A Suitable Bride (7 page)

‘Have you no sense of decorum? No notion as to how a well brought up young lady should behave?’ His question was rhetorical and she made no attempt to answer him. ‘From the moment you arrived yesterday you’ve caused nothing but trouble and your wretched dogs are no better. As soon as you’re recovered I wish you to leave Silchester Court. When Lady Peabody arrives I’ll inform her of my decision. I suggest you remain in your apartment until you depart.’

He stepped back and closed the door behind him leaving her aghast. Her head was spinning. There was only one reason he had evicted her – despite her precautions he had seen her lurking behind the hedge and knew she had broken all the rules this morning.

How could she have been so stupid? Her plans were in ruin and she would have to return to DuPont Manor as she had nowhere else to go.

Tears trickled unheeded down her cheeks and she collapsed onto the window seat and buried her head in her hands.

Chapter Seven

Bennett was on the stairs when he stopped. He’d barged into Miss DuPont’s apartment and yelled at her as if she was a raw recruit, not allowing her to respond. What the hell was wrong with him? Then his stomach clenched when he realised that the girl had a blood-soaked bandage around her head and she’d been without it when he’d seen her earlier.

He bounded back up the stairs and ran to her sitting room. He didn’t knock but threw open the door. She was huddled on the window seat sobbing quietly.

‘Miss DuPont, please don’t cry. I beg your pardon most humbly. I have the most appalling temper…’

She sniffed and slowly raised her tear-stained face. ‘I’m well aware of that fact, sir, there’s no need to state the obvious.’ Her voice was scarcely above a whisper but he could hear every word.

He was somewhat taken aback by her comment but rallied and with a rueful smile handed her his handkerchief. ‘Here, blow your nose and dry your eyes. Crying will only aggravate your injury.’

His brisk tone did the trick and her shoulders straightened. After a few minutes of mopping and blowing she was more composed. However, her wound was in urgent need of attention.

‘You have reopened your gash by your exertions this morning…’

Again she interrupted him, but this time with a small smile. ‘Yet again, my lord, you are telling me something I already know.’

‘Miss DuPont, you are an impertinent young lady, but I’m sure that’s something you already know as well.’ Her gurgle of laughter was contagious and he couldn’t prevent his chuckle. ‘Doctor Adams’s not due to return until later this morning and this cannot be left until then. My valet has stitched me up a few times; I’ll send for him, he can repair the damage.’

She didn’t look overly impressed by this suggestion. ‘If you don’t mind, I prefer to wait for the doctor.’

He ignored her comment. She was looking decidedly pale and could be in trouble if the bleeding wasn’t stopped immediately. Instead of pulling the bell-strap he opened the door and yelled using his parade ground voice.

As expected a footman hurtled around the corner and rushed off with the message. The fact that anyone within the vicinity would have heard him shouting bothered him not one jot. This was his home and he could do as he damned well pleased.

He left the sitting room door wide open, no need to give the tabbies anything else to gossip about. Miss DuPont had moved from the window seat and was sitting demurely in an upright chair. A streak of blood marred her face where she’d attempted to wipe it away with his handkerchief.

‘I think that you’re right, my lord, my injury is bleeding freely now and I’m beginning to feel a trifle lightheaded.’

Without hesitation he ripped off his neckcloth. ‘Let me have my handkerchief, I’ll fold it into a pad and then secure it with this.’ He grinned as he moved to stand behind her. ‘This is becoming a habit, my dear, and it’s fortunate I have a superfluity of such items.’

Deftly he pressed the folded handkerchief to the sodden bandage and then added his stock to secure it. She glanced up at him. ‘If your manservant is coming to attend to me, then haven’t you wasted a perfectly good neckcloth? I’m sure I wouldn’t have suffered unduly if you’d waited until he arrived.’

He wasn’t used to being contradicted and taken to task by anyone, and particularly not by a young lady who wasn’t even a member of his family. ‘No doubt that’s correct, Miss DuPont, but I’d rather ruin my stock than risk your health.’

Her expression changed and her eyes brimmed again. ‘I beg your pardon, my lord, I don’t mean to be so contrary. I cannot think why I’m going out of my way to offend you.’

He squeezed her shoulder gently. ‘There’s no need to apologise – I’ve been damned rude to you as well.’

