by Mary Brendan
‘Gresham is easily dealt with.’
‘And my brother?’
‘Is another matter entirely.’
She knew it would be better if they parted company harmoniously. Then once he’d left the house he might reflect on it all as just a quaint foible...something not really worthy of his time or attention. But if she piqued him into doggedness she’d find she had a tiger by the tail and Joshua would seem a lapdog in comparison. Emma quickly pulled open the door and went into the hallway. Mrs O’Reilly was polishing the console table. She stopped and gaped, mid-swipe, at the gentleman emerging from the parlour. Her comical expression needed no explanation: it certainly wasn’t the fellow she’d been expecting to see her mistress showing out.
‘Good day to you, sir.’
‘And to you, Miss Waverley,’ he replied. A nod preceded him swiftly descending the stone steps and springing aboard a crested travelling coach.
The footman found his place at the back of the grand conveyance and it set off at quite a speed. Emma noticed rather a lot of curtains twitching in the houses opposite. Some neighbours even appeared to have business that had taken them out on to their front steps. She closed the door, leaning back against the panels, hoping that none of those people had been up early enough to see him bring her home at the crack of dawn or tongues really would be wagging.
Chapter Four
‘You seem a bit down in the dumps, Em. What’s up?’
‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to be a sourpuss.’ Emma had been dwelling on her mounting problems as she and Dawn Sanders promenaded. They were intending to look at the window displays of the new French modiste who’d lately set up in business on Regent Street. ‘Nothing is wrong really.’ A bright smile lifted the frown from her face as she linked arms with her companion. She was actually enjoying herself; the two young women had been close since schooldays and were comfortable enough with one another to be able to discuss things that they couldn’t mention to anybody else. Even so, Emma daren’t confide in Dawn about recent events. A genuine concern that she could air was niggling at her, though. ‘I’m worried that Papa wasn’t back before I left. The physician has warned him to rest his bad leg or it will worsen.’ Her father had said he’d only be out an hour or two, but hadn’t returned. With such vital goings-on rumbling in the background she’d been brooding on what might have delayed him.
Last autumn he’d stumbled while pruning the garden and an ulcer had developed on his shin. The pain of it often made him wobbly on his feet. Emma prayed he’d not tired himself out and taken a tumble while searching the East End for Robin. He had gone off earlier, buoyant about a reunion with his son. But he had warned his daughter to be constantly on her guard: stealth was called for, he’d said, until a good lawyer was consulted on the best way to bring her brother back into the bosom of his family. Emma had been made to promise—unnecessarily—that she wouldn’t breathe a word about any of it.
‘Mr Waverley called on my father just after midday and they went off together to their club.’ Dawn reassured her friend with a pat on the arm. ‘Your papa looked in fine fettle. They’re probably too mellow with brandy by now to notice their aches and pains.’ She grimaced. ‘Papa’s arthritis rarely keeps him at home. I wish it would,’ she added darkly. ‘Then he might not have met that woman.’
Emma knew her friend was referring to the widow to whom Mr Sanders was betrothed. Dawn didn’t get along with her prospective stepmother and had told Emma—only half-joking—that she’d marry any gentleman who asked her just so that she wouldn’t have to live beneath the same roof as Julia Booth after the wedding at Michaelmas.
‘Oh, drat!’ Emma groaned. Up ahead was somebody she definitely didn’t want to bump in to. Joshua’s wife didn’t like her, as was perfectly understandable, considering the woman had first been married to Simon. It wasn’t only the scandal surrounding Simon’s death that had made Veronica bitter towards her. The woman had found out that Joshua had proposed to Emma Waverley, and been turned down, before he’d settled on her as a substitute. Emma wondered how much more resentful Veronica would feel if she ever found out Joshua was still lusting after his first choice.
‘Let’s browse the counters in here.’ Dawn had seen the direction of her friend’s consternated gaze and steered them towards a small haberdasher’s. Emma had told her she’d been propositioned by Joshua Gresham many months ago. ‘Has that disgusting lecher been bothering you again?’ she whispered.
