His Dark Enchantress (Books We Love Regency Romance)
Page 11
“Edward would only say that he is gone out of town and will not be back until after the Derby next week.”
“Oh.”
Disappointment at hearing of Lucius’ absence beat on the door of Emmaline’s heart, but then she mentally abraded herself. Lucius would hear about her soon enough. The only way she could think of to repay his kindness was to tell him the truth about herself but, after the debacle of the previous evening, she really did not want to face him. It was obvious to her that Lady Darnley wished for Lucius to reject her and in this the woman had succeeded beyond her wildest dreams.
“So tell me about Catalani,” Juliana said, giving her eyes a final wipe and turning the conversation to what she perceived as a happier event. “I have never heard her sing but I am told she has the most glorious voice.”
“Yes, glorious.” For a moment Emmaline was swept back into the darkened drawing room, remembered the weight of Lucius’ hand on hers remembered, oh – too much.
Juliana looked at her suspiciously.
“Are those tears in your eyes?”
Emmaline shook her head. “No. The recital was wonderful but the dinner party was not. Amongst the guests were two gentlemen, although I think neither of them are, who knew of me in Spain. Lady Darnley made much of my involvement in the hospital at Salamanca. Sir Peregrine had somehow heard that I had last been seen there with a French officer and she asked some rather disconcerting questions.”
Juliana’s eyes grew round. “Do you mean Sir Peregrine Styles?”
“Yes.” Emmaline looked up. A frown drew her dark brows together. “I believe he is Lady Darnley’s nephew. Do you know him?”
“Our paths have crossed but his reputation precedes him. He has been involved in one scandal or another every Season since my come out. He is not to be trusted.”
Emmaline nodded her head in agreement.
“So your brother warned me. The dinner party was so distressing. Lady Darnley made me so cross that I snapped and spoke out of turn. Now my image is sullied I doubt I will be welcomed into society.”
Her face hot with the recollection of her ordeal, Emmaline covered it with her hands to hide her dismay. Not dismay for her actions, but dismay at the thought of the on dits which must already be circulating and discrediting her. “How I wish I were plain like Olivia Darnley and then no one would notice me, no one would remember me.”
“Oh, don’t say that!” Juliana gave Emmaline’s arm a firm shake. “I believe Lady Darnley to be quite out of countenance with you because she was expecting Lucius to offer for Olivia.”
“Lucius? Offer for Olivia? Is she mad?” Emmaline leapt to her feet, indignation clear in her balled fists and the swish of her skirts. “Why, that girl’s a ninnyhammer. No, no, no, Olivia would never do for Lucius!”
“Would she not?”
Emmaline missed the gleam of comprehension that crept into Juliana’s eyes as she sat in quiet contemplation of her friend’s outburst.
“Definitely not!” Emmaline wrung her hands in front of her, so deep in her own thoughts she quite overlooked the bemused expression on Juliana’s face. “Olivia is milk to Lucius’ brandy. She is poorly educated, quavers every time he speaks to her and. . and . .”
“Yes?”
“Oh, hang it all!” Emmaline stamped her foot. “He cannot marry Olivia Darnley. She will quite simply bore him to death.”
“While you, on the other hand . . . “ Juliana cast her a knowing look.
“Me?”
“Yes, you!” Juliana chortled with sudden glee, her own woes temporarily forgotten. “You would never bore him and would likely drive him to distraction, which would be very good for him. And I can’t think of anyone I would rather have as a sister-in-law.”
“No, this is all wrong.” Emmaline dropped with a thump onto the sofa, shaking her head as she did so as if to clear her thoughts. “But why would Lady Darnley expect Lucius to make Olivia an offer?”
“Because she has been hounding him forever and he stood up with Olivia at Almack’s. Hmm?”
For a moment Emmaline was speechless. Thinking of Lucius’ arms around her made her catch her breath and lick her suddenly dry lips.
“It was as I told my aunt,” she began but Juliana instantly silenced her.
