A Desirable Husband

by Mary Nichols

  ‘If she is proving difficult to handle, would he risk taking her so far?’ Myles queried, when he put it to him on the way back to the cab. ‘He would want to take her somewhere close at hand but secure while he negotiates terms.’

  ‘You have a point.’

  ‘What about Victor? Do you think he knows anything?’

  ‘Victor! Of course!’ He ordered the driver to take them to Clarges Street, but neither Mrs Ashbury nor Victor were at home. They had, so they were informed, gone to the Trent ball. It was very late by the time they arrived back at Trent House where Felix elected to wait outside while Myles went in.

  It was hot and stuffy in the cab and he got out and began pacing up and down the street. The second time he returned to the cab, he found his way blocked by Juliette. She had changed her dress and was wearing a short cape and a feathered hat. ‘Not you again. Why can’t you leave me in peace?’

  ‘You won’t find her, you know. Not without some help from those who know.’ She tapped the side of her nose with her forefinger.

  He seized her upper arms and shook her. ‘If you know anything…’

  ‘I won’t tell you anything while you treat me like a serving wench. You are as bad as that lying cousin of yours.’

  He dropped his hands. ‘Very well, let’s sit in the cab.’ He helped her in and got in beside her. ‘Now, tell me, where is she? What has he done with her?’

  Esme could not see where she was being taken; Edward had drawn the blinds. She wondered if he had a plan or whether he was simply riding round, not knowing which way to turn. Perhaps he was taking her home, after all. What would everyone say? They would know she had left the house willingly. Would her reputation be ruined forever? Even if it was, she would not consent to marry him. Never. Never. Never.

  Suddenly he rapped on the roof and they came to a halt. He got down, paid the cabman and held the door for Esme to alight. She paused on the step, looking about her, wondering where she was and which way to run. It was very dark, but she realised they were no longer in among buildings, but in a park. The moon and stars were obscured by clouds, trees threw out strange shadows as the wind made the branches sway and ruffled the leaves. Not far away, she saw the glint of water. They had not be travelling more than a few minutes, so it must be Hyde Park. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down to stand beside him and shut the door. The cab rolled away.

  Had he decided to take the Frenchwoman’s advice and throw her in the lake? Well, let him! She could swim, though with all the clothes she was wearing it was going to be difficult. And he would not stand by and allow her to climb out, would he? She was proved wrong about his intentions when he put his shoulder to a dilapidated building and burst the door open.

  ‘In you go.’ He pushed her in the back and she stumbled over the step. It was pitch dark and she could see nothing, but he seemed to know where he was going. ‘This will do for the moment.’ Keeping her in front of him, he fumbled for a moment with a match. It flared up and revealed they were in a tumble-down shack containing nothing but a table and a couple of rotting chairs. The place smelled stale and musty. He found a candle on the shelf above the fireplace and lit it. ‘Sit down.’

  ‘I will not.’

  ‘Stand then.’ He went to the door and secured it shut.

  ‘Now what?’ she demanded, going towards the window, but that was shuttered and she could see nothing. She was very frightened, but determined not to show it; he was behaving like a cornered man and such men were dangerous. ‘You are in a fix, aren’t you?’ she went on in a pleasant tone. ‘Nothing has gone to plan. Wouldn’t it be better to let me go?’

  ‘No, it would not.’

  ‘Do what you will, I will never consent to marry you. I loathe you.’

  ‘Pity,’ he said. ‘It was my mother’s dearest wish.’

  ‘Not yours?’

  He shrugged. ‘It was all one to me. I needed a wife and the daughter of the Earl of Luffenham would have silenced those who perpetuated the rumours about me and your sister.’

  ‘Is that all?’

  ‘It was enough, but I am beginning to revise my opinion. I do not think I want a harpy for a wife.’

  She was foolish enough to let her relief show. ‘So you will take me home.’

  ‘No. I want something out of this little adventure. It has cost me a pretty penny and my bills must be paid.’

  ‘I have no money. Neither has my father.’

  ‘He has Luffenham Hall. I’ve always fancied adding that to my estate.’

