by Anne Herries
‘You know I would do anything to please you.’ He suddenly reached out and seized her hand, dropping to one knee on the grass before her. ‘I have spoken of my deep regard before, Miss Marianne. I must speak now, though I realise that we do not know each other well. My feelings for you are such that I must ask respectfully if you would do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
For a moment Marianne was so shocked that she could not speak. When she could gather her thoughts sufficiently, she rose to her feet. Her instinctive reaction was one of disgust and horror, but she knew that she must hide her feelings.
‘You do me honour, sir,’ she replied as easily as she could manage, ‘but you are quite right. I do not know you well enough to entertain your proposal of marriage.’
‘But is there hope for me?’ he persisted, rising to his feet. The way he looked at her sent slivers of ice down her spine and he must have sensed something, for his expression changed, a flash of anger in his eyes. ‘Pray do not tell me that I may not even hope.’
‘I fear that I must do so, sir,’ Marianne said. ‘Please do not press me more.’
‘Am I to infer that you consider me unworthy of your consideration?’ Joshua said, his gaze becoming cold and hostile.
‘I do not mean to insult you,’ Marianne said, ‘but I…do not like you well enough to think of marriage, Mr Hambleton.’
Now the anger flashed in his eyes and she wished her last words unsaid. They had been unwise and she had made him her enemy, but his behaviour had been intolerable. She had thought he might try to kiss her, and she really could not bear such an intimacy.
‘I see…then I shall not trouble you with my presence any longer,’ he said and walked away.
Marianne stared after him for a few moments, then gathered her sketching things and took them into the house. The meeting with Joshua had unsettled her and she no longer felt peaceful enough to continue her work. She decided that she would go for a walk instead.
Hardly knowing why she did so, Marianne found her steps turning towards the cliffs. It was a while since she had walked this way, and three days since she had seen Drew. She had discovered that she was missing him far more than was good for her peace of mind, and her heart gave a great leap as she saw him walking towards her. She smiled a little tentatively as he came up to her.
‘Marianne, were you coming to see me?’
‘No…I am not sure,’ she said and then burst out with it. ‘Mr Hambleton asked me to marry him half an hour ago. I refused him as politely as I could manage, but I think he guessed that I dislike him—indeed, I fear I almost said it. It was very bad of me to be so rude, and not at all wise.’
She looked so contrite that Drew laughed. ‘Well, he should not have had the effrontery to ask you. He is not worthy to kiss your feet! I should like to teach him his manners.’
‘Oh…’ Marianne blushed. ‘I dare say it was a well-meant offer and I do not think myself above such a marriage—but I cannot like him and besides, I think he tried to kill my aunt. And he is involved with smugglers!’ Her pent-up emotions tumbled out in hasty words. ‘And if he were not, I could never marry him. He is a slimy toad!’
‘I hope you did not say as much to him?’
‘No, I was careful in my choice of words, except at the last—I told him I could not like him enough to think of marriage. Was that very rude of me? It made him angry.’
‘I dare say it would,’ Drew said. His eyes were warm with amusement as they dwelled on her flushed face. Her passion and her distress had tumbled out of her with charming innocence, making him aware of a need to protect her from Mr Hambleton and any other gentleman with similar intentions. Himself included, for he knew that he could bring her nothing but pain in the end. ‘Feel no pity for him, Marianne. He has his own agenda for making you a proposal.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Forgive me, it is not my place to say—but I was on my way to your aunt’s house to warn you once more. I discovered something today that makes me think that you may be in some immediate danger from him…especially now that you have refused him.’
‘You mean because of my aunt’s will, I suppose. Aunt Bertha told me that she has decided to change it in favour of Mama, my sisters and me—though he is still to receive something.’ Marianne frowned. ‘Will you come back to the house with me now? I am sure that my aunt and Jane would be pleased with your company.’
