‘He had help, obviously,’ Annabel said, enunciating each word slowly, as though speaking to a simpleton.
It was Jemima’s turn to throw up her hands, out of patience and ways to convince Annabel of the truth. ‘Have it your way, but I should be careful about who you repeat that accusation to. There is such a thing as defamation of character, you know, and since you are under age, it is Papa who would have to answer the charges, which would see an end to his career. He is already very angry with you. Don’t make matters worse.’
‘If only I could see Fergus,’ Annabel said wistfully, clearly not having listened to a word Jemima had said to her. ‘Then matters will become clearer. We will find a way to marry with or without Papa’s consent and he will just have to get over his disappointment.’
Since Jemima was the one who had raised the subject of Annabel’s inability to marry without parental consent, it was clear that she hadn’t stopped to consider that impediment before now. Quinn would have known of it, of course, and his disinclination to talk of ways around it only served to confirm what Jemima already knew. Quinn didn’t have the least intention of marrying her sister.
‘If Quinn did not take your virtue, as you insist is the case, you can hardly expect him to marry you when another beat him to the spoils.’
‘Jemima! That is so very crude.’
‘But true, much as you would prefer not to consider your situation. Men tend to be particular about that sort of thing, I’m told. They can spread their seed wherever they please, as often as the fancy takes them, but us females are expected to exercise more restraint.’ Jemima shrugged. ‘It doesn’t seem terribly fair to me, but there you have it.’
‘What can I do, Jemima?’ Annabel asked, looking desolate and uncharacteristically vulnerable. ‘How can I make things right?’
‘You ask for my advice, but if I give it you will not like it and almost certainly will not act upon it.’
‘I promise that I will, if I possibly can.’
‘Don’t give your word when we both know you won’t keep it.’ Jemima sighed. ‘First, we must think about practicalities. Mama must not know the full particulars of your abduction, since that was what it was, no matter what you prefer to think. It would do her no good. You know how hard she finds it to keep a secret, even one of this nature that would do the family irretrievable damage if it became common knowledge. No, we will invent some other story that will satisfy her and tell her nothing about Quinn or what he did to you. We will cross our fingers, wait and hope that there is no lasting evidence of your indiscretion—’
‘Oh lord!’ Annabel clutched her face. ‘I had not considered that possibility.’
‘I believe there are ways to disguise the fact that you have surrendered your virginity,’ Jemima continued in a brisk tone. ‘Perhaps you should develop a penchant for riding astride,’ she added with a smile. ‘I’m told that sometimes causes a woman’s hymen to break, if it is thin in the first place. I will read up on the matter. Of course,’ she added, ‘you are perfectly capable of bewitching any man you set your sights on and he will easily believe anything that you tell him. Dishonesty, I am afraid, can sometimes be justified.’
Annabel pouted. ‘You sound so clinical.’
Jemima hadn’t expected thanks for her gesture of sisterly solidarity, which was just as well, since none were forthcoming. ‘Anyway, concentrate for now upon regaining your strength.’ She glanced at the bruises on Annabel’s arms. ‘You can’t go home until those are less obvious. Mama will notice and ask questions.’
‘Will you stay with me?’
‘For now. Lady Torbay is giving a party this evening.’ Jemima mentioned it because she suspected that Annabel would hear about it from the maids who attended her. She would not, Jemima hoped, learn that Quinn would be in attendance, since his name was not on the guest list. ‘Papa is coming, and since you are not able to show your face, and Mama is too distraught by your disappearance to leave home, I have to attend with Papa.’
‘But you hate parties.’
Jemima conceded the point with an absent nod, unwilling to say just how much she was looking forward to this particular one. ‘True, but we are not always free to do as we please.’
‘I wouldn’t mind going down for an hour or two,’ Annabel said with faux reluctance. ‘It would alleviate the boredom and save you the trouble of being sociable.’
‘Papa will not permit it. You are already in enough trouble with him. Don’t make matters worse.’
