Reunited at the King's Court

by Helen Dickson

  * * *

  Arlette walked past Hester into the house. William told the driver of the coach to wait when he saw Hester approaching him.

  ‘William, have you got a moment?’ Hester asked.

  ‘Of course,’ he replied. ‘What’s troubling you, Hester? You look worried about something.’

  ‘I’m concerned about Arlette.’ She turned and looked at the doorway, where Arlette hovered, waiting for her. ‘I can’t talk now. Will you come to the house? Perhaps tomorrow if it’s convenient? Arlette is to visit Anne with some items I promised her. She should be gone for most of the day.’

  William’s mouth set in a grim line. ‘What is it that is so important? Is Arlette in some kind of danger, Hester?’

  She gave him a strained smile. ‘I sincerely hope not, but I have to protect her. You will come?’

  ‘Yes, of course I will. There is something I have to speak with you about, too—something that concerns Arlette. I will come about midday.’

  Hester hurried back to the house and as William continued on his way he wondered what on earth Hester wanted to talk to him about.

  * * *

  ‘How was the wedding, Arlette?’ Hester asked as they went into the house, closing the door.

  ‘It went well. Marian made a wonderful bride. I really wish you had come, Hester. She would have liked you to be there.’

  ‘I doubt my presence would have made a difference. Besides,’ she said, lowering her voice lest anyone be listening, not that it would have made any difference if they had been, ‘Lady Sefton and I don’t exactly see eye to eye. We are neighbours and live in harmony providing we keep to our own houses. She is not an easy woman to like—in fact, I don’t envy Marian her mother-in-law.’

  * * *

  True to his word William arrived at Oaklands House the following day. The house was quiet, Hester alone in the parlour clearly awaiting his arrival. William studied her with a slight frown. Despite her attempt to appear unaffected by her request to see him, he could see that Hester was as tense as a tightly coiled spring.

  ‘Thank you for coming,’ she said when they were both seated. ‘I have need of your assistance, William. Indeed, there is no one else I can turn to.’

  ‘My curiosity is aroused. It is clear that you are extremely worried about something. Of what help could I possibly be? You said it concerns Arlette.’

  She nodded. ‘I believe you are to leave for Warwickshire shortly.’

  ‘That is what I intend. Now Marian is wed there is nothing to keep me here and I am impatient to reinstate my presence at Arlington Court.’

  ‘Would you consider taking Arlette with you?’ Hester asked quickly, quietly, lest she be overheard. ‘I know it is an imposition to ask this of you, but Sir Ralph Crompton is the weight of my problems. He is becoming more and more persistent. He harries Richard at every turn. Indeed, it is so bad that Richard goes out of his way to avoid him. Richard knows nothing of this. He owes Sir Ralph a debt of long standing. He fears that Sir Ralph is about to call in that debt should he not get his way.’

  ‘Arlette has made me aware of this.’

  ‘Then you will know that she is being forced into it against her will and I can no longer stand by and watch her being made unhappy by it.’ She looked at William hard to lend strength to her words. ‘Arlette is dear to me and deserves better. It is imperative that she leaves London and I beg your discretion. It is the only way I can think of to save her from a marriage that is abhorrent to her. Should Sir Ralph find out what I intend doing, he will do his utmost to stop her.’

  ‘Are you not afraid of what he will do when he finds out he has been thwarted? I doubt your husband will agree with what you plan to do.’

  Hester took a deep, determined breath. ‘I will deal with that when it happens. My main concern is to remove Arlette from Sir Ralph’s reach.’

  William held her gaze as he considered her request. She had taken him by surprise. ‘It all seems very complicated, Hester. Little wonder you are concerned. Of course I will do what I can to help Arlette. Mayfield is not out of my way, if it is your wish that I take her to Blanche until something has been sorted out with Mayfield Hall. But I have something else in mind and it does not include Blanche. Before we go any further I think I should tell you that I wish to marry Arlette.’

