by Anne Herries
‘I should not think of it, Mama. Jack prefers to be called Captain and seldom uses his title, unless it is necessary.’
‘Well, he was born to it,’ Mama said, ‘but there will be many duties as his wife. You must entertain his friends and the important people in the county. You will be expected to take part in events that benefit the community, to care for the well being of your husband’s people, and you must be aware of all your obligations as...’
Mama droned on and on about Charlotte’s duties, but she’d always been reared to attend church and to help those less fortunate whenever she could. She did not see that it would be so very different from living at home, except that the duties of entertaining would fall on her shoulders instead of her mama’s.
However, her mama’s fussing and all the dress fittings helped her to get through the following days so that she did not have time to feel lonely or wonder if she would find it difficult to hide her feelings when Jack made love to her.
It did not stop her missing him and looking forward to the day of his return, but before that day arrived she had something more to worry her.
Chapter Seven
Only two days now until Jack returned to town. Charlotte dressed for an evening party feeling excited and nervous, because their engagement had been announced in the paper that morning and people were bound to mention it that evening. Charlotte wished that Jack had been in London so that he was by her side when she and Mama entered Lord Rosebury’s drawing room and a little buzz of whispering told her that people were gossiping about her. She could feel their eyes boring into her back as she waited her turn to greet her hostess and felt her cheeks growing warm.
‘Ah, Lady Stevens, and the lovely Miss Charlotte Stevens,’ Lady Rosebury said, her small, narrow-set eyes going over her with interest. She gave Charlotte an arch look. ‘What is this I hear, Miss Stevens? Can it be true that you have succeeded where so many have failed?’
‘I am not sure what you mean, ma’am?’
‘Come, come, no false modesty. You must be aware of how fortunate you are to have secured an offer from the Viscount Delsey. I know of at least three female hearts you have broken.’
‘Yes, I am aware of my good fortune,’ Charlotte replied carefully, ‘but not that I am the cause of broken hearts.’
‘Well, I dare say you cannot be blamed for that, though there were a good many young ladies with hopes in that direction. Tell me, how did you manage to ensnare him in your toils?’
Charlotte was shocked for she sensed malice in the lady’s question, but she merely shook her head and moved on, allowing her hostess to greet the next guest in the line. Inside, she was aware of anger, for surely she had done nothing to arouse dislike in Lady Rosebury’s mind.
‘Do not let that lady’s remarks distress you,’ Mama whispered as they moved away into the crowded rooms, where waiters circulating with silver trays were offering champagne. ‘She has a daughter two years your senior and I dare say she had hoped Delsey might offer for the fair Elaine.’
‘I think perhaps she will not be the only one to resent me,’ Charlotte replied for she’d noticed one or two cold glances being sent her way. She wished fervently that Jack had been with her, for she was certain that Lady Rosebury would not have risked making such barbed remarks if he had been there to protect her from malicious spite.
However, Mama spotted some friends of hers and they moved towards Lady Rushmore and her daughter Amelia, and from these ladies Charlotte received only warm congratulations. Amelia exclaimed over her ring and begged her to let her be bridesmaid at her wedding.
‘I hope you are having the wedding in town?’
‘I am not certain yet, but I think it may be at Ellingham,’ Charlotte said, ‘but perhaps you could come down to stay. I have thought of one other bridesmaid, but I should like it if you could be another of my attendants, Amelia.’
‘Oh, I’m not sure if I shall be able to leave town before the end of the Season.’
‘I believe it will be nearer September.’
‘Well, perhaps,’ Amelia said. ‘I shall ask Mama what her plans are for that time...and I suppose it depends on whether or not I am engaged before then.’
‘Is there someone you would like to marry?’
Amelia blushed delicately, her eyes moving across the room to where two gentlemen stood talking animatedly. Following her gaze, Charlotte saw two officers in dress uniform, one of them Captain Young, who had waltzed so divinely at her first London ball.
‘Has he spoken yet?’
‘No, but I have hopes he will soon. How did you bring Captain Delsey to the point so quickly?’
‘It was entirely his idea,’ Charlotte said with a little shrug. ‘I was as surprised as anyone but...’ Her words tailed away as she saw two gentlemen enter the room together and for a moment her heart jerked. Mr Patterson and Lord Harding stood surveying the room.
She knew the instant they saw her, for Patterson whispered something and gave his companion a nudge, bringing his gaze across the room to her. Charlotte dropped her own gaze and turned as Julia Handley came up to her and made a big fuss of looking at her ring and kissing her cheek.
‘Oh, I love your ring,’ she said. ‘Is Jack back from the country yet? I was hoping he might have brought your brother with him.’
‘I believe they will be here by Saturday evening, Sunday at the latest,’ Charlotte replied. ‘You are coming to Mama’s dance for us, aren’t you?’
‘How could I miss it?’ Julia cried and hugged her arm. ‘I told Mama that no matter what other invitations we had, I must be there for your dance.’
