‘You frightened Louise,’ she said defiantly. ‘That is no way to persuade her to confide in you.’
To her astonishment he smiled at her, and that smile transformed his face.
‘I lost my temper,’ he admitted. ‘But for the most part I was angry with myself. I felt that I had failed in my promise to Louise’s father. I had not provided the care which she was entitled to expect.’
Perdita’s eyes widened. Rushmore’s explanation came very close to an apology, and she had not expected it.
‘You could not have known what was happening,’ she said carefully. ‘But I hope that you can understand it.’
Rushmore sat down beside her. ‘I can, but I am sorry that she felt the need to seek affection elsewhere. Believe me, I have her best interests at heart. I want to see her happy.’
‘Then will you not tell her so, my lord? She is a gentle soul, and will not set her will against yours if it can be avoided.’
‘That will be difficult,’ he mused. ‘She fancies herself in the throes of a great passion, I suppose. I have no experience of such matters. I can’t think what is to be done.’
This was another surprise. It sounded like an appeal for help.
‘Are you asking for my advice, my lord?’ she asked in astonishment.
‘I am, my dear.’ His eyes were twinkling. ‘Even ogres are not infallible. You think highly of your friend, but I do not know her in the least. Won’t you help me to win her round to my way of thinking?’
Perdita hesitated. ‘What have you in mind? You don’t intend to spirit her away and lock her up, I hope?’
‘On a diet of bread and water? No, that would be too Gothic, and it would serve no purpose. I’d like her to regard me as her friend. How best shall I persuade her?’
Perdita was in no doubt of his sincerity, but if she agreed to help him it would be a strange alliance. She would be in league with her enemy. Rushmore sensed her indecision.
‘We have not been the best of friends, Miss Wentworth, but this is more important than personal antipathy. Louise’s whole life may be at stake. Do you agree that we should put her future first?’
Perdita found it impossible to refuse. ‘I agree!’ She held out her hand and Rushmore took it in his own. Then he raised it to his lips.
‘Thank you!’ he said simply. ‘I knew I could rely on you.’
Perdita blushed and drew her hand away as if she had been stung. There was something disturbing about the touch of that warm mouth against her own flesh. To cover her confusion she spoke sharply.
‘There are certain conditions, sir.’
‘And they are?’
‘You will not browbeat Louise, my lord, nor shall you seek to harm her friend, whoever he may be.’
‘I had not planned to have him knocked on the head, my dear. As yet I do not even know his name.’
‘You agree to my conditions?’
‘I do. Now, what is our next move?’
‘Sir, I believe that you should speak to Louise, telling her of your wish to be her friend. She is an intelligent person, and will understand your concerns. She will know that you are quite within your rights to make enquiries about her admirer and to seek an interview with him. She cannot object to that.’
‘I’d like to wring his neck!’ Rushmore said with feeling. ‘I wonder how he learned that she was heiress to a fortune?’
‘You can’t be sure of that,’ Perdita scolded. ‘Now you are jumping to conclusions.’
‘Am I?’ Rushmore was unconvinced. ‘This has been a havey-cavey game—a chance meeting with a vulnerable girl, a whirlwind romance, with no attempt to contact those who have her interests at heart? No, Perdita, there is something smokey here.’
Perdita did not take her companion to task for using her given name. The force of his argument had confirmed her own suspicions. Now it was important to unmask this fellow, if he was indeed a fortune-hunter.
‘It seems a little difficult to believe,’ she whispered. ‘Are there really men who prey on defenceless women?’
Rushmore took her hand again, holding it firmly in his own. ‘For some it is a way of life,’ he said. ‘But I am determined that Louise shall not fall victim to such a creature.’
Perdita did not draw her hand away this time. It was oddly comforting to be in such complete accord with the complex creature who sat beside her. Had she misjudged him from the first? It would not be the first time she had been mistaken in her assessment of character.
Her mother’s words came back to her. Elizabeth advised always to judge by actions rather than words. Well, she would see if the Earl of Rushmore’s actions matched his words.
