Fair Cyprians of London Boxset

by Beverley Oakley

  She straightened her skirts, her heart pounding in her chest, and did a quick check in the looking glass above the mantelpiece. Lord Bainbridge was very particular about appearance and everything being orderly. Including Violet.

  The face that stared back at her had a rather haunted look. She’d tried to hide the dark smudges under her eyes from her restless last few nights, but in this light, they looked an even greater contrast with her pale, translucent skin.

  Resigned, she turned away. Nothing would improve her looks in the seconds it would take to cross the floor, just as nothing would ease the ache in her heart.

  Not all the jewels and fine clothes Lord Bainbridge had promised to buy her to augment the beautiful necklace he’d given her two nights before. To celebrate the fact she’d agreed to be his, he’d said as he’d fastened the gold and ruby ‘token of his regard’ around her neck. As she dropped her hand from pushing back a ringlet that fell across her shoulder, a flash of the simple gold band she still wore to mark her sham wedding was not the thing to make her feel better.

  The knock came again—louder and more insistent—even though she’d hardly kept him waiting. She stiffened but checked herself. She couldn’t be angry. She’d have to ensure patience and good humour infused her objection to his impertinence, she counselled herself as she flung open the door, saying, “Goodness, but you are—”

  Shock robbed her of the words to complete the sentence. For a moment, she could only stare. She’d come face to face with an apparition. Her mind was playing tricks on her. Taunting her.

  “Dear Lord, this can’t be true,” she whispered, her legs suddenly feeling as if they had no substance.

  “Violet!”

  It was Emily. Not her ghost, for the arms that wrapped about her neck and pulled her down for a fierce hug was definitely flesh and bone.

  “You’re not dead!”

  They spoke at the same time, disbelief shocking Violet into silence while Emily simply said the same words over and over until, with a hiccupping sob, she stepped back to regard her sister with awe. “But you’re here!”

  “And would have been to see you if Grandmother had not told me that you had died.” Violet saw no need to soften the truth as she stepped back into the warmth of the house, drawing her sister with her as she glanced over Emily’s shoulder with a frown. For where was her grandmother who must surely have brought her following a crisis of conscience. Oh yes; Violet was very ready to deal with her as required.

  “Come in, before you catch your death,” she told Emily. “Have you run away?” And then, in horror, “How did you find me? Who told you to find me here?”

  A myriad of lurid scenarios swept away her joy at seeing her sister. For what if her association with Violet should taint Emily? What if this was a trick on their grandmother’s part to destroy Emily, just as she had her elder granddaughter?

  But then joy was in the ascendant, for Emily was weeping now, and she needed all the comfort she could get, for what horrors might she have endured for her to have arrived, alone and friendless, on Violet’s doorstep?

  “Oh Violet, you look so beautiful!” Emily finally gasped when her crying had subsided and she took a step away. Her gaze raked the pink-and-cream polonaise Violet wore, its neat bustle festooned in swaths and adorned with bows at the back while the front hugged her shapely figure. Madame and Lord Bainbridge had helped approve this confection and…

  Oh Lord, what if her protector should arrive? He was due within the hour. She closed her eyes briefly before staring once more at her sister, realising for the first time that the young girl was dressed in all but rags.

  “Did Grandmother throw you onto the streets, Emily?” she gasped, fingering the coarse homespun smock with its inexpert darning in the many places it had simply worn right through. She knew how much Emily had loved pretty clothes and that, as the favourite, their grandmother had indulged her. “Did you walk here? Your hair is wet! Oh Emily, I thought you were dead! What terrible things have happened?”

  “Please don’t cry, Violet.” Emily reached up to cup her sister’s face. “A very nice gentleman found me in the rain and took me to an inn where he organised some dry clothes.”

  “Dear God, no! You went with a stranger!” Violet’s strangled cry was interrupted by the closing of the door, and as she raised her face her sense of unreality grew. Max was entering the room, shaking the raindrops from his hat and removing his heavy, damp coat, for water pooled at his feet upon the floorboards.

