Lord Exmouth's Intentions

by Anne Ashley

  'Then what?'

  'Your brother's place is close to Priory Wood, ain't it?'

  'Wei...? And what of it?'

  Jack leaned back against the settle. 'I'll tell you in the morning, when I've had chance to think about it some more.'

  Chapter Ten

  Lady Exmouth beamed with pleasure as she watched Robina, looking particularly enchanting in a powder-blue walking dress and matching pelisse, descending the stairs. She wished Daniel could have been there to witness the utterly charming spectacle. That lovely face, framed in a fetching bonnet, with its powder-blue ribbons tied in a coquettish bow beneath the delightfully pointed little chin, was a sight to take the most hardened gentleman's breath away.

  Not that she thought for a moment that Daniel himself was in any need of further persuasion to convince him that Robina would make him the ideal wife. Unless she very much mistook the matter the wretched boy had made up his mind weeks before, no matter how hard he had tried to conceal the fact. And if any further proof of the exact state of his mind had been required, he had certainly betrayed himself the previous night, her ladyship decided, experiencing an immense feeling of satisfaction. Why, not even Arabella's presence could induce him to remain at the party. If Robina herself had been present, of course, it would have been a different matter entirely!

  'Now, my dear, are you quite certain that you feel up to this outing today?' the Dowager enquired as Robina reached her side. The girl certainly appeared perfectly restored, if a little paler than the Dowager would have liked. 'It isn't too late to change your mind,' she assured her. 'Arabella will quite understand.'

  'I'm fine, really,' Robina answered, making a great play of straightening a crease in one of her gloves. 'I cannot imagine what came over me. I'm not usually prone to those trifling megrims.'

  'Well, we must just be thankful that it was nothing more serious than an annoying headache which refused to go away. Had you contracted Lady Phelps's chill you might have been laid up for days. I understand that Augusta, poor dear, is still keeping to her bed. Which means, of course, that we shall be denied her company, and that of her son's at the alfresco breakfast.'

  Robina clearly detected the faint hint of relief in the Dowager's tone, but chose not to remark upon it, and merely enquired who else would be travelling out to Priory Wood that morning.

  'I'm not perfectly certain, my dear. Several people we are both acquainted with, I'm sure. I do know Arabella invited Sir Percy Lovell, but he was otherwise engaged. And I do believe she asked that nice young man of whom you're so fond, Mr Frederick Ainsley, but he too was forced to decline. I understand he has left town for a few days in order to visit a sick relative.' She shook her head. 'It is so difficult to arrange these things at a moment's notice, but I'm certain Arabella will have succeeded in persuading several people to come.'

  The Dowager raised one hand, encased in a lilac-coloured glove. 'Ah! That sounds suspiciously like her now.'

  Lady Exmouth's hearing was not defective. The footman opened the door in time to see the Tollivers' elegant open carriage drawing to a halt outside, and Arabella herself on the point of alighting.

  'There's no need for you to trouble yourself,' the Dowager called, hurrying down the steps to greet her. 'We're ready and waiting, so we can leave at once, if you're agreeable?'

  'Splendid! I do so admire punctuality!' Arabella announced, seating herself once again. 'And Robina too! Glad to see you felt able to accompany us. You and I, I'm afraid, are the youngest members of the party, so must keep each other company,' she went on, when Robina, at a far more decorous pace, arrived at the carriage. 'I'm rather surprised that not too many young people chose to accept my invitation. It would seem, though, that outdoor entertainment appeals more to the older generation.'

  'I thought you might not find it so very easy to arrange your little picnic at such short notice, my dear,' Lady Exmouth remarked, making herself comfortable in the seat beside her niece. 'I find people these days tend to plan their schedules well in advance. Evening events are particularly difficult to arrange at short notice. One discovers that even one's friends refuse on the grounds of having prior engagements.'

  'And that is precisely why I didn't attempt to organise a dinner-party,' Arabella responded vaguely, her attention suddenly drawn to a solitary figure on the opposite side of the street.

