The Black Moth: A Romance of the XVIIIth Century

by Georgette Heyer

  CHAPTER IX

  LADY O'HARA INTERVENES

  Lady O'Hara found that her big, indolent husband was unusually silentnext morning at breakfast. She had not been married long enough toconsent to being practically ignored, no matter what the time of day,but she had been married quite long enough to know that before she tookany direct action against him, she must first allow him to assuage hisappetite. Accordingly she plied him with coffee and eggs, and with asatisfied and slightly motherly air, watched him attack a sirloin ofbeef. She was a pretty, birdlike little lady, with big eyes, and softbrown curls escaping from under a demure but very becoming mob cap. Shemeasured five foot nothing in her stockings, and was sometimes referredto by her large husband as the Midget. Needless to say, this flippantappellation was in no wise encouraged by the lady.

  She decided that Miles had come to the end of his repast, and, plantingtwo dimpled elbows on the table, she rested her small chin in her handsand looked across at him with something of the air of an inquisitivekitten.

  "Miles!"

  O'Hara leaned back in his chair, and at the sight of her freshprettiness his brow cleared and he smiled.

  "Well, asthore?"

  A reproachful finger was raised and a pair of red lips pouted adorably.

  "Now, Miles, confess you've been vastly disagreeable this morning. Twicehave I spoken to you and you've not troubled to answer me--nay, let mefinish! And once you growled at me like a nasty bear! Yes, sir, youdid!"

  "Did I now, Molly? 'Tis a surly brute you're after thinking me, then?Troth, and I've been sore perplexed, me dear."

  Lady O'Hara got up and sidled round to him.

  "Have you so, Miles?"

  He flung an arm about her and drew her on to his knee.

  "Sure, yes, Molly."

  "Well then, Miles, had you not better tell me what it is that troublesyou?" she coaxed, laying a persuasive hand on his shoulder.

  He smiled up at her.

  "'Tis just an inquisitive puss you are!"

  Again the pout.

  "And ye should not pout your pretty lips at me if ye are not wanting meto kiss them!" he added, suiting the action to the word.

  "But of course I do!" cried my lady, returning the kiss with fervour."Nay, Miles, tell me."

  "I see ye mean to have the whole tale out of me, so--"

  "To be sure I do!" she nodded.

  He laid a warning finger on her lips and summoned up a mighty frown.

  "Now will ye be done interrupting, me lady?"

  Not a whit abashed, she bit the finger, pushed it away, and folding herhands in her lap, cast her eyes meekly heavenwards.

  With a twinkle in his own eyes the Irishman continued:

  "Well, alanna, ye must know that yesterday evening I was at Kilroy's ona matter of business--and that reminds me, Molly, we had a hand or twoat faro and the like before I left, and I had very distressing luck--"

  On a sudden my lady's demure air vanished.

  "Is that so, Miles? I make no doubt the stakes were prodigious high?Pray, how much have you lost?"

  "Whisht, darlin', 'tis a mere thrifle, I assure you.... Well, as I wassaying, on me way home, what should happen but that we be held up by oneof these highwaymen--"

  My lady's eyes widened in horror, and two little hands clutched at hiscoat.

  "Oh, Miles!"

  His arm tightened round her waist.

  "Sure, asthore, I'm still alive to tell the tale, though 'tis not farI'll be getting with you interrupting at every moment!"

  "But, Miles, how terrible! You might have been killed! And you nevertold me! 'Twas monstrous wicked of you, darling!"

  "Faith, Molly, how should I be telling you when 'twas yourself that wasfast asleep? Now will you whisht?"

  She nodded obediently, and dimpled.

  "Well, as I say, here was this man standing in the road, pointing hispistol at me. But will ye believe me, me love, when I tell you that thatsame pistol was as empty as--my own?" Here he was shaken with laughter."Lud, Molly, 'twas the drollest thing! I had me pistol in me hand,knowing 'twas unloaded, and wondering what the devil, saving yourpresence, was to do next, when the idea struck me that I should try tobluff me fine sir. So I cried out that his pistol was unloaded, andcompletely took him by surprise! Sure he hadn't time to ask himself howthe devil I should be knowing that! He dropped it on the road. Afther--"

  "Miles, you are becoming very Irish!"

  "Never say so, alanna. _After_ that 'twas simple enough, and me lordgave in. He held out his hands for me to bind--and here's where 'tispuzzling, Molly--I saw that they were a prodigious sight too white andfine for an ordinary highwayman. So I taxed him with it--"

  "'Twas a gentleman in disguise! How splendid, Miles!"

