A Wager for Love (19 page)

His mistress? She gritted her teeth. So this was her punishment for her defiance. “Thank you,” she said coolly, and was quite proud of the fact that her voice never so much as trembled. Her eyes gave her away though, but she did not know it. Still what was sauce for the goose… She had ordered a goodly number of invitations. It would not be difficult to write out one or two extra. Until that moment she had resolved quite firmly to have nothing more to do with the Marquis of Andover. His behaviour the previous night was inexcusable. She almost shuddered at the recollection of her own response to his ungentlemanly behaviour. Well, if Saltaire was going to parade his mistress before her …

Lavinia, a level-headed girl, paused on her way out of the room. Why should it matter to her whether Saltaire invited his mistress or not? As far as she was concerned he could keep a dozen mistresses. “Liar,” a small voice mocked inside of her.

The trip to Kensington in the open barouche, with Lady Elizabeth’s sympathetic eyes fixed on her all the while, did little to soothe Lavinia’s bruised sensibilities. Was ever a woman so ill-used? To be carried off and married out of hand for nothing more than a wager, and then to be treated so shamefully. It was too much for any high-spirited girl to bear.

She was completely oblivious to the fact that she was frowning quite horribly, until Elizabeth’s voice broke in upon her thoughts. “My dear, you will ruin your complexion if you frown like that. Lud, whatever can put you in such a pucker?”

Lavinia smiled lightly, “Oh it is nothing, cousin. was just wondering about my flowers. But, see, we are here. No doubt your good Master James will give us the benefit of his advice.”

Happily, Master James was everything that Lady Elizabeth had promised. No sooner had Lavinia outlined her plans than he was able to make a good many helpful suggestions. Proudly he showed them over his immaculate glass houses, and then through the rows of flowers, the neat walled gardens and the orchards.

“So, it is arranged then. You know what we have decided?”

“Aye, never fear, My Lady.” he promised. “It shall all be as you say. I shall take the liberty of calling myself at Grosvenor Square, just to look at the room, you understand.” As he handed Lavinia into the carriage, he added, “It is fortunate that it is summer. we shall have plenty of blooms to choose from.” He shook his grizzled head, “Had it been winter now …”

“Had it been winter. Master James. I should not have contemplated such a thing.”

Master James’ blue eyes twinkled. “Ah. you say that, but I know you ladies, if you’ll forgive me. Once you get an idea fixed in your pretty heads, there’s no gainsaying you,” he finished gloomily.·

When Lavania returned to Grosvenor Square, it was to find that Kitty and Richard had arrived before her. Lavinia, entering the small salon, took off her bonnet, and on turning saw them both there Kitty was picking out a tune on the pianoforte, and Richard was standing by the window, one elegantly booted boot on a chair, gazing out into the square.

“Oh there you are. Such a morning we have had. Still, all is arranged,” said Lavinia gaily, stopping in mid breath as she saw Kitty’s face. “Heavens, what’s amiss?”

Kitty flushed, tossing her head pertly. “I’m sure I don’t know, Lavinia. Perhaps your brother will acquaint you.”

Richard swung round, his face furious. “Come, you know full well what the matter is. Will you never learn the folly of chattering to everyone you see? Why, if I hadn’t happened along when I did …”

“Oh tush. You refine too much. It was nothing. He was but a little worse for drink that is all.”

“A little!” exploded Richard.

Lavinia put up a warning hand, seriously alarmed. “Please, both of you, explain properly. Now, Richard, tell me what has happened? Kitty, are you all right?”

“FortunateIy, yes she is,” replied Richard shortly, running a distracted hand through his already ruflled hair. “AIthough it is no doing of her own. Was there ever such a cork-brained female? Of all the stupid things to do!”

“What should I have done?” snapped Kitty, firing up. “Run him down with my horse?”

Lavinia put her hands to her temple. “Richard, Kitty, please, will one of you just tell me what has happened? I leave this moming and Kitty tells me she is engaged to go riding with you, and when I return I find you squabbling like two schoolroom children.”

Kitty looked down at the floor. “It is nothing. We were in the park and Richard was ahead of me.” Her lip curled a little, “He was showing off in front of that stupid vapid blonde girl.”

“I was not,” interjected Richard, stopping as Lavinia fixed him with a warning eye.

