The Passionate Friends

by Meg Alexander

Nellie’s claw-like hands reached out, and then she gave a little yelp of pain as Margrave rapped her across the knuckles with his cane.

  “Don’t be greedy, Nellie!” he reproved. “I’ll take charge of that.”

  “There’s plenty for all, and more where that came from,” Truscott told him carelessly.

  “Thought it over, have you?” the forger jeered. “Very wise! I never thought you a fool.”

  “I’m not! I don’t waste my time bemoaning anything I can’t change.”

  “Splendid! Nellie, I must congratulate you upon your son’s good sense.” Margrave tipped out the contents of the purse. Then his lips pursed and he shook his head. “A modest offering, I fear. You must do better than this.”

  “I’m not such a fool as to carry gold about me in this place. If you want more you’ll have to come with me to fetch it.”

  Margrave laughed in his face. “To Seven Dials? Charlie, do you take me for a plucked ’un? I’d as soon walk through the gates of hell as go to your house alone.”

  “I shouldn’t ask it of you. I leave no money there. It’s safest at the church. There’s always a tidy sum from the collections.”

  Margrave leaned back in his chair, and eyed Truscott with great deliberation. Then he shook his head.

  “I don’t think so. I don’t trust you, Charlie. You’ve been at pains to keep us all away from your precious parish. What is so different now?”

  “I don’t mean all of you,” the preacher cried impatiently. “I can’t have Nellie about the place, but you would pass for one of the congregation.”

  “Thank ’ee! I’m flattered, but not convinced. You’d best come here every day, and bring as much as you can.”

  “I can’t do that. I’m to be wed next week. My absence is already giving rise to comment with the lady’s stepmother. Would you have me lose my bride?”

  Margrave looked shocked. “My dear sir, I hope that you will not do so. The lady is to be the source of all our fortunes, is she not?”

  “Then heed my words. I cannot come to you again before my marriage. After that, I cannot say. You claim that this present sum is modest. I agree. For the present the only money at my disposal is locked within the vestry. It will provide for you for several weeks. After that, there will be papers to be signed and perhaps a lengthy wait before I am in possession of my wife’s inheritance.”

  “So you are offering us your savings? My dear chap, how very generous of you, though sadly out of character, I fear. We must prepare ourselves to wait, I believe.”

  “As you please!” Truscott rose to his feet, and prepared to take his leave of them. Then Nellie intervened.

  “We can’t live on this!” she snarled. With a quick movement of her hand she scattered the coins across the table in disgust. “Don’t trust him, Dick! Once he’s wed he won’t come back.”

  “Oh, I think he will, but you are right. We can’t live on air. Very well, sir, I will go with you, but I warn you. I am armed.”

  Truscott ignored the implied threat. His plan was going well, and he was in no hurry. He allowed his companion to comment upon the fine spring weather as they strolled along together, and permitted himself a smile at Margrave’s pleasantries.

  “This is better,” the forger observed as he gave his hat a jaunty tilt. “Charlie, you ain’t short of brains. We ought to be good friends.”

  “I agree. It’s a pity you have the others hanging on to you. A fortune shared between you won’t go far.”

  “You express my own thoughts to perfection, but for the moment I have no alternative. There is safety in numbers, as you know.”

  “Careful, as always?” Truscott chuckled. “I was thinking only that we might come to some arrangement, just the two of us. You might be useful to me. As I say, you would pass for a member of my congregation…”

  “A partnership? It’s certainly worth of consideration. Shall we step into this hostelry?”

  They were now well away from the pauper colony, and he turned through the doors of a nearby inn. Avoiding the noisy taproom, he led the way through to a small parlour with smoke-blackened walls and windows so heavily leaded as to admit only the faintest trace of light.

  The two men seated themselves in the far corner of the room, almost concealed by the shadows. Truscott looked about him.

  “You know this place?” he asked.