  ‘I see. Forgive me if I don’t appear to be surprised. I have seen the way things are between the two of you.’

  William smiled. ‘In the light of my recent betrothal to Marian, I know this is all rather sudden. Indeed, it is so sudden that even I am quite astonished. But Arlette is perfect. What I have to offer is worth your consideration, Hester.’

  ‘I know that and, knowing your intentions, it makes what I am asking of you easier.’

  ‘Of course it will not be acceptable for the two of us to travel to Oxfordshire alone. She is no longer a child and it would be most inappropriate.’

  ‘Yes, I can see that. Then what do you suggest?’

  ‘That I make Arlette my wife before we leave London.’

  Hester nodded slowly, giving it some thought. ‘I approve of that, providing Arlette is in agreement.’

  ‘As my wife, she will be out of Sir Ralph’s reach once and for all.’

  ‘That is what I want.’

  The silence that followed was long and heavy. Hester studied him gravely for a moment, then she smiled thinly. ‘I see you have it all worked out.’

  ‘It may seem that way, but I haven’t, not really. Everything depends on me being able to persuade Arlette. Now Marian is married to James Sefton I am a free man. I care for Arlette deeply, Hester. I love her very much.’

  ‘I have seen that for myself and you would not wish to marry her if you did not, and—maybe I shouldn’t say this—but I believe Arlette is more than a little in love with you, even though she may not know it yet. When she found out you were betrothed to Marian, it affected her very badly.’

  Silently William wanted nothing more than to make Arlette his wife, but when he asked her, he hoped she would not think he had been coerced into it to keep her out of the clutches of another man. He would have to convince her that he had intended proposing marriage before he had spoken to Hester. He got to his feet.

  ‘Forgive me, Hester, but I must think about this. No part of this dilemma is remotely easy for me. I have a feeling she will not take kindly to my proposal of marriage if she believes it has been prompted by nothing more than to prevent her marrying Sir Ralph Crompton. Her resentment will be great indeed and I doubt she will forgive me.’

  ‘Oh, I think her pride might take a bit of a battering initially, but she will soon see the sense of what you are offering.’

  William glanced at her. She appeared to be deep in thought. Encouraged by her approval, he continued to press his suit. ‘I am a wealthy man, Hester, and prepared to settle any sum you care to name on Arlette, which may go some way to settling your debt to Sir Ralph. I promise you she will have no cause for complaint as my wife. Her life will be replete and I will give her every luxury in life within my power to grant her.’

  ‘Then what can I say? I know the two of you will be very happy together. Will you come back soon?’ Hester asked as he made for the door.

  He turned and looked at her and nodded. ‘Yes. I realise the situation is urgent. I will come tomorrow, about this time. Will Arlette be here?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘I will speak to her then.’

  * * *

  When Arlette returned from her walk by the river the next morning, Hester came out of the house to meet her. Her face was animated, as if she couldn’t contain her excitement.

  ‘Hester? What is it? Has something happened?’

  ‘Oh, yes, Arlette. It has. Something quite wonderful. We’ve had a letter—a letter from Thomas. After all these years he has written. He is alive and well. Can you be
lieve that? It is wonderful news.’

  Arlette stared at her in amazement. ‘Thomas? A letter? But—I can hardly believe it. How is he? What does he say?’ The words tumbled out of her mouth.

  ‘That he’s coming home.’

  ‘Home? But where? Where will he go?’

  ‘Why, Mayfield, I expect. The estate may have been sequestered, but in Blanche’s last letter she told us that the old man who lived there has died so the house is empty.’

  ‘But that doesn’t mean it will be returned to us.’

  ‘Let Thomas deal with that when he gets there. The main thing is that he is alive and coming home. And he has a wife and child—a son. What a wonderful day it will be when he is back at Mayfield.’

  Arlette went about her work with a happy feeling. After so many years of not knowing what had happened to Thomas, he was coming home.

