The Rebellious Debutante

by Meg Alexander

‘What’s wrong?’ Rushmore swung her round to face him. ‘Are you ill?’

  ‘No…it’s just that…well…I think I’ve hurt my foot.’

  His glance travelled to the little half-boots.

  ‘I think we might say that,’ he told her grimly. ‘Your boots are soaked in blood.’ Without more ado he picked her up and strode past the butler into the hall.

  ‘Fetch Miss Wentworth’s maid,’ he ordered as he passed the startled man to walk into the salon. He laid Perdita down upon a sofa and dropped to his knees beside her, unlacing her boots with deft fingers.

  ‘Good God!’ he said with feeling. ‘You’ve taken the skin off most of your toes and damaged your heels as well. What have you been doing?’

  ‘We were sight-seeing,’ she told him faintly.

  ‘Well, you won’t see an uglier sight than this. Had you no comfortable shoes?’

  ‘They didn’t match my toilette,’ she said lamely. ‘My boots are new…’

  ‘Women!’ Rushmore threw his eyes to heaven. Then he tossed the offending boots aside. ‘You won’t be wearing these again.’ He looked up as Ellen entered the room, startled to see her charge with bare and bleeding feet, and being tended by a gentleman unknown to her.

  ‘Good morning.’ Rushmore said briefly. ‘Miss Wentworth needs your help. Her feet are in sad case, I fear. Will you send for bandages and hot water? Then you may direct me to her room.’

  A protest died on Ellen’s lips. She knew quality when she saw it and this, she recognised at once, was a gentleman accustomed to being obeyed without question. She picked up Perdita’s blood-stained stockings and rang the bell in reply to his request.

  Ignoring Perdita’s angry refusal to be helped, he took her into his arms once more and carried her up the staircase in Ellen’s wake.

  ‘I’ll see to her now, my lord.’ Ellen had been apprised of the gentleman’s identity by the footman who came to do her bidding.

  ‘Well, do please hurry, Ellen,’ Perdita said. ‘The others are waiting for me at Gunter’s. I said that I should not be above half an hour.’

  She heard a snort of disbelief from Rushmore. ‘Are you quite mad?’ he asked. ‘You won’t be walking on those feet again today.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I shall.’ Perdita winced as she dipped them into the bowl of water. ‘They look worse than they are. I shall go on quite well if they are bandaged.’

  ‘You can try, of course. Perhaps you hope to emulate the Indian fakirs who walk upon beds of nails or burning coals?’

  ‘I shall manage!’ Perdita glared at him as she waved away Ellen’s attempt to coax her into lying upon her day-bed. ‘I can’t wear those,’ she protested as Ellen produced a pair of her oldest and most comfortable slippers. ‘Bring me my walking shoes.’

  ‘Now, Miss Perdita, you’ll never get them on over they bandages. You should listen to his lordship.’

  ‘Why? This has nothing to do with him!’ Perdita ignored the scandalised gasp and thrust the slippers aside.

  ‘Miss Perdita, please…’

  ‘Oh, let her try!’ Rushmore was growing impatient. ‘Some stupid human beings insist on learning the hard way.’

  He was right, of course. Struggle as she might, Perdita was unable to force her bandaged feet into her walking shoes.

  Scarlet with frustration, she looked up at her tormentor. ‘Can’t you go away?’ she cried. ‘You are quite without a sense of decorum. You should not be in a lady’s bedchamber.’

  ‘I hadn’t realised that I was,’ he said rudely. ‘I had the impression that I was in the room of a foolish child, who will have her way if it kills her.’

  Perdita was on the verge of tears. ‘The others are expecting me back,’ she stormed. ‘My sister will wonder what has happened.’

  ‘That is easily remedied. Ellen, will you ring the bell? Jenkins will return to Gunter’s with a message for your sister. She must be reassured that you are resting quietly. Under no circumstances is she to interrupt her plans for the day. There is not the slightest necessity for her to do so.’

  Perdita heard a snort of amusement from her old nurse and it angered her further. ‘You take too much upon yourself, my lord. I could have sent that message myself.’

  ‘Then why didn’t you do so?’

