“How can I know?” Richard asked. “Whatever she might say, whatever I might wish to believe, I know Reginald.”
“Yes,” Jeremy mused, and tapped the arm of his chair. “I should like to see Harriet Ashton, Richard. When do you plan to attend her?”
“Later today for tea, if you’ve a taste for it.” Richard grinned. His friend was always eager for sustenance. “The Ashtons are guests at Penham. The Countess could not be moved to lend her son to this enterprise, but she deigned to volunteer a suite of rooms” His glance darkened as he turned once again to the glass doors. “I’ll wager the little baggage is already cataloging the Hall’s valuables”
“I cannot believe any relative of Tolly Ashton’s would be so mercenary.”
“Perhaps they are not related. And if anyone is con stitutionally unable to think ill of a person it is you. I vow you would excuse even Caroline.”
“There you are wrong, Richard,” Jeremy said. A decided grimness settled over his features. “I sent Caroline to the devil many moons ago. Any charity I might once have granted her I withdrew when she married old Bellis. No true nonpareil could ever have cared for you and married him.”
Richard turned back to him.
“Then perhaps I can rely on your good judgment with respect to Harriet Ashton. If I am being too harsh, Jeremy, if my instincts are unsound, you must tell me. And I trust to your cleverness, to help me devise an end to this predicament.”
Hallie, seated in the sumptuous drawing room at Penham Hall, was distinctly unhappy. Her unease had nothing to do with the room, where pale yellow paper and tasteful gold and green appointments evoked bounteous fresh daffodils. Her discomfort had everything to do with the occupants.
“Did Reginald tell you anything of Surrey, Miss Ashton?” The Countess’s voice, while still courteous, held a challenge.
“Nothing at all, milady.”
“It is quite delightful, particularly at this season. I wonder that he did not speak of it.”
“Why should you wonder at it, milady? As you have made clear, I have never met your son, Lord Langsford, only his cousin, Richard.”
Lady Penham’s lips firmed. Alfred Ashton glared a rebuke, but he could not touch Hallie now. She had agreed to do everything he wanted. After this, he could ask no more.
The butler announced the gentlemen. A second later, Hallie’s gaze locked with Richard Marksley’s. It puzzled her that she should again feel the same slight check to her composure. Here she sat, staring at Richard Marksley, when her first surprise should have been the presence of Jeremy Asquith.
“Lord Jeremy! What a treat for us!” The Countess eagerly extended both her hands. Hallie noticed that she was not above batting her eyes at a considerably younger man. “You’re staying with Richard, of course. How delightful.”
“Thank you, my lady. I stay only fleetingly. But the idyll will seem all the shorter when I leave your company.”
Oh, do stubble it, Jeremy, Hallie thought. Again she caught Richard Marksley’s glance and realized that he was thinking the same. The realization stunned her.
The countess was all aflutter. “Dear Jeremy. But of course you must return soon-for the wedding?” Her words froze everyone else in the room, though she was apparently oblivious to their effect. “Three weeks from Sunday, is that not right, Mr. Ashton?”
Hallie’s uncle harrumphed and eyed Richard Marksley. “You remind me, countess, that Mr. Marksley and I have some business to discuss. What say you, Marksley?”
Hallie should have known her uncle would make even a polite tea unbearable. Her look entreated Jeremy.
“Perhaps I might walk out with Miss Ashton for a moment?” Jeremy offered. His smile was reassuring. “I believe we have some mutual acquaintance.”
The countess sent her a swift, assessing glance. “Indeed? You astonish me, Miss Ashton. Truly. I shall ring for tea at once, my lord. Pray do not leave us long”
“Never, ma’am. Richard.” Jeremy nodded to Marksley, who returned the gesture stiffly. Hallie rose to join Jeremy at the garden doors. “Miss Ashton, I believe we might find a tolerable stroll here just off the terrace,” Jeremy said loudly enough for the others.
She let him lead her out onto the terrace. Even in the sun, the breeze remained chilly, but nothing short of an arctic blast would have sent her back into the house for her wrap. Millicent Binkin had already moved to watch them through the glass. Hallie defiantly turned her back to the windows and pressed her cold palms together.
