She waited a quarter hour before he returned and climbed back in. “I think the place we are looking for is on a side lane three miles south of town. The doctor who lives there keeps to himself, but there are reports that he has a variety of permanent guests.”
Cassandra tightened with excitement and fear. “Have you decided how you are going to do this? Perhaps you should say my brother sent you to get her.”
“I am not going to lie, of course. However, I may say that her family sent me to fetch her. Since you are her family…”
She hoped that would be good enough. She pictured the unfolding of this drama while the coach bore them forward.
The house on the side lane did not appear anything other than a good-sized cottage. There was nothing to indicate its purpose as they rolled up. The noise they caused changed that. Soon, pale faces appeared at the windows on the second level and in the attic. Eyes peered down on them. Cassandra looked from window to window, seeking Sophie. All she saw were ghostlike presences and eyes. Confused eyes. Mad eyes. Blank eyes.
“I must go in with you,” she said.
“You will not.”
“She will not believe you are here to help her. She may think you are doing Gerald’s work for him and taking her to a more remote place. We will go in together, and if this doctor tries to stop her from leaving, then I will leave and you can return with these brawny footmen.”
He thought it over. “We will try it your way. But…” He reached up and took down the pistol from its box in the carriage wall. “He may have brawny footmen too, and I’ll not risk your safety.”
The occupants of the house were waiting for their knock. The door opened immediately. A florid-faced gentleman wearing an old-fashioned periwig- and fawn-colored pantaloons and coats greeted them. A manservant, who appeared brawny enough, hovered behind him.
Ambury handed over his card. “We have come to call on Lady Sophie Vernham.”
Filmy eyes peered at the card, then at Ambury, then at her. “I was not told she would have callers.”
“And who are you, if I might ask?” Ambury said.
The fellow drew himself up tall. “Doctor Harold Wakely, physician. This is my home and my private hospital.”
“Oh, dear, has she taken ill?” Cassandra asked. “Thank goodness I decided to make this detour to see her. How like Barrowmore to try and spare me.”
Dr. Wakely did not know what to do, so he erred on the side of etiquette. Cassandra accepted his invitation to enter.
“If you will show me to her, I would greatly appreciate it,” she said.
Dr. Wakely instead showed them into the sitting room. “I fear she has become worse since she came here. Her memory absorbs her in ill ways almost all day now. That is why your brother brought her to me. She is losing all control of her mental faculties.”
“Oh, my.” She looked at Ambury. “I must see her even so.”
“She may not know you,” Dr. Wakely said.
“We will risk that,” Ambury said. “My wife was very close to her aunt and needs to offer her comfort if she can.”
“Your wife? Her aunt?” Dr. Wakely looked at Cassandra with surprise. “My apologies, Viscountess. I did not know you were family. Yes, of course you must see her. If you will follow me.”
He led the way through the house, to a door in the back that gave out to the garden. “She likes the flowers. She spends most of her time here if the weather is fair. Unlike some of our guests, she is no real trouble. Not insane, of course. Just entering her second childhood.”
Cassandra spotted her aunt sitting on a bench under a tree midway down the garden’s main path. “Thank you. I would like some privacy with her.”
Dr. Wakely stepped back. “I will be inside.”
Cassandra and Ambury advanced on Aunt Sophie. Cassandra noted how her aunt did not move, and looked at nothing really. Her mind was elsewhere, the way it tended to be sometimes now.
Misgivings churned in her. Perhaps Sophie truly had gotten worse since she came here. Was that possible in only a few days? Maybe if one was in a house full of people who were very ill mentally, one found an escape in one’s own mind.
They were very close before Sophie even heard them. She looked over, that filmy distance in her gaze that heralded old images occupied her too vividly.
“Ah, Anthony, it is you. I knew someone would come and rescue me, but never expected such a noble champion as Highburton.”
Ambury took her hand and bowed to kiss it. “I am not Anthony, but his son. We look much alike, I am told.”
Sophie blinked twice. Her eyes brightened and a shrewd smile formed. “You do indeed. You are much like him when he was younger.” She accepted Cassandra’s embrace. “How did you find me? I hope that Highburton’s son beat it out of Gerald. The scoundrel abducted me from my own home. Can you believe it?”
Yates watched as Cassandra took stock of her aunt. Right now Sophie appeared normal enough, but a few minutes ago she had indeed been lost in her thoughts. She had truly mistaken him for his father, which indicated she dwelled in those memories quite thoroughly at times.
“You will tell me all once we have you away from here,” Cassandra said. “Ambury and I are taking you home with us. Gerald will not be allowed near you, and if he tries to do this again, we will go to court to stop him.”
Sophie looked from Cassandra to Ambury, confused. Then her gaze fell on Cassandra’s hand that rested on her shoulder. She saw the ring. “You are married?” She peered at Cassandra, then Ambury. “To you?”
“Yes. Just this morning,” Ambury said. “Other than my friend Viscount Kendale, you are the first to learn of it.”
