“So far that sounds fair,” Peter said looking at the other boys who nodded eagerly their faces filled with hope. Sarah sighed and looked away but not before Marcus’ eyes met hers in challenge.
“If I am not in town, I want the right to deputize one of my cousins to come over and check on the dog.”
A grin split Peter’s face as he cried, “Like me!”
Marcus said, “Peter, you can go to that area only if an adult goes with you.”
Peter’s face fell slightly, but brightened when Marcus added, “But I don’t see why I would not wish to visit the dog frequently and bring you with me.”
“Why don’t you just keep the dog at your townhouse, Your Grace?” Sarah suggested through clenched teeth.
Three pair of young eyes looked at her with dismay. Marcus leaned back and folded his arms with amusement, “Why, I am surprised at you Sarah…you know that my townhouse has workmen in it right now. All of the stable space is holding building materials. I know you don’t want to trouble my aunt, being enceinte she tires easily.”
Sarah drew her lips into a thin line; she knew that she had been outmaneuvered. “Oh, all right,” she said resigned. The boys jumped up and down cheering. Mentally, she was trying to guess when he would try to visit and schedule her errands during that time. I am four and twenty
, she thought, I am long past the age where I believed in princes.
Chapter 7
As Marcus went into the house, he could hear the unmistakable sound of female giggles. He stopped and closed his eyes with dismay. Beatrice is home, and she brought along a gaggle of silly geese posing as marriageable young ladies. For the most part his aunt allowed him to stay away from those ridiculous chits. He knew he had to go in there and be polite, but he would rather face the French again.
He looked in the hall mirror, and wiped all trace of trepidation off of his face. He then turned and advanced into the room feeling like he was going to a hanging.
His aunt was sitting behind her teapot for the second time today and she motioned him to take a seat. “There you are, dear,” she said with a smile as she quickly poured him a cup of tea. “Ladies, may I present my nephew, his grace, the Duke of Allendale.”
Three fashionable young ladies and a matron his aunts age all stood in unison and curtsied to him as he accepted his cup of tea and took a seat as far away from them as possible. “Ladies,” he said as he acknowledged them austerely with an incline of his head.
Beatrice spoke up, “Marcus, I wish to introduce Miss Shelby Smith, Lady Loraine Middleton, and Lady Elaine Montreux. Your mother is acquainted with Lady Elaine’s mother, Lady Langley”. She indicated the matron who had a certain acquisitory gleam in her eye. Marcus knew that she did not see him as a man but rather as a trophy she wished to acquire for her daughter.
These ladies watched him avidly as he sipped his tea. One bold young thing, under the approving eye of her mother ventured a statement, “Your Grace, my parents the Earl and Countess of Langley had sent a note inviting you to dinner and cards…” She trailed her voice off and looked at him expectantly.
“I do so wish you would come, Your Grace, I would love to entertain the son of one of my dearest friends,” Lady Langley seconded.
Marcus knew that he could not avoid such invitations forever especially as the Langleys were good friends of his mother. The hallway was visible from his position in the room and he saw Sarah coming to take her leave of her hostess. He suddenly had a brilliant idea.
“I am sorry,” he said with a long drawn out sigh. “But my fiancée’s father lost his life at Waterloo and we are abstaining from frivolity at this time.” His aunt looked at him suspiciously.
Beatrice was not discreet at the best of times and was not at this time either, “When did this happen, Marcus?”’
“June 18,” he turned to his aunt, “Aunt Minerva, I do believe that you should slip the occasional newspaper into my charming cousin’s reading material—“
“Not Waterloo, Marcus!” Beatrice exclaimed with an exasperated look towards him. “I mean your engagement!”
Marcus chose to ignore her question as Sarah walked into the room. He stood walked over to her took her hand and kissed it. “Here you are, my dear, I do not believe you have met my cousin, Beatrice Warrick,” he stated with a formality that made Sarah narrow her eyes in suspicion. He led her over to a settee, “I would also like to present the Countess of Langley, her daughter Lady Elaine Montreux, Lady Loraine Middleton, and Miss Shelby Smith, my fiancée Miss Sarah Montague, daughter of the finest quartermaster sergeant in his majesty’s army.”
