A Wager for Love (21 page)

Puzzled, Lavinia took it, dismissing the girl with a nod. Why on earth should Kitty wish to send her a note? She opened the missive and pertised its contents, her amusement

turning to dismay.

“Dearest Lavinia, By the time you get my note I shall be on my way to Vauxhall Gardens, I have hit on the most excellent notion for getting Richard to see me in a new light. You need not fear for me, I have it all planned. I have despatched a note to Richard (in your name) …”

At this Lavinia’s frown deepened, but she read on.

“… requesting him to meet us in the Long Walk. James, (my maid Alicia’s intended) is to escort me and when we see Richard he is to make to attack me. Then Richard can rescue me. A capital idea, is it not?”

Horrified, Lavinia allowed the letter to slip from her fingers. That wretched girl. How could she? Anything could happen.

She opened the door and hurried upstairs, making for Kitty’s room. Her maid was there and flushed a little on seeing Lavinia. “You are aware of your Mistress’s plan?” asked Lavinia tersely, “Why did you not come and tell me?”

“Miss Kitty promised James ten guineas, My Lady,” responded the girl defensively, twisting her apron in nervous fingers, “And what with us saving an’ all. Besides, no harm will come to her. James will see to that. It is naught but a prank after all.”

“How long has Miss Kitty been gone? Be sure you tell me the truth now.”

The girl, frightened at the stern note in Lavinia’s voice, cogitated for a second. “Oh, no more than half an hour, My Lady.”

With one thought in her mind, Lavinia hurried to her own room. She must go after Kitty. That foolish child, anything could happen. Agonising over the hundred and one fates that might befall the miscreant, Lavinia flung open her Closet, without bothering to send for her own maid. In her haste she dislodged several dresses before she found what she was looking for, a heavy opera cloak of rich velvet. Quickly she pulled it on over her gown, ran down the stairs and stepped determinedly from the house.

Kitty reached the Long Walk with comparative ease. James, a little ill at ease in his best clothes, stared round him, admiring the fine walks lit with gaily coloured lanterns, until Kitty brought him sharply back to his duties. “Get behind those bushes,” she whispered. “Now remember, when I give the signal you are to jump out and make to attack me.”

James nodded. The ways of the Quality were a complete mystery to him, but if Miss wanted him to pretend to attack her and was prepared to pay ten guineas for the pleasure, well who was he to quibble? With James concealed to her satisfaction, and the signal agreed upon (she was to drop her handkerchief), Kitty paced the walk anxiously. It was early in the evening as yet and the gardens practically deserted. The odd buck sauntering past ogled her and it was not pleasant, but Kitty’s nature was not one to quibble at such slight discomforts. It was beginning to get cool, there was a definite nip in the air. Above, the lights flickered in the trees. Kitty shivered. Would he never come? For the first time the fear that Richard might not receive her note, and even if he did, still might not come impinged upon her conscious. Scarcely had she time to consider this dreadful thought, than she saw a familiar figure at the entrance to the walk. Her heart leapt. Yes, it was Richard. “Now,” she hissed to the recumbent James, “He’s coming. You know our signal.”

Richard hurried along the walk, frowning a little. Why on earth had Lavinia instructed him to meet her here and not at Grosvenor Square. Vauxhall Gardens of all places. He was not in the best of moods anyway. Kitty’s tears on the last occasion he had seen her had discomforted him. Uneasily he remembered his feelings when he had turned and seen her chatting with the ensign, as bold as brass. He had been torn between an irresistible urge to spank her and an overwhelming desire to take her in his arms and kiss her very thoroughly. Impatiently he pushed such thoughts away. “Lord, the girl was scarcely out of the schoolroom.”

Kitty waited impatiently as Richard drew nearer. “Right, now.” She dropped the handkerchief. Unfortunately she had not taken into account the possibility of other passers by being nearer to her than Richard. As the unfortunate James leapt out at his Mistress’s command putting on a brave act as a ferocious pickpocket, two young bucks hurrying from the opposite end of the walk chanced to see the attack and rushed forward. Before the dismayed Kitty could stop them, they had their fists up and were belabouring poor James.

“Oh no. Stop,” she shrieked, “You don’t understand! Stop it!”

Richard, hearing her voice, rushed forward. “Kitty. What is amiss?”

