“Oh. Thank you,” I said, surprised by this sudden attempt at reconciliation.
“When I think of my conduct this winter, I am ashamed,” he said without acknowledging my words. “I had no intention of hurting you, and hope you will forgive me.”
His wording puzzled me. Hurt me? As far as I knew, the only thing damaged had been our easy friendship. “Of course I forgive you,” I said as I stepped into place. After all, it would have been churlish of me to hold it against him, even though the suddenness of it all made me uneasy.
He smiled as the first steps of the dance began. Whatever his reason for apologizing right then, I decided to put it aside until I didn’t have to think about each step coming next.
AS HE HAD IN THE PAST, Philip made me laugh as we danced the lively country jig. It felt good to be on somewhat easy terms with him once more, though I knew I would never have the same friendship I had once had with him. To be on speaking terms at all was a relief in itself.
“I see Richfield is not yet here,” Philip said as he led me off the floor at the end of our dance. “Isn’t that strange?”
It was as if he was fishing for information. I chose to ignore it. “Look, Mr. Ward is dancing with Sarah!” I said, spotting my sister being led out for the next dance.
“I honestly did not think to see Ward show any interest in a young lady,” Philip said, looking a little concerned. “He’s something of a rogue in London, you know.”
No, I hadn’t known and chose not to comment. I had learned well how idle comments could destroy someone’s reputation. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to keep my eye on Mr. John Ward. Just in case. I would not allow my only sister to be hurt by someone who had no serious interest in her.
Making me promise to dance with him again, Philip excused himself and went to dance with Miss Carter. I was surprised to see the young lady without anyone at her side. Then again, Miss Reynolds had been a close companion, and she hadn’t exactly endeared herself to any of the other young ladies. A fact she must be regretting.
Standing on the sidelines felt worse than it ever had before. My toe began to tap in time to the music.
“You’re not dancing?”
Richfield?
My breath caught in my throat, and I slowly spun around. He stood before me in his impeccable evening wear. There was a smile on his face. Something I had thought I would never see again. I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Swallowing hard, I tried again. “You’re here?”
His smile broadened, and he held out his hand. “I am. Shall we join the dance?”
He had come back. After all that had been said between us, he had come back! I could not think of anything else as I put my hand in his. He led me out, and we joined the dance. I did not smile as I moved through the steps. As I danced down the line, I caught Sarah’s eye, and the look of absolute shock on her face made me laugh.
“What, Miss Forester, is so funny?” Richfield asked.
I shook my head, unable to explain. How was it possible to go from feeling miserable to completely happy in a matter of moments? In any event, I didn’t know, and I didn’t care.
“There is someone I want you to meet,” Richfield said once the dance had ended. “If you don’t mind sitting a dance out.”
“No, I don’t mind at all,” I said, struggling to show some decorum.
Smiling, Richfield put my hand on his elbow and led me through the crowd. I quickly spotted my parents. We were headed in their direction. Not recognizing the woman they were speaking to, I frowned, my curiosity piqued. “Mother,” Richfield said. Oh. Oh! “I would like you to meet Miss Diana Forester, my betrothed.”
“Mrs. Richfield!” I said, bobbing a curtsy. “I’m pleased to meet you finally. I didn’t know you would be here tonight.”
For a moment, Mrs. Richfield simply watched me, a serious expression on her face. I fidgeted, feeling sweat forming on my palms. Then, she began to smile, her expression relaxing. “I’ve been hearing a great deal about you, Miss Forester. I’m pleased to meet you as well.”
Well, that could have gone so much worse. “Mrs. Richfield and I were just becoming acquainted,” Mother said to me, smiling.
“Why don’t we have a seat and have a brief chat,” Mrs. Richfield said, gesturing to the chairs. “I would love to become better acquainted with my future daughter-in-law.”
“I’ll get you something to drink,” Richfield said with a smile.
Mrs. Richfield took my hand and pulled me towards the chairs. I glanced at Mother for support. She merely nodded at me and continued speaking with Mrs. Davison. This was a conversation I would have to face on my own.
