Last Gentleman Standing

by Jane Ashford

  “Oh, no, I should like to go. If you will only sit down a moment while I get my hat.”

  On their drive, she told him about her new book, excusing her forgetfulness by extolling its virtues, and he expressed interest. “One seldom finds a really good new novel,” he said. “I must try this one, if you recommend it so highly.”

  “Oh, I’m not sure you would care for it,” faltered Elisabeth. “Gentlemen wouldn’t be interested in it, I think.”

  “Is it so improper?” replied her companion, his eyes twinkling.

  “Of course it is not improper!” She laughed. “But it is, well, not precisely a romance, but a story of young ladies. You may try it, certainly, but don’t blame me if you’re disappointed.”

  “I promise,” he said. “And I protest I am very fond of young ladies.”

  Elisabeth laughed again. “Read it and welcome, then. I may never finish it myself, and you can tell me how it comes out.”

  “Is it slow going?”

  “Oh, no, but I’m constantly interrupted. I never have time to read any more.”

  “Is this aimed at me?” asked Mr. Wincannon. “Perhaps I should turn the horses immediately and leave you to your book?”

  Elisabeth looked sheepish. “Not at all. I must apologize. I had a…a rather annoying caller this morning, and I’m punishing you. Inexcusable.”

  “You’ve removed a great weight from my mind,” said Derek, smiling down at her. “Who was this visitor who awakened your wrath?”

  “Lady Darnell, Lord James’s mother. I’m not angry with her, really. I was berating myself when you came in. I couldn’t manage to avoid a dinner invitation she pressed on me, and I was annoyed at my ineptitude. She’s so eager for me to marry her son it’s ridiculous. She actually asked me whether my drawing room curtains were very dear.” As Mr. Wincannon gave a shout of laughter, Elisabeth hung her head. “Oh, dear, I shouldn’t have said that. But she’s such an odd creature, she quite put me out.”

  “I have never met the lady,” he said. “How is she odd?”

  “I shall say no more,” replied Elisabeth. “You must already think me a spiteful gossip. Let us simply say that I wish I’d avoided her invitation.”

  “Why not cry off?” he suggested.

  “I’d do so immediately if I weren’t convinced it would leave me open to even more unpleasant recriminations. The lady has already told me that I am not to criticize myself in her presence.”

  “You’re giving me a strong desire to meet Lady Darnell,” said Derek. “Do you suppose she would ask me to dinner also?”

  “She has three daughters on her hands, two of them out. You’d be welcomed with strewn roses.”

  He laughed again. “You are the most interesting girl in London.”

  Elisabeth blushed and hastened to say, “You haven’t met Jane Taunton, I imagine, if you can say that honestly.”

  His eyes dancing, Mr. Wincannon shook his head. “I don’t believe I have.”

  “Ah. Well, she’s much more interesting than I. It was she who gave me the book.” She paused as a thought occurred to her; her eyes lit. “I shall introduce you.” She paused again and turned to him with a look of irrepressible mischief. “In fact, I believe I shall give an evening party and introduce all my odd friends to one another.”

  He smiled down at her. “Have you so many odd friends?” he asked. “I confess to some apprehension. And do you include me among them?”

  “All of my friends are odd,” she replied. “I don’t count mere acquaintances. But all the really interesting people I’ve met in London are a bit eccentric. Don’t you find it so?”

  “I must refuse to answer lest I compromise myself. But let me entreat you to invite my father to your party. He would be enchanted.”

  “Is he fond of odd people?”

  “Immensely.”

  “I shall, then. You don’t think I really mean to do it?”

  “I’m only afraid you will,” he answered. At that moment, they heard someone calling to them. Mr. Wincannon slowed his team to allow several carriages to pass, and Lord James Darnell rode from behind them on a showy bay hack.

  “Hello,” he cried. “Well met indeed. I was going in search of you this afternoon, Miss Elham.” He nodded a greeting to Wincannon, who returned it.

  “In search of me?” asked Elisabeth.

  “To apologize,” replied Lord Darnell. “Did my mother lay it on too thick this morning? I expect she extolled my virtues the whole time she was with you.”

