by C. J. Archer
"Me? Why?"
"Because it concerns you too, whether they like it or not. You and Matthew have chosen a particular path, now you must face the consequences together." She pointed at the sitting room door. "In there are two of the consequences."
Cold dread pressed down on me. "Do not tell them our plans to leave, Miss Glass. I beg you."
She grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the sitting room door. I closed my eyes and prayed I only had to fight two lions, not three.
Chapter 9
"What is she doing here?" The grooves around Lady Rycroft's mouth deepened in distaste, as if she tasted something vile. "She is not invited."
Lord Rycroft watched me through eyes narrowed to slits within the rolls of fat. He left the talking to his wife.
"Letitia, take your companion away," Lady Rycroft said with a dismissive wave of her hand.
"She is not my companion anymore," Miss Glass said, taking a seat on the sofa. "India lives here and has as much right to know what is being said on the topic of Matthew's marriage as I do."
"A right?" Lady Rycroft spluttered. "Richard, did you hear that?"
Lord Rycroft had not sat down, and he now straightened, pushing out his chest and stomach to strain the jacket's seams. "What right does she have?"
"You know full well," Matt said, also standing. "I agree with Aunt Letitia. India should stay if she wants to."
I felt obliged to remain now, with them all making such a fuss. Besides, I couldn't let the Rycrofts win. I suspected that was what Miss Glass had counted on when she'd dragged me into the sitting room. The question was, why did she want me there at all?
"You might as well stay," Miss Glass said to me. "Matthew's going to tell you everything that was said later anyway."
Lady Rycroft clicked her tongue and refused to look at me.
"For God's sake, Letitia," Lord Rycroft muttered, slapping his hands together behind his back. "Why do you have to make everything so difficult? Why can't you do as you're told, for once?"
"I used to always do what I was told," his sister said with all her regal bearing on display. "Now that I live with Matthew, I don't have to. I am free. Unlike your daughters."
"Patience can have all the freedom she desires once she is also under Matthew's care," Lady Rycroft said. "I'm sure that's why she's so attracted to the notion of marrying him in the first place."
Her husband frowned. "He's a fine prospect for her, better than a girl like her can hope for. A union between them will also make her a baroness, one day, and mean she won't ever have to leave Rycroft Hall if she doesn't want to."
"She will want to be far away while you both live there," Miss Glass said.
"Matthew can put a very fine roof over her head, and those of her sisters. Patience understands that and won't let emotions rule her choices. She's a good, obedient girl."
"Congratulations on raising a dog, Richard," Miss Glass bit off.
He rolled his eyes.
"As to emotions, you're wrong," Miss Glass went on. "She is very much choosing Matthew due to her desire to be free of you. Not only does he present Patience with her best means of escape, he is her only means."
"Enough, Letitia! You've made your point."
"Do not raise your voice in my house," Matt said, quietly ominous. "State your business. I want the afternoon free to look forward to dinner with my future bride." He spoke directly to his uncle. He didn't blink and didn't look in the least like a man preparing to break his promise. I didn't know what it cost him, but I knew he was determined to convince his uncle he was prepared to go through with the arrangement. He had to succeed, for my sake.
Lady Rycroft clicked her tongue again as I took a seat beside Miss Glass. "Let's get this over with. We've come to discuss the wedding plans."
"I'll discuss them with Patience tonight," Matt said.
"It'll be in two weeks."
"Two!" I blurted out.
Lady Rycroft presented her shoulder to me. "We brought it forward. Invitations are being printed now."
My heart lurched. It was all so final.
"Since you insisted on staying, Miss Steele, you will not be spared what I have to say next," Lady Rycroft went on.
"There is nothing you can say that I have not anticipated," I said.
"Matthew, she must go. She cannot live here any longer."
"This is India's home," he said. "She's not leaving."
"Don't be absurd. It is highly improper."
"For God's sake man," Lord Rycroft muttered. "Keep your mistress separate—"
"India is not my mistress," Matt snapped.