‘I shall walk part of the way with you,’ Drew said as they turned in the direction of Sawlebridge House. ‘There is one good thing in all this…’ Marianne arched her fine brows. ‘If Mr Hambleton knows that he will not benefit from her will, he may not bother to make any more attempts on her life.’
‘I had not thought of that,’ Marianne replied. ‘Do you think he does know?’
‘I am certain of it,’ Drew said. ‘He has been paying a clerk for information concerning her affairs, but he made a mistake today, for he gave only a half sovereign for the news that he was disinherited—and I paid more.’
Marianne looked at him. ‘Have you considered that your own life may be in danger, sir? I do not think your activities in the district will have gone unnoticed.’
‘I am safe enough as long as I go armed and keep my wits about me. I have no fear for my own safety. There was a time when I might have welcomed death, though that is behind me. I promise you that I shall not be careless.’ His eyes were a very dark blue as they dwelled on her face, sending little quivers coursing through her. ‘It is your safety that concerns me, Marianne. I should not forgive myself if anything untoward were to happen to you. I know that you would not leave your aunt or I would urge you to go home to your family.’
‘I should be a poor friend if I deserted her when she needed me,’ Marianne said. ‘Besides, Jane is to be married in just over two weeks from now. I have been helping her with her bride clothes and I am looking forward to seeing her wed.’
‘Yes, I expect so,’ Drew said and smiled oddly. ‘Well, do not be surprised if you have a shadow haunting you wherever you walk—it will be either Robbie, me or someone I have asked to help us.’
She stopped walking, gazing up into his eyes, her face an open book for him to read. ‘I thank you for your concern,’ she said softly, ‘but you must not worry for my sake. I think Mr Hambleton has other plans for the moment, plans that must take precedence over my death. I have been thinking that this next run must be something special…that he has good reason for wanting us to leave the house.’
‘He may have decided that it is becoming too dangerous to continue his dangerous game,’ Drew agreed. ‘In his shoes I think I might risk one last cargo—a large one that would bring me in enough funds to set myself up in…whatever it is he has in mind.’
Marianne nodded and looked thoughtful. ‘Yes, I believe he is hoping for something on those lines—but he has given up trying to persuade my great-aunt to leave the house. I do not know whether he still intends to use the cellars or whether he will change his mind.’
‘There must be a wall blocking off the tunnel and perhaps part of the cellar itself,’ Drew said. ‘The house is old and it was probably installed many years ago. There may be some mechanism that releases it, as there often is in old houses. Many of the secret rooms that exist were built to hide Catholic priests in the days of the Tudors. I have looked for the entrance at the cliff side, but can find no sign of it. It might be easier to discover it from your side—’ He broke off and looked at her. ‘That does not mean that you should search for it. Perhaps I might be allowed to try one day—when Joshua is out?’
‘I do not see why not,’ Marianne replied. ‘I should imagine that my great-aunt would prefer that it is sealed so that no one may enter that way.’
‘Yes, I imagine she would,’ Drew agreed. ‘Will you ask her if I may come tomorrow?’
‘Yes, when we are alone,’ Marianne said. ‘It may be awkward for Joshua now that I have refused him. I do not think he will be anxious to spend time in the house. He may even leave us again.
’
‘Send me word when he leaves and I shall come as soon as I am able,’ Drew told her. ‘I think the drop may be imminent, for he would not otherwise have returned so soon, and I have taken certain precautions. We may be able to catch them as they land and then none of this will matter.’
Marianne felt cold all over. ‘I think you will be in some danger when that happens. Please take care, sir.’
‘Yes, I shall,’ Drew said. He reached out and touched her cheek, trailing his fingers down its softness. ‘Do not worry for my sake, sweet nymph.’
‘You should not call me that,’ Marianne reproved, her heart racing. His look seemed to burn into her, making her aware of fierce longings she had not known she could feel. She hoped that he might take her into his arms and kiss her as he had before, but he merely smiled.