FOR TWO DANCES, I SAT and talked to the older woman. She had many questions for me, such as what education I’d had and what my interests were. I had the feeling she was studying my character. Richfield brought us both lemonade and then went to talk to Sir Rodger, presumably to give us some space. I wasn’t sure whether I appreciated or was annoyed he had done so.
“Miss Forester, I believe this is our dance.”
Startled, I lifted my head to see Philip, holding his hand out. I hadn’t even heard him approach. I didn’t remember promising him a second dance. Refusing would mean I wouldn’t be able to dance with John again. Unable to see a way out, I glanced over at my companion. Mrs. Richfield nodded, smiling pleasantly. “I look forward to speaking to you more when we have time to ourselves,” she said.
Smiling my thanks, I stood up. “Until later, Mrs. Richfield,” I said. I took Philip’s arm as I walked back to the dancing.
“So that was Mrs. Richfield,” Philip said in an offhand way. I could have kicked myself. Good manners meant I should have introduced him to her and I hoped my failure wouldn’t leave a bad impression on her. “Her daughters are two charming ladies.”
Richfield’s sisters were here as well? “I will have to meet them,” I said, resisting the urge to search the crowd. I wouldn’t have recognized them, and they were not the only strangers at the ball.
Philip shook his head as he led me out onto the dance floor. Down the line, Richfield watched me with a smile. He was partnered with Anna for the dance. I felt a little sorry for him because the look on Anna’s face said she intended on getting every bit of information she could, however she could.
The music began, and I curtsied. When Philip took my hands in his for the next step, I noticed something I hadn’t seen when I danced with him earlier. “You’re wearing your family ring?” I asked. I had often teased him about before, since he wasn’t fond of the large gold piece of jewelry. It even had a family crest on the surface. It had sealed the letters of at least five Knighton generations before Philip was given it.
To my surprise, Philip stumbled. He’d never missed a step while dancing since he was fifteen and first learned how to dance like a gentleman! “Father likes it when I wear the stupid thing,” he said as he regained his footing.
Laughing, I glanced down at his hands and then I was the one who missed a step. His ring. Time seemed to slow as I remembered kneeling down by the bridge and picking up the glinting piece of gold. I remembered rubbing at the mud that had been caked on the surface, thinking I’d seen the roaring lion before. I had seen it on Philip’s hand half a dozen times before!
I also remembered hearing someone behind me. I’d thought it was one of my siblings, having somehow come around. I’d turned to see who it was a show them what I had found, but before I could, something struck my head. And when I woke, the ring had been gone.
It wouldn’t have made sense for the highwayman to attack me just to get back a ring that would have been easy to trace. But if it identified who he was...
Philip Knighton? My friend, the young man who had asked to marry me, was the highwayman?
Chapter Twenty-One
I felt as though I couldn’t breathe. It couldn’t be true, but I knew I was right. Everything fell into place perfectly. He had returned for his ring knowing it would identify him, and he had
n’t been robbed by the highwayman. But when he arrived, I had been in his way. How could he have done it, though? To our friends and neighbors?
“You look pale, Miss Forester,” Philip was saying. He put his arm around my waist and pushed me forcefully away from the dance. Several people were looking at us with frowns. We must have disrupted the dance. “Let’s get you some fresh air.”
Before I could object or even think what to do, he pushed me out of the crowd. In the empty servants’ hallway he guided me into, I jerked free. I refused to go a step further without some kind of explanation. “Philip, what did you do? What have you done?”
“I don’t know what you’re thinking—,” Philip said, holding his hands up.
“I’m thinking —no, I remember— how I found your signet ring at the creek,” I said, pointing at his hand. He flushed and hid his hand behind his back. “It was you, all this time. You stopped all those carriages and robbed all those people How could you? Philip, those are our neighbors. Our friends! And you stole from them?”
