A Hazard of Hearts

by Barbara Cartland

  What would the Marchioness say?

  She had little time for reflection before the coach turned into the courtyard and drew up with a jerk. Serena alighted slowly.

  She knew by the very smile on the old butler’s face that the news had reached Mandrake, but when he made her welcome and wished her every happiness, she could only smile shyly and hold out her hand.

  “I will find out which room has been prepared for you,” Eudora whispered. “You had best find her Ladyship and pay her your respects.”

  Serena asked for the Marchioness, but she was told that her Ladyship was resting.

  “In that case I will not disturb her,” Serena said hastily, glad of the respite.

  She walked up the staircase. It seemed to her that the house was very quiet. Although it was already twilight, the candles did not appear to have been lit in the great drawing rooms.

  At the top of the stairs Mrs. Matthews, the housekeeper, was waiting. She curtseyed deeply.

  “Good evening, your Ladyship. May I offer your Ladyship my most humble good wishes for your Ladyship’s happiness.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Matthews,” Serena said.

  She paused for a moment expecting the housekeeper to lead her to another room and then, as nothing was said, proceeded on her way towards her old bedchamber.

  She reached it to find that Eudora was there already, having come up the backstairs. Torqo was lying by the fire. He bounded at her, almost crazy with joy at seeing her again.

  She put her arms round the dog and hid her face against his neck.

  Eudora closed the bedroom door and said,

  “I asked which room you were in and was informed that by her Ladyship’s orders you would remain here. We will see what his Lordship has to say to this when he returns.”

  “No, no, Eudora,” Serena cried, “don’t make a disturbance. There is plenty of time for me to move when things are more settled. It must have been a shock to all of them and I am afraid that her Ladyship must be exceeding annoyed.”

  “What does it signify if she is?” Eudora asked truculently. “Don’t forget that you are the Marchioness now!”

  Serena said nothing, but her thoughts ran instantly to the old Marquis in his library away down below her. Later, she thought, she would go and see him, but it would be best to allow Justin to break the news to his father. Perhaps they might even go together.

  She smiled shyly at the thought.

  How magical that word could be – together!

  There came a sharp knock at the door. Eudora opened it and Martha stood outside.

  “Her Ladyship’s compliments to Miss Staverley – ” she began.

  “The Marchioness of Vulcan,” Eudora corrected her.

  “Her Ladyship sent a message to Miss Staverley,” Martha repeated. “She will see her at dinner which will be in an hour’s time. She wishes to have no private conversation with her before his Lordship arrives.”

  Eudora stood almost quivering with rage at what she considered was an insult.

  “The Marchioness of Vulcan thanks the Dowager Marchioness for her message,” she said at length and slammed the door triumphantly in Martha’s face.

  Serena could not help laughing.

  “Oh, Eudora, you are like a bulldog at bay. What does it matter what they say?”

  “It matters a lot,” Eudora said grimly. “You will take your rightful place in this house and the sooner the better.”

  She went downstairs to fetch Serena a warm drink and came back with the news that there was to be no party tonight.

  “The guests were turned away last night too,” she said. “It seems strange, but they tell me the Marchioness has been indisposed ever since the news of his Lordship’s duel.”

  Serena shivered a little as she remembered that voice shrieking from the bedroom.

  “Where is Lady Isabel?” she asked.

  “I know not,” Eudora answered, “but you must be about attirin’ yourself, for you have not long before it will be the dinner hour.”

  Obediently Serena started to change her clothes.

  She had washed and was robed in her evening gown when her bedroom door burst open and Isabel came in. Never, Serena thought, had she seen her look more radiant.

  She had expected her to be very different, reproachful, even melancholy, and she could only stand gasping as Isabel flung her arms about her with cries of delight.

  “I had no idea you were back, dear sweet Serena. No one told me and I have been waiting all of a twitter the whole evening for you. Are you happy? Where is Justin? What time is he arriving?”