  “No, a very nice gentleman, as your sister just told you,” repeated Max, smiling as he took a few steps forward. “I found her in your village churchyard where I’d gone to lay some flowers upon her grave in a gesture that I’d hoped would give you some pleasure.” He put his hand on Emily’s shoulder. “But instead of a grave, I found something much better, eh Emily?”

  Oh, so much better. A joyous gift and piece of magic that he’d magically spun out of the goodness of his kind, kind heart…

  Before he left her to go to Africa. Violet’s surge of joy was tempered by the reality, then chipped away further when he added, “Ruislip was hardly out of my way. A short detour only.”

  She blinked. Oh, so he’d been curious to see if she’d been telling the truth about her name and origins.

  She put her arms about Emily and drew her against her body, as if she might use her sister as a shield against the pain of impending loss that was growing within. She had Emily—and that was the greatest gift of all—but how would she look after her sister?

  And would her heart ever recover from the loss of losing this wonderful, bighearted man who was smiling at her as if he had no idea how devastating this was for her—and who certainly wasn’t suffering any pangs at departing from her forever.

  “I don’t know how to thank you, Max,” she managed, her voice breaking before she gasped, this time in fear as the door was flung open, and Lord Bainbridge stood framed upon the threshold; the grey clouds behind throwing him into terrible relief. For what a large man he was.

  And not known for his compassionate heart.

  Violet hugged Emily even closer and tried to hide her fear. She’d brazen this out. She had to. Even if she no longer cared what became of herself, she had Emily to care for now, and she could only do that if she had the protection of a man.

  “What’s going on here?” He took a few steps into the room and looked from Emily to Violet, then across at Max. A frown marred his handsome features, and his lips were pressed into a tight line. Violet could feel Emily’s fear though the girl remained silent.

  “Well, I need no introduction, Bainbridge, but Violet, don’t you want to introduce your sister?”

  Violet flashed Max an angry look. It was all very well for him to bombard Violet’s lover with the truth when he was blithely stepping out of their lives forever. But what if Violet had been busily hatching a more creative explanation that might work better on soothing Lord Bainbridge’s sensibilities?

  “Your sister?” Lord Bainbridge said angrily. “You told me she was dead.”

  Violet heard the suspicion in his tone, inferring that Violet had lied to him. No doubt he’d be wondering what else she might have lied about.

  He turned to Max. “What are you doing in my house?”

  The sick dismay in Violet’s gut worsened. What was Max doing? How could he display such blatant disregard for Violet’s welfare when they’d parted as friends? Had she offended him in some way?

  She lowered her eyes, unable to bear the scene. She had nothing to contribute. Her fate was in both their hands right now, and she could only pray that Max would handle the situation in a manner that would not incite Lord Bainbridge’s ire.

  “Reuniting a homeless child with a beloved relative when both had thought the other dead.” Max sounded very calm. As if it had been nothing. Or simply all in an afternoon’s work.

  And yet Violet’s life had been turned upside down. She had been delivered the greatest joy she could ever imagine by
discovering Emily was alive, but her fear in the immediate moment at how she was going to look after her sister was growing by the second.

  No doubt Lord Bainbridge was wondering the same. He’d outlaid a great deal of money to acquire Violet’s loving services. He was hardly going to sanction Emily living in this house with her. Not that Violet would have considered that appropriate either. Emily’s future prospects would only be tainted by an association with Violet—a kept woman.

  “I had hoped for a somewhat different reception, I must say.” Lord Bainbridge directed this at Violet, his tone laced with acid.

  Violet ran the tip of her tongue over dry lips. She was frightened. How might he react when Max was gone? Would he insist Violet dispatch Emily immediately? But where could she send her? She had so many questions she couldn’t ask. Had Grandmother died? Or had she thrown Emily out and Emily had nowhere to go?

  “And what do you plan to do with this child? Your sister?” He spoke as if Emily didn’t have ears. His nostrils flared, and Violet envisaged what the next few years might be like. She’d have to pander to this man she didn’t even like. A man with no compassion.

