Dear Deceiver

by Mary Nichols

  ‘No, of course not,’ she said, unable to explain the hurt it would cause her to see the Marquis again. ‘So, you think we should approach the Captain?’

  ‘We don’t know anyone else, do we? We could start off by showing him just one stone and see what he says.’

  Thus it was the following morning they hired a hackney carriage to seek out Captain Greenaway in the dry dock where the Silken Maid was undergoing extensive repairs.

  Emma, dressed in her old brown burnous with its hood up against the bitingly cold wind which came up over the river, went with some trepidation in case she should come face to face with Dominic. It was something she both longed for and dreaded, knowing that a confrontation with him would make all her feelings for him flare up again when she had been trying so hard to keep them under control.

  She need not have worried; Dominic was not there and neither was Captain Greenaway. He was lodging at Fladong’s in Oxford Street, they were told by one of the crew who was still on board. They climbed back into the carriage and directed the driver to take them to the hotel.

  Here the Captain greeted them like long-lost relatives, clasping their hands, saying how glad he was to see them again. He ordered food and drink for them, for it was noon by then, and led them to a quiet table in the corner of the parlour.

  ‘Sit down. Sit down.’ he commanded. ‘Tell me what I can do for you and, if it is in my power, it shall be done.’

  He was so jovial and so friendly Emma abandoned the idea of showing him just one jewel in favour of telling him the whole story, some of which he had already gleaned.

  ‘An extraordinary tale,’ he said, when it was told and Emma had shown him the gems. ‘In the head of the tiger, you say? Safe there as anywhere, I suppose. And you really had no idea?’

  ‘None at all.’ Emma smiled. ‘I remember Papa saying something once about who knows what secrets are concealed in the head of the tiger, but I thought he was speaking generally. I would never have dreamed of looking for anything there.’

  ‘And neither would thieves,’ the Captain said. ‘A secure hiding place if ever there was one.’

  ‘Now, of course, we must dispose of them. We thought you might be kind enough to help us. We would pay you a percentage, of course.’

  ‘I will be glad to sell the stones for you and no need to offer me an inducement, but you must put the proceeds straight into a bank. I suggest Child’s. They will also advise you about investment and income and matters of that nature, which I am not qualified to do, being nothing but an old sea dog.’

  Emma thanked him and handed over the pouch and he promised to come to them at their lodgings as soon as he had disposed of its contents and escort them to the bank. ‘Better to have as many strong men around you as you can,’ he said, with a gruff laugh. ‘There are thieves and footpads everywhere and it will be a fortune you are carrying.’

  And so it was. Though the bulk of the money was to be set aside to buy the farm and horses Teddy wanted, they did not resist the temptation to renew their wardrobes and move to better accommodation while they looked for a place to buy. It crossed Emma’s mind that if the Captain were to tell Dominic he had seen them and where they lodged, they would have moved on. Then she laughed at herself. His wedding day was only two weeks away; it was very conceited of her to think he would be interested in her whereabouts.

  She did not want to think of the wedding and forced herself to put the last year behind her, to try and forget it had ever happened, just as if they had come straight from India to this new home in Jermyn Street. Whenever thoughts of Dominic invaded her mind, she pushed them firmly away. Whatever had been between them, unspoken as it had been, must be allowed to shrivel and die. And with it a small part of her shrivelled and died too. She did not feel quite whole but not one word of it did she utter to Teddy.

  She became her brother’s housekeeper and fulfilled her role as cheerfully as she could, while Teddy went about the business of acquiring a property and bloodstock, which was more difficult than he had supposed. His requirements were so particular that it was difficult to find something which was exactly right in size and location as well as at the right price. ‘It has to be close to Newmarket,’ he said. ‘It is the centre of the racing world now.’ He laughed suddenly. ‘And I want Viscount Mountforest to know we are there, close by him. He won’t like that by half!’

  By the time the new year of 1817 arrived with firework displays and first footing, Emma was beginning to wonder if what Teddy was looking for existed at all. For his sake she shared his disappointment, but the thought of living within a few miles of Cavenham was something she could not contemplate with equilibrium.

