Lady Cecily and the Mysterious Mr. Gray

by Janice Preston

  ‘Kilburn’s lack of suitability does nothing to improve your acceptability. I have protected Cecily from the question about your legitimacy, but I say this to you: if you feel anything for my sister—other than that stir in your breeches—you will not further tarnish her name or her reputation. In future, I expect nothing more than a nod of acquaintance from you should you happen to meet any member of the Beauchamp family. Have I made myself clear?’

  He did not wait for Zach to reply, but stalked away and the Beauchamp party left soon afterwards.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The following day, having consulted with Mr Leeds, his late father’s solicitor, and urged on by a little devil inside, Zach joined the promenade of the great and the good in Hyde Park at five o’clock. At his heels lurched Myrtle, the only one of his animal companions he had brought with him to Town. He imagined, with hidden amusement, what reaction Sancho Panza might have prompted from the fashionable crowds. Myrtle attracted enough attention, ranging from the sympathetic to the horrified. More than one lady, upon spying the ungainly gait of the terrier, swept her skirt aside with a moue of disgust. Zach didn’t care. It soothed him to have Myrtle by his side and she needed the exercise. Although not on a lead, she stuck close to him—unused to so many people, horses and carriages—and he matched his gait to hers.

  One or two familiar faces from his schooldays nodded a greeting, but he guessed from their uncertain expressions that they had not quite placed him and so he did no more than nod in reply. The few people he recognised from the night before cut him direct. Hardly a surprise, with the lie Thetford had spread about him—a lie he would expose when the time was right.

  Finally he spied Cecily and his heart turned in his chest. She was every inch the perfect lady, stylishly gowned in primrose yellow with a dainty midnight-blue hat perched atop her shining chestnut hair and holding a matching parasol. She was utterly gorgeous and every fibre of his being yearned to snatch her into his arms and carry her away.

  She saw him and her eyes lit up as a smile curved those luscious lips. He stopped before her and bowed.

  ‘Good afternoon, Lady Cecily.’

  She dipped a curtsy. ‘Mr Graystoke. It is a pleasure to see you again.’

  He was delighted to see Thea’s friendly face and welcoming smile among Cecily’s companions. The Duchess—her expression a touch anxious—was there, too, together with Lady Olivia and the Duchess’s stepsister, Lady Helena, and he greeted them all, together with a child who was introduced as the Duchess’s adopted daughter, Susie. The final member of the group was a young man, a stranger even though clearly a Beauchamp, who was holding tight to the straining lead of the tallest dog Zach had ever seen. He recalled Cecily mentioning the Duchess’s dog. This, no doubt, was him—and he was clearly eager to meet Myrtle.

  ‘I do not believe you have been introduced to the younger of my two nephews, Lord Alexander Beauchamp?’

  ‘I have not.’ The two men bowed in greeting.

  ‘You’re that fellow that’s set ’em all on their ears.’ Lord Alexander’s laconic drawl earned him a sharp look from his aunt. ‘Well,’ he protested, ‘everyone knows what’s goin’ on except me. I’m only askin’.’

  ‘If you spent more time at home, with the family, you would know very well what is going on, as you put it, Alex.’

  He shrugged. ‘What’s your dog’s name? What happened to its leg?’

  ‘Myrtle. She was caught in a snare.’

  ‘One of yours? You’re a gipsy, ain’t you?’

  Zach sensed the uneasiness of the others around them, but the questions did not irritate him. It was refreshing to be able to talk about the subject that everyone else carefully avoided.

  ‘My mother was a Romany, yes. And no. I never set snares. I can’t abide them.’

  Lord Alexander hunkered down and held his hand out to Myrtle who, cautiously, reached forward and inspected his fingers, her tail low but slowly wagging. The other dog—a shaggy, fawn-coloured hound—took the opportunity to examine Myrtle. When Alex stood up again, he grinned at Zach and said, ‘Hector needs to run off his energy.’

  With that, he slipped the collar from the dog and set him free.

  Zach bit back a smile at the Duchess’s expression of pure horror as Hector gambolled in a huge circle around them, followed by Myrtle, keeping up as best she could. Muted shrieks sounded from passing walkers, who were stopped in their tracks as they found themselves in the middle of a canine game of tag.

