The Rebellious Debutante

by Meg Alexander

  Miss Langrishe struggled to her feet. ‘Come, Amy! Let us leave these love-birds to their billing and cooing. If you are to visit Louise we must find some more comforts for her. You will tell me what she will need most.’

  Amy looked more cheerful as she followed the older woman from the room. She longed to see Louise again, and although the Earl had not been specific as to his future plans he had succeeded in lifting her spirits.

  As the door closed behind them, Adam took Perdita in his arms. He slid a finger beneath her chin and looked deep into her eyes. ‘It is a lifetime since I kissed you, my lovely bird of paradise.’

  Perdita twinkled at him. ‘I thought that term was reserved only for females of a certain profession,’ she teased.

  He smiled. ‘You are well informed, my love. How do you come by these slang terms?’

  ‘Amy is forever quizzing our cousins,’ she admitted. ‘Are you shocked?’

  ‘Never, my darling, but in this instance my compliment comes from the heart. Your aunt described you as a love-bird, but to me you are something far more splendid. Have you any idea how much I love you? It is not your beauty alone, my dear one, though that is a joy to behold. I love your spirit, your courage, and your loyalty to your friends.’

  He kissed her then, and Perdita returned his kiss with a passion which shook them both. All her inhibitions vanished as his warm mouth sought her own. She threw her arms about his neck and held him to her, murmuring inarticulate words of love.

  ‘Ah, what a jewel you are!’ he said softly. ‘You are all I want in life.’ He kissed her eyelids and then the corner of her mouth, straying from there to press his lips against the soft flesh of her neck. ‘When shall we be married, Perdita? You will not keep me waiting? Already I dread to lose you to another.’

  ‘That can never be,’ she told him. ‘I am yours and always will be.’ She began to chuckle. ‘You do not mention my faults, my lord, but they are legion. How are you to deal with a wife who has a hasty temper and is stubborn into the bargain?’

  ‘I shall think of a way,’ he promised with a wicked look. ‘Ah, my love, where should we have been without your stubbornness? It carries you through against all manner of difficulties. You speak of faults, but I have plenty of my own.’

  ‘Indeed you have!’ She gave him a demure look. ‘One, in particular, I find very hard to bear.’

  ‘And what is that? Tell me, and I shall try to correct it.’

  Perdita heard the note of anxiety in his voice. ‘Why, sir, I doubt if you will manage it. You have an unnerving habit of always being right. It has infuriated me on more than one occasion.’ She laughed happily, secure in the certainty of his love.

  ‘Minx!’ He drew her to him and kissed her soundly. ‘You had me worried, dearest. More remarks like that and my hair will turn quite grey—’

  ‘Nonsense!’ Perdita reached up to stroke his cheek. ‘Kiss me again!’ she whispered. ‘I could stay in your arms for ever.’

  ‘Temptress!’ He held her away from him and shook his head. ‘This is more than flesh and blood can stand. Let us join your aunt before I forget myself completely. What do you say to a drive about the town this afternoon? Miss Langrishe might enjoy it.’

  Swift colour rose to Perdita’s cheeks. Innocent though she was, she could not mistake his meaning. She jumped to her feet. ‘That is an excellent idea,’ she said hurriedly. ‘I will go and speak to Aunt Trixie at once.’

  Adam pressed a kiss into the palm of her hand and closed her fingers over it. ‘Keep this, my love! It is a promise for the future.’ He released her then and turned away, conscious that he had come close to giving his caresses an urgency which was far beyond the bounds of decorum. Yet he knew that he had not frightened her. Perdita would never behave in a missish way. She had given her love to him without reserve, in the open and honest way so natural to her.

  He knew now that his passion was returned a hundredfold. He gave a rueful smile. That knowledge made it difficult to control his feelings, but he would do so. His lovely bride would be well worth waiting for.

  He rang the bell and ordered his carriage for later that afternoon, hoping as he did so that Miss Langrishe would feel well enough to drive abroad.

  She did not disappoint him. Though still in some pain she assured him that she was well enough to make the expedition.

  ‘I feel so much better, Adam,’ she told him. ‘There is nothing like good news to give one’s spirits a lift.’

