Testing Miss Toogood

by Stella Cameron

  Nathan didn’t say a word. He continued to stare at Lady Mary.

  The Dowager leaned forward until her mouth was beside Fleur’s ear. “Mary Eaton was seriously injured three years ago when the phaeton her fiancé was driving turned over. Charles was a lovely man but he was driving too fast around Marble Arch. He died at once. Mary almost lost the use of her legs but we understand she can walk now—with difficulty. She retreated from the world after the accident.”

  “How horribly sad,” Fleur murmured. “Isn’t it nice she’s here this evening?”

  “It’s strange,” Hattie said. “I know the invitation went out but I also know it was declined. So why did she change her mind—and without letting us know?”

  “She’s here,” the Dowager said. “That’s all that matters.”

  “You’re whispering because you want to exclude us,” Miss Prunella said loudly. “Really, Henrietta, you are not making us feel at all welcome.”

  “You are welcome,” the Dowager said shortly. “I love you both very much. Now use your heads and stop behaving the way you think old people should behave. You’re too intelligent for that.”

  Miss Enid and Miss Prunella smiled a little and managed to look entirely too wicked. But they subsided and emptied two glasses of champagne apiece, rapidly.

  “Excuse me,” Nathan said, too loudly and too anxiously. “I must greet an old friend.”

  As he walked away, his big shoulders swinging as he threaded his way through the crowd, the Dowager said, “He loved Mary deeply. Her engagement to Charles Bennet was a terrible blow. Sometimes I think Nathan still loves her.”

  “She’s a cripple,” Aunt Enid said.

  Chloe, who had been keeping quiet to make sure she stayed as long as possible, popped up and said with her pretty French accent, “It is not kind to speak so of a lady with a hardship. So her legs do not work as she would wish. The rest of her is beautiful and there is such sweetness in her face. I expect that is because she has suffered so much.”

  “The mouths of babes,” Hattie said, gathering Chloe to her side. “You’re quite right, of course and now we should speak of other things.”

  “Well, I don’t see why Nathan thinks he must rush off to Lady Mary,” Gussy said. “Do you, Vicky? He certainly couldn’t love her now, if he ever did.”

  Vicky had the grace to appear awkward. “I’m sure he’s just paying his respects.”

  Both women stared slavishly at Nathan whenever they saw him.

  “Let’s go and see who we can find,” Gussy said. “Everyone is too busy gossiping, Vicky. They’ll never notice if we pop off for a bit.”

  “I shall notice,” the Dowager said, but she waved them away and said, “Go. But not for long and remember—decorum.”

  Fleur searched the faces of the servants, trying to decide which one must be Jane Weller. The maids wore black dresses, white aprons and starched caps and they all looked the same.

  Nathan and Lady Mary distracted Fleur. He had greeted the woman at the top of the stairs and she continued to look up into his face while he talked. Sometimes he bent over her to speak into her ear. He held her by the elbow and she rested a hand on his arm.

  He looked to the lower floor but Lady Mary shook her head and Fleur guessed she was saying she didn’t want to go down the stairs.

  What happened next caught the attention of a good many people in the room. Nathan picked up Lady Mary and carried her effortlessly down to the lower level of the ballroom. Fleur heard ladies sigh all around her and heard her own indrawn breath, too, and felt her throat tighten.

  The two made a breathtaking couple.

  “Mmm,” the Dowager said in a low voice behind Fleur. “What do you think, Hattie?”

  “I see the fine hand of another in this,” Hattie responded. “We’ll discuss it later.”

  Rather than bring Lady Mary to join the rest of his party, Nathan set her down beside a small table for two and settled her there. He pulled up his own chair and sat, never taking his eyes from his companion’s face.

  “Oh, dear,” the Dowager said. “Let’s pray his heart isn’t broken again.”

  Gussy and Vicky rushed back to the table and Vicky said, “You’ll never believe it but one of our old servants is over there. Jane Weller. She used to be my maid and made up all sorts of stories. She had a young man and stayed out all night with him. Oh, Lady Granville, I’m sure she gave you a false name to get employment but she really shouldn’t be here.”