  ‘Teddy, have you ever given a thought to returning to India?’ she asked him one day in early January when the snow lay in brown slush at the sides of the roads where it had been thrown by the vehicle wheels and horse hooves and the smoke from a thousand fires drifted on the cold air creating a dense, freezing fog. She was sitting with her knees almost in the grate and a warm shawl about her shoulders, but still she shivered.

  Teddy had been scanning a catalogue from Tattersall’s, but he looked up surprised at her suggestion. ‘What would we do there? Besides, we came to England to…’

  ‘To clear Papa’s name, I know that, but we have done that to our own satisfaction, thanks to Mrs Standon. And as for vengeance, we decided not to pursue that path, didn’t we?’

  ‘Yes, but we were also going to find you a husband.’

  ‘I have decided not to think of that either. I shall not marry. Let us go back to India, Teddy. There is a new game being taken up by the Indian Army called polo. It is a team game played on horseback. From what I have read of it, it needs special ponies, very wiry and strong and fast. I’m told it is going to be all the rage before long. If you could breed the ponies, you could make a name for yourself. What do you think?’

  He looked thoughtful. ‘I heard about that too, but do you really want to go back?’

  ‘Yes,’ she lied. No need for him to know what she really wanted was to live at Cavenham, to be loved by Dominic, to be his wife and live happily with him forever. Such was the stuff of her dreams, but that was all it was, unattainable, hopeless dreaming. ‘It is home, isn’t it? We have friends there…’

  He was not convinced, but he knew Emma was unhappy and when his sister was sad, so was he. If she found life intolerable in England, then he would leave for her sake. ‘Very well. We’ll go,’ he said. ‘When?’

  ‘Just as soon as we can wind up our affairs here. It shouldn’t take long; there is only the lease of this house to dispose of, the passage to book and our baggage to pack.’

  Once the decision had been made, Emma felt easier. She had to turn her back on Dominic and look for a new life, as far away from him as possible. Half the circumference of the globe might just do it, might just ease the ache which was ever present in her heart and mind.

  Then, on the very morning Teddy set off to arrange their passage, something happened which threw Emma’s fragile peace of mind into confusion once again.

  The wind had risen in the night and lifted the blanket of fog, which had shrouded the city for more than two weeks. The sun had broken through and the day was bright but very cold and Emma, who had been confined indoors for several days, was longing for a little fresh air. Wrapped up in a fur-lined green velvet cloak with her hands in a fur muff, she set off for a brisk walk. Her short sojourn among the elite of Society was behind her and the impropriety of walking out alone did not cross her mind.

  She had no particular destination, but was enjoying the busy street scene, the carriages of the rich bowling past, the carts of the market gardeners, the street hawkers selling anything from hot peas to bootlaces, storing it all in her memory to be brought out in future years when she was in nostalgic mood and the hurt had faded. It would fade, she told herself sternly, if she were determined enough.

  She looked up to cross the busy road and was startled to see a familiar figure
dressed in a long grey cloak and a grey velvet bonnet, hurrying along ahead of her. She was carrying a small portmanteau. Curious, Emma followed and watched as she turned into the yard of the Golden Cross coaching inn.

  It was Lucy, wasn’t it? Had she been persuaded to return to Yorkshire with Mrs Standon? But they could have made that journey from Huntingdon, which was not so far from Cavenham and on the Great North Road; there was no need to return to the capital. If they had, Lucy certainly would not have been expected, or allowed, to make her own way to the stage. There was something very strange going on.

  Heart beating very fast, anticipating she knew not what, Emma followed her. It would be pleasant to talk to Lucy and hear all the latest news of Cavenham, but supposing Dominic was also there—could she face him? He must have discovered her deception by now, if not from Mrs Standon, then from Captain Greenaway. It must have made him very angry. She hesitated, then pulled herself together.

  She no longer had anything to hide. Her days of deception were done and if he were there, she would simply have to defend herself. But he would not be there. He was newly married. Why would he be sitting in a London coaching inn when he had a house, carriage and horses of his own? If the girl she had seen was really Lucy, Emma was ready to wager Dominic knew nothing of it. Taking a deep breath, she made her way into the yard.

