Mesalliance (31 page)

‘Why not?’ came
the would-be flippant reply.

Harry’s frown
deepened and the blue eyes expressed concern.

‘Have you two
quarrelled?’

‘Something like
that.’

‘Want to tell
me about it?’

‘Yes. But I
don’t think I will, if you don’t mind.’ She summoned a bleak smile.
‘The faults are all mine, Harry. And even if they weren’t I don’t
talk about my husband to anyone. Not even you.’

*

The business of
brazening out Nell’s indiscretion was made a little easier by the
fact that Sir Jasper Brierley had taken to the heather in
Bermondsey and was therefore not available for comment. But the
whispers and sideways glances were still unpleasant enough to teach
Nell the full extent of her folly and, after attending a ball where
she spent quite half the evening sitting conspicuously at Adeline’s
side, she was ready to die of mortification.

As was to be
expected, the main task of denial fell to Harry and he handled it
with an adroit blend of incredulity and amusement that served to
convince the gentlemen at least. Then - unasked and unmasking -
Isabel Vernon, Serena Delahaye and Dolly Cavendish also set about
squashing the rumours … and gradually the scandal began to lose its
bite and subside.

Worn out with
having to hold her head high and simulate ignorance, Nell waited
humbly for Harry to thaw – and, in doing so, made a startling
discovery. It was, quite simply, that no one else’s opinion
mattered a jot and she would not care that the entire world refused
to speak to her if only Harry would smile. But he didn’t smile … or
not at her. Instead, he preserved a chilly front, danced with her
only out of duty and then went away to flirt outrageously with
Diana Franklin.

Diana, whose
season had somehow failed to live up to expectation, was enjoying
every moment of Nell’s discomfiture. It almost made up for the
shock of learning that plain, freckled Lizzie had not only reached
the altar ahead of her but would henceforth take precedence over
her in her own home. Horrid fears had begun to assail Diana of
late; fears of returning unbetrothed to Oxfordshire. It didn’t seem
possible that it should be so … but she had so far received not one
offer of marriage and, among her
côterie
of admirers, the
best prospect was now Lord Harry Caversham – a bitter blow when she
had hoped, at the very least, for an Earl. She could not understand
what she was doing wrong. She was beautiful, everyone said so – and
she knew exactly how to drive a man to distraction. So how was it
that the flirtatious banter and odd snatched kiss never led to a
proposal?

The result of
all this [not to mention Lady Miriam’s increasing impatience] was
that she tried extra hard to captivate Lord Harry whilst joining
gleefully in the gossip about Nell. She introduced the topic at
every opportunity, added several small gems to the general
speculation and was finally unable to prevent herself crowing. It
was her misfortune that she did it within earshot of Adeline and
Harry.

‘They’re doing
their best to hush it up, of course – but I don’t think many people
are fooled. Poor Nell’s been noticeably lacking in partners
recently, hasn’t she? One could almost feel sorry for her – except
that, being the sister of a Duke, she plainly thinks she can get
away with anything.’

Her Grace the
Duchess of Rockliffe was wrenched temporarily free of her own
private hell and, eyes darkening, prepared to descend on her
cousin.

‘No.’ Harry’s
hand closed lightly on her elbow. ‘No. Leave it to me, will
you?’

Adeline looked
at him and was surprised by the concentrated implacability of his
expression. ‘Why?’

‘Because I’m
already dealing with her in my own way. All you need to do is sit
back and watch,’ he said. And strolled away to bow extravagantly
over Diana’s hand before leading her into the dance.

Slowly, an
incredible suspicion took shape in Adeline’s mind. It rather looked
as though Harry Caversham – who everyone agreed had the sunniest
and most open of natures – was deliberately setting out to raise
false hopes in Mistress Di’s egotistical breast for the twin
purposes of teaching her a well-deserved lesson whilst
simultaneously making Nell jealous.

‘
Simple, yet
masterly
,’ thought Adeline appreciatively. ‘
I hope it
works
.’

‘I hear you are
once more a grass widow, my dear,’ said a feline voice beside her.
‘You must have been careless indeed if Rockliffe has tired of you
so soon.’

