As several days passed, the earl became aware of an almost overwhelming desire to go to Ravensby as he'd promised, but as there had been no signs of the portrait being restored to him, he dared not leave London, should he, in his absence, miss its return.
Arriving home at noon after a morning spent at Horse Guards, the earl was informed by the footman that Sgt. Randall had called and, finding Sinclair not at home, had stated his intention of returning later in the day. The earl searched his memory but could call no sergeant of that name to mind. Indeed, he could remember no one of that name in his company, so it was with some perplexity that he awaited his arrival.
He didn't have long to wait. No sooner had he risen from a light luncheon and repaired to the library than he was informed of Randall's arrival. Almost immediately a small, wiry individual was issued into his presence. Marching smartly up to the earl's desk, he saluted, his actions appearing incongruous, dressed as he was in the garb of a dandy. Looking up from the papers he had been examining, the earl came quickly to his feet, seeing before him the face from the inn.
"Sergeant Anthony Randall of the Twenty-ninth Regiment of Foot, sir," said the dandy, maintaining the salute.
"We are no longer in the military, Randall. There's no need to salute me," said the earl, resuming his seat and indicating that his visitor should take the chair facing the desk. Then, coming immediately to the point, he asked, "Do I take it that your arrival has some connection to the portrait I have mislaid?"
"It has, sir," said Randall, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the very object that had been the cause of such great concern and laying it on the desk before him.
Resisting the impulse to immediately snatch it up, the earl leaned back in his chair. "I am exceedingly grateful to you for its return. Your face is vaguely familiar to me and yet not your name. Should I know you?" he asked with some perplexity.
Randall studied a point above the earl's head, appearing to bring the memory to mind. "We've met on two previous occasions, though I hardly think you will remember, sir. The first occasion I will never forget-it was when we fought the French at Albuera. There was a lot of smoke on the battlefield, our cannon and their cannon blasting powder and shot by the ton. It was blinding. The French came out of the smoke in a column and marched toward us, their kettledrums pounding. My men fired volley after volley, but still they came, but my boys held until they smashed into our lines like a hammer and we thought all was lost. Suddenly, out of the smoke, rode Marchant's Cavalry, and I saw you lead your men in the attack.
"You were a sight to behold that day, sir. No one could have burst through that smoke with more fury than you. Not even Old Nick himself. Your men followed hard on your heels. You had two horses taken from under you during the battle, and still you fought like a demon...
"You spoke of a second meeting," interrupted the earl coldly, obviously having no liking for the recollection.
"Ah, our second meeting was not quite so glorious," sighed Randall, returning his gaze. "It was in the field hospital after Salamanca and in the convent for a short while afterward. They really thought you were done for, sir, but I told 'em you were a fighter. Couldn't help but notice how you clung to the little portrait. We all saw that it did you good...
"That may be," interrupted the earl once more. "Now tell me, how did you come to be at The Sow's Ear?"
"Well, sir, because of my injuries I couldn't continue in the Twenty-ninth, which meant I must find myself a civilian profession. But that was not easy, as there were so many others in a like situation. Eventually I turned to Bow Street, and I became a constable-a runner-call it what you will. When you saw me at The Sow's Ear, I was working incognito, so to speak. Hence my current mode of dress" He grinned, indicating his foppish garb. "Not at all to my liking, I assure you, but we were on the trail of a thief who targets such gentlemen as yourself. Hence my need for disguise."
"You say `we.' You were not alone at the inn?"
"No, sir, I had two other constables working with me, but you didn't see them. They were in the taproom at the time of our encounter."
"Was it you who came to my door in the night?"
"No, sir, it was our quarry."
"And to my companion's door?"
"Again the quarry. But have no fear-we had him under close watch at all times. Your `companion' was never in any danger. We arrested our man at daybreak and relieved him of the evidence of his guilt. He now faces quite a hefty term in jail or even deportation to the Americas."