  A coach was due in and the ostlers and grooms were busy bringing out four fresh horses ready for a quick change. There were several passengers waiting to board and the yard was littered with travellers’ boxes and baskets. There was no sign of Lucy, nor Mrs Standon. Had she been mistaken and it was not Lucy, but someone very like her?

  Stepping between the luggage and avoiding the busy grooms and restive horses, she went into the inn. The first room she came to was crowded with passengers, eating and drinking between stages, but no Lucy. Half-sorry, half-relieved, she turned to go.

  ‘There’s room in the back parlour, miss,’ a white-aproned waiter told her, jerking his head towards a passage which led to the rear of the premises. ‘More congenial for ladies.’

  Emma thanked him and went to look. Lucy was seated at a small table and was in the act of removing her gloves and cloak and ordering from a waiter who stood over her. She was alone and obviously nervous.

  ‘Lucy!’

  The girl looked up at the sound of her name and her whole face lit with pleasure. Ignoring the waiter, she rose and crossed the floor to fling herself into Emma’s arms.

  ‘Oh, Emma, I never thought to see you again. You don’t know how much I’ve missed you. How are you? Are you well? Have you concluded your family business? Have you found another situation? Come and sit down and tell me all about it.’ She took Emma by the hand and dragged her back to the table.

  Emma gave a laugh of genuine pleasure, something she had done little of recently. ‘So many questions and not a word about what you are doing here.’ She looked about her. ‘And alone too. Have you no escort?’

  ‘I shall have bye and bye. I am waiting for Fergus.’

  ‘Captain O’Connor. Oh dear, Lucy, I have a feeling you have got yourself in a bumblebath. You are not planning to elope, are you?’

  ‘Yes, why not?’ Lucy’s blue eyes looked at her defiantly. ‘Life at Cavenham is insupportable. Aunt Agatha is going back to Yorkshire and Dominic wants me to go with her. And he is determined to send Fergus to India. It has taken a long while to repair the Silken Maid, but it is almost done now and it will set sail in the next day or so and Fergus with it.’

  ‘But that was all arranged long ago, you knew that.’

  ‘Yes, but if he had gone when it was first suggested, he would have been back before now and Dominic would have had to keep his promise to let us marry. Now everything is at sixes and sevens and there’s no talking to him. He is like a wounded animal; he snarls and growls and won’t let anyone near him. He has even fallen out with Bertie Cosgrove. Oh, Emma, he is so unhappy.’

  Emma could not suppress the question which came immediately to mind. ‘But what about Sophie?’

  ‘She postponed the wedding, though whether she is punishing him and means to change her mind when he has come to heel or whether she truly intends to jilt him, I do not know. She went home to Mountforest Hall. We haven’t seen her for weeks.’

  Emma’s heart gave a little skip of pure joy but then settled as she thought of how that would affect Dominic. He would be hurt and humiliated; there would be gossip and he would be reviled whether it was his fault or not. She longed to go to him, but she knew that would only make matters worse.

  ‘But if your brother is so unhappy, Lucy, should you have left him? Your going will make him even more miserable and the scandal of an elopement on top of everything else will be very damaging to you both. I beg you to reconsider.’

  ‘No, it is too late, everything is arranged. I persuaded Dominic to let me come to London with him. I said I wanted to do some shopping before I left for Yorkshire, where there are no shops worth speaking of.’

  ‘And you have taken the opportunity to meet Fergus. Oh, Lucy, it is a dreadful thing you are doing. Please don’t do it.’

  ‘I might not have done if you had not left.’

  ‘Oh, Lucy, that is not fair! I could not stay, you know that. My brother needs me. He is only young and about to set up in business.’ She paused, knowing she had to take a hand, though what exactly she could do she did not know. ‘Enough of me. We were talking about you. Go home and have a little more patience.’

  ‘Patience! I am done with being patient.’ Lucy could be as stubborn as her brother when she chose. ‘Anyway, Dominic is more concerned with the relaunch of the Silken Maid and the commissioning of a new brig than with me. He has put everything into a second vessel. I do believe he means to have a whole fleet. If you ask me, that is why Sophie is angry with him; she does not approve of his trading.’

