Lady Knightley's Secret

Little baggage! Was she deliberately trying to set him at a disadvantage? Or was it simply that she refused to indulge in the gentle art of dissimulation? Again he found himself more amused than annoyed, and not just a little intrigued as well.

‘Yes, of course, it was.’ He risked a sidelong glance in her direction, registered with a feeling of irritation that she was looking perfectly composed and experienced the most overwhelming desire to penetrate that shroud of cool dignity which seemed to be wrapped around her and glimpse the real essence of the woman beneath. ‘It was on the very sad occasion of your father’s funeral. If my memory serves me correctly, that was the last time I saw your sister too.’ He gazed intently at her delightful profile. ‘I hope she is in good health?’

‘Very, as far as I know.’ She turned her head to look at him then, and couldn’t prevent a smile at the quizzical lift of one dark brow. ‘Ours could never be described as a close family, sir. I became estranged from both my mother and sister when I chose to live with my maternal grandmother. Evadne did take the trouble to inform me of my mother’s demise, and I wrote to her last autumn informing her of our grandmother’s passing, but apart from those two instances, there has been no communication between us, verbal or otherwise, for several years.’

Because he had been so close to his own brother, he felt rather saddened to learn this, and not just a little appalled at Elizabeth’s seeming indifference to the state of affairs which existed between her and her sister. He decided, however, that it would be wrong of him to make a snap judgement on a situation about which he knew next to nothing, and changed the subject by enquiring if she now had a companion living with her to bear her company.

‘No, I live quite alone, except for the servants, that is. Oh, and Aggie, of course! But I don’t consider her a servant, even though she is my personal maid,’ she explained when he looked a trifle bewildered. ‘You perhaps wouldn’t remember her, but she was employed in my father’s household. She has known me since the day I was born, and is quite touchingly devoted.’ He found the rather wistful little smile which accompanied the admission most engaging. ‘I must say, Sir Richard, it is rather wonderful having someone around who is so concerned for my well-being, but she does tend to fuss over me like a mother hen.’

He tactfully refrained from voicing his staunch disapproval of a young lady of quality living alone and, as they made their way along the high ridge which formed the western boundary of his lordship’s land, encouraged her to talk about those years she had lived with her grandmother.

It didn’t take him long to discover that she had been touchingly devoted to her grandparent. She could not speak highly enough of the lady who had, through sheer determination and hard work, built up a thriving company, owning several sailing ships which had travelled to distant points on the globe, and who had died one of the richest women in Bristol.

As he listened he vaguely recalled his father once remarking on the fact that a substantial dowry was the only thing that had made Elizabeth’s mother acceptable to the younger son of an earl. Many of the top Ten Thousand still looked down on those who had any connection with trade, and he found himself admiring Elizabeth’s total lack of snobbery or embarrassment over her maternal grandparent’s humble origins. It was quite evident that she felt nothing but admiration for her grandmother’s businesslike acumen, and didn’t shy away from the fact that she owed her comfortable existence, now, to that woman’s hard-working life.

‘I wish I had had the pleasure of making her acquaintance,’ he remarked with total sincerity when she fell silent. ‘You make her sound a very interesting character.’

‘Oh, she was! There’s no denying she was a hard-headed businesswoman, as shrewd as they come, but there was a softer side to her nature too. She fell in love with my grandfather when she had just turned eighteen. Their marriage lasted such a tragically short length of time, less than six years, but she never married again, even though she received numerous offers throughout her life. She told me once that we were alike in that…that we were destined to love only once.’

For a brief moment he glimpsed a faraway look in her eyes, then she seemed to collect herself and looked at him with that completely unforced smile of hers, which never failed to reach her eyes, igniting a sparkle in those lovely grey-green depths.

‘My apologies, Sir Richard. You must think my tongue runs on wheels. I’ve done nothing but chatter about myself since we began our ride.’

Drawing her filly to a halt, she gazed at the rippling stream gurgling its way along the shallow valley below. ‘How beautiful it is here! Brin and Verity seem very contented in their new home, but they must find the landscape vastly different from their native Yorkshire.’

Richard, too, cast his eyes over the hilly terrain. ‘The more I travel about this glorious land of ours, the more I come to realise that each county possesses its own individual charm and beauty.’

‘Mmm.’ Elizabeth frowned suddenly. ‘I ought to travel more. It’s a dreadful thing to confess, but I’ve never ventured further north than Gloucester. I’ve always wanted to visit Scotland, and I could take in other places on the way—the Peaks, and the Lake District, to name but two. Late spring or early summer would be the ideal time to travel, don’t you agree?’

