Juliana made a tiny curtsey. “If you return my sister to me, I shall request Lady Barbara to permit you to further our acquaintance.”
Ravenstock stood. His hands snaked out. He drew her to him.
“Unhand me!” She clenched her fist, ready to deliver a hard jab to his genitals. The elderly tirewoman, who served her late mother, had once told her that could be guaranteed to deter any amorous gentleman.
The door opened wide. “Lord Ravenstock,” Gervaise commenced, “I must ask you to release the lady. My sister, who is Mistress Kemp’s chaperone, would be prodigiously annoyed if I failed to intervene.”
Ravenstock glared.
Gervaise bowed. “My lord, welcome to my humble abode.” With a mocking sweep of his hand, he indicated the priceless paintings of stylised Indian scenes in bright hues highlighted with gold, which hung on the walls. “Juliana, I protest, Barbara would be dismayed to see you encouraging his lordship’s advances. She would be the first to tell you even the smallest intimacy is to be reserved until a lady’s betrothal.”
Her cheeks burned while Ravenstock bowed. “You are ungallant, Beaumaris. The lady is embarrassed. Good day to you.” He straightened. “Mistress Kemp, I shall consider your conditions.”
Chapter Sixteen
After Ravenstock left the dining room, Gervaise faced Juliana, a crease across his forehead, and his eyebrows drawn together. “I am sorry you have been subjected to that man’s attentions under my roof.”
A shiver ran down her spine. She did not think Gervaise knew what a delightful effect his apology and smile had on her captive heart. “I fear I shall be obliged to endure more of them if Lord Ravenstock meets my conditions.” She shuddered and looked into his eyes. “If all else fails, my only alternative is to marry him but—” she whispered.
The crease on Gervaise’s forehead deepened. “I will never permit you to wed him.”
“Why ever not?” she asked hopefully.
Gervaise clasped her upper arms.
She enjoyed his delicious touch, and with a smile, arched eyebrows, and fluttering eyelashes, encouraged him to take another liberty.
“Swounds, Juliana, since the day I first heard your voice,” he broke off, his hesitancy to declare himself evident. “Please forgive me for swearing.”
Longing for his strong embrace, Juliana rested her forehead against his muscular chest. How much encouragement did he need? She wished etiquette allowed a lady to ask a gentleman to marry her.
Gervaise released his hold and turned aside.
Juliana’s throat tightened. Why did he remain silent? Would he ever stoop to marry a penniless woman or did he still love Pushpa so much that he did not want to remarry? Had she foolishly been mistaken about him? Would he insult her by asking her to be his mistress? Surely not, after all, he had introduced her to his sister and daughter. Yet his views on such matters might be different from hers. He might he be more calculating than she suspected hitherto.
Barbara bustled into the dining room, interrupting; her amber dressing gown swirling around her ankles and revealing the hem of her white linen nightgown. “Where is Ravenstock? Wilson said he is here. ’Pon my word, Juliana, you should never be alone with the wretched man. What did he want?”
Juliana choked back her anger. “He came to pay me his compliments,” she said, managing to speak in a low but even tone.
“My poor love.” Barbara appeared to put disagreeable thoughts of Ravenstock out of her mind as she lifted her hand to her mouth and yawned. “’Tis too early for me to be up and about, so now I see all is well I shall return to bed.”
Alone with Gervaise, Juliana’s thoughts whirled. Once more, she reminded herself that regardless of all else, removing her sister from William’s guardianship must be her first concern. Hands held out, she stepped toward Gervaise, staring into the depths of his eyes.
“What is it, Juliana?”
Again, that crooked smile of his all but turned her stomach inside out with fluttering desire.
“This morning,” she commenced, “I waited to confide in you concerning an urgent matter. While you lay abed, I became so impatient that I rode in the park to pass the time. When I returned, Ravenstock was here. Now, I must speak with you in private.”
Gervaise glanced around the formal dining room. “Come, this is not a convenient place for us to converse.”
In the corridor, Tom, the lackey on duty, gawped at them, clearly riveted. Blushing furiously, she followed Gervaise to a small parlour, furnished with a sopha and a pair of chairs, which invited relaxation and intimate conversation.