Smiling, the earl came to his feet and extended his hand, taking Randall's in a firm grasp. "Then I must thank you for keeping my portrait and my `companion' safe," he said. "You will be well rewarded, I assure you"
"I want no reward," affirmed Randall, also coming to his feet and taking the hand offered. "It is an honor to serve you, sir." Then, after a moment's pause, he added, "However, there is one thing I would ask of you, my lord, if I may."
"Ask"
"Should you hear of anyone requiring a steward or agent or some such, would you bear me in mind? I've no liking for the law."
"I have need of a steward at Fly Hall," said Sinclair.
Randall's plain countenance broke into a hesitant smile. "Do you manufacture the post for me? I wouldn't wish you to feel obligated, sir. It was not my intention in returning your property to you"
"It is certainly not manufactured," lied the earl, "and I would welcome someone with your loyalty in my employ. Such a man is rare"
Much pleased with the outcome of the interview, Randall took his leave so that he could make his arrangements to travel to Fly Hall.
Left alone, the earl examined the portrait, relief flooding his senses at its return. Assuring himself that it had received no harm during its absence, he whispered, "So, at last you are returned to me, my love. I can't tell you what it cost me when I thought I'd lost you. All else is in turmoil, yet you remain the same. I don't know how I would have borne your loss." Rising, he left the library, and, returning the miniature to its resting place in his bedchamber, he determined to travel to Ravensby on the morrow.
As the earl sat alone over supper, he heard a commotion in the hall, and just as he was about to inquire of its origins, Perry burst into the room, his disheveled appearance proclaiming a hurried journey.
"I thought I told you to stay with Flora until I came to you," said Sinclair, turning in his chair to face the newcomer.
"It's that damned Rutledge," stated Perry hotly, defiance showing in his every line. "I can't stand his pompous ways. He's forever ordering me about. Why, a chap can't even take the dogs out to find game of a morning without his wanting to know where I was going and what I was doing. If you ask me, he's addlepated, bats in his belfry."
"Rutledge remains at Ravensby?" asked Sinclair, incredulous. "I was of the opinion he would have returned to Buxton by now."
"Oh, aye, that was his intention right and tight, but damn me if he didn't find it necessary to wheedle an invitation out of Carlton to stay. The poor man could scarcely refuse without seeming disagreeable. Rutledge is falling over himself to pay attention to Jenny, and you can see she doesn't want it. The only one pleased to see him stay was Freddie, and even his patience wears thin. Even he can't abide his forever keeping tracks on us. We're not still in short coats, yet that's how he treats us. Flora's in one hell of a tiz. Wants to know when you're coming down. States she's had enough of the fellow."
"It had been my intention to travel down on the morrow, but perhaps it would be more prudent of me to await his departure"
"If you do, Ned, Flora will never forgive you." Perry grinned, seating himself at the table and helping himself to the fruit in the bowl in its center. "Carlton's taken himself off to God knows where, and she swears it's because Rutledge remains. Perhaps if you were to present yourself, he'd return to Buxton."
"Jenny may not be so pleased if he does; they appear to deal extremely well together."
"Not so well that it shows at the moment. She appe
ars quite downcast. We even offered to drive her to the old ruins, but she showed no interest."
"What, not interested in a pile of old stones? I can't believe it," mocked the earl.
"You may laugh," reproved Perry, "but we only wanted to cheer her up. Take her away from Rutledge, so she didn't have to listen to his interminable prosing."
Returning to Ravensby after an afternoon's ride in the company of his sister and Phillip Rutledge, Freddie Lynton quickly drew rein and pointed an imperative finger toward the stables as a team of matching bays were led across its yard.
"They're Ned's-I'm sure of it! I'd know them anywhere," he cried enthusiastically, and, urging his horse to a canter, he headed in their direction, Jennifer doing likewise.
