A Most Rebellious Debutante

by Karen Abbott

  ‘My trouble is I want the best of both worlds,’ she spoke to herself, thinking how she also enjoyed romping through the wood in her oldest clothes and, with a last approving glance at her image, she went downstairs, where Nora, one of the junior maids, awaited her.

  Their groom, Higgins, had the barouche ready waiting for them at the front steps. He had only recently been promoted from more lowly stable duties and, resplendent in his new uniform, was pleased to be have been chosen to drive the mistress’s young sister into town. The stable lads were more aware of Miss Templeton’s irregular escapades than his master and mistress were and they regarded her with a mixture of reluctant disapproval that a young lady of her class should so freely flout the laws of convention and admiration that she readily did so! They also knew of her frequent trips to the village during the mistress’s weeks of absence and recognized her genuine concern for the welfare of the struggling village families.

  Consequently, when Miss Templeton, looking as pretty as a picture, lightly tripped down the front steps in the wake of a junior footman, followed by Nora, a maid for whom he felt quite a fancy, his breast swelled with pride. He managed to maintain his polite impassive pose until Miss Templeton was seated within the barouche, but risked tipping Nora a cheeky wink as she scrambled up the step behind her and was rewarded by a pretty blush and a toss of the maid’s head, an air of hauteur that was lessened by a gratifying sparkle in Nora’s eyes.

  The footman folded up the step and slapped his hand against the carriage, the command to depart. They were off!

  Under normal circumstances, it would have been an uneventful drive, but to Lucy, it was her first proper outing since her arrival five months ago and she felt greatly liberated. Nora, intent on showing that she deserved her chance of promotion, knew better than to take liberties with Miss Templeton’s easy manner, but, nonetheless, quickly relaxed and responded readily to questions about herself and her family and her hopes of promotion, and a comfortable camaraderie was soon established between the congenial pair.

  In answer to a question regarding her family, Nora confided, ‘Me mam and da run The Red Fox, a tavern in the middle of town, miss. I used to help out there, but when I got the chance to work for Mrs Cunningham, me mam decided I must take it. Our Dottie and Edna do my work now. I can’t wait to see what they think of my smart uniform! Did Mrs Cunningham tell you I’m allowed to visit them while you’re getting your dress fitted?’

  ‘Indeed she did, Nora. I don’t know the exact layout of the town. Will it be practical if I am first taken to the Misses Tredham’s establishment and then you can direct Higgins to your parents’ tavern?’

  ‘It’s only across the road and down a bit, miss,’ Nora agreed with a giggle. ‘He can’t miss it. How will I know when you’re ready for me to come back to you, miss? Mrs Cunningham said I’ve to look after you at all times.’

  ‘The Misses Tredham will send a message to let you know,’ Lucy assured her, smiling at the girl’s eagerness to do everything properly. ‘And then, you’ll be able to show me where I can buy some suitable Christmas gifts, won’t you?’

  ‘And can I tell me mam that you’ll pop in to say hello to her?’ Nora asked ingenuously. ‘She’ll be ever so pleased to see what a fine lady I’m working for … and Dottie and Edna’ll be green with envy!’

  Lucy laughed. ‘Yes, I’ll “pop in” to say hello. Now, it seems we have arrived. Higgins will come round to lower the step. He will hand me out first and then you may follow. Come inside with me so that all proprieties are kept and then come back to the carriage. Higgins will wait for you, and then you can pretend that it’s your carriage and draw up at your parents’ tavern like a grand lady.’

  ‘Ooh, miss! I’ll send Higgins inside to fetch them out. I bet their eyes will pop right out!’ Nora’s face glowed with merriment and both were still chuckling at the thought when Higgins opened the carriage door and lowered the step and assisted Lucy to descend gracefully on to the narrow paved footpath.

  She stood still and looked around, making a sigh of contentment. She was enjoying this afternoon of freedom. But she must remember not to delay too long in town: there was the other important matter to attend to.