‘I must go. You are in sight of the house and I think you safe enough now,’ he told her. ‘I have business elsewhere. I shall see you tomorrow unless I have your note to say it is not convenient. I shall know what you mean.’
‘Yes, of course,’ Marianne said. ‘Farewell…until tomorrow…’
Drew nodded, but said no more as he turned away. She stood for a moment watching him walk back the way they had come, and then sighed. As she moved towards the house, a man came out, strolling towards her. She went forward with a smile as she recognised him, because she had liked the gentleman when they met and knew that he was one of her great-aunt’s oldest friends.
‘How nice to see you, Major Barr,’ Marianne said. ‘Have you seen Lady Edgeworthy?’
‘Yes, we had a little chat. She told me that she had been changing her will and that Mr Hambleton was no longer her heir. I told her that I thought she was very wise. Seems a charming fellow on the face of it—but not sure he is everything he claims. Told her she would be sensible not to have him here again.’
‘Oh…’ Marianne did not know how to answer him, for he seemed to know what was happening here and she was not sure how he had gained his knowledge. ‘Well, it is my aunt’s affair. She must do just as she likes.’
‘Yes, she said you had been a great support to her. The impertinent fellow wanted her to sell and move. Told her I could get her a decent price if she wanted to sell, but I hope she won’t just yet. Hard to find good friends.’ He smiled at her in a genial way. ‘Did I see Beck walking off just now? Now there’s a true friend to have in an emergency.’
‘Yes, I believe so,’ she said.
‘Well, I must get off, I have things to do. I just wanted to make sure Lady Edgeworthy was going along nicely. She tells me that Mr Hambleton has decided to leave you again. Indeed, he took his leave before I arrived. Apparently, he had urgent business elsewhere.’
‘Oh, I see,’ Marianne said. ‘Thank you for your neighbourly concern for my great-aunt, sir. I shall go in to her now, because she will be wondering where I have got to—it is well past teatime.’
‘I should warn you that Lady Smythe is with your aunt,’ Major Barr said. ‘I left them to have a good gossip.’
Marianne nodded and went into the house. She decided to go up and tidy herself before going into her aunt’s drawing room when she had company.
She came down some minutes later, pausing outside the door. Lady Smythe was talking rather loudly, and Marianne was struck as she heard Drew’s name.
‘Oh, yes, I am quite sure of it,’ Lady Smythe said. ‘I thought I had seen him in London—and I remembered this morning. We were not introduced, but someone pointed him out to me—he is the Marquis of Marlbeck. His uncle died a few months back and he came into the title, because the marquis’s son had died…’
Marianne stood absolutely still, listening as her aunt asked for more details. Surely it was not possible, and yet she had met him that day in Marlbeck Woods when they were children…and he had told her that he was staying with his uncle. Of course! She ought to have known it. There was a slight family resemblance, though she would never have put it all together unless she had overheard Lady Smythe.
Her heart was thudding, and her thoughts were whirling in confusion. Drew had deliberately concealed his identity from her—why? He had told her so much, why had he not trusted her enough to tell her who he really was? He must have known that she would not betray him.
She had thought him a gentleman of moderate means, an ex-army officer, but he was the Marquis of Marlbeck. And that meant marriage between them was out of the question. He was an important member of the aristocracy and could not be expected to think of marrying a parson’s daughter. Her cheeks flamed as she recalled that he had told her he had no time for flirting with her for the moment. He must have thought she was setting her cap at him!
She knew the house he had inherited because she had been to the garden parties that were held there each summer. And she had been invited to a large gathering in the great hall that the last marquis had given for his neighbours a year or two before his death, but never to dinner or the balls that were sometimes held there. Marlbeck Manor was a very large house, furnished with countless treasures and resembled a museum more than a home, for the marquis had liked to show off his great wealth. However, he was a generous man, and had once, years ago, halted in his coach outside the Vicarage and given silver coins to the children, and he had also given permission for the Horne family to use his woods as they pleased. But the acquaintance stopped there.
