‘You were in a difficult position, Lady Wanstead,’ the Dowager agreed. ‘In the country, without any means, with another daughter to protect. But really, Marion,’ she said, turning her reproving gaze on Lady Enfield, ‘how could you have let the silence extend so long? And don’t try to tell me you had no idea what was going on. Sayleford was still alive when it happened, and rumours of Wanstead’s difficulties and what he’d done to recover from them permeated the clubs like a foul odour.’
‘Of course I knew!’ Aunt Marion cried. ‘But what could I have done? She was already ruined by the time I heard of it!’
‘Send her a note to see if she was well? Or if you feared having a written connection to her, place a maid in the household to watch over her, so you would know if she were in need. Something. Anything other than turn an innocent over to Summerville and cut her off from everything and everyone she’d ever known. Merciful Heavens, Marion, she was your flesh and blood!’
Continuing in a quieter tone, Lady Sayleford said, ‘Were it not to protect her innocent sister, I might refuse my assistance. I do intend to lend my support to Miss Parmenter. In fact, my dear, I should like to become a contributor to your school. Helping girls without any resources to preserve their virtue and honesty is a worthy goal.’
Before Ellie could respond, Lady Sayleford turned towards the door. ‘Ah, here’s Harris with our refreshments,’ she said in a pleasant tone, as if she hadn’t just reduced Ellie’s mother and great-aunt to shocked, red-faced silence. ‘Since we’re agreed on the way forward, let’s have our tea. Maggie, will you pour?’
Her heart pounding, almost as shaken as her relations at the Dowager’s fierce attack and unexpected sympathy, Ellie looked at Lady Sayleford, surprise, gratitude, and a turmoil of other emotions holding her speechless. The Dowager gave her a wink and a quick, conspiratorial nod.
Then Ellie looked at Christopher—and found him trying hard to suppress a grin. ‘Bravo, Aunt Lilly,’ he murmured under cover of Maggie handing him his cup.
‘You have a new girl at the school, Mr Lattimar was telling me,’ Maggie said as she gave Ellie hers. ‘Quite a character, it seems.’
‘Having your pocket picked by a scamp wearing boy’s clothing is not generally the introduction you want to a girl you invite to join your students,’ Christopher said.
‘To be fair, she didn’t actually pick your pocket,’ Ellie protested.
‘Only because, as she put it, she was “too tired and weak”.’
‘A thief, Miss Parmenter?’ Lady Sayleford said. ‘Are you sure she can be made into an honest citizen?’
‘What else was she to do after she lost her family, Countess? I suspect most of us would choose thievery, if the alternative were starvation. But she’s very much interested in books and learning, so I think she can be saved. I intend to at least try.’
Before the Dowager could reply, the sound of raised voices by the door distracted them, followed by the entrance of Harris. ‘Excuse me, my lady, but there’s a Miss Wanstead here, demanding admittance. I told her you were busy, but…’
Before he could finish, a young female edged around him and darted into the room. ‘Sophie!’ Ellie’s mama gasped. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I knew I should have suspected something when you positively shoved me out to go shopping. But when I returned to have Basker tell me you’d gone on an important call with Aunt Marion, I—’
As the girl’s gaze left her mother’s face to scan the room, she broke off abruptly. ‘Tess!’ she cried. ‘It was you in that shop! Mama tried to persuade me otherwise—but oh, I knew it!’
Without realising she was doing so, Ellie set down her cup and rose to her feet, her gaze drinking in every detail of her little sister’s face and form. ‘How lovely you’ve grown, Sophie.’
And then the girl ran to her, flinging her arms about Ellie in a ferocious hug before pushing back to gaze up once again into Ellie’s face, tears in her eyes. ‘They told me you were dead, Tess. That you’d sickened with a putrid fever, and they sent you away to protect the rest of us. Oh, I’ve missed you so much!’
‘I’ve missed you, too,’ Ellie whispered, hugging her tight again.
‘Sophie, you shouldn’t have come,’ Aunt Marion scolded. ‘If your presence were required, we would have brought you. Apologise to Lady Sayleford for bursting in uninvited, and leave us at once.’ She turned an angry gaze on Ellie’s mother. ‘We’ll deal with the matter of your talkative maid later.’