  "Will ye hold your tongue, asthore, and not be spoiling me story on me?"

  "Oh, indeed I am sorry! I will be good!"

  "--and he started and seemed monstrous put out. What's more, me dear, Iheard him speak to his mare in an ordinary, gentleman's voice. Molly, yenever saw the like of that same mare! The sweetest--"

  "Pray, never mind the mare, dear! I am all agog to hear about thegentleman-highwayman!"

  "Very well, me love, though 'twas a prodigious fine mare--When I heardhim speak, it flashed across me brain that I knew him--no, ye don't,Molly!" His hand was over her mouth as he spoke, and her eyes dancedmadly. "But I could not for the life of me think where I had heard thatvoice: 'twas but the one word I heard him speak, ye understand, and whenI held his wrists I felt that 'twas no stranger. And yet 'tisimpossible. When I got him within the coach--"

  "How imprudent! He might have--"

  "Whisht now! When I got him within the coach I tried to worm hisidentity out of him, but 'twas to no avail. But when I told him he wouldhave to appear before me to-day, he went off into a fit of laughing,till I wondered what he was at, at all. And not another word could I getout of him after beyond 'Yes, sir,' and 'No, sir.' Still, I felt that'twas a gentleman all the same, so I--"

  He was enveloped in a rapturous embrace.

  "You dear Miles! You let him escape?"

  "Sure, alanna, is it meself that would be doing the like? And me aJustice of the Peace withal? I told them not to handcuff me lord."

  "Oh, I do so wish you had let him escape! But if 'tis really agentleman, you will?"

  "I will not then, asthore. I'll be sending him to await the Assizes."

  "You are very cruel, then."

  "But, me darlin'--"

  "And I wish to get off your knee." He drew her close.

  "I'll see what can be done for your protege, Molly. But don't beforgetting he tried to kill the only husband you have!" He watched theeffect of this with that humorous twinkle in his eye. But my lady wasnot to be put off.

  "With an empty pistol? Fie on you, Miles! And may I hide behind thescreen while you question him?"

  "Ye may not."

  "But I wish so much to see him!"

  O'Hara shook his head with an air of finality she knew full well.However easy-going and good-natured her husband might be, there weretimes when he was impervious to all blandishments. So after darklyhinting that she would be nearer than he imagined, she gave up thecontest to go and visit young Master David in his nursery.

  * * * * *

  For some time in lock-up Carstares had cudgelled his brain to think outa possible mode of escape next day, but try as he might he could lighton nothing. If only Miles were not to question him! It was hardly likelythat he would be allowed to retain his mask, yet therein lay his onlychance of preserving his incognito. He prayed that by some mercifulprovidence O'Hara would either fail to recognise him or would at leastpretend that he did not. Having decided that there was nothing furtherto be done in the matter he lay down on his extremely hard pallet, andwent to sleep as if he had not a care in the world.

  Next morning, after a long and wordy argument with the head gaoler onthe subject of masks, he was haled in triumph to the house.

&n
bsp; As the little cavalcade was about to ascend the steps that led to thefront door, my Lady O'Hara came gaily forth carrying a basket and a pairof scissors, and singing a snatch of song. At the sight of thehighwayman the song broke off and her red lips formed a long-drawn "Oh!"She stood quite still on the top step, gazing down at my lord. The twogaolers stood aside to allow her to come down, just as a greyhounddarted up the steps and flung itself against her in an exuberance ofjoy. My lady, none too securely balanced, reeled; the basket fell fromher arm, her foot missed the next step, and she tumbled headlong down.But in the flash of an eyelid Carstares had sprung forward and receivedher in his arms. He lowered her gently to the ground. "I trust you arenot hurt, madam?" he asked, and retrieved her basket, handing it to her.

  Molly took it with a smile.

  "I thank you sir, not at all; though I fear I should have injured myselfquite considerably had you not been so swift in catching me. 'Twas mostkind of you, I am sure!" She extended her small hand, and her eyesdevoured him.

  For a moment my lord hesitated, and then, sweeping off his hat, he bowedlow over the hand.

  "'Twas less than nothing, madam," he said in his own cultivated voice."I beg you will dismiss it from your mind." He straightened himself asthe gaolers came forward, and put on his hat again.

  Lady O'Hara stepped aside and watched them disappear into the house. Hercheeks were rather flushed, and her eyes suspiciously bright. Suddenlyshe nodded her head decisively, and throwing away her luckless basket,hurried across the lawn and entered the house through a long window.

  My lord was conducted to the library, where O'Hara sat awaiting him, andslouched forward with his hands thrust deep into his pockets and his hatstill on his head.

