‘Lord, child, that’s old Hugo Alastair! Devilish rake-helly fellow! They’re a damned gloomy lot, all of ’em, and everyone has a sneer on his face for all the world like Justin himself. Come and look at this one; it’s my respected parent.’
Léonie looked up into Rudolph Alastair’s dissipated countenance.
‘He does not please me at all,’ she said severely.
‘Never pleased anyone, my dear. Here’s her Grace. She was French like yourself. Lord, did you ever see such a mouth? Fascinating, y’know but a temper like the fiend.’
Léonie moved on to where the last picture hung. An awed look came into her eyes.
‘And this is – Monseigneur.’
‘It was done a year ago. Good, eh?’
The hazel eyes under their drooping lids looked mockingly down on them.
‘Yes, it is good,’ said Léonie. ‘He does not always smile just so. I think he was not in a nice humour when that was painted.’
‘Fiendish, ain’t he? Striking of course, but Lord, what a damned mask of a face! Never trust him, child, he’s a devil.’
The swift colour flooded Léonie’s cheeks.
‘He is not. It is you who are a gr-r-reat stupid!’
‘But it’s true, my dear. I tell you he’s Satan himself. Damme, I ought to know!’ He turned just in time to see Léonie seize one of the foils. ‘Here! What will you be at – ?’ He got no further, but leaped with more speed than dignity behind a chair, for Léonie, her eyes flaming, was bearing down upon him with the rapier poised in a distinctly alarming manner. Rupert hoisted the chair, and held it to keep Léonie at arm’s length, a look of comical dismay on his face. Then, as Léonie lunged across the chair, he took to his heels and fled down the gallery in laughing panic, Léonie close behind him. She drove him into a corner, where he had perforce to stay, using his chair as a protection.
‘No, no! Léonie, I say! Hey, you nearly had me! The button’ll come off for a certainty! Devil take it, it’s monstrous. Put it down, you wild-cat! Put it down!’
The wrath died out of Léonie’s face. She lowered the foil.
‘I wanted to kill you,’ she said calmly. ‘I will if you say things to me like that of Monseigneur. Come out. You are cowardly!’
‘I like that!’ Rupert put the chair down cautiously. ‘Put that damned foil down, and I’ll come.’
Léonie looked at him, and suddenly began to laugh. Rupert came out of the corner, smoothing his ruffled hair.
‘You looked so very funny!’ gasped Léonie.
Rupert eyed her gloomily. Words failed him.
‘I would like to do it again, just to see you run!’
Rupert edged away. A grin dawned.
‘For the Lord’s sake don’t!’ he begged.
‘No, I won’t,’ Léonie said obligingly. ‘But you are not to say those things –’
‘Never again! I swear I won’t! Justin’s a saint!’
‘We will fence now, and not talk any more,’ said Léonie regally. ‘I am sorry I frightened you.’
‘Pooh!’ said Rupert loftily.
Her eyes twinkled.
‘You were frightened! I saw your face. It was so fun –’
‘That’ll do,’ said Rupert. ‘I was taken unawares.’
‘Yes, that was not well done of me,’ she said. ‘I am sorry, but you understand I have a quick temper.’
‘Yes, I understand that,’ grimaced Rupert.
‘It is very sad, n’est-ce pas? But I am truly sorry.’
He became her slave from that moment.
Sixteen
The Coming of the Comte de Saint-Vire
The days sped past, and still the Duke did not come. Rupert and Léonie rode, fenced, and quarrelled together like two children, while, from afar, the Merivales watched, smiling.
‘My dear,’ said his lordship, ‘she reminds me strangely of someone, but who it is I cannot for the life of me make out.’
‘I don’t think I have ever seen anyone like her,’ Jennifer answered. ‘My lord, I have just thought that ’twould be a pretty thing if she married Rupert.’
‘Oh, no!’ he said quickly. ‘She is a babe, for sure, but, faith, she’s too old for Rupert!’
‘Or not old enough. All women are older than their husbands, Anthony.’
‘I protest I am a staid middle-aged man!’
She touched his cheek.
‘You are just a boy. I am older by far.’
He was puzzled, and a little worried.
‘I like it so,’ she said.