Lady Rycroft choked in disgust. "You were seen kissing in front of the servants!"
So Abercrombie had reported what he'd seen after all. I was not surprised, although I couldn't hide my embarrassment as heat spread over my face. I wanted to sink into the sofa and hide.
Lady Rycroft gave me a smug smile. "My daughter doesn't deserve to be publicly humiliated by her fiancé."
"She doesn't deserve any of this treatment, Aunt, yet she is forced down this path," Matt said. "We both are. That is your doing, not mine."
Lady Rycroft's spine stiffened. "You think it fair that she share her new home with her husband's whore?"
Matt marched to the door. His features were set like stone, his eyes hard. "Leave. Both of you."
The Rycrofts looked at one another, uncertain. I hardly dared to breathe. Matt opened his mouth to speak but Miss Glass got in first.
"Your vulgarity does you no credit, Beatrice. India is a thoroughly decent girl. She is also my companion. It is my choice whether she stays or goes."
I bit my tongue. Now was not the time to correct her.
Lady Rycroft snorted. "You are a fool, Letitia. You always have been."
"I asked you both to leave," Matt said stiffly. "Don't force me to act in an ungentlemanly manner."
Lord Rycroft spluttered a protest while his wife gripped the chair arms as if that would anchor her if Matt decided to throw her out. She did not meet anyone's gaze, however, and her loud swallow was telling. She didn't know whether he was bluffing or not. Matt's poker experience was proving to be useful.
"Come, my dear," Lord Rycroft said. "We're wasting our time in this debauched house." He must have been worried Matt would manhandle them out, as he'd once done to Lord Rycroft in his own home.
"If it is so debauched, end the engagement," Matt said.
"And ruin Patience's happiness?" Lady Rycroft asked. "Ruin her one and only chance to marry well?" She stood and managed to look down her nose at him, even though he was taller. "You really don't know your own people very well, do you?"
"You may be my family, but you are not my people."
She lifted her chin. "My daughter is a naive, impressionable girl. I expect you to behave as a gentleman would tonight."
"Beatrice!" Miss Glass cried. "Matthew is always the perfect gentleman."
Lady Rycroft's narrowed gaze flicked to me. She wrinkled her nose.
"I won't do anything to jeopardize Patience's reputation or safety," Matt assured his aunt and uncle. "I merely wish to get to know her better, but you can be assured, we will not be left alone. I will not seduce her."
"They most certainly will not be left alone together," Miss Glass chimed in. "Matthew may not seduce Patience, but one cannot say the same of the opposite."
"Letitia!" her brother barked. "That's enough."
Miss Glass smoothed her hands down her skirt. "Well, she does have a certain reputation."
Lord Rycroft's nostrils flared. His chest heaved with each breath. He indicated to his wife to walk out ahead of him.
She paused as she passed Matt. "And your…" Lady Rycroft jerked her head in my direction. "Will she be dining with you?"
"Of course," Matt said.
"No," I said. "I have other arrangements."
The corners of Matt's eyes tightened. "I want tonight to go well," was all he said to his aunt. "As you're fully aware, I have a deep intere
st in making sure the marriage goes ahead as planned."
"Do not think to attempt to change Patience's mind," Lord Rycroft said. "If you do, it won't go well for you."
Matt's flat smile was hard. "You have my word that I won't attempt anything of the kind."
Bristow escorted them out, and Matt closed the door. He crouched in front of me and took my hand in both of his. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. Anger and helplessness swirled in his eyes.
I briefly cupped his jaw to reassure him they couldn't hurt me with their words then let go. I was too aware of Miss Glass's presence.
Not that she was watching us. She stood at the sideboard and poured herself a sherry from the decanter. The sight was one I had not seen before. She always waited for the men or a servant to pour her a drink.
"Beatrice does not deserve the title of lady," she said into her glass. "She's as vulgar as a navvy."
Matt indicated her glass. "Isn't it a little early for you to be drinking?"
