Nobody’s Darling

by Nobody’s Darling (retail) (epub)

  It was a while before his temper cooled. And when it did, he leaned back in the seat and recalled the entire incident. He’d been right to think her fiery. Suddenly, he began to chuckle.

  ‘A lady’s maid?’ he said aloud. ‘Well! Well!’ Then he fell silent. No wonder she was different, he thought. ‘A wild and prickly rose among the orchids, eh?’ he murmured. It struck him that here was a little drama he could no doubt turn to his own advantage. In spite of her volatile temper – or perhaps because of it – Ruby Miller excited him. She was still the most desirable and real woman he had ever come across.

  ‘Lady’s maid or not, you haven’t seen the last of me,’ he threatened. ‘What’s more, you’ll regret the day you ever raised a hand to Luke Arnold!’

  He had been livid, but now he was deadly calm. His voice was chilling, ‘No woman has ever refused me, and no woman ever will. You can count on this, Ruby Miller… there’ll come a time when you’ll beg for me.’

  When he set his sights on something worthwhile, he usually pursued it to the end, by fair means or foul. But then he recalled how she had beaten him off, turned away like he was so much dirt. Much as he wanted her, as yet she obviously had no taste for him. ‘But you will,’ he promised darkly. ‘You will.’

  He rose from his seat and searched the other room with hostile eyes. ‘So you think I’m not good enough for you?’ He laughed sourly. ‘A lady’s maid, eh?’ He caught sight of her then, and his smile was chilling. Deep in conversation with Cicely, she had not seen him, and so he was free to study her. For a long moment he gazed at her with mingled emotions. He was angry with her, but he still craved her. She was incredibly beautiful, alive and passionate. He found it hard to believe that such a low-bred woman could be so stunning. In a moment, his gaze shifted to the woman beside Ruby. Cicely Banks paled in comparison, he thought.

  He watched them a while longer. They seemed so deep in conversation he wondered whether Ruby was telling her mistress what had happened in the conservatory with him. A thought crept into his mind. ‘The lady and her maid… a strange conspiracy,’ he muttered, light dawning in his mind. He remembered his real purpose for coming here tonight, and chuckled then.

  Standing there, unseen in the shadows, he thought of Cicely Banks and he thought of her father, the eminent gentleman who was so reluctant to part with his foundry. He remembered how desperately his own father had wanted that same foundry. Tonight was to have been his chance to prove himself in the eyes of Oliver Arnold, and because of Ruby Miller, he had almost forgotten that.

  ‘Well now, Cicely Banks, I can see I’ve neglected you. And that was a very foolish thing to do,’ he told himself. With a determined flourish, he smartened his tie and tucked his soiled handkerchief into his pocket. ‘It would never do to neglect such a fine lady,’ he murmured, going towards the door. ‘Especially when that lady could well be the means to an end.’

  He was interested to see how very close Cicely and Ruby appeared to be. Who knows? he thought to himself. Tonight may well bring two delightful rewards… the foundry for my father and the reluctant maid for me.

  The prospect was enough to bring the smile back to his face He was no fool, and knew that it would take time to bring it all about. But then, nothing worthwhile ever came easy. ‘And I must not forget how you’ve shamed me, Miss Miller,’ he murmured. It was obvious to him that Ruby had a great deal of affection for Cicely, and he intended turning this to his own advantage. ‘Lovely though you are, Ruby dearest, you will have to be punished. Just a little, I think. The thought was delicious.

  By the time he came back into the room, he was fully composed and even sobered by what had happened between himself and Ruby. Music was playing, there were still couples dancing, and thankfully no one seemed to have noticed the little upset in the conservatory. By this time Ruby and her mistress had moved away and he couldn’t see them. His anxious eyes travelled the length and breadth of the room, searching for one face in particular When his gaze alighted on Ruby, he began to make his way forward. At the same time Cicely had seen his approach and hurried towards him. He saw her intention and so he stayed where he was, close to the conservatory doors, his amused gaze going from one woman to the other. Cicely’s face was set in a serious expression, while Ruby glowered at him with angry eyes.

  ‘Could we talk, Mr Arnold?’ Cicely’s anxiety betrayed itself in her voice.

  ‘But of course,’ he replied. Stepping to one side he gallantly ushered her into the conservatory, surreptitiously slipping an arm round her waist and glancing backwards, deeply satisfied when he saw how alarmed Ruby was at this deliberately intimate gesture. ‘I assume you want to explain how your maid comes to be here disguised as a lady?’ he said pointedly.

