The Crimson Cavaliers

by Mary Andrea Clarke

  Eyeing the newcomer with disfavour, Lord Bartholomew seemed disinclined to do this.

  “You seem to be bearing Sir Robert’s death with fortitude,” remarked Lakesby. “However, I suppose if your connection was but a distant one...”

  “The family tie is strong, sir, no matter how distant,” said Lord Bartholomew, with a look towards Georgiana.

  “Quite true,” said Lakesby. “Well, we must hope Sir Robert’s murderer is soon brought to justice.”

  Lord Bartholomew took a deep breath. He looked at Lakesby as if uncertain whether he was being mocked before returning his attention to Georgiana.

  “Perhaps you will do me the honour of taking a drive in the park with me soon, Miss Grey? I have just acquired a new curricle and an excellent pair of matched bays.”

  “Perhaps,” said Georgiana, who had heard Lord Bartholomew was a thoroughly cow-handed whip. The notion of him in charge of such a dashing sporting vehicle gave rise to an incongruous sensation of amusement and dread.

  “I wonder you dare, the roads being as dangerous as they are,” remarked Lakesby in mock awe. “Perhaps you should wait until Sir Robert’s killer is caught.”

  “Are you suggesting I am a coward, sir?” demanded Lord Bartholomew haughtily.

  “No, indeed,” laughed Lakesby. “Pray, do not call me out. It is a long time since I indulged in a duel; I am sadly out of practice.”

  “Then I shall thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head,” Lord Bartholomew snapped, turning on his heel.

  “What on earth was the meaning of that?” said Georgiana in astonishment.

  Lakesby was looking at Lord Bartholomew’s retreating form, a slight smile playing about the corners of his mouth.

  “Do you know anything of Lord Bartholomew’s income, Miss Grey?” he inquired.

  “What an indelicate question,” said Georgiana. “I know it is fairly modest, but other than that, no. Why should I?”

  “That is what I thought,” remarked Lakesby. “It wouldn’t strike you as odd, then, that he is in the happy position of being able to afford a curricle and pair?”

  Georgiana looked at him warily. “I suppose it is rather, now you mention it. Perhaps he has had a piece of good fortune.”

  “I should be very interested to know what it was,” said Lakesby. “You see, but a few short evenings ago, he was close to tears at having to pledge some hideous piece of jewellery to cover his losses at play.”

  Georgiana’s eyes widened. “Really? Possibly his luck has turned.”

  “Perhaps,” said Lakesby, “though in my experience, it rarely turns for long. From what I hear, Lord Bartholomew is not usually very fortunate at the tables.”

  “Then I imagine it’s best to make any purchases while one is winning.” Georgiana paused. “I must say, I had not taken Lord Bartholomew for a gambler.”

  “No? What did you imagine his interests were?”

  Georgiana grinned. “Frankly, Mr Lakesby, it’s not a subject to which I give a great deal of thought.”

  He responded with an answering smile. “As I suspected. Do you intend to go driving with him?”

  “Good heavens, no!” said Georgiana. “I should expect to be overturned inside of ten minutes.”

  Lakesby smiled again. “I am glad you have so much sense.”

  A shadow cast between them prevented her responding. She glanced towards her brother in some irritation.

  “Come, Georgiana, you must circulate. Amanda didn’t invite you so you could be monopolised by Mr Lakesby all evening.”

  “No, I am sure she did not,” said Lakesby with a smile. “I must beg your pardon, Grey. I have been quite selfish in taking up your sister’s time when there must be others wanting the pleasure of her company. Miss Grey, your servant.”

  With a slight bow, he departed to rejoin his aunt and cousin. Georgiana watched his retreating form with a twinge of regret. She turned back to her brother.

  “Time to do my duty?” she inquired.

  “I’m sorry you regard meeting our friends as a duty, Georgiana,” said Edward stiffly. “Amanda and I wished you to come this evening because we thought you might enjoy it.”

  “Indeed I am,” Georgiana smiled.

  Edward’s eye went towards Lakesby with disfavour. “So I noticed. You should know better, at your age, than to spend so long in the company of one man. It is giving rise to comment.”

  “Is it? I must say it’s always struck me as rather a pity when people lead such dull lives they must needs comment on those of others.”