  The head gaoler eyed him gloomily, and looked pained when Carstares withstudied boorishness leaned carelessly against a fine carved table.

  "We 'ave refrained from 'andcuffin' pris'ner, sir, at your horders," hesaid, in a tone that warned O'Hara that should harm come of it, on hishead be the blame.

  Miles nodded.

  "Quite right," he said pleasantly, and glanced at the cloaked and maskedfigure before him with more suspicion than ever.

  "But I regrets to 'ave to report very hobstinate be'aviour on part ofpris'ner, sir," added the gaoler impressively.

  "Indeed?" said Miles gravely. "How so?"

  Jack controlled an insane desire to laugh, and listened to the gaoler'scomplaint.

  "You see the pris'ner, sir, with that great mask on 'is face? Afore weset out to come 'ere, I told 'im to take it hoff. And 'e refoosed, sir.Seeing as 'ow you gave no horders, I did not force 'im to hobey."

  "Ah! ... Your name, please?"

  "John Smith, sir," answered Carstares promptly and hoarsely. O'Harawrote it down with a sceptical smile on his lips that Jack did not quitelike.

  "Perhaps ye will have the goodness to unmask?"

  There was a momentary silence.

  "Why, sir, I thought ye might allow me to keep it on?"

  "Did ye now? I will not be allowing any such thing."

  "But, sir--"

  "'Tis impossible. Off with it!"

  "Sir--"

  "If ye don't take it off, I shall ask these men to assist ye," warnedMiles.

  "May I not speak with ye alone, sir?" pleaded Jack. By now O'Hara wasgreatly intrigued.

  "Ye may not. Unmask!" He was leaning half across the table, his eyesfixed on Jack's face.

  With a quaint little laugh that made O'Hara's brows contract swiftly, mylord shrugged his shoulders French fashion and obeyed. The mask and hatwere tossed lightly on to the table, and Miles found himself gazing intoa pair of blue eyes that met his half defiantly, half imploringly. Hedrew in his breath sharply and the thin ivory rule he held snappedsuddenly between his fingers. And at that crucial moment a door behindhim that had stood ajar was pushed open, and my Lady O'Hara cametripping into the room.

  The two gaolers and her husband turned at once to see who it was, whileJack, who had recognised her, but had not the least idea who she was,fell to dusting his boots with his handkerchief.

  O'Hara rose, and for once looked severe.

  "What--" he began, and stopped, for without so much as a glance at him,my lady ran towards the prisoner, crying:

  "Harry! Oh, Harry!"

  Jack gathered that he was the person addressed, and instantly made heran elaborate leg.

  The next moment she was tugging at the lapels of his coat, with her faceupturned to his.

  "Harry, you WICKED boy!" she cried, and added beneath her breath: "Myname is Molly!"

  A laugh sprang to my lord's eyes and his beautiful smile appeared.

  In a stupefied fashion O'Hara watched him steal an arm about her waist,and place a hand beneath her chin. The next instant a kiss was plantedfull on the little lady's lips, and he heard Jack Carstares' voiceexclaim:

  "Fie on you, Molly, for a spoil-sport! Here had I fooled Miles to thetop of my bent--and 'pon rep.! he scarce knows me yet!"

  My lady disengaged herself, blushing.

  "Oh, Miles, you do know Harry--my cousin Harry?"

  O'Hara collected his scattered wits and rose nobly to the occasion.

  "Of course I do, me dear, though at first he gave me such a shock, I wasnear dumbfounded. Ye are a mad, scatter-brained fellow to play such athrick upon us, devil take ye!" He laid his hands on Jack's shoulders."Pray, what did ye do it for, boy?"

  Jack's brain worked swiftly.

  "Why, Miles, never tell me you've forgot our wager! Did I not swear I'dhave you at a disadvantage--to be even with you for that night atJasper's? But what must you do but see my pistol was unloaded and makeme lose my wager! Still, 'twas worth that and a night in gaol to seeyour face when I unmasked!"

  O'Hara shook him slightly, laughing, and turned to the two amazedgaolers. The senior gaoler met his humorous glance with a cold andindignant stare, and gave a prodigious sniff.

  "Me good fellows," drawled Miles, "I'm mighty sorry ye've been worriedover me young cousin here. He's fooled us all it appears, but nowthere's nought to be done in the matter, though I've a mind to send himto await the next sessions!" He slipped a guinea into each curiouslyready palm, and replied to the head gaoler's haughty bow with a pleasantnod. In silence he watched them leave the room shaking their heads overthe incomprehensible ways of the gentry. Then he turned and lookedacross at Carstares.