  ‘I would rather you didn’t mention anything about it to anyone else.’ Cicely didn’t know him, and so could not tell whether his intention was to cause mischief.

  ‘I shan’t,’ he agreed. ‘Don’t worry your pretty head. I may look like a villain, but I’m a gentleman at heart.’ He put on his very best manners, thinking he would soon have the little fool eating out of his hand. It was all part of his two-fold plan, the foundry and Ruby. While the two of them talked and she explained how she loved Ruby like a sister, he was thinking, The foundry and Ruby. When she went on to outline how the harmless little deceit was no more than a way to show her affection and pride for Ruby, whom she claimed was her ‘only true friend’, he saw how painfully vulnerable she was, and became more determined than before.

  ‘You mean you have no friends other than your own maid?’ Luke was genuinely astonished.

  ‘I’m content in my own company,’ she explained. ‘And Ruby is a darling.’ By this time she was seated on the same bench where Ruby had fought him off. Luke was sat beside her, his arm stretched across the back of the bench. From this position, he could see Ruby. At that point a young man approached her and they went on to the dance-floor. Luke was jealous, but managed to contain his feelings by concentrating on his devious intentions and flirting outrageously with Cicely.

  ‘From what Ruby said, I thought you must be a monster,’ she apologised. She believed that Ruby was either mistaken or else had exaggerated in her account of what happened, because in the few minutes she’d spent in his company, Cicely had found Luke Arnold to be amiable and charming. More than that, he had promised to say nothing about her and Ruby’s charade.

  Soon he had purposely moved the conversation away from Ruby, and now, to Cicely’s delight, was showing a keen interest in her. ‘Are you saying you have no beau?’ he asked in feigned surprise. ‘What! So pretty and intelligent? I’m surprised there isn’t a whole chain of young men waiting to take you out.’ He leaned towards her and her eyes twinkled at his flattery. ‘I for one would be proud to walk you down the street.’ As he spoke, he was thinking he would rather walk a dog. But she was his way to the other one, and it was the other one he wanted. Oh, but he wasn’t forgetting the foundry. By the time this night was over, he would as good as have them both in his pocket.

  ‘It’s very kind of you to say so, Mr Arnold,’ she said shyly. No man had ever spoken to Cicely in that way, and she wasn’t certain how to respond.

  ‘Oh, I’m not being kind,’ he stressed, moving a little closer. ‘I find you very attractive.’

  Cicely actually giggled. ‘Really, Mr Arnold.’ She inched away, ‘Perhaps we had better return to the other guests?’

  ‘Not yet, surely?’ he said in a hurt voice. ‘And please, don’t call me Mr Arnold. It sounds so unfriendly. My name is Luke.’ One look at her blushing face told him that he had her in the palm of his hand. He’d had no idea she was so naive. A little flattery, a suggestion here and a sprinkle of charm there, had been all it took to bowl her over. He’d had plenty of practice, and with smarter females than her.

  Suddenly the evening had taken a real turn for the better, and Luke was thoroughly enjoying himself. The fact that he was deliberately setting out to deceive this gentle young woman did
not diminish his pleasure. In fact, it only added to it. Cicely Banks was a means to an end. No more than that.

  * * *

  Whisked first this way then that, Ruby was breathless, and growing irritated. For two weeks now, Cicely had taken her painstakingly through her dance-steps, and she was proud of the way Ruby had managed to master the simpler skills of dancing. But they were all wasted on the gangling young man who had partnered her on this particular occasion. Not only was he arrogant and full of his own importance, but he was totally out of step with the music and Ruby had lost count of the times he had stamped on her toes.

  ‘Oh dear, I’m so sorry,’ he told her, swinging her round and grinning down at her.

  ‘So am I,’ she muttered.

  But then he tangled his feet with hers and the pair of them almost went headlong into a rather fat and completely bald gentleman who was nudging his way across the floor with an equally large and flowery woman. When the two of them glared and moved away, Ruby suggested hopefully, ‘Perhaps we’d better sit this one out?’

  She was concerned about Cicely. Every time her partner swung her round, she peeped into the conservatory, and each time she was concerned to see that both Cicely and Luke Arnold were still huddled in the shadows there. All her instincts warned Ruby that he was up to no good. She knew also that Cicely was no match for Luke Arnold’s cunning. ‘You’re up to summat, you sly bugger!’ she murmured. And she hoped it wouldn’t be Cicely who would suffer as a consequence.