With a frustrated groan, Philip grabbed my arms. “Hold still for a minute before you start screaming, Diana. I have a perfectly good explanation—.”
“There is no reason good enough for what you have done!” I said as I struggled. “Let go of me, Philip!”
“Would you just keep your voice down and listen to me?” Philip asked, tightening his grip. No one grabbed me without coming to regret it. Angrily, I kicked his shin. Yelping, he let go of my arms and jumped backward, grabbing at his injured limb. “What was that for? That hurt, Diana!”
What did he think it was for? He had robbed my friends and neighbors and hit me over the head. Now he was because I kicked him when he wouldn’t let me go? Did he not see what he had done was wrong? And he wanted to explain it to me as if it would make everything better?
Maybe I should have been afraid. After all, he’d already proven he would hurt me to keep his identity protected. However, I was too angry with him to have room for fear.
“I’m telling your father,” I said, straightening to my shoulders. Mr. Knighton would deal with this, and I would go back to the ball. I’d apologize to John for having ever wondered he was the highwayman. I spun to do as I said.
“Just listen to me for one minute, Diana!” Philip said, jumping forward and grabbing my arm.
“You’re hurting me!”
“Diana!” Sarah came rushing to my side. “Philip Knighton, let her go this instant! Diana, are you well? What has happened?”
Immediately, Philip jerked away as a strong arm came around my shoulders. John. “Is there a problem?” my betrothed asked, his voice sounding strangled. I glanced up at him and noted the way his brow was furrowed. “Sarah and I were both concerned when you left the dance looking so pale, Diana.”
I took a deep breath. There was only one course of action. “Sarah, please go find Mr. Knighton,” I said, keeping my eyes on my once friend. “I think he will want to know his son is the highwayman.”
The arm around my shoulders tightened protectively as Sarah gasped. “Philip?” my sister said in shock. “No!”
Philip said nothing and dropped his gaze to the floor. “I think you should do as your sister asked, Miss Sarah,” John said gravely. “Diana would not make such an accusation without cause. Mr. Knighton should be here, and your father as well.”
For a moment, Sarah didn’t move. I realized too late what she intended to do when she stepped forward. “Sarah!” I said, stretching my hand out in vain to stop her. Sarah brought her hand up and slapped Philip. He said nothing as she glared at him, only put his hand against his now reddened cheek. I flinched in sympathy.
“You should be ashamed of yourself, Philip Knighton! After you swore to love my sister, you would hurt her?” Sarah snapped before she spun on her heel. “I’ll be back.”
“You’re unharmed?” John asked, keeping his arm around my shoulder.
What a question. “As well as can be expected,” I said with a sigh.
WE STOOD THERE FOR several minutes before Mr. Knighton, my father, and Anna came rushing in with Sarah right behind them. “Philip, what is this about?” Mr. Knighton asked, looking concerned. “Miss Sarah there was something we needed to know. Is there a problem?”
Even at his father’s direct question, Philip didn’t say anything. He was going to make me say it, and I wanted to hate him for it. “He’s the highwayman,” I said, forcing the condemning words out. “I know from the ring on his hand. I found it at the bridge. He must have dropped it and returned for it when he saw it was in my hand.”
“Diana, are you sure? This isn’t something to be taken lightly,” Father asked, his expression serious. I nodded in answer, not trusting my voice.
“Don’t be ridiculous!” Mr. Knighton said, stepping to his son. “Philip, what do you have to say in answer to this? Tell them there’s not a shred of truth to this wild story.”
Still, his son kept his silence, and Mr. Knighton moved back, reeling in shock. “Philip, our friends!” Anna said, her hands flying to her mouth. “How could you!”
“I needed funds!” Philip finally said, his tone sharp. He wouldn’t look at any of us. “I had built up debts in London. I only stole from people with money. They could replace what they lost!”
I immediately thought of the Reynolds’ and their recent loss of funds. No wonder he had invited them in the first place. His disappointment must have been great when he learned. How many of the other guests had he robbed before the ball today?
