The Wicked Cousin

by Stella Riley

  During the course of this speech, Mr Penhaligon’s face gradually turned nearly as crimson as his dressing-robe but, striving to ignore Jake, he said chokingly, ‘I don’t understand what’s happening, Mistress Delahaye – but you can’t be here!’

  ‘And I wish I wasn’t. But I am, aren’t I?’ For some reason she hadn’t quite worked out yet, Cassie was suddenly neither frightened nor furious. Instead, Mr Penhaligon’s appalled expression wrapped a mantle of calm about her. ‘Jake says you’ll take me home.’

  ‘What? No! You!’ he snapped, as Jake started ambling back to his carriage. ‘Take the lady to Conduit Street at once.’

  ‘Can’t.’ Jake shook his head and continued walking. ‘Her ladyship said they’ll be on the look-out and I’ll be arrested. She said to bring Miss here to you – so I have.’

  ‘But you can’t leave her here!’

  ‘Don’t see why not.’ He heaved himself up on to the box and gathered the reins. ‘It’s only a step to Conduit Street, ain’t it? And anyway, I got a note to deliver afore I’m done for the night.’ And he set his horse in motion.

  ‘No – stop, damn you!’

  ‘He won’t,’ Cassie informed him. ‘He isn’t very intelligent and he thinks he’s done the right thing. Meanwhile, I’d stop shouting, if I were you. If you wake the neighbours and they look out to see me standing on your doorstep --’

  ‘Yes. All right. I take the point.’ Richard swung back into the narrow hallway, muttering, ‘This is a bloody nightmare! What the devil are you doing here?’

  ‘That,’ said Cassie, following him and deliberately leaving the front door ajar behind her, ‘is a very good question – and the second time I’ve asked it this evening. But what surprises me most right now is that you don’t seem to have been expecting me.’

  ‘Expecting you?’ He wheeled round to face her. ‘Of course I wasn’t expecting you. What on earth made you think that? Oh – never mind. Give me a few minutes to dress and I’ll escort you home.’

  She waited until they were inside the parlour and then said, ‘Miranda Silvarez had me abducted this evening.’

  Richard stopped dead and then turned very slowly to face her.

  ‘What?’

  ‘You heard. She had me drugged and taken to a brothel so she could interrogate me about Sebastian Audley. Then instead of sending me home, she arranged to have me deposited here with you.’ Cassie sat down, folded her hands in her lap and eyed him meditatively. ‘It appears you knew none of this. But --’

  ‘Of course I didn’t! What do you take me for?’

  ‘But your name and address can’t have been a random choice … so I’m wondering how well you and Miranda know each other,’ she finished as if he hadn’t spoken. ‘You, I imagine, are wondering why she’s implicating you in my abduction … and leaving you to answer a lot of very angry questions from men like my father.’

  Mr Penhaligon raked a hand through his hair and looked back at her a little wildly. He said, ‘As you’ve just observed yourself, I had nothing to do with any of it. If it becomes necessary, you’ll say as much, won’t you?’

  Cassie took her time about answering while she considered the possibilities.

  ‘Eventually, I expect.’

  ‘Eventually?’ He nearly yelled the word and then, recalling that the rooms above his own belonged to the busiest tongue in London, abruptly lowered his voice. ‘What the hell does that mean?’

  ‘Well … after such a horrible experience, I’ll probably be too upset and confused to think coherently.’

  Richard stared her, wondering if Cassie Delahaye’s body had been taken over by a complete stranger. He said grimly, ‘I never saw anyone less upset and confused in my life.’

  ‘No. Not now,’ she agreed. ‘You’re not going to hurt me or take ungentlemanly advantage. And in a little while you’re going to take me home – after which it will probably be best to pretend I was never here. But first I want answers. I believe I’ve already asked the questions.’

  He continued to stare, still unable to equate this girl with the one he’d thought he knew. But finally, he drew a ragged breath and said, ‘All right. I know Lady Silvarez better than I want to. She’s involving me in this because I told her she’d have to stop persecuting Audley and would get no further help from me. But I’d no more idea about tonight than I had about that business in Drury Lane – though as soon as it happened, I knew it was her handiwork.’ He paused, his mouth twisting wryly. ‘I don’t pretend to be the perfect gentleman … but I do have a few principles. And now, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d like to put some clothes on and get you away from here before --’

  ‘Richard? Rich, dear boy … if you’re holding a party, why were Dudley and I not invited? It ith motht unthivil.’

