Let the Lady Decide

by Gemma Blackwood

  "My, James," she gasped in mock-admiration, looking over his formal breeches and his perfectly-pressed red cravat. "I've never seen you look more handsome."

  "Alice!" tutted Catherine, floating down the stairs in her finest Duchess regalia. She made quite the picture herself. James could see why she had entranced Harry for so many years.

  But an excess of beauty excused nobody from being teased. Knowing how it would rile Alice's sister, he bowed deeply and pressed Miss Sharp's hand to his lips. "Alas, Miss Sharp, our would-be amour must come to an end. My heart is no longer my own to give. It belongs to another."

  "Stop it, the pair of you," said Catherine. Alice laughed.

  "I wish you all the luck in the world, James. Don't be cross, Cathy. He is, after all, practically my brother!"

  "You will love your new sister-in-law," he promised. "As soon as I've made her mine."

  "On that note," interjected Harry, "we had better not keep the Duke of Rawly waiting. Let's be on our way."

  "Waiting?" James repeated nervously, once they were settled alongside Catherine's voluminous skirts in Harry's best ducal town coach. "Is Rawly expecting us?"

  "He and I have been sending each other daily notes in an attempt to keep the lid on Lady Emily's little adventure," said Harry. "I told him to expect us early this morning. I hardly think it fair to spring on the man unannounced."

  "Gracious!" said Catherine, who knew all too well the embarrassing slight Harry had suffered at Rawly's hands. "And he deigns to write back to you? He must be taking it very seriously."

  Harry very nearly blushed at the nod towards his first, awkward meeting with the Duke of Rawly. It had been when Harry was still fresh to the dukedom and uncertain of how to behave. James had heard the story several times over, each time with new embellishments, but the bare bones of it were as follows:

  At a banquet at St James's Palace, young Harry, Duke of Westbourne, had approached the Duke of Rawly to introduce himself. In any other man, it would have been the most unconscionable liberty to impose on a Duke in this manner, but in a fellow Duke it was a matter of courtesy. Taking all his courage in his hands, he addressed Rawly in the familiar terms which only Dukes and the closest members of their inner circles were permitted to use.

  "Ah, Rawly. I've been dying to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself –"

  "This," interrupted the Duke of Rawly, turning to his companions with a sneer, "is precisely the sort of upstart I have been complaining of. To think that any common fellow presumes to address a Duke! I shall have to resort to employing an armed guard to turn these stragglers away. Well, man, what do you want? I expect you've come begging, cap in hand, on some puffed-up pretence you imagine I'll take pity on. Well, I don't know you from Adam! So be off with you."

  Harry stood frozen in horror. None of his wildest nightmares had ever predicted that his first encounter with a fellow Duke would come off so badly. Already he heard whispers beginning all around him. The shame of it!

  "Your Grace," he said meekly, "you are mistaken. I only wanted to introduce myself –"

  "And I am not inclined to do you the favour of my acquaintance, sir!"

  "Rawly," whispered the Marquess of Chiltern, standing deferentially behind the man of higher rank, "I believe this must be the new Duke of Westbourne."

  He gave Harry a welcoming, apologetic smile.

  The Duke of Rawly turned a charming shade of chartreuse. "Westbourne?" he repeated hoarsely. "What happened to that other chap?"

  "I'm afraid my cousin has passed away," said Harry, indicating the black clothes of mourning he still wore. "Your friend is right. I am now Duke of Westbourne." If he had been a common man, he might have apologised for the confusion. As a Duke, however, an apology was out of the question.

  Rawly stared at Harry. Harry stared back. The two men were locked in an agony of social impropriety.

  "Pleased to make your acquaintance," spluttered Rawly. Harry bowed.

  "Likewise."

  And so they parted, each man praying their paths would never cross again.

  Yes, James had to admit he owed his brother a great deal for renewing an acquaintance Harry would have much preferred to leave in the dirt. If Harry's feelings were so averse to it, James could only imagine what Rawly's must be. After all, he was the party firmly in the wrong. Harry had shown him up as a pompous, selfish old fool.

