Marianne & the Marquis

by Anne Herries

  ‘Yes. At least he said that we might expect him. I met him last evening near the rhododendron valley. He was looking for birds.’

  ‘Ah, yes, I believe I have mentioned that it is a hobby with him, though I imagine he would see more from the cliffs than that particular spot.’

  ‘I suppose he may simply enjoy walking. The estate has many pretty walks and I believe he has permission to go where he will?’ Marianne raised her fine brows.

  ‘Well, yes, I suppose so,’ Lady Edgeworthy agreed. ‘When the cliff house belonged to my cousin, he treated this house as if it were his own. I was very fond of Cedric…’ She sighed, because to speak of the young man she had loved was still so painful. ‘I shall never understand why he fell that day. He knew the paths so well. I have never understood it…’

  ‘You are perfectly certain it was an accident?’

  ‘What else could it be?’

  ‘I did tell you that I thought it possible that smugglers might be using the cove. Supposing he saw something he shouldn’t and they killed him?’

  ‘Good gracious!’ Lady Edgeworthy put a hand to her chest in alarm. ‘I have never considered the possibility that his death was not an accident for a moment. Nor do I wish to, Marianne. I am sure that Cedric fell…it could have been nothing else…’ She looked distressed at the idea that her cousin might have been murdered. Marianne tried to comfort her, wishing that she had not broached the subject.

  ‘Please do not upset yourself, Aunt,’ Marianne said. ‘It was merely a thought that occurred to me.’

  ‘No, no, it cannot be…’

  As the door opened at that moment, admitting Mr Hambleton, Marianne made no further attempt to justify her suspicions. He came into the room, looking from one to the other as if sensing an atmosphere.

  ‘I trust that you have not been arguing with Lady Edgeworthy, Miss Horne?’ He spoke in a light teasing voice, but Marianne wondered if he hoped to cause dissent between them.

  ‘No, of course not,’ Lady Edgeworthy said at once. For some reason he had begun to irritate her. His letter had never arrived and she was a little annoyed that he had not let her know he was coming down. ‘I was merely a little disturbed. Marianne was wondering if Cedric’s fall was something other than an accident.’

  ‘Indeed? How could that be?’ Mr Hambleton frowned at her. ‘I think there has been no suggestion of it before this.’

  ‘Marianne thought there might be smugglers using the cove. If that were the case it might mean…for Cedric might have seen something he shouldn’t…but, no, I do not think it.’ Lady Edgeworthy fanned herself, obviously upset. ‘Please, we shall say no more of this.’

  ‘I am sure there is no foundation for such suspicions,’ Joshua Hambleton said in a reassuring tone. He gave Marianne a warning look, as if blaming her for Lady Edgeworthy’s agitation. ‘We have never been troubled with activity of that kind here. I think your imagination has been playing tricks on you, Miss Horne. It was wrong of you to distress Lady Edgeworthy.’

  At that moment Jane came into the room and announced that their visitor was on his way. ‘I have just seen Mr Beck walking towards the house,’ she said. ‘He will be here at any moment…’ Sensing an atmosphere, she glanced at their faces. ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘Nothing at all,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. She looked surprised as Mr Hambleton headed for the door. ‘Will you not stay for tea, Joshua? I thought you might like to meet our tenant.’

  ‘I have arranged to speak to someone in the village,’ he said. ‘I shall return in time for dinner, Lady Edgeworthy.’ He smiled at her, threw Marianne a look that seemed to reprove her and went out of the room.

  Marianne was standing by the window when Mr Beck was announced. She had not seen Mr Hambleton leave the house and thought that he must have used a side entrance. It occurred to her that he might not have wanted to meet their visitor, but she dismissed the thought, accepting that perhaps she was too suspicious. She had already distressed her great-aunt by suggesting that her cousin’s death might not be an accident. To raise doubts about Mr Hambleton’s sincerity would cause Lady Edgeworthy more anxiety. And for the moment she had no good reason to be suspicious of him. Just because she did not like him, it did not mean that he was a murderer or a fortune hunter.

  ‘Good afternoon, ladies,’ Drew said as he walked into the room. He bowed his head. ‘Lady Edgeworthy, I trust you are well? Miss Horne—Miss Trevor. It is good to see you both in such beauty.’