  ‘Oh Lord’ groaned Richard, pushing open the door behind him. ‘Ansford! Cassie – in there! Now!’

  Cassie didn’t need to be told. Viscount Ansford’s whole raison d’être was the collection and dissemination of gossip. She shot towards the bedchamber door while Mr Penhaligon flew in the opposite direction to trap his unwanted visitors in the hall. Unfortunately, both of them were too late.

  ‘Pengalion!’ slurred Mr Dudley, lurching into the parlour two steps ahead of the decorative viscount. ‘Good to shee you. Got any port?’ Then, peering at Cassie and attempting an unsteady bow, ‘Ah. Apol-pologies, ma’am. Didn’t know Pengolagin had company.’

  Richard swore under his breath. Dudley was blind drunk. Ansford, unfortunately, wasn’t; and he was advancing on Cassie with a sly smile as he took in her tumbled hair and crumpled gown.

  ‘Why Mithtreth Delahaye! Whatever can you be doing here tho late at night? Or perhapth,’ he finished coyly, ‘I shouldn’t athk?’

  ‘No,’ said Cassie flatly. ‘You shouldn’t. I’ve had a very trying evening and am indebted to Mr Penhaligon for his help. But it’s no concern of yours, sir – and you’d be wise not to make it so.’

  ‘Dear me! Ath if I would dream of thuch a thing!’

  ‘Quite,’ said Richard dryly. ‘So perhaps you’ll excuse us? I was just about to escort Mistress Delahaye home.’

  ‘Like that?’ asked Viscount Ansford, indicating Richard’s state of undress with a wave of one lily-white hand. ‘My dear fellow – you are in complete déthabillé! Your valet will thimply die of shame!’ He glanced about. ‘Where ith he, by the way?’

  Mr Dudley, still apparently hunting for the port, spared Richard the need to admit that his man was away visiting his sick sister by choosing this moment to trip over a footstool, fall flat in the middle of the room and remain there, apparently unconscious.

  ‘Oh – for God’s sake,’ said Richard disgustedly. ‘He can’t stay there. You brought him here, Ansford – so take him up to your own rooms.’

  ‘How? I can hardly carry him, can I? It will ruin my coat.’

  ‘Oh well done, Lord Ansford!’ Cassie stepped over Dudley’s recumbent form to reach the jug on the table. ‘A whole sentence without a single lisp.’

  Beneath the cosmetics, his lordship’s face turned puce. ‘Madam – I protetht!’

  ‘Oh dear. That was abominably rude, wasn’t it? I fear I’m becoming a trifle hysterical,’ she replied. And emptied the jug of water over Dudley’s head.

  He twitched, choked and spat. ‘Wha -- ?’

  ‘There, sir. Get him on his feet while you have the chance. Mr Penhaligon will help, I’m sure.’ She turned a severe gaze on Richard who had put his head in his hands and given way to weak laughter. ‘Or perhaps not. It seems that he is a trifle hysterical as well.’

  ‘What,’ snapped a new and extremely cold voice, ‘is going on here? Richard! An explanation, if you please.’

  Mr Penhaligon’s laughter stopped as if cut by a knife. His hands fell to his sides and, every vestige of expression draining from his face, he said, ‘Good evening, Clarence. Perfect timing, as always. But dare I ask what brings you here at this time of night?’

  ‘That,’ snapp
ed Lord Keswick, slapping a piece of paper down upon the table. ‘A note informing me that you were entertaining a virtuous young lady alone in your rooms. A note, I might add, that I had fully expected to be a lie.’

  ‘A note,’ echoed Richard with a fleeting glance at Cassie. ‘Of course. But as you can doubtless see … we are not alone. Unfortunately.’

  ‘I shall remove mythelf directly,’ volunteered Lord Ansford. ‘Indeed, Lord Kethick, I would have done tho immediately I realithed that we were de trop had not Mr Dudley been overcome by – by --’

  ‘Don’t trouble searching your vocabulary, sir. It is perfectly plain what ails Mr Dudley. But I believe we may dispense with both his presence and your own. Now, if you would be so good. And you, Richard, can do Mistress Delahaye and myself the courtesy of retiring to your chamber to make yourself presentable. I will wait.’

  ‘Oh good,’ muttered Mr Penhaligon, stooping to help Viscount Ansford haul Mr Dudley upright. And under his breath to Cassie, ‘I’m going to murder Miranda.’