  ‘Then, ma’am, let us hope that we shall have more of it.’ He rapped on the roof of the carriage and the horses made their way slowly through the crowded streets.

  Miss Langrishe waved to her acquaintances. Clearly, she was delighted to be released from the confines of her home.

  ‘Bath has changed so much since I first came to live here,’ she observed. ‘Adam, may we drive along the Royal Crescent? The houses there are very fine, and the view across the town is wonderful. How I should have liked to live there, but the climb to the heights is steep, and the Crescent was too far to be conveniently placed for the life I lead.’

  Perdita could not agree with her, though she looked with pleasure at the graceful sweep of the Crescent. ‘This must be the most beautiful city in England,’ she cried warmly. ‘I wonder that everyone does not come to live here.’

  ‘Great heavens, Dita, don’t say that!’ Amy was laughing. ‘The place would become impossible. Let us keep Bath a secret for as long as possible.’

  Adam smiled at their enthusiasm. ‘Do you care to drive out for a little way?’ he asked Miss Langrishe. ‘The view from the heights above the city is quite spectacular.’

  He was right, and for a time his companions gazed with delight upon the scene below, with the city set like a golden jewel in a bowl of the Somerset hills.

  ‘You have made a fortunate choice, ma’am,’ Adam remarked. ‘The place has so much to commend it.’

  ‘And you must not regret the Crescent, Aunt.’ Amy would have none of it. ‘I, for one, am glad to be near the shops and the Pump Room and the Theatre.’

  ‘Not the historic sights, Miss Amy?’ Adam was disposed to tease her.

  Amy chuckled. She was not in the least put out. ‘They are well enough in their way,’ she admitted ‘But they are not so exciting.’

  He laughed and let it go, but Amy quizzed her sister later.

  ‘Does Adam think me a featherhead?’ she asked as they prepared for bed.

  ‘Of course not! What gave you that idea?’

  ‘I don’t know. I suppose it’s because he laughs at me. Still, I like him in spite of it. Do you mind that you are not to go with us to see Louise?’

  ‘No, I can understand his thinking. I trust his judgment, Amy. If he thinks it best for me to stay here, I will do so.’

  Amy gave an unelegant whistle. ‘There’s a turn-up for the book! I thought I’d never live to see the day.’

  Perdita frowned at her. ‘Up to now he has been right. Now, what are you taking to Louise?’

  Amy listed the clothing, the blankets, the food and the little luxuries which Miss Langrishe had insisted on providing.

  On the following morning they were quickly stowed away inside the coach, and Perdita waved Adam and her sister off with no expectation that the day ahead of her would prove other than uneventful.

  She was mistaken. As she was engaged in writing to her parents she was summoned to the salon. There she found her aunt in conversation with a burly man who introduced himself as a Bow Street Runner.

  ‘Have you news for us?’ she cried eagerly.

  ‘Yes, ma’am. The subject is here in Bath.’

  ‘We know that. We spoke to him yesterday. Have you discovered anything more about him?’

  ‘He is known to us, Miss Wentworth, though under another name. We tracked him first in Lunnon town, where he’s wanted for forgery, as well as theft and fraud.’

  ‘Great heavens, is that not enough? Why is he not taken?’

  ‘Proof, ma’am. We
are building a case against him, but we must have proof. If he is charged and we have insufficient evidence, he will escape the law as he has done before.’

  ‘Could you not search his rooms?’

  ‘Aye, if we could but discover where he’s staying. He’s gone to ground, miss.’

  ‘But he walks about the town quite freely—’

  ‘And then he disappears. Oh, he has rooms at the Saracen’s Head, but he ain’t never there.’

  ‘Perhaps he should be watched more closely,’ Perdita’s tone was icy.

  ‘Quite, ma’am, but he’s a slippery customer. We are doing our best.’

  ‘Of course you are,’ Miss Langrishe soothed. ‘Be sure to let us know if you have further news…’

  When the man had left she looked at Perdita’s averted face.

  ‘Don’t lose heart, my love. I know that you had hoped…’

  ‘I’m beginning to feel that any hope may be misplaced,’ Perdita told her despairingly. ‘The weeks are going on and the Assizes will soon be held. Oh, Aunt, this man is old in the ways of wickedness. Shall we ever be able to defeat him?’

