‘Let me stay with her, Rosalyn,’ begged Maria. ‘I should be the one to remain behind and nurse poor Sarah.’
‘You are needed at the church,’ Rosalyn replied. ‘You know more about the flowers and the music—besides, I have a little headache. I shall sit quietly with Sarah and have a nice rest. No one is to worry about me, I shall be quite content to stay home.’
‘You do look a bit pale,’ Freddie said, settling the matter. ‘Poor Ros. You do look tired. I dare say we have worn you out these past few days. You are not used to so many people visiting at once. Stay here and read a book or something.’
Did her brother imagine she was at her last prayers? Rosalyn murmured her thanks, hiding a wry smile. She did not feel in the least guilty at deceiving them all. If her brother had supported her—if he had stood up to Mrs Jenkins in the first place—there would have been no need for deceit.
She waited until the carriage had rumbled out of sight, then called to Sarah to come down.
‘We have to be quick,’ she said, catching the girl’s hand. ‘No one must realise where we’ve been. If anyone asks you later, we just went for a little walk in the orchard.’
Sarah Jane nodded, her cheeks pink with excitement. It was a real adventure, made all the more thrilling because she was being asked to tell white lies by an adult. Sarah knew the difference between real lies and fibs—and this was on the borderline. They were being very wicked, but she liked her cousin Rosalyn all the more because of it.
They slipped out of the house by a side door, making their way casually towards the orchard. Once out of sight of the house windows, they increased their pace. It was when they began to cross the pasture land behind the orchard that they saw the two horsemen coming towards them.
Rosalyn knew at once who the riders were, as did Sarah Jane. The girl gave a cry of pleasure and started to run to meet them. Only a great effort of will on Rosalyn’s part prevented her from doing likewise.
‘Jared!’ Sarah Jane cried, her face lighting up with pleasure. ‘We were coming to see if you were at home. Oh, I have missed you so! It seems ages since I saw you last.’
He leapt from his horse’s back and caught her hands as she reached him, so obviously thrilled to see her that any doubts Rosalyn might have had about the wisdom of this meeting were forgotten. She watched as the two walked a little way off, the horse following behind, then stopping to graze the rich pasture. The young people’s pleasure in each other was plain to see, and made her feel a little sad that they must part again so soon.
Damian had not dismounted. She glanced up at him, her heart catching as she saw his stern expression. Was he angry with her? Had she offended him by seeming to take her brother’s part the other evening?
‘I shall not get down,’ he said. ‘We may be seen even here. We have ridden this way every day in the hope that you might choose to walk in this direction.’
‘I could not come sooner. Sarah Jane wanted to see Jared, but it was difficult.’
‘So I might imagine.’ His dark eyes studied her intently, reading so much that she had not been able to say. ‘And you? Have I placed you in an impossible position, my love? Do you wish we had never met?’
‘No, of course not!’ She gazed up at him, willing him to see the need in her, the longing her upbringing forbade her to express in words. ‘I wish I could come away with you now. If I were free…’ She blushed hotly as she saw the sudden blaze of desire in his eyes. ‘Damian…you know. You must know how I feel?’
His look seemed to embrace her, holding her as closely as his arms ached to do, caressing her so that she could almost feel the softness of his lips on her.
‘Will you really come with me? Follow me to some strange, foreign land—knowing you can never return to your family? That you are forever lost in their eyes? A scarlet woman…forbidden your own kind for as long as you live.’
‘Yes. Yes, I shall. Only duty holds me here now. I do love Freddie—but he doesn’t deserve it. I was so upset that you were forced to leave the other night, that Freddie did nothing to make things easier. He should have refused to be bullied by that woman.’
Damian’s eyes lit with laughter. ‘You are too severe on him, my Amazon. Beside you, most men would fare no better than Sir Frederick. He has not your courage, my love. And it was better that I left immediately. I might otherwise have said things I ought not—revealed a secret that is not mine to share, even with you.’
‘The reason why you fought that duel?’ Rosalyn asked. She gazed up at him, sensing a long-remembered grief and wondering what it was that still held the power to hurt him after all this time. ‘You had good reason to kill him, didn’t you?’