‘I’m very sorry to have intruded, Lady Sayleford,’ Sophie said, dropping a curtsy deep enough to grace a royal drawing room. ‘Although I am not at all sorry to have discovered my sister. Where have you been all these years, Tess?’
‘That’s quite enough, Sophie,’ Aunt Marion said. ‘This matter will be better discussed at home.’
‘But if you are discussing my future, why should I not be present? And I want to know what happened to Tess. And why you lied to me!’
‘You don’t seem to have much control over your other great-niece either, Marion,’ Lady Sayleford observed. ‘From what I’ve just seen, if you’re thinking of pawning her off with some facile explanation for Miss Parmenter’s disappearance, I doubt it will work. I recommend you tell her the truth—finally.’
Sophie sank into another curtsy. ‘Thank you, Lady Sayleford. But if my sister is here, you must know the truth, too. Can you not just tell me straight away? When I thought she was dead, I was heartbroken. I’m not a child any more. I think I deserve to know what happened.’ She paused for breath and a quick frown. ‘And why did you call her “Miss Parmenter”? That was our governess’s name!’
A smile tugged at Ellie’s lips as she watched her sister use all the persuasive charm that had usually induced Ellie to grant Sophie whatever she was pleading for. From the amused expression on her face, it appeared the Dowager was not proof against it, either.
‘Why don’t we let Miss Parmenter explain,’ Lady Sayleford said, gesturing to Ellie.
Tell her—and forfeit her loyalty and admiration? Like all girls of her class, Sophie would have been brought up to look upon courtesans with disapproval and disdain. Ellie wasn’t sure which would be worse: having someone else relate what had become of her, or confessing that shame herself.
Would Sophie’s joy at finding her turn to revulsion when she learned what Ellie had become? If so, how could she bear it? How could she bear Christopher seeing it?
For a moment, she considered asking to delay, as Aunt Marion had advised. But she knew what it was to live with half-truths and evasions. The little girl who had adored and mourned her did deserve the truth. And better it come from her.
‘I’m afraid it’s rather shocking.’
And so, Ellie gave a short account of Summerville’s visit, his disreputable offer, and her father’s acceptance of it, concluding with the fact that she’d lived in London as the Viscount’s mistress until his death the previous autumn.
Though her sister’s face paled, she kept her gaze focused on Ellie throughout the brief narrative. After sitting silently for several moments after Ellie finished, she turned to her mother.
‘How could Papa have done something so…monstrous? How could all of you just…let her go?’ Wheeling to Ellie, she cried, ‘I would never have abandoned you! I won’t abandon you now! Having found each other, can we not be sisters again, openly?’
‘You have no idea what it would cost to acknowledge her,’ Aunt Marion flashed back angrily. ‘We’re trying to preserve a future for you! Not have it destroyed before the Season has barely begun!’
‘I appreciate your loyalty, darling Sophie, but Aunt Marion is right,’ Ellie said. ‘One ruination was enough; let us not have this reunion lead to another. My disgrace provided the funds to restore the estate and fund a dowry to see you respectably married. Don’t let my lost reputat
ion be for nothing.’
‘If the truth about you ruins my chances with ton suitors, so be it! I wouldn’t want to marry a man so concerned about Society’s approval that he expected me to deny my own sister.’
‘Commendable words, my dear, but you must also be realistic,’ Lady Sayleford interposed. ‘I see no reason you should not meet your sister in private, but an open and public association would, I’m afraid, mar your reputation irretrievably.’
Sophie turned a pleading gaze on Lady Sayleford. ‘My aunt says you are the most influential lady in all the ton. Surely you see how unfair it is for Tess to suffer because of what our father did to her! Could you not right this wrong, and get her reinstated into Society?’
The Dowager sighed. ‘I only wish I could right it. But though I wield enough authority in Society to ensure that you will be able to make a respectable match, even I cannot persuade others to change their inflexible standards. No matter how unjust the situation may be, there truly isn’t any way to restore your sister to her rightful place.’