She rubbed her eyes dry before replying ‘I wasn’t aware that I’d been ‘damned rude’ – I merely thought I’d been slightly uncivil.’

This girl was an original. ‘Miss DuPont, you’re tying me in knots. Of course you haven’t been as rude as I have and you certainly haven’t been using such appalling language.’

There was no opportunity for her to reply as the bedchamber door burst open and Abbott, followed by two maids, rushed in. ‘I’ve got everything we need, my lord, if the young lady’s quite sure she wishes me to repair her stitches.’

‘Thank you, Mr Abbott, I should be grateful if you would. It’s entirely my own fault that the wound has reopened; I shouldn’t have been gallivanting all over the countryside on my horse this morning.’

Her hands flew to her mouth as if she wished to push the words back in. This girl was outrageous, impossible, not at all the sort of young lady who should be visiting such a prestigious house as this, but the more he heard her speak and the more time he spent with her, the better he was coming to like her.

*

Grace wished the floor would open and swallow her up. To have admitted in front of two servants that she’d been out at dawn on her own was tantamount to tearing her reputation to shreds. Annie wouldn’t dream of gossiping, and she was fairly sure that Lord Sheldon’s man would be as discreet, but an unknown chambermaid couldn’t be relied on.

She gripped the arms of the chair as Abbott began to unwind the bandage. Whilst his valet was completing this task his lordship picked up a matching chair and placed it beside her. Once he was seated he unpeeled her hands and held them firmly in his own. This was so unexpected it took her mind from what was about to happen.

‘He will be done before you know it, little one, and then you must rest as you did yesterday.’ He squeezed her hands and began to talk of something else entirely. ‘I hope you’re intending to enter Rufus in the races. However, you’ll have to ride him side-saddle as I don’t think my guests would survive the sight of a young lady astride, wearing men’s breeches.’

Despite the horrible pain in her head she managed a weak smile and from somewhere summoned the words to reply. ‘I ride him with a side-saddle as often as I do astride. Are you sure I’ll be allowed to enter? Aren’t these races meant for gentlemen only?’

His smile made her forget the pain. ‘You’re forgetting, Miss DuPont, that all the entertainment and events are at my instigation. Therefore it’s up to me who participates or not. We’re having several events on the water – do you have any interest in entering those as well?’

‘I shall join in everything I’m allowed to, my lord, as there’s nothing I like better than being outside. I’m an excellent swimmer, can row a boat but have never sailed a dinghy. Neither have I travelled in a punt – but I doubt it can be particularly difficult so am prepared to have a go at that as well.’

The excruciating agony stopped. ‘There, all done, miss, and I reckon I’ve done a better job than the quack. These sutures won’t come adrift. I’ve cleaned up the wound but it will be better left uncovered.’

‘Whatever you think is best, Mr Abbott. Thank you for coming to my rescue.’

‘I’m afraid I’ve had to cut away a deal of hair, miss, but once the injury begins to heal you’ve more than enough to cover it.’

She was about to put a hand up to explore just how much had been removed but Lord Sheldon wouldn’t release her fingers.

‘No, don’t touch it. It would be better left alone. And I can assure you once you can brush your hair across the injury no one will know.’

‘Very well, I’ll take your word for it, sir. I meant to say that I’m grateful for the excellent care that’s been given to my dogs and horses. Could I ask you to take my pets for a walk this afternoon as they seem, for some strange reason, to have taken to you.’ Why had she said that? The remark could be misconstrued as a criticism. ‘I don’t mean…’

‘I’m sure you don’t, I understand exactly. Your dogs appear to have adopted me which is certainly an odd thing to do on their part.’ He was now on his feet and had moved a decent distance away from her. ‘I’ll explain to everybody that you will be unable to join us for a day or two. I’m sure that your godmother will wish to visit when she arrives later today.’

For a second Grace looked at him blankly. ‘I’m sure that Lady Peabody will have better things to do than see me. I’ve never met her, she’s merely doing my mother a favour by sponsoring me. They were bosom bows many years ago, I believe.’

‘Whatever the reason, Miss DuPont, I’m glad she agreed to do so. I can honestly say that there’s been more excitement in this house in the past twenty-four hours than in the past twenty-four years. I’ve not enjoyed myself so much since I returned from my soldiering.’ He raised his hand in casual farewell and was gone and the room seemed empty without him.