  “I’ve used it on occasion. No questions asked, you understand, and plenty of warning if strangers are about. Can’t always tell who’s in the taproom, naturally, but it will be quiet enough in here.”

  Truscott nodded. He was well satisfied with this quiet spot in which to pursue his objective.

  “This plan of yours?” the forger continued. “What’s in it for me?”

  Truscott considered his next words carefully. At no time must he alert his quarry to the fate in store for him.

  “You have certain skills,” he said at last. “It may be that at some time in the future there will be a need to alter various documents in my…in our favour.”

  “Very true! That should present no problems.”

  “Aside from that, you have a smooth address. Why not make use of it? The fools of women who attend my services are begging to be parted from their dibs.” Deliberately, he used thieves’ cant as he grinned at his companion. “We might even make a preacher of you!”

  “No, no! I’ll leave all that to you. You could always talk, and you might have made your fortune on the boards. As for me, my face is too well known in certain quarters. I believe in keeping low.”

  “Just as you wish, but my offer holds. Work with me, and I’ll make you a rich man. Now, what do you say?”

  “I’ll think about it.” It was as far as Margrave would go. “There’s only one thing worries me. You were always a selfish devil, Charlie, looking out for number one. Why the sudden change?”

  “Oh, I haven’t changed, but I don’t close my eyes to facts. Let’s say I’d rather have you with me than against me. You know the old saying ‘If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’?”

  “You’re a marvel, sir…a positive marvel!” The older man gave his companion a look of admiration. “It’s a pleasure to do business with you.” He downed his drink in one. “Now about this money? Shall we go?”

  “Dick, you must give me an hour or two. I shan’t be wasting my time. You’ll agree that I must keep the lady sweet? I’ve been neglecting her in recent days. I’d best go to see her.”

  Margrave’s look was speculative. “You wouldn’t be trying to do me down? I warn you—”

  “No, no, it’s nothing like that! We are in full agreement, aren’t we?” Truscott favoured his companion with an encouraging smile. “Why not come to my church tonight? If you attend the evening service you’ll see what I mean. When you cast your eye over those plump pigeons ready for the plucking, you’ll hesitate no longer.”

  “Why must it be tonight?” Margrave was immediately suspicious.

  “The church will be full. Your presence will go unnoticed, and I’ll give you the money after the service. You won’t object to adding tonight’s collection to your purse, will you?”

  Greed fought with suspicion in the forger’s mind. Then, as Truscott had expected, he agreed to the plan, albeit with some misgivings.

  “No tricks, mind!” He tapped his pocket significantly, comforted by the weight of the pistol which reposed there.

  Truscott shook his head in apparent sorrow. “You must learn to trust me. Would I be likely to attack you in full view of my congregation? Didn’t you say something about there being safety in numbers? I thought you’d welcome the idea.”

  With that he strode away. He was well pleased with the result of this interview with Margrave, and not all of his story had been false. He had been neglecting Judith. By now she must be wondering what had become of him. It was time to pull the strings and draw his puppet back to him.

  Now he had no fear that any of his enemies would approach her. Margrave would see to that. She
must return home without delay. Mrs Aveton would be happy to send a note to that effect to Lady Wentworth.

  He was surprised to learn that Judith had already parted from her friends. Was she anxious for her wedding? He doubted it, but his lips curved in pleasurable anticipation. He banished that smile as he was shown into the salon, but he sensed at once that Mrs Aveton was not her usual bombastic self.

  “Thank heavens you are come!” she said with feeling. “Sir, it was folly to leave us for so long.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  A bitter laugh greeted his words. “You may judge for yourself. Judith is much changed…”

  “How so?” Truscott was alarmed, but his face was bland as he looked at her.

  “Why, she is very much upon her mettle, and is lost to all sense of propriety. Whether it is the influence of her friends, or the thought of her inheritance I cannot say, but she answered me in such a way! I must say, I was shocked by her pert behaviour.”

  “Have you been quarrelling with her?” There was something in his eyes which made her back away.

