Molly was laughing at something Serena had said and Russ felt the breath catch in his chest. He thought she had never looked better, the creamy tones of her skin enhanced by the warm colour of her silk gown, and for an instant he caught a flash of the spirited, carefree girl she must have once been. Then it was gone. Molly was still smiling, but she had withdrawn a little and he was sorry for it.
* * *
During dinner Russ put himself out to please, exerting all his charm as he attempted to draw Molly into the conversation. Serena’s natural vivacity was an advantage, for there were no awkward silences to be filled and he thought, by the time the ladies withdrew, that Molly was looking a little more at ease. She even met his eyes for one brief, shyly smiling moment.
The ladies were waiting for them when they returned to the drawing room but Russ noticed immediately that Serena was looking tired. Hardly surprising, he thought wryly, if she had been awake since midnight. He politely declined Edwin’s invitation to remain until the tea tray was brought in.
‘My sister needs her sleep,’ he said, rising. ‘I shall return in the morning to take her back to Harrogate.’
‘Will we travel in your curricle, brother?’
He shook his head. ‘Much as I am sure you would like to cut a dash, Serena, the weather does not look promising and I have no intention of being crushed under the hood with you and your bandboxes! Kilburn has already offered to lend us his berline.’
He had expected Serena to pout at the use of this rather staid vehicle, but she gave him a beaming smile.
‘That is very good, because it means there will be room for Molly to come with us.’
Molly’s exclamation and her look of shock convinced Russ that she had not been a party to this idea.
‘You must not be selfish, Serena. We have already imposed enough upon Mrs Morgan. We cannot expect her to give up the whole of tomorrow for you.’
His sister gave a loud and heartfelt sigh, worthy of Mrs Siddons.
‘Just the thought of going back to that place fills me with dread.’ She turned her soulful gaze upon Molly. ‘Oh, pray, ma’am, do say you will come along to support me in my interview with Mrs Wetherby. She is sure to be very angry with me and my nerves will be in shreds before we have gone half the distance if I do not have you to sustain me.’
Russ’s lips twitched at this masterly performance, but he said gravely. ‘And is my presence not sustaining enough, Serena?’
‘But you are not a woman,’ she replied, with unarguable logic. ‘Molly is the nearest thing I have for a friend in the whole world, and besides that, she is eminently respectable, which is sure to impress Mrs Wetherby much more than if I turn up with only my rakish brother for escort.’
Russ was at a loss how to answer this. Edwin had broken into a fit of coughing, no doubt to cover his laughter, but Molly was looking distressed and he could not bear that.
‘I am not interested in impressing Mrs Wetherby,’ he retorted. ‘I have no doubt Henry and I pay the woman an extortionate sum for your place at her academy, so she will do as she is bid!’
‘Yes, I am sure she will, while you are present, but once you are gone I shall be at her mercy and subject to a thousand petty tyrannies.’
Russ was unimpressed, but Edwin was clearly moved as Serena began to hunt for her handkerchief.
‘Perhaps there is some truth in that, Russington,’ he said. ‘Take Molly with you. She is accustomed to dealing with such matters in the parish and she may well be able to smooth things over with this Mrs Wetherby. Well, my love, what do you say? Have you any engagements tomorrow that cannot be rearranged?’
‘It is too much of an imposition,’ Russ objected. ‘Mrs Morgan is not even related to Serena.’
‘With Mama living in Italy my only other female relative is Henry’s wife, Dorothea, and she is hundreds of miles to the south.’ Serena gave a little sniff. ‘Not that she has ever liked me. I am quite, quite friendless.’
* * *
Molly watched, listened, knew it was a performance, of sorts, but still she did not hesitate.
She said, ‘That is not true, Serena. Of course, I will accompany you, if you think it might help.’
Serena’s woeful looks vanished immediately, replaced by a beaming smile. She flew across the room to embrace Molly, words of gratitude tumbling from her lips. It was some moments before she could be persuaded to sit down, but then Molly was able to observe the gentlemen’s reactions. Edwin nodded at her, sure she was doing the right thing, but Russ was staring at her with dark, troubled eyes.