‘I believed so.’ His expression was grave, eyes darkly reflecting his inner turmoil. ‘Perhaps I shall tell you one day, but not unless there is need—and not in front of that woman.’ He glanced towards Jared and Sarah, calling out a reminder. ‘We must go soon, Jared!’
‘Must you go?’ Rosalyn wanted to beg him to stay. She could not bear to be parted from him again so soon, knowing it might be for some weeks. ‘It seems an age since…since we were in the garden together.’
Damian smiled, reaching down to touch her hand briefly. ‘We ought not to risk being seen together just yet, for your sake—and Miss Holland’s. I must go to London for a few days. When I return, perhaps we can meet again?’
‘I will send a message when it is safe,’ Rosalyn promised. ‘There is a groom I think we can trust. How long will you be away?’
‘A week…two at most.’ Damian frowned. ‘There is something I must settle. Afterwards…I must take Jared somewhere else, but I shall see you again first. And when your brother is married…’
‘I shall come to you,’ Rosalyn said without hesitation. ‘We shall go abroad somewhere, Damian. The scandal will not touch us there, nor shall we harm others by what we do.’
‘I love you,’ he said, his dark, expressive eyes seeming to caress her. ‘Remember that, whatever else you may hear.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘I am not certain…perhaps nothing.’ He looked at the boy and girl once more. ‘Jared!’
Jared pressed something into Sarah Jane’s hand, then turned to his horse, put a foot in the stirrup and mounted. The girl stood staring after him as he and Damian rode away, then turned to smile when Rosalyn came to stand beside her.
‘He said we shall always be friends, no matter where we are,’ she said, looking a little dazed as she showed Rosalyn what he had given her. ‘I gave him a smooth pebble I liked—but he gave me this. He said I should keep it and one day we would meet again.’
‘That is a beautiful pearl,’ Rosalyn said as she saw Jared’s gift. It was as large as a pigeon’s egg and slightly pink. ‘It is very valuable. You must take great care of it, Sarah.’
‘Yes, I shall,’ she replied. ‘One day I may have it set as a pendant. I shall wear it when I meet Jared again—when we are both older.’
Rosalyn said nothing. She thought it unlikely the two would meet again. Jared would return to India, to his own people—and Sarah Jane would find new friends. Yet perhaps she would never quite forget the sunny days of an English summer when she had made friends with a young Indian gentleman.
‘We should go back, now,’ she reminded the girl gently. ‘I’m sorry we could not stay out longer.’
‘Oh, it does not matter,’ Sarah Jane replied, hiding a little smile as she turned away.
There was no point in telling Rosalyn that she and Jared had devised a way of sending each other messages—that they planned to meet as often as they could—because it would mean a disagreement between them. Sarah did not want to quarrel with Rosalyn, she liked and admired her—but nothing was going to stop her seeing Jared, at least until his tutor took him away or she herself was sent home.
When the others returned from their luncheon party, Sarah Jane was sitting on the sofa in Rosalyn’s parlour, reclining against a pile of pillows, and looking for all the wor
ld like an invalid. She managed a wan smile for Maria in reply to her tender inquiry, replying that she was feeling a little better and might even attempt to eat something later.
Sarah Jane was a consummate actress, Rosalyn decided, feeling slightly guilty that she had encouraged it, and even worse because she was forced to continue the lies.
‘And you, Miss Eastleigh,’ asked Mrs Jenkins with a hard stare in her direction. ‘I trust you have recovered from your headache?’
‘It was only a little one,’ Rosalyn replied. ‘I feel entirely well again now, thank you.’
The look Mrs Jenkins gave her would have curdled milk straight from the cow, but Rosalyn was able to smile. Now that she had seen Damian, had settled things between them, nothing could hurt her.
Beatrice began to chatter and the atmosphere lightened as she declared she adored the village church, that she wished with all her heart to be married there and nowhere else would do.
