A Desirable Husband

by Mary Nichols

  ‘Oh.’ Was he referring to that kiss? ‘No need. You probably saved me from a worse fate.’

  Someone’s elbow pushed him in the back and he found himself almost on top of her. ‘I beg your pardon, my lady. This is a little too much of a squeeze, but I need to talk to you.’

  ‘You are talking to me.’

  ‘Not the way I want to.’

  ‘Esme!’ Rosemary had finished her conversation with Lady Bryson and come looking for her, only to find her almost in the arms of the man who had been banned from speaking to her. ‘Lord Pendlebury, you must excuse us. It is time to go, Esme. Come along.’ And just to make sure she obeyed, grabbed her arm and almost dragged her away.

  ‘Rosie, you are hurting me and everyone is looking.’

  Rosemary let her go. ‘Why do you encourage him, Esme?’ The words were a whispered hiss. ‘You know how I feel about him.’

  ‘I know you have an illogical antipathy towards him and it isn’t his fault. Would you have me cut him? How would that have looked to the rest of the company?’ A footman opened the front door for them and they made their way onto the street where the Trent carriage waited to take them home.

  ‘There is a way of making clear a man’s attentions are not welcome without cutting him. Did the book I gave you not explain that?’

  ‘Yes, but you see, I do not find his attentions unwelcome. I only wish I was the only one…’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘I mean I wish he had eyes only for me. I believe I am in love with him.’

  ‘Love!’ Rosemary’s voice was scathing. ‘You have had your head turned, that is all.’

  ‘How can you be so sure? Were you not in love with Rowan when he proposed to you?’

  ‘That is beside the point. Rowan was eminently suitable.’

  ‘Suitable! I hate that word. It is so stuffy. And cold. Anyway, why is Lord Pendlebury unsuitable?’

  ‘He associates with some very strange people, dangerous people, foreigners like that Frenchwoman. Rowan says they mean mischief. He has it on good authority that they are coming from the Continent on purpose to cause trouble. It is the Chartists all over again, just when we thought they had been subdued.’

  ‘I do not believe Lord Pendlebury would have anything to do with them.’

  ‘No, you don’t want to believe anything against him, that’s your trouble. Do not be deceived by honeyed words and good looks, Esme. A handsome face can hide a black heart.’

  ‘Oh, I am sure his heart is not black….’

  ‘Rowan does know what he is talking about, I promise you. Lord Pendlebury is out to make trouble. And I do not want you to breathe a word of what I have said to anyone, do you hear, least of all Lord Pendlebury himself. It could be dangerous if he knows he is being suspected.’

  Esme did not know what to think. Surely Rowan would not lie? And she knew with certainty that Rosemary never would. Her sister believed every word she said. Did that mean it was true? Her confusion turned to worry. ‘Why didn’t you tell me this before now?’

  ‘I hoped I wouldn’t have to. When Lord Pendlebury left town, we hoped that was the end of it, but now he is back and you must be protected or you will find yourself tarred with the same brush. Not only will you not find a husband, whether you fancy yourself in love or not, you will be a social outcast.’

  It was too much to take in. Esme sank back against the upholstered seat of the carriage and felt as though her heart were breaking. Was she such a bad judge of character that a villain could pull the wool over her eyes and make her love him? Could she ever trust her own judgement again?

  ‘Oh, do cheer up,’ Rosemary told her, seeing the tears rolling down her cheeks. ‘Felix Pendlebury is not the only fish in the sea. And you have your ball to look forward to.’

  ‘I don’t want a ball.’

  ‘Yes, you do. I have decided to hold it on the sixteenth of July, the last one of the season.’

  Esme, scrabbling in her pocket for her handkerchief, gave a bitter laugh. ‘The last throw of the dice, is that it? If you cannot foist me off on someone by then, you will have to send me home an old maid.’

  ‘Don’t be silly, Esme. You are only twenty, how can it be the last throw of the dice? And I do not care for the gambling allusion. It is not a gamble.’

  ‘Oh, but it is,’ Esme said, blowing her nose. ‘The whole of life is a gamble, certainly choosing a husband is, and I am not very good at it.’