‘No, we cannot ask that of you, ma’am.’
‘I do not see why not,’ argued Serena. ‘Molly has offered to come with me and, as Mr Frayne says, she has some experience in these matters, which you most certainly do not, brother.’
‘I am perfectly capable of dealing with an elderly schoolmistress,’ he retorted, bridling.
‘I am sure you are, sir.’
Molly knew her cynical agreement would not help matters, but the words were out before she could stop them. There was more than a suggestion of clenched teeth as Russ went on.
‘And it would hardly be fitting for Mrs Morgan to travel back alone with me in a closed carriage.’
‘No, indeed, Mr Russington.’ She met his angry glare with a glittering smile. ‘You would be obliged to ride on the box!’
‘Oh, I am sure Russ would have no objection to doing that,’ remarked Edwin, blissfully unaware of the tension behind this interchange.
‘Then it is settled,’ declared Serena, getting up. She walked across to kiss her brother’s cheek. ‘Thank you, dear Russ, I promise you I shall be ready to travel at whatever hour you choose in the morning and so will Molly!’
Molly stretched her lips into a smile but said nothing, wondering how she would survive a whole day in the beau’s company.
* * *
Sir Gerald’s elegant berline came to a halt before the vicarage, the horses snorting and tossing their heads as if impatient to be moving again.
‘Good heavens, what an impressive equipage,’ declared Serena, peering out of the morning-room window. ‘We shall be travelling in style today!’
‘Then let us not keep the horses standing longer than necessary,’ replied Molly, shepherding her charge to the door.
Russ was already coming up the path to meet them as they stepped out of the house. He handed Serena into the carriage, then held his hand out to Molly.
‘It is very good of you to give up your day for my sister.’ He lowered his voice, ‘I am very grateful, when you have every reason to hate me.’
‘I do not hate you,’ she replied, not meeting his eyes.
He turned so that his back was to the carriage, his words for Molly alone.
‘What, not even for that kiss?’
Even without looking at him, she knew he was smiling. She could imagine the teasing glint in his eyes and she felt the familiar fluttering inside. She said quietly, ‘I believe I have given you even more reason to hate me, for what I said to you.’
‘Then let us forget the past, if we may. I would like to think we could still be friends. Do you think that is possible?’
The weight on her spirits lifted, just a little. ‘Perhaps.’
‘Good. I am glad.’ He stepped aside, allowing her to enter the carriage before jumping in.
They were away, the glossy black horses proving they were more than just a good-looking team as they bowled out of the town and away towards Harrogate. Molly had chosen to sit beside Serena, but now she wondered if that was wise, because she was facing Russ and her wayward eyes wanted to rest upon him, to take in the elegance of his blue coat and white waistcoat, the intricately tied cravat with a diamond winking from its folds, and if she allowed her gaze to drop then she could not avoid seeing his powerful thighs encased in tight-fitting pantaloon
s.
One glance had been enough to take everything in and it was imprinted in her mind, from the thick, glossy black curls on his head to the highly polished Hessians on his feet, he was every inch the fashionable gentleman. There was nothing for it but to keep silent and feign an interest in what was passing outside the window, although they had not yet left Compton Parva and she was familiar with every building.
Serena knew no such reserve. She declared that her brother was looking as fine as fivepence.
‘And what do you think of Molly’s walking dress?’ she went on. ‘I helped her decide upon it this morning because we need her to look as dull and respectable as possible, and I vow she looks so severe I am quite afraid of her.’
‘I do not believe you are afraid of anyone,’ Molly retorted.
‘You are right.’ Russ grinned. ‘My sister may be a minx, but I have never doubted her spirit. And Serena is quite wrong about your gown, it does not look dull at all. That shade of charcoal grey suits you. I have never seen you look better.’