Meanwhile at Avon Léonie and her swain made merry together. Rupert taught Léonie to fish, and they spent delightful days by the stream and returned at dusk, tired and wet, and unbelievably dirty. Rupert treated Léonie as a boy, which pleased her, and he told her endless tales of Society which also pleased her. But most of all she liked him to remember scraps of recollection of his brother. To these she would listen for hours at a time, eyes sparkling, and lips parted to drink in every word.
‘He is – he is grand seigneur !’ she said once, proudly.
‘Oh, ay, every inch of him! I’ll say that. He’ll count no cost, either. He’s devilish clever, too.’ Rupert shook his head wisely. ‘Sometimes I think there’s nothing he don’t know. God knows how he finds things out, but he does. All pose, of course, but it’s damned awkward, I give you my word. You can’t keep a thing secret from him. And he always comes on you when you least expect him – or want him. Oh, he’s cunning, devilish cunning.’
‘I think you do like him a little,’ Léonie said shrewdly.
‘Devil a bit. Oh, he can be pleasant enough, but it’s seldom he is! One’s proud of him, y’know, but he’s queer.’
‘I wish he would come back,’ sighed Léonie.
Two days later Merivale, on his way to Avon village, met them, careering wildly over the country. They reined in when they saw him and came to him. Léonie was flushed and panting, Rupert was sulky.
‘He is a great stupid, this Rupert,’ Léonie announced.
‘She has led me a fine dance this day,’ Rupert complained.
‘I do not want you with me at all,’ said Léonie, nose in air.
Merivale smiled upon their quarrel.
‘My lady said a while ago that I was a boy, but ’fore Gad you make me feel a greybeard,’ he said. ‘Farewell to ye both!’ He rode on to the village, and there transacted his business. He stopped for a few minutes at the Avon Arms, and went into the coffee-room. In the doorway he ran into a tall gentleman who was coming out.
‘Your pardon, sir,’ he said, and stared in amazement. ‘Saint-Vire! Why, what do ye here, Comte? I’d no notion –’
Saint-Vire had started back angrily, but he bowed now, and if his tone was not cordial, at least he was polite.
‘Your servant, Merivale. I had not thought to see you here.’
‘Nor I you. Of all the queer places in which to meet you! What brings you here?’
Saint-Vire hesitated for a moment.
‘I am on my way to visit friends,’ he said, after a while. ‘They live – a day’s journey north of this place. My schooner is at Portsmouth.’ He spread out his hands. ‘I am forced to break my journey to recover from a slight indisposition which attacked me en route. What would you? One does not wish to arrive souffrant at the house of a friend?’
Merivale thought the story strange, and Saint-Vire’s manner stranger still, but he was too well-bred to show incredulity.
‘My dear Comte, it’s most opportune. You will give me the pleasure of your company at dinner at Merivale? I must present you to my wife.’
Again it seemed that Saint-Vire hesitated.
‘Monsieur, I resume my journey to-morrow.’
‘Well, ride out to Merivale this evening, Comte, I beg of you.’
Almost the Comte shrugged.
‘Eh bien, m’sieur, you are very kind. I thank you.’
He came that evening to Merivale and bowed deeply over Jennifer’s hand.
‘Madame, this is a great pleasure. I have long wished to meet the wife of my friend Merivale. Is it too late to felicitate, Merivale?’
Anthony laughed.
‘We are four years married, Comte.’
‘One has heard much of the beauty of Madame le Baronne,’ Saint-Vire said.
Jennifer withdrew her hand.
‘Will you be seated, monsieur? I am always glad to see my husband’s friends. For where are you bound?’
Saint-Vire waved a vague hand.
‘North, madame. I go to visit my friend – er – Chalmer.’
Merivale’s brow creased.
‘Chalmer? I don’t think I know –’
‘He lives very much in seclusion,’ explained Saint-Vire, and turned again to Jennifer. ‘Madame, I think I have never met you in Paris?’
‘No, sir, I have not been outside mine own country. My husband goes there sometimes.’
‘You should take madame,’ Saint-Vire smiled. ‘You we see often, n’est-ce pas?’
‘Not so often as of yore,’ Merivale answered. ‘My wife has no taste for town life.’
‘Ah, one understands then why you stay not long abroad these days, Merivale!’
Dinner was announced, and they went into the adjoining room. The Comte shook out his napkin.
