From Wallflower to Countess

by Janice Preston

  She indicated a chair by the fire, which Charles ignored, sitting on the sofa by her side and taking her hand.

  ‘Do not think you can fob me off with such a feeble denial, Felicity, for you are clearly upset. Is it Richard?’

  Felicity snatched her hand from Charles’s grasp as the door opened to admit a maid with the tea tray. After she had gone, Charles brewed the tea and poured a cup for Felicity. Her hand trembled, and the cup rattled loudly in its saucer. Her mind whirled.

  ‘It is my mother,’ she said, before sipping at her tea. ‘She arrived today for a visit, and...’ She hesitated. How could she explain why her mother’s arrival had so beset her? She had backed herself into a corner.

  ‘And Richard disapproves of this visit?’

  ‘No. It is not that. He is... Oh, I do not know, Charles. I dare say my mother’s arrival has unsettled me. And Richard and I...’ She really should not discuss their disagreement with anyone, but this could be her opportunity to find out. ‘Charles, are you acquainted with Lady Brierley?’

  ‘I am. Why do you ask?’

  ‘You remember I told you about Westfield, the school I am involved with?’ Charles nodded, and Felicity went on to tell him about Millie, and about the house in Cheapside. ‘...and I need to understand why Richard is so against our meeting,’ she concluded. ‘Can you enlighten me?’

  ‘She is a widow and is universally received, to my knowledge. Might Richard simply have changed his mind about your involvement with this Millie?’

  ‘Then why would he not say so, instead of raising suspicions about Lady Brierley’s character? It makes no sense. Charles, will you introduce us? Please? I only wish to meet her and to discuss Millie. If Richard still disapproves, I shall not pursue the acquaintance.’

  ‘Well, I’m loath to go behind Richard’s back, but I really cannot see any reason why you should not be introduced. Are you invited out tonight?’

  ‘Yes. We go to the Davenports’ ball, and we dine with them beforehand.’

  ‘I, too, have an invitation, although not to dine. I shall invite Lady Brierley to accompany me to the ball.’

  ‘I hope you do not object to my confiding in you, Charles? I am not comfortable either, arranging this against Richard’s wishes, but he was so...so...intransigent that I cannot believe he will change his mind and he would not give me any reason why he was acting in such a way.’

  ‘It will be our little secret, Felicity.’

  * * *

  Richard dashed into Stanton House to find Felicity, dressed in amber silk, waiting in the hall.

  ‘I am sorry I am late, my dear. I was delayed.’

  He had been to see Harriet, to persuade her not to offer Millie a place at the house in Cheapside. A complete waste of time. First, Harriet had kept him kicking his heels in her salon for ages. And then she had flatly refused to comply with his wishes. Although he should acknowledge that, in his haste to persuade her, he might have sounded a touch dictatorial.

  ‘Why do you imagine,’ she had said, ‘that your dislike of your wife and me becoming acquainted is of more importance to me than the future of a fourteen-year-old girl in such need?’

  Put like that, he had no answer.

  Then, to compound his problems, Harriet’s butler announced Mr Durant’s arrival, begging a word. He had been compelled to skulk in the salon until Charles had been shown into Harriet’s parlour. Conscious of the lateness of the hour, he had then driven his curricle home at breakneck speed, causing Dalton to gasp aloud more than once.

  Richard paused, one foot on the bottom stair, looking back at Felicity. ‘I like that dress,’ he said. ‘It suits you very well.’

  Felicity blushed and a sudden image surfaced from the night before, her slender body naked and flushed as she rode him. He stifled the urge to haul her upstairs there and then. Who would have thought when he contracted to wed Lady Felicity Weston that she would stir his blood quite so effortlessly? The nights, he could not deny, were sublime.