The unexpected remark drove the heat into Molly’s cheeks, but Serena appeared delighted with it.
‘Good heavens, do not listen to him, Molly. He will turn your head with his compliments.’
Molly laughed. ‘I cut my eye teeth long ago and I am no longer susceptible to compliments from rakes such as your brother.’ She clapped her hands to her mouth. ‘Oh, dear, I beg your pardon. I should not have called you that.’
‘Not in front of my little sister, perhaps, but friends should be able to say what they wish to one another, should they not?’
His smile reassured Molly, but she upbraided herself for speaking so freely and she lapsed into silence, resolving to guard her tongue in future when dealing with Beau Russington.
* * *
They rattled on, making good time, but Molly noticed that Serena grew quieter as they approached Harrogate.
‘I recognise this part of the road.’ Serena peered anxiously out of the window. ‘We will soon be at the school.’
Russ reached across and touched her hand. ‘Don’t sound so worried, brat, I will not let her eat you.’
‘No, of course, she won’t, not with my handsome big brother to protect me,’ replied Serena, clearly trying to throw off her nerves. ‘And looking every inch a London gentleman.’
‘I want to make a favourable impression upon Mrs Wetherby. That is very important, if we are to persuade the woman to take you back.’
His words crystallised the thoughts that had been whirling around in Molly’s head for the past half hour. She would be making the return journey alone with Russ. True, it had been agreed that he would ride up top with the coachman, but would he? Would she be strong enough to insist upon it?
You must be strong, Molly. A lot more than your reputation will be at risk if you spend two hours alone in a closed carriage with him.
‘We must do our best to persuade Mrs Wetherby to give you a second chance, Serena,’ said Russ. ‘I have no doubt Mrs Morgan will agree with me on that point.’
Thus addressed, Molly had no option but to look at him, but that was a mistake because he was smiling at her and all her resolutions melted away before the warm look in his eyes. Suddenly there was nothing she wanted more than to be alone with him. Serena’s voice broke into her thoughts.
‘She would have to be made of stone not to be impressed by you, Russ. Is that not so, Molly?’ Serena giggled. ‘But then, I have always thought of Mrs Wetherby as a gorgon.’
‘A gorgon turns other people to stone,’ said Molly, pushing her own concerns to one side. ‘I hope very much that isn’t the case today!’
The carriage was slowing to negotiate the narrow gateway to Mrs Wetherby’s Academy for Young Ladies. Russ sat forward and studied the house with narrowed eyes.
‘Well, we are here, Serena. We had best get this over.’
‘I have no doubt she will scold me royally.’
‘Then you must prepare yourself to be suitably chastened.’ Almost before the carriage had stopped he jumped out and let down the steps. ‘Come along, ladies.’
They were admitted by a maidservant and shown into a small waiting room while Mrs Wetherby was apprised of their arrival. Russ stood with his hands behind his back, looking out of the window and the two ladies perched on the edge of a very hard and underpadded sofa. The silence stretched on for several minutes, marked by the steady tick, tick of the longcase clock in the corner, before footsteps could be heard and the maid returned to announce that Mrs Wetherby would see them in her office. As they followed the maid out of the room Serena slipped her hand into Molly’s.
‘I am very glad you are here to help me face the gorgon,’ she whispered.
Chapter Nine
‘Well,’ said Serena, settling herself comfortably on her seat. ‘That was not at all what I expected, although I cannot say I am sorry.’
They were all three of them in the berline again and on their way back to Compton Parva. Russ leaned back against the squabs, his anger draining away. He had not expected to lose his temper. He had politely explained everything to Mrs Wetherby, who had given instructions for Serena’s bandboxes to be returned to her room. She had then invited them all to sit down in her office to discuss the matter and Russ had thought the situation was well in hand. Serena had been suitably, nay, admirably repentant and had kept silent with her eyes lowered while the schoolmistress rang a peal over her.
