“P-please – my Lord – don’t make me go to Brighton,” Ivana pleaded after a moment. “It would be more – frightening than anything I have – ever done in my life.”
“I will look after you,” the Marquis said. “I will see that you make no mistakes and I promise that you will find it extremely enjoyable.”
He thought Ivana was going to protest again and he said hastily,
“Before we get as far as Brighton there are other things to be done and I am sure you realise what the first must be.”
“What is that?” Ivana asked. “I have no idea.”
“You must, of course, come to Heathcliffe,” the Marquis answered. “I have a feeling that, although we are supposed to be on our honeymoon, the news of our marriage might bring a number of guests, whether they are welcome or not, to visit me. It will seem peculiar, to say the least of it, if my wife is living in one house and I in another.”
Ivana was staring at him with her eyes very wide.
“You cannot – really mean this?”
“I certainly mean it,” the Marquis replied. “First from my point of view, then from yours. And whether you are acting the part of my wife or not, I have no intention of leaving you and your Nanny alone here with five crippled men to become the prey of every scrounger who has nothing to live on but his wits.”
He rose to his feet saying,
“I do not intend to argue. I am riding back now to Heathcliffe and I will order a carriage for you and your Nanny and a landau for the injured men. Travers can arrange accommodation for them. As you know, Heathcliffe is big enough for an Army, or should I say a Navy, if necessary! Your house will be locked up, but I will see that there is someone to keep an eye on it.”
As he finished speaking, the Marquis looked down at Ivana’s bewildered and frightened face.
She was staring up at him, her fingers linked together in her lap like a child’s and he thought how lovely she looked and at the same time very innocent and untouched.
“Leave everything to me,” he said quietly.
Then, as Ivana could find no words to answer him and it seemed impossible even to breathe, he went from the room and she heard his footsteps crossing the hall.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“It seems incredible that we have now been here five days,” Ivana said to Nanny as she was changing from her riding habit into her green gown for tea.
“Our invalids certainly look better,” Nanny replied, “and, although I likes to think it’s the way we nurse them, I believe really, it’s his Lordship’s good food. I didn’t, until I came here, know that so much meat existed.”
Ivana smiled.
She had already heard this several times and she knew that Nanny was enjoying every moment of their visit to Heathcliffe.
She was waited on, she had plenty of other servants to talk to and every time she was with Ivana she praised the arrangements in the household and the manner in which everything was organised.
“I cannot imagine what Grandpapa would say if he could hear you,” Ivana would say teasingly.
She knew that after years of scrimping and pinching and wondering where each penny would come from, it was, in fact, a holiday that Nanny richly deserved.
For her own part she too was enjoying herself inordinately.
She had never realised how fascinating it was not only to have superb horses to ride and her every wish anticipated almost before she thought of it but also to have all to herself the companionship of two handsome young gentlemen.
She always thought, because she had heard stories of the Marquis’s extravagance and raffish behaviour, that he would be stupid and uninterested in anything except the pleasures of the Beau Monde.
Instead she found he had read extensively and the conversation when they had meals together was so sparkling and so stimulating that she felt as if she was taking part in a play.
In fact everything that happened at Heathcliffe seemed a theatrical fantasy and, although she would not admit it to herself, she was dreading the moment when the curtain would fall and she must go back to the life she had known before.
When she went to bed at night, she found herself going over in her mind not only what had been said but the way the Marquis had looked.
She had never imagined any man could be so amazingly handsome without apparently being conscious of it or considering his appearance of any consequence.
It also surprised her that he was so strong and that not even the most strenuous exertions seemed to tire him.
As the weather was still very hot, the Marquis and Sir Anthony swam every morning in the sea. Then they would come back glowing with health and high spirits to eat an enormous breakfast with Ivana before they all went riding.
There were great stretches of the Downs where they could gallop until even the horses were exhausted and there were parts of the Heathcliffe estate which the Marquis had not seen for years and which Ivana could show him and tell him the local legends connected with them.
The two men listened to her and teased her and Anthony paid her extravagant compliments, which she laughed at as soon as she grew used to them.
She liked to think that he admired, her but she would wonder over and over again what the Marquis really felt about her.
It seemed to her that he watched her, but she thought he was probably being suspicious in case she did something else outrageous or perhaps because she was different from Lady Rose and the beauties who had always amused him in the past.
She found herself longing, as she went down to dinner in the same gown she had worn the first night she had dined at Heathcliffe, to be dressed in a manner that would make him gaze at her in admiration.
While he had remembered that the Prince Regent had said she would be the loveliest Marchioness of the Veryans, he had never told her what he personally thought of her looks.
‘I am sure he really admires fair-haired women like Lady Rose,’ she had thought last night despairingly.