‘He visited earlier,’ Emma informed her, gladly entering the shop with Dawn. ‘Unfortunately Papa had already gone out, but I managed to quickly get rid of him.’
Or rather the Earl of Houndsmere had, ran through her mind. But she couldn’t tell Dawn about that gentleman without also going into how they’d met. And her night-time trip to see Robin had to remain a secret, even from her best friend.
At a safe distance, it all seemed like the sort of thrilling adventure that happened to intrepid heroines in novels. Being rescued from robbers by a handsome earl, then dashing through dark streets in a racing phaeton with him at the reins, didn’t really happen to shabby-genteel spinsters. But it had happened to her. Alas, with her family’s well-being tangled up in it the gloss had been tarnished.
It was no romantic fantasy. The Earl of Houndsmere could present as real a threat to them as did Joshua Gresham.
Gossip about their eminent visitor would soon be circulating after he’d turned up in the middle of the afternoon, creating a stir among the neighbours. People would assume that he was one of her father’s creditors, although why he would personally chase his debt when he could afford to send duns would be more of a puzzle to those determined to get to the bottom of it.
‘Bother!’ Emma had seen Joshua’s wife and her companion follow them into the shop.
‘I’ll wager that’s no coincidence. She’s pursuing us and is out to cause a bad atmosphere,’ Dawn warned.
‘Well, she’ll get no help from me in the doing of it!’ Emma said in a pithy whisper. It wouldn’t be the first time the woman had attempted to humiliate her. Veronica Gresham had nothing to crow about and there had been times when Emma had felt tempted to tell the woman about her vile husband just to wipe the smirk from her face. But she would not...could not...while a lingering guilt over Simon’s death remained with her. And it would until the day she died, she imagined, even though she had been an innocent dupe in all of it. But so had Veronica been fooled by Simon.
‘Miss Waverley...’ Veronica called with sly amity. ‘Don’t run off just as I’m about to say hello.
‘Heavens above, but she is determined!’ Dawn hissed, giving Emma an encouraging smile.
The older woman stopped by the same counter and turned to a mousy-looking lady at her side. ‘This is poor Miss Waverley, her debut far behind her and still on the shelf. Her father has begged my husband to loan him money to get her wed, but still nobody wants her, it seems. I wonder why that might be?’
Emma was too shocked to react for a second then she clipped out, ‘Thank you for your concern, but Miss Waverley is quite content with her lot. Good day.’ Though white-faced with fury, she dipped her head before moving on with Dawn. ‘The cheek of the witch!’ she fumed when they were outside. ‘To do something so ill after years have passed.’
‘Awful, wicked woman! It is little wonder Simon was unhappy. Who would want to be shackled to her?’ Dawn wrinkled her nose in disgust.
Emma murmured agreement. Simon had told her that he’d been forced into a marriage by his family and that he didn’t love his wife and never would. But he wouldn’t have told her anything at all if Robin hadn’t confronted them at a tavern, halfway to Gretna, and beat the truth out of him. She realised that they might have lived together as man and wife for months before she finally discovered that her husband wasn’t her husband at all because he already had a wife living in Yorkshire.
‘Perhaps Veronica has gue
ssed Joshua has designs on you and is feeling more hateful than usual,’ Dawn said.
‘I’ll never be her rival for that swine. Actually, they are a perfect match.’ Emma realised that it was understandable, if unforgivable, that Simon had sought happiness elsewhere.
‘Come back to our house and have tea,’ Dawn urged.
Emma felt frustrated that their outing had been ruined, but relieved that she’d managed to hold her temper when provoked. It was a pleasantly mild spring day and she’d gladly got out of the house for a while. Although she couldn’t afford to buy even a length of ribbon it had been nice to mingle in the crowds of shoppers and absorb the atmosphere. But she was ready to go home, too.
‘Oh, there’s a hackney.’ Emma made to hail it, then dropped her hand back to her side, letting the vehicle sail past.
‘Never mind, another will be along soon,’ Dawn said, bobbing about to locate one.