  ‘Alex! Go and catch Hector immediately.’ Cecily looked no less horrified than the Duchess while Thea, Olivia and Helena stifled giggles behind their hands.

  ‘They’re doing no harm,’ Alex said, with a wink at Zach.

  ‘Myrtle. Come here, girl.’

  The terrier hopped over to Zach and panted up at him. Hector followed, and Zach took the collar and lead from Alex and secured the huge hound. He then handed control of the dog back to the young man.

  ‘Why not take them across there where they can run without scaring everyone half to death?’

  Cecily’s warm smile was worth the scowl he received from her nephew before he slouched off with the two dogs, Susie skipping after them.

  Might as well grasp the nettle...

  ‘Does the Duke intend to join you in the Park this afternoon, Lady Cecily?’

  ‘They are already here,’ Thea said, in her gruff voice, ‘but on horseback. Do you mean to avoid them, Absalom?’

  ‘Absalom?’ Lady Olivia said. ‘Why do you call him Absalom, Aunt Thea?’

  Thea blushed fiery red. ‘Should I have said Mr Gray?’

  She glanced anxiously at the Duchess, who said, ‘No, Thea. Do not fret. As you and Vernon have only just arrived in Town, we have not yet had the opportunity to tell you the latest news. It transpires that Absalom’s real name is Zachary Absalom Graystoke and his father was the Earl of Thetford.’

  Thea’s eyes sparkled. ‘An earl?’ She smiled widely as she looked from Zach to Cecily and back again. ‘Why, that is wonderful news.’ Her smile faltered as she took in Cecily’s expression. ‘Oh.’

  * * *

  Cecily swallowed past the painful lump that had formed in her throat. She put no blame on Thea for not understanding that Zach’s paternity would make little difference—her father was a manufacturer and she was unused to society and its ways, having never set foot in London until this morning.

  Why did life have to be so complicated? Cecily’s jaw ached with the effort of keeping tears at bay. She was aware Thea still stared at her, her expression puzzled, but there was nothing she could say to explain.

  ‘It is because I am still half-Romany,’ Zach said into the sudden silence. ‘That is enough to keep me isolated from much of society. But not all, I hope,’ he added, flicking a glance at Cecily.

  She felt her cheeks heat.

  ‘Well, not from me,’ Thea declared. She put her hand on his arm. ‘I shall never forget you saved my brother and you will always be a welcome visitor to my home.’

  ‘Thea—that may not be wise.’ Rosalind exchanged an anxious glance with Cecily. They both knew Vernon might have something to say about that.

  Thea sniffed, tossed her head—causing two wayward curls to tumble and bounce around her ears—and stuck her nose in the air. ‘Abs—Zachary saved Daniel. I shall not turn my back on him. In fact...we are throwing a party tonight to celebrate our marriage and to introduce me to some of Vernon’s friends. It’s not formal, not like a ball,’ she added hastily. ‘I should not enjoy that, one little bit, not yet anyway. It is at our house in South Audley Street and it would give me great pleasure if you will come, Zachary. Daniel will be there—he is due to arrive in London this afternoon.’

  ‘Thank you.’ Zach bowed. ‘I am honoured.’

  He slanted a glance at Cecily, and her insides melted at the heat in his eyes. Vernon and Thea’s party suddenly held much more appeal than it had five minutes ago. They started to stroll once more. The number of hostile loo
ks they attracted was noticeable and Cecily’s heart sank as she realised that many in the ton had already turned against Zach.

  And then, visible in the distance and heading in their direction, she spied Leo and Vernon. Her heart plummeted to her toes. Leo had been clear—none of the family were to engage with Zach beyond a polite greeting and yet here they all were—his wife and daughter included—walking out in public. Although Rosalind remained steadfast in her backing of Cecily in private, she would never defy Leo in public and Cecily knew she must be worried about being with Zach now.

  Cecily had challenged Leo and he had cited the attitudes of many of the people present at the Tubthorpes’ soirée last evening.

  ‘A too-close association with a man like Graystoke will only harm your chances of a decent match, if you are still set on marriage.’