Adeline froze
and felt the all-too-familiar churning start again in her stomach.
Finally, she said distantly, ‘You’re back. What a shame. I was
rather hoping you’d break your neck whilst riding
ventre à
terre
after Andrew and Lizzie. How are they, by the way?
Suitably sundered?’

‘Hardly. It was
much too late for that.’

‘Good.’ If only
she could keep him talking, perhaps he wouldn’t say anything else
to terrify her. ‘Lizzie has character and Andrew does well for
himself. Left alone, I imagine she might be the making of him.’

‘Very
possibly.’ Richard Horton spread his chicken-skin fan and plied it
with apparent languor. His mood, however, was decidedly grim –
having recently come to the conclusion that his little ways at the
card table were gradually becoming common knowledge. He had no
hesitation in blaming Rockliffe for this and even less in deciding
that Rockliffe’s wife should be the one to pay for it. ‘I did not,
however, join you to discuss Andrew … but to inform you that I
stand in somewhat urgent need of five hundred guineas.’

She stared at
him for a moment and then managed a seemingly careless shrug. ‘Why
tell me?’

‘Because you
are going to provide them for me.’

‘You think
so?’

‘I know so.’ He
smiled at her over the fan but his eyes were hard. ‘Otherwise I am
afraid … I am very much afraid that I shall have to seek an
interview with your husband. He wouldn’t, I feel sure, wish the
world to know what a sorry
mésalliance
he has made. And, on
top of this scandal involving his sister and Jasper Brierley, it
really would be altogether too much – don’t you agree?’

*

Two days later
she paid him and, although she knew that she was sinking deeper and
deeper into the quagmire, she also knew that she had no choice.
Aside from the business of her mother, Richard was now also
threatening to tell Tracy about Nell’s indiscretion. And, if that
happened, Harry and Nell would be in as much as trouble as she
herself was.

This time she’d
been forced to get the money from his Grace’s secretary and, though
Matthew hadn’t demurred, his surprise had been so obvious that
she’d found herself stammering an excuse about unfortunate losses
at cards and thinking that, not for anything, could she bring
herself to do this again. And that was when she had the idea.

The following
evening saw her in the select establishment of one Maria Denby
where gambling of all kinds was the order of the day. It was all
quite respectable – even fashionable – and she met several people
that she knew. What she hadn’t anticipated and could have done
without was to see Jack Ingram walk in just as she sat down to play
ecarté
.

His brows
lifted a little at the sight of her but he greeted her pleasantly
enough and then took a seat at the same table. Adeline could have
screamed with vexation. She had done reasonably well at basset and
was hoping to multiply her winnings – but Jack’s presence seemed to
destroy both her concentration and whatever luck she’d had. At the
end of an hour she was back where she had started and, at the end
of two, fifty guineas worse off. The risk of going on was too
great. Smiling as though it didn’t signify a scrap, she signed a
vowel and rose from the table. Jack followed her.

‘Come on,’ he
said comfortably. ‘I’ll take you home. And then, if you like, you
can tell me all about it.’

‘All about
what?’ asked Adeline coolly when they were settled in the carriage.
‘There’s no harm, surely, in my taking the fancy to play a hand of
cards?’

‘None – if that
were solely the case. The harm comes when you do it because you
need to win.’

Her breath
leaked slowly into her blue satin bodice.

‘Good heavens!
What makes you suppose that?’

The grey eyes
took on a rueful gleam but his smile was kind. ‘I’m no gamester,
Adeline. Rock would probably tell you that I haven’t the right
instinct for it. But I’m not exactly green either … and I know the
difference between playing for pleasure and playing for profit.’ He
paused and then said delicately, ‘I don’t wish to pry … but I
presume you’ve some debt or expenditure which you feel Rock
wouldn’t approve of?’

‘And if I
have?’ she asked impassively.

‘I’d advise you
to tell him, my dear. He isn’t easily shocked, you know – and not
in the least prone to condemn.’

A small, wry
smile touched her mouth.

‘Do you think I
don’t know that?’

‘Then why not
try trusting him? To speak plainly, it’s what he would want. And I
doubt there’s much that he couldn’t – or wouldn’t – put right for
you.’

To her utter
horror, Adeline felt tears stinging her eyes. She said baldly,
‘Leave it, Jack. I don’t need to hear it – and it’s no help,
believe me.’