Sophie’s chin quivered, but she nodded. ‘If you cannot do it, then I expect it cannot be done. But you said I would be able to see Tess?’
‘If you meet her privately at the home of a respectable member of Society, I don’t see why not.’
‘An excellent idea, Aunt Lilly!’ Maggie said. ‘You may call on me, Miss Wanstead. Miss Parmenter will often be present, consulting with me about the school.’
‘But, Maggie dear, you’re not always up to receiving visitors.’ Lady Sayleford smiled at Sophie. ‘My niece is expecting, and is often unwell. You must call on me, Miss Wanstead and Miss Parmenter. I also expect you to keep me abreast of developments at your school. I don’t suppose Society would object to your niece calling here, do you, Marion?’ she asked, turning to Ellie’s aunt.
Lady Enfield forced a smile. ‘No, Lilliana, no one in Society could object to my niece visiting you.’
‘Either of them,’ Lady Sayleford said drily, before turning her gaze to Ellie and Sophie, seated side by side. ‘What a charming picture the two of you make. Perhaps I shall commission a portrait.’
Ellie’s mama gasped, Christopher almost choked on his tea—and a laughing Sophie clapped her hands. ‘Please, do so, Lady Sayleford!’
‘Vraux will want to buy it, to add to his treasures,’ Christopher said.
‘You should come entertain them while it’s being painted,’ Lady Sayleford told Christopher. ‘Sitting for a portrait is so tedious.’
‘Lady Sayleford!’ Ellie’s mother cried. As the Dowager raised her eyebrows, Lady Wanstead rushed on, ‘I suppose it’s acceptable for a married lady to associate with her husband’s friends, or a…woman like Tess to be escorted by him, but to allow an innocent maiden to associate with him? Surely you’re aware of his reputation!’
Before an indignant Maggie could fly to Christopher’s defence, Lady Sayleford put a hand on her arm. ‘Mr Lattimar has earned himself quite a naughty reputation,’ the Dowager replied. ‘But having recently decided to marry, he is in the process of reforming his behaviour. Your daughter stands in no danger from associating with him. In my home,’ she added mildly enough, but with a look that said she didn’t appreciate having her judgement questioned, especially by a woman who’d deserted her elder daughter.
‘You’ve decided to marry?’ Maggie asked a clearly startled Christopher. ‘Giles will be so pleased!’
‘With Mr Lattimar’s well-known charm, good looks, pedigree and important connections,’ Lady Sayleford continued, ‘I expect he will be quite sought after. There’s nothing quite so attractive to the ladies as a reformed rogue. If he’s truly reformed,’ she added sotto voce, raising a warning eyebrow at Christopher.
‘To think, you were planning something this important, and Giles didn’t know—but Aunt Lilly did,’ Maggie said with a laughing glance at Christopher. ‘I swear, Aunt, you must have spies in every household in London!’
Lady Sayleford lifted an imperious eyebrow. ‘One must stay informed. But now I’ve finished my tea, and it’s time to rest. Marion, you can be assured that your little “problem” is solved. Girls, I do look forward to seeing you again soon. You come, too, Maggie, if you’re feeling up to it. And you, Mr Lattimar. The best of luck with your courtships.’
With that, she rose, and perforce the other guests did as well. After bows and curtsies, the Countess made a grand exit, her callers trailing in her wake.
Ellie followed her friends out. ‘That went off better than I could have dared hope,’ she said, catching up to them. ‘Thank you both so much for being here to support me.’
‘With as forceful a champion as Aunt Lilly turned out to be, our support wasn’t necessary,’ Maggie said. ‘But we were pleased to offer it.’
‘Did you know the Dowager was going to…champion me?’
‘With that blistering indictment of your mother and aunt? No,’ Maggie said. ‘But I’m not surprised. She’s ferociously devoted to family.’
‘How did she find out I’d decided to start looking for a wife?’ Christopher asked.
‘You know she didn’t hear it from me,’ Ellie said with a rueful glance.
Maggie laughed and shook her head. ‘Aunt Lilly knows everything! She really must have a spy in every household in London.’