  ‘He would never part with Johnny’s inheritance, you must know that.’

  ‘There is such a thing as a mortgage, but to tell the truth I think that has already been done. No, I think my best course is to apply to Lord Pendlebury.’ He looked mockingly at her. ‘He might pay well to have you released, but would he want to marry you? After all, we have been alone together for some hours and if you were to look outside, you might see dawn is breaking.’

  The door burst inwards with a suddenness that shook them both. The candle guttered and went out, but not before Esme had recognised Felix. He was dressed in a rough suit of clothes, wore no hat and his hair was wild, but that did not matter. She threw herself into his arms.

  ‘Are you all right?’ he asked, as Edward slipped past him and out of the door. ‘Has he hurt you?’

  ‘No. Oh, how glad I am to see you.’ She could just see him in the light from the open door, because Edward had been right about the dawn.

  ‘And I you, my love.’

  They stood holding each other, oblivious to the sounds of a struggle coming from outside. He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks. He rained kisses on her hair, now tumbling about her shoulders. He took her hands one by one and put them to his lips. ‘Thank God, thank God,’ he murmured.

  ‘How did you find me?’

  ‘Juliette told me where you were.’

  ‘Ma’amselle Lefavre? I saw her earlier.’

  ‘I know. Edward had promised to marry her if she would help him to ruin me, but when she realised he had lied, she was furious. She stayed around long enough to see him take you out to a cab and hear him tell the driver where to go. Then she came to Trent House and spilled the beans. I left her talking her head off to the Duke of Wellington.’

  ‘Hold me tight. Don’t let me go. I need to know you are real.’

  ‘I’m real.’ He laughed and kissed her again and the glorious shudders that ran up and down her body testified to how real he was. He stood back from her at last, though he still held her hands. Her hair was down, her dress torn, but nothing could take away her loveliness in his eyes. ‘You look beautiful, sweetheart. The belle of the ball.’

  ‘My ball. Oh, my ball. What happened? Is Rosemary very angry?’

  ‘I believe a grand time was had by all. The entertainment was especially appreciated.’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘He means he caused a hullabaloo trying to get in to see you.’ This was Myles. ‘Being chased and sat on by footmen. When you could not be found, everyone at last agreed that something must have happened to you and we set out to find you.’

  ‘And you did. How clever you are and how grateful I am.’ He still had hold of one of her hands. It felt warm and strong and she felt safe at last. The nightmare was over.

  ‘Did you get him?’ Felix asked Myles.

  ‘Yes. He’s been taken away by the bobbies. There will be no third chance for him.’

  ‘Let’s get out of here,’ Felix said. ‘It stinks.’

  He led the way outside and it was then, as she was taking great gulps of fresh air, that she realised they had been in Annie Hicks’s abandoned shack. ‘Why did he bring me here?’

  ‘He didn’t have time to take you any farther afield and I suppose he remembered this place was empty.’ He handed her into the cab and climbed in beside her.

  ‘I think I’ll walk back,’ Myles said, grinning at them. ‘I could do with the exercise.’

  Felix k
issed her again as they moved off. ‘I thought I’d lost you.’

  ‘He said no one would have me after we had been together all night and then I would have to consent to marry him. I never would have, never. Never. She gave a little laugh, which showed how frightened she had been and how relieved she was. ‘He did not touch me except to grab my arms and tie me up. That made me angry. He didn’t like that.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose he did, my fearless one. And as for not wanting you, I want you and need you more than ever. Do you remember I said when my difficulties were resolved, I would ask my question again?’

  ‘Yes, are they resolved?’

  ‘Yes. Now I am free to explain everything and to ask you once again to make me the happiest man in the world and consent to marry me.’

  ‘You know I will. It is what I want most in the world, too.’

  He laughed delightedly and kissed her again. And again. And again, until she was tingling all over and thought she would burst. ‘You do not need to explain anything to me,’ she said. ‘But perhaps my sister…’

  ‘Lady Trent knows it all. We are reconciled.’ He smiled wryly. ‘Though she is a little put out that the ball did not go according to plan.’

  ‘What a pity. She did so want to make it memorable.’

