A Not So Respectable Gentleman?

by Diane Gaston

  A caller? So early? ‘Who is it, Edward?’

  ‘Lord Kellford.’

  Mariel exchanged an alarmed glance with Penny.

  ‘What shall I tell him, miss?’ Edward asked through the door.

  ‘Tell him... Tell him to wait in the drawing room. I’ll be down directly.’ She listened to the footman’s footsteps recede before speaking to Penny. ‘Wait for me in the hall, Penny. I will try to dispatch him quickly and still make the appointment with Mr Fitzmanning.’

  Penny nodded.

  Mariel’s parents were still abed, which was fortunate. She preferred they not walk in on her hopefully short conversation with Kellford. What could he possibly want? She’d thought he’d simply disappear.

  The two women descended the stairs and Mariel strode straight to the drawing room.

  Kellford swung around when she entered.

  She closed the door behind her. ‘What reason do you have, sir, to call upon me at this early hour?’ It was half-past ten.

  He sauntered towards her, a grin on his face. ‘Good morning, my dear.’

  ‘You must know I am not pleased to see you, Kellford. Did you come to explain why you begged off from the ball last night?’

  He advanced on her and drew a finger down the length of her arm. ‘Did you miss me?’ He held his lips close to her ear.

  Involuntarily she inhaled his cologne, the scent sickening her. She stepped back. ‘You know I did not.’

  His eyes flicked over her, the smile still fixed on his face.

  She shivered. ‘I thought you would insist upon taking me to the ball. To gloat.’

  The smile faltered, but he soon recovered it. ‘Do not take me for a fool, Mariel, my dear. I know what you did. What you had Fitzmanning do for you.’

  A stab of fear shot through her. ‘I am certain I do not know what you mean. Are you talking about Charlotte Bassington’s brother?’ Was he guessing or did he know?

  He laughed. ‘Did you think I would not remember she was your friend? Although I do not think her a very proper friend for the wife of a baron.’

  ‘You cannot control whom I choose to make my friends.’ Where was this leading?

  He suddenly came so close she could see where his razor had cut his chin. ‘A wife must honour and obey.’

  She pushed against his chest. ‘Stay a proper distance, sir!’

  He grinned again and moved only a step away. ‘I am all that is proper, my dear.’

  She crossed her arms over her chest. ‘And you are tiresome, as well. With your hints and threats.’

  He lifted his hands in mock surprise. ‘My hints?’

  ‘You obviously wish me to beg you to tell what Fitzmanning is supposed to have done for me. Or do you just wish to contrive a way to threaten to spoil my friendship with Charlotte?’ She tossed her head. ‘I would simply prefer you leave.’

  Instead he seized her and pulled her closer.

  ‘Let me go or I shall scream for a footman!’ His grip hurt.

  ‘You will not.’ He pressed his body against hers as Leo had done the previous night, but the sensations were so different. ‘What did you promise Fitzmanning as payment? Money? A kiss?’

  He placed his lips on hers with a violence that spoke nothing of love. She feared she would retch.

  She tried to twist away, but his fingers were like a vise. She struggled against him and managed to bring her leg down hard on his foot.

  ‘You cursed wench!’ He released her and staggered backwards.

  ‘Do not touch me again.’ She backed towards the door. ‘I do not know what you are talking about. Payment? For what?’

  He advanced on her again, but remained an arm’s length away. ‘Did you think I would not discover who stole the paper for you?’

  Her insides churned. He could not know it had been Leo. He and Walker were masked, Leo had said.

  ‘What paper?’ she stalled.

  ‘Idiot!’ he snarled. ‘The forged banknote.’

  She made herself laugh. ‘You are trying to make me believe you no longer have the paper? Why would you say such a thing? Surely you know I would be delighted if that were true...’

  * * *

  On the other side of the drawing-room door, Penny stood with her ear pressed against the wood. From the sounds inside the room, she thought Lord Kellford had attacked Miss Covendale in some way.

  But then he cried out and her voice became stronger. Even if he was not hurting her any more, this was still very, very bad. Kellford knew Mr Fitzmanning had stolen the paper!

