Regency Admirer/The Merry Gentleman/The Gentleman's Demand

by Meg Alexander

  Up to this moment Sophie believed that she had lost her appetite, but the delicious aroma was tempting. At Wentworth’s insistence she sat down beside him and tasted a mouthful of the dish.

  ‘You must pray that the Prince never visits you, ma’am,’ he told her with a smile. ‘Most certainly he would try to take your cook away.’

  ‘You are very kind, sir. Bess will be delighted by that compliment. I must hope that your appetite is not flagging. You are to have ham braised in Madeira wine to follow.’

  ‘Splendid!’ Wentworth looked about him. ‘Yet we are your only customers, Mistress Firle. Why is that? With food such as you provide I had thought that your tables would be filled each day.’

  ‘We had been closed for several weeks,’ Sophie told him briefly. Though Hatton had claimed to be his cousin, the young man did not appear to have been taken into his confidence. Was that claim yet another attempt to deceive her?

  She could be sure of nothing, except that the very ground beneath her feet seemed to shift with every hour that passed.

  Then Hatton entered the room, nodding an acknowledgement to the assembled company. As he took a vacant chair, Kit slid down from his high perch and climbed upon his knee.

  The tiny gesture of affection was too much for Sophie. With a muttered excuse she rose to seek the sanctuary of the snug. Once there, she gazed out at the winter landscape with unseeing eyes, aware only of the anguish in her heart, and the ruin of all her hopes and dreams.

  She and Nicholas could have been so happy, especially as Kit adored him so. Then his arms were round her, his cheek resting against her hair. She must have left the door ajar as she hadn’t heard his quiet approach.

  For one unguarded moment she melted into his embrace, enveloped in the animal magnetism that was so particularly his own. Then she stiffened and pulled away.

  ‘My darling, won’t you reconsider?’ he pleaded. ‘Say that you forgive me...’

  Sophie turned to face him, aware that the agony in his eyes must match her own. ‘There is nothing to forgive,’ she told him quietly. ‘We were mistaken in each other, that is all.’

  ‘Will you throw away our happiness because of a few words spoken in haste?’

  ‘I hope I should not be so foolish,’ she said with dignity. Suddenly she felt very calm. ‘Let me try to make you understand. I have had time to think, and I believe that events have overtaken us. We have been thrown together in unusual circumstances. Perhaps it is no wonder that we have fallen victim to illusion.’

  ‘That isn’t true!’ he groaned.

  ‘Isn’t it? Have we not each seen in the other some ideal, to be found only in a world of fantasy? I don’t know you, Nicholas. Everything has happened much too fast. Even now, I do not know your name.’

  ‘There, at least, I did not lie to you,’ he muttered. ‘My given names are Crispin Nicholas. I am the Viscount Hatton.’

  ‘I thank you for your honesty.’ Sophie’s face was grave. ‘I can only wish you well, my lord.’ She held out her hand. ‘Let us not part in anger. I must thank you for many kindnesses.’

  ‘I don’t want your thanks!’ he cried in desperation. ‘Sophie, I want your love. Don’t tell me that it is too late.’ He reached out his arms to draw her to him, but she moved away.

  ‘Must you make this so painful?’ she whispered as she moved towards the door. Her words were a mistake. She knew it when he stayed her with a hand upon her arm. Then he looked deep into her eyes.

  ‘Would it be painful if you didn’t love me still?’ he asked.

  Gently she disengaged herself. ‘I won’t lie to you, my dear. I hadn’t thought to know such pain, but I shall learn to live with it. We should never suit, you know.’ With that she hurried back to the dining-room to join the others.

  As they entered the room together, Wentworth’s gaze flickered from one face to the other. Then, without comment, he addressed himself to his meal once more.

  Hatton took Kit upon his knee. ‘Will you do something for me?’ he asked easily.

  ‘Of course I will.’ The child beamed up at him.

  ‘Then find Reuben and the other men. Tell them I wish to see them on a matter of importance.’

  He waited until Kit had skipped away. Then he rapped on the table for silence.

  ‘We go tonight,’ he said.

  ‘You are sure this time?’ Wentworth turned to face him.