‘Can we see you home?’ Christopher asked Ellie. ‘As splendid as it must have been to see your relations so thoroughly routed, dredging up those memories cannot have been pleasant. Besides, with your mother and aunt having just experienced a thorough dressing down, you might rather not share a carriage with them.’
‘Goodness, no!’ Maggie said. ‘Ellie, you must make your excuses and come with us.’
Ellie shuddered. ‘Truly, I wouldn’t mind missing that carriage ride! Give me a moment to talk with Sophie, and I’ll gladly accept your offer.’ Especially since she’d have the heady delight of Christopher’s proximity, with Maggie’s presence to check the temptation to do something about it.
She dearly wanted another kiss, she thought as walked back up the steps to consult her sister. And had been arguing with herself since last night, as she tossed and turned, trying to capture an elusive sleep, about whether she should or shouldn’t indulge in one before their lessons ended.
After all, this would almost certainly be her last opportunity to experience intimacy with a man she admired and desired.
CHAPTER NINE
After she’d obtained a promise from Sophie to send her a note so they might arrange a time to meet, Ellie bid goodbye to her glowering aunt and walked back out. The footmen Christopher dispatched had already obtained a hackney, and handed her in to join her companions.
‘So, Christopher, when did you decide to pursue wedded bliss?’ Maggie said as soon as the vehicle set off.
Christopher groaned. ‘I suspected you would tax me about it. Go ahead, make merry at my expense. My mother has already mocked my intentions, giving her opinion that I’m not suited to matrimony.’
‘You’re as well suited as Ben,’ Maggie said. ‘He was just as much enamoured of the demi-monde until he met Alyssa. It’s the right lady who makes the difference.’
‘So I’ve told him,’ Ellie said, suppressing the silly longing that she might be such a lady. ‘I’ve observed quite a few womanisers, and you don’t fit the mould, Christopher. You aren’t like the men who view women as tools for their pleasure, to be charmed until they agree to yield their bodies, nothing more. You’ve always displayed too much genuine concern for a woman’s well-being to fall into that category.’
‘Well said, Ellie,’ Maggie agreed. ‘You “like the ladies”, truly like them. Once you meet the female who inspires you to love her, I have no doubt you’ll give her the respect and devotion necessary to make your marriage a success.’ With a sidelong glance, she added, ‘As long as you’ve ch
osen this course because it’s what you truly want—not just because you’re the lone bachelor left among your friends. In any event, Giles and I—all the Hellions—stand ready to assist, however we can.’
‘Don’t bring on the parade of eligibles yet,’ Christopher said with a laugh. ‘Lady Sayleford praised my “charm”, but I’ve spent my adult life charming women around whom a man can conduct himself rather freely. I need to learn how to behave properly around vir—respectable young ladies. Fortunately, Ellie has volunteered to school me.’
‘Ellie is giving you courtship lessons?’ Maggie asked, her eyes widening.
‘You may think that highly inappropriate, given my…recent occupation,’ Ellie said hastily, hoping Maggie wouldn’t think her presumptuous.
To her surprise, Maggie reached over to take her hand, tears glittering on her lashes. ‘I think you are wise and kind, and incredibly brave and resilient to have survived what you did. To have been turned over to Summerville at sixteen…I can’t imagine.’
Ellie blinked back the tears that stung her own eyes. ‘Thank you. It’s been a long time since I was an innocent maid, but with my family’s finances at such a stand that I didn’t have much more to offer than beauty and breeding, my mother felt it imperative that my behaviour be the absolute model of a virtuous, pretty-behaved maiden. You can imagine with what intensity all the lessons of proper conduct were drummed into my head!’
‘Then you know far more about it than I do,’ Maggie said. ‘I grew up a hoyden, trailing after my brother and Robbie, our closest neighbour. Since I was barely in my teens when he and I decided we would marry, I didn’t see any need to learn to behave like a “proper young lady”, despite my mother’s scolding.’
Sadness briefly crossed her face before she laughed. ‘My papa would say I never did learn, even after I lost Robbie and came to live in London. Acting as hostess for his political dinners, meeting mostly his associates in Parliament, I spent very little time among Society ladies. So what have you been learning, Christopher?’
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