  ‘Oh, it was that, never fear. I doubt anyone who was present will ever forget it. There was me fighting with a footman…’

  ‘The one who was in Gorridge’s pay? He said there was one.’

  ‘Probably. Only he could have known about my note and given Edward the idea of kidnapping you. I took the flowers to the house about four o’clock this afternoon, but I discovered from Miss Bannister you did not receive them until seven, ample time for the footman who took them from me to take the card to Edward, who evidently told him to take it back and sent Victor to meet you.’

  ‘How did you know that?’

  ‘I didn’t at the time, but I knew something had happened when I found my card in the lane. I flattered myself you would not willingly have thrown it away.’

  ‘No, I dropped it.’

  ‘It was a good thing you did, or I might not have gone up to the house and convinced them to make a search for you.’

  She snuggled down into his arms. ‘What else happened?’

  ‘The Duke of Wellington arrived and told them how I had been employed to spot malcontents out to cause trouble for the Exhibition. When the troublemakers realised that, they tried to implicate me with rumour and when that did not altogether work, to have me wanted for murder.’

  ‘I knew you could not do anything so dreadful.’

  ‘I thank you for your faith in me.’

  ‘Was Viscount Gorridge a part of the plot?’

  ‘Only in so far as Juliette used him to help her come to England. She introduced him to Connelly and Maillet, who really did mean trouble. I don’t think he set out to become part of it, but decided to go along with them to discredit me.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘He knew I loved you. He was afraid you loved me. It would have put an end to his hopes.’

  ‘He was right to be afraid.’

  He hugged her again as the cab drew up outside Trent House. He helped her down and escorted her to the door. Before they reached it, it was flung wide and Rosemary ran out to meet her, still wearing a rose-coloured heavy silk ball gown. ‘Oh, Esme, you are safe. Thank God! Thank God.’ She took her arm. ‘Come inside and let us look at you. Are you hurt? Did he…’

  Esme smiled and repeated the assurance she had given Felix that Lord Gorridge had not harmed her. She was guided into the house where Lucy, Miss Bannister and Rowan were all gathered. She was hugged by each in turn, even Rowan, and then Lucy took charge. ‘Come on, let’s get you out of the gown and into a bath. And then bed. You need to sleep before answering any more questions.’

  She looked back at Felix, who had followed her indoors. He was smiling. ‘Go on, my love,’ he said, taking her hand and kissing the back of it. ‘You need to rest. I will come back later.’

  With Lucy, Rosemary and Miss Bannister fussing about her, she was soon tucked into bed. So much had happened to her in the last twenty-four hours she did not think she would sleep. She lay for a few minutes, looking at the card Felix had sent in his posy, admiring the picture and reliving the precious moments coming home in the cab with his arm about her, his breath warm on her cheek, his soft voice telling her he loved her and asking her again to marry him.

  The next thing she knew was Banny drawing her curtains.

  ‘Wake up, sleepy head. It’s the middle of the afternoon and everyone is waiting downstairs to hear your story.’

  ‘Everyone?’ She sat up, blinking in the sunlight filling the room. ‘Felix?’

  The old lady laughed. ‘Yes. His lordship could not have had more than a couple of hours’ sleep for he was back here before noon.’

  She sprang from her bed. ‘Quickly, help me dress, Banny. I must go to him.’

  Miss Bannister seemed to take ages to fetch out a dress for her to wear, debating which would be the most suitable, when she did not care tuppence what she wore, and then she insisted on arranging her hair in coils and ringlets and threading it with ribbon. It was another hour before she appeared in the drawing room.

  They were all there, waiting for her. She hesitated in the doorway, searching out Felix, who came forward and took her hand, bowing over it in a formal manner that made her laugh.

  ‘I believe Lord Pendlebury has something to ask you,’ Rowan said. ‘You have your sisters’ permission to receive him privately in the library.’

  She led the way, but as soon as he had entered the library behind her, she turned and flung herself into his arms. He hugged her, then put him from her. ‘Now, we have to do this properly, Lady Esme.’ He was doing his best to keep a straight face and not quite succeeding. His delight was evident as he led her to a chair and then knelt before her. ‘Lady Esme Vernley, will you do me the inestimable honour of consenting to be my wife?’