“Humbug! I never took you for a coward. You wanted to leave, did you not, to conceal the tendre you have developed for my brother?”
Emmaline raised her head, her cheeks pale.
“You knew?” she gasped.
“Just as you guessed about William and me,” Juliana said gently. “What did you say? ‘It was the expression in your eyes and the softening of your lips when you looked at him,’ and that is the way in which you look at Lucius.”
“No, I don’t,” Emmaline stammered. “I mean, I can’t. . “
“Yes, you do and you can. And,” Juliana took Emmaline’s hands and gave them a shake, “I do believe Lucius returns your feelings.”
Closing her eyes and wishing it were so, Emmaline willed herself to remain calm. Juliana continued to clasp her hands. The steady warmth of that grip transferred to Emmaline’s heart, bolstering her resolve. When she opened her eyes she smiled at Juliana and shook her head.
“No, it cannot be.”
“Tell me why not,” Juliana persisted.
“You did not see his expression when it was revealed I had tended wounded men.” Emmaline could still see the stark look of shock and disgust on Lucius’ face. Her blood chilled.
If only that were all she had to hide.
When she continued her voice was barely above a whisper.
“It didn’t matter to any of them that someone could aid those poor souls. It didn’t matter that it was the right and only thing for me to do. What did matter was that I dirtied my hands amongst the injured and dying and worse, I might be a whore. How dare I bring that image with me into polite society?”
“You must not think any more of it,” Juliana declared.
Before either could say more, a knock on the door interrupted them. Fearing her aunt’s headache had worsened, Emmaline got to her feet. The door burst open and Emmaline watched with astonishment as a determined Lady Darnley swept past Annie.
She advanced into the room, looking about her as if to find something to criticize. Olivia followed behind, eyes cast down and nervously chewing her lip.
Emmaline, with no expectation of an apology, narrowed her eyes with suspicion.
“Good morning, Lady Darnley. And what might bring you here?”
Lady Darnley completely ignored her as she approached a glass cabinet and peered at the trinkets displayed there. She moved to the bookcase and perused the titles on the shelves, tinkled the keys on the pianoforte and came to stand in front of the fireplace as if it were her own drawing room. Without a glance at Emmaline, she spoke directly to Juliana.
“I must confess, Lady Juliana, I am quite shocked to find you in a house such as this.”
“I do not understand, Lady Darnley,” Juliana said firmly. “Miss Devereux and I are old school friends. Why should I not be in this house?”
“Ah.” Lady Darnley paused, tapping a gloved finger against her lips. “I think, when I tell you what I have discovered, you will want to be anywhere but in this house with your old,” she paused again, her hard green eyes raking Emmaline with a scathing glance, “school friend.”
Emmaline stepped forward, fury tightening her features. The burning desire to give Lady Darnley a well-deserved set down died in her throat as Olivia caught her eye. She immediately realized the reason for Olivia being there. Olivia would witness her further humiliation. Anything she said would very quickly be repeated in drawing rooms around London.
“I cannot possibly imagine to what you may refer,” Emmaline said stiffly.
“No?” Lady Darnley raised an eyebrow and turned to Juliana. “Old school friends you may be, but I collect there is one fact of which you may not be aware.”
“And what fact might that that be, Lady Darnley?�
�� A worried look crept across Juliana’s face as she looked from Lady Darnley to Emmaline.
“Why, my dear,” satisfaction dripped from Lady Darnley’s rouged lips. “Your old school friend is a murderess.”
CHAPTER 12
“A murderess?” Juliana’s eyes widened in shock.
“Indeed.” Lady Darnley inspected her immaculate gloves, mint green to match her morning gown, and looked directly at Juliana. “I have discovered that Miss Devereux shot and killed a French officer. So you see, Lady Juliana, on being told by your brother’s staff that you were here, I thought it my duty to come and apprise you of this charge. I am quite sure you will have no wish to have your name sullied by association with a person of Miss Devereux’s ilk.”