Having no desire to follow in their wake, Rutledge held back, cursing roundly. An unreasoning anger overtook him at thought of Sinclair's arrival, and he turned his horse away, desiring to prolong his ride. He most certainly had no wish to greet the earl. Knowing that Jenny had been awaiting his arrival, he saw his coming as an intrusion.
However, if Jennifer had been awaiting his arrival, she was determined not to show it. Instead of going immediately, as Freddie had done, to the rear salon, where the earl and his brother sat taking tea with Flora, she took her leisurely time in changing before making her presence known.
"My lord, how delightful to see you," she said nonchalantly upon entering the room and extending her hand as he rose to greet her.
He frowned slightly at the formal greeting but bowed briefly over her hand and attempted to mirror her indifferent mood.
Freddie had long since disappeared in the company of Perry, and Flora looked between the two, not knowing what to make of their reunion. They stood facing each other, saying nothing and appearing ill at ease. Seeing their awkwardness and not wishing to intrude, she made her exit on the pretext of ordering supper.
Being left alone had the desired effect of loosening Jenny's tongue, but the words were not what Flora would have expected. "You left me without a word, Edward Thurston," she accused him. "Surely I deserved better than that"
"Sit down, Jen, and I will explain," he cajoled, attempting to take her hand, but she snatched it away, hiding it behind her rose-colored skirts.
"I thought we'd come to a better understanding than that you should treat me in such a cavalier fashion," she said accusingly.
"I'm sure you wouldn't have thanked me for knocking on your door at dawn, for that is when I left for the inn."
"What was this thing that you'd lost and was so valuable that it necessitated your immediate departure?"
"A keepsake," he answered defensively. "Something that need not bother you-indeed, would not interest you"
"How do you know what would interest me?"
"Jen," he cajoled, "you are being quite unreasonable. Come, can we not cry truce?"
"I will cry truce when you tell me why you've found it necessary to remain in London for so long when you promised to come to Ravensby as soon as you could. Phillip was sure something or someone of more interest had sidetracked you"
"We are squabbling again, Jen" He chuckled. "How is it that, when I'm in your company, we are reduced to the role of schoolchildren? We sound like babes arguing over a toy."
"I'm sorry, Ned," she said contritely, her voice uneven, "but I've been waiting for you for what seems an eternity, and Phillip insisted that you'd no wish to return. He was adamant that you'd forgotten me. What could I think?"
He had the desire to put his arm about her to comfort her but was acutely aware of her reaction to his embrace at their last meeting and instead, managing to capture her hand, led her to the chaise, seating himself at her side.
"Rutledge could not be more mistaken," he said quietly, .,and if I've offended you, I wholeheartedly apologize. I've spoken to Hawley, and I do believe that, between us, we have succeeded in averting a scandal. Some may still have their suspicions, but when they see that we don't seek each other's company, even those will vanish."
"Was Arthur very difficult?" she asked tentatively, wincing at thoughts of what her brother's reaction would have been when approached by Sinclair.
"Shall we say that after discussion, we reached an acceptable understanding? He knows all but recognizes it would be foolish to attempt to broadcast the facts or to attempt to force us into marriage. You will be welcomed home"
"Oh," she answered flatly.
"These arrangements don't sit well with you? You desire something different?"
"Yes ... No ... I don't know," she replied, seeming confused. "Flora has invited me to stay at Ravensby until Carlton returns and then to travel to London with them"
"And it is what you wish to do?"
"I believe so. It's preferable to returning to Arthur for the moment. I've a liking for Flora, and it will allow my elder brother more time to cool his temper."
A silence fell, and it was a moment before the earl became aware that Jennifer appeared to be distracted.
"What troubles you, Jen?" he asked solicitously. "Don't tell me 'tis nothing, for I can see it clearly on your face"
She turned fully to face him and took his hand in both of hers. "I wanted to thank you, Ned," she said solemnly. "You've been so good and kind to me, even offering for me when it's not at all what you wish."