  Penny felt she must do something. She could not open the door, Miss Covendale would not like that, but she also could not stand by and let that horrible man hurt her lady again. She must do something.

  Penny ran back to the hall. ‘Edward! Edward! Are you here?’ He was supposed to be attending the door.

  He emerged from the dining room. He had probably pilfered a piece of ham. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Come with me.’ She dragged him by the arm to the door of the drawing room. ‘You stand here and if you hear something that sounds like Miss Covendale is...is hurt or...or frightened, you open the door and help her. Do you understand?’

  He looked baffled. ‘But she is in there with Lord Kellford.’

  ‘I know.’ Penny tapped her foot impatiently. ‘But do it just the same. If she comes out and asks for me, tell her I’ve gone to Hatchards.’

  ‘To Hatchards?’ His brows rose. ‘The bookshop?’

  She slammed her bonnet on her head. ‘Yes. She will understand. Just do as I say, will you, Edward?’

  ‘If you like,’ he mumbled. ‘Seems rummish to me, though.’

  ‘Just do it.’ She hurried back to the hall.

  Penny departed through the front door because it was faster than the servants’ entrance. As soon as she reached the pavement, she lifted her skirts and ran, stopping only for carriages and horses to pass so she could cross Oxford Street.

  She ran to the hack stand and yelled up at the first jarvey. ‘Take me to Hatchards and hurry.’

  The jarvey chuckled. ‘First time anyone wanted me to hurry to a bookshop.’

  Once inside the coach, she stuck her hand in her pocket and breathed a sigh of relief. She had two shillings for the fare.

  The mile-and-a-half ride seemed much too long. When the coach finally stopped in front of the bookshop’s bowed windows, Penny jumped out and handed the driver his fare.

  Standing in front of the shop’s door, she took a deep breath and smoothed her skirt before walking in. The clerk behind the counter eyed her suspiciously. He had probably worked out she did not shop in Hatchards very often.

  She wandered around the shop until she saw Mr Fitzmanning gazing into one of the books.

  She hurried up to him. ‘Mr Fitzmanning, sir!’

  He looked up. ‘Penny, isn’t it? Where is Miss Covendale?’

  ‘Oh, sir, she could not come, because Lord Kellford came to call and I heard them arguing and I heard him say he knew you sto—’ She stopped and lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘He knew you stole the paper.’

  ‘He could not!’ He stiffened.

  ‘I heard him say so...and...and I heard him do something to Miss Covendale. I think he hurt her.’ She tried to talk quietly, but her voice kept rising on its own.

  ‘Hurt her?’ His eyes flashed.

  ‘Well, she hurt him, too, I think,’ Penny went on. ‘He cried out awful bad. But I thought you should know right away, because she could not come to this meeting.’

  He took her by the arm. ‘I’m going to her.’

  ‘Oh, no, sir, I do not think you ought—’ But she could not finish because he rushed her out of the shop, to the surprised stares of the other shoppers—including Mr Fitzmanning�
��s sister, Mrs Milford.

  * * *

  Leo had difficulty tolerating the slow pace of the hackney coach. When it reached Hereford Street, he opened the door and climbed out before the vehicle fully came to a stop. After helping Mariel’s maid from the coach, he dropped several coins in the jarvey’s hand.

  If Kellford had hurt her, he’d kill the man and his conscience would not bother him any more than the first time, the only time, he’d taken a life.

  ‘I’ll not knock,’ he said to the maid. ‘You admit me.’

  She reached the door and opened it. He followed her inside.

  A footman stood in the hall. ‘There you are, Penny.’ He gaped at Leo. ‘What is this?’

  ‘Never mind, Edward.’ Penny waved an impatient hand at him. ‘Why are you not standing at the drawing-room door?’

  ‘His lordship left a few minutes ago,’ Edward said defensively.

  ‘Where is Miss Covendale?’ Leo demanded.

  The footman’s eyes grew wide. ‘In the drawing room.’

  Leo rushed directly there, opening the door without knocking.

