“Perhaps you are right,” he told her stiffly. “I shall not speak of it again.”
His situation was unchanged. All he could offer her was his love. He knew her tender heart. She might accept him out of pity, and that he could not bear. All he could do now was to protect her as best he could, putting her own happiness before his own.
“Prudence will be waiting,” he said quietly.
Judith’s hands fell to her sides. It had been a mistake to come here. Dan had asked only that she give herself time. Time for what? If she entered into another relationship, it would not bring her the happiness for which she longed. First love was an illusion, so she’d heard. It wasn’t so in her case. Dan was all she wanted. She would love him, and him alone, for the rest of her days.
The look on her face destroyed his hard-won composure.
“Forgive me!” he murmured. “I have upset you. You were right. It was a mistake to speak of the past. We can’t change it now…”
Judith was perilously close to tears. Perhaps they could not change the past, but they could change the future. She was about to tell him so, but his face was set, and she knew it would be useless to attempt to sway him.
Now she longed to be alone with her misery. To be so close to him was simply to prolong her torture, but there was Prudence to consider. She made a valiant effort to speak of something else.
“Have…have you heard from Admiral Nelson?” she asked.
“No!” he told her shortly. “I have long ceased to hope for miracles.”
“Or even ceased to hope?” Judith lost her temper then as frustration and unhappiness overwhelmed her. “You disappoint me, Dan! Why won’t you fight for what you want? Go to Merton! See the Admiral! What have you got to lose?” She rounded on him with eyes ablaze, only to find that he was smiling down at her.
“That’s better!” he said gently. “I see that you haven’t lost your spirit.”
“Have you?”
“Judith, as I told you, I’ve tried for years to promote my own designs—”
“Well, try again! Oh, if I were a man I should not be so easily discouraged…Promise me that you will visit Lord Nelson!” In her eagerness to persuade him Judith had come alive again.
“Peace!” he begged as he backed away in mock terror. “I promise to obey you. Indeed, as I value my life I can do no other.”
He was happy to see her smile, reluctant though it was. The years had dropped away, and now she was much more like the girl he’d known in his youth.
Unknown to Judith, he’d already made up his mind to go to Merton. The Great Man might refuse to see him, or worse, dismiss his ideas as totally impractical, but he had to try. The matter was urgent.
In suggesting that Judith give herself time to reconsider, he’d cherished the faint hope that if success should come his way at last, it might not be too late.
With the certain prospect of a career as a naval architect he would work until his reputation was second to none. Others had done it in different fields, with no better start than his. Sir Christopher Wren had rebuilt much of London, and so many of the churches were the work of Nicholas Hawksmoor. Inigo Jones had started his career apprenticed to a joiner, Dan thought in some amusement. It was a modest start for one whose genius as an architect was now well recognised.
If they could do it, so could he, but he needed time, and time was running out for him. He found himself praying that she would heed his words, and at least postpone her marriage.
Then, if all went well for him, he would woo her once again. Perhaps he was dreaming, but he could hope. There had been something in her manner when she’d flown out at him in fury which suggested that she still cared deeply what became of him.
Yet he must not raise her expectations, or his own. It would be too cruel. He took Judith’s hand and kissed it.
“Friends again?” he asked.
It was at this point that Sebastian entered the room. With his customary good manners he betrayed no surprise at finding Dan and Judith alone.
“Dan has persuaded you to visit us?” he said with a smile. “My dear, you are our saviour. Prudence will be delighted…”
He led the way across the hall, and up the massive staircase to his wife’s room. Prudence was lying on a day-bed, turning the pages of her book in a way which suggested that it did not hold her interest.
Beautifully groomed, as always, her glorious hair was caught high in a bandeau which matched her embroidered negligée of sea-green gauze.
“My dear, you look quite lovely!” Judith exclaimed. “How do you feel today?”
“Much like a barrel!” Prudence said with feeling. “I wonder if I shall ever see my toes again.”
“Nothing is more certain.” Sebastian bent and kissed his wife. “My love, you ladies will have much to say to each other. Shall you mind if I steal Dan away for a few moments?”
“Secrets?” Prudence gave him a quizzical look. “Are we to hear about them later?”
“All in good time, I promise.” He signalled to Dan, and walked swiftly from the room.
Prudence smiled at Judith. “I fear that I have a cruel husband. Tales of a mystery would have been a welcome diversion, but now I have your company, so I shan’t complain.”
“This is a trying time for you,” Judith said with sympathy. “Can I do anything to make you more comfortable?”
“The pillow behind my back has slipped. If you could raise it a little…?” Prudence struggled to sit upright.
Judith slipped an arm around her and pushed the pillow into place. She noticed that Prudence was sweating.
“Would you like me to bathe your head?” she suggested. “It is so warm today.”
“I should like that,” Prudence murmured. “Oh dear, I am a dreadful bore at present! I wonder how Sebastian bears with me…”
“He understands.” Judith poured water into a bowl and soaked a cloth. “You are the light of his life, as you know…”
“But sadly dimmed for the moment…” Prudence hadn’t lost her sense of humour. “Oh, Judith, that feels so good!” She lay back and closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the cool cloth against her brow. “Can you stay for a time?”