  ‘I thought that you had faith in Rushmore,’ Miss Langrishe told her lightly. ‘Will you give up on him because we have had no success as yet?’

  ‘No, of course not!’ Perdita’s voice was shaking. ‘It is just that…oh, Aunt, I can see no ray of hope on the horizon.’

  ‘Take heart, my dear. Do you finish your letter to your parents. It will help you to feel closer to them.’

  The advice was easier offered than taken. Perdita found herself unable to concentrate. It was as she was gazing endlessly into space that she was summoned for the second time.

  ‘Miss Wentworth, there is a person here to see you.’

  ‘I can see no one. Send him away.’ Perdita could think of no one among her acquaintance who would be welcome at that time.

  ‘The person is most insistent, ma’am. She says that it is most important that she speaks to you.’

  ‘A woman?’ Perdita was mystified. ‘I can’t think what…? However, you had best send her in.’

  She did not recognise her visitor at first, but something about the thin figure seemed familiar.

  ‘Good morning!’ she said politely. ‘Have we met, ma’am? I’m sorry, but I can’t recall—’

  ‘Yes, Miss Wentworth, we have met.’ The woman stood just inside the doorway, clearly ill at ease in such opulent surroundings. ‘You were kind enough to take my part at the haberdasher’s shop when the owner threatened to dismiss me.’

  ‘Oh, yes, I remember.’ Perdita frowned at the recollection. ‘A brute, if ever I saw one! I must hope that he didn’t make good his threat when we had left.’

  ‘No, ma’am, not immediately, but something happened the following week…’ She was swaying where she stood and Perdita hurried to her.

  ‘You are ill!’ she cried. ‘Will you not sit down?’ She grasped the woman’s arm and was startled to find that it was almost fleshless. Perdita rang the bell to summon Bates.

  ‘Bring me some wine if you please,’ she ordered swiftly. ‘This lady is not well… She is in need of a restorative.’

  But when the wine arrived her companion refused it.

  ‘I need a clear head for all I have to tell you, madam. I did not know until last evening that your friend had been accused of stealing lace. It is untrue, of course. I saw it being slipped into her reticule.’

  Perdita gasped. ‘By whom?’ she demanded.

  ‘By the owner’s son…the man who followed you out of the shop to ask if Miss Bryant had it about her person. He knew I’d seen him, but he passed it off as a practical joke, instigated by his friend.’

  ‘And this friend? Did you know him, Mrs…?’

  ‘My name is Margaret Tarrant, ma’am. I did not know him then. It was not until the following week that I heard a curious conversation. I was in the storeroom above the shop when one of the panels slid aside. I had not noticed it before. I could see into the room beyond quite clearly, and I was surprised to see that it was comfortably furnished…not like a storeroom in the least.’

  ‘A hidden room?’ Perdita was growing excited.

  ‘Yes, Miss Wentworth. The two men within were quarrelling. There seemed to be some argument as to the speed with which they should proceed against Miss Louise. The stranger was all for haste, but the owner’s son would not hear of it. He was all for caution.’

  ‘Can you describe this man?’

  ‘He was tall and fair…quite handsome in his way and dressed like a gentleman, though his language was not that of any gentleman I ever heard. His name seemed to be Virkir, or something like that.’

  ‘Could it have been Verreker?’ Perdita felt a sudden surge of hope.

  ‘Yes, ma’am, that was it. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop and I hoped they hadn’t seen me. I was at the back of the store behind some boxes, but my cough gave me away. I was dismissed that same afternoon.’

  ‘Oh, my dear, I am so sorry, but if only you had come to me before! So much unhappiness might have been avoided.’

  ‘I have been ill, Miss Wentworth. I knew nothing of your friend’s arrest until last evening when my friend gave me the news. I could think of nothing but my son, you see. I could not work, and I feared the child would starve.’

  ‘That will not happen,’ Perdita told her firmly. ‘You must let me help you. You have done us a service far beyond anything that I might have hoped for. Now, ma’am, you shall come to meet my aunt. She takes some light refreshment at this time of day and will be glad of your company whilst you tell her what has happened.’ Perdita had guessed that her companion was faint with both hunger and distress.

