by Sahara Kelly
“I am not chastising you. I’m pointing out that all your friends were deeply concerned,” he reiterated, his cheek muscles clenching.
Judith found her own temper barely manageable. This man was assuming far too much. And the knowledge of where she’d actually been weighed heavily on her, adding to her discomfort. “And you have done so, sir. Quite admirably, I would think.”
She spun on her heel and walked to Lady Maud. “I am sorry if I distressed you at all. I met someone I knew from my time at Fivetrees. She and I took tea together, and my maid was in close attendance.”
Maud nodded. “Quite all right, my dear. But I will say I admire the faithfulness of your friends. It has been a singular display of loyalty on their part, worrying about you the way they did.” Her gaze drifted to Ragnor, who straightened his cravat awkwardly.
“We’re just happy you’re all right, Judith,” said Rose. “London can be a dangerous place for so many, these days.”
“All’s well that ends well,” nodded Ivy. “And Lydia was most worried.”
Judith returned to Lydia and gave her a hug. “Dear friend. Thank you. But all that concern was for naught, as you can see.”
“Well,” Sir Laurence stood. “Seeing as you’re all here, if you’ve no plans for the evening, you are hereby invited to assist me in trying out my brand-new billiards table.” He looked around. “Gentlemen, that is. Ladies, you will doubtless find something to occupy your time?”
“They will,” Maud rose and went to her husband. “Since our last Wednesday club meeting of the year is coming up, I’ve asked our chef to try some different dishes. He’ll be serving them for dinner this evening and I’d love your opinions?” She smiled. “This presupposes you have no other engagements?”
Having descended on Sydenham House en masse and without prior notice, Judith had to grin at the looks of guilt that passed over their faces as they rapidly agreed with enthusiasm to both suggestions.
“Very well then. Since nobody will be changing for dinner and we’ll keep the evening casual, I’ll suggest a sherry before dinner? I must step belowstairs, so I’ll join you later.”
“I’ll let Hobson know the revised arrangements,” added Sir Laurence. “And he’ll be in with the sherry momentarily.”
“How lovely,” said Lydia. “Thank you. May I send a note to Mama?”
“Of course.” Lady Maud nodded. “And that goes for anyone else…paper and pens are in the corner desk and I’ll make sure Hobson has some lads free to deliver them.”
“You’re so kind,” smiled Miles. “We invade your home and you are making us feel like invited guests.”
“You are. In a way,” said Maud. “I’m sorry your brother couldn’t join us.”
Looking at some of the lovely pieces of porcelain on display, Miles shook his head. “I’m not.”
Walking by him, Maud took the liberty of pinching his cheek. “Nonetheless, you’re all welcome.”
“Indeed,” added Sir Laurence on his way out of the room. “Just don’t make a habit of it.”
Judith chuckled at Miles’s stunned expression. Clearly, he wasn’t used to such maternal familiarities.
Once the couple had departed, everyone else collapsed on the nearest chair.
“We didn’t mean to make such a fuss about all this, Judith,” said Ivy, wiping her hand over her brow dramatically.
“Indeed not,” added Miles. “I’ve never been here before. But I seem to have been swept up in the moment, as it were.”
“Lord Linfield,” answered Judith, shaking her head. “I do apologise.”
“You might add the rest of us too, dear.” Ivy aimed a speaking glance at her. “We were expecting you. Always, when you’ve said we’ll meet, you’re right on time. We’ve grown to anticipate your arrival and when you didn’t come…”
“We panicked,” confessed Lydia. “I am sure I’m hearing far too many reports of people being assaulted in the streets.” She shot a look at her brother. “Or I’m being told about it all the time, with the aim of keeping me out of trouble…”
Matthew looked innocently at the ceiling.
“But whatever the cause, we were worried about you. So naturally, Sydenham House was the first place we thought of. In case you’d come down with a cold, or fallen down the stairs or something.”
Ragnor remained standing by the fireplace, his features set into an expressionless mould.
Judith did her best to ignore him. “I do appreciate all of you and thank you for your concern. Had I been abducted or assaulted in any way, I’d be so grateful to learn how worried you all were. But really…it’s been a tempest in a teapot and probably best forgotten.”
“And in future, you will—of course—be sure to keep everyone abreast of your activities.” Ragnor’s dictate emerged like a shot from a rifle.
She genuinely wanted to smack him. But she clung to her composure as well as she could. “In the event of my whereabouts affecting any of you, then I shall indeed take pains to ensure nobody worries.”
He didn’t look satisfied, but deigned to nod in response.
“However…” she couldn’t leave it alone. She just couldn’t. “I would not expect to find myself reporting my daily schedule to any or all of you on a regular basis.” She grinned at them. “I don’t do enough interesting things on my own to let you know. All the really interesting things we do together.” She nodded. “And that’s that.”
Hobson chose that moment to wheel in the sherry tray, and for the next few minutes it seemed as if everyone took a breath, relaxed and the tension dissolved as drinks were poured and distributed.
Hobson closed the door behind him as he left.
Ragnor turned to Judith. “Right then. It’s time you tell us where you really were.”
