Abbeyford Inheritance (12 page)

When Lynwood greeted her that evening it was as if the unhappy incident between them had never occurred. He bowed to her. “You look exquisite, my love. I shall be the envy of all the young men present.”

Taking her cue from him, Adelina smiled. “And I shall be the envy of all the fine ladies with the handsome Lord Lynwood as my – escort.” She hesitated fractionally over the last word, for she had been about to say ‘lover', but had thought better of it. She did not want to quarrel with Francis, though she longed to challenge him about Helene Lyon.

“I hope you don't mind,” Lynwood told her as they sat side by side in the carriage. “I have invited Eversleigh and his wife to dine with us.”

So, Eversleigh was married, yet kept a mistress too!

“His wife?” Adelina asked with sarcasm. “Not – Harriet?”

In the darkness of the carriage, she heard Lynwood laugh wryly. “No – not on this occasion, though no doubt Eversleigh would have preferred her.”

Adelina was puzzled by the remark until she saw Lady Madeleine Eversleigh for herself. The poor woman was cursed with a face which could only be described as plain – and then if one were being very kind. She had a long, oblong-shaped face, with a hooked nose and eyes set too close together and a row of huge teeth which protruded alarmingly. Her teeth seemed to fill her whole mouth! Despite the disadvantage of her looks, Lady Eversleigh seemed a kindly creature whose desire to be friendly and to please was almost pathetic. It was also obvious to Adelina's shrewd eye that the poor woman was deeply in love with her handsome husband and equally obvious that he did not return her devotion.

The dinner was sumptuous. Everything was served on silver plates and dishes. Hot soups and salmon, a saddle of mutton and a selection of cold meat dishes too. Iced champagne was served and then bowls of peaches, grapes, pineapples and all manner of fruit were placed within easy reach.

Afterwards they went to the Opera House. During the interval after the First Act, Adelina looked about her again. She was intrigued by the finery of the ladies and the dandies. She leant forward to look down into the pit, fascinated to see the fops strolling about showing off the fine cut of their new clothes, elegantly taking snuff from jewelled snuff-boxes and chattering noisily, even throughout the performance.

Adelina's eyes took in every detail of the rich and ornate surroundings, scanning the gallery and the boxes, admiring all the fine gowns of the ladies. This was the world to which her mother had belonged – and now Adelina was part of it too.

As they drove home in the darkness of the carriage, she was surprised to feel Francis search for her hand and clasp it, holding it tenderly. It was as if he was trying to communicate an apology to her. She was touched by his concern, by his desire to rectify matters between them. She blinked back the tears, smiled tremulously and squeezed his hand in return.

That night when Lynwood stayed with her once more, Adelina learnt that there could indeed be a different kind of lovemaking to the brutal ways she had hitherto experienced. Lynwood was gentle, seeming to give rather than to take, so that she found her fears falling away and her natural sensuality responding to his caresses.

But even at the height of their passion she was acutely aware that there was a bitterness in Lynwood's heart. So many shadows lay between them.

Thomas de Courtney had been quite correct when he said they would meet again, for some weeks later Lynwood took her to a private party where card-playing and gambling were to take place. The weeks since her arrival in London had been filled with balls, suppers, routs and sightseeing, but this was the first party she had attended where the main interest was to be gambling.

The moment she entered the room Adelina was dismayed to see Mr de Courtney and Helene Lyon deep in conversation on the far side of the room. Adelina put her hand on Lynwood's arm possessively. He smiled down at her and, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Miss Lyon's face grow dark with anger. Adelina smiled and nodded to those who greeted her. Her confidence had grown and she moved with ease now in Lord Lynwood's world. He led her about the room, introducing her to those she had not met before and greeting those she already knew. Eventually they stood in front of Mr de Courtney and Miss Lyon.

“So, we meet again, Miss Cole.” Mr de Courtney gave an elegant but exaggerated bow.

“So it seems,” Adelina replied tartly, all the while watching Miss Lyon's face as she smiled and fluttered her eyelashes at Lord Lynwood.