  Serena gasped.

  “Isabel – ” she said.

  “La, but here I am, plaguing you with questions and not giving you the chance to answer any of them. But tell me first, are you happy?”

  “Oh, Isabel,” Serena said, “are you angry with me?”

  “Angry?” Isabel said. “No, of course not! Oh, Serena, I cannot wait to tell you. I am madly crazily in love for the first time in my life. I had no idea it could be such, such enchantment. This is different, wonderfully divinely different from anything I have ever known before.”

  “But – I thought – ” Serena began.

  “Oh, Serena, he is so splendid, so strong and so brutal. I declare I am terrified of him every minute. Look!” She turned her cheek to Serena and pointing to a very faint bruise against the whiteness of her cheek, said, “Do you see it there? ’Tis the imprint of his fingers.”

  “But, Isabel,” Serena cried, “who has done this? Who has dared?”

  Isabel looked at her and laughed.

  “You would never guess, not if I gave you a thousand guesses. ’Tis Nicholas!”

  “Nicholas!” Serena thought that her hearing must be at fault. “Nicholas dared to strike you?”

  “Only because he loves me, because we are going to wed. Oh, Serena, I am so happy.”

  Serena sat down on the bed in sheer astonishment.

  “I declare it is all beyond me. Start at the very beginning, Isabel.”

  They were both late for dinner and only as they reached the hall after the footman had been sent to tell them that her Ladyship was waiting did Isabel say,

  “Why, I declare I have forgotten to ask you where Justin is.”

  “He should be here at any moment,” Serena answered, “if he has not already arrived. He was to travel by curricle while I came in the coach.”

  “How ungallant of him!” Isabel pouted. “Nicholas says he will never leave me for one moment. He is so jealous that he vows that if I so much as smile at a lackey he will break his head open. Did you ever hear of such a brute? And how I adore him!”

  Serena was laughing as she entered the small drawing room where the Marchioness was waiting for them, but, as she saw the Marchioness’s face, the smile died on her lips.

  Never had she seen anyone look more severe, never had she been more frightened of the almost ominous quietness of the Marchioness’s greeting.

  “So you have returned!”

  Serena dropped a curtsey.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “And my son, I understand, is following later on?”

  “That is correct, ma’am.”

  “Then we will await his arrival and his instructions before we speak of matters that concern you both.”

  “Very good, ma’am.”

  Serena curtseyed again and the Marchioness led the way in to dinner. It was an uncomfortable meal. The guests who had been in the house the day before had left that morning, but whether of their own free will or at the request of the Marchioness Serena did not discover. There only remained the three people whom Justin had invited. Isabel, Gilly and Nicholas.

  Isabel, it was true, was quite unperturbed by the unpleasant atmosphere during dinner.

  She was so entranced by Nicholas that she had eyes only for him and regardless of good manners they spoke together in low voices or exchanged glances that excluded everyone else from a world that they were c
ompletely happy in by themselves.

  Lord Gillingham tried to hold a conversation with the Marchioness, but she sat staring ahead of her and saying nothing.

  There was a wild, haunted look in her dark eyes, Serena thought, which seemed to have become very deep-set and ringed around with shadows. There were more lines about her mouth and there was something unwholesome in her extreme pallor. She ate nothing, but drank brandy and immediately after dinner she announced that she would retire.

  “I also wish to retire,” Serena said when she had gone. “It has been a long day and I am fatigued.”

  “You will not wait up for Justin?” Isabel asked curiously.

  Serena shook her head, but when she reached her own room she took up the big white quill pen and wrote a few lines on a piece of paper.

  When she had finished, she sanded it and read it over again and yet again.

  “There is something I would fain impart to your Lordship,” she wrote. “It is of the utmost urgency and if you agree we could speak on your arrival. I await your Lordship in my bedchamber, but have not retired for the night.

  Serena.”

  She gave the note to Eudora.