She had not long to wait. A bustle in the hall announced the return of her aunt together with Amy and Louise. At the sight of her formidable guardian Louise shrank back, but he advanced towards her, holding out his hand.
‘I hope I see you well,’ he said kindly. Then he turned to Beatrice Langrishe. ‘I’d like a private word with Louise,’ he said. ‘May I have your permission, ma’am?’
It was given at once, but it was a cowed Louise who was led into the study.
‘Oh, Lord!’ Amy pulled a face. ‘Will he use his riding crop, do you suppose?’
‘He will not,’ Perdita said firmly. ‘The Earl has promised to listen to Louise. He will not lose his temper. He has given me his word.’
Amy’s mouth fell open. ‘Given you his word? I thought you were at dagger-drawing with him.’
‘We were thinking of Louise,’ Perdita said with dignity. ‘All other considerations must be set aside…for the moment.’
The private interview was short, and when Louise was returned to her friends she had lost the somewhat haunted look which had bedevilled her.
His lordship made no reference to the matter uppermost in his mind. Instead, he promised himself the pleasure of seeing the ladies at a ball in the Assembly Rooms on the following evening.
‘Oh, are we to be invited too?’ Amy was in transports of delight.
‘Why not, my love?’ Miss Langrishe smiled benignly upon her companions. ‘It is high time that you and Louise were put in the way of things.’ She turned to Rushmore. ‘Such a mistake to throw these girls straight from the schoolroom into society. Don’t you agree, my lord? And this, after all, is Bath…not quite so formal as the London Season.’
‘Ma’am, I cannot disagree if I have the choice of three such charming partners.’ Rushmore’s bow was faultless.
Perdita caught his eye, and was strongly tempted to laugh.
‘His lordship is an enthusiastic dancer,’ she observed slyly. ‘I doubt if he will ever lack for partners. He has a most persuasive way of leading a lady out.’
He gave her an appreciative grin. ‘No hard feelings?’ he asked in a low voice.
Perdita affected not to hear him. It was too soon to forgive him for her present situation. But for Rushmore, she would now be aboard her father’s ship, sailing for Gibraltar and all the delights of a visit to the Mediterranean.
Yet honesty compelled her to admit that he was not the unfeeling creature she had thought him. His concern for Louise was genuine enough. This enforced visit to Bath might be a blessing in disguise. She was now in a position to help Louise out of what might prove to be a dangerous situation. With Rushmore as her ally all might yet be well.
She waited until Amy and Louise were deep in discussion with Miss Langrishe about the coming ball. Then she drew Rushmore aside on the pretext of consulting him about the purchase of a riding mare.
‘Have you come to some agreement?’ she asked quietly.
‘Yes. Louise had given me the young man’s name and his direction. I have promised to speak to him.’
‘So you did not forbid the marriage outright?’
‘No, Miss Wentworth, but let me assure you that it will not take place.’
Perdita did not argue. ‘But you will make enquiries about him? That is only fair, I think.’
‘Consider it done. Lou
ise has admitted the necessity. I was at some pains to point out to her the difficulties she might face if she has been deceived in him. Her faith in this fellow is absolute, so she has no fear that I shall find anything untoward.’
‘You don’t share the belief, I know.’
‘I don’t, but I shall go on slowly. Love is blind, so they say. Proof of his perfidy must be overwhelming before she is convinced.’
‘And you will let me know what you discover?’
‘Of course. Are you not my ally? Now, smile at me as if I have made some splendid joke. Louise must not think that we are plotting against her.’
Perdita’s low laugh sounded false to her own ears, but Amy looked up in astonishment.
It was not until later that day, when the two girls were alone, that she challenged her sister.
‘What was his lordship saying to you?’ she demanded. ‘Suddenly you seem much in charity with him. Never say that you will take his side against Louise?’
‘Of course not, but in some ways he is right. It may sound prosy, but you will agree that Mother and Father would not countenance such behaviour from either of us.’
‘I know it.’ Amy hung her head. ‘But Louise is our friend. We must support her, even though we think that…well…the clandestine meetings were wrong.’