“Why did you not come to me?” Mr. Knighton asked, his tone anguished. “Why did you not trust me to help?”
“And tell you how much I had gambled? I couldn’t disappoint you! I wanted to find my own way out of the mess. You weren’t supposed to find out about any of this!”
Mr. Knighton put his hand on his face. Father focused on me. “Richfield, I think you should take Diana and Lady Anna back to the rest of the guests,” he said. His eyes narrowed. “Sarah, I thought I told you to stay with your mother!”
Flushing, Sarah hurried for the door. John moved his hand from my shoulders to my waist and escorted me out of the hallway. “If Papa doesn’t kill him, I will,” Anna said as she followed us. “No. I will scream and shout at him and then I will kill him!”
“No, you won’t,” I said tiredly.
“Lady Anna, may I suggest you find your husband?” Richfield said.
“Yes, of course. He will be livid when he hears of this. He’s warned Philip about the races countless times.”
Anna stormed off, intent on finding Sir Rodger. “Perhaps I should have let her calm down first,” John said in some concern, watching her weave her way through the crowd.
“She won’t say a word to anyone if that’s what you’re worried about,” I said. “She’s protective of her family and friends if you hadn’t realized that. She does know when to keep quiet about something. She would never breathe a word of this to anyone.”
“It’s not that I’m afraid she will say something, but anyone who looks at her right now can tell she is furious,” John said as he faced me. “And you look like as though you are about to faint. Do you need to sit down?”
Sitting down sounded wonderful at that moment. I nodded, and he guided me to two empty seats. He bent over me. “Is there anything else I can get you?” he asked.
“You could sit down, so I don’t have to look so far up,” I said with a smile. Looking rueful, he did so. For a moment, we just watched the other dancers. Then, it came to me we needed to clear up what had happened the last time we were together. Now was as good a time as any. “I’m sorry for not telling you what Sarah said.”
“Peacemaker,” John said with a soft chuckle. He then sighed. “I’m sorry I called you a fortune hunter.”
I had to smile at that. “I shouldn’t have let Sarah’s wild stories affect me. I knew you were not the highwayman. Sarah accused me of being blinded to the truth because I kept insisting she was wrong.”
“Did you honestly have a hard time keeping her and Will from trying to prove I was the highwayman?”
“Oh, you have no idea,” I said with a laugh. “I was convinced they had elaborate plans and I had to watch them all the time. Then Sarah admitted they simply liked watching me worry over nothing and there were no plans. I had worried for no reason.”
John laughed, drawing looks our way. “Yes, I can imagine you did.”
“Don’t laugh! I was a complete wreck the entire time. I’m surprised I was even able to put a sentence together.”
“No one would have been able to tell,” Richfield said, patting my hand. “I suppose you know where I got the idea about you being a fortune hunter.”
“Anna told me, yes. Can we agree to not listen to other people’s gossip from now on? It appears to have a bad effect on us.”
“I think that sounds like a wise decision. I suppose it is something your mother said?”
“Well, she may have said something similar, but the words are my own.”
He nodded. “My mother likes you.”
Did she? That was a relief and a surprise. What had happened to her being concerned about it being too soon and all of that? One meeting and I had changed her mind? “I’m glad,” I managed to say. I cleared my throat, struggling for composure. “I like her as well.”
“My sisters are anxious to meet you,” Richfield said, glancing at the dance floor. “They have a bit more interest in dancing than meeting their future sister, though, so you will have to meet them properly when you come to tea tomorrow.”
“Am I coming to tea tomorrow?”
“Our mothers arranged it.”
The current dance came to an end. In the absence of music, the conversations around us increased. “Diana, what did Sarah mean when she said Knighton loved you?” John asked abruptly.
Groaning, I covered my face with my hand. “He asked for my hand in marriage over the winter. I had to tell him I wouldn’t marry him. Tonight was the first time we’ve exchanged civil words. Or any words at all.”
A Chaotic Courtship Page 22