  The attitude of many of their fellow walkers towards Zach confirmed Leo’s fears and Cecily felt sick to the stomach at the barely veiled animosity on display. Thetford had done a fine job of hardening attitudes against Zach. She was ashamed to be a part of such a bigoted society and she was aware her own attitude was hardening, too—but against her own ‘kind’, as so many people termed it. And that scared her. She looked at Zach...drank in his tall manly form, his dark good looks, his air of calm. She loved him and she wanted him, but had she courage enough to go against every precept of her upbringing and follow her heart? Could she really alienate society and turn her back on her beloved family?

  Or could that flicker of hope—that her family and others in society would one day accept Zach, now that he had returned—grow into a flame?

  Of one thing she was certain, though. After his nasty display at the soirée, she had finally determined to reject Kilburn. All she need do now was to tell him tonight, at Vernon and Thea’s party.

  Her brothers rode ever nearer, wearing identical expressions of disapproval. Leo, she knew from past experience, would not hesitate to exert his authority. Another glance at Zach heightened her sense of unease. His attention was fully focused on Leo, and Cecily had no doubt he would resist any attempt to coerce him. Olivia and Nell—both of them wide-eyed with curiosity—were also watching the men’s approach and that only added to Cecily’s disquiet.

  Before she could say anything to the girls, however, Rosalind said, ‘Go after Alex, girls, if you please. He is in need of your help to keep the dogs from bothering other people and to look after Susie.’

  ‘But—’

  Cecily found her voice. ‘Livvy. Go. Please.’

  Cecily turned to Zach, aware of a crowd gathering at a discreet distance, watching and whispering.

  ‘Please leave before they get here, Zach. No good can come of a public confrontation.’

  Zach studied her. His dark brows twitched and one corner of his lips quirked. Exasperation joined the agitated mixture of emotions that swirled and spiralled through her. The dratted man was trying not to laugh. She longed to throw her hands in the air and walk away and leave these stubborn men to their inevitable clash, but she remained rooted to the spot.

  ‘I intend no confrontation, dove. I merely wish to put your brother straight on a particular matter. And here is as good a place as any. In fact, it is perfect. It is far better for these people—’ he indicated the onlookers ‘—to hear the truth direct rather than some third-hand account that has been falsely embellished by every person who passes it on.’

  Cecily lowered her voice. ‘I do not know the matter to which you refer, but this is unwise, Zach.’

  ‘Not to me. The truth is never unwise—especially when so many people are happy to peddle the lies Thetford has told about me. I will not hide away in corners waiting for the truth to spread piecemeal.’

  Leo and Vernon reined to a halt a short distance away. Leo dismounted, handed his horse to Vernon and strolled towards them, stripping off his gloves. There was a collective gasp from the gathered crowd. Cecily’s insides lurched and then roiled alarmingly. She moved to intercept him.

  ‘Leo! What... Why do you remove your gloves? Y-you will not—surely you do not intend to—’ She could not finish her sentence.

  Leo halted, glanced down at the gloves he now carried, then back at Cecily. His silver eyes gleamed. ‘Cecy,’ he said, in a low voice, ‘do try not to be such a goose. I am hot, that is all. If I decide to call him out, I would not do so in public. Now, please—’ he moved her to one side ‘—allow me to pass.’

  She watched helplessly as he strolled on past her and stopped in front of Zach. ‘Good afternoon, Graystoke.’

  Zach nodded. ‘Cheriton.’

  ‘Was I not sufficiently clear last night? I do not wish any members of my family to associate with you.’

  ‘You were clear. But you were not clear as to whether your request stemmed from the fact that my mother was born a Romany or your belief that my parents were unwed.’

  Cecily gasped. Unwed? Was it true? Her thoughts tumbled. This was what Leo had been at pains to protect her from yesterday? She had suspected there was something. This—this—if true, it placed Zach even further beyond her reach.

  ‘Either one of those is sufficient. Together—well, I shall allow you to draw your own conclusion as to my opinion on that subject.’