*~~*~~*
He took some satisfaction in the way her jaw dropped after his command brought utter silence to the rest of the room.
“But…Ragnor, she already told us.” Lydia blinked in surprise.
“She told us what she wanted everyone to know. Everyone, in this case, being Sir Laurence and Lady Maud. I would like to know the truth, since it’s obviously something she’d prefer not having them learn.”
She made a gallant recovery, lifting her chin and meeting his gaze.
“What makes you think that, sir? Accusing me of lying is quite unpleasant, you know.”
“I didn’t say you lied. You may well have met a friend from the country. But that’s not where you spent the afternoon, is it?”
“I…” She glanced around.
“Judith,” said Rose quietly. “Is everything all right?”
“Of course,” Judith answered quickly.
“Then perhaps you’d better come clean,” advised Matthew. “Otherwise you’ll be battered constantly for details until you finally surrender.” He looked at his sister. “Believe me. I know.”
Lydia snorted. “Judith, we’re all your friends here, even Lord Linfield, who probably thinks we’re all mad, but knows most of what we know.”
Miles merely nodded his endorsement as he topped up Rose’s sherry.
“So please tell us?” continued Lydia. “Otherwise, yes. We shall be forced to nag you incessantly.”
Judith sighed and threw up her hands. “All right. All right. I would have told you anyway.” She glanced at the door. “But please understand this must be kept completely between us.”
Everyone nodded, and chairs were drawn closer as Judith sat, leaning forward toward the faces turned to hers.
“I went to see Lord Rolfe.”
Breaths were indrawn at this announcement.
“You what?” Ragnor so far forgot himself as to emit a squeak of horror. He coloured as half a dozen pairs of eyes swivelled toward him, cleared his throat and tried again. “You went to Lord Rolfe’s gambling house?”
Judith raised her chin. “I did. We met by accident yesterday. Almost a real accident, I might add.” She related the incident with the child and the hors
es. “He was a complete gentleman, showing no concern for his person, only for the youngster. Who might well have suffered grievously, or been killed if not for his prompt actions.”
“Oh my.” Ivy clasped her hands to her bosom. “Such bravery.”
“Indeed.” Miles raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised he could move that fast. Always seemed a bit indolent to me.”
“Anyway…” Judith soldiered on, “Our conversation was brief, but since he was there…and since we’d talked about placing someone inside his establishment…”
“We had?” Ivy’s eyes widened.
“Oh…” Judith paused.
Ragnor sighed. “It’s a long story.” He looked around. “Miss Ivy, Miss Rose…I don’t believe you were present during some of these discussions. Neither were you, Miles.”
Seeing that everyone’s gaze was fixed on himself, Ragnor shrugged. “Here’s the long and short of it.” He regaled them with a considerably abbreviated version of the events surrounding Lord Rolfe, Fiona Barrett-Goddings, and the matter of cheating and earrings.
Upon his conclusion, Judith took over. “Now that you all know how the situation lies, you’ll see, I’m sure, how important it is to have someone in that establishment. I can say that I’ve come to understand the matter of the earring, and I’ll tell you about that in a minute.”
Lydia’s eyes widened and Rose’s mouth opened, but Judith forestalled them. Ragnor had questions too, but knew better than to interrupt.
“What is of prime importance is that someone is cheating Lord Rolfe and lining their pockets with what should be his profits. He’s not seeing any increases in his daily proceeds, which—according to our report—he certainly should be. Thus someone with a good knowledge of cards has to be able to look around of an evening and see if she can spot the cheater.”
“And this person has to be you?” Ragnor’s chest swelled with anger. “We discussed this very matter, Miss Judith. You were told a very definitive no by everyone present.”
“Er, I wasn’t there,” said Miles quietly.
Ragnor turned to him. “You’d have said the same thing.”
“Are you sure?”
Ragnor blinked. “Yes. Yes of course. You’re a man of great intellect, and must surely see how risky it would be to put Miss Fairhurst into such a place.”
“Is Miss Fairhurst proficient at cards?”
Ragnor swallowed. “Well…yes.”
“Do you think she’s observant enough to spot a cheat?”
Ragnor felt the ground shift a little beneath his feet as his friend put him into a rather awkward spot. “As to that, I would probably concur that Miss Fairhurst has a good eye.”
“Well then.” Miles looked at Judith. “All things considered, it’s a brilliant suggestion, my dear.”
Judith grinned back at him as anger once again crept up into Ragnor’s throat and threatened to choke him. The idea that Miles would willingly risk his Judith…
“But I’m sad to say that I most likely would also have voted no.” Miles looked sweetly sorrowful. “You’re a young lady on the threshold of a delightful future, which will doubtless include marriage to the ideal husband at some point. Should your reputation suffer because of this plan, it might seriously diminish the bright future stretching out before you. I would hate to see that happen.”
Ragnor was at a loss for words. He approved the negative Miles had selected as an endorsement to the general opinion. But the thought of any kind of stain on Judith’s reputation making her less appealing to a potential husband…well, since he was the only potential husband she’d ever have, it struck him as odd to say the least. He knew about the plan and he didn’t consider her reputation stained at all.
