The journey took quite a few hours longer than expected as the weather suddenly turned foul. Rain lashed down and she felt sorry for the poor coachman outside.
‘How I long for Robert,’ she thought, as the miles sped past outside the carriage window.
By the time they arrived in White Horse Street, the road was full of puddles. The horses were steaming from their exertions and the luggage was dripping wet.
“I do hope my trunk hasn’t leaked!” said Elizabeth, as her aunt’s footmen began to unload.
“Elizabeth! Darling!”
Lilliana looked up to see a tall elegant woman of about sixty with grey hair and a very slim figure. She had a girlish expression and her lively green eyes were full of mischief.
Lilliana liked her instantly.
“This is my friend, Lilliana Parker,” said Elizabeth, taking her by the hand and drawing her forward to meet her aunt.
“A pretty name and a very pretty young lady!” Aunt Victoria commented appreciatively. “You are most welcome to my home. Is it your first time in London?”
“Oh, no. Papa is in the House of Commons and Mama and I occasionally visit him,” Lilliana replied, smiling at the warm welcome she was receiving.
“Do you have a London house?”
“No. Papa prefers to stay at his Club.”
Aunt Victoria laughed.
“Ah, yes. The refuge of a many a gentleman! Now come, girls, after you have settled into your rooms, dinner will be ready. Elizabeth, you will be staying in the Chinese room and I have put Lilliana in the Indian.”
Lilliana gasped – Aunt Victoria could not have known how oddly apt that was.
“Lilliana has a sweetheart in India,” said Elizabeth, mischievously.
“Really?”
“Yes, he is in the Army,” explained Lilliana, shyly. “He has been sent out there to help quell the latest uprising. Although I don’t think that he has seen much action over the past few months.”
“That is something to be grateful for. The situation in India has been serious for some time. I have a nephew who has just returned from there.”
“And did he see any action?” asked Lilliana.
“No, on the contrary. He found the whole episode extremely dull. Lots of parading and little else.”
“Perhaps Robert will be safe after all,” whispered Elizabeth, as they were shown into their rooms with Janet and Antoinette trotting behind them.
“I do hope so,” Lilliana replied, thinking that it was not just the military threat that she was concerned about.
Lilliana’s room was most comfortable and attractive filled with Indian artefacts and paintings of elephants.
On the dressing table were four carved boxes made of fragrant sandalwood and two candlesticks that looked as if they were made from ivory.
She felt strangely comforted and she was fingering them as Antoinette unpacked her cases.
“Oh, look – your gloves – they are soaking!” Antoinette exclaimed in dismay, holding up a pair of long evening gloves with a huge brown stain on the creamy material.
“They must have been too near the edge of the lid when the rain blew in. Is anything else damaged?”
“No, miss, I will see if the housekeeper can give me something to clean them with.”
“I believe they are past it. I shall have to buy new ones. What a pity!”
Just then, there came a knock at the door.
Lilliana ran to open it and it was Elizabeth.
“What will you be wearing for dinner?” she wanted to know. “Aunt’s chef is famous throughout London for being one of the best, so we shall be in for a treat.”
“I thought the burgundy silk would be nice.”
Elizabeth giggled.
“If you wear it in here, Antoinette will not be able to find you! I’ve never been in this room before – I think my aunt has redecorated it recently. Isn’t it grand?”
“It makes me feel very close to Robert. It must be a sign – ”
“I am glad you like it, Lilliana, now, hurry up and get changed. Dinner is in fifteen minutes!”
She waited for Antoinette before selecting her dress and then eventually decided upon dark green velvet.
As she walked into the dining room, Aunt Victoria looked up in admiration.
“Charming, Lilliana. Now come and sit next to me. There is just the three of us for dinner tonight and I want to discover as much about you as I possibly can.”
Elizabeth was right – the dinner was delicious.
Course after course was served and each one tasted more exquisite than the last. Soon both girls were feeling full and still they had not yet been served pudding.
“I couldn’t possibly eat another mouthful!” groaned Elizabeth, holding her stomach as if in pain.
“But Francois has yet to serve his famous chocolate profiteroles!” admonished Aunt Victoria with a smile.
“I think I may have room for just one teeny bite,” said Lilliana, whose appetite had always been keener than Elizabeth’s.
After dinner Lilliana found she could scarcely keep her eyes open. The delicious food and tiredness from their journey made her unable to stay up beyond half-past ten.
As she snuggled down in her large feather bed, she looked at the photograph of Robert that she had propped up on her bedside table.
“How handsome he looks,” she said out loud, “and how far away he is!”
She took the photograph and kissed it fervently.
“Good night, my love,” she murmured, “I wish so much that we were spending Christmas together.”
Tears filled her eyes as she replaced the photograph and blew out her candle.
*
It was with some trepidation that Lilliana went out walking in the streets of Mayfair with Elizabeth. It seemed at every turn she spied yet another man whom she believed to be Lord Farringdon.
“You must not distress yourself!” urged Elizabeth, as they sat down in the restaurant at Fortnum and Mason. “If we do see Lord Farringdon we shall simply say ‘hello’ and then walk on.”