  The two spinster sisters welcomed her into their provincial parlour. Sniffing delicately into their handkerchiefs, they fussed and twittered and directed their underlings in the fitting of Miss Templeton’s carriage dress and showered extravagant compliments upon her, but they were talented at their jobs and Lucy felt delightfully elegant in the royal blue carriage dress that they had made for her. It fitted her to perfection. With a matching bonnet perched over her curls, a fur-trimmed muff to warm her hands and a pretty reticule dangling from her wrist, she twirled and posed in front of the many angled mirrors that showed every aspect of her trim form.

  She couldn’t help wondering if maybe Lord Rockhaven would feel more attracted to her if he saw her thus dressed? She knew he probably thought her to be nothing more than a hired servant, or a poor relation at the very best. Well, if he really were returning before Christmas and Lady Montcliffe took up residence at the family home once more, surely the Cunninghams and Templetons would be invited to share in at least one dinner party. She knew Marissa was fondly hoping so, and, just as surely, her mama would not let pass an opportunity to parade her daughter before such an illustrious peer of the realm. Her face glowed at the thought.

  But, first, he had to get here safely and re-establish himself in his proper and rightful place without the threat of his cousin’s machinations hanging over him.

  So, she must conclude her business in town and then go to the village to discover what news she could glean of Lord Rockhaven’s return.

  With the new carriage gown and all the accessories conveyed to The Red Fox by a liveried servant, Lucy was reunited with Nora and they spent the next hour gazing into shop windows and deliberating over ideas of what to buy as her gifts to family members and close servants. Her choices made, neatly wrapped parcels were piled in Nora’s arms as the maid excitedly followed Lucy from establishment to establishment, smiling delightedly as she received compliments from shopkeepers she had known all her life but never had the means to even enter their shops.

  At length, with her purchases completed to her satisfaction, Lucy suggested they return to The Red Fox to partake of light refreshments before returning home.

  ‘Yes, miss. Mam said she’d lay aside her best parlour for you and Dottie an’ Edna are going to serve you. Higgins and me’ll have something in the kitchen. Mam’s ever so pleased I’m doing so well. I’ll tell ’em you’re here, shall I?’

  Nora ran ahead and disappeared through the side door of the tavern. Lucy hesitated on the threshold, unsure whether to proceed or not. She had never been into a town tavern before. Her only experience of such places was when she had been travelling to or from home and then only in the company of her mama and numerous servants, when she had simply followed where they had led. Her limited experience made her aware that young ladies of her class did not enter such places unaccompanied and, quite frankly, now she was faced by the dim interior of the tavern, she didn’t know which way to go.

  Hearing voices from behind a closed door, she tentatively pushed the door open but her body froze into immobility as a portion of the smoke-filled room came into view. She immediately realized that the room was occupied by men only and most of its occupants were garbed in the sombre colours of the lower classes, their voices rough and untutored. She knew that such a room was not for the likes of herself and made to draw back before she was spotted. Her withdrawal was halted when the back of a figure previously hidden by the door stepped partly into view.

  It was his many-caped coat and the outline of his head as he arrogantly tossed a coin on to the table where the other men were sitting that first caused her to pause and, for one hopeful moment, her heart leaped as she thought it was Lord Rockhaven himself. But the over-cultured voice as he said, ‘… and there’s more of the same for any ma
n looking for a good night’s work!’ made her silently draw back, for it wasn’t Lord Rockhaven at all.

  It was his cousin, Lieutenant Piers Potterill.

  Twelve

  LUCY COULDN’T BELIEVE Potterill was so convinced that he was above the law! But it seemed he was! He was either very sure of himself or very foolish. Lucy hoped it were the latter.

  ‘And what sort of work would that be,’ one drinker was saying as Lucy listened silently.

  ‘Work that any man worth his salt should be able to do with little effort,’ Potterill loftily responded. ‘As long as he’s willing to keep his mouth shut!’

  Lucy’s swift intake of breath caused the man to swing round to face her, his expression darkening as his gaze rested upon her. Lucy felt a stab of alarm. Would he recognize her from their previous encounter? Hopefully not, since she was now dressed in her sister’s fashionable gown and bonnet.

  She decided to play with an innocent air and, forcing down her fear, she flashed a charming smile around the small room.

  ‘I beg your pardon for disturbing you, gentlemen. I seem to have lost my maid, but I can see she isn’t in here. Do excuse me.’