  “Where is she?” Hattie asked, exchanging a glance with her mother-in-law.

  “Over there,” Vicky said. “She has a tray of champagne glasses in her hands.”

  Fleur looked at once and saw the young woman they meant. In the chapel she’d been able to make out very little and all she saw now was a pleasant-looking girl with light brown hair pulled back.

  “I employed Jane,” the Dowager said and she was no longer smiling. “I suggest the two of you forget she’s here.”

  Looking at each other, Gussy and Vicky went slowly from the table and walked toward one of three alcoves where refreshments were arrayed.

  Dominic threaded his way from the dance floor, constantly stopped by men and women who wanted to talk. He bowed politely, said a few words and moved on—until he saw his brother and Lady Mary. At once he went to them and kissed the lady’s hand. He beamed at her and she at him. Nathan said something and they all laughed. Dominic spread his arms, bowed and left them, but he glanced back in time for Lady Mary to cast him a meaningful look and give a slight nod.

  “Aha,” Hattie whispered.

  The Dowager said, “Indeed.”

  Fleur almost informed them that even she wondered if Dominic has somehow persuaded the lady to attend this evening—for Nathan’s sake. Dominic had the kind of gentle, caring heart that would forever steal her breath, and her soul. Her eyes filled with tears just thinking about his selfless efforts.

  Before he reached them, Dominic turned away again, briefly, no doubt checking Jane Weller’s whereabouts. Fleur tried to pick out Lawrence but failed. The livery and wigs were equalizers—apart from varying height, all the men who wore them looked the same.

  Dominic arrived and bowed all around. “I am the luckiest of men,” he said. “I have the most beautiful women in the room all to myself. What’s the matter with the men here? Why aren’t you all dancing?”

  Aunt Enid whacked him with her fan and both Worth sisters tittered.

  “Would you care to dance, Hattie?” Dominic said, offering her his hand.

  Hattie blew him a kiss and said, “I’m saving my dancing for John.”

  “Mother?”

  “I’m saving my feet,” the Dowager said. “Ask Fleur.”

  Her heart speeded up. “I believe I’m promised to Mr. Stanton for this one,” she said.

  Dominic picked up her card, checked it and said, “No. You have no excuse not to dance with me.”

  Fleur could think of many reasons why she shouldn’t dance with him. She couldn’t say any of them aloud and neither could she make a scene by refusing to dance. “Thank you,” she said and accompanied him toward the floor.

  Her short train twisted. She twitched it straight—and saw knowing looks passing between the Dowager and Hattie. Even the aunts appeared fatuous.

  31

  Bless Mary Eaton. Dominic faced Fleur and drew her lightly into his arms. Unless Mary realized too soon that he had fabricated—just a little—in telling her he worried deeply about his brother’s state of mind, she was the perfect diversion. Let Nathan struggle with his feelings for her, and let him try to melt her heart again. The reentry into his life of his old love would keep his mind off Fleur, at least while Dominic’s drama with her played out.

  The girl Dominic danced with scarcely seemed to touch the floor. And her features were as remote as a marble sculpture. He turned his head to make sure he could locate Jane Weller. She stood at one side of the entrance to one of the alcoves where food was served. Lawrence stood on
the other. All was well and Dominic didn’t know if he felt relieved.

  “I have been foolish,” Fleur said, startling him.

  He enjoyed dancing with her, enjoyed the envious looks from other men. “Why do you say that?”

  “From when I was a little girl I’ve been strong. Strong-minded I suppose you’d say.”

  “I won’t argue with that,” he said and smiled. A wasted effort.

  “You wouldn’t have made love to me if I’d told you not to.”

  He glanced about. “Have a care.”

  “Yes,” she said and at least a little color came into her cheeks. “Please remember that I caused us—”

  “No, you didn’t,” he said rapidly. “And this isn’t a good time and place to discuss such matters.”

  “I most certainly did. Why can’t you accept that you aren’t less of a man because you were seduced by a woman?”