Jemima stayed with Annabel for the rest of the morning, her patience severely tested by her sister’s near endless lament about the unfairness of her situation. Olivia joining them was a welcome distraction that heralded an immediate improvement in Annabel’s temperament. She was like a chameleon, Jemima thought, able to change her attitude in the blink of an eye. Hopefully, Olivia would not be taken in by her docility and apparent remorse. Jemima knew that the only resentment her sister honestly felt was her inability to make contact with Quinn.
‘Jake has business that takes him away from the house for the day,’ Olivia said. ‘I have noticed that he always seems to when we are due to entertain and the place is in uproar.’ Jemima smiled, suspecting that things would be as orderly as they always were and that Lord Torbay would not have been inconvenienced had chosen to stay at home. ‘Anyway, I have arranged for luncheon to be served to us in here, where we won’t be in anyone’s way. Now then, my dear,’ she said, smiling at Annabel, ‘how are you feeling?’
‘A little better, thank you, ma’am.’ She gave a brave smile. ‘Everyone has been very kind.’
‘I am glad to see you looking a little better. Ah, here is luncheon.’
The maid who delivered it set it out on a table in front of the fire and the three ladies took seats around it. Annabel ate more than Jemima could manage but seemed tired once she was replete. Jemima and Olivia left her to sleep under the watchful eye of a maid and quietly left the room.
‘Jake is arranging for her door to be locked this evening,’ Olivia confided as they moved into Jemima’s adjoining room. ‘Just I case Quinn manages to slip up the stairs and comes looking for her.’
‘He would be better advised to lock it because he wants to keep Annabel in,’ Jemima replied, rolling her eyes. ‘Don’t be deceived by her docility. She is quite determined to see him and nothing I’ve said has convinced her that he is the villain of the piece.’
‘That would require her to admit that he had used her, and your sister’s pride won’t allow for the possibility.’
You see her for what she is. So few people do.’
‘I have met women like her before,’ Olivia replied. ‘Women who think that because they happen to have been born beautiful, it makes them better than everyone else and that they can stroll through life doing as they please as a consequence.’
‘You are beautiful and you don’t think that way.’
‘Well, if I am then I have learned that beauty can sometimes come at considerable personal cost. Now then,’ Olivia said, clapping her hands. ‘It’s decision time.’ Susan, Olivia’s maid who awaited them in the room, smiled as she opened the closet and showed Jemima two of the most beautiful ball gowns that Jemima had ever seen. She gasped as she fingered the delicate silk, unable to imagine wearing anything half so fine. ‘Which do you think would suit you better?’
‘I can’t…can’t wear either of them. I would feel like a fraud. Besides, I am so clumsy that I would probably tread on the hem, or spill something down the bodice.’
‘You are the last word in elegance, and not in the least clumsy,’ Olivia insisted.
‘Thank you.’ Jemima grinned. ‘And you are an equally elegant liar.’
‘Quinn has never seen you. It would be wise to make an impression.’ Olivia paused for emphasis. ‘A lasting impression.’
‘Because he will have heard that I am Annabel’s older, plainer sister, which is true.’
‘You are a
nything but plain, even when you don’t make an effort, but by the time Susan has finished with you, you won’t recognise yourself. Besides,’ Olivia added with a twinkle in her eye, ‘Unless I mistake the matter, Quinn is not the only gentleman you want to impress.’
‘Olivia!’ Jemima clasped her burning cheeks between her hands but couldn’t help laughing, thinking it pointless to keep denying that she had developed a passing interest in Ros when it was obvious that Olivia had noticed. It could be explained away by the unusual circumstances she found herself in, of course, being thrown together with an attractive man who genuinely wanted to help. He would be helping himself and his father as well, of course, but Jemima chose to think that gentlemanly instincts would have persuaded him to help her anyway. That silly kiss had absolutely no influence upon her thoughts on the matter and was already forgotten. Almost. ‘Is it that obvious?’
‘It’s obvious to me that you have captured Lord Glynde’s interest and I see no harm in encouraging him.’
Jemima pretended to take offence. ‘You are as bad as Mama. No one who takes an interest in me maintains it.’