  This was unanswerable. To make matters worse, Rushmore was gazing down at the battered slippers which Ellen had succeeded in slipping upon Perdita’s feet.

  ‘Charming!’ he murmured smoothly. ‘Tell me, did you embroider these dear little rabbits yourself?’

  Perdita did not answer him.

  ‘I must study some further examples of your skill…a sampler, perhaps?’ With a maddening air of interest he strolled about the room, examining the framed work upon the walls. ‘These homilies are most uplifting,’ he announced brightly. ‘Did you choose them yourself? How suitable they are. I like this one in particular: “Pride goeth before a fall”. I could not have imagined a better had I tried.’

  ‘They are not mine,’ Perdita ground out.

  ‘Indeed not, my lord! Miss Perdita has never been able to set a stitch to save herself.’ Ellen smiled at the forthright gentleman who seemed to have the measure of her troublesome charge.

  Perdita closed her eyes. With Rushmore and Ellen in league against her there was nothing more to say. She gave a theatrical groan.

  ‘I believe that I shall rest, after all,’ she told them in a faint voice. ‘Leave me now. I may be able to sleep.’

  Rushmore laughed aloud. ‘Never try for the stage, my dear Miss Wentworth. You would find yourself the target of rotten eggs. You are not the least convincing. Come now, can’t you stand a little teasing? I had suspected you of having a sense of humour. I should be sorry to find that I was wrong.’

  This brought Perdita upright. She glared at him, but she did not speak.

  ‘That’s better!’ he encouraged. ‘Now, what are we to do with you? You will not wish to stay in your room all day. Shall you care for a drive in the Park?’

  Ellen spoke up before Perdita could answer him. ‘My Lord, that will not do,’ she said quietly. ‘It would give rise to gossip if you took Perdita up in your curricle.’

  ‘Quite right, Ellen. There is no room for a chaperon. Suppose I carry her down to the salon whilst we await the return of her parents? You might sit with us whilst we enjoy a hand or two of cards, or discuss the latest affairs of the nation.’

  Perdita was about to refuse his offer, but the thought of the alternative was a strong deterrent. She had finished her book and had found no opportunity to visit Hatchards in Piccadilly for the purpose of changing it. Possibly one or other of her many admirers might call, but the offending slippers would give rise to anxious enquiries and the need for explanations which she had no desire to give.

  Rushmore watched her in some amusement, guessing that she was torn between accepting his offer, and giving him a sharp set-down. He was banking on the hope that common-sense would reassert itself, and he was not disappointed.

  ‘You are too kind!’ she said stiffly.

  ‘Am I to take it, then, that you agree?’

  Perdita nodded.

  ‘Very well, then.’ Rushmore bent down towards her. ‘If you will slip your arms about my neck I shall be able to carry you in perfect safety.’

  Perdita glanced at Ellen, expecting further protests from her old nurse. She was somewhat disconcerted to note the look of approval upon Ellen’s ruddy face.

  Not for the first time it occurred to her that Rushmore had the most irritating habit of ingratiating himself with her nearest and dearest. Ellen might at least have insisted that two of the footmen carried her young mistress. The reason for her complaisance was not far to seek. She believed that Rushmore saw Perdita as a wilful child.

  Perdita was given no further opportunity for reflection. Rushmore gripped her wrists and put her arms about his neck, lifting her as if she were the child that Ellen thought her. Then he made his way towards the head of the staircase.

&n
bsp; He was but halfway down the second flight when a commotion in the hallway heralded the return of Perry and Elizabeth. For just a moment her parents stood transfixed.

  Perdita’s sense of humour got the better of her, and it was only with the greatest difficulty that she kept her countenance. How would Rushmore explain the fact that he was descending from Perdita’s bedchamber with that lady in his arms? She could not blame her mother and father if they wondered at it.

  Rushmore was, as always, equal to the occasion. He bowed and addressed Elizabeth directly.

  ‘Ma’am, your daughter has met with a slight accident. Nothing to worry about, I assure you, but her feet are very painful and she finds some difficulty in walking.’ He saw the look of alarm in Elizabeth’s eyes. ‘New shoes, ma’am,’ he announced with a twinkle. ‘They can be the very devil. Now, if you will show me where I might set her down?’

