'Thank you ever so much, my lady, as long as you're quite sure. I shall wear the gown and pelisse next time I walk into the village.'
Beau was shocked when she regaled him with her eventful morning. 'I hope you learned your lesson, Madeline, and will do as I bid in future.'
'I've no intention of going anywhere with that man – he's an objectionable gentleman.' She braced herself waiting for a severe talking to and the cancellation of the party, but he reached across the table and squeezed her hand affectionately.
'Sweetheart, don't look so worried. Your transgression was unintentional and I'll say no more about it.'
'Are you going to cancel the supper party?'
'No, it would be unfair to those who are looking forward to the event. However, I am tempted to stop the Carshaltons from attending.'
She was about to agree with his suggestion but said something entirely different. 'He would have prevented me from getting in the coach if I hadn't forestalled him. He was as grumpy as a bear all day because of it.'
Beau chuckled. 'In which case the blame must be placed entirely at your feet, my dear. Perhaps the only person who should be excluded is you.'
Chapter Seven
Grey led the search party and his worst fears were realised when a shallow grave was discovered in a lonely place no more than a few yards from the lane.
'This is a bad business, Smith. To murder an innocent man in order to recover the knife means we're dealing with something far more dangerous than I thought.'
'The lad has a young wife and a baby in the village. I don't understand why she didn't send a message asking where her husband had got to.'
'I've sent one of the men back to get a cart so the body can be returned to his family. I want you to go with it and take my condolences and my word that I'll look after her and her child. I'll give you a purse to take with you.'
'What do we tell her? She'll want to know how her man died.'
'Tell her the truth. He was murdered. The militia will be more motivated to help with the search after what's taken place today.'
'From now on, sir, you'd best be extra vigilant especially as we haven't discovered which of the men here is working for the bastard.'
'It has to be someone who joined my household since I arrived. I took on everyone who was employed by the previous owner, so that will make your search a little easier. Make no accusations, just bring me the list of names and I'll decide how to proceed.'
His man touched his cap and nodded. 'I'll ride with you back to Heatherfield and return with the men and the cart to collect the cadaver.'
After several days of rigorous enquiries Grey was still no nearer to the truth. None of his employees, as far as he could ascertain, had any connection to the murderous attempts. Strangely, the militia hadn't located the villain he'd shot – the two of them must have gone to ground. This meant they had more resources than he'd anticipated. There was nothing further he could do until Jenkins returned from London with any information he gleaned from those in authority at Horse Guards.
He half-expected his invitation to attend the supper party at Silchester Court to be withdrawn, but he heard nothing from the duke so must assume he was still welcome there.
His grandmother had been indisposed for the past few days but her unpleasant maid had assured him her mistress was in no need of a physician and would be well enough to attend the party that evening.
After taking particular care with his appearance, Grey descended to the drawing room still not quite sure if his ancient relative would be accompanying him.
'Grandmamma, I'm delighted to see you looking so well. Are you fully recovered?'
'I am, my dear boy, and more than ready to go out. I've heard so much about Silchester Court and cannot wait to see the splendours for myself. I hope you will forgive an old lady, but my maid is accompanying us in the carriage. I fear I cannot do without her, and especially as I've been unwell.'
The last thing he wanted was to be closeted with this woman but he smiled amiably. 'I'm sure she will remember her place and I will scarcely know she's there.'
His butler gestured to a footman and he opened the front door. The sun streamed in making Grey feel a trifle overdressed in his evening rig. The carriage was waiting and he turned to offer his arm.
'Shall we go? I've no wish to be tardy.'
The journey was accomplished in silence as his grandmother immediately dozed. They arrived in good time but had to wait their turn as there were three other vehicles in front of them. He recognised most of the guests as he'd met them at Lord Sheldon's wedding a few weeks ago.
'Grandmamma, we are here. Do you need my assistance to get out of the carriage?'
'No, I can manage, thank you. But I like to take my time, so why don't you go ahead and I'll catch up with you inside?'
He was reluctant to do this as he thought it would look rather odd of him to abandon his grandmother to the ministrations of her maid. Then she rapped him painfully on the knuckles with her fan and he got the message.
He greeted several of the milling guests by name. Once inside they were directed through the grand hall to the drawing room where the duke and his family waited to greet their guests.
His eyes were drawn to Madeline standing between one of her twin brothers and her younger sister. She looked ravisante.
*
'Lord Carshalton is looking at you in a most particular way, Madeline,' Giselle said softly. 'Do you have an understanding already?'
'That's fustian, sister; we hold each other in dislike as well you know. I expect he's admiring my new gown and wondering if it's the one he had made for me.'
Her sister snorted inelegantly. 'Of course he isn't. He might be a military man, but I'm quite sure he knows the difference between a promenade and an evening gown. Which reminds me, you've yet to show me this new gown. Is it truly hideous?'
Madeline couldn't answer as the new arrivals had reached her. She carefully avoided looking in his direction and feigned surprise when he eventually stood in front of her.