‘And you will be a bridesmaid?’ Charlotte said. ‘Amelia has promised to be one of them if she is able, but I do not know whom else to ask. I have some distant cousins, but they are mostly married and their children not yet old enough to be bridesmaids, I think.’
‘Do not worry, I think there are loads of young girls in our family, distant cousins, but Jack will advise you. I’m looking forward to the music this evening, aren’t you? I understand Signor Morelli has a very fine tenor voice.’
Noticing that Lord Harding was advancing towards them, Charlotte linked arms with Julia and they walked through to the salon where the musicians had begun to play, taking their seats together on a small sofa. Some of the gentlemen had disappeared into the card room, where tables had been set up for their entertainment, but most of the ladies were grouping in the salon devoted to music.
Charlotte hushed Julia’s whispering as the Italian tenor took up his place and then everyone waited expectantly, as the first liquid notes of a remarkable voice began to soar to the high ceiling. Absorbed in the music, Charlotte did not notice that Lord Harding had taken a seat not far from where she was sitting.
* * *
It was only when the first half of the performance had finished and she was about to follow her mama and Julia into the supper room that he made himself known to her.
‘Miss Stevens,’ he murmured, his hand on her arm. ‘May I beg a few moments of your time?’
Charlotte started, glancing at the long white fingers resting on her arm. He wore a magnificent diamond on his little finger and a ruby of equal quality on his forefinger.
‘Sir? I beg your pardon, I know we have been introduced, but I hardly think you can have anything to say to me. My mother is waiting for me.’
‘Yet, I would have a few moments—alone, if possible.’
She stiffened with pride. ‘No, sir. I can see no reason for that at all. Please state your business if you will and allow me to join my friends.’
‘You force me to be plain. Where is your brother? He owes me a debt and I am persuaded he cannot wish to withhold payment...’
‘Forgive me, I do not understand you, sir. What debt is that, pray?’
‘A gambling
debt...’ For a moment his hand seemed to tighten on her wrist. ‘I am sure you know exactly what I speak of—a debt that is yet unpaid.’
‘Indeed, you are wrong, sir. I have no idea what you mean. If my brother owes you money, then you must speak with him, but I think it unlikely. He is a man of honour and would certainly pay. Now, if you will excuse me...’ She tried to move away, but his hold detained her.
‘The debt ought to have been paid with a diamond necklace, which mysteriously disappeared the very night I received it, while I was out...’ Harding’s gaze narrowed, ‘But you know all about that, do you not, Miss Stevens?’
Charlotte knew that she must show neither fear nor understanding or she was ruined. Lifting her head, she met his challenge with one of her own.
‘I fear I have no idea what you are talking about, sir. Now, I really must insist—or do you wish me to make a scene?’
For a moment she thought he would refuse to let her go, but Julia had noticed she was detained and was returning to fetch her. Harding saw it and his hand released her.
‘This is not over,’ he said in a harsh whisper. ‘I shall be paid for the necklace you stole, Miss Stevens. I think your bridegroom might change his mind if he guessed that you were a thief.’
Charlotte moved away as soon as she was free, giving him what she hoped was a withering look. Her heart was beating wildly and her mouth felt dry, but she fought to keep her back straight and her head high. It was clear to her now that Patterson believed he recognised her and that was enough to make her feel sick with fear, but she refused to let her tormentor guess how close he had come to breaking her rigid composure.
‘Was that awful man upsetting you?’ Julia asked as she joined her. ‘You look pale, Charlie.’
‘No, he merely wanted to know where my brother was and seemed annoyed that I had no answer for him.’
‘I suppose he feels cheated, because he can’t fleece your brother of his fortune.’
‘Matt has very little fortune to lose, that is the problem,’ she replied and then wished she hadn’t said as much for Julia stared at her in surprise. ‘What he has is in trust until he’s older...and that means he cannot afford to lose at the tables.’
Julia still looked a little puzzled, but they had reached the supper room and the next few minutes were spent selecting from all the delicious trifles on offer. When they had chosen tiny pastries and a syllabub, they took their plates to a table where Lady Stevens and Lady Handley were seated with several other ladies. The conversation was devoted to the excellence of the food, the delightful music and the gowns of various young women who were parading about the room in order to show them to the best advantage.
* * *
It was only as they took their seats for the second half of the musical entertainment that Julia whispered to her, ‘If Matt were in trouble, you would tell me? I might be able to help.’
‘He isn’t, I promise you,’ Charlotte whispered back. ‘It is nothing to worry about, Julia. Matt has done nothing wrong.’
Strictly speaking that was perfectly true. He’d taken a necklace that belonged to his sister in good faith, believing it to be valuable, and he’d confessed the whole to Charlotte, promising to pay her back as soon as he could. It was she who had told him the diamonds were fakes and she who had decided to steal it back rather than have Matt labelled a cheat.
Lord Harding and his crony might suspect she had taken the necklace, but neither of them could know for sure. Harding had tried to bully her into admitting it, but she’d held her nerve. Charlotte was conscious of a hollow feeling inside and of shame, too, for she had cheated him in a way—even though Matt believed he’d been cheated at the card table.