“Please be seated, Juliana.”
She sank onto a chair and then glanced at the walls on which hung gold-framed pictures of Hindu court life, exquisitely painted on silk. At the sight of them, a soft sigh escaped her. Would Gervaise ever put his past to rest and love again?
“Juliana, allow me to tell you how much I admire you. Your superb self-control and diplomacy astounds me.”
“Thank you. I learned much about diplomacy from Father,” she said, disappointed by his return to formal niceties. “By the way, I doubt Ravenstock is capable of fulfilling all of my conditions.”
Gervaise rose and then stood with his back to the fireplace. He scrutinised her face. “Why not?”
“I think I know where Henrietta is,” Juliana said, forcing herself to speak calmly. “More than likely, William has incarcerated her in Mrs Tutchin’s boarding school in Highgate.”
“Why do you think he sent her there?”
“It is the one his wife’s cousins attended.”
“I suggest you change your clothes while I order my town coach to be brought around, and then ask Barbara to accompany us. We shall visit the school without delay. However, if we are to bring Henrietta here and, with your permission, she shares Isabella’s nursery, I must confide something of your history to my sister. As you may have realised by now, she has a kind heart, so I am sure she will do all she can to help you.” He cleared his throat. “I will caution Barbara not to repeat anything that I tell her in strictest confidence.”
* * * *
Gervaise sent a lackey with advance notice of their intended visit to Elizabeth Tutchin, so, upon their arrival at the school in leafy Highgate, Juliana, accompanied by Gervaise and Barbara, was admitted without delay.
When she entered a reception room hung with portraits of females with sober, if not grim faces, Juliana caught her lower lip between her teeth to force herself to remain silent instead of coming straight to the point of their visit.
Mrs Tutchin, a lady of advanced years, with a pale, crumpled complexion, sank into a deep curtsey. “My lord, ladies, I am honoured by your visit to my humble establishment.”
To divert her thoughts from her painful anxiety, Juliana studied the mantelpiece, on which stood a pair of silver candlesticks, a blue and white vase a la Chinoise, a pair of dainty china figurines, and two blue and white Delft tulip vases. Juliana decided the school must be prosperous. If it were not, Mrs Tutchin could not afford such expensive ornaments.
Barbara inclined her head to the headmistress. “Mrs Tutchin, I have a daughter.”
“Ah, I understand why you are here. You seek a school for her,” Mrs Tutchin replied.
Juliana scrutinised Mrs Tutchin. No wonder smiles wreathed the woman’s face; securing an earl’s niece as a pupil would be a proverbial feather in her cap.
“Mrs Tutchin, my dear friend Lady Kemp recommended your establishment to me in the most flattering terms.” Barbara’s large topaz-coloured eyes remained limpid although a blush stole into her cheeks while she fibbed.
Juliana’s eyes rounded. She had not known Barbara could be such a good actress.
Mrs Tutchin stood a little straighter. “Indeed, I have every reason to believe Lady Kemp is pleased with my modest school. Her ladyship’s cousins, Lady Anne and Lady Charlotte attended it, and now I have the privilege of educating her sister-by-law, Henrietta.” Her eyes rounded, and she clapped a
hand over her mouth as though she had been indiscreet.
The room seemed to whirl. Juliana could not keep her balance. So great was her relief she feared she would faint, but when Gervaise put his arm around her for support, she welcomed his touch.
Barbara withdrew a tiny vial of smelling salts and offered them, but Juliana waved the gesture aside. “Thank you, I am quite well now.”
Mrs Tutchin poured a glass of apricot ratafia. “If the young lady will condescend to drink this, I am sure it will revive her. It is of my own making. Although I say so myself, it is excellent.” She handed the glass to Juliana. “Indeed, all of my pupils are instructed in the arts of the stillroom. My lord, my lady would you care to sample it?”
Gervaise and Barbara declined her offer, while Juliana sipped. She coughed. The ratafia was strong enough to revive someone on the verge of death. “Thank you, Mrs Tutchin,” she said and handed her the empty glass.
“May we visit the classrooms?” Barbara asked.