“I do not wish him to know that I am in London.”
“To be honest I think you are worrying unnecessarily. If he has taken a fancy to you, then he is probably still in Hampshire hoping for an audience!”
Lilliana nodded, acknowledging her friend’s point.
“I am so cross with myself for being obsessed, but I can’t help thinking about him. I am just so terrible at dealing with this kind of thing. Oh, I do so wish Robert had not gone to India!”
“I can understand why – his presence would surely have repelled any unwelcome advances,” Elizabeth agreed sagely.
The waiter brought their tea and cakes and the two girls ate in silence.
The ball was that evening and yet Lilliana was suddenly not as keen as she had been to attend.
As well as her fears for Robert and concerns about unwanted suitors, she had not heard from her father – in spite of sending him a note at his Club, and this troubled her.
Reminding herself sharply how lucky she was to be invited to such a prestigious event, and conscious that her brooding was in danger of spoiling Elizabeth’s enjoyment, Lilliana made a conscious decision to start looking forward to the evening’s promise of dancing and fun.
Pasting a bright smile on her face she grabbed her friend’s arm and the two girls went to Peter Robinson to buy some new evening gloves, before returning to White Horse Street to make themselves ready for the ball.
*
Lilliana was quite nervous by the time they arrived at the Duke of Harndean’s home.
“It looks as if everyone who is anyone in London has been invited,” sighed Aunt Victoria – the ostrich plume on her head waggling.
“I have never in my life been to such a grand ball,” muttered Lilliana tensely.
“Everyone will want to know who you are, as you are so attractive, and I will not be surprised if many young gentlemen ask you to dance tonight.” Aunt
Victoria squeezed her hand reassuringly.
“I shall not dance,” asserted Lilliana firmly.
“You are such a silly girl!” urged Elizabeth. “You cannot come to the most glittering ball in London and not dance. Robert would not wish you to sit in the corner like a maiden aunt. I daresay that he does not think twice about dancing at parties in Bombay!”
Unintentionally her words stung like a whip blow. Of course, Robert had written about all the parties and balls he had attended – many at the home of Lady Marlow – but Lilliana did not wish to be reminded of it.
Once inside she soon forgot about her woes, her eyes dazzled by a veritable feast of delights – her mother had been right about the paintings.
She was looking at some exquisite furniture as she was handed a glass of champagne in a fine crystal goblet.
This was another world altogether.
“Is it not the most wonderful house you have ever been in?” said Elizabeth, as they passed a trio of handsome young men, resplendent in their eveningwear. She eyed them boldly and a half smile played about her lips.
“Elizabeth! You must not appear to be so forward!” hissed Lilliana, shocked at her friend’s behaviour.
“I was only looking – silly!”
They wandered into the ballroom. It was incredibly beautiful and Lilliana could have easily spent all evening admiring the ceiling decoration.
It was not long after the music began that Elizabeth was whisked onto the dance floor by a young gentleman.
Lilliana smiled as she watched her dancing around with a gay look on her face. She was almost envious of her carefree air.
“Miss Parker, what a delightful surprise!”
Lilliana turned to see that the Marquis of Aldenham was standing right behind her.
“Might I say how lovely you look this evening?”
“Thank you so much. It is an unexpected pleasure to see you. What brings you to London?”
“There is an urgent Bill going through the House of Lords and when my wife said that the Duke was having a ball, we decided to turn it into a trip for us both.”
“So, is Lady Aldenham here? I have not seen her.”
“She is still in the hall speaking with some friends. Lord Farringdon is with her – I know he will be thrilled to see you again. He has spoken of you frequently since we three first made your acquaintance.”
Lilliana suddenly felt sick to her stomach.
All the magic of the evening was snuffed out in one second. If she had been on her own – or with her father – she would have asked to return home at once.
“Ah, look – here they are now!”
She could see Lord Farringdon in the crowds. His features were twisted into a kind of smile, while he limped as quickly as he could towards them.
“Miss Parker! How very delightful.”
She winced when he kissed her hand. He held it for much longer than was really necessary and she wished she could withdraw it.
“My dear, you are looking so very beautiful.”
Lilliana managed a thin smile in response.
She was grateful that Lady Aldenham was talking nineteen to the dozen, and she could distract her attention away from this awful man.
At that moment the music stopped and the dancers applauded the orchestra. Lilliana could see that Elizabeth’s partner was speaking with her and that she was making no move to leave the dance floor.
The music started once again and Elizabeth whirled off without a backward glance.
Lilliana looked around the room, hoping that there might be another young man ready to offer an invitation to the dance – but everyone already appeared to be in pairs.
“You will do me the honour of dancing with me?” said Lord Farringdon as if issuing a command.
“Oh, I don’t care to dance.”
“Come now! You must have a dance,” chided Lady Aldenham. “You will enjoy it.”
Very reluctantly she let him lead her onto the dance floor. Even though he had a bad leg he was surprisingly light on his feet.