  She made to withdraw but Lieutenant Potterill swiftly strode towards her and grasped hold of the door to prevent it from closing. Lucy took a step backwards and Potterill reached out a hand to restrain her. ‘Not so fast, ma’am! I don’t take kindly to people eavesdropping on my conversations! What is your business here?’

  His grip on her wrist was hurting and Lucy tried to control the fear that was once more rising within her. His daring to touch her caused a spurt of anger to surface and she used it to her advantage. She drew herself upright and forced herself to look him straight into his eyes, letting her anger be known.

  ‘I have already apologized for my interruption,’ she said coldly. ‘Please let go of my wrist. You have no need to restrain me.’

  ‘I will be the judge of that!’ he snapped. ‘I ask again, what is your business here?’

  Lucy held his gaze and his hold of her slackened a little. She decided to try to disarm his suspicions and allowed her stance to relax slightly as she said a little ruefully, ‘It is as I said. My maid is new. She stepped ahead of me, no doubt thinking to clear the way of any unwelcome attentions to my person but I was too dilatory in following her. I have never been here before, nor have I ever entered any such hostelry unaccompanied. As you can see, there are numerous doors in this corridor and I tried the first one to hand.’ She gave a deprecatory laugh. ‘I found the darkness a little unnerving, sir, as I am sure you can understand.’

  Potterill’s hard glare relaxed slightly and the thin line of his mouth twisted into the start of a sneer at her feminine apprehension. It caused Lucy to react with resentment at his poor opinion of her femininity, a reaction he didn’t miss and he tightened his grip once more, his brow puckering in concentration.

  ‘Have we met before, ma’am?’ His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. ‘I feel we have and I very rarely forget a face.’

  Lucy’s alarm grew. She didn’t want him to connect her in any way with his cousin. ‘I am sure I would remember you!’ she retorted spiritedly. ‘I am not used to such cavalier treatment!’

  ‘Aren’t you?’ His tone was slightly sarcastic, but he seemed to respect her refusal to be cowed by his treatment of her. ‘Then perhaps you should be more careful where you place yourself. Young ladies who wander unaccompanied into places such as this should expect to meet with, shall we say, a lack of the usual courtesies you would meet with in a drawing room.’

  His lips parted in what he might have supposed to be a smile but, to Lucy, it seemed more threatening than placatory. Their eyes locked once more and her movements froze for an instant.

  A sound behind her made her jump and she quickly glanced in the direction of the sound and was vastly relieved to see Nora’s face looking anxiously at her.

  ‘Ah, there you are, miss!’ Nora spoke with evident relief. ‘I thought you’d got lost, miss. Mam ses will you come this way?’

  ‘Thank you, Nora. I am coming immediately.’ She faced Potterill again, her chin held a fraction higher than before. ‘Good day, sir. My presence is required elsewhere.’ She jerked her wrist and this time he released her. Then, just as swiftly, he caught hold of her hand and raised it to his lips.

  Lucy couldn’t suppress a shudder and hoped he put it down to maidenly innocence.

  ‘I look forward to our next meeting, Miss—’ He paused enquiringly. ‘I don’t recall you sharing your name?’

  Lucy pulled her hand free. ‘No, I didn’t,’ she responded haughtily. ‘I feel under no obligation to do so. Good day, sir!’ And she quickly followed Nora through the door that led into the front part of the hostelry, aware that she was shaking inside.

  As Nora ushered her forward through the door into a much lighter part of the inn, Lucy’s mind whirled over the alarming encounter with Theo’s cousin. What was he doing here? Did he know Theo was returning? Was he planning to waylay him? If so, how much did he know? Did he know the exact date of Theo’s return? Was it today? Or tomorrow? She needed to find out more.

  Nora led her to a small but pleasant room that overlooked the street in front of the tavern. A round-faced woman who was waiting there bobbed a small curtsy as Lucy entered.

  ‘Please be seated, Miss Templeton, and make yerself at home,’ the woman bade her. ‘I’m Nora’s mam. Me and Joe are right glad you’ve done us the honour of coming under our roof and letting our Nora pay us a visit. Our other daughters’ll fetch you a tray of tea and buttered scones when you’re ready and Joe’ll pop in to see you when he has a minute but he’s a bit busy with other customers right now.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Roper.’ Lucy sat down but her head was whirling. What could she do? How could she find out more about what Potterill was planning? Did she dare trust Nora’s parents? But what could she say? What could she ask of them that wouldn’t betray too much of Lord Rockhaven’s confidences? Would they be loyal to a man they mightn’t really know all that well? A man whose reputation had been recently besmirched?