Sir Anthony had kissed her hand almost passionately as he had said goodnight, but the Marquis had merely bowed in response to her curtsey and, although his eyes were on her face, she had no idea what he was thinking.
Now she had the frightening feeling that the sands were running out and in two days they would be going to Brighton together as the Marquis had insisted she must.
After that there was a huge question mark over her future.
She wanted to discuss it with him again, but there had been no opportunity as Sir Anthony was always with them. But today might be different.
When they had turned to ride back to Heathcliffe for luncheon, Anthony said unexpectedly,
“I am thinking of going to Lewes Races as soon as we get back. Are you coming with me, Justin?”
“I cannot,” the Marquis had replied. “It would be a mistake to appear in public without Ivana and the clothes I have ordered for her from London have not yet arrived.”
“Yes, in the circumstances it would be a mistake for you to be seen there,” Anthony admitted, “but I will go and find out how the land lies and what people are saying about your secret marriage!”
The Marquis did not reply and Ivana looked at him nervously.
“I expect the Prince Regent will ask when you will be bringing Ivana to see Mrs. Fitzherbert,” Anthony remarked.
“Tell him it will be about the middle of next week,” the Marquis told him, “and suggest tactfully if you can, that we don’t want a huge crowd of fools gaping at us and would rather be alone with His Royal Highness and Mrs. Fitz.”
“I doubt if he will listen to me,” Anthony replied. “You know as well as I do that at the Royal Pavilion it’s a case of any excuse for a party.”
Ivana gave a little cry.
“Oh, please,” she said, “do persuade him not to invite all his Lordship’s friends! I shall be terrified anyway – and if – ”
She stopped, feeling she could not put into words what she really wanted to say, which was that, if the M
arquis was occupied with other women, he would not be able to look after her.
The consternation over what might happen showed in her face and the Marquis said quietly,
“I promise you it will not be as bad as you anticipate.”
Then he started to ride faster and there was no chance of more conversation before they reached Heathcliffe.
It was the first time that Ivana had eaten a meal alone with the Marquis since she had arrived and she told herself as they walked towards the dining room that she must not bore him with her fears, but try to amuse him as she was certain somebody like Lady Rose would do.
Anyway it would be impossible to speak intimately with Travers and the new footmen in the room.
It did in fact prove surprisingly easy not only to have an interesting conversation but also to make the Marquis laugh.
When after luncheon he suggested that they should ride once again, this time along the shore, she had been too thrilled by the horse she was riding, and of course the Marquis, to spoil the time with him by expressing anything but her appreciation and what she knew was an inexpressible happiness.
Now as Nanny buttoned her into the familiar green gown there was a knock on the bedroom door.
Nanny went to open it and then stepped back to allow the three footmen to come in each carrying a number of boxes.
There were long ones, which Ivana guessed contained gowns and a number of round ones that were obviously made for bonnets and others which she had no idea what they might contain.
There seemed to be dozens of them and as she gazed wide-eyed at them one of the footmen said to Nanny,
“These’ve just arrived from London. The coachman were sorry ’e were a bit late in bringin’ ’em, but the roads were more crowded than ’e expected.”
“Well, they’re here now and that’s all that matters!” Nanny said breezily.
The footmen left the room and Ivana found her voice.
“Those – cannot all be – for me!”
“I hardly think as his Lordship’ll be wearing a gown that comes from Bond Street!” Nanny chuckled as she glanced at the names on the boxes.
Then, as if she was too excited to wait, she started to lift the lids and unpack gowns, pelisses, night attire, chemises and shawls that made Ivana gasp as Nanny held them out for her inspection, one by one, before she laid them on the bed.
Never had she dreamed of seeing, let alone owning, so many fashionable and exquisite clothes each of which she was aware must have cost more than she spent in the whole year.
Finally, when the bed seemed to be piled with diaphanous, exquisite, elaborate garments, Nanny turned to tackle the bonnet boxes.
Then Ivanna gave a little cry and leaving her bedroom ran down the stairs.
She expected the Marquis would be in one of the drawing rooms where they usually took tea and, as she entered the room, she saw the tea table set out with its sparkling array of silver on the hearth rug.
The Marquis was standing at the long open window looking out into the garden.
He turned at her approach and she ran to him to say,
“How – could you? How could – you give me all those wonderful exciting clothes? You know I – cannot accept – them.”
The Marquis smiled.
“It would look very strange if as my wife, you possessed only what you are wearing now and anyway I am curious to see you in the height of fashion.”
“I agree that I should not – shame you when we have to – call on the Prince Regent and Mrs. Fitzherbert, but what you have – given me is – enough for – ”
She stopped and the Marquis finished the sentence.
“ – a trousseau,” he said quietly.
Ivana made a little gesture with her hands.
“You said that people might call here,” she said almost accusingly,” which was one – reason for me to be well dressed – but in the last four days – nobody has come and it had not – mattered what I wore.”
