The Second Lady Southvale

by Sandra Heath

  Katherine smiled sympathetically at her. ‘Don’t worry, Annie, for both Miss Carberry and I can quite understand the awful dilemma you were in.’

  ‘But she’s coming back now, Miss Katherine,’ said the maid.

  ‘And if the letters are still safe where you hid them, they’re going to be used against her. If it doesn’t work, you may be sure that both I and my great-aunt will gladly give you the reference you need.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Katherine, but I hope they do work, for I’d like it more than anything if Miss Carberry became Lady Southvale.’ Annie smiled shyly at Rosalind. ‘I know you have a maid of your own, madam, and that when she’s better, she’ll come to you again, but I’ll always be more than willing to attend you.’

  ‘Thank you, Annie, I’m very flattered, but I fear we’re all counting our chickens. We haven’t recovered the letters yet, and we don’t know what Lord Southvale’s reaction to them will be.’

  Katherine looked at Rosalind. ‘But we do know that he still loves you, and I’m sure that if the letters give him any just cause to set Celia aside, he will do so.’

  Rosalind smiled a little, but still didn’t dare hope too much. She caught Annie’s eyes in the mirror. ‘Where did you hide the letters? Are they really safe?’

  ‘Oh, they’re safe, madam, for I put them somewhere no one ever goes now. I hid them behind a loose board above the door of the little tree house by the lake at Greys.’

  Katherine suddenly rose to her feet, her face changing. ‘Oh Annie, I just didn’t think when you told me earlier,’ she said in utter dismay.

  Annie lowered the comb she held. ‘Think about what, Miss Katherine?’

  ‘About the tree house.’ Katherine’s eyes fled to Rosalind. ‘Philip was there a few days ago, I don’t know exactly when, and was horrified to see how dilapidated it had become. He’s ordered it to be completely repaired, taken apart if necessary, and the workmen are starting today! I heard him telling Richardson only this morning after breakfast, and it slipped my mind completely until now. We have to go there immediately if we’re to save the letters. It may be too late already!’

  Rosalind was appalled. ‘Oh, no …’

  ‘I’ll have Richardson order the carriage now,’ declared Katherine firmly, but as she moved toward the door, there was a knock and the butler himself came in to tell her that her great-aunt wished her to read to her.

  Katherine was in a quandary, turning helplessly to Rosalind. ‘What shall I do? I know my great-aunt welcomes Celia’s return as little as I do, but I don’t want to raise her hopes too much over the letters.’

  ‘Stay here and read to her, Katherine,’ Rosalind said quickly. ‘I’ll go to Greys with Annie.’

  ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Quite sure.’

  Katherine looked at Richardson, who was still waiting in the doorway. ‘Have the traveling carriage brought around and tell the coachman he’ll be driving to Greys.’

  ‘Yes, Miss Katherine.’

  ‘And tell him it’s urgent, so he’s not to dawdle all the way.’

  ‘Yes, Miss Katherine.’ He bowed and quickly withdrew.

  Katherine smiled ruefully at Rosalind. ‘I wish I was coming with you, but I really don’t want to upset my great-aunt any more than she is already. It would be dreadful if I told her all about the letters and then nothing came of it.’

  ‘It’s best if you just go and read to her, and then, hopefully, we can tell her some good news later,’ replied Rosalind.

  Katherine came to give her an encouraging hug. ‘You’re going to be my sister-in-law, after all, Rosalind, I just know it! You and Philip are perfect for each other, and you’ll make him far happier than Celia ever did.’ Then she hurried away in the direction of her great-aunt’s room.

  As the door closed behind her, Annie hurried to the wardrobe to select something suitable for the journey to Greys. She took down the apricot wool gown and a gray velvet pelisse that Rosalind hadn’t worn since arriving in England. With them she brought a gray velvet jockey bonnet, around the crown of which she quickly tied a long apricot gauze scarf that would hang down almost to Rosalind’s hem at the back.

  Her hair had been brushed and was now almost dry, so the maid quickly pinned it into a simple knot, and a few minutes later both maid and mistress were ready and waiting only for the arrival of the carriage.

