Ravished

by Amanda Quick

  “Several people. It is quite a long list,” Hardcastle said.

  “May I see it?” Lady Hardcastle floated over to the desk.

  Harriet followed and peered over her shoulder. “My goodness. How will you ever find the culprit among all those suspicious persons?”

  “It will not be easy,” Gideon said. “I suggest you and my mother be on your way, madam. My father and I have work to do.”

  Lady Hardcastle was frowning over the list. “I do not see Bryce Morland’s name on here. He was never interested in fossils, as I recall, but he certainly knew the terrain around Upper Biddleton.”

  Gideon met his mother’s questioning gaze. “I have considered the possibility that Morland was behind it. He would certainly have no scruples about turning to theft. But I do not think it was him. In the event it was, we have nothing to worry about. He has left the country.”

  “Quite true.” Lady Hardcastle continued to peruse the list. “What about Clive Rushton? I do not see his name, either. He was an avid collector at one time.” She looked at Hardcastle. “As I recall, he was the one who introduced you to the hobby, my dear.”

  There was an acute silence. Hardcastle shifted uneasily in his chair. “The man was my rector. Hardly the sort to operate a ring of thieves.”

  Gideon sat down slowly. He gazed thoughtfully at his mother. “I put his name on the list initially, but removed it when I realized he was not showing up on very many of the guest lists of houses that were eventually robbed. That was one of the reasons I removed Morland’s name, too. The man I am after is invited into the most exclusive homes of the ton. Rushton and Morland did not move in those circles.”

  “Heavens, that does not signify,” Lady Hardcastle said lightly. “The best homes are filled to the rafters with people on the night of a large soiree or ball. The affair would be counted a failure if everyone did not proclaim the event an absolute crush. It is true one is supposed to present one’s invitation at the door, but you know how it is. The front steps and hallways are packed at such times. One could slip past.”

  “Your mother is right, my lord,” Harriet said quickly. “Why, if one is properly dressed and appears to be in the company of someone else who was invited, it would be simple to slip into a crowded ballroom. Who would notice one extra guest in the crush?”

  Gideon drummed his fingers on his desk. “You may have a point.”

  Hardcastle appeared much struck by the notion. “Damme if they do not. Why, one could even wait until the crowd was at its height and then enter from the garden. No one would notice.”

  “If that is the case,” Gideon said, thinking swiftly, “then Rushton is still a viable candidate. So is Morland. Damnation, so are a great many others.”

  Hardcastle held up a palm. “There is still the fact that whoever masterminded the ring of thieves had to be very familiar with the caves of Upper Biddleton. That will keep the list from growing too long.”

  “Yes. I suppose so.”

  “Feel free to call upon Harriet and myself if you need further guidance in the ways of Society.” Lady Hardcastle smiled as she tugged on her gloves. “Come along, Harriet. We must be on our way. I am eager to walk down Oxford Street again. There used to be a little French milliner there who created the most exquisite bonnets.”

  “Yes, of course,” Harriet said politely. Her eyes lingered longingly on the list in front of Gideon. It was obvious she would rather be working on it than going shopping.

  “Oh, by the bye,” Lady Hardcastle added as she paused briefly at the door, “it is time Harriet gave a soiree. I am helping her plan it. The invitations will be going out this afternoon. Do not make any other plans for next Tuesday evening.”

  Gideon waited until Harriet and his mother had left the library. Then he met his father’s eyes across the desk.

  “Harriet may be correct,” Gideon said slowly.

  “About what?”

  “Perhaps I should explain myself and my plans to others more often. I have learned more about my list of suspicious persons this morning than I have managed to come up with on my own during the past several days.”

  Hardcastle chuckled. “You are not the only one who has learned a few things recently. Now, then, I have another suggestion. What do you say we drop in on a few of my clubs this afternoon? I can renew a few acquaintances, ask some questions and see if I cannot help you shorten this list still further.”

  “Very well,” Gideon said.

  He realized that somewhere along the line this morning, he had come to accept the notion of his father as his partner in this venture. It was an unfamiliar sensation, but not an unpleasant one.