  'What an exceedingly rude female!' she announced. 'That young woman has been pointedly staring in this direction from the moment I arrived.' She laughed suddenly, her sense of humour coming to the fore. 'I sincerely trust she's not hoping to see Daniel. She'll have a very long wait if she is.'

  The Dowager, after one glance across the street, sniffed loudly. 'My son, I'll have you know, does not associate with persons of that—er—ilk.'

  'Don't be so naive, Aunt.' That mischievous sparkle of old was back in Arabella's eyes. 'Clarissa has been dead for almost two years... Though perhaps you're right,' she went on, after considering the matter further for a moment. 'Daniel has more taste than to associate with such a lowly sort. Or, perhaps, more respect for his health.'

  Reaching forward she gave her coachman the office to start by tapping him lightly on the shoulder with her parasol, and the coach moved off, leaving the inquisitive female, Robina noticed, watching their progress along the street.

  Robina, at least, had not been so naive as not to know precisely to what Lady Tolliver had been alluding. She had swiftly discovered during her stay in the capital that it was certainly not unusual for a gentleman, widowed or otherwise, to keep a mistress. Whether Daniel himself did so, she wasn't so certain; wasn't sure either why it should matter to her one way or the other. After all, she told herself, it was no concern of hers. It would have been very much her concern if she had been in Arabella's position, and yet Daniel's future wife did not appear in the least troubled. How very unnatural that seemed!

  'You're very quiet.'

  The unexpected remark startled Robina out of her reverie, and she raised her eyes to discover Lady Tolliver's brown orbs firmly fixed in her direction.

  'I do trust Aunty did not bully you into accompanying us today?'

  'No such thing!' Robina assured her, managing a semblance of a smile. 'I was merely wool-gathering.'

  Unable to hold that faintly unnerving dark-eyed scrutiny, all too reminiscent of Daniel's on occasions, she glanced skywards to discover not one single cloud lurking anywhere. 'I think you are going to be lucky with the weather. It looks set to be yet another fine day.'

  'It certainly does,' she agreed. 'I just hope it doesn't become too warm. Still,' she shrugged, 'there ought to be plenty of shade out at Priory Wood.'

  'I could have wished you had chosen a different spot for your outing,' Lady Exmouth put in. 'My memories of that particular idyllic place are not altogether pleasant.'

  Arabella frankly laughed. 'Yes, Daniel told me all about it. What a little monkey Lizzie is! Not in the least like her mother. She must take after our side of the family.'

  Tutting, the Dowager favoured her sportive niece with a reproving glance, and Arabella tried to look suitably chastened. 'Yes, you're quite right, Aunt. It is exceedingly naughty of me to make light of the matter. Daniel, I know, was most disturbed by the whole incident.' She looked directly across at Robina once again. 'And eternally grateful to you, my dear. He quite openly admits that he shall be forever in your debt.'

  Perhaps Arabella did not notice the touch of sadness which just for one unguarded moment clouded those strikingly pretty blue eyes, but the Dowager most certainly did, and couldn't help wondering if her charming protégée was .quite as restored to health as she would have people believe. Arabella was the dearest creature imaginable, but she could be a little tactless on occasions, and faintly overpowering, most especially to those who were not feeling quite equal to coping with her exuberance.

  So she deliberately set herself the task of holding her niece in conversation by enquiring precisely who might be expected to join them at the a
lfresco breakfast that morning. Robina certainly did her best to contribute from time to time to the ensuing discussion, but Lady Exmouth sensed that it was an effort, and she became increasingly convinced that Robina would have much preferred to remain at home.

  If the Dowager had suspected for a moment just how much of a trial Robina was finding the outing, she would have been appalled. The considerable strain of trying to behave normally lessened, of course, when they eventually reached the popular beauty spot, and the other guests began to arrive. Then Robina was able, without she hoped making it too obvious, to disengage herself from Arabella's side. She even managed to force several of the delicious delicacies the Tollivers' excellent cook had taken the trouble to prepare down her throat. As soon as she was able to do so, however, she drifted away from the few members of the party who had not succumbed to the heat of the day and the effects of several glasses of cool champagne by taking a nap, and sought the solace for which she craved.