He would have spoken, but she laid two fingers on his lips. "Please, say nothing," she implored. "Let me thank you. I may not have the chance again. I thrust myself upon you. Indeed, I allowed you no option other than to accompany me. If I had had my true deserts, you would have sent me packing, but you were ever the gentleman. Many in a like situation would have attempted to take advantage of it, but you did not. Phillip has pointed out to me that I behaved like a hoyden, and I believe he is right. I never thought of the position I was putting you in. As he says, I acted no better than an opera girl...
"Damn Rutledge," swore Sinclair passionately. "What right has he to judge your actions?"
"I believe every right," said a pompous voice from the doorway as Phillip sauntered in, slowly drawing off his riding gloves. "In fact, I am ever hopeful that Jenny will become my wife. Therefore, my comments are quite within keeping. I foresee no opposition from Hawley. In truth, it will resolve a very awkward situation, and I see no reason for him to issue a refusal."
"No!" cried Jenny, coming quickly to her feet. "I've told you, I have no intention of marrying anyone."
A look of insufferable superiority flitted across Phillip's haughty countenance. "We will see how long that intent lasts when you are confronted by censure at every turn, my dear. Indeed, we will see what Hawley has to say on the subject."
"Arthur will have no say in the matter," replied Jennifer hotly, "and neither will you, Phillip. I order my own life."
The earl, too, came to his feet, but she pushed past him, and, casting Rutledge a look of complete dislike, she ran from the room.
"There's no need to cast me such darkling looks, Sinclair," sneered Rutledge, advancing into the room and depositing his length in a hearthside chair. "You had your chance-now it's mine. Have no fear, she will soon come about and see the sense of accepting me-I'm sure of it. We've dealt so well together in the past, I'm certain we will do so again."
"You are very confident of something that is far less than certain," replied Sinclair coldly. "You issue censure where none is warranted. The child is far too innocent. She saw no impropriety in seeking my aid, and the thought that it could be misconstrued never entered her head. If you must apportion blame, lay it at my door. It is I who should have had more sense"
"You had a great deal of sense, my friend-sense enough to know that if you compromised her, she would be obliged to marry you"
The earl strode toward Rutledge, his face dark with anger, his hand clenched at his side. "If my desire was to marry her, I would not stoop to trickery to achieve my ends. I have the sense not to attempt to coerce her into a disastrous marriage. I would take no unwilling bride, but you obviously would not b
alk at the thought."
"Then we shall see how unwilling she is once she has returned to London," sneered Rutledge, rising and moving away. "She will soon realize that even an heiress is not allowed to flaunt the laws of propriety." Watching his companion, he liked not the look on the earl's severe countenance. It came to him that it would not serve his purpose to enter into a situation over which he had no certain control, a situation that could remove his influence over Jennifer. He was no fool. To remain would give her the opportunity to draw comparisons, and he was far from confident of the result.
"I see that I am no longer required here," he said with an air of superiority. "I remained merely to ensure that Jennifer would be well received by your sister. I've matters to attend to in Buxton. However, be assured, I do not relinquish my claim. I have every intention of pursuing my cause, and we will see the outcome of this little dispute when I return to London"
"Then we will not keep you longer from your home," replied the earl. "I can assure you, there's no further need for your concern. Be assured that she is quite well received and no longer requires your company. Indeed, the hour is not so far advanced that you need delay your departure. I believe you may attain a good thirty miles before you are required to put up for the night."
Rutledge colored profusely. He was not used to being the recipient of such forthright animosity, but he was no fool. "I believe, as you suggest, I will make my departure immediately. I've no wish to be de trop." He made a move toward the door but halted, briefly turning to face his companion. Making a short bow, he said tersely, "I would be obliged if you would thank our hostess for her hospitality and inform her of my departure."
"I can assure you, we are devastated by your loss," mocked the earl, watching his retreat with distinct satisfaction.
The candles burned low in their sconces, but still sleep would not come. Finally Jennifer rose from her bed and, wrapping her silk robe about her, went to sit in the chair by the hearth.
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