“You have been incorrectly informed,” the Marquis replied, “for as it happens, a number of people have made an attempt to see us, but Travers on my instructions, has sent them away.”
“I – did not – know.”
“There was no reason to bother you with the information,” the Marquis said, “and, as I had no wish to entertain visitors, they therefore had to drive back to Brighton without any titbits of information with which to regale those who are as curious as they are themselves.”
The Marquis spoke in a contemptuous manner and Ivana said,
“I don’t like to – think that I am – stopping you from seeing your – friends and being with – them.”
“Shall I say I have been quite content,” he replied. “But you know as well as I do that sooner or later we shall have to be a little more sociable.”
Ivana drew in her breath.
“After we have – visited the Prince Regent and Mrs. Fitzherbert – I think that will be the – moment when I should – disappear.”
Even as she spoke the words, she felt as if the mere idea of disappearing was like stabbing herself with a sharp knife such as the one the sailor had produced.
Then she tried to think that she was being ridiculous and she had known all along that this would happen. The only real question was when?
“Where are you going to disappear to?” the Marquis asked.
Ivana shrugged her shoulders. Then she said,
“I have a cousin who lives in Dover. Perhaps – I could stay with her for a little while.”
“And that would make you happy?”
“It need not be a long visit – and maybe when you have g-gone away, I could come – back to Flagstaff Manor.”
“I thought we had already agreed that might be dangerous for you?”
“If you don’t take Travers to any of your other houses, he could keep an – eye on us.”
The Marquis did not answer and Ivana said hastily,
“Only if you would – allow him to do so. I promise you that I will – never again use your servants unless you – permit it.”
“Do you not think people might consider it very strange if the new Marchioness of Veryan is living in a separate house from the Marquis?” “I had the idea that nobody need be – aware of it,” Ivana answered quickly.
“You know that would be impossible.”
“Then I must go – somewhere else,” she said in a low voice. “Perhaps to Scotland or Ireland – anywhere where I would not be – known.”
She thought as she spoke that it would not only be very frightening but also the expense of the journey and having to pay for a roof over her head would be more than she could afford.
“I can only ask you the same question again,” the Marquis said. “Do you think living in Scotland, Ireland or anywhere else in obscurity will make you happy?”
Ivana wanted to answer that she would be absolutely miserable, but, because she was determined he should have no idea of her real feelings, she answered,
“I expect I will – get used to it and find – something to do.”
“I think you have forgotten one very important factor in your plans for the future,” the Marquis said.
There was no need for Ivana to ask him what he meant and, as he glanced down at her wedding ring, she knew that, because the Marquis had not mentioned her husband since her arrival at Heathcliffe, everything about him had slipped from her mind.
The Marquis unexpectedly reached out and took her left hand in his.
“I have a suggestion to make to you,” he said, “and it is something I have been thinking about for some time.”
He felt her fingers tremble in his, as she asked nervously,
“What – is it?”
He drew the wedding ring from the third finger of her left hand.
“As this is obsolete,” he said, “I would like to replace it with something more suitable.”
As he spoke, he drew from his pocket another ring, which he put on her finger.
“I think,” the Marquis was saying quietly, “it was a very wise and sensible move on your part, considering what you were doing, to pretend to be married, but I never felt the mythical husband whose existence you kept forgetting, had any substance in fact.”
“Y-you – knew?” she whispered.
“Almost from the first,” the Marquis replied, “and let me say that you are not only an extremely bad liar but you also don’t look married. Even Anthony was aware of that the first time he saw you.”
Ivana stood staring at the ring.
“It is – very beautiful,” she sighed, “but to – convince the Prince Regent, I shall still – need a wedding ring.”
“That I intend to give you,” the Marquis said, “but not until we are actually married.”
Ivana gave a little start. Then, as she looked up at him, her eyes very wide, she saw that he was smiling.
“I am asking you in a rather roundabout way, my darling, if you will marry me.”
For a moment she was unable to breathe and then barely above a whisper she managed to murmur,
“What – are you saying – ? You cannot mean – really mean – ?”
“What I really mean,” the Marquis said, “is that I am fed up with having a pretend wife, when I have discovered quite unexpectedly that more than anything else in the world, I want to be really married.”
“Is that – true – ?”
“That is something I asked myself at first,” the Marquis replied, “until I realised it was impossible to contemplate life without you.”
“You are not saying that – just because you – feel you must – or wish to – deceive the Prince Regent?”
“I am quite prepared to deceive him and anybody else,” the Marquis answered, “but I can no longer deceive myself. In other words, I love you! Is that what you are waiting for me to say?”
He saw the light in her eyes and the sudden radiance that swept over her face.
65 A Heart Is Stolen Page 14