Gamble With Hearts (6 page)

‘Indeed?’ asked
Charlotte
, politely surprised.

‘Indeed, child. Now do not poker up so. I am telling you this for your own good. The estate is mortgaged up to the hilt and it is common knowledge that his gaming debts run into thousands. Oh, I know he is charming and to have engaged his interest is something of a triumph; for he does not, in general, dance attendance on young ladies, but remember why you are here, Charlotte! Think of your Mama! What will become of her if you should form a connection with this spendthrift? Indeed, what would become of you? You would be wretched!’

Charlotte
smiled wistfully. ‘I do not think I should be so very unhappy, Aunt.’

‘And my poor sister? What of her?’

Charlotte glanced at her mother, who met her daughter’s gaze rather proudly and squaring her shoulders inside the grey bombazine she answered Lady Northwood for herself. ‘If
Charlotte
wishes to marry this young man she knows that she will have my support and my blessing. She must not sacrifice her life for me. I did not consult anyone's wishes but my own when I ran away with Wrexham. Why should Charlotte?’

‘Because I promised!’ interrupted her daughter impetuously. ‘Oh, Mama, how could you let me be so selfish, even for an instant? Who was it that persuaded you to sell the annuity? Who dragged you here, away from the life you knew? No, I will not back out now. I have made my bed, now I must lie upon it!’

Thereupon all three ladies burst into tears, rather to the consternation of the butler, who entered at that moment to inform his mistress that the Marquis of Ruthin and Miss Milverly had called upon her.

Mrs Wrexham stopped crying abruptly and arose hurriedly, shaking out her skirts and patting her hair into place with hands that trembled slightly. Lady Northwood, whose tears were always more noisy than real, followed her from the room, pausing only to pat her young niece upon the cheek and recommending to her to bathe her eyes in Hungary water before appearing in the Morning Room.

If Ruthin noticed any signs of agitation in his hostesses he was far too well bred to betray it. He introduced his daughter, Miss Milverly, to the two ladies with pardonable pride, and was happy to see that Mrs Wrexham immediately drew the girl into conversation while he chatted amicably to Lady Northwood, an acquaintance of many years' standing.

Although Mrs Wrexham was loath to admit that any damsel could come near to her own daughter for beauty, there was no denying that Miss Milverly was something quite out of the common way. She was as yet only sixteen, but she had little of the shyness common to very young ladies. Indeed, her vivacity was her chief charm. In comparison with the statuesque
Charlotte
she was but a little dab of a female, but her figure was trim and she was dressed with great propriety and taste. She possessed a heart-shaped face with huge brown eyes and long curling black lashes. Her nose had a regrettable tendency to turn up, but all in all she might pass anywhere for a very pretty girl. What really made Miss Milverly distinctive and had already captivated a good many admirers was her voice, which had a rare and beautiful quality. In her presence most women sounded shrill and she had a way of wishing her admirers good morning that encouraged them to propose upon the spot.

Mrs Wrexham was by no means impervious to her young guest's fascination and, prepared to like her for her father's sake, she very soon began to like her for her own.

‘I believe you have but recently come to town from the country, Miss Milverly.’

Miss Milverly nodded her dark curls vigorously. ‘Yes, indeed, and it is the most enchanting thing imaginable; for I had left school in Bath last Christmas and the idea of living with my Aunt Wainwright until my coming-out was just too dreary to think about!’

Mrs Wrexham smiled. ‘You enjoy living with your Papa then?’

‘In some ways it is the greatest thing, for Papa is so rich and fashionable, but then he is a lot more strict than my aunt. There is so much too that he does not seem to understand!’

She gave so much emphasis to this last word that Mrs Wrexham was disturbed. Obviously there had already been some friction between the Marquis and his lively young daughter. She hoped he might confide in her for she could see that Miss Milverly might well become difficult if handled wrongly. She was a headstrong child and although Mrs Wrexham could not but admit that
Charlotte
was equally so she was older and had never been less than sensible.

At that moment Miss Wrexham appeared. She was most pleased to see the Marquis again and shook hands with great cordiality.