  ‘There’s likely to be a queue,’ she replied, watching the viscount struggle to keep his burden upright as far as the door. ‘And my father will be at the head of it. Or perhaps --’

  The door burst open, slamming into Lord Ansford’s back and causing him to drop Mr Dudley again. And just on the other side of it, with the Earl of Sarre at his shoulder and looking exceedingly dangerous, was Mr Audley.

  ‘Sebastian!’ Cassie’s voice broke on his name but her smile was utterly radiant.

  Sebastian wasn’t sure he dared trust his voice at all so he merely bore down on the light of his life, neither aware nor indeed caring, that he trod on Mr Dudley’s fingers and had to shove Viscount Ansford into a corner to do it. Then his arms were tight about Cassie and he was breathing in the familiar scent of her hair and finally he managed to say, ‘Cassandra, love … are you all right? Has anyone hurt you?’

  She shook her head. ‘No. I’m fine. Better than fine, now you’re here.’

  ‘Are you sure? God! I’ve never been so frightened in my life. What did that bitch do to you?’ Over the top of her head, his eyes found Mr Penhaligon. ‘And him. Has he laid a hand on you? If he has, I swear I’ll carve him into little pieces.’

  ‘He hasn’t.’ She could feel the hard, too-fast thud of Sebastian’s heart and see the wild pulse beating in his throat. ‘None of this is his fault.’

  ‘He would say that,’ growled Sebastian. And then, as if finally noticing, ‘The blackguard’s half naked!’

  ‘Mind your language, sir,’ snapped Keswick. ‘And unhand that lady.’

  ‘No,’ said Sebastian, holding Cassie even closer. ‘And who the hell are you anyway?’

  ‘Allow me to introduce my brother, the Earl of Keswick,’ offered Mr Penhaligon weakly. ‘Clarence … Mr Sebastian Audley.’

  Neither man acknowledged the introduction. Deciding it was time to take matters in hand, Lord Sarre said, ‘Sebastian … I’m going to get rid of the two idiots you most assuredly don’t need. And then --’

  ‘You are inthulting, my lord,’ interrupted Ansford. ‘I do not care for your tone.’

  ‘I don’t give a damn whether you do or not.’ Adrian heaved Mr Dudley upright again and draped him over the viscount. ‘Now take him away – before I kick the pair of you down the steps.’ He turned back to Sebastian. ‘I’m going to tell Cassie’s parents that we have her safe. Please try not to hit anyone before Charles and I get back. Or if you must, at least make sure there’s a good reason for it.’

  Then he was gone.

  Continuing to behave as if Keswick didn’t exist, Sebastian glared at Mr Penhaligon over Cassie’s head and said, ‘She said you planned it together. The abduction – this – all of it.’

  ‘She lied,’ replied Richard wearily. ‘I knew nothing of any of it until Cas-- Mistress Delahaye was deposited here a little while ago. Barring interruptions, I’d have dressed and escorted her home. But I can’t prove it, so you’ll have to think what you like.’

  ‘It’s true, Sebastian.’ Cassie tilted her head until she could look up at him. ‘If he and Miranda had planned it together, Mr Penhaligon would have been expecting me – fully-clothed, I imagine. As it is, he was completely shocked and did his best to make Jake drive me home. Only Jake wouldn’t because he thought he’d be arrested … and also of course, he had to deliver Miranda’s note to Lord Keswick so that his lordship would arrive here in time to find me with his brother. I imagine Miranda’s plan was that he’d have to marry me.’

  Sebastian’s jaw set hard. ‘Over my dead body.’

  ‘Will one of you please explain?’ demanded Lord Keswick, tired of being ignored. ‘What is this talk of abduction? Who are Jake and Miranda? And why should anyone suppose that my brother was involved in some plot? I’m beginning to feel that I’ve strayed into a theatrical production.’

  ‘You have. Miranda Silvarez’s Marionette Extravaganza,’ said Sebastian. ‘Sir, the details don’t matter. Suffice it to say that Cassandra was abducted, then brought here to either implicate your brother in the abduction or to force him to do the honourable thing because she appeared compromised.’

  Lord Keswick stared at his brother. ‘Is this true?’

  ‘Yes. Why else do you think you received a note? You’ve made no secret of the fact that you want me to marry. And if we’re to be honest, had Audley not been here you’d already be marching me round to Conduit Street. As it is, even you must be able to see that I’m superfluous to requirements. And now, if no one minds, I’m going to dress.’