  ‘Thank you,’ Felicity said, ‘but, truthfully, you should thank Yvette. She is very talented at making a silk purse out of—’

  Richard strode back to confront her. ‘Do not dare to finish what you were about to say,’ he said through gritted teeth. ‘We have had this conversation before. It is time you stopped denigrating yourself. Look at me, Felicity.’ She tilted her head up, amber eyes dark and wary. ‘You have beautiful eyes, wonderfully tempting lips...’ he brushed them with his own, registering her sharp intake of breath. He lowered his voice and put his lips to her ear ‘...and the most seductive body I have ever known.’

  Felicity jerked free. ‘You should hurry,’ she said. ‘We will be late.’

  Richard bit back his anger and took the stairs two at a time. Every effort to bind them closer together was rejected. It should not bother him. It was what he had wanted in his marriage—a wife who did not cling to him or interfere in his life. The sooner she got with child the better. Mayhap then she would settle down and become the compliant, agreeable wife he had bargained for. And he could return to his sporting pursuits without guilt.

  Is that truly what you want? What about love?

  Love? Where had that ridiculous notion sprung from?

  He slammed into his bedchamber, where Simson was waiting to help him dress for dinner.

  Love was for fools. You love someone, and you lose them. Adam...his father...even his mother...oh, she was still of this world, but she did not love him as she had loved his father and brother, that was abundantly clear. No, it was far safer not to love.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Later that evening, Richard wandered into the card room at the Davenports’ house. He had danced the first with Felicity, and he had marked her card for the supper dance, but her card was now full and he had no desire to dance with anyone else. He perused the occupants of the room with little enthusiasm, selected the most promising of the tables, and sat down.

  Two hands of loo later he excused himself and strolled back to the ballroom. He froze on the threshold, cursing silently at the sight of Felicity and Harriet, deep in conversation, on the far side of the room. What the...? Had he known Harriet was attending tonight he would have stayed to keep an eye on Felicity. To keep them apart. He strode across the dance floor, ignoring the exclamations and complaints of the dancers. As he reached the other side, two pairs of eyes—one wary yet defiant, the other apologetic—contemplated him.

  ‘Richard.’

  Did her voice tremble? Good. She should be worried. Did I not expressly forbid...?

  His thoughts slammed to a halt. One thing he did understand about Felicity: she would do her duty, and what she believed to be right, even in the face of his disapproval. If he had given her a good reason why she should not meet Harriet, she might have accepted it. But he had not because he could not, and now it was too late.

  ‘Charles was kind enough to introduce me to Lady Brierley,’ Felicity said. ‘I believe you already know her?’

  Richard hauled in a deep breath. If he wasn’t so furious, he would laugh. Could this be any more farcical? ‘Yes. Indeed I do. Good evening, Lady Brierley. How do you do?’

  ‘I have remained tolerably well since last we met, Lord Stanton. Felicity has been telling me about a young girl in need of help.’

  Felicity?

  ‘Yes, and Harriet has most generously said that Millie may move in tomorrow. Is that not splendid news?’

  Harriet? They’re already on first name terms? Richard’s heart sank. Anything he tried to do now could only worsen matters.

  Conscious of those two pairs of eyes watching, he cleared his throat. ‘Splendid news indeed.’

  ‘Evening, Fliss...I mean, Lady Stanton; Lady Brierley.’ Dominic joined them, bowing to the ladies. ‘I believe this is my dance?’

  �
�Oh...yes, indeed, Dominic.’ Felicity smiled at him and placed her hand in his. ‘If you will excuse me?’ She looked from Richard to Harriet, then back again.

  ‘Of course.’ Richard watched Felicity chatter happily with Dominic as they took their place on the dance floor. Would she ever be that relaxed with him?

  ‘I like her, Stanton.’ Harriet’s soft-spoken words grabbed his attention.

  ‘You must not pursue the acquaintance.’

  ‘So you said this afternoon. And I shall give you the same answer I did then. I choose my own friends. You have nothing to fear—Felicity will never find out about us from me although, if you’ll take my advice, you will tell her the truth.’

  ‘Why would I do that?’

  Harriet shrugged. ‘It is my experience that truth will out in the end,’ she said. ‘It is your decision, however.’