‘You live in most charming country, madame. The woods here are superb.’
‘They are finer about Avon Court,’ said Anthony. ‘There are some splendid oaks there.’
‘Ah, Avon! I am desolated to hear that the Duc is away. I hoped – but it is not to be.’
In the recesses of Merivale’s brain memory stirred. Surely there had been some scandal, many years ago?
‘No, Avon, I believe, is in London. Lord Rupert is staying with us – he is at the Court now, dining with Madam Field, and Mademoiselle de Bonnard, the Duke’s ward.’
Saint-Vire’s hand, holding the wine-glass, shook a little.
‘Mademoiselle de – ?’
‘Bonnard. You knew that Avon had adopted a daughter?’
‘I heard some rumour,’ the Comte said slowly. ‘So she is here?’
‘For a time only. She is to be presented soon, I think.’
‘Vraiment? ’ The Comte sipped his wine. ‘No doubt she is ennuyée here.’
‘I think she is well enough,’ Merivale answered. ‘There is much to amuse her at Avon. She and that scamp, Rupert, have taken to playing at hide-and-seek in the woods. They are naught but a pair of children!’
‘Aha?’ Saint-Vire slightly inclined his head. ‘And the Duc is, you say, in London?’
‘I cannot say for sure. None ever knows where he will be next. Léonie expects him daily, I think.’
‘I am sorry to have missed him,’ said Saint-Vire mechanically.
After dinner he and Merivale played at piquet together, and soon Rupert came striding in, and stopped dead upon the threshold at sight of the visitor.
‘Thun – Your very devoted, Comte,’ he said stiffly, and stalked over to where Jennifer was seated. ‘What’s that fellow doing here?’ he growled in her ear.
She laid a finger on her lips.
‘The Comte was just saying that he is sorry to have missed seeing your – your brother, Rupert,’ she said clearly.
Rupert stared at Saint-Vire.
‘Eh? Oh, ay! My brother will be heartbroken, I assure you, sir. Did you come to pay him a visit?’
A muscle quivered beside the Comte’s heavy mouth.
‘No, milor’. I am on my way to visit friends. I thought maybe to see M. le Duc on my way.’
‘Pray let me be the bearer of any message you may wish to send him, sir,’ said Rupert.
‘Cela ne vaut pas la peine, m’sieur,’ said the Comte politely.
No sooner had he taken his leave of them than Rupert scowled upon his host.
‘Devil take you, Tony, why did you ask that fellow here? What’s he doing in England? ’Pon my soul, it’s too bad that I should have to meet him, and be civil!’
‘I noticed no civility,’ remarked Merivale. ‘Was there some quarrel between him and Alastair?’
‘Quarrel! He’s our worst enemy, my dear! He insulted the name! I give you my word he did! What, don’t you know? He hates us like the devil! Tried to horse-whip Justin years ago.’
Enlightenment came to Merivale.
‘Of course I remember! Why in the world did he pretend he wanted to meet Alastair?’
‘I don’t like him,’ Jennifer said, troubled. ‘His eyes make me shiver. I think he is not a good man.’
‘What puzzles me,’ said Rupert, ‘is why he should be the living spit of Léonie.’
Merivale started up.
‘That is it, then! I could not think where I had seen her like! What does it all mean?’
‘Oh, but she is not like him!’ protested Jennifer. ‘’Tis but the red hair makes you say so. Léonie has a sweet little face!’
‘Red hair and dark eyebrows,’ said Rupert. ‘Damme, I believe there’s more in this than we think! It’s like Justin to play a deep game, stap me if it isn’t!’
Merivale laughed at him.
‘What game, rattle-pate?’
‘I don’t know, Tony. But if you’d lived with Justin for as many years as I have you wouldn’t laugh. Justin hasn’t forgot the quarrel, I’ll swear! He never forgets. There’s something afoot, I’ll be bound.’
Seventeen
Of a Capture, a Chase, and Confusion
Oh, parbleu !’ Léonie said in disgust. ‘This Rupert he is always late, the vaurien !’
‘My dearest love,’ Madam Field reproved her. ‘That expression! Indeed, it is not becoming in a young lady! I must beg of you –’
‘To-day I am not a lady at all,’ said Léonie flatly. ‘I want Monseigneur to come.’