  “I had cause to speak to her upon a certain matter,” she said defensively.

  “Ma’am, you are a fool! Did I not warn you to keep the peace? When will you learn that you must leave her to me?” Truscott’s face was working as he took a step towards her.

  “Let me send for her,” she said hurriedly. She retreated to the far end of the room and tugged at the bell-pull.

  “I won’t tell you again,” he warned. “You will keep a still tongue in your head. God knows what damage you have done!”

  His fears were stilled when Judith entered the room. She came towards him quickly.

  “Charles, you have news? How is your mama?”

  “Sad news, my love! She is gone, alas, and is at this moment in the presence of her Maker.” He sat down suddenly, and covered his eyes with a shaking hand.

  “Oh, my dear, I am so sorry. At least you were with her. That must have been a comfort in her dying moments…” She rested a gentle hand upon his bowed shoulders.

  He seized it and pressed his lips against her fingers.

  “Too good, my angel! Now I have only you. You are all that is left to me.” Truscott lifted his face to hers, ignoring a sardonic look from Mrs Aveton. “I must be strong,” he murmured. “There will be much to do in the days ahead…the funeral, you know.”

  “Shall…shall you wish to postpone our wedding? At a time of mourning, it would be unseemly for the ceremony to take place.”

  “Ah, my dearest, how like you to consider me, but I made a death-bed promise. It was my mother’s dearest wish that our marriage should go ahead, just as we had planned. We cannot bring her back to us, but before she died she urged that nothing must stand in the way of our future happiness.”

  “Then the delirium passed?”

  “At the last her mind was clear, and I thank God for it. She knew me, Judith, and gave us both her blessing.” Truscott managed to squeeze out a solitary tear. “You will not allow conventions to stand in the way of the wishes of a dying woman?”

  “No!” she said quietly. “It shall be as you promised.” She felt ashamed that even in the midst of her pity for him she’d felt a sudden lightening of her heart at the thought of a possible postponement of her marriage. In the usual way there would be at least a year of mourning for a close relative, but it was not to be.

  She crushed the tiny flicker of hope which had flared, however briefly, in her heart. She was being selfish. Now, when Charles was most in need of her, she was thinking only of herself. In a gesture rare with her she took his hands and pressed them warmly.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Truscott almost fainted with relief. In his playacting, he had overlooked the possible consequences of his news.

  The stupid girl might have upset all his plans with her foolish notions of propriety. Left to her own devices she would probably have gone into black for at least a year. Any postponement of his marriage would be sure to finish him, for Margrave would not wait.

  His throat felt dry, and when he looked down at his hands he saw that they were trembling. It was no matter. Judith would attribute his pallor and his inability to speak to a natural distress. He glanced at Mrs Aveton for support.

  “Our dear Charles is right,” she said at once. “His filial sentiments do him the utmost credit.”

  She wanted to laugh aloud. Truscott thought himself so clever, but this time he had overplayed his hand. She’d been alarmed herself, but he had made a swift recovery, twisting the situation to his own advantage. She could only admire the speed with which he had extricated himself. It hadn’t made her like him any better.

  Now he stumbled to his feet and took his leave of them. There was much to do to prepare himself for Margrave’s visit, but he’d had a shock and his nerves were still on edge. He forced himself to walk more slowly, drawing in deep breaths. He must be calm. If his plans for the forger were to go well he needed a cool head.

  Judith returned to her own room and sat down at her desk. Since her return, and after the confrontation with Mrs Aveton, she had felt curiously detached from the world about her.

  The only reality was her book. In writing it she could forget the sad thoughts which beset her. In her unhappiness she’d been convinced that she would never write another line, but it wasn’t so. She’d learnt to leave a sentence unfinished when she put aside her work. To complete it led her into the next, and soon her pen was flowing swiftly over the pages.

  Bessie eyed her doubtfully. She was deeply troubled. Lost in a world of her own making, her young mistress was at peace, but in company there was a certain brittle brightness in her manner which was out of character.