‘It could be more serious than an offence against propriety,’ Perdita told her. ‘The Earl has pointed out to me that Louise is a considerable heiress. Suppose this man should be a fortune-hunter?’
Amy’s eyes widened. ‘I don’t see how he could have known,’ she objected. ‘She does not mention it.’
‘Rushmore says that there are certain men who make it their business to discover these things. They live by preying on wealthy women.’
‘It can’t be true,’ Amy said decidedly. ‘Matthew Verreker loves Louise for herself alone. He is so tender with her and he sends her such wonderful letters filled with poetry.’
‘Letters too?’ Perdita looked at her sister. ‘How does she receive them? They cannot go to the Academy.’
‘No!’ Amy coloured a little. ‘They have a hiding place. It is a hole in an old tree near the park. Oh, Dita, you won’t tell his lordship?’
‘No, since from now on everything must be above board. Rushmore is to arrange a meeting with Mr Verreker.’
Amy gasped. ‘Oh, Lord! Does Rushmore intend to call him out?’
‘Of course not, goose! But he would like to know more about this man. That is not unreasonable, is it?’
‘He didn’t sound reasonable yesterday,’ Amy said darkly. ‘I wonder what has changed his mind. Did you manage to persuade him?’
‘He has been speaking to Aunt Trixie, I believe.’
Amy’s face cleared. ‘He did seem calmer today,’ she admitted. ‘I hope this new mood lasts until Matthew returns from London.’
‘Mr Verreker is not in Bath at present?’
‘No, he was called away at short notice yesterday…some private family business, so he told Louise.’
Perdita caught her sister’s eye. ‘It could not be that he had heard of the Earl’s arrival in Bath?’
‘There you go, believing the worst of him before you know the facts!’ Amy was still unwilling to admit that Louise might have been the victim of a confidence trick. ‘You sound exactly like the Earl, and I thought you hated him. What has he said to make you change your mind?’
‘He told me that he wished to be Louise’s friend, and I believe him.’
‘Hmm! More likely that he has his eye on her fortune for himself. At his age he must be thinking of taking a wife.’
‘Now who is jumping to conclusions?’ Perdita felt a sudden spurt of anger. ‘Amy, you must not let your affection for Louise lead you into folly. You won’t be a party to arranging meetings, or collecting letters, will you?’
‘No, I won’t do that, but pray don’t preach at me! You ain’t a model of discretion yourself, you know.’
Perdita laughed at that. ‘There’s no need to remind me, Amy.’ She took her sister’s hand. ‘We must not quarrel, you and I. Now tell me, are you not excited by the thought of attending your first ball?’
This delightful prospect raised Amy’s spirits at once. The details of a possible toilette were discussed at length, though Miss Langrishe had insisted that both the younger girls were to wear simple white gowns.
On the following evening she looked at Perdita enviously, admiring her sister’s overdress of pale yellow silk worn over a satin slip. It became the older girl’s dark beauty to perfection, set off as it was by the yellow riband which confined her raven curls.
‘No one will look at us,’ she mourned. ‘Louise and I are likely to spend the evening sitting with the chaperons.’
‘Nonsense! Rushmore has promised you at least one dance, you know.’
Amy grimaced. ‘He’ll probably march up and down as if he’s on parade.’
‘Sourpuss! His lordship is an excellent dancer. Besides, there will be other young men, I promise you… Aunt has taken pains to make sure of it.’
In the event Miss Langrishe might have spared herself the effort. As her party entered the Assembly Rooms they were accosted by a familiar figure.
‘Why, it’s Thomas!’ Amy’s face was wreathed in smiles as she held out both her hands to her cousin. ‘Oh, I am so glad to see you. Are the boys here too?’
‘Large as life, and twice as ugly…’ Grinning, Thomas motioned his brothers forward to greet the ladies.
Chapter Seven
Miss Langrishe welcomed her young relatives with open arms. ‘With so many young people about me I shall be the envy of Bath,’ she cried happily. ‘Thomas, where are you staying? There is plenty of room for you in Laura Place.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it, Aunt!’ Thomas gave her a smacking kiss. ‘You’ve trouble enough with the girls, I fancy. We are putting up at the York House. Can’t fault it, I must say.’