‘You look charmingly, Miss Wrexham. London must agree with you,’ murmured his lordship.

‘Thank you, kind sir,’ she responded, dropping a mock curtsey.

He laughed. ‘Come, allow me to introduce my daughter to you. Amelia my love, this is Miss Wrexham of whom I have spoken. I hope very much that you will become friends.’

Amelia regarded
Charlotte
with huge eyes. She thought she had never seen anyone so beautiful and elegant. Moreover, although her father might be blind to the strain in
Charlotte
's fine eyes, she was not. It was apparent that Miss Wrexham had a “secret sorrow” and naturally, this made her far more interesting than any other young woman Amelia had come across since she arrived in London.

Charlotte, in her turn, thought Miss Milverly very pretty and appealing. She felt sorry for her as she had lost her mama at such an early age. The girls smiled at each other and began to make conversation, rather laboriously.

The Marquis had just risen to take his leave when the butler appeared to announce more visitors. Mrs Carstairs, escorted by her young brother, swept into the room.
Charlotte
could not but find the sight of her friend painful, for she was reminded of the circumstances in which they had last met. She had forgotten her troubles for a little while chatting with her new acquaintance, but now they swept over her with a force that made her bite her lips to stop them quivering.

‘Why,
Charlotte
!’ exclaimed Mrs Carstairs. ‘I can see that you are still quite overset from our adventures yesterday. I hope you retired early to bed as I recommended.’

Charlotte shook her head but was spared the necessity of answering by her mama and aunt who, not unnaturally, demanded to know what their guest was talking about.

‘You mean
Charlotte
has not told you? How odd of her. The fact is that we were held up yesterday evening on our way home from
Richmond
. Really, I am most surprised that Charlotte did not mention it for she had the most unpleasant experience. While most of the ruffians were engaged at the front carriage and we were being subjected to a search for our valuables, one of them sneaked to the back and accosted
Charlotte
. What he said she would not tell us, but she was much overset.’

‘My love, why did you not tell us all this?’ cried Mrs Wrexham in distress. ‘We should never have gone to Lady Marston's last night!’

‘Helen refines too much upon it, dearest. Indeed, the man said nothing I could take exception to. He was quite an amusing fellow.''

‘I'll wager he was!’ murmured Ruthin thoughtfully to himself. It was no secret to Lord Ruthin that several of his young friends had been imprudent enough to attempt to waylay a certain undesirable gentleman. If they had in fact been terrorising respectable persons in their attempts to do so then he would be forced to take them strongly to task. It was obvious that Miss Wrexham had been very much disturbed.

The ladies were all still exclaiming over
Charlotte
and no one had thought it necessary to include Mr Edridge in their circle. However, Mr Edridge had, by this time, discovered Miss Milverly and was more than happy to sit staring at her, quite oblivious of his surroundings.

Amelia strove to appear unconscious of the fixed regard but eventually she raised her eyes and gave him a look in which maiden shyness and mischief were enchantingly blended. It was enough to take him to her side saying: ‘Forgive me, but I—I mean— is it not a pleasant morning, Miss Milverly?’

‘It is most clement,’ she responded demurely.

‘Do you make a long stay in town, ma'am?’

‘Oh yes, for I have come to live here with Papa, and we shall certainly be fixed here until we go to
Brighton
in the summer.’

Mr Eldridge, having exhausted his supply of conversational openings, was silent. Obviously he needed encouragement. Miss Milverly gave it. ‘I daresay you will be in town for the season also, Mr Edridge. Perhaps you would care to call upon Papa,’ she invited, smiling dazzlingly upon him. Mr Edridge sighed and explained that he was in
London
for only a few weeks more before he must leave to take his place at the University. Miss Milverly seemed disappointed and suggested that he might perhaps visit them in any event.

‘Oh yes, of course I will,’ he answered fervently. ‘But what is the use when by the time Long Vacation comes around there will be dozens of fellows hanging around you and I won't stand a chance!’

Amelia laughed softly and cast him an inviting glance from under inky lashes. ‘Good heavens, Mr Edridge, I assure you that Papa will always be most happy to receive you, and so shall I.’