  ‘I think it certain that our quarry will wait no longer. These are careful men. The inn has been under close observation. It was unfortunate that Matthew rode out to fetch the doctor yesterday, but no harm was done. They didn’t intend to move their cargo until they could be sure that Mistress Firle had not betrayed them.’

  Wentworth glanced at Sophie with admiration in his eyes. ‘I salute your courage, ma’am. You have played no small part in this.’ He looked across at Hatton. ‘Cousin, is there no alternative? Surely someone else could open the outer door tonight. Mistress Firle has done enough. Must we ask more of her?’

  ‘The choice is hers.’ Hatton kept his brooding gaze fixed firmly on the table. Duty demanded that he should insist upon her participation, but he could not ask her to put herself in danger once again, even though it meant that all his plans might fail.

  Sophie made the decision for him. ‘I shall open the door,’ she announced. ‘I am in no danger, Mr Wentworth. The leader of these men believes that I am his willing accomplice, motivated only by a greed for gold. He judges others by his own desires.’

  Wentworth smiled at her. Then he turned back to Hatton. ‘What of the girl?’ he asked. ‘I take it that Nancy has not been found?’

  ‘Not yet. My greatest fear is that she will appear from hiding and take action on her own, but I have ordered certain measures. All the servants will keep watch indoors, especially on this floor. She won’t be allowed to gain the doors.’ His face was grim.

  ‘Nicholas, you will not harm her?’ Sophie asked in dismay.

  ‘She must be restrained, ma’am.’ He would go no further and Sophie was reduced to silence.

  Looking round the table at the circle of eager faces, she was forced to admit that he’d been clever.

  Now she understood the reason for the frequent visits of this party of apparently carefree young bucks. Hatton would use only men that he could trust, and who better than his own flesh and blood.

  But there were so few of them, she thought in anguish—even with Reuben and his bruisers added to their number they would be less than a dozen. She thought again of the silent crowd of smugglers who had trooped into the inn on the day she had first met Harward. There must have been thirty or more and she had no doubt that they were well able to call upon others.

  Hatton sensed her disquiet. ‘Don’t worry!’ he soothed. ‘We are not planning on a pitched battle. We intend to follow them to London. We believe they unload on this side of the river. Hopefully, their backers will be waiting for them.’

  ‘There are not enough of you!’ she cried. ‘You cannot fight a mob of murderous ruffians!’

  ‘We shall have support,’ he comforted. ‘At Southwark others will join us when we give the signal. It is all arranged.’

  ‘Oh, you will take care?’ she breathed.

  It was Wentworth who took her hand. ‘Believe me, ma’am, we all value our worthless hides,’ he told her with a twinkle. ‘We shall proceed with the utmost caution.’

  A general shout of amusement greeted this remark, and Hatton felt obliged to explain it.

  ‘My cousin is not noted for his caution,’ he said gravely. ‘On this occasion I am hoping that he will follow his instructions.’

  Wentworth gave him a mock salute. ‘Certainly, my lord! I shall follow them to the letter. Who am I to question the orders of my superior officer?’

  The conversation deteriorated quickly into a bout of chaffing which threatened to develop into horseplay.

  Sophie looked in wonder at the laughing party. Within hours these gay young men would be putting their ve
ry lives in danger. That prospect seemed to be the last thing on their minds.

  She turned to Hatton. ‘You are sure that Nancy is still within these walls?’ she asked.

  ‘She must be, Sophie. Most certainly she did not leave the inn last night. We should have seen her.’

  ‘So you were watching too?’

  ‘Naturally. We were hidden in the woods.’

  ‘You were sure you were not seen?’ she asked anxiously.

  ‘I’m certain of it. Harward would not have planned to move the goods tonight if he’s suspected a trap.’

  ‘I wish it were all over,’ she whispered. ‘How I hate that tunnel! It is so dark and dank.’

  Hatton took her hand in his. ‘No one will blame you in the least if you feel that you can’t go on,’ he told her gently. ‘We all admire your bravery.’

  ‘Brave? I don’t feel brave at all,’ she admitted.