  ‘Oh, Mr Beck,’ Jane trilled, her cheeks pink. ‘Marianne is beautiful, but I am not pretty at all.’

  ‘That isn’t true,’ Marianne said. ‘Last evening I saw you laughing with Dr Thompson and I thought how attractive you looked when you were happy. You hide your light, Jane, and could make more of yourself if you wished.’

  ‘Oh…’ Jane’s cheeks were hot and she looked uncomfortable. ‘Yes, of course. I remember now that Dr Thompson called. He brought Lady Edgeworthy’s medicine and we talked about something…I cannot recall what, but it was some amusing tale. He often makes us laugh, does he not, Lady Edgeworthy?’

  ‘Yes, indeed, he does,’ her employer said and frowned. ‘When Thompson gave you the medicine, what did you do with it, Jane?’

  ‘I took it to your room and left it on your dressing table. Did you not find it there?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I recall it now,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘You came from my room as I walked along the landing, and I put the medicine away myself.’

  ‘Is something wrong?’ Jane asked, looking anxious. She had a handkerchief in her hand, which she pleated nervously, a distinctly guilty look in her eyes.

  ‘No, not at all,’ her employer replied. ‘We are forgetting our manners. Please sit down, Mr Beck. Jane, you may ring for tea if you will.’

  Marianne came forward then, taking a seat on the small gilt-framed sofa. She had not missed the significance of the questions asked of Jane and wondered if the companion could have done something to contaminate the medicine. She was clearly nervous about something. It might be that she knew the peppermint cordial was contaminated and meant to make her employer ill—or it might be something entirely different.

  ‘Have you seen any more of your eagle, Mr Beck?’ she asked, deciding to put the peppermint cordial from her mind for the moment. Her gaze dwelled on his face, hoping that her question would at least give him an awkward moment or pause for thought.

  ‘No, Miss Horne, I have not,’ he said, seeming remarkably composed, though his eyes gleamed as he returned her look. ‘I think it must have been a hawk I saw or perhaps a large seabird, as you suggested.’

  ‘I do not think I have ever seen an eagle on this part of the coast,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘But then, I am not knowledgeable about these things.’

  ‘I must confess that I have taken up the hobby only recently,’ Drew said. ‘I needed something to help me pass the time during my illness.’

  ‘And exactly what was that?’ Marianne asked. ‘You seem much recovered, sir.’

  ‘Yes, I am, thank you for your concern,’ Drew said, a steely glint in his eyes, as if daring her to accuse him of something. ‘I had a putrid fever of the lungs and was very ill for some weeks—but I believe the sea air is doing me the world of good.’

  Lady Edgeworthy nodded her approval. ‘Marianne tells me you like to walk, sir. You must feel free to go wherever you wish on the estate, Mr Beck. Just be careful of the cliffs in some places, for they are crumbling and may be dangerous.’

  ‘Yes, your agent warned me of it,’ Drew said. ‘I was saddened to learn of the accident to your cousin. It was a severe loss for you.’

  ‘Yes, it was,’ Lady Edgeworthy agreed. ‘However, it was some time ago now and I have my dear Marianne to keep me company—and Jane, of course. At the moment, my husband’s cousin is staying with me. Mr Joshua Hambleton. I had hoped he would be here to meet you, but he had some pressing business. However, you may meet at my dinner party. I have decided to ask my friends for n
ext Saturday evening. It is a long time since I entertained, for I could not raise the energy, but now that Marianne is here she will help me…will you not, my dear?’

  ‘Yes, Aunt, of course. I shall write all the invitations and run any errands you care to ask. You must give me the names of your friends and it will be a pleasure to help you welcome them here.’

  ‘Oh, there are no more than a dozen,’ Lady Edgeworthy said, sitting forward in her chair and clearly animated. ‘But they have been my neighbours since I first came here as a bride, and it is time I had them to dinner once more. I dare say you may have met Sir Edgar Bright and Mr John Pembroke, Mr Beck, for they are often in the village? Mr Pembroke is a man of business and Sir Edgar has a large estate just north of here.’