  * * *

  What Arlette had not expected was that Sir Ralph would come to the house that day. Hester was sitting out in the garden. Arlette was alone in the parlour. She sat on a stool by the window doing some mending. When he entered she rose, putting her work aside. She felt the hair bristle in the nape of her neck as, with a quiet confidence, she faced him.

  He made no move to approach her. Despite the repugnance he inspired in her, her face gave no hint of this. She looked presentable in a snug-fitting olive-green woollen gown and a lace cap covered her hair, but it would be lost on Sir Ralph. He could barely keep his lusting gaze from straying from her beautiful face to her softly rounded breasts and tiny waist. But suddenly he seemed to recollect himself and pulled himself up straight, a hard gleam replacing the sexual desire in his eyes.

  ‘Sir Ralph! You take me by surprise. Richard is in the garden with Hester.’

  ‘I have something I wish to discuss with him, but I am also here to see you.’

  ‘Oh. I see. If you will excuse me, I will let Richard know you are here.’

  When she made a move to pass him he reached out and grasped her wrist.

  ‘There’s no haste, Arlette. I’ve been generous and more than patient, awaiting your answer to my proposal of marriage.’

  She looked at him haughtily. ‘I apologise for keeping you waiting, Sir Ralph, but my time of late has been taken up with my sister’s marriage to James Sefton. I’ve had little time for anything else. Please let go of my wrist.’ Roughly he thrust it away. Much as she would have liked to rub her sore flesh, she would not give him the satisfaction of letting him know he had hurt her.

  ‘You do realise that if you refuse me the consequences will be dire for your brother-in-law. I can make life very unpleasant for them.’

  Although she was quaking inside, Arlette faced him with outward calm. ‘I will not be bought, Sir Ralph,’ she said, her eyes bright with indignation, ‘or blackmailed into marriage to you.’ She tossed her head in defiance. ‘Very well. I will give you my answer. I have considered your proposal seriously and questioned your suitability as a husband for me. You fall short. I will not tie myself to a man I do not love—a man I know I can never love—so please do not embarrass either of us further by prolonging this meeting.’

  Suddenly he laughed softly, his eyes dark and heavy-lidded with desire. It was as though her resistance excited him. Smiling with wicked enticement, he reached out once more and gripped her arm, pulling her close. What he intended evoked within her a shuddering revulsion.

  ‘Come, Arlette, why so coy? By all accounts you were not so when you were at the Court of Charles Stuart.’ His voice was low and coercing. There was an evil echo in his soft laughter which escaped Arlette as her mind darted about wildly to find a way to distract him from his amorous intent. ‘I want you, Arlette. I can’t get you out of my mind.’ He positioned himself so that she could not get past him.

  ‘It would appear I have come not a moment too soon,’ a deep voice rang out. ‘The lady does not appear to welcome your advances. Would you force yourself upon her when she is clearly unwilling?’

  Sir Ralph let go of Arlette’s arm and spun round, furious at the interruption.

  Arlette also turned and looked at her rescuer, relieved to see William, who came to stand between them, his handsome mouth curled with distaste. Arlette hadn’t seen him since the wedding. Until that moment she had struggled to banish him from her thoughts, but she had not succeeded. It was like being on a hazardous obstacle course of emotions that left her confused. Secretly she had missed him more than she would have believed possible, for how could she ever forget how volatile and attractive this man was? Instantly there was a resurgence in her of the magnetism that drew her whenever she was with him. It burned into her ruthlessly, making her heart turn over. In this relatively small parlour and towering over Sir Ralph’s diminutive figure, power exuded from his tall frame.

  * * *

  A muscle twitched in his cheek, which it always did when he was angry. He had never met Sir Ralph Crompton, but he knew he was not mistaken that this was indeed the man responsible for the bruises he had seen on Arlette’s arm. He could never stand a bully and it was plain to see that, if he hadn’t arrived when he had, the man would have forced himself on her.