“WelI anyway, there was this man,” continued Kitty. “An ensign, I think. Oh, Lavinia, you should have seen him in his regimentals, all scarlet and gold. Such a fine sight. He stepped forward as if he were about to talk to me, you see, and I, thinking perhaps he must know me …”

“Aye, your abductor from Bath doubtless,” threw in Richard, only to be quelled by Lavinia.

“Well, that is all.” Kitty shrugged. “Such a fuss over nothing, and I did not know him after all.”

Lavinia, her own behaviour of the previous night still very much to the forefront ofher mind, sighed. “Oh Kitty, surely you should know better by now?”

“Oh no, not her,” burst out Richard. “Why, I expect she would have eloped with him given half the chance, like that half-pay officer from Bath,” he added with sarcasm.

To Lavinia’s astonishment, instead of retaliating, Kitty gave Richard one speaking look and promptly dissolved into tears, rushing from the room. “Oh you are hateful to mock me so. How could you!” she flung at the bemused Richard.

“Kitty!” called Lavinia, but she was gone. She rounded on her brother. “Richard, what on earth has been happening?”

Scowling, Richard kicked out at the chair. “That girl has not one single atom of sense.” He motioned helplessly with his hands. “Lavinia, you have no idea. One moment we were riding down the avenue, and the next she had stopped and was talking as bold as you please to some fellow.”

Richard thumped on the table. “She did not even know him. Why he could have been anyone. He could have snatched her purse or … “

“But he didn’t.” put in Lavinia reasonably. “Really. Richard, I agree it was a little foolish, but you must remember Kitty has spent all her life in the country where things are vastly different. I dare swear that it was as she told you. She thought she might know him and stopped. See, it is all a great bother about nothing. ” Richard still did not look convinced. Exasperated. Lavinia tried again. “Richard, I must go up to Kitty. You have upset her dreadfully.”

Angrily, Richard watched her go. Women, why was it they always banded together so? And it was not even his fault. At the thought of what might have happened his blood ran cold. And Kitty had just sat there on her horse, laughing. His fists clenched with remembered fury.

Lavinia, leaving her brother to his thoughts, hurried upstairs. Such a fuss about nothing really. She had never imagined Kitty would get so upset. Indeed she had not struck her as the type or girl to be forever weeping and tearful. Sighing a little as she entered the younger girl’s bedchamber, she called her name. Kitty had flung herself across the bed, completely disregarding the new bonnet, purchased only that week and until then the pride of her life.

“Kitty, my love, come tell me what ails you?”

“Oh Lavinia,” she wailed. “You see before you the most wretched creature alive. I am so unhappy.”

“Come, Kitty,” urged Lavinia briskly, concealing a small smile. Kitty’s words had shown a decided tendency towards the theatrical. “To be sure, Richard was a little sharp. I have I had the whole story from him, and I assure you it was only his concern for you that led him to speak so.”

“Concern.” This brought fresh wails of! despair. “Oh, Lavinia. he treats me like a young sister, and one he dislikes at that.”

“Well, how should be treat you?”-asked the mystified Lavinia. “Indeed, I own perhaps he should be a little more formal, after all there is no blood relationship. But I had not thought you wanted to be so high on formality, Kitty.” she added a trifle doubtfully. “But if you wish, I shall speak to him.”

“No, you don’t understand.”

Utterly lost, Lavinia stared at her. “Well, until you explain it to me I cannot understand, can I?” She sat down on the bed patting the silken cover invitingly. “Come and sit here beside me and tell me, and then perhaps I can help you,” she said reasonably.

Kitty sat up, her curls tangled, and the tears glistening on her cheeks. “Oh Lavinia, I dare not tell you for I fear you will think me the veriest wretch alive. You will hate me for it, I know.”

Lavinia’s heart sank. This was what she had privately dreaded. She felt sure Saltaire’s flirting with Kitty had meant nothing to him. Indeed, she had even come to wonder if it was not purely to annoy her, although why her husband should undertake such a course she had not yet fathomed out. But Kitty was a very young girl. Who could blame her if …? A mortifying thought struck her. Surely Richard had not been foolish enough to tackle Kitty with it? That would account for his obvious embarrassment.

·

She plucked nervously at the bedcover. “Kitty, my love, I know Saltaire can be vastly charming but …”

“Saltaire!” The surprise in Kitty’s voice brought Lavinia’s head up abruptly. “Lavinia, whatever can you be talking about?”