“Of course, if that is what you wish…” Judith continued with her task.
“I do. You are such a peaceful person. You don’t fuss, or worry me with stupid questions. I cannot abide a fidget.”
“Of course not!” Judith soothed her. “There is nothing worse than a busy person when one is feeling not quite up to the mark.”
“I am not sick, you know.” Prudence managed a weary smile. “But I have a million things to do. It is so galling to be forced to lie here thinking about them.”
“Then don’t.” Judith had an inspiration. “You can help me if you will…just by listening as you lie there.”
Prudence sighed. “My dear, I should not dream of offering you advice. Did we not promise not to speak of your betrothal?”
“It isn’t that. Pru, how could you think that I should worry you about it? This is something else…”
“More secrets?”
“Well, yes, in a way.” Judith looked a little conscious. “I’d like your opinion on…on my book.”
“Your book?” Prudence opened her eyes and sat up suddenly. “You are actually writing a book? My dear, how wonderful! We said always that you should do so. Do you have it with you?”
Judith chuckled, though her colour rose. “It is not so wonderful that I must carry it about with me, but Dan has asked to see it, so I brought the manuscript today. Of course, I have not spoken of it to…to…”
“To anyone else? Never fear! Your secret is safe with me. I confess that I’m flattered to be asked for my opinion.”
“I could be wasting my time,” Judith told her gravely. “I am not the best judge of my own work. Dan liked the first few chapters, but it may be that he is simply offering me encouragement.”
Prudence considered for a moment. “No, you are mistaken! I’
m sure he would be honest, even if you did not enjoy his criticism. You are much too sensible to ask for an opinion if you did not wish to hear the truth.”
“I’m glad you think as I do. Flattery is valueless. I prefer to have my weaknesses pointed out. It can be helpful to a novice.”
“Hardly a novice, Judith! Have you not been writing since you could first put pen to paper?”
“That’s true, but they were childish efforts—”
“And what of your essays which made us laugh so much? Is the book in the same amusing vein?”
“Perhaps you’d like to judge for yourself? That is, if it won’t tire you to hear me read aloud?”
“My dear, it will be a godsend! I quite fancy myself a literary critic. How foolish I have been to trouble my mind with lesser matters! You have quite restored me. Read on, I beg of you.”
“Now you are funning,” Judith said severely. “I believe you to be the most complete hand…and quite as bad as Perry.”
“Never doubt it! Sebastian despairs of me…I rely on the patience of my friends.” Prudence leaned back against her pillows, but her expression was so comical that Judith began to laugh.
“No, Madame Author, pray be serious! This will not do, you know. We are to have a serious discussion…”
Judith gave up. She took the manuscript from her reticule, leafing over several pages until she reached the chapter which had pleased her most. Then, in her clear and beautiful tones, she launched into her story.
Prudence said nothing for a time. Then Judith heard a chuckle. Encouraged, she continued until the chuckle became an outright shout of laughter.
“Judith, I shall never ask you to another party, you sly creature! You sit there, looking as if butter wouldn’t melt, whilst you look into our hearts as if we were made of glass.”
“Not yours, Prudence, nor those of any of my friends. Have I been too cruel? I did not mean to pillory any one particular person. It is just that sometimes I feel that we…Polite Society, I mean…are like the froth upon a seething cauldron. Skimmed off, and thrown away, we should be no great loss.”
“Never say so, Judith!” Prudence grew serious. “Excellence may appear in the most unlikely circumstances. Take the Prince Regent, for example. He is extravagant, self-indulgent, almost certainly a bigamist, and an uncertain friend. Yet consider his achievements! The first member of the Royal Family for centuries with a true regard for culture.”
“Yes, but…”
“But his influence is felt throughout society. Look about you, not only in this house, but in others. Have you seen such craftsmanship in furniture, in decoration, in clothing, and…oh, I don’t know…I suppose I must describe it as a way of life…You won’t deny that it is civilised?”
“Of course not, but is it enough?”
“It isn’t!” Prudence gave her a straight look. “Why do you think I am fretting so? Pregnancy? Not so! I am used to this condition, and happy to give Sebastian our children. Yet I can’t forget the evils which surround us. I’d made a start in changing the conditions in the northern mills, especially for the children, but now I feel so helpless.”
“You will continue with the work. I wish that I might say the same.”
“Then that was why…? Forgive me, as I am being indiscreet, but we all wondered at your decision to marry a parson.”
“I hope I can be useful,” Judith told her warmly. “Oh, Pru, I know that you don’t like Charles Truscott, but you don’t know him. He means to devote his life to helping others.”
This sanguine belief was not echoed in the library below.
“You have news?” Dan had scarcely been able to contain himself until he was out of earshot of the servants.
“Yes! There have been developments. I thought it best to meet our Runner in a coffee house.” Sebastian gave the younger man a hard look. “You will keep this to yourself, of course?”
“Of course! But tell me what has happened…”
“Truscott returned to the parish of St Giles. He spent the day in a certain house. When he emerged it was to conduct a funeral.”
“Outside his own parish?”