  “Georgiana, really!”

  “Well, I’m sorry, Edward, but I don’t see that my actions should be of concern to anyone else, including you,” said Georgiana crossly. “It is bad enough I have Selina plaguing the life out of me.”

  Edward drew in his breath. His voice, when he spoke, was heavy with dignity. “Selina has your welfare at heart, as have I. You are my sister, Georgiana. It is only right I should be concerned about you.”

  “Yes, of course it is, Edward. I am sorry.” She smiled. “It is just that you can be so excessively over-protective at times. It does become rather overbearing. I am not a child, you know.”

  “It is bad enough Lakesby has to be here at all–” Edward began.

  “Yes, I must confess, I was rather surprised to see him,” said Georgiana. “I thought you did not like him.”

  “I do not,” Edward responded irritably. “However, Lady Winters sent a message to Amanda asking if it would be acceptable to bring Lakesby as an escort. I don’t know why Amanda couldn’t have found some excuse to refuse.”

  “Lady Winters is a difficult woman to refuse.”

  “I daresay, but Amanda might have made some effort. She could have offered to send our carriage for them. To have to endure that man in my own house is quite outrageous.”

  Georgiana forced herself to curb her reaction. A slight clenching of the fist was all the expression of anger she allowed herself. She was not sure whether she was more annoyed over Edward’s peevishness about his wife, or his remarks about Lakesby.

  “Tell me, Edward, what exactly is the matter with Mr Lakesby? I’m sure I have never heard anything derogatory about him.”

  “I should hope not,” said Edward in shocked accents.

  “Is it women?” asked Georgiana curiously. “Has he had a succession of mistresses?”

  “Georgiana!”

  “Well, is that not very common among gentlemen?” she asked in a tone of innocence. Her brother’s pompous manner made her unable to resist the opportunity of taunting him.

  “Young ladies should not know of such things.”

  “Should not know of them or not speak of them?” Georgiana quizzed him. “Oh, do stop being so tedious, Edward, and tell me. I shall only find out some other way.”

  “I hope you will not.”

  “I’m sure I shall.” Georgiana’s eyes danced. “Perhaps I shall ask Mr Lakesby. He has already told me you and he are better acquainted than I realised. I’m sure he will be glad to give me the details if you will not.”

  Edward’s eyes widened in horror. He refused to oblige her, however and rapidly turned the subject, suggesting she pay her respects to a particular aunt of Amanda’s.

  “Yes, of course, I shall do so, but first I should like you to introduce me to Lady Wickerston. I have the liveliest curiosity to meet her.”

  Edward paled. “Why?”

  “Why not? I hear she is very amusing.”

  “I do not think you would find her so. She is really quite a dull creature. I am sure you and she would not deal together.”

  For Edward to describe anyone as dull struck Georgiana as just as incongruous as her own insistence that Tom discontinue his career as a highwayman. The mischievous spirit continuing to prompt, she grew even more determined to get her own way.

  “Really? She does not look at all dull. In fact, she seems quite charming. Ah, here is Amanda. I’m sure she will oblige.”

  To
Edward’s chagrin, Amanda was only too happy to accede to her sister-in-law’s request and Georgiana had the satisfaction of seeing her brother grow acutely uncomfortable. As Amanda led her towards Lady Wickerston, Georgiana happened to catch Lakesby’s eye across the room. He raised his glass in silent appreciation.

  Amanda was the perfect hostess. “Lady Wickerston, may I present my husband’s sister, Miss Grey. Georgiana, Lady Wickerston.”

  Georgiana regarded the woman who stood smiling before her. She was a striking figure, tall and fair, with intense blue eyes which could command attention in any gathering. Oddly enough, her apparel was sombre, a long-sleeved dress of muted grey with a white lace collar, serious rather than severe. Georgiana was amazed at her ladyship’s easy manner and lack of embarrassment at being introduced to her lover’s sister by his wife. Returning the smile, Georgiana expressed herself delighted. Satisfied that the two women seemed disposed to like each other, Amanda took herself off, her attention claimed by another guest.

  Georgiana and Lady Wickerston were left facing each other. It was Georgiana who spoke first.