  ‘Then, Sophie, you must not feel obliged—’

  She stopped him with a look. ‘I want to draw back, but I can’t,’ she told him. ‘We’ve come too far to give up now. If I didn’t open those doors tonight I could never forgive myself for my cowardice.’

  The look in his eyes was reward enough for her. ‘Then we must try to match your courage,’ he told her very softly. ‘Sophie, I still intend to try to win you. Will you give me leave to see you again?’

  She was about to answer him when the hubbub in the room was stilled. All eyes rested upon the gentleman standing in the doorway. Dressed in the height of fashion, he presented a striking figure, though not in his first youth.

  Sophie repressed an inward groan as she sank down in her chair. Even Hatton’s massive figure could not hide her from the searching gaze which scanned the room. This was all she needed. Urged on, no doubt, by her own father, Sir William Curtis had come to call.

  He came towards her at once, ignoring the assembled company.

  ‘There you are, my dear!’ he said in jovial tones. ‘And quite as lovely as ever, if I may be permitted to say so.’

  With hands outstretched he drew her to her feet and slipped a proprietorial arm about her waist. Then, with total disregard for her evident distaste, he kissed her full upon the lips.

  Sophie was strongly tempted to box his ears. When she was under her father’s protection he would not have dared to take such a liberty. Now, apparently, he regarded her as fair game. She was wise enough to school her expression into one of complaisance. At the first sign of her displeasure this unwelcome visitor would have found himself run through by one of the gentlemen who now looked their surprise at this unexpected turn of events.

  Hatton looked like thunder.

  ‘Sir William, allow me to make these gentlemen known to you,’ she said hastily. His bow was perfunctory to the point of insolence until she came to Hatton.

  ‘The Viscount Hatton, do you say?’ Sir William pursed his lips. ‘I had not heard that you were returned from the Peninsula, my lord—’

  ‘How should you?’ Hatton’s reply was curt. ‘We are not acquainted, sir. Nor are we like to be.’

  It was a sharp set-down, and Sir William crimsoned. He seemed about to retort, but a strange glint in his lordship’s eye warned him against it. Clearly, the gentleman was spoiling for a fight.

  Sir William turned his back. The younger man was of an athletic build. Doubtless he was able to give a good account of himself in a bout of fisticuffs, and he himself had no desire for a bloody nose.

  Then his eye fell upon Kit. The child had run his errand. Now he was standing close to Hatton.

  ‘I told them, sir,’ he whispered. ‘They are waiting for you.’

  ‘Sophie, is this your son?’ Sir William asked. ‘The boy is not unlike you.’

  ‘Yes, this is Kit.’

  ‘I see. Come here, my lad! Let’s have a look at you!’ He advanced towards the child, but Kit retreated behind Hatton.

  ‘Disobedient? Hmm! The lad lacks discipline. Your father was right. He should be sent away to school—’

  ‘He’s only five!’ Sophie exclaimed in anger. She might have said more, but Hatton forestalled her.

  He bent down, picked up Kit and set the child upon his shoulder. Then, without a backward glance, he walked out of the room.

  Sir William did not trouble to hide his rage. ‘Upon my word!’ he blustered. ‘There would appear to be no limit to the insolence of some members of the ton. Strange company you keep, my dear! The man is a perfect lout!’

  Sophie heard the scrape of a chair, and peering round Sir William’s bulky figure she saw Wentworth advancing towards them with a purposeful tread. She caught his eye and shook her head. This was no time for a private fight. She caught at her companion’s sleeve.

  ‘We need to speak in private,’ she insisted. ‘Have you a message from my father?’

  Sir William looked at the circle of hostile faces, and made no objection to being led away. Sophie took him into the snug and closed the door, though she was careful to keep her hand upon the latch.

  ‘You wish to be private with me?’ her companion leered. ‘Let me tell you, Sophie, your father hopes that we shall make a match of it. Then he will be happy to receive you again.’ He walked towards her with arms outstretched.

  ‘Keep your distance, sir!’ she cried. ‘I have not the least wish to be private with you. If you must know it, I have just saved your skin. My friends do not care to see me offered insult.’