“Why, Francis,” Helen Lyon purred in her husky voice. “ It seems an age since I saw you. Now, let me see, whenever was it – ah, I remember. When you were staying with Lord Eversleigh for a night or two.” Her glance slanted meaningly towards Adelina.

Adelina stiffened and almost a gasp of surprise escaped her lips, but with supreme control she managed to keep her features composed, for she knew the woman was merely trying to goad her. So, she thought, seething inwardly, Francis had found comfort in Miss Lyon's arms, had he? And, not only that, the whole of Society must know that he and she had quarrelled and that he had found refuge with Eversleigh – and with Helene Lyon!

Once out of earshot of Miss Lyon and away from her scheming eyes, Adelina snatched her hand away from Lynwood's arm. She heard him sigh softly.

“Adelina, Eversleigh and I went to a private card party and Helene – Miss Lyon – happened to be there.”

Adelina was surprised and shaken to find how the thought of Helene Lyon in Lynwood's arms hurt her desperately. But she would not let him know that. Proudly she said, “I'm sure it's of no consequence where you were – or whom you were with,” she added pointedly. Then she turned swiftly to face him. “ But pray credit me with a little intelligence in such matters, Francis. I know of your liaison with –
her
!”

“I'll not deny it, my love. But that was before I even met you. I have not visited her since then.” He seemed almost surprised himself at the fact.

Adelina searched his face but from his expression he gave every appearance of telling the truth.

There was a stir of excitement in the room as the gaming-tables were set up and the serious business of the evening began.

As the night wore on, one or two of the men, befuddled by drink, began to lose money consistently and heavily. To Adelina the huge sums of money the dandies wagered were ridiculously large. Despite their obvious wealth she could not imagine how their finances could stand such depletion. She was not enjoying the evening, for the gambling reminded her of her father and the unhappiness it had caused them both.

Lynwood and Eversleigh were playing at a table with Thomas de Courtney and another young dandy, Geoffrey Dalton, a fair-haired, pale-skinned and somewhat effeminate man. Mr de Courtney had become decidedly tipsy from the numerous glasses of wine he had consumed. He seemed to lose all sense of caution, betting wildly on his cards when experience should have told him he had no chance of winning with such a hand. Adelina stood quietly behind Lynwood's chair, watching. She knew that both he and Eversleigh were finding the game an embarrassment now rather than a pleasure.

“Well, I think I'll call it a day,” Eversleigh said, attempting to break up the game.

“What?” De Courtney gripped Eversleigh's arm drunkenly. “ Tha's right, try to walk away with all the winnings without giving a fellow time to redeem himself. Call yourself a gen-,” he hiccupped loudly, “gentleman?”

“You're drunk, de Courtney,” Lynwood said bluntly. “ You'd do better to leave the table now before you lose even more of your inheritance than you've lost already.”

“No damn business of yours, Lynwood, if I lose the lot!” He banged his fist down on the table, making the cards jump and the money rattle.

Lynwood shrugged. “ Have it your own way, then.”

“Tell you what, Lynwood,” de Courtney leant towards him, but his glance leered up at Adelina standing behind Lord Lynwood's chair. “ I'll play you one hand for the greatest prize of all! My entire inheritance against your whore!”

There was a moment's stunned silence about the table and then startled gasps and shocked murmurings.

Lynwood leapt to his feet, overturning the table, scattering cards and money in all directions and even knocking poor Lord Eversleigh on to the floor.

Lynwood's face was a picture of terrifying and revengeful rage. He grasped de Courtney by the lapels of his jacket and hauled him to his feet. Then his strong fingers gripped de Courtney's throat, choking him so that his face grew purple and his eyes bulged. Eversleigh pulled at Lynwood's arm.

“Lynwood – for God's sake. You'll throttle him.”

Other hands began to reach forward to separate Lynwood's murderous grasp from de Courtney's neck.

Adelina tried to swallow the fear rising in her throat. There was maniacal revenge in Lynwood's eyes. It was not only de Courtney beneath those fingers but Evan Smithson and Thomas Cole too! Time after time, it seemed to Lynwood, other men came between him and the girl he loved. Now here was a conceited dandy calling Adelina the most insulting name he could think of, and yet wanting her for himself.