Emma barely heard her friend’s comment; she’d spotted somebody and her heartbeat had accelerated alarmingly at the sight of him. On the opposite pavement, dawdling by a lamp post, was her brother. He appeared to be engrossed in fiddling with a tinderbox to light the pipe clamped in his teeth. She wasn’t fooled by that. He was aware of her and was intermittently flashing eye signals at her from beneath the peak of his cap.
An icy sensation trickled down her spine. It was no coincidence that Robin was here. He’d sought her out because he wanted to speak urgently to her.
Regent Street was crowded with people and it was easy enough to lose oneself in the noisy throng. Nevertheless, Emma wished he’d not taken a chance coming to a place where he might bump into old acquaintances. Grimy of countenance and dressed in a labourer’s clothing, there was nothing to hint at the dandy her twin had once been. A coarsely woven jacket engulfed him almost down to his knees and a wide-brimmed cap concealed his features. A coal cart was parked nearby and now he was confident she’d seen him he stepped quickly to it, sheltering behind the mountain of black sacks. Emma wondered if he really was employed as a coalman or had just donned a disguise. And what a disguise it was! Even a bankrupted gentleman’s son might do better for himself.
‘There’s one!’ Emma waved and the cab drew up at the kerb. ‘Don’t fret over that horrible woman,’ she said kindly when they were settled on the seat. She had noticed that Dawn looked rather depressed following the unpleasant episode in the shop.
‘I won’t let such as her bother me,’ Dawn said dismissively. ‘Come and have some tea with me and we can end our day nicely.’
‘I’m afraid I’m going to be a spoilsport. I’ve got a headache now so won’t be much fun.’ Emma’s temples had started throbbing, but she blamed her brother for it rather than Mrs Gresham. She took a peek over a shoulder, guessing the coal cart might be following them. It was. Whatever Robin had on his mind she’d sooner know about it straight away. She was glad he’d located her in Regent Street rather than risk dawdling close to their house in case their father had spotted him.
* * *
‘I saw you go off with a man last night. Who was he?’
‘What?’ Emma bristled at her brother’s curt interrogation. ‘Have you risked breaking cover just to ask me that?’
‘I told you to come alone last night,’ he scolded. ‘I thought I could trust you, Em. Who was he? Did you tell him about me? Does he know where I lodge?’
‘Well, if you were close enough to have seen him you must know that two robbers set about me.’ Emma gave her brother a blameful glare. ‘Why did you not come to my rescue, then I might not have needed a stranger’s assistance.’
‘He was a stranger?’ Robin sounded relieved. ‘You don’t know him, then, Em?’
‘Well, I do know him now,’ Emma said flatly. ‘I had no alternative but to make his acquaintance after he saw off those two villains and delivered me safely home.’
Emma watched her brother restlessly pacing to and fro over the grass. Instinctively, she had known that he would wait for her to join him where they’d talked before. As a girl she had been allowed to go to the local heath in her twin brother’s care to play with bat and ball. Unbeknown to her father—who would have banned further trips had he known—she’d climb the trees with Robin and on one occasion had torn her elbows falling off a low branch. The greensward, dotted with oaks, was isolated enough to allow them to talk unobserved, but not so remote than she might arouse suspicion walking to and from it on her own. A few scamps were at play, darting in and out of the woods, whooping and hollering. The boys were too young to bother to pay attention to the odd sight of a lady deep in conversation with a rough-looking fellow.
‘You told me you were studying law.’ The speaking look that travelled over Robin from top to toe needed no explanation.
‘I am studying at night, but I have to earn a living as well. Lawyers ask their apprentices for references. I have none to give and must in time set up my own business as Charles Perkins. My boss, Milligan, doesn’t want to know more from Charlie than whether he finished his rounds and got payment for all of the sacks he delivered.’ He spoke sourly of his alter ego, but hadn’t been sidetracked from having an answer to what really interested him. ‘Who was your Good Samaritan? That high flyer looked as though it cost a pretty penny.’