‘I have told Aunt Patricia that it is quite large enough to invite all those friends I really wish to have at my wedding,’ she said with a sweet smile that embraced them all. ‘And she has agreed to have the wedding here. We have arranged it with the vicar for three weeks on Sunday.’
‘So we shall have the reception at the house,’ Rosalyn said. ‘Do you wish me to engage more staff for the reception, Freddie? Or will you bring in outside help?’
Her brother was considered to be something of a gourmet amongst his acquaintances, and she knew he would have preferred a London wedding with all the trimmings, but he had given Beatrice her wish without a murmur of protest, as he would probably do for the rest of his life.
The arrangements were discussed at length. Freddie decided he would bring his own Monsieur Maurice down from London ten days before the wedding and that they would hire as many women from the village as were needed to help in the house.
‘We shall also need refreshments for the dance,’ Rosalyn reminded her brother. ‘And that is arranged for two weeks before the wedding itself.’
‘Then I shall return to London tomorrow and beg Maurice to come at once,’ Freddie declared. ‘He hates the country, but I dare say he will make an exception to oblige me this once.’
Freddie’s chef was very temperamental and inclined to throw tantrums if everything was not to his liking. Rosalyn shuddered to think of the chaos he was bound to bring to her household, but there was no denying he was an artist in the kitchen. His sauces had to be tasted to be believed, and even Rosalyn admitted that his wonderful food seemed to melt on the tongue.
‘And I need another fitting for my wedding gown,’ Beatrice said, turning to Rosalyn with a pleading look. ‘Why don’t we all go up to town for a few days?’
‘I really ought to stay here,’ Rosalyn said doubtfully. ‘There is a great deal to do—and Sarah Jane to think of; she cannot be left alone for several days, that would be too unkind.’
‘Surely Maria can see to anything that needs be done in the house?’ Freddie said, frowning at her. ‘I should like you to come with us, Ros. And you will want to purchase a new gown yourself for the wedding—and the dance also, will you not?’
‘Please do go,’ Maria added her voice to the others. ‘Give me a list of all you want done and I shall be pleased to attend to everything. It will give me pleasure to think of you having a little trip to town, dearest. It is an age since you went anywhere. And Sarah and I will be quite comfortable together, shall we not my dear?’
‘Yes, of course.’
Rosalyn was outnumbered. She could not refuse when Beatrice’s soft eyes pleaded with her. Besides, why should she? It would be quite pleasant to stay in town for a day or so, and she did need some new clothes. She had not bothered with anything stylish since the summer before her father’s death, making do with the services of a local seamstress.
Mrs Jenkins had a hard suspicious look in her eyes. No doubt she thought Rosalyn had a reason for wanting to stay behind.
‘Very well, if it will please you, Beatrice. I shall come,’ she said, giving in with a good grace. ‘It is very true that Maria can look after things here.’ She glanced at Sarah Jane, who was taking an interest in the conversation though remaining silent. ‘I hope you will not be too lonely?’
‘No, of course not,’ Sarah replied. It would be much easier to slip away from the house with only Maria around, she thought with satisfaction. ‘Will you bring me a present from town, Cousin Rosalyn?’
‘Yes, of course. What would you like?’
‘A riding habit,’ Sarah replied without hesitation. ‘I want to learn to ride. Papa always said I ought, but I did not want to—until now.’
‘If that is what you would like, of course you shall have it.’
Rosalyn thought she knew why Sarah had changed her mind about riding. She could still hardly believe the change in her cousin’s daughter. Sarah Jane had grown up tremendously these past two weeks, and was much the better for it.
‘Now if you will all excuse me…’ Rosalyn glanced at her brother. ‘If we are to leave in the morning, I think I had better speak to Mrs Simmons immediately.’
The wedding was going to make a great deal of extra work for their housekeeper and her staff, and the sooner Mrs Simmons was prepared for it the better.
Rosalyn could not help smiling to herself as she left the room. She did not really mind going to London at all. Damian would be there. It was just possible that she might meet him somewhere—that she might be able to contrive to see him alone. Her heart lifted at the thought and she began to think that a shopping trip in town would suit her very well. Very well indeed!