  “Lord Belvedere asked if I was brave enough to shoot a lion. And I am.” Emily thrust out her flat chest and looked combative. “He’s going to Africa. I think Africa sounds like India. Exciting. Not like here—”

  She’d burst out with such bravado, but Lord Bainbridge cut into her words, “Children should not be heard. Violet, this is untenable—”

  Now it was Max, interrupting him to say in his previous, measured tone, “I think Emily would do very well in Africa. We’ve had a good conversation about it during the carriage ride here. Not a very comfortable carriage ride, I must admit, for after I found the child soaking wet and bleeding from an injury inflicted, apparently, by what I would consider a completely unsatisfactory guardian, I hired the only conveyance to be had in town, which was not quite up to standard, was it, Emily?”

  “No, there was a rat living in it, and it smelled horrible.” The energy had returned to Emily’s tone.

  “But needs must, and so I brought Emily to you and had hoped I might see you alone in order to invite you to Africa too, Violet.” He smiled. “Unfortunately, I must now offer the invitation in company.” He glanced at Emily. “I say, Emily, would you mind seeing if you could locate a servant to make some hot chocolate. Something soothing for this cold weather would be rather nice, don’t you think?”

  With Emily gone, Max seemed to relax. As for Violet, she didn’t know what to say.

  Go to Africa with him? In what capacity? Her heart somersaulted with the excitement of various possibilities. He was offering her a lifeline. Had he found someone who needed a companion? A governess? By making it clear that Emily could go too, he’d obviously been very creative.

  She saw the roiling anger in Lord Bainbridge’s eyes, and knew she’d take her chances and whatever Max was offering her, even if it meant swapping her silks and jewels for a lifetime of servitude. An escape to a frontier where her past did not hang like a millstone around her neck was the most tantalising offer she could ever have imagined.

  “On my way here, I stopped by Madame Chambon’s.” Max lowered his voice and glanced at the door through which Emily had exited. “Don’t worry, Violet. I left Emily in the carriage while I had a private audience with Madame and quickly executed the transaction that would see both your employer and you, Lord Bainbridge, adequately recompensed.”

  Violet swallowed. His generosity was considerable. The sum he must have handed over would have been significant. Yet, she felt like a slave being paid for.

  “This is preposterous!” Lord Bainbridge burst out. He took a menacing step towards Max, his face mottled with indignation. “I secured this house for Violet only this week.” He made a sweeping gesture with his arm. It was, indeed, a handsome house; furnished without concern for expense. Lord Bainbridge had wanted a tiny palace to accommodate his latest prized possession.

  His nostrils flared. “I paid Madame Chambon a king’s ransom. Violet belongs to me.”

  Violet kept her expression neutral while she waited tensely, though she cringed inwardly at the crudeness of the situation. Max was about to make an offer. As long as it included Emily, she’d jump at it. And he surely knew Violet well enough to anticipate she’d take a lowlier position if it gave her an independence with the ability to look after her sister. Why else would he have brought Emily here? Why else would he have paid Madame Chambon and recompensed Lord Bainbridge for Violet’s services? Max was tenderhearted. When he’d stumbled upon Emily, the child’s plight must have tugged at his heartstrings. He’d not have been able to abandon an eleven-year-old under the circumstances.

  But with his ship sailing so soon, he’d have had to have worked quickly to make the necessary arrangements that would settle them both in order to ease his conscience.

  Max inclined his head. “I think that really depends upon Violet’s wishes. Certainly, she may choose to stay with you, though I wouldn’t begin to speculate why she would wish to. That is between the two of you, and I am not privy to her feelings for you. However, regardless of what you are offering Violet, and in case you didn’t quite understand what I thought was very clear, I have come here, with Emily, to recompense you for the expense you have already outlaid and to make Violet a counteroffer.”

  Lord Bainbridge’s eyes bulged. Max’s reasonable tone was doing nothing to soothe his ruffled sensibilities.