“Well, well. Gerald is not going to like that at all. Indeed, it may distract him from bothering with me.” She stood. “I have little personal property here, and we should not delay to retrieve it. I would suggest we merely walk out a garden gate, but I checked my first day here, and they are all locked. Dr. Wakely has two very big servants to help him deal with the poor souls who truly are in need of this retreat, so I hope you brought a pistol, sir.”
“I did, but I am sure I will not need it.”
“You have more faith in the common sense of others than I do, then.” Regal, aging, but still beautiful, she appeared very alert to the world around her. “Shall we go? I daresay anyone who is sane would not remain such if left here too long.”
Dr. Wakely was waiting for them right inside that back door. He appeared pleased to see Sophie so aware. “Your visit clearly has helped today, Viscountess. Are you feeling better, Lady Sophie?”
“I am in fine form, my good man. I have been all day, and yesterday, and the day before. Indeed, I told you I do not belong here many times.”
“Of course, of course,” Dr. Wakely cooed.
“I am taking Lady Sophie with us,” Ambury said. “My wife will see to any care that she may need in the future.”
That startled the doctor. “She was put in my care, sir. I am obligated to—”
“You have no obligations. The family has changed its mind regarding her care. I am sure that happens sometimes.”
Wakely frowned. He moved so that he blocked the way to the front. The big servant appeared at the end of the passageway. “I gave my word, sir.”
“You will not be breaking it of your own will.”
“The fees—”
“Are yours to keep, I think. Of course, the longer Barrowmore is not aware of this change, the more likely you are to in fact do so.”
The servant took a few steps forward. Wakely’s face turned red, and he more obviously blocked their path. “I cannot allow this. It is most irregular, and of suspect legality.”
Yates moved his coat so the pistol showed. He fixed Wakely with a hard gaze. “Do not speak legalities to me. You have been party to an abduction. Barrowmore has no authority over Lady Sophie, and you had no business accepting her confinement here against her will, without proof he had been given her custody. She chooses to leave
with us, and I will ensure that she does so. Now call off your man and move out of our way.”
Wakely held his ground for a ten count. Then his arm went up in a gesture to the servant, and he himself stepped aside.
As Yates walked Sophie and Cassandra out of the house, Sophie tilted her head close to that of her niece. “See, dear? I told you he was delicious.”
Chapter 17
Yates soon learned that Lady Sophie, in possession of all her mental faculties, was a woman to be reckoned with.
After putting ten miles between Wakely’s home and their coach, they stopped at a staging inn for a meal. Yates decided they should forge on, even if it meant arriving in London after dark. The ladies accepted that. What they did not accept was his plan regarding what to do once they reached London.
He intended to bring both of them to his family home for at least a few days while he made arrangements to let a house. Sophie would be safe there, and Cassandra would have some privacy and comfort.
“I would prefer to return to my own home,” Sophie said. “I refuse to be a burden on your parents, and would feel very awkward being their guest without their invitation.”
“They will not mind, I assure you. This is an extraordinary situation, and we still do not know what Barrowmore may contemplate doing. If you are alone in your house, we could find you missing once again.” He assumed she would see the logic of his plan.
“We can solve the Gerald problem easily enough. Leave these footmen with me, and give them orders to throw out anyone who tries to enter my home.”
“They are Kendale’s servants, not mine. They need to return to him, along with this coach.”
“Lord Kendale will not mind your keeping them for a few days, I am sure.”
“You do not even know him, so how are you sure?” His voice must have carried his growing exasperation, because Cassandra, whose hand rested under his, turned her palm and gave a little squeeze.
“I am sure because he is a gentleman, and Cassandra told me he was an officer. Having involved himself in your skirmish, he would never remove his troops if you still required them. Write to him and explain. You will see I am right.”
So it was that Yates deposited Sophie and two footmen in her house on Adams Street. Cassandra took the opportunity to pack a portmanteau before joining him as the coach moved on to his family’s home.
“Do you plan to explain about us tonight?” Cassandra said as she looked up at the dark façade. Enough lights glowed inside to indicate the household had not retired yet.
“That would be best.”
“Do I have to come with you?”
“I think I will do it alone.”
“I expect that is wise.” She accepted his escort to the door. “Of all the things I have braved out over the years, I think this odd homecoming may turn out to be the hardest.”
“You are the next Countess of Highburton, Cassandra. Every person under this roof will treat you as such.”
“Your mother—”
“Especially my mother.”
A footman did the duty at the door at this hour, but the butler soon relieved him. Yates explained that they would be staying a few days. “Put us in the third-storey apartment that overlooks the garden. Tell Mrs. Anderson to send someone up to help the lady. Send word to my chambers for Higgins to come here too.”
The butler began giving out orders. Yates took Cassandra aside. “I must go to my father now, and hope he is awake. It would not do for the servants to know first.”
“Of course. I will wait to thank you for today until I see you again.”
Her mischievous smile did much to distract him from the audience he faced. His mind began calculating that his father probably was not awake and it could all wait for the morning, or even afternoon. He set that notion aside and began mounting the stairs, wondering how bad this audience might be.