"I'm making an exception today. I should have had one before they arrived." She sipped then sipped again. "Pour one for India too. I'm sure she needs a strong drink."
I shook my head at Matt. He poured himself a glass, however. "Thank you for not saying anything to them about us leaving," I said to Miss Glass.
"I don't want you to go," she said without facing me. "I don't want either of you to leave England. And I don't want you to stop being my companion, India. If that means trying to get Lord Cox to change his mind, then I will do my bit tonight at dinner."
"Thank you, Aunt," Matt said. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
"I meant what I said earlier," I told them both. "I won't be dining with you."
"You're integral to the plan," Matt said.
"Thank you, but I'm not."
He lowered the glass. "I can't do it without you, India. You're just as well equipped at convincing Lord Cox of Patience's charms as I am. You'll probably be better at it."
I doubted that, but I did appreciate his encouragement.
"I agree with India," Miss Glass said. "Hear me out, Matthew. Patience needs to be at her best. She'll be ruffled enough as it is when she sees Lord Cox, and India's presence will only make her feel more inadequate. Indeed, with India present, there's a danger Lord Cox will admire her more."
"I hardly think so," I said.
"I'm going to be honest with him," Matt told his aunt. "I'm going to tell him that I wish to marry India and that he is free to pursue Patience."
"Good lord, are you mad?" Miss Glass said.
"You can't do that," I agreed. "You ought to pretend nothing is wrong. That's why I won't be there. He'll guess there's something between us if he sees us together."
Miss Glass set down her half-empty glass and began to pace the room. "You must act as if nothing is wrong, Matthew. Show Patience due regard, but do not gush. Do not let Lord Cox think you love her. The lack of affection between you will give him hope. But do take pains to acknowledge her good points, just in case he is blind to them. If you can't think of any, make something up."
I left them to their strategizing. There was no point in my participation. I spent the rest of the afternoon in the library reading and was joined by Willie, Duke and Cyclops after they returned from their daily tasks. Matt also joined us when his aunt went to dress for dinner.
"Did Cox get up to anything?" he asked Duke.
"He met with his bank just before noon," Duke said. "He ate luncheon at his club and conducted some business with a Lord Carsmere."
"What kind of business?"
"He bought a carriage from him. According to the club's staff, Cox plans to be in London more. He's putting on more permanent staff at his townhouse and is redecorating. He'd only hired a carriage when he visited the city before, but the purchase means he's got one all the time now. He bought a growler."
"He still needs two horses to pull it," Cyclops added.
"Ain't nothing you can blackmail him with from that," Willie said with a sigh.
"What about you two?" I asked Willie and Cyclops.
"You were Hendry's only visitors," Cyclops said. "He didn't go anywhere or receive any callers."
"And Sweeney didn't do anything suspicious either," Willie said. "He went to church and then went home where he worked in his study, so his staff said. He only stepped out to take a turn about the garden. Seems gardening is his leisure. He picked flowers, tidied up some of the beds and generally poked about."
"Did he attend church with anyone?" Matt asked.
She shook her head. "He's a loner."
"Did he receive any messages?" I asked. "Perhaps he and Abercrombie are communicating in writing."
Willie shook her head.
Mr. Sweeney had a lonely existence indeed. Mr. Hendry, too. How sad that their friendship lay in tatters. They could have been company for one another on the one day of the week when married men spent time with their families.
"You ain't ready for your dinner yet," Willie told Matt. "Go on. Off you go."
"What about all of you?" he asked. "Where will you dine tonight?"
"There's a chop house in Soho that does a fine roast," Cyclops said.
"Will it be open on a Sunday evening?"
"We'll find something else if it ain't."
"India?" Matt asked. "Will you go with them?"
"I don't feel like dining out," I said.
"I'll leave the doors ajar in both the dining room and drawing room if you want to listen in."
"Matt!"
One corner of his mouth lifted. "You might as well. I'm going to tell you everything later anyway."
"It would still be a low thing to do."
"Don't be so prissy, India," Willie scolded. "Just don't get caught."