Drew wore boots that had seen better days, but declared they were his favourites. It was a pretence, a sham, because he was one of the richest men in England, having inherited the estate and all the consequence that went with it.
Marianne’s throat felt tight with tears, because Drew had not treated her well. He should have told her the truth. He should not have let her think there was hope! She would never be considered suitable as the wife of the Marquis of Marlbeck! All this time she had been nurturing a tiny seed of hope that perhaps one day…and he must have known it was impossible. His family and friends would be against it, of course they would, even if he cared enough…but he did not care. He had merely been flirting with her. How foolish she had been to think it could be more. Yes, she was at fault, for she had deceived herself. He had never actually said anything that entitled her to think he meant to make her an offer—and it was more than likely that he believed she would accept carte blanche to become his mistress. Many girls in her situation might have jumped at the chance.
Her cheeks felt hot as she recalled the last time they had kissed. She had surrendered to him completely, might even have considered the world well lost for love had he demanded it of her—but now she was angry. She turned away from the drawing room, feeling unable to face Lady Smythe or her aunt for the moment.
Drew had asked her to send word when Joshua Hambleton left, but that could wait for the morning. He had told her not to go down to the cellars, saying that he would come and search for the entrance to the tunnel himself—but she was in no mood for meekly obeying him.
Joshua had left the house, which meant it was perfectly safe for her to search herself. She decided that she would say nothing to her aunt until she had found something. If she found the entrance, it could easily be blocked from the inside, which would prevent the cellars ever being used for such a purpose again.
‘You are very quiet this evening, my dear,’ Lady Edgeworthy said when they were taking tea in the parlour after dinner. Her eyes dwelled on Marianne’s face. ‘Has something upset you?’
‘No, nothing at all,’ Marianne told her. ‘Forgive me if I have not been good company. I had a slight headache earlier, but it has eased now.’
It was not quite the truth, because the pain she was experiencing was centred about her heart. She realised that she had become much too fond of Captain Beck, and it was difficult to know quite how to cope with the revelation that had dashed her secret hopes.
When she thought about it, she knew that Drew had said nothing to suggest that he wished to marry her. His kisses, his compliments—the smiles that made her heart beat ve
ry fast were mere flirtation. He belonged to the aristocracy and she was merely the daughter of a younger son of country gentry. He must imagine her ripe for seduction…or perhaps he was content with a few kisses?
Tears stung behind her eyes, but there was no way that she could let them fall in her present company. Besides, she was determined not to weep like a silly goose. She would find the tunnel when everyone had gone to bed that night, and then she would inform her aunt of the need to make it safe. She did not need Drew’s help! She was perfectly capable of protecting her aunt and herself!
Somehow she managed to get through the evening without betraying herself. She played the pianoforte, putting all the pent-up passion inside her into a rousing performance that was greeted with applause from Jane and Lady Edgeworthy.
‘If only I could play half as well,’ Jane said. ‘I shall miss you when I marry, Marianne. You must promise to visit me sometimes.’
‘Yes, of course I shall,’ Marianne replied. ‘But you will always be welcome here—will she not, Aunt?’
‘Yes, naturally,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘Now I think I shall seek my bed, for it has been a long day. Will you come up with me, Marianne? I have something I wish to say to you.’
Marianne accompanied her great-aunt to her bedchamber. Lady Edgeworthy smiled at her and asked her to sit down. She did so on one of the stools and her aunt took the mahogany elbow chair, which was a fine example of Mr Chippendale’s work, with pad feet and a solid square seat, covered with exquisite embroidery.
‘Now we may talk privately for a moment,’ she said. ‘I have changed my will and your family will benefit, Marianne. We shall not go into details—but I wanted you to have this now.’
She handed Marianne a flat box. The girl took it, opening it slowly, feeling surprised and a little reluctant, because her great-aunt had already been more than generous. When she saw the beautiful creamy pearls inside, she was both shocked and overcome, for they were large and obviously expensive.