His father had been moved to his bed. His mother sat in a chair nearby reading to him. Yates regretted interrupting the peaceful scene.
His mother set down her book as he approached. “It can wait for the morning, Yates. He is almost asleep.”
“I’m awake enough,” his father muttered. He struggled to sit up. Yates went over and helped him and set two pillows behind his back.
“So what is it that brings you here at this hour?” his father asked. “I thought you had left town.”
“I just returned. There is something I must tell you, and it could not wait.”
His mother began rising, to leave them to it.
“You should stay,” Yates said. “It was fortunate to find you together.”
Watching him cautiously, his mother sat again. “Did you lose big at the tables?”
“It is not that, although all the same, I will be needing some money. I was married this morning, by special license. To Cassandra Vernham.”
His parents stared at him. No one spoke or moved. Of the two, his father appeared more shocked. Yates hoped he was only stunned and this would not badly affect his health.
The silence hung awkwardly.
“I have brought her here. My chambers were not suitable.”
“I should say not,” his mother said. “Of course you had to bring her here.”
“Of course,” his father echoed.
His mother looked over and caught his father’s eye. Some silent communication passed between them.
“Special license,” his father said. “Was it an elopement? Did her family not approve?”
“Her brother was less than happy with my offer.”
“I expect he was.” His father found that amusing for some reason. “Well, it is done, so there is no purpose in discussing the wisdom of it.” His head lulled back on the pillows. “Bring her to me tomorrow, so I can welcome her.”
He seemed to doze off then.
“Come with me,” his mother said. “He may be finished with you, but I have a bit more to say.”
Yates followed her to the apartment’s dressing room. As soon as he closed the door, she turned on him and let her shock show.
“Really, this is the kind of thing we worried you would do when you were twenty, not now. What were you thinking?”
“I am sure you have heard the talk, so that is an odd question.”
“Of course I have heard it. There has been talk about each of you for years, so the current gossip is nothing new.”
“What is new is that the talk is about the two of us together.”
“So you had an affair. It was not your first, nor hers.” She sank onto a chair and shook her head. “Cassandra Vernham. Of all the women in England, you had to get entangled with her.”
“Actually, we did not have an affair, but her name was compromised all the same. I know about the past rumors that have surrounded her, but this talk is not like that. It is specific as to evidence, and I am named. It would have ruined her. She has never married—”
“By her own choice. As to ruining her, she was well on the way already. I do not see why you have to be sacrificed for her sake.”
“I cannot allow you to speak like that about her. Please do not do so again.”
To his surprise, she began weeping. He did not think he had ever seen her cry before.
“Father understands even if you do not. I know that you are not happy. You probably had a whole list of matches for me that you would prefer.”
“Dozens. Hundreds.”
“I know her better than you do, and I think she will suit me very well. She is my wife now. I am sure that you will welcome her as Father will.”
She wiped her eyes and collected herself. “Of course. There is nothing else to do. I expect you are taking over the large apartment on the third storey?”
“Until I find a house for us.”
“I will tell him to give you the money for establishing a household. It is past time, and keeping the purse strings tight did not make any difference with you anyway.”
He bent down and gave her a kiss on her cheek. She
did not seem to mind, although it was not something he had done in years. Just as she had not patted his face the way she did while she peered intently at him with moist eyes.
“I will be kind to her, I promise.”
He took his leave of her. He went to the library and found some port. He drank it while he looked out the window to the lamps dotting the dark.
It had gone better than he expected with the earl, and worse than he had anticipated with his mother.
Thoughts of Cassandra soon pushed aside any memories of those conversations. He resisted the inclination to stride up the stairs and have her at once. Instead, he finished the port while desire taunted him. He lingered fifteen minutes more after that, so she might have time to be settled in.
Then he could wait no longer.
The maid held a large linen as Cassandra stepped out of the cool bath. Eschewing heated water had left her time to linger before washing, and she felt refreshed as she wrapped herself in the towel.
She sat at the writing table, and the woman began unpinning her hair. While her locks fell, she jotted a note to Emma. “I married Ambury this morning. I will explain everything when I see you next.”
After sealing the letter, she moved to the dressing room while her hair was brushed. Then she dismissed the woman and opened the wardrobe in which her few items of clothing had been placed. She tried to decide what to put on. The apartment had two bedchambers, and when Ambury walked the narrow connecting passage, she assumed he would be visiting for one purpose alone. Sexual pleasure would be his lone benefit in this marriage, aside from upholding his honor.
She did not expect him to stand on ceremony either. He had no need to seduce a virgin, did he? No requirement to pretend love, or even much affection. A man who does the right thing is a man coerced by society’s rules. Had she been an innocent, he might have at least tried to be gentle, but a woman of the world did not need such care.
I want you naked. To take him literally would make for a vulgar beginning. Even his mistresses probably did not greet him totally nude. She flipped through her nightdresses and dressing gowns, and chose one that would perhaps do. Dropping the towel, she slid into it.
The Conquest of Lady Cassandra Page 19