‘My dear, it is hardly proper in you to –’
‘Ah, bah!’ said Léonie, and walked away.
She went to her own apartment, and sat disconsolately down at the window.
‘It is two weeks since Monseigneur wrote,’ she reflected. ‘And then he said, I come soon now. Voyons, this is no way to keep that promise! And Rupert is late again.’ A sparkle came into her eyes. She jumped up. ‘I will have a game with Rupert,’ she said.
With this intention she pulled her boy’s raiment out of the cupboard, and struggled out of her skirts. Her hair had grown, but it was not yet long enough to be confined in the nape of her neck by a riband. It clustered about her head still in a myriad of soft curls. She brushed it back from her forehead, dressed herself in shirt and breeches and coat, and catching up her tricorne, swaggered downstairs. Luckily Madam Field was nowhere to be seen, so she escaped without let or hindrance into the garden. It was the first time she had ventured out of doors in her boy’s gear, and since it was an illicit pleasure her eyes twinkled naughtily. Rupert, with all his laxity, had in him a quaint streak of prudery, as she knew.
He would of a certainty be shocked to see her parading the grounds thus clad, and as this was precisely what she wanted she set out in the hope of meeting him, making for the woods that ran down towards the road.
Half-way across the big meadow that separated her from the woodland she espied Rupert coming from the stables, carrying his hat under his arm, and whistling jauntily. Léonie cupped her hands about her mouth.
‘Ohé, Rupert!’ she called gleefully.
Rupert saw her, stood still for a moment, and then came striding towards her.
‘Fiend seize it, what will you be at next?’ he shouted. ‘’Pon my soul, it’s scandalous, stap me if it’s not! Home with you, you hoyden!’
‘I shall not, Milor’ Rupert!’ she cried tauntingly, and danced away. ‘You cannot make me!’
‘Can I not, then?’ called Rupert, and, dropping his hat, broke into a run.
Léonie straightway dived into the wood, and fled as for her life, for she knew very well that if he caught her Rupert would have no hesitation in picking her up and carryin
g her back to the house.
‘Wait till I catch you!’ threatened Rupert, crashing through the undergrowth. ‘Damme, I’ve torn my ruffle, and the lace cost me fifteen guineas! Plague take it, where are you!’
Léonie sent a mocking cry echoing through the wood, and ran on, listening to Rupert’s blundering progress behind her. She led him in and out of the trees, through bushes, round in circles, and over the stream, always keeping just out of sight, until she found herself coming out into the road. She would have turned, and doubled back, had she not chanced to see a light travelling coach standing near by. She was surprised, and tiptoed to peep at it over a low thorn-bush. In the distance she heard Rupert’s voice, half-exasperated, half-laughing. She threw back her head to call to him, and as she did so, saw to her amazement the Comte de Saint-Vire, walking quickly up on one of the paths that led through the wood. He was frowning, and his heavy mouth pouted. He looked up, and as his glance fell upon her the frown went from his face, and he came hurrying towards her.
‘I give you good morrow, Léon the Page,’ he said, and the words bit. ‘I had hardly hoped that I should find you thus soon. The luck is with me this round, I think.’
Léonie retreated a little. Avon’s warning was in her mind.
‘Bon jour, m’sieur,’ she said, and wondered what he was doing in the Duke’s grounds, or why he was in England at all. ‘Did you go to see Monseigneur?’ she asked, with wrinkled brow. ‘He is not here.’
‘I am desolated,’ said Saint-Vire sarcastically, and came right up to her. She shrank, and in a fit of inexplicable panic, called to Rupert.
‘Rupert, Rupert, à moi !’
Even as she cried Saint-Vire’s hand was over her mouth and his other arm about her waist. Struggling madly she was swept from the ground and borne at a run to where the coach stood waiting. Without compunction she bit deeply into the hand over her mouth. There was a muttered oath, the hand flinched a little, and she jerked her head away to shriek again.
‘Rupert, Rupert, on m’enporte! À moi, à moi, à moi! ’
His voice came to her, nearer at hand.
‘Who – what – ? What the devil – ?’
She was flung then into the coach, sprang up like a small fury, but was thrust roughly back again. She heard Saint-Vire give an order to the coachman; then he jumped in beside her, and the coach lurched forward.
Georgette Heyer - [Alastair 01] Page 16