‘Emphatically no, Miss Beresford!’ he astounded her by responding in forthright tones. ‘Your father was my godfather, so I suppose I’m the closest you’ve ever had to a brother. Therefore, I do not scruple to tell you that it would not only be extremely foolhardy, but grossly improper for you to embark on such a venture without the support and guidance of some male relative.’

He could easily discern a look of combined annoyance and astonishment in her eyes, and was not just a little surprised himself that he had tried to interfere in something which was, after all, none of his concern. He was surprised, too, and not just a little bewildered by the totally unexpected and overwhelming desire he was experiencing to protect this young woman who was quite evidently battling against the very understandable compulsion to tell him to mind his own business.

‘I think, sir,’ Elizabeth said with careful restraint, ‘that it might be wise if we made our way back now. It doesn’t look as if Brin will be joining us, and I think if we are left alone together for very much longer we shall be in the gravest danger of coming to cuffs.’

His response was to throw his head back and roar with laughter, which only succeeded in annoying her further, but by the time they had arrived back at the Dartwoods’ charming country residence genial relations had once again been restored.

As she walked with Richard towards the house, Elizabeth was vaguely aware that there was a carriage standing in the courtyard, but gave not a single thought to the possible identity of the person who had called, until she entered her bedchamber and saw the disgruntled look on her maid’s face.

‘And what has put you out of temper this morning, Aggie? Had a difference of opinion with one of her ladyship’s servants, have we?’

‘To hear you talk, Miss Elizabeth, anyone would think I was the kind of odiously bossy female who always tried to rule the roost.’

‘And so you are!’ Elizabeth returned, never having put a guard on her tongue where Agatha was concerned. ‘Well, out with it, then!’ she encouraged when her maid regarded her in tight-lipped indignation. ‘If it wasn’t one of the servants then who, or what, has sent you into a fit of the sullens?’

‘Her ladyship has a visitor,’ Agatha unlocked her mouth to announce in tones of dire foreboding.

‘Ha! I begin to see daylight.’ Peeling off her habit, Elizabeth regarded the maid with an understanding smile. ‘So, darling Evadne is here, is she? Well, we knew it would be only a matter of time.’ A hint of mischief sparkled in her eyes. ‘Do you know, Aggie, Wellington could have done with your services during the Peninsular Campaign. You would have made an excellent spy. You possess the most uncanny knack of discovering things with quite remarkable speed,’ but Agatha refused to be diverted and looked at her mistress in some concern.

‘Be careful, my lamb,’ she urged. ‘She were a nasty, malicious child. I know people can change over the years, but it’s been my experience that they never do to that extent, unless forced to mend their ways.’

‘Pray, don’t concern yourself on my account.’ Elizabeth was completely undaunted at the prospect of coming face to face again with the female who had bullied her quite mercilessly years before. ‘You above anyone else should know that Evadne would never show herself in a poor light when in public. She will be all charm and social graces.’

A hard look, rarely glimpsed in her, suddenly took possession of Elizabeth’s fine features. ‘One viper in a family is more than enough. But if she is foolish enough to cross swords with me again, then she might be surprised at the venom I possess. My grandmother taught me well. I’m more than a match, now, for my beloved sister.’

Although Agatha said nothing further while she helped her mistress change her attire, she was still experiencing a deal of concern; but she was, as she had been told, fretting quite needlessly. When Elizabeth left the bedchamber and descended the ornately carved staircase she was complete mistress of herself.

In point of fact, her self-confidence had reached a new high. She had, after all, coped superbly with Richard’s unexpected and rather unnerving presence in this house, not once betraying her true feelings for him. But it wouldn’t do at all to become overconfident, she reminded herself, recalling vividly that moment earlier when he had dared to presume that he could dictate how she should go on. Such impudence! She had come perilously close to losing her temper, but that, she knew, would have been a grave mistake. If she allowed anger to surface, what other emotions might she foolishly betray to the man whom she had adored since her girlhood?

A young footman opened the salon door for her and she couldn’t prevent a smile at the anxious glance the Viscountess shot in her husband’s direction before he rose to his feet. Richard rose also, and she thought she could detect a flicker of unease in his eyes before she transferred her gaze to the elegantly attired woman seated beside a total stranger on the couch.