  ‘I did not come to beg,’ Miss Tarrant told her quietly.

  ‘I know that, ma’am. You came to help us if you could.’ Perdita gave her a smile of encouragement. ‘Will you not trust me and set your pride aside for once? It is a difficult thing to do as I know to my own cost, but we owe you so much. It would make me happy if you would accept my help. Will you deny me that pleasure?’

  A faint smile was her reward. ‘You make it difficult to refuse you, Miss Wentworth…’

  Perdita’s heart was singing as she led her companion into the salon and Miss Langrishe saw the change in her at once.

  ‘What has happened?’ she asked quickly. ‘And who is this lady, Perdita? We have not met before, I think.’

  ‘Oh, Aunt, you will be happy to know her. Mrs Tarrant has brought such news.’ Perdita made the introductions quickly. ‘She can prove that Louise is innocent.’

  This was enough to bring Miss Langrishe upright in her chair. ‘Pray sit down, ma’am, and tell me what you know.’

  Perdita was on fire with plans, but she waited long enough to explain that Mrs Tarrant had come to Laura Place in haste, and without breaking her fast.

  ‘My dear, you must be starving…’ Miss Langrishe rang her bell and ordered substantial additions to her mid-morning tray. ‘Now, Perdita, please be patient! Let me hear what Mrs Tarrant has to say…then we shall see what is to be done.’

  Perdita was only half-attending as the story was repeated. Her head was filled with plans. First of all she must summon the Bow Street Runner back again. He had left her his direction. If Mrs Tarrant could be persuaded to wait until he returned, the man might act upon her information. She broke into the conversation to suggest this to her aunt, and received that lady’s agreement.

  Perdita gave her visitor an anxious look. ‘What of your son, ma’am? Shall you be able to leave him for so long?’

  ‘He is with my friend this morning. Pray do not worry, Miss Wentworth. Davy will take no harm for an hour or two.’

  ‘Then, Aunt?’ Perdita looked a question.

  ‘Yes, send for the Runner, my dear. There is no time to lose.’

  Chapter Fourteen

  When the man returned he questioned their visitor for so long that Perdita grew alarmed.

  ‘This lady is not well,’ she pr
otested. ‘You are tiring her beyond endurance.’

  Mrs Tarrant waved aside the protest. ‘I feel much better, ma’am. Pray do not concern yourself. I’d like to help in any way I can.’

  Perdita eyed her closely. The small amount of food she had eaten seemed to have revived her. Now she was able to answer the Runner’s questions clearly and without prevarication.

  The man’s smile saluted her courage. ‘Thank you, madam. You are a vital witness. May I ask if you are willing to give evidence on oath?’

  Mrs Tarrant nodded. ‘Yes, I shall tell the truth.’

  ‘Then, ladies, I shall leave you for the moment. Matters must be set in train. We have already searched out quarry’s rooms at the Saracen’s Head without success.’

  ‘Did you not need a warrant?’ Perdita looked surprised.

  The man closed one eye in an elaborate wink. ‘Chambermaids can be obliging, miss, and if a certain door is left ajar it don’t take above a few minutes for experienced men to look about them. Course, that won’t apply to searching the shop premises. For that we’ll need the magistrate’s permission.’

  ‘His lordship will see to that,’ Perdita told him. ‘Can you return this evening? The Earl will be back by then.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am. Thanks to this lady we have some news for him at last.’ He bowed himself out of the room.

  Mrs Tarrant too was ready to leave.

  ‘How shall we ever be able to thank you, ma’am?’ Miss Langrishe wiped away a tear. ‘I had almost given up hope of seeing any happy outcome to these wicked charges. Mrs Tarrant, I know that your life is hard. Will you not let us help you?’ She reached into her reticule.

  ‘Not money, ma’am, I beg of you.’ Mrs Tarrant flushed.

  ‘Why ever not? You have a son, I believe. You could make his life more comfortable.’

  Their visitor shook her head again. Then Perdita intervened.

  ‘Mrs Tarrant is right, Aunt Trixie. To offer money might be construed as bribery, but there can be no objection to sending Davy a few small luxuries.’ She turned to the embarrassed woman again. ‘Do say you will accept them,’ she coaxed. ‘Your son will enjoy them, will he not?’