reached my twenty-first birthday, and then we shall be rid of him.’

‘We will be vigilant until then, Miss Langton,’ Greenway assured her.

‘Thank you.’ She went to walk out but stopped and looked at everyone in turn, making sure she had their full attention. ‘I don’t want his lordship to be discussed outside of this house. If anyone asks questions, you are to tell them that he is a fine man and is taking his duties as my guardian seriously. We will deal with this crisis ourselves, and as quietly as possible.’

Dinner that evening was a strained affair, although Beth did her best to lighten the atmosphere. From now on she was going to be pleasant to his lordship and Lady Trenchard. She could not help liking her, for she was a truly pleasant lady.

‘Alice, I want you to take Elizabeth and Helen to London and get them both a decent wardrobe. You may leave in the morning.’

Beth’s good intentions vanished. ‘I don’t need new clothes yet!’

He scrutinized her dress carefully, gave a delicate shudder and then raised an eyebrow. ‘Really? I would consider it a matter of urgency. And you will need something suitable for your neighbour’s masked ball, surely?’

‘Did you not teach him manners, Lady Trenchard?’ she asked sharply, not prepared to admit that she had forgotten all about the function.

‘I fear he was not a boy one could mould easily.’ Her mouth twitched at the corners. ‘I did try, but he has always had his own views of what is right and wrong.’

Beth shook her head in mock despair. ‘It would appear that he has got the two confused.’

‘No, James has a very clear understanding of what is right.’

‘When you ladies have finished discussing me, perhaps we can see to the arrangements for your journey?’

Beth had expected him to be angry, but he appeared to be amused, and the cold eyes had a gleam of warmth about them, which she found disconcerting. And when Daniel Edgemont gave her a sly wink, she nearly spilled her wine. He was a man of few words, and she liked that about him, but she had no doubt that there was a sharp mind at work, never missing a detail.

‘How long is this tiresome business going to take?’ she asked, resigned to a trip to London. A few days away would not be too bad, and Helen was looking quite excited at the prospect.

‘No more than two weeks.’

‘I am not staying away from the estate for that long!’ Beth cast a quick look around the room to make sure that no servants were present. ‘I think we can forget this charade about me having a season, don’t you?’

‘It isn’t a charade,’ he told her, his eyes icing over again. ‘I intend to see that you are not denied what every other young lady of breeding expects. My father should have seen to it before now.’

He sounded as if he cared – but, no, one look at his expression and she knew she had been mistaken.

‘You will go with Alice and may return as soon as you have purchased a suitable wardrobe of fashionable clothes.’

Beth felt this was a concession, so she nodded. She would have the task finished in a few days!

‘No more!’ Beth exclaimed in alarm, as Lady Trenchard and Helen were trying to make her get ready for another shopping trip. ‘I am never going to wear all these gowns.’

‘It is no use you fussing, Beth. James has given me strict instructions on what you are to have, and I dare not return with only a few paltry dresses.’

‘I don’t consider fifteen outfits to be a paltry wardrobe!’ Beth exploded. ‘And what about all the accessories? We cannot move in here for boxes, and they keep arriving.’

‘They are necessary, my dear, for both of you had very little,’ Alice reminded her gently.

‘I know. Father was always urging me to buy more, but it never seemed necessary, for we lived very quietly.’ She gazed anxiously at the piles of boxes and parcels. ‘This is costing a deal of money.’

‘We have not spent half the allowance James gave me.’

Beth’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. ‘But we have purchased a new wardrobe for Helen, enough clothes for me to fill two dressing rooms, and you have also had gowns made!’

‘Mere trifles, Beth.’

‘They may be mere trifles to you, Lady Trenchard,’ Helen said, shaking her head in dismay, ‘but I refuse to let you buy me any more. I cannot hope to repay Lord Sharland for this expense. And I do not like being in his debt like this.’

‘You must not feel like that, Helen. James left me strict instructions that you were both to be dressed in the highest fashion, and he has made enough money available to do just that. He expects nothing in return.’

‘I don’t understand why he is doing this.’ Beth sat down and stared at Lady Trenchard. ‘One moment he is threatening to ruin me, and the next he is spending a great deal of his own money to see us dressed in the height of fashion. I declare that I am becoming quite confused.’

‘He is a complex man and therefore difficult to understand.’ The lady sat opposite Beth and gave a gentle smile. ‘He has been shocked to see such a beautiful and spirited girl locked into the task of running the estate and catering to the whims of two selfish men—’

‘But it wasn’t like that,’ she protested. ‘I am happy living as I do.’

‘My dear, you must let me have my say. James abhors injustice of any kind and feels that neither you nor Helen has been given the opportunities other young girls expect. As your guardian, he considers it his duty to put the matter right.’

‘But his conduct towards me is inexplicable. He insists that I have a season, and in the next breath he is threatening to cast me into penury.’ Beth gave a helpless shrug.

‘I know.’ Lady Trenchard’s expression clouded. ‘But my James has a mission to carry out which means more to him than life itself, and if anyone stands in his way, he will show no mercy. Even to you, Elizabeth.’

‘You know what the mystery is?’ Beth asked hopefully.

‘I am not able to give you that information, my dear, but I do know it is very important.’ Then Alice smiled and stood up. ‘We have one more purchase to make.’

The thought of just one last visit to the dressmaker heartened Beth. ‘Very well, but I cannot think what else we need.’

‘Why, have you forgotten Sir Peter Gresham’s masked ball?’

‘Ah, yes,’ she chuckled, unable to contain her amusement. ‘His lordship said I should go all in black.’

Lady Trenchard threw her hands up in horror. ‘No, my dear, we shall see you have something quite splendid. And then we shall take a turn around the park, for it is a lovely day.’

It appeared as if most of London was intent on enjoying the fine weather. The carriage drew to a halt and Alice turned to Beth. ‘There is a gentleman coming towards us. Do you know who he is?’

‘That is Sir Peter Gresham.’ She did not have time to explain further as he cantered up, dismounted and bowed.

‘What a pleasant surprise, Miss Langton.’ His eyes narrowed when he saw Alice and Helen, but he nodded politely and turned his attention back to Beth. ‘We do not often see you in town.’