  “I am sorry we have not met earlier, Lady Wickerston. I believe you have been acquainted with my sister and brother for quite some time?”

  “Yes, about a year, perhaps slightly more,” responded her ladyship. “An aunt of mine is a friend of Amanda’s mother.”

  “I see,” said Georgiana. The woman’s easy familiarity with her brother’s wife made her feel vaguely uncomfortable. Her eyes flickered quickly in Edward’s direction. Even before she looked, she knew he was staring at her.

  The thought crossed her mind, swiftly growing as it took root, that nothing would provoke Edward more than to see a friendship develop between his sister and his mistress. Georgiana wondered whether it could be managed. Lady Wickerston was clearly an intelligent woman; she would be wary of any overtures Georgiana might make. She could imagine Edward’s horror. A quick glance across the room told her he was not the only one watching. She felt Lakesby urging her on. The temptation was irresistible.

  “A delightful party, don’t you agree, Lady Wickerston?” said Georgiana with a smile.

  “Yes, indeed. I have not been out much of late. However, as Amanda said this was to be quite a small gathering, I thought it would be acceptable.”

  “Oh?” Lady Wickerston did not strike Georgiana as a person who shied away from social contact. “I trust you have not been ill?”

  “Oh, no,” her ladyship responded almost too quickly. “No, I am perfectly well. But there has recently been a death in my family. Not a close relative, you understand,” she added hastily, “an uncle I saw very occasionally. However, it is only proper to pay one’s respects, particularly in view of the way he died.”

  “Yes,” said Georgiana, “of course. I am so sorry.” The coincidence was too absurd, but her brain was already anticipating what Lady Wickerston would say next.

  12

  Georgiana would never have believed a small party at Amanda and Edward’s house could be so eventful. On the following morning, her mind was awash with all she had learned.

  By an ingenious piece of social manipulation, Georgiana had managed to obtain the escort of Lord Wickerston in to supper. The arrangement gave Edward anything but pleasure and yielded little to Georgiana in terms of worthwhile information. Lord Wickerston was disappointingly discreet. If he did suspect anything about an intrigue between his wife and Edward Grey, he was not revealing it to Edward’s sister. Furthermore, he was a far from lively supper companion. He had something of the morose air of Brandon Foster, with a harder edge which hinted at the dangerous. He made little attempt at conversation, giving credence to Lakesby’s words by constantly refilling his wine glass and only once or twice thinking to offer the decanter to Georgiana.

  In an evening which had given up a succession of surprises, Georgiana could not decide on the greatest. To all appearances, Edward was happily married to a wife of his own choosing. He was too conscious of his position to be interested in women of the class of opera dancers, and Georgiana had taken for granted his faithfulness to Amanda. Even the knowledge of her own double life had never led her to question this. She didn’t know why she should have supposed Edward would not succumb to temptation: he was no different from other men. However, for him to take up with a married woman of quality, accepted as a guest in his home, was a slap in Amanda’s face.

  The situation would certainly explain Edward’s odd behaviour about his movements on the night of Sir Robert’s death. If he had been with Lady Wickerston instead of at Brooks’s, he would naturally not wish to divulge this. She wondered how she could persuade him. Confronting him with the truth might startle him into openness, but somehow Georgiana thought it unlikely. Perhaps she could blackmail him? But while the notion appealed to her sense of humour, blackmail against her own brother was going too far.

  More pressing was the revelation of Lady Wickerston’s relationship to Sir Robert Foster. Her ladyship had said she and her uncle had not been close. Nevertheless, it was possible there were expectations from his estate. While neither she nor her husband looked in desperate need of funds, Lord Wickerston’s clear fondness for the contents of his wine cellar was surely expensive.

  Georgiana wondered whether Sir Robert could have discovered the affair between Lady Wickerston and Edward Grey. She suspected he would not have hesitated to exploit the knowledge. While Georgiana found it difficult to believe her brother involved in Sir Robert’s murder, she could not rid herself of the uneasy sensation that he knew more than he was willing to disclose.