Sarah opened her mouth to protest, but it seemed that Marcus was ready for her. He forestalled her denial by the simple expedient of shoving a biscuit in her mouth. “Here, Sarah, I know how much you love these almond biscuits.”
Lady Minerva watched this byplay with astonishment and no little amusement, “Marcus, when did you offer for Miss Montague? It had to have been very recent.”
“We have had an understanding since I escorted her home.”
The Warrick’s four guests looked at Sarah and her borrowed dress with disdain. Marcus saw the light of temper flare in Sarah’s eyes as she accepted a cup of tea from his aunt. “Lady Minerva, you do have excellent tea,” she said ignoring the three. “Miss Warrick, I do thank you for the loan of your dress. You have such exquisite taste, so many young ladies love an excess of trim.” She raised knowing eyebrows at the three debutantes who seemed to have every fashionable trim imaginable on their gowns. She dismissed them with a glance, “Your Grace, I think it is time for us to take our leave. I promised my cousin that there would be potato pudding for dinner tonight.”
“Potato pudding?” Marcus asked with real appreciation. He turned to his aunt, “Sarah’s potato pudding was legendary at camp. Hopefully I will be out for the evening meal, Aunt Minerva. I am sure Miss Appleby will invite me to sup with them tonight.”
“Since Beatrice has returned home Marcus, you may take the town carriage to transport Sarah and the young ones back to the mission,” Lady Minerva declared.
Sarah started hissing at Marcus the moment she believed they were out of earshot, “What on earth were you thinking? You could handle a whole company of men but not four young ladies and a noblewoman? Marcus, I am surprised at you!” At his grin, she clapped her hand over her mouth, realizing she just used his given name.
“I just sped up the time table. I had planned to bring you some small gifts: a book perhaps, maybe some flowers-”
“Are you out of your mind?” she interrupted. “You are a Duke, you need to marry someone who was born into the nobility not the tail of an army. I don’t know how to give a dinner party and I have never entertained nobility.”
Marcus dismissed her worries with wave of his hand, “You have given more dinner parties than my Aunt Minerva, I’ll wager. I also know for a fact that Wellington has dined with you and your father.”
“One bowl of stew at a campfire one night does not count-“
Marcus knew he had her, “I heard it was two bowls, a loaf of bread and a boiled pudding for dessert. Wellington himself said he had never eaten so well on campaign.”
Outwardly Sarah glowered at him, frustrated that she was unable to refute his statements. But deep inside of her a little ember of hope started to brighten into a small flame.
Chapter 8
Sarah looked at the elegantly appointed town carriage with dismay. This is no vehicle to transport two children and a big dog, she thought. The elegant blue velvet seat cushions would be ruined by a dog that was not quite dry. Not to mention the two children that one hour ago were relatively clean and now looked like they rolled in the dirt. She look up into the sky for any telltale clouds then said, “Your Grace, I would much rather walk to the mission. I would hate to abuse your aunt’s kindness by ruining her upholstery.”
Marcus smiled ruefully at the little group, “I do see your point, but the only other conveyance we have is my
cousin Matthew’s curricle. Even if it were big enough, Matthew has it at the moment. I suspect he is with my other cousins, Simon and Patrick, at a cock fight in Spitalfields.”
Sarah and her young charges looked at him in surprise, “Why are you not there…I am told it is what young noblemen do for amusement.”
“Have you ever been to a cock fight,” Marcus said grimly as he took her by arm and escorted the small party out to the street.
The boys shook their heads no as Sarah said, “Well…not on purpose…” It was the three males turn to look at her in surprise as she said defensively, “One sees many things while living with the army. Cock fights were very common, in Ceylon fish fighting was not uncommon.”
“Fish fightin’! Cor’ I’d‘ve liked ta seen that!” William exclaimed.
“I always thought that matching animals for sport and wagering barbaric,” Sarah said giving young William a sharp look.