Had she been able to repay the debt she might have tried to find a way of doing it, without revealing the truth, but she had no way of paying four thousand pounds to Lord Harding. Neither had Matt, even though Papa’s debts were now in a way to be settled. Nothing had changed, for none of them had large sums to throw away.
No, she must just put the whole thing from her mind, Charlotte decided. There were only two more days before Jack returned. She would tell him what had happened and hope that he could see a way to prevent such an unpleasant incident happening again.
Lord Harding had threatened to tell Jack, but if he realised that her fiancé knew the truth, might he not use it to blackmail him?
The thought made her hot all over and she wished once again that she had not been so reckless that night.
* * *
Alone in her bedchamber that night, Charlotte found it difficult to sleep. She lay for hours, tossing and turning. When Jack knew that the scandal wasn’t just going to go away, how would he feel about his promise to wed her? His was a proud family and Lord Harding might be vicious enough to blacken Charlotte’s name just to get his revenge...
* * *
Charlotte was reluctant to keep their engagements the next day, but as they were mostly with close friends of her mother’s she did not meet Lord Harding or his friend. Instead, she had a pleasant time being congratulated on her coming nuptials.
* * *
The day before Jack’s return from the country, she spent the morning at the dressmakers being fitted for her new gowns. In the afternoon she took tea with Mama’s best friend, Lady Rushmore, and did not return home until nearly six. Because they were going to the theatre with friends that evening, Charlotte went straight upstairs, and only after she had changed and was ready for the outing did her maid give her a letter that had been lying on the hall table.
She did not recognise the hand, but split the wax seal, a chill trickling down her spine as she realised it was from Lord Harding. He wrote plainly, demanding payment of four thousand pounds.
If I do not receive payment of your brother’s debt by the end of the month, I shall inform the Marquis of Ellington that his grandson is to marry a thief and a girl of dubious morals.
Charlotte shuddered and thrust the letter into the back of a drawer where she hoped no one would find it. She would have liked to burn it, but the threat was worrying, for while Jack might have taken the news with a shrug, his grandfather would naturally demand to know the truth—and he might forbid the marriage.
Charlotte’s throat stung with unshed tears and she was tormented by regret, but knew she must not let anyone see her distress. Matt had begged her not to expose herself to scandal and danger, but she had known better. She’d been so certain she could get away with it, because of Harding’s habit of leaving his bedroom window open. Matt had told her that Harding had instructed his staff to let air blow through the rooms at all times, something to do with a chest complaint that was affected by a stuffy atmosphere. He’d mentioned it in company, asking the steward at the various clubs and gambling hells he frequented to open the windows if the rooms became a little stuffy.
Stealing back her necklace had seemed such a simple thing to do at the time and it would have been if two gentlemen had not just knocked at the door of Lord Harding’s house, to be told he was not at home. Walking away, they had spotted Charlotte as she climbed down the overgrown wisteria at the side of the house, then ran into the park across the road. Perhaps the surprise had held them for a moment, giving her a head start, or perhaps they were a little too drunk to grab her as she darted past them, but they had recovered. For a moment in the park Patterson, as she now knew him, had grabbed her by the waist. Kicking his shin, she’d escaped, but had Jack not been there she would have been in trouble...but she’d been over this so many times in her mind and she could not change what she had done.
* * *
The shadow of disgrace and scandal loomed large in Charlotte’s mind, but she did her best to forget it as she accompanied her mother and friends to the theatre. The play was a rendering of Shakespeare’s The Tempest and one she had looked forward to seeing, but she could not follow it and was
quiet as her mother enthused over the acting on the way home.
‘Is something wrong, dearest? You have been quiet all evening.’
‘I have a little headache,’ Charlotte lied, ‘but I shall be fine by morning.’
‘I hope you are not sickening for anything. We have so many engagements in the next week or two—and I am sure Viscount Delsey will have more functions that he wishes us to attend.’
‘It is nothing, Mama. I did not sleep well last night. I promise you I shall be fine tomorrow.’
But how could she make such a promise when things might be anything but fine in a few days’ time?
* * *
Jack was relieved when he could at last set out for London. His maternal uncle had seemed disappointed that nothing would come of the suggestion he had made for the future of his daughter. Celia March was a pretty girl, but she could not hold a candle to Charlotte Stevens and Jack had no regrets when he left his uncle’s estate.
Celia had certainly made no effort to attach him, but of course, her father had not told her of his hopes, which was as well in the circumstances. Even if there had been no Charlotte, Jack knew he could never have married the girl.
He joined Matt at his own estate for two days and then they set out for London together. The papers for Matt’s commission were waiting at Jack’s London house and he would stay only for Charlotte’s dance before leaving to join his regiment.
‘By the time you return to London after some years service abroad, Harding will have forgotten all about you,’ he told Matt confidently. ‘You’ve learned a valuable lesson and you will not make the same mistake again.’
‘As long as it does not rebound on Charlotte.’
‘Why should it? She has my protection now. I am more than a match for Harding and his like.’