The touch of his hand on her waist made her recoil, but she kept telling herself she would only have to endure it for a few minutes and then she would feign a headache.
“I have thought of nothing but you since that day in Winchester,” he breathed into her ear. “I have called upon you several times, but you were not at home.”
“I have been busy,” replied Lilliana, looking away.
“I thought that maybe you had another sweetheart.”
“I do. He is in India.”
“If you were mine, I would not allow you out of my sight for a second,” exclaimed Lord Farringdon heavily.
The music stopped and Lilliana excused herself and left the floor before he could protest.
She pushed through the crowds and kept going until she found herself in a large conservatory.
The door was open and the night air felt refreshing.
‘If I stand outside for just a second, I will not catch cold,’ she thought, moving towards the door.
She looked up at the stars and wondered if Robert might be looking at the same ones.
She did not hear Lord Farringdon behind her until he drew up to her side.
“You will catch your death out here!”
“I-I was feeling a little bit faint,” answered Lilliana, wondering where she could possibly go to escape the man.
Suddenly he seized both her hands and kissed them passionately and then, to her shock, he dropped awkwardly to one knee.
“Marry me!” he pleaded, “I have need of a wife and I fell in love with you the moment I saw you! I may not be a handsome man, but I have money and you will not want for anything. Please say yes! Please! Please!”
Lilliana looked down in horror at Lord Farringdon.
She almost felt sorry for him, kneeling painfully on the hard flagstones.
Slowly she shook her head.
“I am afraid I cannot. I am promised to another.”
“But there has been no formal announcement, you do not wear a ring.”
“We are promised to each other in our hearts – that is enough for me.”
Lord Farringdon stared hard at her and then pulled himself up from the floor. He dusted off his trousers and his face hardened into a sneer.
“Very well. But I warn you – I will have you by any means I can! I am a man who is accustomed to getting what he wants.”
Lilliana’s blood ran cold as she watched him limp back inside. Within moments he was lost in the throng.
She felt numb as she returned to the party and did not see Aunt Victoria until she walked straight into her.
“Lilliana. Is something wrong?”
“A most unpleasant encounter with someone I don’t care for, that is all. Where is Elizabeth?”
“Oh, she is having a wonderful time. I rather think she is a bit taken with the young man she is dancing with. Would you like to return to White Horse Street?”
Lilliana nodded gratefully.
“Then, I shall send you back home in the carriage at once. We will follow on later.”
“Thank you. I feel quite ill and would like to retire.”
She said goodbye to the Marquis and Marchioness – Lord Farringdon was thankfully nowhere to be seen.
She waved at Elizabeth across the room. She was now standing with her aunt, who was obviously explaining all to her.
‘I feel terribly guilty,’ she thought, as she climbed into the carriage, ‘but I don’t want to spoil their evening.’
The cool night air soon cleared her head and, by the time she reached the house, she was feeling much better.
‘I think I shall read for a while before retiring,’ she said to herself, ‘and perhaps Chef will have something for me to eat.’
She tried to push the memory of Lord Farringdon’s proposal out of her mind to greet Manners, Aunt Victoria’s butler.
“Miss Parker, I am glad that you have come home early – I do not wish to alarm you
, but there are two Police Officers in the drawing room waiting to see you.”
“Me?” she gasped. “You are mistaken, surely?”
Her heart was racing as she walked quickly into the drawing room.
The two Police Officers rose.
“Miss Parker?” began the taller one gravely.
“Yes, is there something wrong?”
“There is nothing to be alarmed at, miss – no one has died, but we must ask you to accompany us to the Station.”
“Can you not tell me what this is all about? I am rather tired, you see, and wish to retire.”
The short round Officer looked down at his boots and coughed.
“It is your father, Miss Parker. He is under arrest at Westminster Police Station and we have been asked to take you there.”
“Papa!” cried Lilliana, falling to her knees. “There must be some mistake!”
“I am afraid not, but I am not at liberty to discuss the case with you. Now, if you will come with us, you will find out more. The Chief Inspector is waiting to see you.”
Tears sprang into her eyes as she allowed herself to be escorted to the waiting carriage.
She had the most awful feeling that the arrest had something to do with Count Vaslaski.
‘Oh, Papa! What have you done?’ she thought to herself, as the carriage set off for the Police Station.
CHAPTER FOUR
Lilliana tried her best to compose herself, but could not prevent herself from shaking as the two Officers took her into the Police Station where her father was being held.
She was shown to the Chief Inspector’s office and given a chair. He looked at her sternly.
“Miss Parker, your father is in serious trouble. We believe that he may have been passing State secrets to the Russians and the charge is very grave. You are aware that this is a treasonable offence?”
Lilliana stared at him not comprehending what he was attempting to tell her.
“Treason?” she echoed.
“Yes, miss. Treason. If your father has abused his position of trust and national security has been at risk, then he can expect the harshest possible sentence, should he be proved guilty.”
“But what proof do you have?” she asked, calming herself.
“We have certain key papers and we have also been following him for a time. You are acquainted with a Count Nicolai Vaslaski?”
Mine for Ever Page 5