“Jeremy,” she said softly, “you must help me”
“Happily, m’dear,” he said, too calmly for her taste. “I shall tell Richard the truth.”
“Oh, no, Jeremy. Please. You cannot” She glanced back at the doors, where Millicent peered into the sunlight, her spectacles flashing ominously. “I must have that. I must have my life. If you tell him, `twould ruin me”
“Hallie, I beg your pardon, but the thinking seems to be that that is already the case.”
“Jeremy! How can you believe that? And of all people, with that-that egregious Langsford?” She paused. “Is that what Richard Marksley believes? That I am ruined?”
“He doesn’t know what to believe. You realize he is not in a position to act on his belief, regardless”
Hallie bit her lower lip and again turned from the house. She rubbed some warmth into her thinly-clad arms. Then the words spilled from her.
“I was fooled, Jeremy. I mistook Reginald for R.E. Marksley. Only I believe-in fact, I know-that he intended I do so. He was with a group of men at the coaching inn in Tewsbury. Reginald had just said something, and one of the others clapped him on the back and claimed the quip was `worthy of R.E. Marksley’ or `just like R.E. Marksley’-something distinctly like that, in any event. They all laughed. The worst of it is that I sought him out. I was glad to meet him. At last! Even though I had promised myself not to try until the spring, until I can leave uncle.” Hallie sighed and shook her head.
“I saw him while Millicent was speaking to the innkeeper’s wife, nattering on about some church fete. When I went up to him he must have thought I was there at the inn, living there, some hostess or-oh, I haven’t a clue what he thought. Before I even suspected his intention, he had pulled me through to a side room and kissed me, and there was Millicent. He may even have seen her coming.” Hallie immediately checked to see if Millicent was still watching. “Then he deceived us, Jeremy. He claimed he was Marksley of The Tantalus. He intended we should all believe he was Richard. That despicable man meant us to” Hallie could not prevent her shiver.
“Come, let’s walk a bit.” Jeremy took her arm. “Miss Binkin hasn’t served you well in this, Hallie. But it’s not beyond Reginald to have done this deliberately. You offered him the means, of course, but as you’ll soon learn, he is spiteful to the core, and he hates Richard.”
“Why should he?”
“No earthly reason. Just a simple matter of envy, if such can be simple. And fear-because Richard is actually the direct descendant at Penham”
“How is that possible?”
“Richard’s father was the elder son, by several years. But he married, against his family’s wishes, a charming Welsh lass-so I’m told-and was cut off. When he died, his brother, the present Earl-that would be Richard’s uncle Cyril-managed to install Reggie as heir, with some balderdash about Reggie being six months older and the line not reverting. Had anyone been representing Richard’s interests such stuff never would have held at law. The whole business probably sped the demise of Richard’s mother, poor woman. Anyway, old Cyril and the Lady Geneve ended up responsible for Richard nonetheless. A constant reminder, no doubt, of their own ambitious maneuverings. They treated Richard accordingly. Yet Reggie was always jealous as a cat. Since you’ve met the two of them you know why” His grip on her arm tightened. “Hallie, you must tell Richard the truth”
“No” She shook her head. “There must be some other way”
“I don’t believe so, m’dear. R
ichard will help you until Reggie’s return. He believes he can prevail upon him. But I know, and you must suspect, that that irresponsible devil will never marry you. You cannot retreat to Berkshire, because your uncle believes you have been compromised. The news must be all over Tewsbury and more by now. You must marry-and who else might your uncle find acceptable? I would offer for you myself but fear you would not have me. Again.”
“Jeremy-”
“I should not have mentioned it, I know. And you were right to refuse me. Though I could easily have felt myself blessed, you no doubt would have regretted it.”
Hallie placed a hand upon his arm. “You hardly knew me. You offered because of Tolly, and for that I shall always consider you the best of friends. But you found a different path for me, and I have been more than grateful. Even happy” She looked away from him. “If only things were not such a muddle!”