  ‘I am not certain. I have not gone out in company much since I came here…’ Drew saw Marianne’s eyes on him. He knew that she was watching with interest and he smiled at the elderly lady. ‘But I shall, of course, be delighted to meet them at your home—now that I feel so much better.’

  ‘I knew that the air here would be good for you,’ Lady Edgeworthy said, looking very pleased, as if she felt that she had contributed to his recovery. ‘Ah, here is Bessie with our tea. Perhaps you would like to pour, Marianne? Jane will assist you.’

  The conversation became general as they discussed the weather, the price of tea, which was so very expensive, and the continuing hostilities with the French. Austria had only recently declared war on France and there was hope that a solution would be found before too long.

  ‘I believe my agent told me that you fought with Wellington at Salamanca?’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘It was my cousin’s hope that he would become an officer in the light infantry one day…’

  ‘Yes, I was at Salamanca, amongst other places,’ Drew told her. ‘I was called home some months ago on family business…and then my health…’

  ‘Yes, how sad for you. You must miss your companions?’

  ‘Yes, I do,’ Drew admitted and there was the ring of truth in his voice. ‘I have my batman with me. He looks after me at the house, just as he did in Spain.’

  ‘Mr Hambleton was in Spain,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘But I think he was not strong enough to fight. He was in charge of logistics…have I that right? I believe he means that he arranged for the transport of goods from one place to another?’

  ‘Yes…’ Drew frowned. ‘I hope he was not one of the fools who were always losing what we most needed. It was often the case that vital supplies went astray. We lived on what we could buy or forage for ourselves—but supplies of ammunition were sometimes mislaid and that led to difficulties…’

  ‘Well, I do not know how that may be, but Joshua had to sell out because he was prone to too many fevers.’

  ‘What rank did he hold?’ Drew asked politely.

  ‘He was merely a lieutenant,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘He could not afford to purchase his colours, you see. He worked his way up through the ranks, and then, just as he had risen to a position of some merit, he was forced to resign.’

  ‘That was a shame,’ Jane said. ‘I know he suffers in the winter with his chest, because he asked Dr Thompson if he could recommend something—’ She broke off and blushed. ‘Perhaps I should not have said…’

  ‘Mr Hambleton seems quite well at the moment,’ Marianne observed and then, to cover Jane’s confusion, ‘More tea, Mr Beck? Perhaps you would like another cake?’

  ‘I have eaten three already,’ Drew said and grinned at her. ‘Do not tempt me, Miss Horne, for Robbie’s cooking is not as enjoyable as these delicious trifles.’

  ‘You should take advantage of my great-aunt’s cook,’ Marianne said. The sparkle in his eyes and his wicked look had made her heart race. At that moment something stirred within her, making her breathless—his eyes were so very blue, almost the colour of bluebells…and oddly familiar. She was sure she had looked into eyes like that once before, but it was a long time ago.

  ‘I believe I must be going,’ Drew said, getting to his feet. The puzzled expression in Marianne’s eyes warned him that she had begun to wonder. It might be only a matter of time before she remembered him, as he had remembered her, and he would prefer that it did not happen here. ‘I shall look forward to receiving your invitation, ma’am.’

  ‘See Mr Beck out, Marianne,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘Jane, you may pour me another cup of tea. I want to talk to you…’

  Marianne left the room with some reluctance. She sensed there was something of a mystery about him, and though she thought she might know at least part of the answer, she was still not sure enough to be certain how she felt about him. She thought he might be trusted, but there were times when the look in his eyes made her feel a little strange.

  At the door, Drew stopped and looked at her. ‘You are frowning,’ he said. ‘You will cause lines to appear, Miss Horne. I assure you that there is nothing for you to concern yourself over.’

  ‘Who are you?’ she asked. ‘I know that you call yourself Mr Beck—and you say that you have been ill—but who are you really and why are you here?’

  ‘It would be better if you did not ask such questions,’ Drew said. ‘Believe me, I mean no harm to your great-aunt or yourself.’

  ‘I wish that I could be sure. It is all such a mystery…’

  Drew frowned, for he sensed more here than her doubts concerning himself. ‘You are worried about something?’