  He moved her across the floor so fast she was too breathless to speak. “Now,” he said when they were finally in a less populated area of the floor, “listen to me. You cannot do what you don’t know how to do. But the question of who did what is immaterial. At least to me. It happened.”

  Mr. Mergatroyd danced close with Victoria Crewe-Burns. “Lovely evenin’, Elliot,” he said. “Top-notch. Absolutely top-notch.”

  Dominic gritted his teeth and nodded, and turned Fleur until they were too far away for conversation with Mergatroyd.

  “Why did you go to great lengths to get Lady Mary here?” Fleur asked.

  Damn the girl for her cheek—and wits. “One day I’ll tell you all about Nathan and Mary. Not tonight.”

  “Is that Lawrence on the other side of the alcove from Jane?” Fleur asked.

  “Yes,” he said shortly. Why try to pretend nothing was going on?

  “There’s plenty of time for an attempt to be made on her—or someone else.”

  “You know too much,” Dominic said.

  “True,” Fleur said. “But I am curious about everything and I seem to fall onto information. I don’t plan to eavesdrop, as you call it.”

  Dominic sighed. “Would you ever be able to stay out of someone else’s business?”

  “Not if I cared about the person. Or I thought a wrong might be committed.”

  “Gad, you’re impossible.”

  She tilted her head and looked at him. “Will you enter a monastery or is that what you threaten whenever you’re afraid a woman is getting too serious about you?”

  “Dammit, miss! You are enough to drive a man to a monastery.”

  She smirked. “I don’t think they’ll have you.”

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “I don’t think they’ll have you. You’re too wicked. You’d keep falling asleep in prayers or something awful. And you are a very sexual man.”

  He checked behind him. “Those are not things a young lady says to a gentleman.”

  “Even if they’re true?”

  “Especially if they’re true.”

  They stared at one another and he fought not to laugh. Fleur’s smile helped him. Sadness lay in her eyes.

  “I love you, Dominic,” she said.

  He stopped dancing and swallowed. His skin felt icy and tight. And at the same time his heart began to bump faster. “Then why not—”

  “I don’t expect anything from you. The memories you’ve given me won’t be enough, but I’ll learn to live with them. I don’t belong in your world.”

  He hardly reacted to a thump in the middle of his back. “Yes, you do.”

  “Come on,” Nathan said in a startlingly agitated voice. “It’s happening.”

  Dominic raised his chin to see over the crowd and saw Albert Parker, wigless now, running toward one of the doors to the balcony.

  “Go back to the other women,” he told Fleur. “Quickly. Try to behave as normally as you can or we’ll have panic. Go!”

  Fleur struggled through the crowd toward Hattie and the rest of the family. It was too late to stop the panic Dominic had mentioned—already people surged across the big room talking loudly, appearing shocked, clutching at one another. They went in the direction in which Dominic and Nathan had gone.

  For a brief moment she saw Franklin Best. He dodged those in his way and made speedy progress.

  By the time she rejoined the others Snowdrop had already left with Chloe and Hattie was on her feet with an aunt on each arm.

  “What’s happened?” the Dowager asked Fleur. “Did you see anything?”

  “Yes. Dominic says we’re to stay calm.”

  Hattie pressed her lips together and narrowed her eyes to peer across the press of people. “You know all about it, don’t you?” she said.

  “I think so,” Fleur told her. “This is too much for Miss Prunella and Miss Enid.”

  “It’s too much for all of us,” the Dowager said. “We must leave it to the men. They know what they’re doing. We can’t persuade our guests to be calm, but we will pray everyone is safe.”

  The side of the ballroom where they stood was all but empty. The Dowager led the way to the stairs and the others followed.

  All but Fleur.

  She was grateful they failed to notice she wasn’t with them. She couldn’t leave as long as she didn’t know if The Cat had been caught and Jane was safe.

  She noticed that Lady Mary Eaton continued to sit quietly at her table. A few servants hung back. Above her, faces ringed the gallery and the din from anxious conversation rose and fell. She thought the music had stopped.