“You must tell him. In the end it will have to be Richard, Hallie. Just as it has always been Richard-and always will be Richard.” At her questioning glance he added, “‘Tis Richard Marksley who’s kept the illustrious inhabitants of Penham afloat these many years. The Earl is infirm, near senseless much of the time, and Geneve has mind and heart only for her worthless sonthe egregious Langsford, as you aptly term him. To be frank, Hallie, you are my friend. I will do what I can for you. But Richard is more. He is … a brother-at-arms”
“But I am desperate, milord.”
“Why desperate? I should wish you happy. In my view, Richard is the catch. You should be praying for Reginald to continue west to America-and stay there until he’s long in the tooth”
“I don’t wish to marry at all. To marry someone I do not love. Who … cannot love me. Jeremy, you know me. How shall I continue?” She frowned and gazed out over the lawns.
Jeremy cleared his throat and turned her to face the way they had come. “You might continue quietly, as you have been, and continue to deceive him. No change there. Since I helped you in the first place I cannot very well object now. The only difference being, of course, that we shall be playing this game in close quarters. Or-” At Hallie’s hopeful look he chucked her under the chin. “You can tell him. You would instantly be freed. I guarantee it. He would spirit you out of the country by camel if necessary; anything to place you out of harm’s way. Do you not understand? ‘Tis your attraction to Reginald he cannot fathom or forget. Your explanation will make that error clear.” As they approached the door, Jeremy laughed softly to himself. “Forgive me, Hallie, but I cannot ignore the amusement in this.”
“Is there any?” she asked tightly.
He nodded. “They may call Reggie the Gorgeous Langsford, but ‘tis Richard who fascinates the ladies. Why, I’d wager there are half a dozen misses in town who would eagerly forego their elevated prospects to join R.E. Marksley in more modest circumstances.”
“Really?” Hallie asked, watching Jeremy’s face. “He is … much admired?”
“Indubitably. The man has a honeyed tongue! They swoon when he speaks. He quotes poetry at ‘em, don’t you know.” Hallie’s gaze narrowed at Jeremy’s smugly affected tone. “He would not attempt it with you, of course. I believe he has determined that you ain’t his style. La! But imagine what a novelty that would beto be wooed with one’s own verse” As Hallie paled he reached to push her gently ahead of him through the door. He spoke softly to her ear. “Don’t delay long, sweet. Richard Marksley has never been a slow top. He’ll soon discover that the elusive Henry Beecham is very close indeed.”
Richard could not have departed soon enough. He had watched Jeremy and Hallie Ashton return from the terrace. He was convinced that mere acquaintances could never have had so much to say to one another and in so animated a fashion. Throughout that subsequent torturous tea, though Miss Ashton had volunteered nothing at all, Richard felt justified in ascribing guilt to her every glance.
He did not speak to Jeremy for a good five minutes.
“You appear to know her rather well,” he said at last, trying not to sound annoyed.
“Miss Ashton, d’you mean?”
“Of course I mean Miss Ashton!”
Jeremy smiled broadly and nudged his horse closer. “I see, Richard, that you neither understand nor approve my methods”
“Your methods? Your shameless pandering to Geneve and winkin’ at Binkin?”
Jeremy laughed. “My dear fellow, what a sacrifice it was!”
“No doubt your prolonged tete-a-tete with Miss Ashton was a sacrifice as well.”
“Never! Hallie Ashton is a pearl beyond price.”
“A pearl? Ah, then you care a great deal for her, as you-”
“As I cared for her cousin. Richard, understand me. Do not confuse responsibility and friendship for something more. I did once, and was put promptly in my place. Besides,” he added airily, “Hallie Ashton is beyond my touch”
“You’re hamming me. You-a Duke’s son! And she’s a simple country miss. A vicar’s daughter!”
Jeremy’s glance was penetrating.
“You are remarkably obtuse in this, Richard. It must be the incident with Reginald that blinds you to the worth of the girl. Had she not been hidden away in tiny Tewsbury she’d have been a remarked beauty. Those lovely eyes! You must admit she has fine eyes, Richard, and an altogether striking face and form. ‘Tis only her dress that is simple-a small matter of funds. She is intelligent, kind, amusing, spirited. In fact I think, and have thought for some time, that she is splendid.”
Richard’s horse shied. As he calmed the animal he looked directly at his friend.
“You’re in love with the minx,” he stated flatly. He did not like the possibility, and liked it even less that he had voiced it.