It was not unexpected and Russ listened, if not with pleasure, then at least with equanimity to the woman’s homily. After all, Serena had acted outrageously in running away from the school. He accepted the schoolmistress’s recriminations and held his irritation in check, even when she turned her wrath upon him, condemning his morals and his lifestyle before reproaching both him and Lord Hambridge for allowing their young sister to become wild beyond control. Mrs Wetherby had been angry, impolite and even offensive, but still he had said nothing.
Serena was regarding him now with something bordering on awe.
‘You demolished her in a most masterly fashion, brother. I thought she was going to burst into tears when you said she lacked both the good manners and the intelligence to teach young ladies of refinement. I wish you had not sent me off at that point to pack my things and order my trunks to be taken back to the carriage, for I should dearly love to have heard what else you said to the gorgon.’
‘It was wrong of me to have said half so much,’ he said curtly, ‘but when she turned upon Molly in that fashion I could not remain silent.’
It was the sight of Molly, white-faced and trembling, that had broken the hold on his temper. She had merely suggested to Mrs Wetherby in her quiet, diffident way, that perhaps the school’s excessive restrictions might be expected to rouse rebellion in a lively sixteen-year-old and that had drawn the woman’s ire. She had launched a blistering attack upon Molly, culminating in thinly veiled aspersions upon the widow’s status and respectability.
‘No, I could see that put you in a rage,’ said Serena, cheerfully. ‘But I am very glad that it did, for you left her in no doubt that I shall not be returning to her horrid school.’
He scowled at her. ‘You may be glad, brat, but it has left me in the devil of a fix. I shall have to hire some respectable female to keep you company until I can take you to Henry and Dorothea.’
‘Who will immediately look for another horrid school for me!’
‘You cannot know that. They might keep you with them until your come-out in the spring.’
‘Ha, Dorothea will not allow that. She has never liked me.’
‘Nonsense.’ Russ uttered the denial without much conviction.
‘And although she has agreed to take me to London for my come-out,’ Serena went on, eyes sparkling and her cheeks flaming with indignation, ‘I have no doubt she will want to marry me off as soon as maybe, to the first man
who comes along!’
‘Now, on that point you are very far out, my girl, because Henry and I would not agree to it.’
‘If I might make a suggestion?’ Molly’s quiet voice interrupted their heated altercation. Russ and Serena both turned to look at her. ‘Edwin thought that something like this might arise. That is, that Mrs Wetherby might refuse to take Serena back into the school. He mentioned it to me last night and suggested that, perhaps, Serena might stay with us at the vicarage until Miss Kilburn returns to Newlands at the end of next week. That would give you time to write to your brother, Mr Russington, and make more permanent arrangements.’
‘Oh, yes.’ Serena clapped her hands. ‘That would be an excellent solution.’
‘No, it would not. We could not impose upon Mrs Morgan and her brother in that way.’
‘I should be delighted to have Serena’s company.’
‘But you are very busy with your committees and your...charities.’
Molly’s chin went up. ‘I take it you are referring to Prospect House.’
‘Of course.’
‘Prospect House?’ Serena’s interest was caught. ‘Oh, what is that?’
‘A scheme of Mrs Morgan’s. A home for females who have...er...fallen on hard times.’
‘It is a refuge,’ explained Molly, ‘And although it was my idea, it could not succeed without the approval of the townspeople. There is also Prospect Farm, which the women run to support themselves.’ She looked back at Russ. ‘I went there yesterday and can easily miss my visit next week.’
‘No, no, why should you do that?’ cried Serena, looking from one to the other. ‘It sounds fascinating. I could come with you. I should like to help.’
Russ was frowning, but Molly was thankful he did not speak. She knew Serena well enough by now to guess that a direct order for her to stay away would only pique the girl’s interest in Prospect House. She must reply cheerfully and make little of it.
‘No, no, that will not be necessary,’ she said. ‘There will be a few household tasks that require my attention, but I thought I might take a little holiday from parish matters while you are with me.’
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