  Elisabeth shook her head. “I can’t recall any mention of your virtues,” she said. “Perhaps you should remind your mother of them. I did discover that you have three sisters, however. You never told me that.”

  “Of course, I didn’t. Do you take me for a flat? It’s just like Mother to put me out that way.”

  “She asked me to dinner to meet them,” added Elisabeth.

  Lord Darnell struck his forehead. “Trust m’mother. The worst possible move.”

  Elisabeth laughed outright. “Is this a way to talk of your sisters?”

  “Wait until you’ve met them, then I will answer you.” Seeing Elisabeth’s questioning look, he went on, “Oh, I don’t say they aren’t good enough girls, especially Augusta, but Mother has trained them to think only of catching rich husbands. Makes them prodigious boring.”

  “Ah,” said Elisabeth. “I see what you mean. A person who thought only of making a great match might become tiresome.” Her eyes sparkled.

  “A facer,” cried Lord Darnell. “You are a paragon of wit, Miss Elham.”

  Mr. Wincannon said, “I do not like to keep my horses standing so long.” His voice sounded rather flat.

  “Of course,” answered Elisabeth. “I’m sorry. Goodbye, Lord Darnell. I shall see you on Thursday, I expect.”

  “You may count on it,” replied that gentleman, bowing slightly in his saddle.

  The phaeton moved forward slowly. Derek said nothing for some time, and Elisabeth eyed him speculatively. He looked annoyed. “I’m sorry we kept you waiting,” she put in finally.

  “It is of no consequence. I wouldn’t wish to spoil your enjoyment.”

  Her lips turned up a bit. “You’re very kind,” she said.

  “I admit,” he continued after a pause, “that I find rattles like Darnell rather a bore. His conversation seems pointless.”

  “Ah,” was Elisabeth’s only reply to this.

  “However, you may do as you please, I suppose.”

  “Thank you,” she said. “There is your sister. And Belinda with her.” She waved.

  “I shall not stop to talk to them,” he replied.

  “No, I think we need not do so. I should be getting back in any case.”

  Mr. Wincannon turned his horses without comment, and they started home again.

  As Elisabeth walked in the door, Ames stopped her. “I beg your pardon, Miss Elisabeth,” he said, “but a gentleman has called. He’s in the library. I told him you were out, but he insisted on waiting.” Ames’s usually impassive face showed distaste briefly. “He said, miss, that it was a matter of life and death.”

  “Really?” answered Elisabeth. “I expect I had better see him then. He didn’t say what it was about?”

  “No, miss. I inquired about members of the family, fearing that Mr. Tony might have overturned his curricle, but he said it didn’t concern any such thing.” He hesitated, then lowered his voice. “I think that he may be a foreigner of some kind.”

  “Ah. Well, you may tell him that I shall be with him directly.”

  A short time later, Elisabeth entered the library, to find herself confronted by a total stranger. The man was small and very dark, with black hair and snapping black eyes. His coat and pantaloons were well cut but not in the first stare of fashion, and the design of his waistcoat was a trif
le florid. When he replied to Elisabeth’s cool greeting, his voice showed a very slight accent. Elisabeth could not identify it. “Will you sit down?” she asked, seating herself behind the desk.

  “Thank you,” he replied, taking the chair in front of it. “I know you’re surprised to find me here. You do not know me. I thank you for seeing me.” Elisabeth inclined her head, still puzzled, and the stranger went on. “I’ve come because I fear you may be in danger. I wish to speak to you about George Jarrett.”

  “Mr. Jarrett?” echoed Elisabeth wonderingly.

  “Yes, he is a friend of yours, I believe?”

  Elisabeth shrugged slightly. “I have met him.”

  The small man became excited. “He is a fiend,” he said. “I am come here to warn you.” Elisabeth raised her eyebrows, and this appeared to rouse the man further. “You must stay away from him,” he cried, waving his arms.

  As he gestured, something caught Elisabeth’s attention. She realized suddenly that this was the man she’d seen arguing with Mr. Jarrett in the street. “You,” she said.

  He cocked his head. “Your pardon?”

  “Nothing, nothing,” said Elisabeth, recovering from her surprise. “You have the advantage of me. You seem to know me, but I have no idea who you are.”