  Mariel sat on a sofa, her head in her hands. She sat up. ‘Leo!’

  Penny entered the room behind him. ‘He was set on coming, Miss—’

  Mariel turned to her. ‘Thank you, Penny. You may leave us alone.’

  Penny curtsied. ‘Yes, miss.’ She walked to the door.

  ‘Oh, Penny?’ Mariel called her back. ‘Warn us if my parents are about.’

  ‘Yes, miss.’ She left and closed the door behind her.

  Leo crouched down to meet her at eye level. ‘Are you injured, Mariel? Did he hurt you? If he did, I’ll—’

  ‘He didn’t hurt me.’ She rubbed her arms.

  He moved her hand away.

  Red marks, the shape of fingers, ringed her upper arms. By day’s end they’d be purple bruises.

  ‘That cur!’ His blood boiled.

  ‘It is of no consequence, Leo. I did worse injury to him.’ She squeezed his hand. ‘I must tell you. He has discovered you stole the paper.’

  ‘He could not. It is a bluff.’ Their disguises had been complete. ‘You did not admit to the theft?’

  ‘No, of course I did not.’ She released him. ‘I acted as if I believed he made it all up. But, Leo, he says he does not need the paper. He says he has the bank clerk. He’s hidden the bank clerk away somewhere.’

  The bank clerk. The only witness to Covendale’s theft. What arrangement had Kellford made with this clerk? Had he promised the man money? Or was Kellford threatening him, as well?

  It was not finished after all. ‘I must find this man, Mariel.’ Whatever Kellford had offered the man, Leo would offer more. ‘Leave it to me.’

  ‘There are only two weeks left.’ She covered her face with her hands.

  Leo moved to sit beside her on the couch. He put his arm around her.

  She allowed him to hold her close and, for a moment, he cared about nothing but comforting her.

  ‘He frightened me, Leo,’ she said. ‘He is a monster. I cannot bear to marry him, but I also cannot bear what will happen to my mother and sisters if I do not.’

  The clock on the mantel struck the half-hour. Half-past eleven. Surely her father or mother would be up and about soon.

  ‘Let me talk to your father, Mariel.’ This time Leo would make the man heed him. ‘I’ll offer to help him.’

  She sat up and wiped her eyes with her fingers. ‘It would be no use. My father is convinced his cousin will see him hanged.’

  He lifted her chin. ‘Do not lose courage. Let me try to convince him otherwise.’

  Leo and Walker would find the bank clerk. Leo wanted Mariel’s father to be on their side when they did.

  ‘Stay out of it, Leo. Kellford will exact revenge on you as well as on me and my whole family. He was so angry. Who can tell what he will do?’ Her voice trembled.

  He stood. ‘I can take care of the likes of Kellford.’ He touched her face. ‘I’ll send word to you.’

  She nodded, tears forming again. She rose from her seat and wiped them away.

  Even with nose and eyes red from crying, even in a simple lace cap, she looked beautiful. She had fended off Kellford by herself, brave girl. Leo admired her. No, not merely admired her.

  He loved her.

  He had never stopped loving her. He could run to the far reaches of the world—to China, Brazil, Africa—and it would not be far enough to change the fact that he loved her and would do anything for her.

  Especially rid her of Kellford.

  She walked with him to the drawing-room door.

  When he placed his hand on the doorknob, she covered it with her own. ‘Promise me you will not speak with my father,’ she insisted.

  Leo had no fear of meeting her father. In fact, there was much he wished to say to the man. Such as, how dare he come between them two years ago with his lies? And, now, how dare he sacrifice his daughter to save his own skin? ‘Why should I not speak to him?’

  ‘It will make it worse for me.’ She looked so weary he did not have the heart to pursue the matter. ‘Promise me, Leo.’

  He blew out a breath. ‘Very well. I promise.’

  He opened the door, but turned back to her. ‘The paper. I almost forgot.’ He pulled the bank draft from his pocket and handed it to her. ‘Hide it somewhere safe.’

  She rolled it in her hand. ‘I will.’