  Bessie stole quietly from the room. Then she stationed herself beside a window which overlooked the street. Taking out her handkerchief she waved to a figure opposite. The man turned quickly and walked away.

  She returned to her vantage point at the same time on the following day. This time the family carriage was waiting at the door. As Bessie watched, Mrs Aveton left the house accompanied by her daughters, intent upon an outing to the Park at the fashionable hour of five o’clock.

  Bessie opened the window slightly as the carriage rolled away. Then she beckoned to the watcher in the street. Silently she stole downstairs and let him in by a side-door.

  Then, with a finger to her lips enjoining silence, she motioned to him to follow her up the back stairs.

  Bessie had chosen her time well. Freed from the demands of their importunate mistress for an hour or so, none of the other servants were about. She guessed that they would be resting, or playing cards in the servants’ hall, glad of the respite before the bustle attendant upon the evening meal.

  She paused before Judith’s door and tapped, but there was no reply. Throwing caution to the winds she opened it and departed, leaving Dan to enter the room alone.

  Judith didn’t raise her head. It was not until he stood behind her and laid his hands upon her shoulders that she turned.

  “You!” she cried in disbelief. “You must be mad! What are you doing here, and how did you get in? The porter has orders never to admit you.”

  “Judith, I had to see you. Why did you run away?” Dan was very pale, but the blue eyes held her own.

  “Need you ask?” she said coldly. “You had best go at once, before my stepmama returns.”

  “Not before I’ve had my say. Oh, my dear, I tried to tell you of my love. Why won’t you believe me?”

  “I judge by actions, not by words, and I will have no arguments. Will you go, or must I call the servants?”

  Dan stood his ground. “Only if you wish me to break their heads. Judith, you must listen to me, if only for the sake of our past friendship—”

  “You presume too much upon it, sir. What am I to hear? Another tirade about the man I am to marry?”

  “I didn’t intend to speak of him…only of you.”

  “And what of me? You have a curious no
tion of friendship, Dan. Do you care nothing for my peace of mind? I won’t be worried in this way. Heaven knows I have enough to bear without your constant pestering! How can I make you understand?”

  “You’ll never do so. Judith, you don’t love this man. Will you lie, and tell me that you do?”

  “Love, so I’m told, is not a prerequisite for marriage. Is it not said to come much later?”

  “You don’t believe that, and nor do I!”

  “I wonder that my feelings should concern you. You have no right…no right at all to question me!”

  “Once, long ago, you gave me that right.”

  “All that is past, but you won’t accept it, will you? Dan, I have grown up. I’m not the girl you knew. You mentioned friendship? If you still wish to be my friend you will respect my wishes.”

  “I’d be happy to do so if I believed that this marriage is what you wish with all your heart.” He moved towards her, intending to take her in his arms, but she put out a hand to fend him off.

  “No!” she cried sharply. “Please don’t touch me!” Judith could not trust herself. Once in his arms, with his mouth on hers, she would be lost. And lost to what? To a man who had offered for her only out of pity? She could not bear it.

  Dan’s face grew ashen. She had recoiled from him so fiercely that his arms fell to his sides.

  “Forgive me!” he said simply. “I won’t trouble you again. May I offer you my wishes for your future happiness?”

  Dan’s spirits were at their lowest ebb. What happiness could Judith hope for with a man whom he knew to be a villain? Without proof, there was no way to convince her. Her determination to wed Truscott seemed unshakeable.

  Judith rang the bell for Bessie. She did not look at her maid.

  “Show this gentleman out!” she ordered coldly. “When you have done so you may return. I have much to say to you.”

  Dan lost his temper then. Wild with frustration, he spun round.

  “Don’t take your anger out on Bessie, please. The fault is mine, if fault there is. Believe me, I have no wish to repeat it.” With that he strode towards the door. “Bessie, you need not trouble yourself. I’ll find my own way out—”