Of course she wasn’t going to go through with it, and hence there would be no stain for anyone to concern themselves with, but…
“Hey Rag,” said Miles. “Are you all right? Bit of dyspepsia? I know you don’t drink sherry much…”
He blinked and found himself the cynosure of everyone’s eyes, a discomforting moment. Unsettled, he spoke without thinking. “I’m quite well. Just trying to come to terms with the fact that my future wife is about to masquerade as a hostess in a gambling establishment of dubious repute. You can’t blame me for being more than a little disturbed.”
The magnitude of the silence that followed his words was—indescribable.
And for one of the few times in his life, Ragnor Withersby prayed the earth would open and swallow him up.
Sadly, his prayers went unanswered.
He took a breath. “Ah hell.”
The proverbial cat was not only well and truly out of the bag, it had turned into a rampaging tiger.
Chapter Sixteen
“I think I need to find a maid to…er…fix my hair,” Lydia’s hand went to her head.
“Oh, and yes…me too. I must…um…” Ivy stood quickly, nearly spilling her sherry.
“I’ll come too.” Rose grabbed her reticule and hurried to the door.
“About those billiards,” Matthew looked at Miles.
“Right behind you, old chum.”
Judith knew the room had emptied rapidly, so rapidly she swore her skirts were swishing in the draught caused by five people falling over each other to get out. Her ears were still ringing with the sound of Ragnor describing her as “my future wife”, and she considered pinching herself to make sure she hadn’t slipped into a strange dream. But instead, she sat there, her gaze glued to Ragnor’s face.
He’d gone pale, then coloured as the importance of his accidental revelation penetrated his brain.
“Er…”
That was the best he could do? Good God, the man needed a well-placed punch in the nose. She was out of her depth and she knew it, so wisely chose to keep silent, and await developments.
“Miss Judith,” he began.
Excellent. He remembers my name.
She folded her hands in her lap, assuming an appearance of composure that in no way reflected the inner turmoil squeezing the breath from her lungs.
“I must apologise,” he looked away from her, “for what was a completely improper and uncalled for statement.”
“Indeed.”
“I…” he turned to face her once more. “I cannot prevaricate; it has become apparent that you and I…that we go along well…and that, in all likelihood, you would be a most suitable wife.”
“Ah.”
“Having reached that conclusion, I had every intention of seeking out Sir Laurence as soon as possible, and notifying him of my wishes. He would then have summoned you, I would suppose, and we might have discussed my proposal at our leisure.”
“How…correct of you.”
“Indeed,” he nodded. “My accidental betrayal of my plans was certainly unexpected.” He frowned. “I can’t quite understand why I said what I did. I’m not given to conversational gaffes of such importance.”
“Perhaps the emotions of the moment overtook you, sir.” She managed to keep the grinding of her teeth to a minimum, lest the sound distract him from the very large hole he continued to dig for himself.
“Possibly. But unlikely. Even though I was incensed at your behaviour, and most perturbed that you had put yourself into a risky situation, especially after I specifically warned you of it and informed you of its total unacceptability, I should have been able to restrain my words.” He frowned at her, a gaze conveying quite intense perturbation.
She wished she had the nerve to smack it clean off his face, the arrogant nincompoop. That phrase stuck in her mind and she kept it on reserve. She might well have reason to use it shortly if he continued this idiocy.
“So, Sir Ragnor. Do I take it that you view me as someone suitable to be your wife?”
He looked awkwardly at his shoes for a second or two. Where was the man who had driven her mad in the museum with wildly passionate caresses?
Then his gaze met hers. “It is my wish to offer you my hand in marriage, Miss Judith. Perhaps thi
s is not the proposal you’d hoped for, and I have circumvented convention by speaking to you before your guardian, but yes. I believe we could build a pleasant future together.”
“I see.”
Silence fell for a minute or two.
“Maybe you would like some time to consider my offer?”
“I was considering whether you’d actually made one, sir. You told me your wishes, but never really asked me any sort of question.”
“I thought I made myself perfectly clear,” he frowned.
“Perhaps my poor woman’s brain needs a simpler explanation. Try using smaller words.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your brain, Miss Judith. You’ve proved that time and time again.” He paused. “Except when you run off and do foolhardy things without a thought.”
“Those would be the things you’ve told me not to do, I assume?”
“At this moment, yes. After an in-depth conversation, and hearing my specific instructions, you took yourself off and did exactly the opposite. That action, that carelessness of other’s directions…that disturbed me considerably.”
She stood, shaking out her skirts, finding herself in control now, calm and no longer burning with a fierce anger. “Did it ever cross your mind, Sir Ragnor, that you had no right whatsoever to either dictate any of my actions, or take umbrage when I acted in a contrary fashion? Did you perhaps presume to act as the fiancé you intended to be, before you assumed such a role in my life? And did you really…” she was close enough to poke him in the chest, which she did. Hard. “…really expect me to pay any attention to your orders, sir?”
“Dammit, yes I did. You could have put yourself in a lot of danger. Going to Rolfe’s alone? What the devil were you thinking?”
“Not of being your wife, sir. I can assure you of that.”