  Georgiana’s thoughts moved away from her brother’s situation to that of Lord Bartholomew Parker. She found it odd he had never mentioned being related to Sir Robert Foster. If anything, he seemed at pains to distance himself from the connection. While Georgiana could not blame him, she had always known Lord Bartholomew to be a stickler for the conventions. This lent some logic to his attendance at Sir Robert’s funeral. However, close or not, it surprised her that he seemed to be continuing his life normally, without any withdrawal for a suitable period of mourning.

  Georgiana’s mind wandered to what Lakesby had said about he and Edward being better acquainted than either had first indicated. Why had they found it necessary to keep this information secret? The notion danced in her head that they could have been involved in some scandal together, to be rejected almost immediately. Georgiana could not see Edward and Lakesby involved in anything together. Perhaps it was some old quarrel? A duel between them would certainly explain their reticence, but Georgiana could not imagine the subject of such a dispute. She decided to quiz them both, curious as to how different their accounts would be.

  In the midst of these reflections a tap came on the door, followed by the tentative entrance of her cousin, softly speaking Georgiana’s name. It was not often Selina visited Georgiana in her bedchamber in the morning. Georgiana’s concern that there might be something wrong was allayed by the timid smile she received from her visitor.

  “Come in, Selina. How are you?” said Georgiana cordially.

  “Oh, I am quite well, though a little tired from our late night. Still, it was an enjoyable party, was it not?”

  “Yes, indeed, very pleasant,” said Georgiana. She had not thought the hour especially late, even allowing for the erratic nature of her nocturnal activities. However, Selina’s upbringing in the rectory had been a quiet one, and Georgiana did not imagine there had been much in the way of party-going.

  “I do not think Edward was very pleased to see Mr Lakesby last night,” remarked Selina, “nor to see you spend so much time talking to him.”

  “Nonsense,” said Georgiana. “We exchanged a few words. I did not spend the evening in his pocket, so if Edward means to accuse me of impropriety…”

  “Oh, no, indeed, I am sure he does not,” Selina said quickly.

  “I can’t imagine why he has such a dislike of Mr Lakesby,” said Georgiana. “Admittedly, I would not expect the
m to have much in common, but Edward seems almost venomous about him.”

  “I believe they were acquainted at Oxford,” said Selina. “Perhaps Edward knows something to Mr Lakesby’s detriment.”

  “Or perhaps Mr Lakesby knows something to Edward’s,” replied Georgiana.

  “Georgiana!”

  “Well, really,” said Georgiana with some impatience. “I daresay it is all a piece of work over nothing. If gentlemen were ostracised for every youthful folly committed at Oxford…”

  To Georgiana’s surprise, this drew a smile from Selina. “Oh, dear me, yes, usually quite harmless, I suppose. Of course, I can’t imagine Edward indulging in any larks.”

  “No, I expect he was a very dull dog.”

  Selina gave a little cry of reproof at this, to which Georgiana paid little attention.

  “Do you have any plans for today?” Georgiana asked her cousin.

  “Perhaps I shall do some sewing. Do you have anything you would like me to mend?”

  Georgiana mentioned a couple of loose buttons and promised she would ask Emily to fetch the items of clothing. Sewing had never been a passion of Georgiana’s, but she knew Selina enjoyed it and how much it meant for her to be useful. Georgiana was glad to have her cousin occupied.

  Considering what to do next, Georgiana resolved to explore as many possibilities as she could in her efforts to find Sir Robert’s killer. She had not forgotten her need to speak to Tom again, but as he was just learning his new duties as page, she resolved to leave him for the moment. Remembering what Emily had said about Joe Hill, she decided a visit might be useful.

  “I thought I would go to the Hill cottage and see if they need anything.”

  “Oh, yes, I’m sure they would appreciate that. Poor Mr Hill and all those children. I often feel I should do more.” Georgiana feared for a moment Selina would offer to accompany her, but she left the room in search of her sewing basket.

  Conferring with Emily before she left, Georgiana learned Hill had not been to work on the previous day. This struck Georgiana as odd. The money she had given the family would not last forever, and he could not afford to lose a day’s pay. Perhaps he was unwell. Georgiana thought about the late Mrs Hill. Emily had made a good point. The cottage had been in poor repair for years, a common occurrence with Sir Robert’s properties. Had something suddenly changed to account for Mrs Hill contracting a fatal illness?