  Annie waited in a room overlooking the courtyard, and the moment she saw the vehicle appear, she hurried in to tell Rosalind.

  They both left the pagoda room and walked quickly to the head of the staircase. Rosalind glanced uneasily at the maid. ‘What if we’re too late? What if the workmen have already begun their tasks? If they are going to practically take the tree house to pieces …’

  ‘Don’t think about it, Miss Carberry, just tell yourself that we are going to find Lady Southvale’s letters where I hid them at Greys, and that they’ll make it possible for you to marry his lordship, after all.’

  As they reached the landing by the drawing-room, Rosalind suddenly froze, for Gerald Beaufort was standing waiting at the foot of the staircase. She’d forgotten his intention to call on her again. But why hadn’t Richardson announced him? Then another thought struck her: how much of her conversation with Annie had he overheard?

  He gave no sign of having overheard anything, but gave a brief, rather tentative smile as he looked up the staircase toward her. ‘Good morning, Miss Carberry.’

  ‘Sir.’

  ‘I trust the presence of the traveling carriage doesn’t signify your imminent departure for Falmouth?’

  ‘No, sir, it doesn’t.’ The question reassured her, for it meant that he couldn’t have heard anything.

  ‘I’m glad, for I have much I wish to say to you.’

  She looked coolly at him. ‘You can’t have anything to say that I would wish to hear, sir,’ she said, going on down toward him.

  ‘Did you receive my note?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Then, after what happened in the park earlier, you must know why I wish to speak to you.’

  ‘All I know is that I think you are a wretch of the first order, sir, in every way as odious as your sister, and I have no wish to speak to you at all. If your sole purpose in coming here is to attempt to reason with me, you’re wasting your time.’

  He barred her way, just as he had the evening before. ‘I need to speak to you, Rosalind.’

  Her green eyes were haughty. ‘Don’t presume, sir, for I still do not give you leave to address me familiarly.’

  His glance moved briefly to Annie and then back to Rosalind. ‘At least hear me out in private. Is it so much to ask?’

  ‘Under the circumstances, yes, it is. You knew your sister was still alive; indeed, she’s been staying beneath your very roof, and yet you let me go on thinking—’

  ‘Celia didn’t want anyone to know about her return until she’d been able to see Philip, and she specifically asked me to say nothing to anyone. I gave her my promise, and now beg you to understand my predicament.’

  ‘I understand well enough, sir. I understand that you’ve behaved very basely and forwardly toward me, and that as a consequence I dislike you intensely. I don’t wish to have anything more to do with you, sir, and I most certainly don’t regard you as anything remotely approaching a friend.’

  ‘But I could be so much more than just a friend to you, for it’s possible for me to save you from the humiliation and scandal of having to return to Washington. I can offer you marriage, and my name.’

  She stared at him, unable to believe her ears. ‘You can’t possibly be serious,’ she breathed incredulously.

  ‘Never more serious in my life.’

  ‘Your audacity amazes me, sir, and I promise you that the thought of marrying you fills me with revulsion. I prefer to take my chance with Washington gossip than sully my family and honor by turning to a toad like you.’

  The mask of friendliness slipped away from his hazel eyes, and his lips became t
hin with anger. ‘I would advise you not to speak to me like that, madam,’ he said softly.

  ‘Ah, the real Gerald Beaufort appears once more! I’m amazed you managed to dissemble for so long.’

  ‘You’ll soon be very sorry for spurning my advances, Miss Carberry.’

  ‘Are you threatening me?’

  ‘I promise you that I’ll exact full revenge for this, madam. In the end you’ll wish you’d never come to London.’

  ‘Please go,’ she said, a little frightened by the controlled force she’d unleashed in him.

  A slight movement to her right behind her suddenly caught her eye, and he turned with a quick, jovial smile. ‘Ah, Richardson, just the man!’

  The butler came slowly forward, his eyes moving uneasily from Gerald to Rosalind, and then back to Rosalind again. ‘I didn’t know you’d called, Mr Beaufort.’

  ‘I have something I wish you to do for me.’