There was a
long silence. Then, ‘It’s as bad as that?’

‘Worse,’ came
the bitter reply. ‘But I’ve no intention of telling you about it.
Nor – knowing I’ve not even confided in Tracy – would you expect me
to. Would you?’

‘No.’ Concern
deepened as he took in the hollows beneath the exquisite cheekbones
and the strain in her eyes. ‘No. But if whatever it is gets beyond
you … if you ever need help … I hope you’ll know where to
come.’

‘I will. Thank
you.’ Her throat constricted again and, resolutely banishing the
subject, she said, ‘I’ve been meaning to congratulate you on what
you’ve achieved with my cousin, Althea. You have the distinction of
being the first gentleman ever to value her for herself and not be
taken in by Diana’s glitter instead. It’s done her so much good –
and does you much credit.’

The hint of
colour that stained Mr Ingram’s cheek was mercifully lost in the
darkness.

‘Mistress
Diana,’ he remarked obliquely but with a certain grimness, ‘is
acquiring a somewhat tarnished reputation. It would be a pity if
Thea – who is worth a hundred of her sister – should be tarred with
the same brush.’

‘Quite. But I
don’t think she will be. There are surprisingly few people who
still can’t tell them apart … and Thea appears to be well-liked.’
She eyed him reflectively for a moment and then said lightly, ‘No.
I think the only problem Thea will have to face is a very
understandable reluctance on the part of any suitors she may have
to relate themselves to her family. But I’m sure a man who loved
her wouldn’t let that stand in his way … aren’t you?’

It was a neat
little trap but not quite neat enough and it took Jack no more than
a few seconds to come up with the answer.

‘Well, you
should know,’ he grinned. ‘It didn’t deter Rock, after all. And
that ought to be a shining enough example for anyone.’

*

At the end of a
fortnight, there was still no sign of Rockliffe and Adeline existed
in a limbo of depressing imaginings concerned with what – or who –
could be detaining him. Aside from that, life went on pretty much
as usual. Richard Horton, having pocketed his five hundred guineas,
left her more or less alone; Nell, her indiscretion eclipsed when
Lord Maybury married his cook, was accepted back into the fold but
remained unduly quiet and submissive; and Harry continued to flirt
with Diana. Jack Ingram, meanwhile, went on cultivating Althea but
still found time – so it seemed to Adeline – to keep a watchful eye
on herself.

Then she
attended Lady Marchant’s
soirée
and was back on a knife-edge
again. Across the room, expensively if unbecomingly clad in pink
silk with wreaths of roses, Cecily Garfield was talking hard and
fast to Cassie Delahaye.

‘Oh God,’
sighed Adeline wearily. ‘That’s all I need.’

Nell followed
her gaze and grimaced.

‘Don’t worry.
She won’t say anything. And even if she does, Cassie wouldn’t
believe it. You know how she admires you.’

‘Cassie,’ came
the arid response, ‘is the least of my worries. If Cecily decides
to tell the world what she’s convinced happened at that
thrice-damned ball – or that, prior to it, I was no more than a
sort of upper servant – there’s nothing we can to do stop her. And
if
she
starts to talk, Diana will join in. She won’t be able
to resist.’

A shadow
crossed Nell’s face but she looked searching around the room and
said, ‘I don’t think the Franklins are here – I don’t see any of
them. If they’re not, all we have to do for now is silence
Cecily.’

Adeline’s brows
rose sardonically. ‘
All
?’

‘Yes.’ Nell’s
grin held a glimmer of her old mischief. ‘I can see Lewis. I should
have thought that, between us, we ought to be able to charm him
into telling his sister to hold her tongue – shouldn’t you?’

It was not, as
it happened, very difficult for Mr Garfield had some very natural
misgivings about facing a lady to whom he’d once made a
dishonourable proposal and who had since become a duchess. It was a
relief, therefore, to have Adeline offer her hand with complete
cordiality and behave as though she was genuinely pleased to renew
his acquaintance. Perhaps he had been worrying unnecessarily and
she really
had
misunderstood him, after all. Looking at her
now, his only regret was that he hadn’t had the same foresight as
Rockliffe … for there was no doubt that she had more style and
presence than any other woman in the room – including Lady
Elinor.