  “Can you arrange it that his Lordship receives this the moment he arrives?”

  Eudora smiled at her.

  “I give you my word it will be done,” she said and added, “A few words, Miss Serena, will explain everythin’. Don’t be shy, there is happiness waitin’ for you and you need not be afraid to grasp it.”

  Eudora went down with the note and Serena settled herself beside the fire. Torqo was still there. He had not yet been taken back to the stables. The logs were burning brightly and there were only a few candles burning in the room. It was very quiet and yet somehow pleasant.

  Serena wondered how long she would have to wait. She was not sleepy and she felt as if every faculty within her body was wide awake, waiting, waiting for this moment.

  She was glad that her gown was becoming. It was one that Yvette had only recently finished and was trimmed with frills of ruched net and sprigged with tiny pearls like teardrops.

  She thought of Isabel’s shining happiness with Nicholas and was both glad and envious.

  ‘One day,’ she thought, ‘when I know Justin well, I will ask him to give them Staverley – but not before we have been there ourselves – Justin and me.’

  Her cheeks burned at the thought.

  ‘Oh, Justin,’ she whispered in the silence of the room, ‘how greatly I need you – come quickly – quickly.’

  Eudora came back with something in her hand.

  “I met her Ladyship’s maid in the passage,” she said. “She said that her Ladyship had been perturbed to see how tired you looked at dinner. She had noted too that you drank nothing and she thought maybe you had contracted a chill on the journey. She sent this glass of mulled wine with her compliments.”

  Serena looked surprised.

  “It is unexpectedly considerate of her Ladyship.” Eudora snorted.

  “Not before it’s time. If you ask me, she has thought things over and realised that her day is ended. ’Tis always better not to quarrel with the new Mistress of the house.”

  “Actually I don’t feel at all tired,” Serena said, “but I thought the Marchioness looked sadly indisposed.”

  “Well, a glass of wine will not do you any harm,” Eudora said.

  There came a knock at the door. Eudora, the goblet still in her hand, opened it. The Marchioness’s black boy stood outside.

  He handed Eudora a note on a silver salver and she took it to Serena, who opened it.

  “It’s from the Marchioness,” Serena exclaimed. “It says,

  “Sleep well, my dear Serena. Be pleased to give the boy the goblet when you have drunk the wine.”

  Serena looked at Eudora.

  “You are right, Eudora. Her Ladyship wishes to be pleasant. But why does she want the goblet back so urgently?”

  Eudora held it up. The goblet was of gold and had, set in its base, semi-precious stones that sparkled in the firelight.

  “’Tis a special one,” she said. “Look at the gems on it. It’s doubtless very valuable.”

  “How pretty!” Serena exclaimed.

  “You had better drink the wine,” Eudora said, “the boy is waiting.”

  She held out the goblet to Serena who took it, raised it to her lips and then exclaimed,

  “Indeed I cannot! The truth is I am too excited either to eat or drink.”

  Eudora smiled.

  “I understand, my dearie.”

  “Throw the wine away,” Serena said. “I would not offend her Ladyship by refusing her kind offer.”

  “Nay, why be wasteful? I will drink it myself.”

  Eudora drank the wine quickly and, going to the door, handed the empty goblet to the boy outside.

  “With her Ladyship’s grateful thanks,” she said and closed the door again.

  Serena bent down and fondled Torqo’s ears.

  “I wonder how long we shall have to wait, Eudora. You made sure that my note would reach his Lordship as soon as he arrived.”

  “I gave it into the keeping of his Lordship’s own man,” Eudora said, “with my – own – ”

  She stopped suddenly and put her hand to her head.

  “I feel – queerly – dizzy – Miss Serena – it – must – be – the heat – it’s – ”

  She put out her hand blindly as if she would grope for support.

  “Eudora, what has happened? What is the matter?”

  Serena rushed to her side and helped her to a chair.

  “I – think – I – have – ” Eudora murmured and then suddenly slid from the chair onto the floor in a crumpled heap.