  Rosalind stared at Gerald, for the change in his manner was formidable. The vitriolic man of a few moments before was now a pleasant, completely charming gentleman.

  Richardson bowed politely to him. ‘Yes, Mr Beaufort?’

  ‘I’ve decided to attend the prizefight on Crawley Down and will drive there immediately. Will you send someone around to my address to inform them where I’ll be?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  Gerald’s hazel eyes flickered toward Rosalind again, and the faintest of smiles twisted his sensuous lips. ‘Good-bye, Miss Carberry, I trust you enjoy a fair journey back to America.’

  She didn’t reply and exhaled with relief as he walked away.

  Richardson turned to her. ‘Is everything all right, madam?’

  ‘Yes. Thank you.’

  ‘When I first came into the hall, I thought Mr Beaufort was, er, threatenng you, Miss Carberry.’

  ‘I believe it’s over and done with now, thank you.’

  ‘If you’re sure, madam?’

  ‘Quite sure. We’ll leave for Greys now.’

  ‘Madam.’ He hurried to open the door for her, and as they went out, they were just in time to see Gerald tooling his curricle across the courtyard at almost breakneck speed. His face was set with anger and he didn’t spare the whip.

  They set off in the carriage only a moment later, and as the elegant buildings of St James’s Place slid past, Rosalind leaned her head back against the blue velvet upholstery. Oh, how she hoped the letters were still safe, and how she prayed that they would lead to Philip’s complete rejection of his spiteful, unfaithful wife.

  22

  It seemed an age before the carriage reached Tottenham Court Road and began the long uphill climb northward toward Hampstead Heath. The city of London soon began to fade away behind as the road passed through rolling, wooded countryside where meadows, orchards, and pastures were interspersed with cottages and farms. Hawthorn hedges lined the wayside, their branches heavy with fruit, and all around there was the russet, gold, and crimson glory of high autumn. There was no sign of the storm now; the sky was clear and blue and the sun shone brightly down.

  The steady climb took its toll of the horses, and it was a long while before the spa of Hampstead appeared at the foot of the heath ahead. The little town had developed on swampy, sloping ground around the springs that had eventually made it fashionable. Laundering had been its original industry, but London society had discovered the benefits of the two kinds of spring water, purgative saline and sulphurous, and had declared both to be as excellent as that obtained at the already modish Tunbridge Wells. And so the little hamlet had become an elegant place of fine brick houses, terraces, courts, and passages, with leafy walks shaded by handsome elms and limes. There were many superior residences in the surrounding area, many of them set in spacious parks, but none of them could equal Greys, which was undoubtedly the most desirable property of them all.

  They drove steadily up the main street, and then on toward the heath.

  As the carriage was making its slow way out of Hampstead on its way to Greys, Philip was returning to Southvale House after his appointment. He’d been given a great deal of information and instruction concerning St Petersburg, but his mind was on Rosalind as the carriage approached St James’s Place.

  Before this day was out, the woman he loved more than anything else in the world would drive out of his life forever. All they had left were a few hours, stolen, forbidden hours that broke every rule of honor. He shouldn’t have asked her to spend any time with him, but he hadn’t been able to resist, he loved her too much.

  He leaned his head back, gazing emptily at the seat opposite. Guilt ached through him, guilt that he’d ruined Rosalind’s life, and guilt that he no longer loved or wanted a wife he felt in his heart had betrayed her vows. He almost wished he was more like Gerald, capable of doing the dishonorable thing from time to time, but he wasn’t, and so would stand by marriage vows that had ceased to have any meaning. He’d never discovered Celia in any indiscretion, so how could he possibly deny her now? Damn his conscience, damn his honor, and damn his sense of duty.

  The carriage swayed to a standstill in the courtyard, and he climbed quickly down, hurrying up the doors and flinging them open before Richardson had even crossed the entrance hall.

  ‘Where is Miss Carberry, Richardson?’ he asked without preamble, for he needed to be with her for every second from now on.

  ‘Miss Carberry has gone to Greys, my lord.’

  Philip paused in astonishment. ‘I beg your pardon.’