  ‘Oh, I am swiftly losing all patience with you. The ball will be the high point of the season, the best one yet for music and decorations and food and drink. Everyone will be there. Rowan has said I need spare no expense.’

  ‘Then I am truly grateful to him,’ she said dully. ‘I will do my best not to let you down.’

  Impulsively Rosemary leaned over and kissed her sister’s cheek. ‘I knew you would see reason.’

  Esme rubbed her cheek thoughtfully. She had never known Rosie to do that before and perhaps Myles had been right when he told her to be guided by her sister. But, oh, how her heart ached.

  Chapter Six

  Esme came home from a walk to the library with Miss Bannister two days later to find her sister entertaining Viscount Gorridge. He was sitting in the drawing room, his top hat on the floor beside him, drinking tea.

  He rose when she entered. ‘Lady Esme, how do you do?’

  ‘Very well, my lord.’ She was wary of him. He was dressed in a black suit and wore a black cravat wound twice about his neck and tied in a small knot. His dark hair was sleeked down on either side of a central parting. He had small dark eyes and they seemed to be scanning her in a way which made her feel as if her blue gingham gown and her two petticoats were transparent. ‘May I offer my condolences on your bereavement.’

  ‘Thank you. It was a great loss. I had been planning to come home from France in any case to help with the estate and was looking forward to working beside my father, but it was not to be.’ He gave a sigh verging on the melodramatic. ‘But there, we must accept the setbacks the Lord sends us, must we not?’

  ‘His lordship is staying in London and called to pay his respects,’ Rosemary added.

  Esme wondered why he should take the trouble. Although Papa had remained friends with the late Viscount, she always understood Edward’s name was not to be mentioned, certainly not in Lucy’s hearing. Esme herself had been too young to be privy to what had happened, but it must have been very dreadful for his father to send him abroad. Had he taken liberties with her sister, liberties like forcibly kissing her? Felix had done that, but she would not have dreamed of telling anyone. Perhaps the difference was that Lucy had not loved Edward in the way she loved Felix. She stopped her errant thoughts. After what Rosie had told her, Felix was not to be thought of.

  ‘I would not have left my mother at such a time,’ he added, as if he had guessed the question that was on her tongue to ask. ‘But I had business with the family lawyers and Mama wanted me to come while she has Lady Pendlebury to keep her company. I have opened up my house in Upper Brook Street and expect to do a little simple entertaining….’

  ‘Entertaining, my lord?’ she queried.

  ‘Nothing elaborate, it would not be appropriate, but I have been out of the country so long, I am sadly behindhand with what is going on and who is in town. And so I thought of Lady Trent.’ He smiled at Rosemary and then at Esme. ‘And hearing that you, Lady Esme, were staying with your sister, I hoped I could prevail upon you both, and Lord Trent, of course, to attend a little evening gathering at Gorridge House three days from now.’

  ‘I think we can manage that,’ Rosemary said.

  ‘I would be grateful if you would also advise me whom else to invite. Who is in town, that I should know? I wish it to be known that I have returned to the fold a better and wiser man than the one who left these shores over six years ago. You do understand, my dear Lady Trent?’

  ‘Perfectly. May I suggest, Lady Aviemore, Lady Bryson, Lady Mountjoy, all of whom have
sons and daughters and who have great influence on the social scene. Of the young men, you could ask Toby Salford, Captain Merton, Bertie Wincombe, James Bryson.’

  ‘And young ladies? Besides Lady Esme, I mean.’

  Esme listened in astonishment as her sister reeled off several names. It was evident Rosemary meant to be as cooperative as she could and it made Esme wonder what her father and Lucy might say to that.

  She tackled her sister as soon as he had taken his leave. ‘Rosie, what was all that about? You know Papa will not have Edward Gorridge’s name mentioned.’

  ‘Papa has changed his mind. Lord Gorridge told me he had spoken to Papa after his father’s funeral and they are friends again. He assured me that the business with Lucy was all a mistake on her part, but he holds no grudges and agreed to live abroad to save her embarrassment.’

  ‘Do you believe that?’