“Unusual, perhaps, but nothing out of the way, except that one of the mourners was well known to our man. His name is Margrave.”
Dan looked mystified. “You’ve heard of him?”
“So has half the world. Dick Margrave is a well-known forger. There were ugly rumours. He escaped the noose by a whisker. He was due for transportation when he disappeared.”
“Our quarry keeps strange company,” Dan observed.
“There is more. Truscott was well muffled, but at the graveside he was forced to reveal his face. He appeared to have been beaten…”
“A quarrel among thieves? I’m only sorry that they didn’t kill him.”
“You are jumping to conclusions, Dan.”
“Am I? If he’d been attacked by strangers, why did he stay in ‘the Rookery’? The obvious course would have been to lay a complaint before the magistrates. Instead, he conducts a burial?”
“One must wonder, of course. My man attempted to discover the identity of the two corpses, but he was unsuccessful. Paupers’ graves are unmarked.”
“He might have questioned the other mourners.”
“Impossible! Margrave keeps his eye upon the three of them. He is suspicious of all strangers, and would probably have recognised our man.”
“Well, why do we wait? If this Margrave is a felon he must be given up to the law.”
“And lose our best chance of success? No, we must wait longer for certain proof of our belief that there is something wrong here.” Sebastian paused. “When Truscott left them he went on to the house in Seven Dials.”
Dan’s eyes scanned his face. “You do suspect him, don’t you?” he said earnestly. “Let me tell you what I learned today.”
He went on to describe the strange girl who had accosted Judith in Piccadilly, and given her the cryptic message.
“Now, Seb, you’ll agree there’s something smoky here? Why should Truscott mention Judith to these beggars in the first place? The relief of poverty should be his affair. And to send a message to her in this way…? Why could he not write to her himself? I may tell you I don’t like it!”
Sebastian liked it even less, but he decided to keep the rest of his information to himself. The Bow Street Runner had kept track of him for some time, and a full description of Margrave’s previous activities had been disquieting.
Sebastian had heard of him, but only as a forger. The revelation of a long history of extortion, violence, and possibly murder made his blood run cold.
What was Truscott’s connection with this man? And who was the girl who had spoken to Judith in the street, bearing a message to her from an intermediary?
“Nor do I!” he said slowly, as his gaze rested for a long moment on the younger man’s face. Dan was already seriously alarmed, and he must do nothing to increase it.
“Of course there may be a simple explanation,” he continued. “If Truscott has been injured, he may not wish to frighten Judith by appearing in his present state.”
“Begging your pardon, Seb, but that won’t wear with me! It’s my belief that he’s quarrelled with his cronies, and now he’s gone to ground. I think he wrote the note himself!”
“You may be right,” Sebastian told him mildly. “But if it’s true, it’s scarcely a hanging matter. Shall we join the ladies?”
“You mean you will do nothing?” Dan sprang to his feet. “I can’t believe it! Judith may be in the greatest danger—”
“Not for the moment, I believe. If our suspicions are correct, Truscott will do nothing to delay his marriage. Judith will be in danger only if she decides to break her engagement. Do you understand me?”
Dan flushed. “You mean that I must not continue to persuade her?”
“I mean exactly that,” Sebastian said in level tones. “I have no wish to alarm you further, but if we are right, Truscott won’t allow his
prize to slip away. You have seen how easy it is for anyone to approach her.”
The colour left Dan’s face, and he swallowed. “You can’t think it possible that he would abduct her?”
“I don’t know, but we must take no chances.”
“Then I must warn her to be careful.”
“You will say nothing!” Sebastian told him sharply. “She is still firm in her decision to wed him?”
Dan nodded, his face a picture of desolation.
“That’s good! For the present it is her safeguard. Once let him doubt her willingness, and I won’t answer for the consequences.”
It was stern advice, but he felt obliged to give it. He knew Dan’s heart. The years apart had not changed his passionate devotion for his first love.
He hadn’t been so sure of Judith’s constancy, though Prudence had assured him of it.
“You must be mistaken, my love,” he’d argued gently. “Have you asked her?”
“Of course not!” His wife had taken his hand and held it against her cheek. “One needs only to see them together.”
“You are a romantic!” He’d dropped a kiss upon her hair. “If it is true, then Dan must offer for her. Judith is not wed yet—”
“He won’t do that!”
“Why not?” Sebastian was mystified.
“Need you ask? It is the fortune, my dearest. You know him. Would he ever take anything from you?”
Sebastian frowned. “No! That stubborn refusal of my help has been the cause of what few differences we have had, but this is another matter. The happiness of two people is at stake.”
“I can’t persuade him.” Her eyes were sad.
It was this sadness more than anything which had persuaded him to take such a close interest in Judith’s affairs, though at first it had been much against his better judgment. Now he could only marvel at feminine intuition. Prudence and Elizabeth had been right to distrust the Reverend Charles Truscott. His determination to worst the creature hardened, but his expression was apparently untroubled as he reentered his wife’s boudoir.
There he was delighted to find that his wife had been enjoying herself. She gave him a brilliant smile, and her eyes were sparkling with mischief.
The Passionate Friends Page 12