  He squared his shoulders. “You are sailing for Cape Town tomorrow, as everyone knows. Shirking your responsibilities to go adventuring. Seeking your fortune in a new frontier.” He shrugged. “Am I to understand you want a doxy to keep you warm at night and wash your shirts by day?” He snorted. “What can you offer Violet? Certainly not the comforts, the clothes, the jewels that I can.”

  Violet raised one eyebrow. They meant nothing to her compared with her freedom. Nevertheless, she held her words. It was a tense moment between the two men, and she didn’t want to force Max to play his hand earlier than he intended. He’d know very well she’d place a higher value on liberty than on material things, yet she had to eat—and right now the only way she could manage that was through the protection of a man.

  Lord Bainbridge was her official protector, and Max had not yet made any firm proposition other than saying he’d paid for Violet’s release so she could look after her sister. She assumed that’s what he meant.

  But Emily’s declaration that he’d invited her to Africa and Max’s vague affirmation that she was welcome to come was confusing. She doubted he’d offer her something truly demeaning, but until she knew exactly what it was, she would wait.

  Nevertheless, her fingers and toes tingled with excitement. If Max wanted her to take her chances and accompany him to South Africa, he’d have come upon some ingenious way to enable her to find employment so she’d not be far away.

  Her sister’s light, hurried footsteps sounded in the passage and the door burst open. A wave of sisterly love washed over her at the sight of her pretty, earnest sister, importantly and carefully bearing a tray with four steaming mugs.

  For so long, she’d believed Emily dead. She still couldn’t believe her grandmother had told her such lies.

  Now Max was facilitating a way for Violet to keep her sister close. That was all that was important.

  Her excitement drained away. Perhaps Max’s counteroffer was to send Emily to school. It would be a kind and generous act when he had no obligation, but he’d know Violet would be resistant. Perhaps that’s why he’d not yet put his counteroffer into words.

  “So, Emily, would you like me to take you both back to your grandmother?” Max turned to elicit the young girl’s thoughts with a smile. “Perhaps she’d be overjoyed to discover that Violet isn’t dead.”

  Emily’s eyes widened, and her skin blanched. Silently she shook her head, and the mugs on the tray rattled perilously as she set it down on the sideboard. “No! Grandmama said Vi
olet was dead! She said she wished I was too when she threw the knife at me.”

  “A flesh wound, yet deep enough.” Max spoke matter-of-factly to both Violet and Lord Bainbridge. “I had it dressed when we stopped for dry clothes along the way. The last few hours in the carriage have been very illuminating. Emily’s grandmother was once quite respected in her local district. But rumours of her madness appear to be growing, according to the pharmacist who sold me bandages and liniment. Violent, too, it would appear. Increasingly so. No, I would not send Emily back there, and I would not send Violet back, either.” He made a gesture of confusion with his hands. “It resulted in quite a conundrum for me. Emily was so very believable and quite engaging, once she’d got herself warm and dry and decided I wasn’t a proxy for her wicked grandmother. Indeed, she made a very convincing case for rescuing a damsel in distress.” His forehead puckered. “Yes, very convincing. Yet how could this be reconciled by a man who, for the past three weeks, has been counting the days until he can exercise his freedom from all the constraints that make England such a stifling place to be right now.”

  Emily hurried to his side and looked up at him. “But I told you, Max, that I’d help you. I’m very good at polishing. Grandmama makes me polish all the silver cutlery every week, so I can polish your boots and help you put them on. I have to help dress Grandmama so I’m sure I could help dress—”

  “That’s very sweet of you!” Violet interrupted quickly, hurrying over to take Emily’s hand. “You always were the most biddable of sisters.”

  “Except when I’m angry! Then, I’m Grandmama’s despair,” Emily told them all and looking quite proud about it. “But that’s better than being timid if I’m going to have to shoot lions, isn’t it, Max?”

  Violet blinked. Max seemed to have made a very positive impression on her little sister in a few short hours.