His sister didn’t answer immediately and he guessed she was still indignant that he’d not rescued her. ‘After we parted last night I came after you because I should have owned up to something important,’ he started to explain. ‘I would have knocked those ruffians down for you, Em, but I was too late to be of help.’ He’d been glad of that, having been loath to bring himself to the attention of a passing parish constable by brawling. ‘I caught a glimpse of your rescuer’s face and...’ He tailed off into silence.
‘And?’ Emma prompted. ‘Who did you believe him to be?’
‘The Earl of Houndsmere, but then I thought I must be seeing things.’ Robin sounded bashful.
‘Well, you weren’t. It was him,’ Emma said shortly.
Robin took a step back, then another, looking dazed. ‘Are you sure?’
‘Yes, of course, although I only found out he was an earl this afternoon.’
Robin gripped her shoulders, giving her a little shake. ‘You didn’t tell him you’d seen me, did you?’
‘Why...he doesn’t know you, does he?’ That question was met by silence so she demanded, ‘Did you come into contact with him years ago?’
Robin vigorously shook his head. ‘I know him by sight, but I’ve never spoken to him before in my life. But he’s not a man to cross, Em.’ He dropped his face to his palms. ‘Hell’s teeth! Why did it have to be him?’
Emma roughly dragged his hands from his face to study his tortured expression. Increased uneasiness was curdling her stomach. There was something she didn’t know about and perhaps whatever it was had made Houndsmere persistently question her earlier.
‘You’d better tell me everything, Robin. The Earl delivered me home and our father saw him. I had to explain my absence to Papa. He knows you are alive and in England. He is naturally overjoyed and wants to see you.’
‘You didn’t relate all of it in front of Houndsmere?’ Robin had turned ashen.
‘Of course not. But he did me a good turn and now believes he has the right to question why I risked being out late at night. He’s shown more interest than is normal for a man in his position.’
‘God in heaven! He knows! I’m done for! I’ve returned to England just for him to kill me.’
‘Don’t be so melodramatic!’ Emma sounded cross, although her twin’s reaction had greatly alarmed her. ‘Why would an earl be interested in you if you’ve never even met?’
‘Because I’ve been living with his stepsister as man and wife,’ Robin croaked out.
Dumbfounded, Emma stared at her brother, then sank down to sit on the grass. He immediately kneeled beside her.
> ‘Augusta told me she was a shopkeeper’s daughter. I’d never have got involved with her if I’d known she’d also got connections in the aristocracy. Such people are too powerful for me to tangle with.’ He swung his head in despair. ‘Her mother was a milliner and the old Earl’s mistress. He went on to marry her and they lived at Houndsmere Hall in Hertfordshire. Augusta truly is the Earl’s stepsister. It’s not a fantasy she has concocted.’
Emma pushed back her bonnet to hang on its strings, then raked her fingers through her dusky hair. ‘This can’t be true! Are we so beset by bad luck that such a bizarre coincidence can really be?’ she wailed.
‘It seems so,’ Robin replied bleakly. ‘Her stepbrother will search for her to take her home. I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts her in a convent. She has run away so often that he threatened to severely punish her next time. God knows what he’ll do to me. I didn’t seduce her...if anything, she chased after me. But if he finds us together that’ll count for nought. There’ll be an uproar. I’ll be exposed, Em. What then? I think I’d sooner Houndsmere put me out of my misery with a clean bullet than risk a noose round my neck.’
‘Don’t talk rot!’ Emma cried. ‘Would you break our father’s heart all over again?’
Robin appeared not to have heard that emotional plea. He leapt up, enlightenment straining his features. ‘Houndsmere is closing in on us. He was out searching for her last night when he happened upon you. Did he state his business there?’
‘Lance Harley isn’t the sort of man to explain himself,’ Emma replied tartly. ‘He was not searching for you, I’m sure of it,’ she reassured. ‘He had been drinking although he wasn’t drunk. He seemed to be on his way home after a night of revelry.’
Robin looked a mite relieved as he prowled about on the turf. ‘Augusta said she believed the same. He has a chère amie living in the district. He must have visited her.’