  ‘Yes…’ Marianne looked into his eyes. She hesitated, then, ‘I do not know whether to trust you or not, sir—but I think that I need to trust someone.’

  ‘If you decide that I am the one, come to the rhododendron valley tomorrow at midmorning,’ Drew said. ‘If you wish for my help, I shall do all that I can to serve you…’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, her voice catching. She watched him walk away from her. She did know him from somewhere! The elusive memory was at the back of her mind, taunting her. She felt that she ought to remember him—but why?

  Marianne spent a restless night dreaming. In the morning she knew that her dreams had frightened her, but she could not recall them. She seemed to remember that they concerned Mr Beck and the smugglers, but other than that the dreams had become a mist that vanished once she opened her eyes.

  It was all nonsense! She laughed at herself and dismissed the dreams. Far more worrying was the thought that someone might have been tampering with her great-aunt’s medicine once more.

  She visited Lady Edgeworthy in her room before going out for her customary walk. Miss Rudge was tidying some clothes, but smiled and prepared to leave as Marianne entered. Her great-aunt was sitting up in bed with a tray of hot chocolate and biscuits beside her.

  ‘Miss Rudge,’ Marianne greeted her as she went out. ‘Aunt, how are you this morning?’

  ‘I feel very much better this morning,’ she declared. ‘I asked Miss Rudge to make me a peppermint tisane and that helped my digestion. I think it is better than Thompson’s preparation and I shall not ask him for more just yet.’

  ‘At least you know that your tisane is freshly prepared,’ Marianne said. ‘May I get you anything before I go out, Aunt?’

  ‘Oh, no, my dear,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘I approve of your habit of walking each morning. It brings colour to your cheeks and I am sure it is good for you. This afternoon you may help me write my invitations, but there is no reason for you to stay in the house on my behalf.’

  ‘I am glad you are feeling better,’ Marianne said. She kissed her great-aunt’s cheek and left her, going downstairs. As she reached the hall, she saw that Mr Hambleton had just come in. He looked as if he had been riding, his boots splashed with something that might have been salt. Had he been down to the beach? ‘Good morning, sir.’

  ‘Good morning, Miss Horne,’ he replied. ‘Are you about to go walking? It is a lovely day, fresher than last week, but all the better for that, I think.’

  ‘Yes, it will be pleasant near the cliffs,’ Marianne said. ‘Have you been riding?’


  ‘Yes…yes, I went for a little ride about the estate. I always like to rise early when I am in the country. Had I known that you wished for exercise, I might have hired a horse for you from the local hostelry.’

  ‘Thank you, but I am quite content to walk,’ Marianne replied, feeling uncomfortable beneath his intent gaze. She felt a little guilty, because he was so obviously trying to be friendly towards her, and she could not help wishing that he would not.

  Marianne nodded and went past him, out into the sunshine of a bright, late-summer morning. She supposed that the excessive heat of the summer must be almost over now, for it was nearly the end of August. She had told Mr Hambleton that it would be pleasant on the cliffs, but instead she turned inland, towards the rhododendron valley.

  He was waiting for her in almost the same place as they had met previously. Marianne’s heart quickened at the sight of him. She did not know why she should suddenly feel her spirits lift, but it was so and she smiled as she walked to greet him.

  ‘Have you been waiting long, sir?’

  ‘Oh, I wander about pretty much from first light,’ Drew told her. ‘It is amazing what one may see first thing…’

  ‘You intrigue me,’ Marianne said and gave him a wicked look. ‘Don’t tell me you spotted your eagle?’

  ‘Ah, no, I fear I was mistaken there,’ he said and grinned. ‘What I saw was more interesting…a meeting in the cove between a local fisherman and one other.’

  ‘One other? Do you mean a gentleman?’

  ‘Of sorts,’ Drew said and the look in his eyes sent a little shiver down her spine. She thought then that she would not like to be this man’s enemy.

  ‘Pray tell me what you mean?’

  ‘If I am not mistaken, he is a disgraced army officer of junior rank—but I cannot be absolutely sure.’

  Marianne frowned, for his words echoed thoughts she had not realised were there until he spoke. ‘Would you be speaking of Mr Joshua Hambleton?’