Lavinia floundered a little, her face heated. “Why, Kitty, I thought … that is…” and she bit her lips nervously.

“You thought I fancied myself in love with Saltaire?” cut in Kitty in tones of liveliest amusement. “Oh, Lavinia, I am not such a ninny. Saltaire? Why for one thing he is years older than me.” She hung her head, all amusement gone now. “Oh Lavinia, pray do not be cross with me, it is Richard.” Her voice tailed off.

“Richardl” Lavinia stared at Kitty in frank amazement. Richard was her brother and a dear, of course, but she had been so sure it was Saltaire!

Kitty eyed her a little defensively. “Oh, I know what you are thinking. That I am too scatterbrained to be even thinking of marriage, and, of course, I am only the granddaughter of a minor baronet, with no dot to speak of, but I promise you, Lavinia, that my feelings are deeply engaged.” Her face took on a dreamy look.

Lavinia, who had been thinking no such thing, her mind totally engrossed with the problem of why the news that Kitty was not in love with Saltaire should cause her to feel so lighthearted, eyed Kitty in bemused distraction, but that lady was far too wrapped up in her own thoughts to notice her confidant’s lack of attention.

“I knew from that first time I saw him in the roadway. Richard is so”-she searched for the right words - “So dependable.”

Lavinia blinked in surprise, feeling oddly humbled. This child, whom she had thought so silly, was showing far more sense than she herself. Of course Richard would be just right for her, and she for him. It anything, Lavinia thought he could be a little on the serious side. She could quite see him as the country squire, scarcely ever leaving his estates. She turned, embracing the younger girl warmly. “My dear,” she chided, “What an ogre you must think me. Why should I object? And as for your lack of portion.” she shrugged, “Richard is not exactly rolling in funds himself. But why on earth could Richard not tell me?” She could not quite conceal a little hurt from her voice.

“For a very good reason,” admitted Kitty hollowly, a trifle shamefaced, “He does not know. I fear he does not return my regard.”·

Lavinia, recalling Richard’s anger, did not feel quite so sure. There had been more annoyance than was merited by the incident. “Oh he is kind enough to me. But I really do not think he sees me as a woman at all.”

Lavinia knew exactly what she meant. “Well,” she retorted briskly, “I think it is high time he did. He may be my brother, but I see he can be as obtuse as the next man.” She eyed Kitty thoughtfully. “I wouldn’t give up hope, Kitty. What we need now is for Richard to see you in a new light. Not as the young girl he knows, but as a woman. ” She never dreamed as she said these words just what their result on her own life was going to be.

Kitty hugged her afresh. “Oh you are such a dear. You are right, of course. But how can I possibly accomplish it?” She broke into a sudden peel of laughter.

“What’s wrong now?” queried Lavinia, alarmed.

“Oh it is nothing. Just to think of you imagining me in love with Saltaire!”

“Well, and why should I not?” retorted Lavinia.

“Oh, no reason,” replied Kitty airily, “No reason at all.”

But a wicked smile still curved her mouth.

Lavinia was seated at her bureau. She pulled the pile of invitation cards towards her, and determinedly picked up her quill. She glanced quickly down Saltaire’s list. It would take her the remainder of the afternoon to get these done. Kitty was upstairs, trying on a new gown which had just arrived, thankfully in time to restore her still somewhat depressed spirits. Lavinia permitted a smile to cross her face. At Kitty’s age it would be a shame if that was not the case. Unfortunately, it would take more than a new gown to raise her spirits. “Raise your spirits - whatever for?” chided a small voice, “and it is your own fault if you are downcast. If you had not behaved in such an ill-bred fashion and allowed yourself to be embraced so wantonly …” She shook her head, determinedly banishing such thoughts.

She was thankful for the knock on the door which interrupted her train of thought. “Come in,” she called.

The housekeeper entered. “It is the painters, My Lady, they are finished, and I thought you would like to see the ballroom.”

“Quite right. Mrs. Johnson,” approved Lavinia. “I shall come now.”

The floor and furniture were still shrouded in sheets, but that was the only way the ballroom resembled the picture it had presented when she had first seen it. Gone were the dull grey walls and the cobwebs. In their place the walls gleamed with delicate lemon and white. Lavinia sighed happily, “Oh, Mrs. Johnson. it is just what I had hoped for. Mrs. Johnson beamed her relief’. “I’m so glad, My Lady.”