  James only hoped that the Duke had taken a lesson from the experience. Was it too much to hope that he no longer looked so poorly on untitled men?

  The Rawly residence loomed three times as large as it had ever appeared before. James found his mouth already dry as he lent Catherine a hand down from the carriage. He was grateful that he could rely on Harry to do most of the talking.

  The Duke and Duchess of Rawly had certainly dressed for the occasion. James did not often feel underdressed, but between the silk skirts of one Duchess and the French lace of the other, he knew he was outclassed.

  "Good morning, Westbourne," said Rawly. He spoke as though someone had recently punched him in the stomach: strained and uncomfortable. "This must be your lovely Duchess."

  "Cathy, may I present the Duke of Rawly," said Harry, equally stiff.

  "Charmed," said Catherine. She was the only one of the bunch who managed a genuine smile.

  "I think you have already met my brother," said Harry, indicating James. The Duke's eyes hovered on him with a disquieting attention.

  "I've had the pleasure," he said. James bowed.

  "My brother wishes first to make an apology for the events of a few days ago, which caused you such distress," said Harry. The Duchess of Rawly let out a hmph of disapproval.

  "I'm sure Mr Marsden can speak for himself," she said primly.

  "I can, indeed," said James. "And I offer you my most sincere apologies. It was neither Emily's intention, nor my own, to cause you pain. She acted only as she thought the situation demanded."

  "A gentleman would have returned her to her father's care the moment she arrived," said Rawly. James squared his shoulders.

  "As a gentleman, Your Grace, I chose to respect the decision Emily made."

  "Please do not refer to our daughter in that familiar way," complained the Duchess. "It is most unbecoming."

  "No offense can be taken, surely, when a lady has invited such informality?" asked Catherine mildly. Her voice was like balm on a reddening burn. It eased the pain of the situation for everybody. "I'm sure we all wish for a speedy resolution to the matter. James?" She nodded him on encouragingly. "It's time for you to make your case."

  James cleared his throat. Now that the moment had come, he was reminded of nothing so much as the times when he and his brothers, as children on the Devonshire coast, had clambered up the rocks to leap out from the tallest one. Would he land in the cool ocean, or on a deadly outcrop of rocky spurs?

  There was nothing for it but to jump.

  "I would like to ask for Emily's hand in marriage," he said. "She has already indicated her acceptance of my proposal. I believe I will make her an excellent husband."

  There was a long silence. James felt himself falling, falling - towards rocks or sea?

  "I am glad to say that I have no need to reject your request," said the Duke. "Let us not speak of the personal considerations – your reputation, title and fortune – which would have forced me to turn you away in other circumstances. What you ask is impossible. Emily is already engaged to the Marquess of Chiltern. She departed for Chiltern immediately on leaving Larksley, where she is to marry the Marquess without delay."

  "You dog!" James shouted. "Emily would never agree to it! You said you'd give her a choice!"

  "She has squandered that opportunity, Mr Marsden. In any case, surely you realise that we would never have permitted her to choose you?"

  "That's quite enough," said Harry coldly. "Thank you for your time, Rawly. I see there's no need for us to remain here any longer. James, remember your promise." He took hold of James by the shoulders a
nd murmured into his ear. "You gave me your word."

  James had landed on the very sharpest of the rocks. He was bruised and bloody, too dazed to follow Harry's word. "Can it be true?" he asked. "There's nothing to be done?"

  There was always, always something. His elder brother had fixed everything for him, all his life, from grazed knees to their father's rages to the family fortune.

  And it return, it was thanks to James that Harry had finally won his bride! Was he really going to abandon James's cause so easily?

  "It's been a pleasure to meet you," said Catherine. She gave a polite curtsy and extended her hand to James, inviting him to lead her from the room.

  The Duchess of Rawly was summoning her social graces when she was spared the trouble of a response by the butler's interruption.

  "Excuse me, Your Grace, but there's a visitor here on a most urgent matter. He demands to speak to you at once."

  "Tell him I'll see him when I'm good and ready," said the Duke, embarrassed to be interrupted by a servant in front of his guests. The butler was unfazed.

  "Your Grace, it is the Marquess of Chiltern."