  They weren’t local to the Montcliffe estate and she didn’t know enough about them to know if she could place her trust in them. They would probably regard it as a bit of female hysteria. No, she must think about it calmly before taking anyone in to her confidence. They mightn’t think it worth the risk of displeasing a customer.

  But Higgins might! His family lived in the village and some of them possibly had worked on Montcliffe land and, more than likely, hoped to do so again. Surely he’d have some loyalty to the family? She’d have to risk it.

  She forced herself to stay calm and smiled warmly as she peeled off her gloves. ‘Whilst I am waiting, Mrs Roper, I would be obliged if I might have a word with my groom?’

  ‘Of course you can, miss. He’s supping a pint of ale in the kitchen. Nora, go and tell the lad to come here … and tell our Dottie and Edna not to keep your mistress waiting. Get on, now. We’ve other customers to see to, as well … I begs yer pardon, miss.’

  Mrs Roper bobbed another small curtsy and bustled out in Nora’s wake. It wasn’t long before an anxious-looking Higgins presented himself in the parlour. He touched his forelock and mumbled, ‘I’m sorry, Miss Templeton. I thought it’d be all right if I only had one pint.’

  ‘Pardon? Oh, your drink of ale. No, that’s all right, Higgins. What I want is something entirely different. Tell me, honestly, what are your thoughts on the Montcliffe family? Are you looking forward to their return to their home?’

  ‘Eeh, I am that, miss. We all are.’ Higgins response was swift, though he looked puzzled. ‘They’ll soon get things up and running again, miss. They’ll see us all right, like they always have in the past.’

  ‘Good. There’s something I want you to do for me, Higgins. Something important, but you mustn’t let anyone realize what you are doing. There’s a man … a gentleman … talking to some local men in the back room out there. I
fear he is up to no good. Can you somehow listen to what he is saying and what the men say in return? And then come and let me know? It’s very important.’

  ‘Yes, miss. I already took a tray of their drinks in, to help out, like. I’ll offer to take another, shall I?’

  ‘Yes, do that. And quickly, before he finishes his business and goes.’

  Higgins left and was soon replaced by Nora’s two younger sisters, both smartly scrubbed and giggling nervously at each other as they bobbed hurried curtsies and placed their trays on to the table. Lucy had two pennies ready for them and they bobbed another curtsy as they grabbed the pennies and backed out of the room.

  Lucy really felt too nervous of what Lieutenant Potterill might be planning to have much appetite but the scones looked appetizing and almost melted in her mouth. Her compliments to her hostess were genuine when it was time to leave. She hoped Higgins had completed his mission without drawing attention to himself. Had he learned anything important?

  As Nora slipped quietly back to her side, she whispered conspiratorially, ‘Higgins is back outside, miss, and he says the gentleman ’as gone.’

  Higgins was waiting by the side of the barouche, the step already down. He looked around quickly before saying, ‘It seems no one took the gentleman up on his offer, miss, and he’s left in a huff. Whatever he wanted, no one here was willing to do it for him.’

  Lucy didn’t know whether to be glad or sorry. At least if someone had agreed to the offer, she might have had the chance to find out what Potterill had in mind. ‘Right. Thank you, Higgins.’ She paused with one foot on the step. ‘I would appreciate it if you say nothing whatsoever about what has just happened to any of the other servants, Higgins. Nor you, Nora. I just know that that man is an enemy of Lord Rockhaven’s and he is planning something bad, but I don’t know quite what.’

  She climbed into the barouche and Higgins waited until Nora had joined her before lifting the step and closing the door. Lucy was still troubled. Times were hard for common folk. There were always some who would sell their souls for gold and if Lieutenant Potterill looked hard enough, he would eventually find someone willing to help him in whatever dastardly deed he was planning. The fact that he was back in the area showed he knew Theo was returning soon … and Theo wouldn’t know! His life could be in imminent danger: she must, somehow, warn him!