  ‘Then if you will not go back to Bedford Row, come home with me. We will talk about it and see what can be done.’ She had no idea what she could do, but she was playing for time; anything was better than allowing Lucy to go ahead with this plan. If she could not persuade her, then perhaps it would be best to approach Captain O’Connor and trust to his good sense.

  Before Lucy could answer the Captain himself appeared in the doorway. Lucy saw him almost at the same time as Emma and rushed to fling herself into his arms. Emma watched as he hugged her to him and then held her away from him so that he could look into her upturned face.

  There was no doubt in Emma’s mind that they truly loved each other, and she wished Dominic could see them thus; he would not hold out against them. Surely he was not so wrapped up in his own affairs that he could not see how unhappy his sister was? And how determined.

  Lucy, hanging on to Fergus’s arm, brought him over to Emma. If he was surprised to see her, he gave no sign of it as he bowed before her, smiling. ‘Still taking good care of my darling, Miss Woodhill?’

  ‘Yes. I have to admit I have been trying to persuade her to abandon this plan to elope.’

  He turned from Emma to Lucy. ‘And is that what you want to do, sweetheart?’

  ’emma has been telling me it is very unkind of me to add to Dominic’s burdens,’ she said. ‘I know she is right, but I do so want to marry you, dearest Fergus.’

  He smiled down at her. ‘And I you, sweetheart, but I want you to be very, very sure.’

  ‘Of course I am sure.’

  ‘Then let us go to my home,’ Emma said. ‘It is barely five minutes’ walk away and we can talk comfortably there.’

  Although Lucy was a little reluctant, Fergus was quick to agree and they set off for Jermyn Street. It surprised and delighted Lucy, when she found herself being ushered into a large comfortable house and discovered that Emma was mistress of it.

  ‘Our family fortunes have taken a turn for the better and we have been able to lease this house,’ Emma said, as a maidservant took their gloves and cloaks. She motioned them towards the comfortable sofas which fl
anked the blazing fire. Fergus and Lucy sat side by side and Emma took a seat opposite them.

  ‘Then the story of the legacy was true?’ Lucy said.

  ‘Yes, though other things were not.’ She paused. ‘I think before I begin to lecture you on deception, I had better tell you the whole truth now there is no longer any need to dissemble.’ And this she proceeded to do, succinctly and without trying to justify herself.

  ‘You mean you are Sophie’s cousin?’ Lucy queried when she had finished. ‘Does Sophie know this? Does Dominic?’

  ‘I do not think so. Unless Mrs Standon told them.’

  ‘Aunt Agatha knew? She knew and never said a word! Oh, what a heap of humbug it has all been.’

  ‘Yes, and all my fault, for which I am truly penitent. But, you see, it makes it so much worse to think that you are planning to add to your brother’s troubles. I am sure he will not stand in your way, once he is convinced that you will be happy with Captain O’Connor.’

  ‘What do you say, Lucy?’ the Captain asked her. ‘Shall we defer our plans until we have appealed to your brother?’

  She turned towards him, a worried frown wrinkling her forehead. ‘Have you changed your mind about marrying me?’

  ‘Not at all, my love. There is nothing I want more than to have you for my wife, but I have news of my own…’ He paused and took her hand. ‘I have, only this morning, been offered the position of master of the brig, Lucilla, which sails for India in a couple of weeks.’

  ’Lucilla!’ She giggled. ‘Who named it that?’

  ‘Your brother.’

  ‘Dominic!’

  ‘Yes. I am to have a percentage of the profits. It will make me independent and in a position to offer for you. So, you see, I am indebted to the Marquis and to repay him by running away to Gretna Green with his sister would not be at all an honourable thing to do. I had meant to tell you about it when we met at the inn, but Miss Woodhill was there and…’

  ‘Oh, you truly cannot turn your back on your brother now,’ Emma said. ‘Oh, Lucy, please go home. You will break Dominic’s heart if you do not.’