  Her cool tone seemed to calm him a little. “I am sorry. When I think of that man, I am enraged, you see. My name would mean nothing to you. I come from Martinique. You have heard of it?” As Elisabeth nodded, he went on, “I am a Creole. You do not know what that means, perhaps?” Elisabeth shook her head, and his eyes lighted fiercely. “It means my honor is more to me than life. When I saw that Jarrett comes here, I could not let you go blindly to destruction, knowing what I know. I must tell you to satisfy my honor.”

  “Ah,” said Elisabeth. She didn’t particularly like this excitable gentleman who refused to tell her his name, but her curiosity was roused. “But so far you have told me nothing.”

  He bowed his head. “That is true. It is a difficult matter. It involves the person who was dearest to me in all the world, you see, my sister. And I will not spread her folly through the world. Though she had no fault in it, I cannot tell her story to a stranger.”

  Elisabeth frowned. “I’m not sure I see why you’ve come here in that case,” she said.

  “To warn you,” he responded quickly. “To tell you not to trust this man of no honor and no scruples. He is not a man to be allowed near ladies.”

  “But if you give me no reasons for what you say, Mr.…how then can I accept your warning?” asked Elisabeth a little impatiently.

  “Bah, you English! Always you must have the reasons and the laws. You will not move without them.” His accent became more pronounced as he said this, and the man appeared to be struggling with himself. “I…I cannot tell you all,” he said finally. “It would be cruel to Desirée’s memory. But I will say that this Jarrett drove my sister, the sweetest, loveliest girl on Martinique, to her grave. If you allow him to approach you, he will ruin you. He is a fiend.”

  Elisabeth rose. “I assure you that I hardly know Mr. Jarrett. He is the most distant of acquaintances. I think you’ve come on an unnecessary errand.” She held up a hand as he started to speak. “It was kind of you, I suppose, to attempt to warn me of someone you distrust, but now that you’ve done so, we can have no more to say, I think.” She rang for Ames.

  The man sighed. “You have not listened to me. Perhaps I have made a mistake coming here.” His shoulders sagged, and he looked defeated for a moment. “Perhaps it was a mistake to come to England.” Ames entered the room as he spoke and eyed him with distinct disapproval.

  Elisabeth said only, “Our guest is just leaving, Ames.”

  The man executed a sweeping bow, turned, and strode out of the room.

  Elisabeth sat down again, a frown wrinkling her brow. She was irresistibly reminded of Lord Byron once again. “I seem to have stumbled into a melodrama,” she said aloud to herself.

  Twelve

  The day of the Duchess of Sherbourne’s ball arrived at last. Belinda was as excited as they’d ever seen her. She’d been out driving with the duke several times and attended a theater party of his arrangement as well as the Vauxhall expedition. Elisabeth was beginning to think that she expected an offer and was becoming more and more convinced that she was right.

  Belinda, Lavinia, and Elisabeth gathered in the drawing room at eight, attired for the ball. Tony was not yet in evidence. All three looked splendid in their new gowns. Lavinia wore amber crepe trimmed with ruched ribbon of the same hue and carried a fan of white ostrich feathers which pleased her greatly. Belinda had outdone herself. Her dress was of white satin with a net of floating silver gauze over the whole, from the tiny puffed sleeves to the ruffled demitrain at the back. She had found silver ribbon to tie at the high waist and thread through her blond curls, and Elisabeth told her honestly that she looked angelic.

  Elisabeth had chosen to wear a gown made up from a length Belinda had found for her. The color, somewhere between blue and violet, exactly matched her eyes. The cut was very simple, round-necked and short-sleeved, with a deep wide ruffle about the hem. They’d trimmed it with bands of deeper blue velvet, at the waist, above the ruffle, and in narrow strips around the neckline and sleeves. Elisabeth carried a bouquet of iris, violets, and white rosebuds, procured with much difficulty and expense, and Belinda pronounced her complete to a shade.

  They stood about the drawing room, restlessly adjusting a ribbon or a flounce, for quite half an hour, and still there was no sign of Tony. “Where can he be?” repeated Belinda petulantly at ten-minute intervals. “It is excessively unkind of him to keep us waiting. I’ve told him that the duchess asked us to arrive in good time.”