  At that moment Katherine came hurrying down the staircase. ‘Oh, Philip, I’ve got so much to tell you.’

  ‘Before you do, I want to know why Rosalind has gone to Greys.’ Philip tossed his tricorn on the table.

  Katherine faced him. ‘To find Celia’s love letters and bring them back here,’ she said.

  ‘Celia’s what?’

  ‘Love letters. That’s what I want to tell you, Philip. Rosalind won’t have to leave now, of that I’m quite sure.’ Katherine proceeded to tell him everything that had happened, leaving absolutely nothing out. ‘Then I remembered that the tree-house repairs are to begin today,’ she finished, ‘and that’s why Rosalind has gone on her own with Annie. We thought it best if I stayed here with Great-aunt Eleanor, who really has been upset by everything that’s happened.’

  Philip was very still, and for a long, long moment he didn’t say anything, but then he looked urgently at his sister. ‘Is Annie quite sure about those letters?’

  ‘Yes, quite sure.’

  ‘They prove beyond all doubt that Celia and this Dom Rodrigo were lovers?’

  ‘Yes.’

  He closed his eyes for a moment, hardly daring to hope that something would come of this. But if work had already commenced on the tree house, the letters may already have been destroyed. ‘How long ago did they leave, Katherine?’

  ‘Well over an hour now.’

  ‘Then I think they may be in time.’

  Richardson had been standing nearby all the time, and his face had become increasingly anxious. ‘Begging your pardon, my lord …’

  ‘What is it, Richardson?’

  ‘It concerns Miss Carberry, my lord.’

  Philip’s blue eyes sharpened as he detected the man’s unease. ‘What about her?’

  ‘Just before she left for Greys, Mr Beaufort called to see her. I didn’t know he was here, for his curricle must have drawn into the courtyard just as the traveling carriage came to the door. I entered the hall a few moments before he left again, and he was talking to Miss Carberry. Their voices were raised, my lord, and I’m quite sure that he was issuing a threat of some kind to her.’

  ‘A threat?’ Philip’s tone became cold and urgent.

  ‘Yes, my lord. I – I don’t remember his exact words, but I’m sure it was something to the effect that he intended to have his revenge over something. He certainly said that in the end she’d wish she’d never come to London.’

  Katherine was indignant. ‘How dare he presume to
say such a thing! He’s been a snake and a toad, and has the audacity to—’

  ‘Be quiet Katherine,’ ordered Philip, his attention still on the butler. ‘What’s this leading to, Richardson?’

  ‘Well, when Mr Beaufort realized I was there, he became all agreeability and very civilly requested me to send word to his residence that he wouldn’t be returning for some time as he was going to the prizefight at Crawley Down.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘And Lady Eleanor sent a man to Greys early this morning, to bring her some of the apples from the orchard, and he rode back only a short while ago. He said he passed Mr Beaufort on the Hampstead Road, driving toward Greys as if the hounds of hell were on his tail. Hampstead is in the opposite direction to Crawley Down, and Mr Beaufort cannot possibly be there and see the prizefight.’

  Katherine’s breath caught and her hands crept to her cheeks.

  The butler looked at Philip. ‘Greys is very isolated, my lord, and there’ll be hardly anyone around because you aren’t in residence. If Miss Carberry is going down to the lake and the tree house and if Mr Beaufort intends to be there, too …’

  ‘Have my best saddle horse brought around immediately,’ Philip said quickly.

  ‘My lord.’ Richardson almost ran away across the hall.

  Katherine looked tearfully at Philip. ‘You don’t think Gerald would really do anything to her, do you?’

  ‘I don’t intend to take any chances, but I tell you this, if he harms so much as a single hair on her head, I’ll tear his throat out.’

  ‘Will – will it take you long to ride there?’

  ‘It’s uphill most of the way,’ he reminded her, ‘but I think I can be there in just over fifteen minutes.’

  ‘I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to her. I like her so much, Philip.’

  ‘I know you do,’ he said softly, pulling her close for a moment and hugging her. ‘Wipe your eyes now, and when you’re composed, go to Great-aunt Eleanor.’

  ‘Shall I tell her what’s happened?’