"So what will you do?" Matt asked as I rose to go.
"I'll eat in my room tonight."
I informed the kitchen that I'd like something sent to my room later before going to visit Miss Glass. Polly was helping her select jewelry to go with her outfit.
"Do come in, India," Miss Glass said. "We need your advice." She pointed at the two sets of earrings laid out on the dressing table. "Pearl drops or silver and garnets?"
"Pearls."
"But they hurt my ears after an hour."
"Then the silver and garnets."
"Excellent choice. You always do know what's best." She indicated to Polly to put the pearl earrings away. "And what about my hair, India?"
"Curls at the crown are very fashionable now," I said, making something up.
Polly gave me a sideways glance.
"See what you can do, Polly," Miss Glass said, sitting at her dressing table. "I am glad you're here to keep me company, India. Your wise counsel and cheerful nature are always appreciated."
Poor Polly. Sometimes Miss Glass didn't realize how much her words could sting. "I'm not staying," I said.
Miss Glass swung around to face me, causing Polly to lose the strand of hair she'd begun to arrange. "But I insist!"
"Miss Glass," I said carefully, "I am not your companion, remember?"
She turned back to the mirror. "You're still insisting on leaving me? Forever?"
I glanced at Polly but she gave no indication that she was listening. Still, I did not want her to know our plans to leave England. No one else must know.
"I am hardly leaving you when I continue to live here," I said.
Miss Glass blinked sadly at me.
I sighed. "I came to thank you for not mentioning our plan to Lord and Lady Rycroft. I know you don't like lying to them."
"Withholding the truth is not a lie, India." She met my gaze in the mirror's reflection. "Well, not quite." Her eyes shone and I got the feeling she was enjoying tricking her brother and sister-in-law.
"Enjoy the evening," I told her.
"Wait." She opened the dressing table drawer and removed the small red box containing the pearl earrings Polly had just put away. "You take them, India. I can't wear them a
nymore."
"No, thank you. It wouldn't be appropriate for me to accept your gifts now that I am no longer your companion." I turned to go, not at all sure I should have rejected the earrings.
I wished Matt had never told me he'd leave the doors open so I could listen in on the conversations. It was torture to remain in my room knowing that I could eavesdrop—and with his blessing, too. But it wasn't fair on either Lord Cox or Patience.
On the other hand, nothing about this situation was fair.
I set aside the book I'd been attempting to read and headed downstairs. It was no small thing that both Lord Cox and Patience were still here at all. We'd considered the possibility that either or both of them would storm out after seeing the other.
However, they were still in the dining room, the third course of pastries, creams and jellies before them. Bristow and Peter stood aside, waiting for orders, and I got my first glimpse of Lord Cox. He was short with a narrow face and slightly protruding front teeth. If I hadn't known he was much older than Patience, I wouldn't have guessed from his soft face and full head of blond hair. He had friendly eyes too as he smiled at something Matt said.
Smiling was definitely a good sign. My heart lifted. If there'd been awkwardness when he first saw Patience, it had vanished. Good food and an abundance of wine had a way of disarming a tense situation.
I watched for several minutes through the gap. Matt did most of the talking, but he engaged Patience and Lord Cox as much as possible, drawing them out with questions and getting them to talk about themselves. His aunt sat in silence, and it was difficult to tell if her mind had drifted off.
"Have you attended the races, Glass?" Lord Cox asked Matt. "Horses are something of an interest of mine."
"I like horses," Matt said. "They get me from A to B."
Lord Cox chuckled. "They get a jockey from A to B very quickly at Ascot."
"His lordship owns a stable," Patience said. "He has some very fine animals. They're quite successful up north."
"You like horses?" Matt asked her. "I had no idea."
"Oh yes. I don't so much enjoy the racing, but I do enjoy riding and taking care of them."
"You're a very nurturing girl," Miss Glass chimed in, no doubt for the benefit of Lord Cox who was, by all accounts, looking for a wife to be a mother to his four children.