In the ensuing silence time stopped. Trapped in the moment, Emmaline saw dust motes dancing down the sunbeams that shone through the window. Heard the jingle of harness and clop of hooves from the traffic in the street. Heard Annie on the stairs then Olivia’s nervous titter.
“You cannot deny the charge, can you Miss Devereux?” Lady Darnley fixed her with a basilisk stare.
“I can and do deny your allegation, Lady Darnley.” Emmaline’s controlled tone gave no hint of the emotions that raged within her. As if in a trance she moved to the door and opened it. “Your visit is at an end, Lady Darnley. Please leave my Aunt’s house this minute.”
“Gladly.” The look Lady Darnley shot her way was one of triumph. “Come Olivia.”
As soon as she had gone Emmaline shivered and wrapped her arms about her body.
“Is it true?” Juliana whispered.
Emmaline, unable to speak, simply nodded and sank into a chair.
“Now you know why I didn’t want to come to London,” she whispered. “Now you know why I cannot let myself love Lucius. He deserves so much better than I.”
Juliana stood up and drew herself to her full height.
“A short while ago, Emmaline Devereux, you were the one who was taking me to task. Now it is my turn. Sit up straight and look me in the eye.”
Gripping the arms of the chair Emmaline righted herself.
“You listen to me,” Juliana said. “You are the best and strongest person I know. . ”
“But Lady Darnley is right,” Emmaline interrupted. “It will not do for us to be seen together. Even now it may be too late. I could be arrested and you will find society’s door closed to you.”
“I do not care about society, I care about you,” Juliana insisted. “But tell me, has this charge arisen from events that happened while you were in Spain?”
Emmaline nodded. “Please don’t ask me about it. It isn’t my tale alone to tell. Even though it was six years ago there are others who could be hurt if it became common knowledge.”
“So where did Lady Darnley come across this information?”
“That I do not know.” Emmaline rolled her head on the chair back. Her hands lay limp in her lap and a dreadful weariness crept over her. “I believe Sir Peregrine may have made a discovery as I think it was he who invited Captain Kellen and Mr. Hooper to dinner last evening. Both knew of me in Spain and were prompted to say mean things about me.”
“That is what this is all about,” Juliana said slowly. “To discredit you. If Lady Darnley had any real proof of your supposed wrong doing, would she not have brought the Watch or Investigators with her? This is all meant to undermine your character and have you turned away by society.”
Juliana sat in still contemplation of her friend. She recalled the infrequent but long letters she received after Emmaline, without any explanation, had been called away from school.
In her early letters Emmaline indicated her happiness at being with her father again, the freedom of speaking her mother’s tongue and visiting with her family. She wrote of her delight in the beautiful city of Salamanca with its mellow stone built cathedral, its elegant plaza and the Irish College where her father studied as a young man and met her mother.
Her letters became darker when she wrote of the invading French army and the necessity to keep moving, always moving as the allied British, Portuguese and Spanish armies repulsed their common enemy. Her details were sharp and unflinching, from buttons missing off a soldier’s coat to Wellington’s beak of a nose, her despair at not being able to staunch the blood of a wounded soldier, her satisfaction at having a patient walk out of the hospital.
Juliana could not imagine how terrible it must have been. The sometimes smudged words on the pages showed how those events in 1812 unfolded. The cold, wet March in Badajoz. July in Salamanca, where the searing heat in the hospital encapsulated the coppery tang of blood, layering it above the stench of unwashed and putrefying bodies.
Emmaline wrote so evocatively of the sharp cries of pain, the moans of the suffering, the prayers of the dying, that Juliana swore she could hear them.
Whatever Emmaline had done, Juliana knew there was just cause. Her friend had never acted without a reason. Her mind made up, Juliana straightened.
“Tomorrow,” she announced, “you and I are going riding as usual. It will do us both good.”
“We cannot, I mean, I cannot.” Emmaline, shocked, stirred herself from her slumped position.
“And the day after we will go to Vauxhall Gardens.”
“Juliana, you must listen to me!”