  A maid moved between tables with a tray, carefully removing plates and glasses. Fleur noticed the woman never looked in the direction of the crowd at the other side of the room.

  “Fleur?”

  She turned around to see Gussy Arbuthnot with her hands pressed to her cheeks. “Oh, Gussy, this is frightening.”

  “Do you think it’s The Cat? You know he got me, don’t you? You probably read it in the newspaper.”

  “Yes, and I’m so sorry you had such a scare.”

  Gussy came and put an arm through one of Fleur’s. “My family blamed me for it. Can you imagine? They still think it was somehow my fault and my father is furious that I cost him so much money.”

  “Poor, poor Gussy.” Fleur took the other girl in her arms and hugged her. “I’m sure he’ll get over it and see how much more you’re worth than the silly money.”

  “He never will,” Gussy said. “He hates me. I want to get out of here.”

  “We will.” There seemed little point in continuing to wait there.

  So many people had started to crowd down the stairs that leaving that way would be difficult, even dangerous.

  “We can get down from the balcony outside,” Gussy said. “Then we’ll go in by the front door and find somewhere to wait quietly.”

  Lawrence held Jane Weller tightly. He buried her face in the pale blue coat of his livery and glared at the guests milling around them. “M’lord,” he cried when he saw Dominic. “Can you make them get back?”

  Nathan went to work at once, urging people back inside the ballroom. Franklin Best worked the groups as did McGee and a band of male servants. Gradually the balcony cleared.

  “Thank God you’re safe,” Dominic said to Jane, patting her back awkwardly. “Did you see him?”

  Jane raised her face and began to cry. “I’m so sorry,” she said. “It wasn’t anything. Not really. Just a nasty joke.”

  Dominic waited while Lawrence murmured consoling words to Jane.

  “I shouldn’t have stepped outside but I forgot for a minute. I heard someone crying, see, so I looked.”

  “And?” Dominic said.

  “He pulled me. The boy did, the one from the night The Cat got me. I’m sure it was him. He pulled me across the balcony with me screaming all the way. I thought that man would get me again. But then the boy let go and ran away. He ran down to the grounds and I didn’t see which way he went.”

  Dominic and Lawrence frowned at each other. “A
diversion?” Dominic said. He spun around and ran into the ballroom. The music played again and guests returned to their tables. The dance floor began to fill up.

  When he reached the place where he expected to find his family, they had left. Nathan arrived and said, “The chaos must have been too much for the aunts.”

  Dominic felt uneasy. “I suppose it must.” He expected to see Fleur emerge from somewhere.

  “Nathan! Dominic!”

  “Mary,” Nathan said. “I forgot she was there alone.”

  On her feet again, Lady Mary walked awkwardly toward them, steadying herself on the backs of chairs and swinging her feet forward. “Is everything all right?” she asked.

  Nathan met her and stood as if ready to catch her if she fell. “We think so,” he said.

  “Dominic. That lovely girl you were dancing with left through that door onto the balcony. I am most concerned. Another young woman was with her but your young lady tried to change her mind and come back.”

  “You mean, Fleur? She wore red.”

  “That’s the one. I’m almost certain she was forced to leave.”

  Dominic started to move. “By whom?”

  “Someone outside. I saw a hand shoot out, then she was gone—and the other girl.”

  32

  Wicked people wanted to see fear in the eyes of their victims, to hear them beg for mercy.

  Fleur didn’t know why she sat, tied hand and foot, in a carriage that rumbled through London’s meanest streets, or why Gussy Arbuthnot perched on the seat opposite, her face filled with hatred. Whatever the reason, Fleur would remain quiet and composed for as long as she could. If it was to be her lot that suffering lay ahead, she prayed she could give her kidnappers as little satisfaction as possible.

  If only it was as easy to quiet her heart as to control her face. She hid her steady trembling by holding her body rigid. The palms of her bound hands were moist with sweat.

  The carriage lights outside cast ghostly shadows over the shabby interior, over Gussy’s pinched features. Her eyes glowed with an inhuman fervor.