  ‘I think so. At any rate I am prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. I always did say Lucy made a fuss about nothing. He did no more than kiss her a little too passionately. I do not think she would have minded in the least, if she had not fallen for Myles.’

  ‘If we go to his soirée, we will be telling the world all is forgiven and forgotten and he may safely be accepted in society.’

  ‘Why not? He is a single man, with a title and a vast fortune and Linwood Park is a magnificent mansion. Any girl would be a fool to turn down the chance to be mistress of it. For that alone his lordship would be accepted, but he came to us first and we will have the edge on everyone else.’

  Esme laughed. ‘Rosie, are you matchmaking?’

  ‘Well, I can’t see it will do any harm. You haven’t found anyone else, have you?’

  ‘Rosie, you know—’

  ‘If you are still thinking of Lord Pendlebury, put him out of your mind. He is ineligible. Lord Gorridge met him in France and he more or less confirmed what Rowan told me, that Lord Pendlebury was involved with the troubles in France.’

  ‘What exactly did he say?’

  ‘He would not elaborate. He said Felix was his cousin and they had always been close as children, but lately had drifted apart, but the man was family and he would not have a word said against him and if I repeated what he had told me, he would deny it absolutely.’

  ‘You have just told me.’

  ‘Only what you need to know, but it goes no further, do you hear?’

  ‘Yes, I hear.’ She could not imagine why her sister thought she would want to spread rumours about Felix or anyone else. It was not in her nature, but it seemed the evidence was piling up against him.

  Given only three days’ notice, it was extraordinary how many people had accepted Viscount Gorridge’s invitation. His drawing room was full to bursting when Rosemary and Esme arrived. Wearing a slate-grey suit with a black cravat, he hurried forward to make them welcome. ‘Lady Trent, Lady Esme, you have come. I was beginning to think my guests of honour had forgotten.’

  ‘Oh, no, my lord,’ Rosemary assured him. ‘The traffic was more than usually thick, my coachman had to force a way through.’

  ‘You know everyone, don’t you?’ He waved a well-manicured hand at his guests.

  ‘Oh, yes.’ She caught sight of Lady Aviemore. ‘I must go and speak to her ladyship.’ And with that she darted away, leaving Esme facing Edward.

  ‘I am so glad you could come,’ he said. ‘If you had not, the whole evening would have been spoiled.’

  ‘Surely not?’

  ‘I mean it. Ever since I saw you again three days ago, I have not been able to get you out of my mind. You have grown up into a lovely woman. I must say you outshine both your sisters and they are judged to be beautiful.’

  ‘You are flattering me.’

  ‘No, indeed not. It is no more than the truth. How long are you staying in town?’

  ‘A little while yet. Rosemary is holding a ball to honour my coming-out and I shall certainly not go back to Luffenham before that.’

  ‘Then perhaps we shall see something of each other. Can I prevail upon you to take a carriage ride in the park with me? The family landau has been stored in the mews ever since Mama was last in town. I can soon have it brought out and made ready. And I can hire horses from Tattersalls.’

  ‘Please don’t do that especially for me.’

  ‘Why not? It would give me so much pleasure. And if I am to be in town for any length of time I shall need a vehicle. Do say you will come.’

  ‘You will have to ask Rosemary.’

  ‘Naturally I will.’

  ‘Lady Esme.’

  She would have known that quiet voice anywhere and whipped round to face him. ‘Oh, Lord Pendlebury, you startled me.’

  ‘Go away, Felix,’ Edward growled. ‘Lady Esme and I were having a private conversation.’

  ‘Then I beg your pardon.’ His determination to be polite and stay cool made him sound hard and unfeeling when the exact opposite was the case. He was keyed up with feelings, which the sight of her so deep in conversation with his cousin had heightened to an almost unbearable extent. Remembering what her sister Lucy had told him would have made him worried for her even if he had not been head over heels in love with her. He wanted to tell her so and to do that he needed to speak to her alone. ‘But you are neglecting your other guests, Edward. I notice some have not even been served refreshment. If you want to make your mark in society, you neglect these ladies at your peril.’

  Edward reluctantly conceded the truth of this. ‘If you will excuse me, Lady Esme, duty calls. Shall we say tomorrow at two o’clock?’