As they were walking a man casually started to follow them at a distance. They were so engrossed in there conversation they did not even note him.
Beatrice looked out of the window and saw the man trailing her cousin and his young friends. She thought it very curious that a man resembling a footpad would be loitering in this neighborhood. Her friends had left and she had been sent upstairs to take a nap prior to dinner and the evening entertainments. She was feeling bored and out of sorts as she never seemed to have any adventurous things happen to her. Her maid had undressed her down to her chemise, it was very easy to pull on an outgrown outfit of Matthew’s and boots. She smiled at her own foresight in rescuing the clothing. She stuffed her hair up under a hat and sped down the stairway praying that her family’s servants would be otherwise occupied.
Sarah and her companions walked through the park as it was the shortest way to get to the mission. Sarah hung back when a well dressed older lady and a girl obviously just out of the school room approached Marcus.
“Your Grace, what a pleasure it is to see you again,” the older woman stated archly. She and the young girl pointedly ignored Sarah and the two boys. “I was wondering if you received your invitation to the musicale that I am planning for Thursday. Melissa was just saying as how we never see you anywhere…” she trailed off eyebrows raised in enquiry.
Then Sarah saw him do something she had never seen him do: Marcus reached into the pocket of his waist coat and pulled out a quizzing glass. He held it up to his eye which magnified it to terrifying proportions and looked at the woman who just spoke, “Madame, I do not recall the occasion that we were introduced, pray excuse me while I escort my fiancée and her two young friends.”
The young girl flushed to the roots of her hairline but the woman was made of sterner stuff, “It was at your dear cousin’s wedding, I am Lady Hetherington. We would absolutely adore it if you and your…fiancée would join us.”
The young girl whispered mortified, “Mama, let’s just go. I really am feeling not quite the thing.”
Then the dog who had been standing quietly by the boys tethered by a strong rope decided to sniff the woman from behind. Lady Hetherington jumped startled and gasped indignantly, “You boys need to take that monster away from here. This instant, I say.”
Marcus said coolly with a hint of sarcasm, “I am so sorry, that you don’t care for my dog, Lady Hetherton.”
“Hetherington,” the young girl said her lips twitching a little. Her amusement seemed to be winning over her embarrassment, Sarah was happy to note.
Lady Hetherington’s eyes widen as she realized that she had just committed a faux pas. She tried to salvage the situation, “I am sorry, your Grace, I was just startled…he is such a large dog!”
“Quite all right,” Marcus said in such a censorious tone that indicated just the opposite. “My fiancée and I are mourning the loss of her father, and we will not be attending many social events. Good day to you, Lady Henley.”
“Hetherington,” Sarah murmured as they moved off down the street. Ida, William and the dog were getting restless as another acquaintance hailed Marcus. Sarah sighed as she watched Marcus again don a hauteur that seemed as natural as breathing.
“Ida, William why don’t you run on ahead to the mission, his grace will escort me,” Sarah said realizing at last why Marcus even considered using his aunt’s town carriage. It seemed that everyone was vying for his attention. The well born passersby looked at them with curiosity bordering on rudeness. Sarah knew she looked a perfect quiz with her borrowed dress and bonnet. Marcus had changed into another elegant ensemble, they looked horribly mismatched.
Marcus looked at her with a sly look in his eyes, “See what I have to put up with on a daily basis? If you were not here it would be even worse…”
“Now that the boys are gone, it looks as though you are walking with your chere amie,” Sarah said resignedly.
“Not a chance,” Marcus said with a laugh. “My mistress would be much better turned out.”
Sarah’s cheeks turned pink at the thought of Marcus having a mistress. The thought that she was not socially acceptable enough to even be his mistress was disheartening. As they walked she saw glimpses of the boys as they were being towed around by the dog. The animal seemed to need to investigate every tree and shrubbery along the way. Sarah glanced over at Marcus and indulged in a little wishful thinking. She knew that Marcus could not possibly wish to marry her, but it would be a delightful daydream. She could dream that the two boys up ahead were theirs and that they were walking to there own residence. She pictured it in her mind a small thatched cottage in the country. She smiled to herself she could actually grow vegetables rather than forage for them…
“What are you smiling about?” Marcus asked.