“And I believe on Friday there is a performance of Cosi Fan Tutte at the Opera House. We used to so enjoy Mozart at school, did we not?”
“Juliana, stop!”
Juliana smiled at Emmaline’s agitation. “No, I will not. I do not intend to desert you, for we have been friends for too long.”
“But this will be disastrous for you.” Emmaline cast about in her mind for any reason to divert Juliana’s intent. “And what would Lucius have to say? He would not like it above half and will be quite out of countenance with you.”
“Lucius is not here and I will deal with him when he is. So I will see you tomorrow. Be ready.”
After giving Emmaline a warm goodbye hug, Juliana left but her thoughts troubled her as she made her way home. It was true she did not care much for society, but Lucius’ position imposed a measure of restraint upon her. Struck by a thought, she hesitated. If she could stand up for a friend whose reputation was at stake, could she not also respond to a proposal of marriage?
She suddenly wanted most urgently to see William. She would give him an answer and, when the time came, they would face Lucius together. She hummed softly as she entered the house but a worried expression on Mr. Tubb’s face as he came to greet her halted her on the doorstep.
“Lady Chulmleigh is in the library, Miss Juliana.”
“Oh, is she?”
“Indeed, Miss. And may I say she appears to be rather out of countenance?”
Juliana inclined her head. “Thank you for the warning, Mr. Tubb.”
He opened the door for her and Juliana entered to find her sister greatly agitated.
“Juliana, where have you been?” Caroline wafted her hands in the air, giving Juliana no time to respond. “No, do not tell me, let me guess.”
“There need be no guessing, Caroline, for I am quite happy to tell you that I have been visiting with my friend Emmaline Devereux.”
“Who must be your friend no longer. Do you know what she has done?”
“I know of what she is accused, and there lies the difference.” Juliana removed her bonnet and laid it on the table before turning to face her sister. “I take it you have spoken with Lady Darnley.”
“She was here when I arrived to see Lucius, but he is nowhere to be found and that secretary of his will not afford me any information.”
“Have you considered that Edward is merely obeying Lucius’ wishes? You well know how often our brother takes off after his own business.”
Caroline huffed and settled herself like a broody hen onto one of the lyre back chairs. “I told him this girl was no good and should be investigated. Now look at the disgrace we are in.”
“Spite?” Caroline pounced on the word.
“Yes, because Lucius hasn’t offered for Olivia.”
“Lucius offer for Olivia Darnley?”
“Astonishing is it not?” Juliana noted with satisfaction that her sister’s ruffled feathers began to settle. “Now, apart from a quite unnecessary warning, is there anything else you wished to discuss?”
“No, not with you.” Caroline shook her head. “It was some information that Lucius requested and I now have an answer for him. But it can wait.”
Juliana called for Tubb and asked for a pot of hot chocolate. Lady Caroline declined the refreshment and declared she had wasted far too much time this morning. Having said their goodbyes, Juliana took a seat at the library table. She took a piece of writing paper from the drawer in the table, picked up a pen and dipped it into the inkwell.
What she was about to do was quite outrageous. It would annoy Lucius and scandalize Caroline, but her mind was quite made up. She knew Lucius had a low opinion of her several, and often disastrous, adventures that included riding a horse into the entrance of a friend’s Mayfair home to curricle racing in Hyde Park.
But had he not only recently told William that, at four and twenty, she should now be wed?
“Oh, brother of mine,” she said softly as she set pen to paper, “your wish is about to be fulfilled.”
***
On the following morning, breaking the wafer sealing Juliana’s missive with a trembling hand, William Beamish was almost disappointed.
My Dearest William, he read, In answer to your kind proposal, I have made my decision and desire that you attend me as soon as possible. With love, Juliana.
William read the simple lines again. Did she mean to say no? But wait, she signed ‘with love’. She would not have signed so if she had been about to refuse him. Perhaps she loved him but was going to say ‘no’ because of their respective positions in society and wanted to do it kindly.