  There was a murmur of surprise when Gideon and his father walked into the club. Several of the earl’s old cronies nodded, clearly pleased to see an old friend after so many years.

  Before anyone could approach the pair, however, Applegate and Fry swooped down on them.

  “Join us in a glass of port, sirs,” Applegate invited jubilantly. He looked at Hardcastle. “We are toasting St. Justin’s successful rout of Morland. Expect you have heard about it, Hardcastle. The story is all over Town today. The coward fled to the Continent rather than face your son.”

  “So I have been told.”

  “Must say, it puts an entirely new light on all that unpleasantness six years ago,” Fry declared. He leaned confidentially toward the earl. “Lady St. Justin has clarified one or two points about those events, you know.”

  “Has she, indeed?” Hardcastle accepted a glass of port.

  “And now this business with Morland more or less proves that all the gossip about the past was completely off the mark,” Fry concluded. “St. Justin assuredly ain’t no coward and he certainly ain’t afraid to fight for a lady’s honor. Furthermore, he’s proved he’s willing to do the right thing when necessary.”

  “Lady St. Justin has maintained that all along.” Applegate shook his head. “You know how it is with gossip. Devilishly nasty stuff.”

  Two or three other men drifted over to pay their respects to Hardcastle. Then they turned to Gideon.

  “Heard about Morland,” one of them said. “We are well rid of him. Never quite trusted that man. Had his eye on my daughter last Season. Wanted to get his hands on her inheritance, no doubt. Silly chit thought she was in love with him. Wasn’t easy talking her out of it.”

  “I say,” his companion said to Gideon, “my wife tells me you have given your lady a spectacular mare. She’s quite envious and wants me to select a new horse for her. Wonder if you’d give me your opinion at the Thursday sale at Tattersall’s.”

  “I had not planned to attend the sale,” Gideon said.

  The man nodded quickly, flushing with embarrassment. “Quite understand. Did not mean to impose. Just thought if you happened to show up, you might give me a word of advice.”

  Gideon caught his father’s narrow, warning glance and shrugged. “Certainly. If I am at Tattersall’s on Thursday, I shall be happy to point out one or two animals that might be suitable for your lady.”

  The gentleman brightened. “Appreciate it. Well, then, I’ll be off. No doubt I’ll see you at the Urskins’ ball this evening. Wife says we shall be putting in an appearance. Claims the whole world will be there to see you and Lady St. Justin.”

  The whole world, or at least the entire ton, was very much in evidence in the Urskins’ ballroom that night. And it was obvious immediately that they had come to pay court to Gideon and Harriet.

  Lord and Lady St. Justin had become all the rage overnight. The presence of the Earl and Countess of Hardcastle in Lady Urskin’s ballroom was an added bonus for the proud hostess.

  Effie and Adelaide were thrilled and extremely gratified at finding themselves connected to such a fashionable couple. Felicity found it all vastly amusing.

  At the height of the evening, Hardcastle sought out Gideon where he stood near a window. It was the first time Gideon had been alone all night and he was relishing the moment of solitude.


  “It is amazing how many friends you appear to have acquired lately.” Hardcastle sipped his champagne as he surveyed the crowd.

  “Isn’t it? It would appear that as far as Society is concerned I have removed the stain on my honor. I owe it all to my amazing little wife.”

  “No,” Hardcastle said with unexpected fierceness. “Thanks to your lady you have regained your reputation in Society’s eyes. But your honor was always yours and yours alone. And you never tarnished it.”

  Gideon was so startled he nearly dropped his glass of champagne. He turned to stare at his father, not knowing what to say. “Thank you, sir,” he managed at last.

  “There is nothing to thank me for,” the earl muttered. “I am proud to call you my son.”

  Chapter Nineteen

  HARRIET WAS IN HER bedchamber the next morning when Lady Hardcastle tracked her down. Harriet put aside her copy of a new essay on a natural history of the earth which she had purchased recently. She smiled at her mother-in-law.