  “Oh, I do hope the dear boy has not met with an accident,” replied Lavinia to Belinda’s fifth repetition of this complaint. “He drives that curricle in such a deleterious fashion.”

  “It’s more likely he’s forgotten the ball entirely,” answered Elisabeth dryly. “He drives to an inch.”

  Belinda turned from the mirror. “Let’s go without him,” she said to the two older women. “He has no consideration for us. I don’t see why we should wait for him.” She gazed at them defiantly.

  Elisabeth sighed. “I suppose we must,” she replied. “We shan’t arrive before nine, as it is, and we did promise the duchess to come early.” Belinda’s face cleared as Elisabeth went to ring for Ames.

  They arrived to find the duchess awaiting them. She immediately hurried them to the head of the stairs, hardly giving them time to greet her son, and sent Lavinia off into the ballroom with the duke, saying, “I’m the chaperone tonight, my friend. You may toddle off.” Then she turned to the young ladies. “You stand here, Elisabeth, and Belinda, you stand just beside her. I shall introduce Elisabeth first, of course; she is oldest. You both look fine as a fivepence. I’m pleased with you.”

  Elisabeth’s eyes twinkled. “Thank you, ma’am,” she said meekly, dropping a slight curtsy.

  The duchess’s lips curved in response, but she shook her finger at Elisabeth. “You, miss, must be on your best behavior tonight. You’re going to meet a great many very stuffy people, and I don’t want to see any of your impertinence.” She smiled. “If you do as I say, you will be a huge success, I promise.”

  Elisabeth laughed. “Such a promise must command my obedience.”

  “I hope so,” answered the duchess. Just then, the first guests were announced, and soon the only conversation possible was greetings and polite responses to countless introductions. The duchess had gathered the cream of the ton in her house this night, and even Elisabeth felt a little awe at the brilliant crowd. She met three of the powerful patronesses of Almack’s, including the haughty Princess Lieven. As the duchess had predicted, her friend Lady Jersey readily promised them vouchers. The Wincannons were present, as were Lady Darnell and
her son, and many others whose names Elisabeth strove to remember. It was nearly an hour before the duchess released them to the ballroom.

  The duke immediately solicited Belinda for the first dance, and Lord James Darnell was not slow to ask Elisabeth. As the music struck up, Elisabeth felt an unfamiliar excitement rise in her. She might be four and twenty years of age, but this was her very first ball, and she experienced the sensations any young girl with a new gown, an admiring partner, and a fresh perspective might have felt. She threw back her head, looking into Lord James’s eyes, and laughed.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  Elisabeth shook her head. “Just high spirits.” Her smile became mischievous. “Your mother must be very pleased with you for dancing with me.”

  “I refuse to talk any more about my family. Isn’t it enough that you’ll meet them all this week at dinner? How am I to captivate you if we talk constantly of my relatives?”

  “But I’m fascinated,” replied Elisabeth. “Your family is quite out of the ordinary. Tell me again about the duck race.”

  “Absolutely not,” he said firmly. “I don’t want you getting the idea that the Darnells are all dashed loose screws. You’re looking bang up to the knocker tonight. Where did you get your posy? Did Wincannon send it to you?”

  Elisabeth raised her eyebrows. “Why, no. I bought it myself, and at great expense, I may add.”

  Lord Darnell grimaced. “That’s telling me. I meant to send a bouquet, but the truth is, it slipped my mind. I was sitting at the Daffy Club last evening, thinking I must get flowers, and then someone said something to me and it went clean out of my head.”

  “I’m beginning to get a clear notion why you haven’t yet captured an heiress,” replied Elisabeth with some amusement. “They usually require these little attentions, you know.”

  “Lord, yes,” he sighed. “But I was persuaded that you would understand.” He gave her a winning smile. “I wouldn’t have found such a bang-up posy in any case.”

  She laughed again.

  The rest of the set passed agreeably, and the duchess introduced her to eligible partners for the next three as well. But when the orchestra struck up a waltz, Elisabeth could not participate, not being officially approved by one of the patronesses of Almack’s. As she walked around the edge of the ballroom, she encountered Jane Taunton for the first time that evening and greeted her warmly. “I didn’t think to see you here, after all,” she told the other girl. “You arrived late?”