'Good evening, my lord, thank you for attending our informal gathering tonight.' She curtsied briefly and only then looked up to meet his eyes.
His eyes were glinting with amusement but his face was straight. He bowed. 'And thank you for inviting us. Lady Carshalton insisted that I come ahead of her but she's somewhere in my wake and is equally delighted to be here.'
There was no time for further interaction as the next guests were waiting to be received. After an interminable time she was released from her duties as everyone had now arrived.
'I'm so looking forward to this evening, Madeline, it's going to be such fun. It was an inspired decision of yours to have a musicale first and then dancing after supper. I do hope the gentlemen dance and don't disappear into the billiard room or go to play cards.' Giselle was bubbling with excitement.
'I am opening the proceedings on the pianoforte so had better go to the music room immediately.'
Although she tried not to, she couldn't help but gaze around looking for the gentleman who had made such an impression on her. He was taller than most, but so were her brothers, and it was hard to distinguish them from one another as they were dressed identically in black evening clothes.
Perry and Aubrey, the twins, were easily identified from the front as one was wearing a purple and green silk waistcoat and the other a red and gold. Beau, as always, was restrained in his attire with grey silk and a single diamond pin holding his cravat secure.
Lord Carshalton had been wearing a pale gold waistcoat and no jewellery of any sort. All of them had adopted the recent fashion of pantaloons and evening slippers instead of white silk stockings and knee breeches.
There were more than fifty guests attending this function which made the house pleasantly full. Her sister had run across to join her bosom bow, Miss Lucinda Bagshot, and the two girls were giggling and taking stock of the single gentlemen who were there.
Her gaze followed Carshalton a
nd she was pleased to see he was heading for the music room. She made her way in the same direction and took her place at the piano at the far end of the room. The chairs from the ballroom had been arranged in rows for the expected audience.
She had already placed her music on the stand so had no need to search for it before she sat down. She was busy setting it out when he spoke from beside her.
'Allow me to turn the pages for you, Lady Madeline.' She was about to refuse but he leaned closer and whispered in her ear. 'I'm not going to perform myself so by helping you I'll seem to have participated in this event. I don't want to be seen as a curmudgeon.' His wicked smile when he said this reminded her he was a dangerous man in more ways than one. 'I'm hoping you will partner me in a game of cards when you have done here.'
'Very well, I should be delighted to have your assistance. My sister and her friend are going to sing after I've played so I'll be remaining here for that as well.'
He nodded amiably and took his position beside her. 'As long as you can escape immediately afterwards – I'll wait for you by the door.'
The noise in front of her slowly abated and she launched into a spirited rendering of the latest sonata by Pleyel. For a man averse to playing he appeared to be able to follow the music well enough. As the last notes died away the audience clapped loudly.
Lucinda and Giselle glided gracefully to the space in front of the piano. They were singing two lively Irish airs for which she had no need of music. The girls had pretty voices and soon everyone was joining in the choruses.
All three of them curtsied and then made way for the next musician. To her astonishment the twins came forward. 'Don't look so shocked, sister, we've been practising a jolly song and intend to sing it without accompaniment.'
She dreaded to think what unsuitable ditty they were going to perform – it was bound to be extremely vulgar and shock the elderly tabbies to the core. She looked around desperately for her brother. He could put a stop to it but Beau was nowhere to be seen.
'If you intend to do something disgraceful, I'll never forgive you. I shall ask our brother to cut off your allowance this quarter,' she hissed.
They looked somewhat taken aback but quickly rallied. 'We thought the evening could do with something more lively,' Aubrey said.
'Lively is perfectly acceptable – vulgar is not.' She slipped through the chairs, determined to be as far away as possible from the music room before they started to sing.
In her hurry to escape she forgot a certain gentleman had said he would be waiting for her. He was forced to run after her.
'Is something wrong? Tell me, how can I help?'
'We must hide in the library as there's going to be the most frightful fuss any minute now and I've no desire to be involved in it. My brother can be the one to smooth the ruffled feathers for a change.'
She skidded to a halt, but as she reached out to turn the knob he did the same and their hands collided. The touch was fleeting but they had both been aware of the contact. Somewhat flustered she tried to snatch her hand away but his closed over hers and he turned the knob.
'In you go, we can't dither about out here.' She was bundled unceremoniously into the library, but as he was about to close the door she prevented him.
'It must remain open, it would be unconscionable for us to be closeted alone together.'
He released his hold on the door. 'You don't wish me to compromise you? I thought that was the sole purpose of bringing me here.'
His expression was unreadable and her heart dropped to her slippers. What had she been thinking to invite him to accompany her? 'I beg your pardon…'
'I'm funning, my dear, don't look so horrified.'
'That's all very well, sir, but we shouldn't be in here together.' She was about to step around him when there were shrieks of protest and the noise of chairs being thrown aside. 'It's as I feared, my brothers have deliberately outraged my guests. I do hope they don't all decide to leave – we shall never live this down.'
'Your brother is the Duke of Silchester, this is his family seat, there's nothing any of you can do that would cause you to be disapproved of. However, it might be wise to linger here until the dust settles.'