  He gazed into her tear-reddened eyes and was tempted to draw her closer and share his strength with her. For a moment she moved nearer to him, but just as quickly moved away again.

  He opened the door and walked out, not looking back.

  He hurried to the hall, placing his hat on his head as he went. The footman, who had been standing with Penny in the hall, rushed to do his duty at the door. As the man opened the door for Leo, a voice from behind called after him, ‘You, sir! Wait. Who are you?’

  As Mariel had requested, Leo paid Covendale no heed. He exited the house and walked swiftly away.

  * * *

  Mariel had followed Leo to the hall to watch him leave, her head spinning in confusion. When they were together she felt powerfully attracted to him and it was so easy to melt into his arms.

  It also seemed more and more impossible that he would be able to keep his promise to her.

  Her father’s voice sounded from the top of the staircase. Quickly she folded the bank draft and tucked it down the bodice of her dress.

  He reached the bottom of the staircase. ‘Who was that gentleman?’ he demanded of Edward.

  The footman kept his eyes averted. ‘I do not know, sir. He left no card.’

  Penny slipped behind Edward and hurried up the stairs.

  ‘What was he doing here?’ Mariel’s father demanded.

  Edward looked as if he was about to faint. ‘I do not know, sir.’

  Mariel stepped into her father’s view. ‘He called upon me, Papa.’

  ‘You?’ Her father turned to her. ‘Who was he?’

  ‘None of your concern, Papa.’ She trusted he would not notice she’d been weeping. He never examined her that closely.

  ‘See here, Mariel—’ He seized her by the arm and led her away from the footman’s hearing. ‘I’ll not have you speak to me in that tone, especially in front of the servants.’

  She winced. His hand pressed into her bruises. ‘You are hurting me, Papa.’

  He released her.

  She pointed to her arm, already turning blue. ‘See this?’

  ‘I didn’t do that!’ he cried. ‘How did that happen? Did that man—?’

  ‘No, not that man,’ she retorted. ‘Lord Kellford.’

  ‘Kellford?’ He squinted. ‘He called, too?’
/>   She nodded. ‘He is fond of cruelty—or did you forget?’

  His nostrils flared. ‘Enough impertinence, girl. What mischief are you about having men call at all hours?’

  She glared at him. ‘You may be able to force me into this marriage for the sake of Mama, Isabel and Augusta, but I have something that will ensure you behave from hereafter.’

  ‘I do not know what you are talking about,’ her father huffed.

  She looked him in the eye. ‘I have the incriminating banknote in my possession. It will not be enough to stop Kellford, to my deep regret, but it will stop you from placing your family in such peril again.’

  She pushed him aside and walked up to her bedchamber to find some place to hide the paper, a hiding place her father would never discover.

  Chapter Eleven

  Over a week passed and Mariel had heard nothing from Leo. She’d attended two breakfasts, a musicale and another ball and he’d been at none of them.

  She’d assumed he would keep her informed, but again she was caught in the agony of not knowing where he was, what he was doing.

  She thought she’d go mad.

  Desperate for information about him, she decided to call upon Charlotte, something she had not done more than once or twice since Leo had disappeared the first time. The day promised rain, like the previous several rainy days, but that would not stop her.

  * * *

  When she was announced, both Charlotte and her sister Annalise were in the sitting room. Both women jumped up from their chairs and, squealing with delight, ran to her and exchanged hugs. Charlotte’s dogs yapped excitedly at their feet.

  ‘It is so delightful you have come,’ Charlotte exclaimed.

  Annalise squeezed her tightly. ‘I have not seen you in an age. I’ve missed you so.’

  ‘Let us sit.’ Annalise sat with Mariel on the sofa. Charlotte pulled the chair closer to them. The two pugs leaped into her lap as soon as she lowered herself into the chair.

  Mariel asked after their children and felt a pang of envy as the sisters caught her up on the children’s ages and their latest antics. She’d once pined to have children.

  With Leo.

  ‘And you, Mariel,’ Annalise said, her cheerful tone sounding forced. ‘You are to be married, I hear.’