Annie began to fuss. ‘I’ve never seen the like, you’d better come back to bed like his lordship said, miss, you look ever so peaky.’

It was useless to argue when her maid was in this mood so Grace reluctantly agreed to return to her bedchamber, remove her garments and put her nightgown back on. By the time this was accomplished a jug of watered wine and another of lemonade arrived, as well as some sort of concoction prepared in the kitchen that would soothe her headache.

She drank half the watered wine and swallowed the tisane and she scarcely had time to settle into her pillows before her eyes became heavy and she drifted into slumber.

*

Bennett left Miss DuPont’s sitting room unable to stop himself from smiling. The girl might be headstrong, impertinent and unconventional but she was also a bruising rider, brave to a fault and undeniably attractive. Russet hair and green eyes were not a fashionable combination, neither was her unusual height and well-rounded figure, but there was something about her that appealed to him. Was it possible he’d found the girl he wanted to marry?

He descended the stairs two at a time and jumped the last four like a schoolboy. He would go through the motions of looking at the other young ladies who’d been invited, but was sure none of them would come up to scratch. He’d told Beau he wanted an outdoor girl, someone with intelligence as well as money – Miss DuPont appeared to have all these attributes.

He met his older brother in the breakfast parlour which was unoccupied apart from themselves. He doubted anyone else would be about before midday. ‘You look inordinately pleased with yourself, Bennett, tell me what’s going on to give you such a spring in your step?’

Bennett regaled his brother with the events of the morning and at the end they were both laughing. ‘I think we’d better make further enquiries about Miss DuPont, we’re assuming she’s an heiress because the Peabodys asked to have her included on the invitation list. However, we know nothing about her and if, as I suspect, she’s likely to be my future sister-in-law, then we need to know more about her.’

‘I’ll leave that to your man of business, Beau, but I’ll speak to Lord Peabody myself when they arrive.’ He heaped his plate from the silver containers on the sideboard and took it to the table. There was no further opportunity for private conversation as, to his surprise, guests started to drift in and soon he was surrounded by simpering young ladies and their doting mamas.

He did the pretty, was as charming as he could be, but was relieved when he could escape without causing offence. Fortunately there had been no mention of Miss DuPont and her occupation of a superior apartment, so he must suppose that his sister had done as he’d asked and stopped the gossip and speculation.

As he was strolling along the passageway he saw two travelling carriages bowling along the drive. He glanced at his pocket watch – a quarter to ten o’clock – whoever was arriving must have stayed overnight at a nearby hostelry. The baggage for all three families due to come today had arrived yesterday so everything would be prepared for these guests.

He was about to enquire from Peebles as to the identity of these arrivals when he was approached by a matron of considerable size, dressed in the height of fashion and followed by not one, but two, hopeful debutantes. There was no escape – he would have to speak to them.

‘Lord Sheldon, I am Lady Drusilla Forsyth, daughter to the Earl of Redbridge, and we’ve yet to be introduced. My daughters and I arrived later than expected last evening and were unable to join you for dinner.’

He bowed and she nodded. The two girls drifted forward and curtsied. Lady Drusilla pointed to the taller of the two, a pretty girl with blonde ringlets and sparkling blue eyes. ‘Might I introduce you to my eldest daughter, Miss Amanda Forsyth?’ The girl smiled shyly and curtsied a second time.

‘I'm honoured to meet you, Miss Forsyth. I hope you enjoy your stay at Silchester Court.’

‘This is my second daughter, Miss Rebecca Forsyth.’ This young lady was equally attractive although her hair was not quite as golden nor her eyes as blue.

‘Miss Rebecca, I’m pleased to make your acquaintance. If you require anything don’t hesitate to ask any member of my staff. Breakfast is now being served in the main dining room at the rear of the house.’ He bowed again and then with a smile moved away smartly.

It was decidedly unnerving being viewed with such speculation by all three ladies – even the youngest had been sizing him up. Was this how it was going to be all summer? Life would be unbearable if he was to be waylaid everywhere he went by hopeful young ladies and their parents. The sooner he made his choice and announced it the better it would be for all concerned.