  ‘If Rosemary agrees.’

  ‘Will she?’ Felix asked as soon as he had gone.

  ‘I expect so.’

  ‘What will she be agreeing to?’

  ‘A carriage ride, though what business it is of yours, I do not know.’

  The sharpness of her reply made him start back as if she had struck him. What was the matter with her? Five days ago she had seemed pleased to see him back. They had had a short friendly conversation which had been interrupted by her sister who had marched her off, but there was nothing out of the ordinary in that. Esme herself had been her own sweet self. He gathered himself to reply evenly. ‘I am concerned for you.’

  ‘Are you, indeed? If that is so, then will you please desist from addressing me.’

  ‘Very well, I will take my leave. But before I go, allow me to warn you against putting your trust in wolves in sheep’s clothing.’

  ‘Please do not trouble yourself, my lord. I have already learned that lesson the hard way. Now, if you will excuse me…’

  He bowed and left her. He managed to keep his temper until he had gained the street and then he kicked a stone so hard he hurt his foot. Hobbling, he continued on his way, cursing as he went.

  Esme wished she could go away and hide, so that she could have a good cry. Felix had looked so hurt by her sharp retort that she began to doubt what her sister had told her, after all. Could it all be some terrible plot to discredit him? But why would anyone want to do that? And why did he associate with these dreadful men if he had no part in their plotting? The answer came to her like a thunderbolt. Juliette Lefavre. She had lured him into bad company. He must love her very much to turn his back on his country. The conclusion, far from making her feel better, served to depress her spirits even further.

  She looked up as Lord Gorridge returned. ‘It’s all arranged,’ he said. ‘Lady Trent cannot accompany you, but Miss Bannister will be your chaperon. I will call for you at two and we will ride in Hyde Park. And then if you are agreeable we can take tea at Clarendon’s.’

  ‘I shall look forward to it.’ It was said in a monotone, but he was so pleased with himself he did not notice her lack of enthusiasm. Riding in Hyde Park with a gentleman was tantamount to declaring she accepted that he was courting her. She felt sure Felix would interpret it that way.

  ‘There is hope for you yet,’ Rosemary said as they were going home in the carriage. ‘He is definitely in
terested and if you know what is good for you, Esme, you will encourage him.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘Smile a little more. Give him some of that beaming countenance you wasted on Lord Pendlebury. Let him know you like his compliments, flatter him on his accomplishments.’

  ‘I do not know what they are.’

  ‘Then find out, you goose. Ask him. Take an interest. You did not have much trouble quizzing Lord Pendlebury, did you? You had his life history in a half hour.’

  ‘But was it his life history? He told me only what he wanted me to know. How much did he keep back?’

  ‘Ah, that is a good question. But I wish I had not mentioned him. It was a poor example of what I meant.’

  ‘Rosie, I am not sure I want to encourage Viscount Gorridge.’

  ‘Why ever not? You like him, don’t you? He is handsome and has evidently set his heart on you, so think yourself lucky. Being Viscountess Gorridge and mistress of Linwood Park is not to be sneezed at.’

  ‘Lucy sneezed at it.’

  ‘Lucy was blinkered by her attachment to Myles Moorcroft.’

  ‘I do believe you would have liked him for yourself.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. After Lucy turned him down he left the country. And I do not, for a moment, regret marrying Rowan, so don’t say anything like that again.’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean…Oh, Rosie, I am so muddled. I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I was sure, but now I do not know what to think.’

  ‘Then don’t. Accept Lord Gorridge’s attentions and enjoy the prestige it gives you. The rest will follow.’

  ‘And if it does not?’

  ‘Oh, then I give up.’ It was said with exasperation.

  The carriage drew up outside the house and they left it to go indoors where Rosemary regaled her husband with everything that had happened. He had declined to accompany them, saying he was never comfortable in a roomful of women, all gossiping so loudly it was difficult to hear oneself think. ‘He had half the beau monde there,’ she told him when they came upon him reading a newspaper in the drawing room. ‘But he had eyes only for Esme. I do believe she has made a hit.’