  The instant she felt certain that no one had decided to follow her example by going for a stroll, Robina ventured further into the wood. The river, she knew, was some distance away to her left, but she had no intention of venturing anywhere near it. The memories of that day, of far happier times, were all too firmly embedded in her mind.

  But that was all she would be left with soon, a cruelly taunting voice in her head reminded her: bittersweet memories and the painful knowledge that events might have turned out so vastly different if she hadn't remained for so many weeks so insensitive to the desires of her own heart.

  Tugging at the bow beneath her chin, she removed her bonnet and, holding it by its ribbons, absently began to swing it to and fro as she ventured further beneath the dense canopy of trees, not quite ready yet to abandon this much needed period of solitude.

  She had realised, of course, when she had agreed to accompany the Dowager today that she would not find Arabella's company easy to bear. She hadn't realised quite how painful an ordeal it would turn out to be. A sigh escaped her. But what choice had she? She could hardly remain skulking in her bedchamber indefinitely, giving way to bouts of weeping when she felt certain she wouldn't be disturbed. Daniel himself would be returning to the house that evening, and although it might be distressingly hard, sooner or later she would have to face him too.

  No, she thought sadly, there would be no easy way out for her. The next few days, or until she could find some reasonable excuse to leave Brighton and return to Northamptonshire would be agonisingly tortuous. Today had been traumatic enough. Trying to be at least civil to someone whom one resented bitterly had been no easy task, and yet she could not find it within herself to hate Arabella, nor even remotely dislike her. How could she blame Arabella for feeling a deal of affection for Daniel? Any woman would wish to marry such a fine man.

  That no mention had been made of the forthcoming marriage was rather odd, though, she decided, frowning slightly as this puzzling thought occurred to her. They might, of course, have reasons for wishing their betrothal not to become common knowledge. It was quite possible that Daniel wished to inform his daughters that he intended to remarry and was awaiting their return from Dorset before informing the world at large. It was still rather odd, though, that they had decided to keep their intentions a secret from the Dowager, for Robina felt certain that Lady Exmouth was completely ignorant of the fact that her son intended to wed again. Furthermore, Arabella had betrayed no obvious signs that a joyous event would very soon be taking place in her life. How very odd it all was!

  The sound of hurrying footsteps nearby broke into her perplexing reflections. So, someone had chosen to follow her example, after all, she thought, swinging round to discover precisely which member of the party had seen fit to come in hot pursuit.

  Setting his book to one side, Daniel consulted his pocket-watch, which informed him that it wanted only a few minutes to seven. His mother and Robina were rather late in returning from their alfresco breakfast. What an utterly ridiculous description to give a meal eaten early in the afternoon! he mused, returning the watch to his pocket and reaching for his book again.

  The door opened, and the butler entered the library to set a decanter and a glass by his lordship's elbow. 'Shall you be requiring anything further, sir?'

  'No, I don't think so, thank you, Stebbings... Yes, wait a moment,' he added, arresting the servant's progress across to the door. 'What time did her ladyship leave this morning?'

  'Shortly before noon, sir.'

  'Did she happen to mention that there was a possibility that she might be returning late?'

  'No, my lord, she did not. Shall I delay dinner?'

  'Yes, perhaps that might be wise. Inform Cook that we'll now eat at nine.'

  Frowning slightly, Daniel reached for the burgundy at his elbow and poured himself a glass. It was most unlike his mother not to inform the servants if she thought there was a possibility that she might be late. What on earth could be keeping her? he wondered. Even if she had lost track of the time, there had been others present to remind her, most especially Robina who, unlike most females of his acquaintance, was an excellent little timekeeper.

  Smiling to himself he leaned back in his chair, and sipped his wine while absently contemplating the shine on his Hessian boots. It was good to be back in his own home again. He had enjoyed his friend Monty's company very much, but he had missed not having his little bird around, missed her far more than he cared to admit.