  "Chiltern!" repeated the Duchess. "Has the wedding already happened? How can it be over with so quickly?"

  James's heart sank into his boots.

  "Courage," whispered Catherine, pressing his hand. He understood her perfectly. She did not want him to show the Albemarles how much it hurt him to know Emily was gone forever.

  The Marquess of Chiltern strode in, rather surprised to find so many eyes on him. He opened his mouth to speak, saw Harry, did a double take, and made him a hasty bow.

  "Here's the man of the moment!" cried Rawly. "My dear," to his wife, "embrace our new son-in-law!"

  "I'm afraid your celebrations are not warranted at the present time," said the Marquess uncomfortably. He looked around the room. "Am I to take it that you thought Lady Emily was with me in Chiltern?"

  "Where else should she be?" asked the Duke in alarm.

  "I do not know," said the Marquess. "All I can say is that she never arrived."

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  They had stopped in every wayside inn between London and Chiltern to enquire after the carriage containing Emily and Jacob, and this one promised to yield no more hope than the others.

  It was a strange party who dismounted their horses in the cobbled courtyard. Emily's father, naturally, and the Marquess, riding alongside James and Harry Marsden!

  Each man had his own reasons for finding Emily and her brother, and each man's face was set and grim.

  James was grateful that the Marquess had not asked him why he was so concerned with Emily's safety. His nerves were already frayed enough without having to explain their near-elopement to her official fiancé.

  No conversation had passed between Rawly and James on the long ride along the thickly-forested Chiltern road. Rawly had exchanged barely two or three words with Harry. James wondered whether he was even grateful for the assistance, or if he would rather the Marsden men had stayed behind.

  No, the Duke's grey face spoke his mind where words did not. He was desperate to find his son and daughter. James only had to look at him to know he would have taken any measures to bring them safely home.

  "You are tired, Your Grace," said Harry, as they passed their horses' reins to the stable boys. "It will do no harm if you rest here awhile. I will make enquiries among our fellow travellers. Surely there will be someone who recognised your livery on the road."

  "The Duke is right, Rawly," said the Marquess. "You do no-one any good by riding yourself into the ground. Let's sit and have a drink."

  James could have throttled Harry for leaving him alone with them, but the inn was so small it was clear only one man was needed to make enquiries. In any case, he would have died rather than appear weak before Emily's father and her intended. He ordered them a round of ales and sat in silence as the Marquess tried to comfort Rawly.

  "You may take heart that we have had no news of accidents along the road," he said reasonably. "Truly, it is much better to hear nothing than to hear bad news."

  "My children both vanished into thin air!" groaned Rawly. "Save your breath, Chiltern. I will not be comforted until I have them both in my arms."

  "Then I will not hesitate to relieve a little of your anguish," said Harry, returning from his investigation. "Your son, the Earl of Ramford, has taken a room upstairs. He is there now, and the innkeeper thinks he will be very glad to receive us."

  "Jacob, here? Upstairs?" Rawly repeated incredulously. "Did the innkeeper say anything of Emily?"

  Harry hesitated. "He thought it best we speak to Ramford directly. May I offer you my arm, Your Grace?"

  "I'm not quite so frail as all that, Westbourne!" said the Duke. A little of his usual good nature had begun to resurface. "And let's have no more of this 'Your Grace' foolishness. We are a pair of Dukes, after all. It does not do for one Duke to bow and scrape before another."

  James caught the whisper of a smile on Harry's face. "As you wish, Rawly. Shall we go upstairs?"

  They found Jacob lying on the straw-stuffed mattress with a makeshift bandage on his head. A little blood had already seeped through the cloth.

  "My son!" gasped Rawly, rushing to his side. Jacob pushed himself up on his elbows, bemused.

  "Oh, honestly, Papa, there's no need to fuss. A little knock to the head is all. I'd be up and about if the footmen didn't insist I rest awhile."

  "What on earth happened?" asked Rawly. Jacob opened his mouth to answer, then noticed James and Harry standing beside the Marquess. He blinked in astonishment.