“Oh Richard, thank God.” In her anxiety she completely forgot the purpose of the charade. “Quick, help me save James. They will surely kill him.” The two would-be white knights, more than a little high flown with wine, took great exception to Richard’s intervention. But on being assured that the lady was quite safe, they reluctantly released the battered James.

“Oh James,” exclaimed Kitty sorrowfully.

“It is nothing, Miss,” he muttered through broken lips. “I vow it is not the easiest ten guineas I have ever earned but …”

“You shall have twenty,” promised Kitty recklessly.

“Ten guineas?” enquired Richard suspiciously. “Kitty, what is going on, and where is Lavinia?”

Kitty hung her head. Richard took her firmly by the arm. “Come with me, young lady. I want the truth.”

“What about James?”

“James?” Richard peered closer. “Lord, isn’t he one of Saltaire’s footmen? I thought so. Wliat is he doing here?” A dreadful thought struck him. He had heard of girls falling in love with the most impossible persons, but a footman? “Kitty,” he urged sternly, “Tell me, what is this man to you?”

Kitty’s eyes opened to their widest extent. “‘Richard, whatever are you trying to say?” she reproached “James is betrothed to my maid.”

“Then what is he doing here?” asked the bewildered Richard. James, seeing that his Mistress’s attention was elsewhere, deemed it a good moment to take his leave, and Richard finding himself alone with the truant marched her, firmly in the direction of the Chinese Pagoda at the bottom of the walk. “Now, Kitty, I want the truth. What were you doing out here all alone?”

“I was not alone,” she began defensively. “James was with me.”

“So he was, why?”

The events of the evening were proving too much for even the staunch Kitty. Tears welled in her eyes and she searched wildly for a handkerchief. For this of all things to happen. What must Richard think? He would never see her as anything but a naughty little girl. Her lower lip trembled ominously. and Richard, his scruples overwhelmed by his emotions, leant forward placing a comforting arm round her heaving shoulders. “Oh, Kitty, what are we to do with you. Will you never grow up?”

Kitty did not answer. She was too bedazzled by a certain look in Richard’s eyes and the yearning tone of his voice. Idly she traced a pattern on the velvet jacket she was now leaning comfortably against. “Do you want me to grow up. Richard?” she asked shyly.

He smothered a groan, wrenching her face into the light. “Oh, Kitty, my love, of course I do. I am only human you know. I cannot wait for ever.”

“Oh, Richard.” Kitty’s eyes were shining. “And I have been thinking you would never see me as a woman, but always a little girl.” The rest of her words were lost as Richard endeavoured to show his beloved just how foolish such a notion was. When at last she could raise her head, Kiitty gazed at him with parted rosy lips and shining eyes. “Richard, you do love me?”

“Do you still doubt it?” he asked a little thickly. She shook her head. Richard grinned rather ruefully. “I dare swear I shall have to spend the rest of my life rescuing you from one scrape or another. But I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Thoroughly delighted with these words, Kitty smiled dreamily, “Lavinia will be so pleased.”

Richard started. “Lavinia! I had quite forgotten. I was to meet her. Where can she be?”

Kitty flushed guiltily. “Oh, Richard, Lavinia is not coming at all. But it was her idea,” she added defiantly.

“What was her idea?,’ questioned Richard suspiciously. He was beginning to know his Kitty.

“Well.” Kitty kept her face down. “Lavinia thought it would be a good idea if we could make you see me in a different light. I didn’t know then that you … That is to say …”

“Yes, yes,” broke in Richard impatiently, “You did didn’t know then that I loved you.”

The expression of these sentiments naturally merited a further delay in Kitty’s story, but at last flushed and breathless, she started again. “Well, you see we thought up this scheme.” There was a significant pause. “Well, I thought it up,” she said in a rush. “Never fear, though, I have left a note for Lavinia.”

Richard eyed his beloved firmly. “Kitty, exactly what was this scheme you planned?”

“Promise you won’t be cross,” she pleaded. Richard sighed, but he could not withstand the appeal in the dark eyes raised so adoringly to his. “I promise,” he said wearily. “Well, you see it was like this…” she began confidingly.