  Curtis stared at her. ‘Insult?’ he echoed. ‘How have I insulted you? I came to make you an offer.’

  ‘You may keep your offer to yourself. You have just behaved as if you owned me. I have never offered you encouragement, even as a girl. In my father’s house you would not have dared to take such liberties with my person, or to use my given name without permission.’

  ‘Ah, but matters are different now, I think.’ He gave her a crafty smile. ‘You have no protector, unless, of course, you have allowed the estimable Viscount to bed you. He seems very much at home here.’

  ‘If you think that, I wonder that you should consider offering for me,’ Sophie gritted out the words. She was too angry to say more.

  ‘I don’t mind another man’s leavings,’ he informed her. ‘In certain matters experience is of much value. Pray don’t pretend that you cannot understand me. You are no longer an innocent girl.’

  Sophie looked long and hard at him until his eyes fell before her own. The years had not been kind to her former suitor, and dissipation had taken its toll. He was now grossly fat, his bulk confirmed to some extent by stays. She could hear them creaking as he moved. She stared at the loose-lipped mouth and the little piglike eyes. Even now they glittered with lust.

  ‘I am sorry that you have come so far upon a fruitless errand,’ she said at last. ‘I should warn you, sir, that the roads about this place are not safe after dusk. You had best leave now.’

  To her horror he advanced upon her once again. ‘Still teasing me, my dear? It will be a pleasure to tame you.’

  ‘Don’t touch me!’ Sophie made as if to open the door. ‘Lay a hand on me and my friends will give you the thrashing of your life.’

  He was forced to believe her then, and his face grew dark with rage. Bending towards her, he whispered such a stream of filth into her ear that she was nauseated. He left her in no doubt as to what he would like to do to her if the opportunity arose.

  Her hand flew to her mouth. ‘Vile!’ she cried. ‘How vile you are! You have always disgusted me. Now I know that I was right.’

  She flung the door wide and ran to join the others.

  Hatton had returned. When he saw her face, he tried to brush past her in pursuit of her tormentor.

  ‘No!’ she whispered. ‘Let him go! He taints the air I breathe.’

  ‘He won’t come back?’

  ‘No, he won’t come back.’

  Hatton’s expression did not change. ‘You are unharmed, I hope?’

  ‘Yes, my lord. He did not dare to press his suit mu
ch further.’ In spite of her ordeal, Sophie’s eyes began to twinkle. ‘You were extremely rude to him, you know. I think your manner frightened him.’

  ‘What a toad! I should have horsewhipped him.’ He took her hand and kissed it. ‘We must leave you now, my dear, but will you give me an answer?’

  ‘To what?’

  He looked at her in despair. ‘Have you forgot so soon? When our friend arrived you were about to give me leave to return to you.’

  ‘I can think of no way of stopping you from returning to this inn,’ she said demurely. ‘It is, after all, your own property.’

  ‘And you?’

  She would not answer him, but he gave a joyous laugh. Then, at his signal, the others left the room.

  Hatton gathered Sophie to him. Slipping a finger beneath her chin, he raised her face to his. Then his mouth came down upon her own in a dizzying kiss which left her breathless.

  ‘I shall return to claim you,’ he promised. ‘I won’t take no for an answer.’ Then he was gone, with a last injunction to follow his instructions to the letter, and to take no chances. ‘I love you more than life,’ he told her. ‘Take great care, my dear. We shall be close by.’

  Sophie glanced at the clock. It was already growing dark and in her mind’s eye she could see that hateful tunnel beneath the inn. She sent for Matthew.

  ‘Do you think we might light the staircase leading to the cellar, and possibly the wine cellar itself?’ she asked.

  He shook his head. ‘The lights would be seen from the tunnel, ma’am. The doors ain’t that good a fit.’ His face was a picture of apprehension. ‘Will this be the end of it tonight?’ he asked. ‘Me and Bess...well...we can’t take much more of this.’

  ‘It will be over very soon,’ she soothed. ‘Then, perhaps, you will change your mind about leaving me?’

  He looked uncomfortable. ‘It ain’t our wish, ma’am, but we ain’t keen to lose our lives.’