  “Good morning, Lady Hardcastle. I thought you would still be asleep. It is only ten o’clock and we had a very late night last night.”

  “Yes, it was dreadfully late, was it not? I fear I have grown accustomed to country hours. It would take time to get back into the habit of late nights.” Lady Hardcastle floated over to a tiny chair by the window and sat down very lightly. “I wanted to talk to you, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not.”

  Lady Hardcastle smiled gently. “I am not certain how I wish to begin. I suppose I should start by thanking you.”

  Harriet blinked. “For what?”

  “Why, for all you have done for Gideon, naturally. And for what you have done for my husband and me, as well.”

  “But I have done nothing,” Harriet protested. “Indeed, I obliged you to rush here on a fruitless errand and annoyed Gideon to no end in the process. I am just grateful the whole thing is over and done. With any luck we shall be leaving London soon to return to Upper Biddleton. I am really not very fond of Town life.”

  Lady Hardcastle’s hand fluttered gracefully. “You do not comprehend me, my dear. I am thanking you for much more than this summons to London. You have given me back my son. I do not know if I can ever repay you.”

  Harriet stared at her. “Lady Hardcastle, that is vastly overstating the situation, I assure you.”

  “No, it is not. Six years ago after my eldest son died my spirits were depressed by the deepest melancholy I have ever experienced. I could not seem to emerge from it. Months passed. We even moved from Upper Biddleton to Hardcastle Hall because the doctor said the change might help me. When I finally began to awaken to life again, it was to learn that I had very nearly lost my second son.”

  “How terrible for you,” Harriet said softly.

  “My husband would not even speak to him or allow him in the house for quite some time. Everyone accused Gideon of the most dreadful behavior toward poor Deirdre Rushton. And after a while Gideon simply stopped denying it. He turned his back on all of us, and who could blame him?”

  “But your husband gave him the responsibility of managing the Hardcastle estates.”

  “Yes. When he feared his health was failing he summoned Gideon and turned everything over to him. I thought that action would help mend the breech, but it did not. Every time Gideon walked into the house, he and his father quarreled.”

  “Gideon is very stubborn.”

  “So is his father,” Lady Hardcastle said ruefully. “They are very alike in some ways, although they have never acknowledged it. I must tell you that yesterday when we came upon them in the library I very nearly wept for joy. It was the first time I have seen the two of them deal calmly together in six long years. And all because of you.”

  Harriet touched her hand. “Lady Hardcastle, that is very kind of you, but I assure you I did very little.”

  Lady Hardcastle’s hand closed briefly over Harriet’s. “My son had become as ill-tempered and dangerous as the beast people called him.”

  “Good grief,” Harriet said. “He was never that bad, madam. I always found him to be quite rational, for the most part. And he was always very kind to me.”

  “Kind?” Lady Hardcastle looked startled. “My dear, he worships the ground upon which you walk.”

  Harriet stared at her in amazement, and then she laughed. “What fustian. He is indulgent with me, I’ll grant you that much, but I assure you, Gideon does not worship me.”

  “I am certain you are wrong, Harriet.”

  Harriet shook her head firmly. “No, not at all. He told me himself that he has forgotten how to love. He married me because he is an intensely honorable man and he had no choice. We have become good friends. But that is all there is to it.”

  “You are man and wife,” Lady Hardcastle said firmly. “And I have seen the way my son looks at you. I will wager the Hardcastle diamonds that you are more than good friends, my dear.”

  Harriet blushed. “Yes, well, there is the natural affection one expects between married people, I suppose. But I do not read more into it than that.”

  Lady Hardcastle studied her closely. “You are in love with him, are you not?”

  Harriet wrinkled her nose. “Is it so obvious?”

  “Heavens, yes. I realized it the moment I met you. I imagine everyone else sees it just as clearly.”

  “Oh, dear,” Harriet muttered. “I do try to conceal it. I would not want to embarrass Gideon in public. The ton mocks any hint of such emotion between man and wife. Very unfashionable.”