‘It is lovely to be alone with you like this,’ Beatrice said, her arm tucked through Rosalyn’s as they strolled together in Regent’s Park. They had spent the morning at the dressmaker’s and were enjoying the warm sunshine rather than returning home immediately. The lovely weather had brought a great many people to the park, and they were able to watch and admire the sight of several smart carriages bowling along the roadways. ‘Aunt Patricia scarcely ever lets me go anywhere without her.’
Surprisingly, Mrs Jenkins had cried off from accompanying them at the last moment, saying she would remain behind and write her letters—a circumstance that both of them had found agreeable.
Rosalyn gave the younger girl a sympathetic look. ‘It cannot have been easy for you since your mama died, to be tied so to your aunt. That will all change soon,’ she said. ‘When you are married you need not see her too often—indeed, Beatrice, I think you should begin to stand up to her. If you do not, she may make your life intolerable.’
‘You cannot know how I have longed to escape from her,’ Beatrice said on a sigh. ‘My aunt—and her odious brother Bernard.’ Her cheeks flushed as Rosalyn looked at her in surprise. ‘I dislike Bernard Harrington so very much. He frightens me sometimes. Indeed, I have thought—’ She stopped as if what she had been about to say was too shocking to be spoken aloud. ‘No, I cannot say it! But I take good care never to be alone with him.’
‘Beatrice!’ Rosalyn was startled. ‘Has he ever done anything…touched you in a familiar way?’
‘Only once and then it was done when he was in his cups, but I confess I have been afraid of him since,’ Beatrice confided, her cheeks pink. ‘I dare not tell my aunt. She dotes on Bernard and will not hear a word against him. I suppose it is because of what happened to Roderick, because he died young…’ Beatrice looked awkward. ‘I rather liked Mr Wrexham. I do not believe he would murder anyone.’
‘Nor do I,’ Rosalyn replied and smiled at her earnest look. ‘But you had better not let your aunt hear you say that, my dear. I fear that your hopes of an inheritance would then be at an end.’
‘I have Mama’s money in trust—some five thousand pounds, I think. Aunt Patricia’s money means nothing to me. Indeed, I wish I need never see her again once Freddie and I are married.’
‘Have you told Freddie that?’
‘No…no, I have not.’
�
�Then I think perhaps you should mention it.’
Beatrice looked struck by this. ‘Do you think I should? Yes, perhaps I shall. I certainly do not care for the money if he does not.’
‘I think you will find that Freddie cares only for you.’
Rosalyn squeezed her arm affectionately. Beatrice had a lovely nature. She was already very fond of the girl and, despite all the problems her engagement to Freddie had caused, she was very glad they were to marry. She suspected that there was far more to Beatrice than her brother yet dreamed, and that she would be very good for him when she had had time to grow up herself.
Turning to glance to her right, Rosalyn caught sight of two men standing together a short distance away. Her heart began to beat very fast. As the path they were following wound in that direction they would have to pass them. The men were talking earnestly and had not noticed them—but one of them was Damian, and he was bound to see her if they continued in the same direction.
‘Oh…’ Rosalyn did not realise she had spoken aloud. Her pulses were racing wildly. She wanted to speak to Damian, but believed it would embarrass her companion. What ought she to do? To turn away might cause him to think she wished to avoid meeting him.
‘Is that not Mr Wrexham?’ asked Beatrice, her cheeks a little pink as she too noticed the men.
‘Yes. Shall we turn away?’
‘Why? I should like to have the opportunity to apologise,’ Beatrice replied. ‘In any case, it is too late. He has seen us. He is looking this way.’
‘Yes, so he is.’
Damian’s companion was walking away. He hesitated, seeming uncertain of what to do, then came towards them.
‘Mr Wrexham,’ Beatrice said, before he could speak. ‘I have not had the chance to apologise to you, sir. I was most distressed by what happened that evening.’
He swept his hat off, bowing to her. ‘You have nothing to apologise for, Miss Holland. I was sorry to spoil your evening.’
Anne Herries Page 11