  Elizabeth gave a sigh of relief. Then she led the way into the salon and waited until Rushmore had settled Perdita upon a sofa.

  ‘How came you to rescue Perdita a second time, my lord?’ she said at last.

  ‘Pure chance, ma’am. I was at your door when she arrived from Gunter’s.’

  ‘Perdita, where are the others?’ Perry came over to take his daughter’s hand.

  ‘I had to leave them, Papa, but his lordship has sent a message to them saying that they are not to give up the rest of the day as I am quite all right.’

  ‘I am in your debt, my lord.’ Perry spoke with some reserve. He was not best pleased by the scene he had just witnessed, much as he admired the Earl of Rushmore. He turned back to Perdita. ‘How are your feet, my darling? Do they need attention? Perhaps we should send for Doctor Forbes?’

  Perdita blushed. ‘Really, Papa! All I have done is skin my toes. It was my own stupid fault. I should have known better than to walk for so long in my new boots.’ She gave her father a loving smile. ‘They will be better by tomorrow.’

  Rushmore gazed down at the enchanting little face, and his heart turned over. When Perdita smiled the room lit up. He would have given much to have won such a smile from her on his own behalf. He turned to Elizabeth.

  ‘I was on my way to speak to your husband and yourself, ma’am. The Duke has not yet released me from my duties, so I cannot get away. It occurred to me that some further discussion of our plans might be useful.’

  Perdita pricked up her ears. Plans? What plans? She could think of no possible connection between her parents and this arrogant creature who stood before her, clearly perfectly at ease.

  Elizabeth nodded and her lips twitched. ‘I agree, my lord. One omission, at least, has been troubling me. Perry, will you show his lordship into the study? Just give me a moment to remove my cloak and bonnet before I join you.’

  She waited until the men had left the room before she spoke again.

  ‘Well, Perdita?’

  ‘It is just as his lordship said, Mama. There was nothing amiss. Ellen was with us at all times.’

  ‘Great heavens, Perdita! Do you think me a complete fool? The Earl would scarce attempt to ravish you in your own home and attended by a houseful of servants. I must hope that you were polite to him.’

  ‘I did as he asked…eventually…’ Perdita admitted. ‘I wanted to rejoin Amy, but he wouldn’t hear of it.’

  ‘You’ll agree that it would have been difficult, since you cannot walk?’

  ‘Yes, he was right. It seems to be a habit of his.’

  Elizabeth glanced at her daughter’s face, but she made no further comment, though she was much amused. She had guessed correctly that Perdita found Lord Rushmore’s attitude infuriating. He simply would not take her seriously. Well, it would do the child no harm, but peace must be restored if her girls and Rushmore’s ward were to deal amicably together.

  That thought was foremost in her mind as she entered the study.

  ‘The omission, ma’am?’ For once, Rushmore was not quite at ease.

  ‘Why, my lord, you have not given me the name of your ward. I had intended to speak of her to both my girls, but I couldn’t do so. Doubtless they will know her. Miss Bedlington’s is not a large establishment.’

  ‘I beg your pardon. Her name is Louise Bryant. As I understand it she has not been long at the school. The plan was that she should join her father at Brussels, but naturally, after Waterloo she was deprived of any such opportunity.’

  ‘Poor child! She is Amy’s age, is she not?’

  ‘A little older, I believe. She must be seventeen or so by now.’

  ‘And what would you have us do?’ Perry was ready to throw himself wholeheartedly into any plan which might ease the suffering of a hero’s orphan.

  ‘My hands are tied for the moment. I must wait upon the Duke’s pleasure. Hopefully, it won’t be long before he will release me. I have written to Louise, of course, telling her of your kindness. I wonder…will the Misses Wentworth make themselves known to her? If she could feel that she had at least two friends to support her in the coming Season…? Her father felt that she was very shy, so it is certain to loom as an ordeal.’

  Perry cast aside all his reservations about the Earl of Rushmore. The man was sensitive, after all.

  ‘Pray, my lord, don’t trouble yourself further,’ he said warmly. ‘Put it down to partiality if you will, but I don’t know of two better-hearted girls than Amy and Perdita. They will be only too happy to befriend your ward.’