  Lady Hardcastle rose to her feet as if she were made of feathers and leaned down to give Harriet a quick hug. “I do not think you could ever embarrass my son. You believed in him when he thought no one else did. He will never forget that.”

  “He is very loyal, in his way,” Harriet agreed warmly. “Quite dependable, actually. My father would have liked him very much.”

  Lady Hardcastle went to the door and paused briefly. “People called my son a beast after what happened six years ago. His size and his terrible scar caused the name to stick and in some ways I fear he did his best to live up to the label. But your faith and trust in him have changed him. For that you have my heartfelt thanks.”

  Lady Hardcastle floated out of the room and closed the door very softly behind her.

  “It can certainly pay to have a notorious reputation,” Adelaide proclaimed on the night of the St. Justin soiree. “Just look at this crowd. Harriet, my dear, you have definitely arrived as a successful hostess. Congratulations.”

  “Yes, indeed, Harriet.” Effie gazed around in satisfaction. The St. Justin townhouse was full to overflowing. “A terrific crush. It will be in all the papers in the morning.”

  Felicity smiled at her sister. “I think we can safely say that you have acquired whatever social polish you needed to avoid embarrassing St. Justin in public. No one can say he has not married a suitable hostess.”

  Harriet made a face. “I do not want any of you to think I did this on my own. The truth is Lady Hardcastle organized the entire thing. I am just exceedingly grateful that everyone who was invited accepted the invitation.”

  “And a few more besides,” Felicity observed. “No one could resist. You and St. Justin have taken the ton by storm. He is viewed as a long-suffering romantic hero and you are the lady who loved him in spite of his murky past. It is a tale straight out of a gothic novel.”

  “I do not know about a gothic romance,” Effie said, “but there is no denying the two of you are definitely in fashion at the moment. It was the perfect time to give a soiree such as this.”

  “That is what Lady Hardcastle said,” Harriet said. “Personally, I shall be glad when it is all over.”

  Two very familiar, very handsome young men appeared and started toward Felicity and her relatives.

  Harriet leaned toward Felicity. “Here come the Adonis Twins.”

  Felicity smiled her charming smile. “They are an attractive pair, ar
e they not? It worries me that they do everything together, however. One wonders how far they take it.”

  Effie frowned severely. “Felicity, really.”

  Harriet stifled a giggle as the two young men approached. She waited until everyone had exchanged greetings and then she slipped away, knowing she would not be missed. The Adonis Twins had eyes only for Felicity, and Harriet had more interesting things to pursue.

  Gideon and his parents were on the far side of the packed drawing room. They were talking to a couple. Harriet did not recognize them. Probably more of Lord and Lady Hardcastle’s many friends.

  The room had grown very warm. Harriet fanned herself rapidly for a moment before deciding to step out into the garden for a breath of fresh air. Several people nodded to her in a friendly fashion as she made her way toward the door.

  A few minutes later she found herself out in the hall. Owl was supervising the vast array of footmen who were scurrying about with trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. He gave Harriet a gloomy nod.

  “Is all going well, Owl?” Harriet inquired.

  “We are in command of the situation at the moment, madam. But the crowd is larger than expected. One can only hope we will not run out of champagne.”

  “Dear me.” Harriet was alarmed. “Is there a possibility of that?”

  “There is always a possibility of disaster at this sort of affair, madam,” Owl said. “I shall do my best to avoid it, of course.”

  “Of course.”

  Harriet started down the hall toward the back door, but changed her mind when she suddenly realized that one of her garters seemed loose. She decided to go upstairs to the privacy of her own bedchamber to retie it.

  At the top of the stairs she turned left and went down the hall. There was no doubt about it. The garter was definitely coming undone. Her stocking was starting to slip. Thank heavens she had noticed the problem in time. It would have been extremely mortifying to have one’s stocking fall to one’s ankle in the middle of one’s first soiree.

  The hallway seemed darker than usual, Harriet noted with a frown. Someone had snuffed some of the candles in the wall sconces. Owl was no doubt attempting to economize.