  Serena raised her head. At first she thought that she had fainted and fetched some water from the washstand.

  She tried to force it between Eudora’s lips, but it trickled back and then she went to the dressing table for a vinaigrette.

  She brought it back and held it under Eudora’s nose.

  “Eudora,” she cried. “Oh, Eudora!”

  There was no response and Serena thought wildly that she had. been poisoned.

  “Oh. Eudora,” she gasped, “don’t die – Eudora. I cannot endure this – ”

  Eudora’s lined face seemed to bear the pallor of death –

  Serena felt a sob of fear and of unutterable misery rise in her throat. She thought of crying out frantically for help or of running to fetch someone.

  Then pulling herself together and controlling her panic, she felt first for Eudora’s heart, it was beating faintly but regularly.

  Serena stood irresolute. What should she do? If only Justin were here! Suddenly Eudora gave a tremendous snore. Serena stared at her and then bent down, felt again for her heart and then her pulse. She was alive, there was no doubt about that.

  A sudden suspicion made Serena, very gently and with fingers that trembled, ease back one of Eudora’s closed eyelids. Eudora’s eye stared sightlessly at her. The pupil had contracted to the tiniest possible pinpoint!

  Serena then knew the truth, for in her mother’s last illness the doctors, to deaden the pain, had dosed her repeatedly with laudanum.

  Eudora had not fainted!

  She was drugged – drugged because she had drunk the wine that the Marchioness had sent to her new daughter-in-law. Serena opened the door and half-carried, half-dragged Eudora into her own room.

  With some difficulty she lifted her onto the bed and covered her with warm blankets. Eudora’s snores repeated themselves rhythmically and Serena knew that she would sleep now for a long time. She had no idea how much laudanum there had been in the wine, but it must have contained a very strong dose.

  Serena closed the bedroom door and went back to her own bedchamber. She stood for some time deep in thought. What did this mean? What did this portend? Why had the Marchioness wanted her to be unconscious? Was it to prevent her speaking with Justin when he arrived?

  Or w
as there some other and more sinister reason?

  She was suddenly aware that she had left the door ajar. She did not know why, but the dark opening frightened her. She moved across the room swiftly, closed the door and then bolted it.

  For the first time since she had come to Mandrake she examined the bolt. It was a light thing made merely of a thin piece of wood and it seemed to Serena that it was loosely fitted so that it would not stand much strain.

  She did not ask herself why she was noticing these things so minutely. She only knew that her attention was drawn to them insistently and she must obey her own instinct, which warned her of approaching danger.

  Through the wall she could hear Eudora snoring deeply. Why had the Marchioness sent that goblet of wine drugged with laudanum?

  Serena put her hand on the door latch. Should she go downstairs and enquire? Then suddenly, even as she would have gone, she was afraid – afraid of the dark passages, afraid of the long lonely way down the narrow staircase that led to the first floor.

  She went back to her seat by the fire. Now she no longer sat thinking of Justin. She waited for him, her muscles tense and her longing for his presence physical in its intensity.

  Suddenly Torqo lifted his head and growled slightly in his throat.

  “What is it, Torqo?” Serena asked.

  He growled again and now she could hear someone coming softly along the passage.

  Serena jumped to her feet, her heart beating wildly. There came a knock on her door.

  “Who is it?” she asked and tried to keep her voice steady.

  In answer the latch was lifted and someone pushed against the door.

  “Who is it?” Serena repeated and her voice was sharper this time.

  The latch was lifted again. Now suddenly Serena was desperately afraid. Who was seeking an entrance without betraying his or her identity?

  “Open the door, Serena. I wish to speak with you.”

  It was the Marchioness who spoke, in a voice so contorted by emotion as to be almost unrecognisable. There was something ugly in the sound of it, something uncanny and terribly frightening.

  “What is it you want, ma’am?” Serena asked, trembling.