“Well…under most circumstances I do not allow my students to be disturbed while they are at their lessons.” Mrs Tutchin smiled ingratiatingly. “But there are exceptions to every rule, are there not?”
“Are you sure you would not prefer to sit for a few more moments?” Gervaise asked. Juliana shook her head. “Good.” He looked at Mrs Tutchin. “You may conduct us around your school.”
“Thank you, my lord. This way, my lord,” Mrs Tutchin said before leading them through a door that led into an airy, clean corridor.
Juliana followed her gladly, her disappointment growing when Henrietta was not in the first two schoolrooms they visited. In the third, she scanned the hair of a dozen or more young girls, who sat with their heads bent over their copybooks as though they dared not look up. Finally, at the back of the pleasant schoolroom, with maps and samplers hung on the walls, she saw a mass of fair hair.
“Henrietta!” she exclaimed, so overcome with joy and relief.
When the child looked up from her copybook and saw her, she overturned her inkwell. Careless of the spilled ink running onto her plain linen pinafore, Henrietta stood. She ran down the side of the room past the orderly rows of her fellow pupils’ desks. “Juliana, I knew you would find me,” she cried out before flinging her arms round Juliana’s waist.
“What is the meaning of this? Mrs Tutchin asked. “Henrietta, return to your place!”
Henrietta buried her face against Juliana and held onto her even more tightly.
Gervaise bowed. “The meaning is simple, madam. We have come to relieve you of your charge.”
Bright colour appeared in the headmistress’s cheeks. “But you cannot. Lord and Lady Kemp placed her in my care. The scandal would ruin me.”
“Have no fear of reprisals, madam,” Gervaise reassured her, “I shall explain the matter to them.”
The colour fled from Mrs Tutchin’s cheeks. “I shall send for the constable. You will be arrested for abducting a child.”
“I think not. You forget I am a peer of the realm,” Gervaise replied.
Mrs Tutchin grabbed hold of Henrietta’s arms in an attempt to wrest her away from Juliana.
“Release her,” Gervaise ordered.
“Let go, Mrs Tutchen, you are hurting me,” Henrietta cried out as she clung to Juliana as though she was a limpet.
Mrs Tutchin loosened her grip on the child’s arms. “I am sorry for causing you pain. Now, explain what relationship these people have to you?”
Henrietta pointed at Juliana. “Mistress Kemp is my sister. My father never wanted Lord Kemp, my half-brother, to have charge of me, so please, please let me go.”
Mrs Tutchin hesitated.
“Indeed,” Juliana began, “my sister is telling the truth. Before God, madam, I do not believe it was ever our father’s intention for Lord Kemp to be my sister’s guardian. With my lawyer’s help, I hope to prove that is the truth. Please release my sister. She will come to no harm in my care.”
Henrietta’s eyes filled with tears. “I beg you to let me leave here with Mistress Kemp. I am frightened of my half-brother. After my father died, Lord Kemp and his wife sent me to the nursery where I was cold, hungry, and frightened until my sister arrived and helped me to escape. Oh, please believe me.”
Mrs Tutchin released her hold on Henrietta’s arm. “What a brute! There, there, child, do not cry, I believe you are telling the truth.” She faced Juliana. “I hope I am doing the right thing by allowing Henrietta to go with you.”
“Believe me, you are. Word of a gentleman,” Gervaise replied on Juliana’s behalf. “Come, Mistress Henrietta, Mistress Kemp, my lady, if Mrs Tutchin has no further objections it is time to take her leave.”
“At once,” agreed Juliana, forgetting even to ask for Henrietta’s belongings.
Mrs Tutchin made no more protests as she escorted them outside to the coach into which Gervaise lifted Henrietta as tenderly as if she was an infant on leading strings.
“Goodbye, child,” Mrs Tutchin said.
“Goodbye,” Henrietta replied. “You are very kind. I have been happy here. I shall miss my friends.”
“Thank you, thank you, for taking good care of my sister.” Juliana smiled at the headmistress before she stepped into the coach followed by Barbara and Gervaise.