Madeline moved closer to the doorway. 'The musical performances were supposed to continue for an hour. Now my careful planning is in disarray and people will be at a loss to know what they're supposed to be doing next.'
'Ladies will retire to the drawing room and twitter about such disgraceful behaviour and gentlemen will breathe a collective sigh of relief that they have been released so soon from such torture. They will then head for the billiard room or sit down for a hand of cards.' He spoke from the far side of the room and appeared more interested in the journal he'd picked up than continuing the conversation.
*
Grey had spoken in jest about the danger of them being compromised, but there was a grain of truth behind his words. Sufficient to keep him a respectable distance from her and make him feign disinterest. What he really wanted to do was take her into his arms and kiss her breathless.
The last thing he needed was a dalliance, however innocent, with the duke's sister. Silchester was a formidable man and wouldn't hesitate to ruin him if he harmed any of his family. His notion to make himself agreeable in order to get her to improve her opinion of him must be abandoned.
His knowledge of well-bred young ladies was negligible. His occasional liaisons had been with experienced women, he'd always avoided any contact with innocents even before he was eligible. If being close to Madeline made his pulse race then it could be doing the same to her. As he had no intention of falling into parson's mousetrap, even with such a delectable girl, it would be ungallant of him to give her an erroneous opinion of his intentions.
'I shall return to the party; if I don't come back then you'll know it's safe to emerge as all the fuss has died down.' He put down the magazine and was amused to see he'd been holding a copy of La Belle Assemblée.
'That's kind of you, sir, but I think it best if I go out first and you remain here. Do you still wish me to partner you at a card table?'
'I doubt there will be any seats available as the occupants of the music room will have taken them in our absence.' He should have left it there. She didn't seem particularly upset by his comment but something prompted him to continue. 'If we cannot be partners at a card table then will you partner me on the dance floor later?'
'Certainly, my lord, but I cannot promise as I must dance with whoever asks me first.' Her smile was no more than civil and she vanished through the door leaving him puzzled by the encounter. Why had she all but refused him? Had he misread the signals?
He should be relieved she wasn't interested in him, that she didn't view him as a prospective husband, but her casual dismissal had made him think more deeply about the possibilities.
For a few moments he was lost in romantical thoughts and then sanity returned. Good God! The last thing he wanted was a wife who could well be made a widow if he couldn't find who was behind these assassination attempts. Time enough for setting up his nursery when matters were settled.
He strolled along the spacious passageways and moved smoothly into the drawing room where there were several groups in animated discussion, presumably about the disgraceful behaviour of the Sheldon brothers.
Lady Giselle saw him and beckoned him over. 'As the musical part of the evening has been abandoned we have decided to set up a game of charades. Will you join us?' His look of total horror made her giggle. 'Please, it won't be as bad as you fear.'
'You mustn't pester his lordship, sister, being an older gentleman he will prefer to find himself a quiet spot where he can snooze until supper.' Madeline spoke from behind him and he was trapped. If he refused it was tantamount to admitting he was too staid to participate in silly games. If he agreed then he would be committed to an excruciatingly embarrassing hour – he would prefer to have his teeth pulled than participate in any sort of playacting.
He
turned and was phrasing his friendly refusal but for some reason he said something else entirely. 'I should be delighted to join in, there's nothing I like more than indulging in pursuits best left to children.' He scowled down at her but she saw through this pretence. Her smile made him glad he'd agreed.
'It will be far more fun than playing billiards or a game of whist.'
'You will regret inviting me, my dear, as theatricals are something I abhor. However, I can never resist a challenge.'
He offered his arm and she placed her hand on it – he was ridiculously pleased that she did so. He escorted her to the music room where busy servants had already cleared away the chairs leaving the space free for the group of a dozen ladies and gentlemen all apparently eager to begin this nightmare occupation.
Chapter Eight
Lord Carshalton had been quite right to say play-playacting was not his forte – but as the game progressed his contributions became less stilted and he even looked as if he might be enjoying himself.
'It's time for supper, everyone, so I'm afraid you will have to abandon this pastime. Thank you for agreeing to play, it has been a pleasurable hour,' Madeline said.
Her brother, Aubrey, strolled over to join her. 'That was much more fun than listening to indifferent playing and less than tuneful singing. Have you forgiven us for ruining your musicale?'
'I have, but I doubt that our brother will have forgotten it. You will get a bear-garden jaw tomorrow morning, that's for sure. I can't imagine why you and Perry thought it appropriate to sing that particular song tonight.'
He laughed and threw his arm around her shoulders affectionately. 'You know us, sister, we like to cut up a lark.' His expression changed and became more serious. 'There's something we need to tell the family, but we've decided to wait until Bennett and Grace are back from their wedding trip.'
Aubrey waved to his brother, removed his arm and sauntered over to join his twin. Although they were three years her senior they still had a deal of growing up to do. Perhaps young ladies of almost twenty years were by nature more sensible.
The Duke's Alliance Book Two: A Dangerous Husband Page 6