  ‘Indeed it is. Thank you for your advice, but I’m sure you will understand if I choose not to follow it. Tell me how you came to be involved with fallen women, Harriet.’ He had not thought to ask when he saw her earlier. ‘I believe it is not common knowledge?’

  ‘No, it is not. And I have no wish for it to become so.’

  ‘But why these particular women?’

  ‘They are not just any fallen women. They are the poor souls who, by virtue of their need to work for a living, find themselves unable to reject the advances of their masters. And, if they are unfortunate, those same masters turn them away when they get with child.’ Her violet eyes blazed. ‘Such behaviour is despicable. I am appalled by the sheer numbers of girls soiled in that way. Including, I am ashamed to admit, two of my own maids when my husband was still alive.’

  ‘Brierley seduced servant girls when he had you? I find that hard to believe.’

  ‘He liked them young. They were not willing bed partners. I could not prevent him, but I could repair some of the damage he caused.’

  Richard’s opinion of Harriet climbed a notch.

  ‘Would you care to dance?’

  ‘I would love to. It will make a pleasant change to dance together without fear someone might guess our secret.’

  ‘Indeed. You did not mention you were coming here tonight.’

  ‘You did not ask. However, that was Mr Durant’s purpose in calling upon me—to invite me to accompany him. If it will make you easier, I did try to dissuade him from introducing me to your wife when I realized his intention.’

  ‘I thank you for that, and I am pleased we parted on good terms, Harry, but I should still prefer you not to become too friendly with Felicity.’

  ‘It is a pity we cannot always achieve our heart’s desire, is it not, Richard?’

  Afterwards, Richard watched as Felicity danced with, and charmed, a succession of young men, and he pondered the discontent rumbling deep in his gut. Was it just possessiveness, or was his wife beginning to get under his skin? Whatever it was, it made him...tense.

  Charles joined him. ‘Surprised to see you dancing with the lovely Lady Brierley earlier, Stan.’

  Richard stiffened. ‘Why surprised?’

  ‘I was given to understand you did not like the lady.’

  ‘By whom, might I ask?’

  ‘Your good lady wife. When she begged me to—’

  ‘Begged you to what, Charles?’

  Charles flushed, clamping his mouth shut.

  ‘Now, let me guess. Did she, by chance, beg to be introduced to the lady in question?’

  ‘Now, Stan...’

  ‘And, despite knowing I disapproved, you went right ahead and contrived an introduction. Am I close?’

  ‘I only meant to help.’

  ‘Damn you for a meddling fool, Charles. Did it not occur to you I had a very good reason not to want the two of them to become acquainted?’

  As soon as the words left his mouth, Richard could have bitten off his own tongue.

  ‘Stan! No, do not tell me! Lady Brierley? You lucky, lucky dog! Stanton prevails where all others fail!’

  Richard swore silently, viciously.

  ‘I have no idea what you are bleating about, Charles.’

  ‘You and Lady Brierley. Oh, this is priceless.’

  Richard grabbed Charles by the arm and hauled him into the hall, currently deserted.

  ‘Listen to me, Charles. I can see what idea you’ve got into your head, but it is not true. Do you understand? If you ever breathe a word of this to anyone, you will not only ruin the lady’s reputation but you will upset me. Greatly. Do I make myself clear?’

  Charles grinned. ‘Eminently, my dear fellow, eminently. Never fear. I would not for the world upset either of you, you know that.’

  Richard eyed him, unconvinced. Maybe Charles would not upset him deliberately, but Richard knew only too well how Charles often spoke without thinking. He could only hope his cousin would soon forget all about their conversation.

  * * *

  ‘What is so very urgent that it could not wait until the end of the ball?’

  Felicity waited until the carriage was under way before challenging Richard. He had announced they were leaving immediately before supper. She had seen his anger when he spoke to Charles. Had he discovered she had inveigled an introduction to Harriet? She would not apologize for it. They had similar interests, and Felicity had relished every minute of their conversation, but it appeared their friendship was—for whatever reason—unacceptable to Richard. The tension in the carriage was palpable. His tension. He was like a wild animal on the prowl.