‘Because you don’t encourage them.’
Jemima rubbed her brow. ‘Or because they see Annabel and forget all about me.’
‘Ah, but Lord Glynde has already met your sister and managed to resist her charms. You, on the other hand, seem to have made quite an impression upon him.’
‘You are imagining things.’ Jemima took a deep breath and glanced again at the lovely gowns, finally able to understand why Annabel took so much trouble over her appearance. An expensive, well-fitting gown brought out the best in a woman and imbued her with confidence. ‘But to please you, I will try both gowns on.’
‘I rather think that you will do so to please yourself, but we will not argue the point.’
Olivia and Susan were in agreement that the sparkling gold silk better suited her. ‘Your tawny hair ought to clash with the colour,’ Olivia said, ‘but somehow it only enhances the unusual turquoise of your eyes.’
‘It is rather fetching.’
Olivia laughed. ‘Ever the mistress of understatement, but I am glad we are agreed. Now, I really must get on. I will leave you to bathe and allow Susan to work her magic. I can manage well enough with Meg to help me this evening, Susan. I would prefer it if you assisted Miss Aitken.’
‘It will be a pleasure, my lady.’
With no other choice available to her, Jemima submitted herself to Susan’s expert ministrations. She bathed in water scented with oil, had her hair washed and vigorously brushed dry in front of the fire and then donned some of the most exquisitely soft undergarments she had ever touched, much less imagined wearing. They were new. Olivia had obviously sent out for them, and tears filled Jemima’s eyes at the thoughtfulness of a lady she barely knew.
‘Breath in, miss,’ Susan said cheerfully as she laced Jemima into a pretty corset, pulling the strings so tight that Jemima’s already small waist seemed to disappear. ‘Can you draw breath with it that tight?’
Jemima winced. ‘Just about. I expect I’ll get used to it, provided I remember not to eat.’
‘Right you are then.’
The gown, worn over the corset, was startling in its simplicity and effect.
‘I can’t believe it’s me,’ Jemima said in an awed tone as she glanced in the glass and turned sideways to examine her reflection.
‘Lady Torbay said you would look spectacular in gold and I agreed. I haven’t done your hair yet either.’
Half an hour later, Susan declared herself satisfied with her handiwork. Jemima thanked her and pulled on gloves that didn’t completely disguise her disfigured hand. Nothing could, but she would not dwell upon the deformity she so abhorred. Not tonight. She picked up her fan and told herself she could do this. With time to spare before she needed to be downstairs, she made the mistake of calling in on Annabel, hoping for a compliment or words of encouragement.
‘What have you done to yourself?’ Annabel asked, looking up from the magazine she was flicking through, envy writ large across her face. ‘That gown does not become you. The bodice is cut too low. You will be a laughing stock.’
Jemima eyed her sister with contempt, refusing to take her criticism to heart. ‘And so we have come full circle,’ she said. ‘I recall a situation similar to this once before.’
Annabel tossed her head. ‘I am sure I don’t have the first idea to what you refer.’
‘And I am equally sure that you do.’
‘You never could take criticism, Jemima. That is part of your problem.’
‘I will never be as pretty as you, Annabel, but I hope that I will never be as jealous or spiteful as you are either when you don’t get your way. I also hope the noise from the party will not disturb you.’ She turned on her heel and headed for the door. ‘Good night.’
Chapter Sixteen
Ros, who had been invited to dine with the family before the rest of the guests were due, arrived bearing Aitken’s apologies. Jake was not surprised to hear that he had been detained on vital government business. Duty prevented him from dining at Grosvenor Square, but he promised to arrive in time for the party.
‘Not sure how much stock you can set by that promise,’ Ros said scowling.
‘It will make Jemima’s presence hard to explain if he does not come. She is supposed to be accompanying her father. But still, I suppose we can truthfully say that she is a friend of Olivia’s. My wife is known for taking people up.’
Ros’s scowl intensified. ‘Don’t suppose Aitken’s given Jemima’s situation a second thought.’ He accepted a glass of sherry from Parker. ‘Do we know if Quinn will be here?’