Jeremy sighed loudly. “You are not listening, Richard. Kindly trouble yourself to pay me some mind. And you have me thinking that you are overly eager to find fault with Hallie Ashton. You yourself must be smitten.”
“Nonsense” Richard coaxed Apollo into a trot, compelling Jeremy to struggle to catch up. “You might remind yourself that your stated purpose in visiting is to locate your precious yellow nymph, not to play matchmaker. Reggie and Uncle Ashton have been effective enough in that sphere, thank you very much. If you truly wish to earn your room and board, milord, you will apply yourself to defeating their schemes” He turned to blaze at Jeremy, “Why on earth did you sit there and extol my few virtues to Ashton? You should have been persuading him that I’m the last man he should want for his niece!”
“I thought to reassure him, my dear chap, as you treated us to few words and a stony face for near an hour. Why, the old goat knew nothing of The Tantalus! I sought only to enlighten him. Can you blame me for choosing to sing your praises, with him glaring at you as though you were Lucifer’s spawn?”
“Yes,” Richard snapped. “I asked for your help. You understand the situation. Anyone would think you want me to marry-” Instantly, he fixed Jeremy with an accusing stare. “That’s it, isn’t it, you sneak of a turncoat. The wench is enceinte and you have decided to make me a papa”
Jeremy, magnificent in his violet satin waistcoat and billowing fountain of a cravat, drew himself up in the saddle. His nose reached an exaggerated height. “That is beneath you, Richard. Hallie Ashton is a lady, incapable of that … of such conduct. She is as blameless in this as you are. I demand an apology-or satisfaction.”
Richard surveyed him, in all his glorious indignation, and had to smile. “Easy, my friend. As you might imagine, I have had quite enough of Ashtons and Marksleys. The possibility of one more could not be overlooked.”
“In Hallie’s case it must be”
“Then I stand corrected, Jeremy. As I now know you for her champion,” he added, “I shall refrain from such charges. No doubt Miss Ashton does indeed share Reggie’s interest in-what was it? Land reform. Yes, land reform”
“Cut line, Richard,” Jeremy said. “You make it irritatingly clear that you do not want Miss Ashton. But you should remind yourself of th
e corollary. Miss Ashton does not want you.”
“She wants a lord.”
“She wants no one.”
Richard fell silent. If that were true, he should not feel so incomprehensibly vexed. Jeremy was being less than candid, a difference in him that could only be traced to Hallie Ashton. The woman had to be hiding something; females did not huddle with the Viscount Langsford to discuss agriculture.
“Jeremy, you are always welcome at Archers. But perhaps we should not mention Miss Ashton again.”
“As you wish.” There was a marked chill in Jeremy’s voice. “Would you prefer that I move on?”
“No, I do not prefer. I merely choose to avoid the subject of Miss Ashton”
“That might be a bit of a challenge. Had you forgotten that we are joining the ladies for a drive Saturday?”
With a frustrated glance at Jeremy, Richard swore softly and spurred Apollo ahead.
Hallie had been ready for some time. After dismissing the Countess’s abigail, who had fussed over a reluctant charge’s limited wardrobe and equally limited patience, she had sought one of the private sitting rooms at the front of Penham Hall. There she attempted to write in her journal, a habit that had been neglected shamefully over the past week. Yet even with quiet and the best of intentions, she found she could not concentrate.
The hard little knot of an idea, the very beginnings of a poem, resisted the plucking necessary to untangle it. As a result the pages held half-starts and broken fragments of phrases, hinting at the whole, but not yet forming a smooth fabric of thought and feeling.
She knew why she could not work. For the twentieth time within as many minutes, her gaze escaped to the drive, where she anticipated Richard Marksley. The man thought her little better than a lightskirt; even if she were the most proper young woman in England, he would still question everything about her. Yet she sat here watching for him. To be judged so harshly, and by Richard Marksley of all people, was galling.
Abruptly she rose and turned away from the window. At least she would have the satisfaction of delivering her message to Jeremy. Her uncle and Millicent might keep her a virtual prisoner, but she had thought of a way out of this trap. She had every intention of leaving the country.
The Honorable Marksley Page 4