  He looked at the angry assailant and spoke in a biting calm. ‘Good God, man, can’t you restrain yourself? I believe you are Sir Ralph Crompton, the man whose proposal of marriage Mistress Dryden has just rejected.’

  Sir Ralph froze and shifted uneasily, his eyes wary as they surveyed the threatening figure whose identity he knew instinctively. Had it been anyone else he would have replied with equal anger. As it was he glowered at him, his righteous indignation replaced by smouldering malevolence. It would not help to make an enemy of a man as powerful and important as Lord William Latham—a man who had the ear of Charles Stuart. It galled him that his own power and influence, which had sustained him in his familiar world, had begun to wane since the Royalists had arrived in London. ‘I would advise you to mind your own business, sir.’

  ‘But I am making it my business,’ William replied in a low, meaningful voice, trying to keep his fury at bay. ‘It is clear Mistress Dryden does not share your lust. What did you intend? To ravish her under her sister’s nose?’

  ‘Certainly not. I proposed marriage to Mistress Dryden. I have waited long enough. I have come for her reply.’

  William smiled thinly, raising an eyebrow. ‘I applaud your excellent taste, but allow me to answer for her. Mistress Dryden is to marry me.’ Behind him Arlette’s eyes opened wide with shock. He heard her gasp, but did not turn round. ‘She is to be my wife.’

  ‘You!’ The exclamation exploded from Sir Ralph’s lips. ‘So the gossip was true. You were consorting when she went to Whitehall Palace. She is promised to me.’

  ‘You’re mistaken. Miss Dryden is of an age to decide for herself who she will and will not marry. Her decision not to accept your proposal was final. Now save yourself further embarrassment and leave.’

  Arlette cast a glance at Sir Ralph. His fists were clenched by his sides, his face contorted with anger. The look on his face as he glared at William told her that he wanted blood. She had seen that look before on their last encounter, when he had failed to get his own way and bruised her arm. He looked at her with icy stillness and fear spiked through her when she read the fury in his eyes.

  He stepped away from them when Hester chose that moment to enter the house. She halted on seeing the three of them, their faces telling her that all was not well. Sir Ralph looked furious.

  ‘Why, Sir Ralph. We were not expecting you. Is it Richard you have come to see?’

  Sir Ralph’s face darkened as he glanced at the three of them before settling on Arlette. ‘You little slut,’ he breathed. ‘You gave him more than a kiss, didn’t you?’

  William took exception to the slur and stepped towards him, while Arlette exclaimed with fervour, ‘No! I did not!’

  ‘Watch your tongue, C
rompton,’ William warned, his tone low and deadly. ‘I bore witness to the bruises you left on her arm from a previous encounter. Lay another finger on her and I swear you’ll rue the day you ever offered for her.’

  Standing quite still, white-faced, Sir Ralph cast a wary glance at the taller man. Then his gaze sliced back to Arlette. ‘Is it true? Are you to marry him?’

  Taken completely off her guard by William’s announcement that they were to wed, Arlette was considering her answer when William’s patience snapped.

  ‘Damn you, Crompton. Stop badgering her.’ Turning then, his jaw set in a hard line, William reached out to take Arlette’s hand in his own, raising it to his lips in a tender gesture. He glanced down at her pale, startled face before again fixing his eyes on Crompton. ‘Miss Dryden has done me the honour of agreeing to be my wife. Now leave. You have got what you came for.’

  Sir Ralph stepped back, glancing at Hester. ‘I will call again to speak to Richard,’ he said tersely, moving quickly towards the door. ‘Good day.’

  At William’s blatant falsehood, Arlette felt her cheeks go from white to crimson. She felt as if she were being swept along on the crest of a violent wave and was in imminent danger of drowning. William had thrown her a lifeline, one that had taken her wholly by surprise. Withdrawing her hand, she stepped back.

  ‘Thank you, William. Your arrival was most timely, but there was no need to go to such lengths as to tell Sir Ralph I am to be your wife.’