  Deciding, with some reluctance, that it was safe to let Sebastian go, Cassie stood on tiptoe to place a kiss on his jaw and then gently disengaged herself. She said, ‘How did you find me?’

  ‘With difficulty and a lot of running.’ Still needing the contact, he laced his fingers through hers. ‘Are you sure Miranda didn’t hurt you?’

  ‘Perfectly. In fact, it was the other way about. I smashed a ewer on her head.’

  He gave a crack of startled laughter. ‘Cassandra the Valkyrie?’

  ‘Something like that.’ She fell silent, suddenly realising how tired she was. ‘I suppose she told you I was here?’

  ‘Eventually, after I’d sliced off some of her hair.’ Sebastian turned his head. ‘Good. Sir Charles is here – hopefully with a carriage. You look exhausted, love.’

  ‘You’re the one who’s been doing all the running,’ she objected, then left Sebastian’s side as her father strode in, white with strain.

  ‘Cassie.’ Charles caught her in a hard hug. ‘Thank God. Are you all right?’

  ‘Yes, Papa. I’m safe. I wasn’t hurt. And I’m so sorry you’ve been worried.’

  ‘Worried?’ Charles’s embrace tightened. ‘My dear child, you have no idea!’ Over the top of her head, his eyes met Sebastian’s and he said, ‘Thank you. Words can’t express my gratitude … but right now I’m taking my girl home.’

  ‘Just one moment,’ said Lord Keswick. ‘How do you intend to resolve the matter of your daughter being found in my brother’s lodgings? Thanks to Ansford and Dudley, it can’t be kept quiet.’

  ‘Yes it can,’ remarked Lord Sarre from the doorway. ‘If Penhaligon and I get Dudley back to his rooms, he won’t even remember being here; and you may safely leave Ansford to me. As to you, Lord Keswick … I presume we may count on your discretion?’

  ‘Certainly,’ snapped the earl stiffly. ‘Though I still don’t see --’

  ‘I told Mr Penhaligon that it would be best if I was never here,’ said Cassie. ‘He’s as much a victim in this as I am – and the truth won’t help anyone, will it?’ She stifled a yawn. ‘So if we’re all agreed on that, can I please go home?’

  ‘Immediately,’ agreed Sir Charles. ‘Sebastian … you’d better come too. We need to decide what to do about that blasted madwoman.’

  * * *

  Once home in Conduit Street, Cassie was whisked away by her mother for hot milk and other much-needed comforts while Sir
Charles ordered food and wine to be brought to the drawing-room for Mr Audley.

  ‘Now,’ he said when they were finally alone. ‘Tell me everything.’

  So between mouthfuls of ham, Sebastian did. And at the end said, ‘We left Miranda tied to a chair in the brothel and asked the Mrs Grendel to keep her there till morning. The question you and I need to address is whether or not we want her answering questions in Bow Street. Personally, I’d be happy to see her thrown in a dungeon. But a charge of abduction is going to make the whole thing public and drag Cassandra’s name into court.’

  Sir Charles nodded. ‘The alternative, however, is to take the law into our own hands – because I’m damned if I’m going to let her get away with this or leave her free to try anything else.’

  ‘That can’t happen. We need a permanent solution.’ Sebastian shoved back a lock of hair and said wearily, ‘I don’t know where this fixation with me has come from or how to put an end to it. But targeting me is one thing. Hurting Cassandra is quite another.’ He paused, trying to think. ‘Do you recall the threat I made to Richard Penhaligon at Angelo’s?’

  ‘Social ruin through the scandal sheets?’

  ‘Yes. Leaving Penhaligon out of it, I could focus on Miranda’s dubious background and morals, her determination to foist herself on polite society and her plot involving the baby. What do you think?’

  ‘It might serve.’

  ‘It doesn’t seem enough though, does it? Damn. I’d like her dragged kicking and screaming to Bow Street and frightened out of her wits at the prospect of prison … but it can’t happen, can it? I’m going to have to go back to Half Moon Street now and tell the officers to go home.’

  ‘No. You’ve done enough for one night and there’s a way to make use of Bow Street. I’ll ask Sir John to detain and question her – but discreetly since, at the end of the day, I won’t be pressing charges.’ Charles smiled faintly. ‘We’re old friends so I can rely on John to put the fear of God into her. And that leaves you free to set the gossip mill turning. Indeed, you might even hint that she’s of interest to the authorities.’