  ‘Sorry. What was that you said?’ Her companion bent his head to hear the better.

  Ruby had suffered enough. Squaring her shoulders, she stared up at him. ‘I said, you can trample somebody else’s feet from now on,’ she returned sharply. ‘You’ve shown me what a splendid fellow you are, and I’m a great deal wiser after the performance. But I wish you’d told me that you dance like a cart-horse! I’m not partial to having my feet flattened to the floor, so kindly take your limp arm from round my waist and lead me back to my chair this minute.’

  Her feet were hurting and this young man was getting on her nerves with his clumsy twirls and smug expression. But her real reason for wanting to get off the floor was so that she could keep an eye on what was going on in that conservatory.

  ‘Well! Really, my dear,’ he pouted, taking her by the arm and pushing a way through to the row of chairs against the wall. ‘I was under the impression that I was dancing with a lady, but I was obviously mistaken. I’ll have you know I’m widely renowned for my foxtrot.’ He was deeply injured by her remarks.

  ‘Well, good for you!’ remarked Ruby, falling into the chair with relief. ‘But you’re not foxtrotting all over my poor toes, I’ll tell you that for nothing.’ She might have told him to sod off in that gruff voice her mam often used when the rentman got a bit mouthy, but the young man scurried away before she got the chance. And good shuts to you,’ she told him under her breath, leaning down to rub her mangled toes. In that moment her gaze lifted to the conservatory and what she saw made her heart leap into her mouth.

  Cicely and Luke were entwined against the moonlit sky, one dark shadow, lost in a long and passionate kiss. A moment later, the two of them came into the room, Cicely looking up at him with stars in her eyes. But he didn’t notice her admiration because he was smiling across the room, smiling at Ruby, a slow cruel smile that told her many things. It told her how he was punishing her for having dared to lift a hand to him. It told her that, in spite of it, he still wanted her. And, worst of all, in that awful smile he was showing how he had wormed his way into Cicely’s lonely heart. There was no love in his face when he turned to glance at Cicely. No love or affection. No warmth, no gentleness. Instead, there was only a dark wickedness there. Ruby saw it. But the vulnerable Cicely was blinded by other emotions. With a shocked heart, Ruby watched as that dear soul seemed to light up when she returned Luke’s smile. He placed her hand over his and guided her on to the floor where they were soon lost in the strains of a romantic waltz.

  All the while they danced, he constantly glanced at Ruby. And she knew there would be no end to his vindictiveness.

  ‘They make a fine couple don’t you think?’ Startled Ruby looked up to see Teresa Arnold seating herself in the next chair.

  ‘I suppose so,’ she replied. She didn’t like Luke, nor did she care much for this spoilt beauty who was his sister. Cicely had told her a tale or two about this one. Tarred with the same brush, I shouldn’t wonder, she thought bitterly.

  ‘How long have you and Cicely Banks known each other?’ came the unexpected question.

  ‘I’ve known Cicely for over a year now,’ Ruby answered truthfully. All evening she had been on her guard against such curiosity. But now, after all that had happened, her guard was down and suddenly she felt threatened.

  ‘She’s pretty, isn’t she?’ Teresa admitted with some reluctance. But then added viciously, ‘A little insipid though… and delicate, like a china doll.’ She studied Ruby for a moment before inclining her head towards Cicely and Luke, two accomplished dancers who seemed to glide effortlessly across the floor. ‘I should warn your friend about him,’ she laughed lightly. ‘My brother is known for his womanising.’

  ‘Oh, don’t worry. I intend to!’ Ruby promised. It struck her that there was no love lost between brother and sister, and this only confirmed her suspicions that Luke Arnold was bad through and through.

  Teresa turned at that, her eyes wide with surprise. ‘Be careful you don’t give the impression that you’re jealous,’ she warned, a faint look of amusement on her face.

  When Ruby appeared to ignore her advice, she remarked, ‘Most women find it hard to resist Luke’s obvious charms, and I dare say Cicely Banks is no exception. In fact, if what I hear is to be believed, she’s wide open to being swept off her feet.’ She paused before adding in a low thoughtful voice, ‘All the same, I wouldn’t have said she was Luke’s sort. But there! He never wastes time on women unless it serves a purpose. And I think I see what his purpose is here.’ She laughed, a coarse unlovely sound. ‘Jeffrey Banks has refused to sell his foundry to my father. My brother, on the other hand, has very different powers of persuasion. It wouldn’t surprise me if Luke didn’t succeed where my father has failed.’