It was as well for Mr Edridge's state of mind that the Marquis chose that moment to take his leave. He had, however, received an invitation to
Charlotte
's ball and had promised to bring Miss Milverly who was eager to pursue her acquaintance with Miss Wrexham. Soon after this, Mrs Carstairs also took her leave, dragging with her a young man who seemed unable to comprehend most of what was being said to him.

Miss Milverly had already driven off in her Papa's modish barouche when Mrs Carstairs and her escort appeared, but the Marquis himself was still standing upon the pavement, deep in conversation with a young man whom Mrs Carstairs had no difficulty in recognising as Viscount Carlington.

She was sorry to see that he was on the point of visiting Lady Northwood, for she by no means approved of Carlington or of the set of young fashionables who made up his circle. However, she was a polite woman and, seeing that the two men had finished their low-toned conversation, she stepped forward to introduce her brother.

Carlington, who was a friendly young man, proffered his hand with real cordiality. He had a singularly charming smile and was, moreover, just the kind of dashing blade that Mr Edridge had been watching enviously from afar ever since he had arrived in the metropolis. An invitation to join the Viscount for dinner at his club was accepted with alacrity, and the young man went off with his sister in a happy dream, Miss Milverly's image temporarily banished from his mind.

‘An engaging young cub that,’ remarked the Marquis casually. ‘I depend on you to keep him out of trouble tonight.’

‘I only offered him dinner,’ expostulated the Viscount, much aggrieved.

‘Well, do not let me hear that he had to be bailed out of
Bow Street
tomorrow morning, that is all. I know you and your evenings of fun and gig. He is only a child, however.’

The Viscount regarded his mentor in exasperation; ‘I'm not exactly a greybeard myself, you know, sir!’

‘No, Charles,’ agreed the Marquis, his stern eyes softening a little. ‘You are just as much a young fool as ever you were. Witness this absurd business yesterday.’

‘Dash it, sir, I've already said I'm sorry,’ said the Viscount wearily. ‘I do not see what more I can do.''

‘Merely strive to be a little less stupid in the future, my boy. That is all.’ With this the Marquis very unfairly took his leave, while the Viscount was trying to think of something suitably dignified to retort. He reflected bitterly that the Marquis sometimes took his unofficial guardianship far too seriously. Ruthin had been the late Viscount's dearest friend and had promised him, as he lay dying on the hunting field clasped in his friend's strong arms, that he would always keep an eye on the youngster. The present Viscount had often wished that his father had chosen a less strict disciplinarian to be his mentor, but he admitted to himself that it was often a comfort to know that in Ruthin, at least, he could trust. He was sorry he could not say the same about the man whose ward he had been under the law, and who was still the trustee of his huge, ramshackle estates. Mr Pentherbridge was his father's half-brother and as such, had seemed the properest person to nurse the Carlington inheritance. Under his rule, however, the land was at its lowest ebb for decades and the vast, sprawling mansion that had housed Carlingtons since the Conquest had fallen into disrepair. In six months, on his twenty-fifth birthday, Charles was to come into his inheritance. Until then, he was forced to kick his heels in Town, trying not to think of the hopeless task that faced him when he eventually gained control of his lands.

At the moment, however, it was not his troubles that lay uppermost in his mind. He had come to see the girl he intended to make his Viscountess and, as he rang the bell, he reflected that falling in love was the last thing he had intended to do.

He was ushered into Lady Northwood's morning room where the ladies were seated. He was not a young man sensitive to atmosphere and beyond thinking that Mrs Wrexham seemed a somewhat vapourish kind of female and that Charlotte was rather quiet, he noticed nothing amiss. The visit passed off very well. Nothing was said but the merest commonplaces, but the Viscount was not disappointed. He had not supposed that he would be allowed to see Miss Wrexham alone in any event. He rose after the usual half-hour and took his leave very properly. If he held
Charlotte
's hand a fraction longer than was necessary, no one noticed. As for
Charlotte
, she was so sunk in confusion and misery that she hardly knew what she did.