“Lynwood!
Lynwood
!” The fear in Eversleigh's voice penetrated Lynwood's mind and slowly he relaxed his hold.

De Courtney slipped to the floor – unconscious. Lynwood stood over him, swaying slightly, breathing hard, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. Several ladies screamed and decided they should faint, but since all attention seemed to be on the prostrate de Courtney, they thought better of it and contented themselves with fanning their hot faces vigorously.

Geoffrey Dalton, de Courtney's foppish young friend, gasped, “You've killed him – you've killed him.”

“Nonsense,” Eversleigh declared stoutly, but Adelina could see the worry in his eyes. “Lynwood, come, man, sit down.” He turned his dazed friend around and led him to a couch. The others closed around de Courtney still lying on the floor.

Adelina ran to Lynwood, sat beside him and slipped her hand into his. His fingers gripped hers, clinging to her and together they watched until the circle around de Courtney parted and they saw him sitting up on the floor, holding his throat and coughing.

“Oh, Francis – he's alive. He's – he's all right.”

Geoffrey Dalton stood before Lynwood and Eversleigh rose and faced him.

“De Courtney will demand satisfaction,” he sneered. “ When he's sufficiently recovered from your cowardly attack to meet you in a fair duel!”

Lynwood stood up, in complete control of his emotions now, his coolness belying the blind rage of only minutes ago.

“Any time, Dalton!”

And with that he strode from the room, Adelina and Eversleigh hurrying after him. She plucked at Lynwood's arm.

“Francis – I don't want you to fight on my account. Please don't. Lord Eversleigh,” she appealed to their friend. “ Please stop him.”

There was a moment's silence before Eversleigh said quietly, “ We can't back out now, Miss Cole, it would seem like cowardice to withdraw from such a challenge.”

“But – but what is going to happen?”

Neither answered her, but she saw them glance at each other, their faces grim and serious.

The duel – when all the arrangements had been made between the contestants' seconds, Lord Eversleigh acting for Lynwood and Geoffrey Dalton for de Courtney – was scheduled to take place four days after the challenge had been made, on the Heath at dawn.

In the long hours of darkness Adelina felt physically sick with fear at the thought of what might happen to Lynwood. As she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, slowly the realisation came to her. She loved him! Adelina had fallen in love with Lord Lynwood, so deeply that the thought of losing him, even the thought of him being wounded, filled her with a kind of panic she had never before experienced. Even the death of her father, sudden and shocking though it had been, had not caused her such nightmarish anguish. Now she knew why she had stayed with him, had become his mistress. Even then, without knowing it, she must have loved him.

Early on the morning of the duel, when it was still dark, she slipped from her warm bed and, shivering, for the maid had not yet lit a fire in her bedroom so early was the hour, she began to dress herself. Lynwood had forbade her to attend the scene of the duel, but Adelina could not keep away. She was so afraid that Francis would be hurt, perhaps even killed, that she could not sit at home, waiting for the dreadful news. She just had to be there. She pulled the hood of her black velvet cloak well down over her face and left her apartment. She hurried along the deserted streets until she came to Lynwood's house. Slipping down the stairs to the servants' entrance, she rapped on the kitchen door. It must be five o'clock already and she knew Francis would have left. The servants were already about their early morning tasks, so she was soon able to despatch a young footman to have Lynwood's phaeton brought immediately to the front door. Adelina paced the pavement in a ferment of anxiety. She planned to drive herself and yet she was not quite sure how she should get to the Heath. As the young footman assisted her into the phaeton, she grabbed him by the arm.

“You'll have to come with me to show me the way. If I get lost, I'll never find my way through this maze of streets, and I'll miss the whole thing.”

“But, madam,” stammered the unfortunate young man, “ my duties – I have work to do – I can't come …”

“You can and you will. I'll explain later,” she replied hastily, almost pulling him into the phaeton.

Eventually they arrived on the Heath just as the first pale fingers of dawn stretched their way over the grass. The Heath, partially shrouded in morning mist, appeared to be deserted.

“Are you sure this is the right place?” Adelina asked worriedly.