‘Riley sent word to that effect. It is as we supposed, I would imagine, and he can’t resist.’
‘All well and good, but I’m still not sure how to exploit his presence. Did you speak with Thorndike?’
‘I did.’ Jake scrubbed a hand wearily down his face. ‘Will it surprise you to learn that he was not aware Annabel has been found?’
‘Aitken hadn’t bother to enlighten him, you mean?’ Ros shrugged. ‘Not in the least. The man is tighter-lipped than a clam. Although, there again, perhaps he assumed that you had told Thorndike.’
‘Hardly the sort of intelligence a diligent father would leave to a third party.’
‘We are talking about Aitken.’
Jake conceded the point with a grunt.
‘He’s thinking of his own skin,’ Parker said from the side of the room.
‘Right.’ Ros nodded in agreement. ‘Annabel might unwittingly have passed on vital government secrets to a man who wants to see the coalition brought down.’
‘Would she know anything?’
‘Almost certainly not, but it’s a possibility that his political opponents would seize like a lifeline, regardless of whether or not it’s based in fact.’
It would cost Aitken his position as a minster, no question,’ Jake agreed. ‘Despite the fact that Annabel apparently has little interest in anything other than fashion and flirting.’
‘Even so, she might have heard snippets of something important without realising it until cajoled into searching her memory by a man whom she wanted to impress.’
‘I doubt that very much, Parker,’ Jake said. ‘Aitken kept his political and private lives separate. But still, I take your point. Aitken’s first thought is for his political ambitions, not the wellbeing of his family.’
‘I’m surprised Thorndike didn’t ask to see me,’ Ros said, ‘given that Annabel was left to die in my rooms. He must realise the significance and wonder what I plan to do about it.’
‘I thought that too when Jake told me about their meeting,’ Parker said, addressing his employer and friend informally, as he was wont to do when surrounded by people who understood the true nature of their relationship. Parker was a butler, a guardian and, Ros knew, Jake’s closest and most trusted friend. ‘It ain’t like
Thorndike don’t have dirt on everyone who’s a threat to whatever government happens to be in power. What’s his game, do you reckon, Jake?’
‘No one will ever know unless Thorndike chooses to reveal his hand.’ Jake drained his glass and refused a refill. ‘But if you asked me to hazard a guess I’d say that he thinks your hands are tied, Ros. He doesn’t want you to frighten Quinn off because there’s something else in the offing that will expose him for what he is. It suits his purpose for your father to continue to encourage his tenants and he doesn’t want you barging over there and confronting Quinn’s agents.’
‘Sounds about right,’ Parker said, sniffing.
‘Perhaps he simply wants Quinn to succeed and has been instructed by his political masters not to do anything to prevent him,’ Ros said. ‘Ireland has been a thorn in respective governments’ sides for years. If it finally goes it alone as an independent country, it will alleviate a near-permanent headache for the powers that be.’ He ground his jaw. ‘Could be why I’m kept snowed under with work. It prevents me from thinking about family problems too deeply, or so Thorndike imagines.’
‘I’ve never had the dubious pleasure of making Quinn’s acquaintance,’ Jake said. ‘I shall be interested to see if he really is as suave and intelligent as I am led to believe. Is he genuinely passionate about his cause, or is he just another hard-line fanatic in fine clothing, out for personal glory and a taste of the high life? Call me a cynic, but I cannot help wondering what position he would occupy in an independent Ireland.’
Ros grunted. ‘I hope we don’t get to find out, but at present we have precious little to accuse him of without playing into his scheming hands. I had hoped to hear from my agents in Boston but there’s been nothing thus far.’
‘Well, it seems to me that—’
Jake’s response was cut short by the entrance of Lady Torbay and Jemima. Ros’s mouth almost fell open in appreciation when his gaze came to rest upon Jemima, elegant and graceful as always, clad in shimmering gold silk with her hair teased into an especially flattering style. She was her sister’s equal in all respects, although she would never believe it if he tried to convince her.
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