  What an unusual female his little Robin was! Never would he have believed it possible that in a simple country parson's daughter, whose upbringing had been, by her own admission, faintly constricted, and wholly conventional, he would have found a female so much after his own heart.

  It had come as something of a revelation to discover just how much they did have in common. He could not prevent a further wry smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. To think that when he had first seriously begun to consider the idea of marrying again, his only objective had been to find a suitable mother for his daughters, and in doing so he had found the perfect life's companion, a female whom he was very sure he could no longer live without.

  A sudden commotion in the hall disturbed these pleasurable musings, and he turned his head in time to see his mother burst into the room, with less than her usual grace, swiftly followed by his cousin who was looking unusually pale, and whose eyes distinctly lacked that teasing sparkle.

  'Oh, Daniel, thank heavens you're here!' The Dowager almost fell upon his chest as he rose from the chair. 'It is all my fault. I blame myself entirely. I should never have taken her. I knew as soon as we set out that the poor child was not equal to the outing.'

  'Now, Aunt Lavinia, you must not distress yourself so.' Placing her arm about the Dowager's shoulders, Arabella drew her across to the sofa. 'I'm certain there's some perfectly reasonable explanation for all this,' she said in a voice which, to Daniel's ears, sadly lacked any real conviction.

  'Where is Robina?' he asked with deceptive mildness.

  'That is just it, Daniel. We don't know,' Arabella answered, striving to remain calm. 'She has disappeared.'

  His expression giving no hint of the anxiety rapidly rising within him, he transferred his gaze from his silently sobbing mother to his cousin. 'I think you had better explain precisely what has occurred.'

  'What Aunt Lavinia said is perfectly true,' she began. 'Robina did seem unusually subdued today.' She shrugged. 'I thought, perhaps, it might be simply that there was no one of her own age at the picnic, and she was faintly bored. Which would have been in no way amazing. I was beginning to regret organising the wretched outing myself when most of my guests decided to take a nap after the meal. So when I noticed Robina wandering off into the wood, I was very tempted to join her.' She glanced down at the slightly misshapen, blue-trimmed bonnet she held in her right hand. 'Now, of course, I wish I had done just that.'

  'So, when she failed to return, you quite naturally searched for her.'

  Arabella watched him c
almly reach for his wine, looking for all the world as though he hadn't a care. She, however, knew him rather too well to be fooled by this seeming display of unconcern, and couldn't help but admire the iron self-control he never failed to exert over himself in times of crisis.

  'I thought at first that she had merely lost track of the time. I recall when I was younger I loved to wander through the wood at Courtney Place, and was frequently late in returning for meals. It was only when my guests began to depart that I really became concerned. Several of them offered to remain and join the search, but I assured them that there was no need.' She regarded him in silence for a moment. 'I didn't suppose that you'd want the whole of Brighton knowing that Robina had disappeared.'

  A faint look of admiration sprang into his eyes. 'You acted very sensibly, Bella. Indeed I would not like the tattle-mongers to get wind of this.'

  'No, I thought not. So, after everyone had gone, I ordered my servants to search the wood thoroughly, and my footman found this.'

  She held out the bonnet for his inspection. One of the ribbons had clearly been torn off, and there was what appeared to be part of a large footprint on the brim.

  'I thought she might possibly have met with an accident—fallen and twisted her ankle, perhaps. I dispatched one of my servants to the village nearby to enquire whether a young woman had gone there seeking assistance, but...'

  She raised deeply troubled eyes to his. 'Oh, Daniel, I do not believe I'm a fanciful woman, but it almost seems to me as though she has been abducted.'

  The Dowager, who had managed to regain control over herself at last, looked up at this. 'But that's nonsense, Arabella! Who on earth would want to abduct the dear, sweet child? Besides, who could possibly have known, apart from the guests, that we intended to go to Priory Wood today?'

  'Who indeed?' Daniel murmured, eyes narrowing to slits.

  Then, turning abruptly, he went striding across to the door. 'Stebbings!' he called. 'I want my curricle brought round from the stables at once!'