Perdita pricked up her ears. The Earl of Rushmore was also a resident of the most exclusive, and expensive, hostelry in Bath. She drew her cousin to one side.
‘What made you come to visit us?’ she asked. ‘I had not thought to see you here. Bath is hardly the most exciting place for a young man on furlough…’
‘Promised your father we’d look in on you,’ Thomas told her in a tone so casual that it aroused her suspicions at once.
‘Then Aunt Trixie did not send for you?’
‘Good Lord! Why would she do that?’ Thomas did not disguise his look of relief and Perdita knew at once that she had asked the wrong question.
‘I see. How fortunate that you should find us here on this particular evening. We might have been at the theatre.’
‘Oh, no! Rushmore said—’ Thomas clapped his hand to his mouth.
‘Dammit, Perdita, must you trick a fellow in this way? You weren’t supposed to know.’
‘So it was the Earl who summoned you here?’ Perdita’s colour rose as her anger mounted. ‘I wonder why he imagines that he has the right to do so? What was his excuse?’
‘Now, coz, don’t get upon your high ropes! Bless me, if you don’t fly off before you give a fellow a chance to explain.’
‘I’m listening,’ said Perdita coldly. ‘And your explanation had better be good.’
‘Spitfire! Don’t try your tricks on me! I ain’t one of these mooncalves who swoons when you look at him. You’d best change your tune, or I shan’t explain at all.’
Perdita gave him a conciliatory smile. ‘I’m sorry!’ she said meekly. ‘But I do want to know.’
‘Very well, then! Rushmore sent me a note. He thought that if we came to Bath you might cool down a bit.’
Perdita drew herself up to her full height. ‘I can’t think what he meant by that!’ she answered.
‘Come off it, Dita! You’ve been at odds with him ever since you met.’
‘Not without reason!’ Perdita told him bitterly.
‘Well, that’s just it, you ninny! It troubled him.
Blest if you females don’t take a fellow in dislike without a word of explanation. How was he to know that you’d been sent to Bath because of him?’
Perdita looked at Thomas in dismay. ‘Oh, you did not tell him, did you? I would not give him that satisfaction.’
‘It wasn’t of much satisfaction to him. In fact, he looked…er…nonplussed. He had asked Aunt Elizabeth to overlook that scene at Almack’s—’
‘And you believed him? Well, he can be plausible, I suppose.’ Perdita frowned. She was lost in thought for several moments. ‘Thomas, do you understand him?’ she asked directly. ‘Why should it matter to him if I think well of him or not?’
‘It don’t!’ her cousin told her bluntly. ‘His ward is his concern, and you and Amy are her friends. He felt that you might set her against him.’
Perdita’s colour rose. ‘I hope I should not be so foolish, Thomas. On one point at least the Earl and I are in agreement. We wish her a happy future.’
‘Yes, I can understand it! There is something about her, isn’t there? Some quality? I can’t think what it is, but it sets her apart from other girls.’
Perdita was startled. She had never seen Louise in quite that light, but there was a look in her cousin’s eye which she could not mistake.
‘Louise is a schoolgirl,’ she told him slowly and deliberately. ‘This is the first occasion on which she and Amy have been allowed to attend a ball. Dance with her if you will, but pray don’t try to turn her head.’
‘I doubt if I could. Look at those eyes! She looks as though she can see into a person’s heart.’ With a charming smile he invited Louise to dance.
‘They make a handsome couple, don’t they?’
Perdita spun round to find the Earl of Rushmore standing by her side. She nodded briefly, still annoyed by his lordship’s temerity in summoning certain members of her family to Bath.
His eyes rested for a moment on her profile. ‘Thomas, I take it, has been unable to hold his tongue? Well, ma’am, I expected it. Are you at odds with me once more?’
‘Naturally, I am delighted to see my cousins.’ Perdita gave him a steady look.
The Rebellious Debutante Page 11