  "Perhaps I hit my head harder than I thought. I could swear I see James Marsden standing next to Chiltern over there."

  "Your sanity is quite intact," said James wryly. "At least, as much as it ever is. I am here, and Chiltern too."

  "Gracious," said Jacob faintly. "I suppose it is rather serious, after all."

  "Enough of that," said Rawly. "Tell me what happened to you. And where on earth is your sister?"

  "That, I don't know," said Jacob, with a grimace. "But I've sent all three footmen out searching for her."

  "How did you come to let her out of your sight?"

  "Blame me if you must. I blame myself entirely, though I can't think of a single thing I could have done to stop it. The fact is – now, don't frighten yourself, Papa – we were accosted by highwaymen last night as we went along the Chiltern road. I got out of the carriage and attempted to resist the fellows, and got knocked down in the process, striking my head on a nasty rock. But we managed to overcome them in the end and off they went, back into the trees. Well, when the footmen and I got back into the carriage, Emily was nowhere to be seen. She had opened the door on the side nearest the woods and vanished."

  "Into a forest infested with highwaymen!" wailed Rawly. "What was she thinking? How did she ever intend to find her way out again?"

  "I only wish I could tell you. Well, we called for her, and blundered around in the dark a bit, but in the end, seeing that there was always the danger of the highwaymen returning, the servants persuaded me to drive on to the nearest inn and ask for help. I'm afraid I'm a little woozy on the exact sequence of events after that – the knock on the head, don't you know – but when I woke up again I wasted no time in sending out the footmen and a few good men from the inn to scour the forest hereabouts. I'm sure they'll turn her up in no time."

  "You seem remarkably unconcerned, given the circumstances," said Rawly, whose face had turned from grey to porcelain white as Jacob related the tale. Jacob shrugged, glancing briefly at James.

  "Well, we're not talking about some silly young Miss, Papa. This is Emily. She's the most resourceful girl I know. If anyone's going to come out of this scrape unharmed, it's her. I only hope she hasn't decided to make a break for Westbourne Hall!"

  "Westbourne Hall?" repeated the Marquess. He frowned, but asked no further questions. "Well, Rawly, it seems that your son has the matter in hand,
even from his sickbed. I suggest that these two gentlemen and I will join in the search. I'm sure Lady Emily will be returned to you in no time."

  "Mr James Marsden will not be joining the search party," snapped Rawly, to the Marquess's amazement. "I will not have that man traipsing through the forest in hopes of coming upon my daughter alone."

  "I'm afraid I hardly know the Lady Emily," said Harry. "So I can't say I'll be much use on the search. Why don't I stay here and help the Earl co-ordinate the search effort?" He lowered his voice, speaking to the Duke just loud enough for James to hear. "I will keep an eye on my brother, Rawly."

  "Very good," said the Duke, getting to his feet. "And if you think a little road-weariness will stop me from finding my precious girl, you are wrong! Let's go, Chiltern. Who knows what will become of her if she's not found by sundown?"

  Once the three younger men were alone together, Jacob cleared his throat. His expression was sheepish. "I think I owe you an apology, Marsden. Emily explained it all to me on the journey from Westbourne Hall. I know now the elopement was all her idea. It's all too easy to believe, I'm afraid. I know how forceful she can be."

  "There's no need to apologise at all," said James. "My own behaviour has been very far from what it should."

  "It's an awful irony that her scheming only brought disaster on her head," sighed Jacob. "Father went to meet Chiltern to arrange the marriage the moment he realised where she was gone. I don't see a way out of it for the pair of you, old chap. Tell me, how does it stand between you and Chiltern? You've no idea of the shock it gave me to see the two of you in the same room."

  "I don't believe he knows anything of my feelings for Emily, or her feelings for me," said James. "And I intend to keep it that way."

  Jacob winced sympathetically. "I say, that's dreadfully hard on you."

  "All the same. I gave my word that if your father refused to allow the marriage, I'd give her up. I won't marry her dishonourably. So there it is."

  "There it is," said Jacob. "I can only hope I'd behave as you do under similar provocations. Now, do excuse me, gentlemen. This pain in my head is rather bothersome."