  Zach’s lips firmed. ‘I will not be ashamed of my Romany blood. That side of my family behaved with compassion and generosity when my mother and I had need of their help, unlike my brother—a so-called gentleman. But I shall defend my parents against Thetford’s slur. They were married legally and I have the proof. After my father’s death, the relevant page was ripped—by someone—from the parish register at Thetford in an attempt to deny the marriage ever took place. However, I have here my mother’s copy of the marriage lines and I have today been handed further proof by my late father’s solicitor.’

  He reached into his inside pocket and withdrew two documents. He handed them to Leo and then looked around at the people nearby. He raised his voice.

  ‘The second document is an affidavit, sworn by the vicar who married my parents, and signed by my father. It confirms the marriage. Condemn me if you will for my Romany blood, but do not sully the memory of my father or my mother by believing lies.’

  He reached to take the documents from Leo. ‘Will you confirm that what I have said is the truth, Duke?’

  Cecily held her breath as Leo eyed Zach. She knew her brother very well and her heart lifted as she recognised the glimpse of respect in his eyes.

  ‘I will,’ Leo said. He spoke as loudly as Zach had. ‘They were legally married.’

  ‘And my brother—a gentleman who, in his own estimation, is worth so much more than me—told a blatant lie.’

  Leo’s jaw firmed and he took Cecily by her arm. ‘It makes little difference, Graystoke. Come, Cecily. Let us go.’

  On the brink of snatching her arm away, Cecily caught sight of Rosalind’s troubled expression. She couldn’t do it. Too many eyes were watching and she would neither humiliate Leo by publicly opposing him, nor give rise to even more malicious gossip about the Beauchamps and lowering standards. Rosalind already had concerns that any hint of scandal attached to the Beauchamps would be laid at her door and at Thea’s.

  And Cecily still could not quite bring herself to choose her own happiness above that of her family, even though her love for Zach burned brighter than ever.

  The understanding in Zach’s eyes as he watched her almost changed her mind.

  Almost, but not quite.

  ‘Get used to seeing me around, Cheriton.’ Zach faced Leo, relaxed and yet, somehow, alert at the same time. ‘I am a patient man. In fact—’ one dark brow lifted ‘—I shall see you again tonight.’

  He bowed, winked at Cecily and strode away in the direction of the Serpentine, where Hector could be seen protecting a terrified Myrtle from an attack by an enraged swan.

  ‘Tonight?’ Leo growled.

  Vernon nudged his horse with his heels, moving closer before dismounting. ‘Thea? What have you done?’ />
  She cast a conspiratorial glance at Cecily before saying, brightly, ‘I invited Mr Graystoke to our party tonight. He is my friend and he saved Daniel’s life. Why would I not invite him?’

  Vernon held her elbow and spoke in a quiet voice. ‘You should have asked me.’

  Thea stuck her nose in the air. ‘Should I consult you about every decision I make, Husband? Which gown I should wear? Which street I might walk down? You failed to warn me that Mr Graystoke was even here in London—let alone that, for some reason, you now disapprove of a man you formerly liked. Therefore, as I see it, you cannot blame me for my spontaneous invitation when I met with an old friend. And Daniel arrives today—he will certainly wish to see Mr Graystoke.’

  If her own worries were not playing such havoc with her nerves, Cecily might have laughed at the look of helpless exasperation on Vernon’s face. It appeared that Thea’s outspokenness was not dimmed by being in Town for the first time. This time, not even Leo’s presence had cowed her strong spirit. How Cecily wished for some of her sister-in-law’s courage to rub off on her.

  Chapter Nineteen

  ‘Cecily.’ Thea tugged Cecily to one side as she arrived at the house in South Audley Street that evening. ‘I am sorry, but I could not stop Vernon from calling on Zachary and withdrawing my invitation.’

  A wave of desolation washed over Cecily, catching her off guard, and Thea gasped.

  ‘Are you all right? I am so sorry to tell you bad news. Really, I am so cross with Vernon, he simply would not listen to reason. Stubborn man. Daniel is furious with him.’

  Cecily quashed her own feelings and patted Thea’s shoulder. ‘Do not allow this to come between you two, Thea. Leo and Vernon are protecting me, as they see it—conforming to society’s mores is in their blood. I doubt they would behave like this towards Zach if it were not for the—the friendship he and I share. Now, let us forget all about this silly squabble and enjoy celebrating your marriage, for that is what tonight is all about.’