  ‘I thought you did not care for society parties?’ he said.

  ‘That is no reason for such an abrupt exit.’

  The carriage halted outside Stanton House. Once in the salon, a seated Felicity watched as Richard paced the room, occasionally thrusting his hand through his hair.

  Attack is the best defence.

  ‘Why do you not like Lady Brierley?’

  He halted. His eyes narrowed. ‘I do not dislike her.’

  ‘Disapprove then. I noticed your disapproval did not preclude your dancing with her.’

  ‘It would have been ungentlemanly to leave her standing there, after you went off with Avon.’

  ‘You were angry with Charles for introducing us.’

  ‘I’m angrier with you for persuading him to do it.’

  ‘I had no choice. You would not offer a good reason why I should not meet her. I ask you again—why do you not like Lady Brierley?’

  His jaw set, lips a thin line. Felicity felt her frown gather.

  ‘What are you not telling me, Richard?’ She held his gaze. Read his frustration as his brow lowered. It was clear he was unused to having his decisions questioned. Felicity was equally clear in her own mind, for the sake of their future together, that she was entitled to understand why his decisions were reached.

  ‘This conversation is at an end. I am going out. Goodnight.’

  No kiss. No kind word or softened glance before he strode from the room. Felicity’s heart sank all the way to her toes. If she had thought she could cajole or even force her husband to take her into his confidence, she had been badly mistaken.

  The distance between them gaped wider than ever.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Felicity rounded on her mother. ‘Please, Mama, tell me it is not true.’

  Lady Katherine’s mouth set in a mutinous line. ‘Do not take that tone of voice with me, Felicity. Why should it not be true, pray? Mr Farlowe does not owe Miss Bean anything.’

  ‘But you promised you would take care of Beanie.’ Tears choked her voice as Felicity paced the room.

  ‘Tsk. She is a servant. Anyway, I dare say she will be very content, living with her niece in Bristol.’

  ‘A niece she barely knows, who has four children sque
ezed into a tiny cottage, and a husband who works in the shipyard. How did you suppose they would manage when an elderly, half-blind relative was delivered to their doorstep? Always assuming, of course, that you did not expect poor Beanie to travel to Bristol on the stagecoach?’

  ‘Would someone care to enlighten me as to what is going on?’

  Felicity spun round. Richard was at the drawing-room door, brows raised. Her first thought was how drawn he looked.

  It was three weeks since Lady Katherine had arrived on their doorstep; three weeks since Felicity had met Harriet; three weeks in which their attempts at communication had grown more stilted by the day.

  Mama’s constant laments about Farlowe continued to fuel Felicity’s fears for her own future and her friendship with Harriet was a festering wound between her and Richard, his disapproval turning any talk of Westfield or the house in Cheapside into an argument. He had spent more and more time away from home.

  ‘It matters not, Richard. It was something and nothing.’

  He directed a sceptical look at her.

  ‘That is correct, Stanton. Felicity is always creating a drama out of humdrum events. There is nothing to be—’

  ‘I believe I heard Beanie mentioned? She was your maid, I seem to remember, before we married.’

  Felicity bit her lip and nodded.

  Richard switched his attention to Mama, who returned his look with wide-eyed defiance. ‘Miss Bean will be more comfortable with her own family than remaining with us.’

  ‘And are those your sentiments, Lady Katherine, or those of your husband?’

  Mama’s cheeks blossomed pink.

  ‘I recall a promise given by you to Felicity, on the day of our wedding—a promise to take care of Beanie.’

  ‘It is not my fault. Miss Bean raised no objection.’

  ‘How could she possibly object? How could she stand up to my stepfather? She is frail and half-blind. You were supposed to protect her from him.’ Like you were supposed to protect Emma. A sob bubbled up her throat and escaped her lips. She clamped her hand over her mouth and turned to the window, desperate not to cry.