“I was just thinking how lovely it would be to have a cottage in the country and a vegetable garden,” she replied wistfully.
“Not a chance in the world of that happening,” Marcus replied amused.
“I know even to make a modest marriage I need something of a portion,” she replied sadly.
“No, that’s not what I mean, after we are wed we have to live in the castle or one of the other properties,” he stated calmly patting her hand.
Sarah was indignant, “We are not betrothed, that was just some faradiddle that you told to get those young ladies to leave you alone.”
“You might as well give in to the inevitable Sarah, I intend to wed you.”
“I don’t intend to wed you,” she gasped out shocked at his tenacity. They had left the affluent areas behind and were now walking into the poorer sections of London.
He ignored her, “I think a small ceremony your cousin officiating would do quite nicely-“
“Hands over yer blunt,” said one of two men who stepped out of an alley.
Sarah tugged at his sleeve, “Marcus, I think that man is the one from Covent Garden this morning.”
“Right you are, miss,” said the man. “Olly, you take ta laidy’s bag and relieve the nob of ‘is blunt and valuables. We haves ta make this look like a robbery.”
The large man named Olly looked worriedly at his partner, “Alfie I didn’t sign on to kill no woman, ‘specially not tha’ one.”
Sarah looked at the man curiously, surely she didn’t know this man from the army.
“Olly, it be jist a matter of bad timing on her part, we haves a job to do. ‘Er cousins will still have the mission,” Alfie stated implacably. He turned to Marcus, “Sorry sir, jist a matter o’ business…”
“I will double whatever it is you are being paid provided you tell me who hired you,” Marcus interjected.
“Sorry, yYer Lordship—“ Olly said.
“Your Grace,” Marcus said stalling for time.
“Well, tha don’ matter none now,” Alfie leveled his gun at Marcus.
Just then several things happened at once--the dog ran barking at the gunmen and then a rock hit Alfie square in the forehead. The gun went off the bullet hitting a flower cart causing the horse to start. The cart tipped
and the flowers spilled on a gentleman just leaving a taproom. The footpad named Olly took off down an alley with the dog and the two boys hot on his heels. Marcus wanted to chase him but he could not leave Sarah.
Marcus looked down at the footpad named Alfie had fallen over a crate and his neck lay at an awkward angle. Marcus swore under his breath. Sarah realized that Alfie and Olly were the ones who could have shed some light on this attack and the one at Covent Garden this morning. Alfie was dead, and Sarah had no hopes of the two boys catching up with Olly.
Sarah heard booted feet running up behind her and turned quickly. To her astonishment it was Marcus’ cousin Beatrice dressed like a boy in ill fitting clothing.
“Marcus, are you all right?” she exclaimed excitedly. “I was so worried about you when I saw that man follow you-“
“I might have known that if there was a dead body around you would have something to do with it,” said a handsome young man about Sarah’s own age. He was accompanied by another young man who smiled at Marcus ruefully.
“Beatrice, where on earth did you get that clothing?” he said with a sigh.
Sarah glanced over at Beatrice who’s face was filled with dismay. “Matthew and Chudleigh,” she whispered bringing her knuckles up to her mouth. Somewhat louder she said, “Honestly Matthew, I saw this man following Marcus and his betrothed, Miss Montague…if I hadn’t followed them they might have gotten killed…”
“You know what Papa said about behaving yourself after that incident last month.” Matthew turned to Sarah, “She had to go and see a dead body in the park. If Chudleigh here had not escorted her home she might have come to a bad end. Let’s see if we can get you home with no one the wiser, Bea.”
Briefly relief lit Beatrice face, then her face fell as she turned to Marcus questioningly. He nodded and Beatrice smiled beatifically.
“Ahem,” Chudleigh cleared his throat as he gathered up the blooms still clinging to his person. “I am afraid I am going to be the one to spoil it for you…”
Only In Her Dreams Page 7