Henrietta glanced at Juliana as though she sought reassurance before frowning at Gervaise. “I remember seeing you at Riverside, but who are you, and why is my sister with you, and who is that lady?”
“The Earl of Beaumaris at your service, Mistress Henrietta.” Gervaise smoothed a strand of hair back from Henrietta’s forehead. “And this lady is my sister, Lady Barbara.”
“Oh.” Henrietta eyed Barbara. “Why did she come to my school?”
“To help your sister find you.”
Henrietta frowned. “Why did she do that?”
“I will explain everything later,” Juliana said. “For now, all you need to know is that I have been staying with Lady Barbara and her husband.”
The coach moved forward. Henrietta swayed, still looking at Gervaise while clinging to Juliana’s hand. “My lord, did you help my sister to find me?”
“You could say I played a small part in your reunion. However, the credit goes to Mistress Kemp because she guessed you were at Mrs Tutchin’s school. Now you are to stay at my house with my sister and her family.”
To reassure the child, Juliana squeezed her hand.
“Barbara, allow me to present Mistress Henrietta to you,” Gervaise said. “Mistress Henrietta, I have the honour of presenting you to my sister,” he said as though the little girl were a woman grown.
Barbara smiled at the child. “I shall introduce you to my children and my niece whose nursery you will share.”
“Will they like me?” Henrietta asked.
“I am sure they will,” Barbara replied. “I daresay they will be delighted to have a new friend to play with.”
Henrietta clapped her hands, seeming delighted by her change of circumstances, but Barbara pressed her hand to her mouth. “But what Nurse will have to say, I do not know.”
“Do not fret,” Juliana said. “Gervaise has sent for Grace, who cared for me and my sister from infancy. On my recommendation, Gervaise has arranged for her to look after Isabella until he can find another nurse. For the time being, I am certain she will be delighted to also take care of Henrietta.”
“Is it true, Juliana? Is Nurse really coming back to me?” Henrietta’s piquant little face clouded. “Shall I not return to school?”
“Do you want to?” Juliana asked, surprised by the question.
Henrietta nodded, her curls bouncing around her face. “When William first took me there I was very frightened. I wanted you. Now you have found me, I want to go back to school. Although Mrs Tutchin is strict she is kind, and I like all the teachers except for Mademoiselle Bedeau who scolds us no matter how hard we try to please her. If I do not return I will miss my friends, and I think they will miss me.”
; Juliana kissed the top of her sister’s head. “Sweetheart, you cannot go back immediately, but later on, it might be possible.”
“I hope my nurse gets on with your nurse, Juliana,” Barbara said. She looked severely at Henrietta. “Remove your ink-stained pinafore, child.”
Juliana, relieved beyond all measure to have rescued Henrietta, suppressed her amusement. In Barbara’s presence everyone must be perfectly dressed. Come to think of it, Barbara did not favour her children soiling their clothes while playing. As for the servants, woe betide any one of them who was less than immaculate.
“Alas, your sister has only the clothes she is wearing!” Barbara exclaimed.
“We will send to the school for her baggage,” Gervaise said.
“What do Lady Kemp and Mrs Tutchin know about fashion?” Barbara mused. “Juliana, you know my opinion of your sister-by-law. As for Mrs Tutchin, though her occupation may force her to dress modestly and in sober colours, she is unfashionable.” She stared at Juliana and Gervaise. “Why are you laughing? I was about to say I must take Henrietta shopping. I am sure she needs everything from shoes to muffs.”
“Yes, we know there is little you enjoy more than fashion and shopping,” Gervaise teased.
Barbara leaned forward to pat Henrietta’s hand. “Ignore their rude laughter, child. I promise to buy you a doll as elegant as the ones your sister bought for my daughter, Margaret, and my niece, Isabella. Your toy baby shall have a feather head dress, a necklace and a fan, as well as a wardrobe of fine clothes to match your own. What have you to say to that?”
Henrietta beamed, looking adoringly at Barbara. “Thank you, my lady.”
“Lord, child, you have no need to thank me, ’twill be a pleasure to provide you with such a trifle.”
* * * *
That night, while Grace watched over Henrietta, Juliana slept soundly for the first time since her father’s death.
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