By the time the light chaise had been brought round, another half an hour had been lost, and by the time Lavinia was installed in it, she was almost in a panic. She did not consider her own folly in going abroad without a maid, all her concern was for Kitty. By the time the chaise had set her down at the entrance to the famous Gardens she had imagined every dire fate under the sun happening to Kitty. Indeed, had she been a few minutes later, she would have seen the unfortunate James sneaking back to Grosvenor Square, but unhappily she did not. As she hurried through the throng she had no eyes for the gaily decorated barges filled with merrymakers intent on enjoying their evening, nor for the secluded bowers and discreetly lighted footpaths. The gardens were beginning to get more crowded, and she was beginning to feel uncomfortably aware of her lack of escort. To make matters worse, there was a faint mist coming up off the river, and the walks instead of looking inviting were distinctly unappealing.

It took Lavinia ten minutes to reach the Long Walk. It was crowded with revellers, women wearing masks and men in fancy costumes. She sighed. If only she had thought to bring a mask with her. Her heart sank, she must find Kitty soon.

If Lavinia was having difficulty in her search, it was principally because Kitty and Richard. completely absorbed in one another, had sought the seclusion of one of the small arbours provided for just such an occasion. But if she could not find them, then her own presence had certainly not gone unnoticed. The Marquis, strolling through the gardens and glancing appreciatively at the female charms so abundantly displayed by the revellers, chanced to see her as she stood looking about herself in bewilderment. His keen eyes noticed the plain gown peeping beneath the heavy cloak and the absence of a mask, and he wondered what she could be doing. Not an assignation, that much was certain. A smile of secret amusement tinged his Face. Fate, it seemed, had decided to play straight into his hand. As he watched, Lavinia seemed to make up her mind and started to walk quickly down the Long Walk. With unhurried steps he followed her.

Lavinia, intent upon her search For the missing Kitty, and her anxiety growing with every passing minute, had little time to notice anyone else amongst the throng. At first, when she felt the hand on her arm, she thought it merely accidental and pulled away, but the grip tightened. This part of the walk was dimly lit, and when she turned it was dif-licult to make out the man’s features. “My arm, Sir, if you please,” she said stiffly.

The man gave a throaty laugh. “Don’t play the high and mighty with me, Missie. All alone are you? So am I. Come, let’s enjoy ourselves together.” He lunged forward, an ugly leer on his face, his breath sour and rancid in her nostrils as she fell back in alarm.

“Please, sir, you mistake the matter. I beg you let me go.”‘

In reply, he merely tightened his grip and pulled her closer. She was so unpleasantly close to him now that she could smell the stale sweat and spirits about his person, and see the yellow rotting stumps of his teeth. Thoroughly frightened she looked round frantically, “Please, sir, let me free, I beg you.”

“All in good time, my pretty. A pretty piece, ain’t you?” he said admiringly, as the light fell upon her face. His lips gleamed wetly in the moonlight and Lavinia disliked the way his eyes rested on the bodice of her gown. Suddenly the walk seemed frighteningly empty. Couples passed arm in arm without giving her a glance. She looked round wildly. Perhaps it she screamed? He seemed to read her thoughts with uncanny perception. “I wouldn’t scream if I was you, my dear. It will only hurt your throat, no one will pay you any attention. Screams are quite common hereabouts.” He laughed coarsely.

It was a nightmare. Lavinia could not believe it was really happening. She stifled an hysterical scream and, terrified, tried to jerk away from her aggressor. There was a sharp tearing sound as her bodice ripped beneath his fingers. For one dreadful moment his hands were on her body.

“I believe you are inconveniencing the lady.” She sagged in relief at the well remembered voice. Never would she have thought herself so glad to hear it again.

“What’s it to you, mate?” asked the man truculently, but nevertheless his grip slackened enough for her to move away and pull her cloak round her a little more firmly.

Andover gripped the man, hauling him towards him. “Shall we say I have a marked dislike for men who assault ladies? Do I make myself clear?”

“Well, she was all alone. How was I to know …?”

“Perhaps you will know in future.”

The man was not disposed to argue the point, and with a muffled oath he turned, and was soon swallowed up in the darkness.

Trembling from head to foot, Lavinia turned to her rescuer. “Andover, I am truly grateful. If you had not happened along …” She shuddered, too relieved to feel any embarrassment.

“Might I ask what you were doing here alone?”

Oh looking for Kitty,” she replied, “She has come out quite alone. I must find her.” In her distress she forgot to be cautious. “I am afraid Saltaire will discover we are missing.”