  Elizabeth was not so sure. Rushmore had ruffled the feathers of both her daughters, and she had quickly become aware that they were in league against him. Even so, she felt that they would not continue that vendetta against a lonely girl who had been so cruelly deprived of her sole remaining parent.

  Her belief was confirmed later that day when she called the girls to her boudoir.

  ‘Do you know a girl called Louise Bryant?’ she asked without preamble.

  Perdita shook her head, but Amy nodded.

  ‘You left before she arrived,’ she told her sister. ‘And I don’t know her well. She is the quietest creature in the world, always hanging back. Why do you ask, Mama?”

  ‘I want you to befriend her. It is a tragic story. Her father died at Waterloo. She has no other relatives.’

  Perdita clenched her fists until the knuckles whitened. She could not imagine life without her beloved father.

  ‘Mother, you need not ask,’ she said quietly. ‘We’ll do all we can to help her.’

  ‘I hope so, my dear, especially when you hear the rest of the story. Louise’s father was the Earl of Rushmore’s closest friend…Louise is now his ward…’

  A silence followed this startling piece of information, but Perdita spoke at last.

  ‘All the more reason to befriend her,’ she cried. Then she caught her mother’s eye. ‘I mean…unless she knows his lordship well, she may find him difficult to understand,’ she amended hastily. ‘He is not in the least conciliating.’

  ‘As far as I know she has not yet met the Earl,’ her mother replied. ‘But why, may I ask, should he trouble to be conciliating? The opinion of a schoolgirl cannot possibly be of interest to him.’

  Perdita was silenced. She was, she understood only too well, included in that particular group of people to whose opinion Rushmore need pay no attention. It was of little comfort to realise that had she been the most powerful woman in the land her views upon his conduct would have influenced him just as little. The man behaved as if he were a law unto himself. It was an accusation which had been levelled in the past at Perdita herself. Now she was beginning to see just how uncomfortable such behaviour could be to others.

  ‘Perdita, are you paying attention? You seem to me to be woolgathering again.’

  ‘Sorry, Mama! I was just thinking…when is Louise to come to stay with us?’

  ‘At the first opportunity, my dear. It is unfortunate that your father and I must be out of the country for the next few months, but once we return I shall invite Louise. Meantime, I trust that you will both
do your best to befriend her. I shudder to think of how she must have suffered in these past few months, without a soul to turn to. Miss Bedlington, I fear, is not the most tender-hearted of women.’

  Perdita gave her the ghost of a smile. ‘I won’t argue with that, Mama.’

  Little though she relished the idea of being connected in any way with the Earl of Rushmore, she was conscious of a feeling of relief. He had not, after all, found further reason to object to her behaviour and had sought out her parents on quite another errand.

  Honesty compelled her to admit that few people could be more in need of friends than the unfortunate Louise. She was willing to play her part, and a moment’s reflection convinced her that the girl was unlikely to be favoured with many visits from her guardian during her stay in Bath. She doubted if he would trouble to seek out the company of the schoolroom misses he had dismissed so casually at Almack’s.

  He had been quick to hand over the care of his ward to her own mama. Naturally, he could not have refused the last request of a dying man, but she could not think that he would take a serious interest in Louise, other than to see her married as soon as may be, and off his hands.

  Possibly he was already casting about him for a suitable candidate. Her mother’s next words did nothing to dispel that notion.

  ‘I’m sorry that I shan’t be able to meet Louise just yet,’ Elizabeth said quietly. ‘But you girls must be my proxy. I want her to feel comfortable with the idea of coming to stay with us. Rushmore tells me that she is a considerable heiress, and there are those who make it their business to find out about such matters. You must be her watchdogs. She must not form any unsuitable attachments.’

  ‘At Miss Bedlington’s?’ Amy was incredulous. ‘No gentleman is ever allowed across her doorstep unless he is a relative and even then Miss Bedlington is not at ease. From her expression one would think that all members of the male sex should be confined behind bars.’

  Elizabeth smiled. ‘I did not imagine that anyone would force an entry into your schoolroom, Amy, but sometimes a stranger will attempt to strike up an acquaintance at a concert, or the play. You will guard against that, I hope.’