  ‘Yes, oh, yes, please.’

  ‘Do you not need to think about it? I believe that is the usual reply.’ He was delighted by her quick response but could not resist teasing.

  ‘I have thought about it. I have thought about nothing else for weeks, ever since I decided you would make a most desirable husband.’

  ‘Desirable?’ he queried, one eyebrow cocked.

  She laughed. ‘Desirable is much better than suitable, don’t you think? Suitable is too stuffy. And if you do not get up from the floor, you foolish man, I shall join you on the carpet.’ And suiting action to words, she dropped down beside him.

  He pulled her into his arms and smothered her face with kisses. Her response was all he could hope for, and it was only when he ran out of breath that she sat back on her heels and regarded him seriously, though her eyes twinkled mischievously. ‘Is this what you call doing it properly?’

  ‘It was your fault. You should have maintained a cool hauteur.’

  ‘Oh, you know I could not do that. Not when we have already been through so much.’ She paused, becoming more serious. ‘Are your difficulties all resolved?’

  ‘Yes, every one, except—’ He stopped.

  ‘Except what? Tell me at once.’

  ‘I’ll show you.’ He got up and left the room, leaving her feeling puzzled and not a little alarmed. Surely there was nothing standing in their way now? He returned in less than a minute, holding something behind his back. She scrambled to her feet and faced him. ‘What have you got there?’

  ‘My exhibit. I said I would show it to you.’ He brought the figurine out and stood it on Rowan’s desk. ‘There she is. There’s my Crystal Girl.’

  ‘Oh…Oh.’ It was a long drawn-out sigh. ‘Oh, Felix, it’s the same as the drawing on the card. It’s me, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes. Do you like it?’

  ‘It is wonderful. Beautiful. But I am nothing like as graceful as that.’

  ‘Oh, yes, you are. In fact, I
do not think I have done you justice.’

  ‘Oh, Felix, you make me want to cry.’

  ‘Oh, please do not do that. I can’t bear you to be sad.’

  ‘I am not sad, I am happy.’

  ‘Crying with happiness, that’s a strange thing to do. Do you laugh when you are sad?’

  ‘Sometimes, because it makes it more bearable.’

  ‘From now on, I hope you will only laugh with happiness, my darling, but the question is, will you allow me to put it into the Great Exhibition?’

  ‘I would be honoured and delighted.’ She paused and stood on tip-toe to kiss his cheek. ‘Do you not have another question?’

  ‘Another?’

  ‘To name the date?’

  He laughed. ‘Oh, that. I hope fervently it will be very soon.’

  ‘As soon as the arrangements can be made, so shall we go and tell everyone the good news?’

  She grabbed his hand and led him back to the drawing room. While they had been gone, Rowan had ordered champagne and glasses to be brought and, amid congratulations, hugs and kisses, they drank a toast to Felix and Esme, soon to become Lady Pendlebury.

  They were married in Luffenham church in November, the earliest her mama and sisters said they could be ready. She wore her lovely ivory ball gown, refurbished with new pearls and an added train. A circlet of pink rosebuds topped the coils and ringlets of her hair. Watched by a large congregation of family, friends and villagers and attended by her sisters in apple green and Master Harry Moorcroft proud in his sailor suit, she walked up the aisle to join Felix, waiting nervously with Myles, his groomsman. Her smile was a little tremulous as he came to stand beside her and took her hand, but its warm pressure reassured her. The rector came forward and the service began.

  It passed in a whirl for Esme, who could not quite believe that her dreams had come true and she had the love and devotion of the man she adored and most desired. Afterwards, eyes shining with happiness, she left the church on his arm, the new Lady Pendlebury, and returned in an open carriage decked with flowers to Luffenham Hall for the wedding breakfast. As they circulated among their guests, she kept looking up at Felix and found him regarding her in the same quizzical way he had studied her when they first met. To him, she would always be his beloved Crystal Girl, fragile yet tough, transparent yet mysterious, for ever young.