  ‘I wouldn’t count on that!’ Ruby felt like giving this one the same treatment she had given her arrogant brother. Between Oliver Arnold’s son and daughter, she wasn’t sure who most deserved a smack across the mouth. ‘Cicely is no fool,’ she retorted. ‘And she won’t be taken in by your brother’s glib tongue.’

  Teresa was amused. ‘How quaint,’ she remarked, eyeing Ruby with narrowed eyes. ‘You’re fiercely protective of her, aren’t you?’ Ruby had held her attention for most of the evening, and she had seen Luke corner her in the conservatory. Now she wanted to know a great deal more about this ‘dearest friend’ of Cicely Banks’s. ‘Are you walking out with a young man?’ she asked with some amusement.

  Ruby sensed she was getting into deep water here, and so she did the unforgiveable: she answered a question with a question. ‘I notice you yourself didn’t arrive with a companion?’ she said coolly. The music stopped then, and Ruby saw how Luke, having left Cicely seated on the other side of the room, was striding away towards the drinks table. ‘Excuse me,’ she said abruptly. In a moment she was making her way to Cicely’s side.

  But two things happened before she got there. First the music struck up again and Luke returned to Cicely’s side. He bent to whisper something in her ear. She smiled and nodded, and they each looked up to smile at Ruby. When she was still only a few steps away, Luke strode across the floor towards her and, sweeping her into his arms, took up step to the music. ‘Relax,’ he murmured close to her ear. ‘Don’t let dear Cicely suspect anything.’

  ‘What do you mean?’ Ruby was bristling with anger. ‘There’s nothing to suspect!’ She would have broken away from him but his fingers were wound tightly about her hand, and his arm reached right around her waist. Her toes we
re hardly touching the floor.

  ‘You leave her alone!’ she warned in a low threatening voice. ‘She’s done you no harm.’

  ‘And I’ve done her none,’ he was quick to point out, ‘Can I help it if she finds me irresistible?’

  ‘You intend to make mischief, I’m certain of it,’ Ruby insisted. ‘Even your own sister says you’re only out to use Cicely in order to get the foundry.’ She loathed him yet she couldn’t help admire the way he danced, taking her with him across the floor, causing her to dip and step to the music as though she was born to it. ‘She’ll know how bad you are when I’ve finished.’

  His smile fell away then, and he squeezed her so hard that she couldn’t even cry out. ‘Oh I doubt that,’ he sneered. ‘I have a feeling that Cicely won’t believe a word you say.’ He laughed softly, making her flesh creep. ‘I haven’t met a woman yet who would believe anything bad about me.’

  ‘Well, you’ve met one now,’ Ruby snapped. ‘Because I’m on to you all right. And I’ll do my best to show Cicely what you’re made of.’

  Oh, now, that’s a real shame, Ruby, because I’ve taken a liking to you. In fact, I might even have changed the rules for you.’

  He spoke in a light-hearted way, but having held her close, having touched his mouth against her rich brown hair, and after seeing those magnificent blue-black eyes looking up at him from beneath thick dark lashes, he feared she had stolen his heart. For the first time he believed himself to be head over heels in love. It was a sobering thought. For one mad moment he was even prepared to give up the idea of securing the foundry by using Cicely.

  ‘I’ll tell you what,’ he whispered, trying not to let her see the true depth of his feelings, ‘be nice to me and I might even let your friend down lightly. I admit I had it in mind to use her. But I’ll gladly trade her for you. What do you say to that?’ He was astonished to find himself trembling.

  ‘I say you’re a liar. And besides, who do you think you are, to trade one woman for another? You’re wicked, and Cicely will come to see that for herself. As for me being “nice” to you, don’t think I don’t know what you mean by that. Men like you have used low-bred women like so much dirt… hiding them in back rooms and visiting whenever it suits you. I’ve heard the women in our street talking, and I wouldn’t spit on your sort. Besides, I don’t want no man to carry me through life. I won’t always be a lady’s maid. I’ve got ambitions, and one day I’ll be a woman of consequence with more money than I’ll know what to do with. Men like you will be two a penny. Oh no, Mr Luke Arnold, sir!’ she said sarcastically. ‘I wouldn’t be “nice” to you if you were the last man on God’s earth!’