If Lady Chiltham was experiencing shock over her sister’s drastically altered appearance she certainly betrayed no sign of it as she went rushing forward to embrace her warmly. Elizabeth, however, was far too experienced in the ways of her elder sister to be fooled by the false display of affection and, refusing to return the embrace, merely said, ‘You are looking well, Evadne. Marriage and motherhood evidently agree with you.’ The large cornflower-blue eyes were as brightly sparkling as she remembered, but her sister was betraying clear signs that she was rapidly approaching her thirtieth year. Tiny lines were beginning to mar what had once been a flawless complexion, and there was a definite hard, pinched look about the mouth that had once been so softly inviting to members of the opposite sex. ‘I trust your husband and children are keeping well?’

‘Clara and little Edwin go on very nicely, unlike their poor papa who does tend to suffer from the gout from time to time.’

An image of the obese Baron when last she had seen him sprang before Elizabeth’s mind’s eye. He was not renowned for depriving himself of his creature comforts and she wouldn’t be in the least surprised to discover that his girth had increased over the years.

‘Do the children resemble their father, Evadne?’

‘Edwin does, certainly, but most say that Clara is the image of her mama.’ Lady Chiltham then prudently changed the subject, before her sister could remark on the fact that she had never set eyes on either her niece or nephew, by introducing her to Mrs Westbridge who was at present staying with them and who, it transpired, was Sir Richard’s nearest neighbour.

‘Before you entered I was on the point of inviting Sir Richard to dine with us on Friday, and sincerely trust that you will accompany him.’

‘I shall be honoured to act as your sister’s escort, Lady Chiltham,’ Richard responded, thereby offering Elizabeth no opportunity to accept or otherwise.

Evadne appeared genuinely pleased and smiled delightedly as she transferred her gaze to the occupants of the red upholstered couch on the opposite side of the room. ‘I fully understand why your ladyship is disinclined to accept invitations at the present time,’ she remarked, ‘so shall not press you, ma’am. I’m certain, though, that you’d have no objection to my depriving you of my charming sister’s company for just one evening.’

‘Of course not,’ Verity responded, having little choice, and could only hope that Elizabeth wasn’t too disturbed at the prospect of dining at the Chilthams’ home, but gained some comfort from the knowledge that Richard would be there too.

Conversation then became general, but Lady Chiltham, never having failed to adhere to the strict rules governing polite behaviour, rose to her feet a few minutes later as the socially acceptable time allotted for paying morning visits drew to a close. ‘Would you be kind enough to escort me out to my carriage, Elizabeth?’

A wickedly mischievous look added an extra sparkle to a pair of grey-green eyes. ‘Believe me, Evadne, nothing could afford me greater pleasure!’

The double entendre might have escaped Lady Chiltham, but Richard was very well aware of precisely what the younger sister had meant and cast a frowning glance at her slender retreating back as the three ladies left the room.

‘Phew!’ The Viscount put his fingers to his neckcloth as though it had suddenly grown uncomfortably tight. ‘Well, that went rather better than we had dared to hope.’

Verity smiled. ‘I must confess I was on tenterhooks, but I should have realised that Elizabeth would rise to the occasion.’

‘You’ll forgive me for saying so,’ Richard remarked, delving into his pocket to draw out his snuffbox, ‘but aren’t you making rather too much of it? I understand the coolness between the sisters is of several years’ standing, but I’m certain that, now they have been reunited, the breach will soon be healed. Lady Chiltham, at least, seems eager to make up their differences.’

Verity regarded him in open-mouthed astonishment for a moment. ‘It’s quite obvious to me, sir, that you know nothing about the matter. Elizabeth warned me before we even moved down here that her sister possessed two faces—one she keeps for public show, and a very different one for private. And Elizabeth doesn’t lie.’

‘I’m not so certain of that,’ her husband responded unexpectedly, and she looked up at him sharply.

‘What on earth do you mean, Brin?’

‘It was something she said to me earlier,’ he explained, looking decidedly puzzled. ‘I recall clearly your telling me that Elizabeth’s only reason for going to Brussels last year was to take care of her grandmother who was concerned for the welfare of her godson. Thankfully, he was amongst the lucky ones and came through the battle unscathed. We also both know for a fact that Elizabeth remained in Brussels for far longer than had been originally planned in order to nurse several wounded British soldiers. She mentioned that in the letter she wrote to you from Brussels last summer, remember? So why, when I brought the subject up, did she try to give the impression that it had been quite otherwise—that she had fled the capital shortly after the battle had begun?’