Jane Ashford (22 page)

“What?” asked Laura, mystified.

“The debts. How did you get them paid? Eliot did not give you the money, that’s clear.”

Laura stiffened. “I do not see that it is any business of yours.”

Mrs. Allenby did not reply but merely eyed her with a combination of speculation and, oddly, amusement. “I admit you are more of an opponent than I first realized. It is quite funny really.”

This half contemptuous phrase made Laura’s eyes sparkle dangerously. People were beginning to look at them. They must consider it quite a sight, Eliot’s wife and his mistress confronting each other at Almack’s. She stood. “If you will excuse me.”

“But I won’t. I don’t excuse you anything you have done since you came to London. And there are others who will agree with me, I’m sure,” said Vera maliciously. “You are close to the edge, my dear. I am waiting to push you over only because I cannot quite see what has happened and it amuses me to see how you will behave. I can keep my friends silent, you know. So the power is all mine. I can tell Eliot whenever I chose.”

Laura looked her enemy straight in the eye. She said nothing, but her dark eyes bored into the green ones. Neither woman looked away.

“Laura, I believe it is time we were going,” said a voice behind them. Both women turned. Eliot was standing there.

“Eliot,” said Vera Allenby, “how sweet of you to join us. I was just having a pleasant chat with your lovely wife.” Her voice was like a purr.

“Come, Laura,” said Eliot, holding out his hand.

“But you cannot mean to go so early,” said Vera, smiling sensuously at him.

For a fleeting second Eliot seemed to look at Vera; then he looked away as if he had seen no one standing there. He took Laura’s arm, tucked it under his own, and led her away. Murmuring arose in the room around them.

Laura stumbled and would have fallen had not Eliot held her upright. She was stunned. He had given Vera Allenby the cut direct, in front of everyone!

Behind them Mrs. Allenby was the picture of outrage. Her fists were clenched, and her eyes blazed, but even she could not long withstand the many pairs of curious eyes, some amused, some shocked, most greedily interested. She turned on her heel and strode out of the room.

When Laura came down the next morning, Mary informed her that Clarissa had gone to visit Anne Rundgate, which made Laura frown. Marina had gone upstairs to do some sewing, and Eliot was working in his study with Mr. Dunham. He had asked not to be disturbed. Laura ate quickly, her mind still occupied with the events of the previous evening. Eliot’s behavior both puzzled and elated her. Though he had sometimes been angry, he had never treated
her
with the coldness and lack of respect that he had accorded Mrs. Allenby last night. Surely their connection could not be what people thought; Eliot simply could not care for her and treat her that way. This thought made Laura take a quick breath. If he did not love Vera Allenby, perhaps there was a chance that he would someday love her.

Laura’s conjectures made her restless; she left the table to go into the drawing room, but she could not settle down there either. Books seemed dull, and her sewing unbearable. She wanted more than anything to speak to her husband and to see how he looked at her this morning. Would he be angry over the scene last night? Or would his eyes show some sympathy for her embarrassment?

At ten o’clock she gave up her efforts to read and walked downstairs. Eliot would surely have finished his business now; he never worked with Mr. Dunham for more than an hour or so. Laura meant just to look into the library and say good morning. She could gauge his mood by that. When she reached the hall, the library door was ajar. She put a hand on the knob and started to push it open, then stopped as she heard Mr. Dunham say, “There is no doubt that she went to Levy’s, sir. I have ascertained that myself. In fact everything in Mrs. Allenby’s letter appears to be true, insofar as facts are concerned, I mean. Her sarcasm is, of course, exaggerated.”

Eliot made some reply that Laura couldn’t quite hear; then Mr. Dunham went on in an odiously satisfied voice. “Yes sir, someone paid the debt. Two men visited Allenby in the evening and redeemed the vowels. They were prepared for trouble seemingly, but I have not been able to trace them down.” His tone was aggrieved. “They were extraordinarily elusive, I must say. Their employer is still unknown, though I have no doubt I shall unearth him soon.”

Again Eliot spoke quietly. His back was to the door, so Laura could not catch his words. But Mr. Dunham faced in her direction, and his replies were cruelly clear. “Oh no, sir, I cannot think that a woman would have dealings with the men I saw. And they seemed very experienced in this sort of transaction.”

The chagrin that had transfixed Laura when she first heard Mr. Dunham speak eased a little, and she backed away from the door. All was lost. Eliot knew the whole story due to the good offices of Vera Allenby and Mr. Dunham. Mr. Dunham
had
been watching her.

With a breath that was almost a sob, Laura turned away and hurried up the stairs again. She must get away from this. She left the door just in time to miss Eliot’s final remark. When Mr. Dunham had concluded his story, Eliot turned toward the door with a worried expression and said, “The poor girl. Why did she not come to me?”

“I imagine she feared your reaction, sir,” put in Mr. Dunham. “She quite rightly concluded that you would condemn such shameless behavior.” The note of satisfaction was strong in his voice again.

Eliot rounded on him, eyes blazing. “If I ever hear you speak so of her again, you are dismissed, Dunham. Your opinion was not requested, and I find it damned impudent.”

Mr. Dunham stepped back before the look on his master’s face. “Yes sir. Sorry, sir,” he said, blinking.

The grim lines about Eliot’s mouth did not disappear. “I want this story scotched,” he continued. “I don’t care what you do. Do you understand me.”

“Yes sir, but I do not see…”

“Good. I put the matter in your hands.” And with a gesture, he dismissed his rather shaken servitor.

Eliot stood for a few moments beside the fireplace, his hand covering his face as he regained control; then he strode out of the room and up the stairs. He went directly to Laura’s bedroom and knocked. When he got no answer, he opened the door. There was no one there. Shrugging, he closed the door again and walked along the corridor. He looked into the drawing room downstairs and, finding it also empty, rang the bell.

“Where is Mrs. Crenshaw?” he asked Mary when she appeared.

Mary looked surprised. “I don’t know sir. Has she gone out perhaps? Miss Clarissa is calling on the Rundgates; she may have gone along.”

“Ah,” he replied, looking down. “Very well. Thank you.”

Mary went out, and after a moment Eliot followed her. He walked down to the library once more, but as he reached the doorway, he paused. Sitting on the hall table next to the library door was a book. This was most unusual; no books were kept in the hall. He went over and picked it up, glancing at the title. Then he frowned. This was the book Laura had been reading for several days. Eliot stood quite still for a moment, his frown deepening; then he put the book down and started hastily toward the stairs, but before he reached the rail, there was a sharp knock on the front door behind him.

Mr. Dunham came into the hall, but Eliot was before him. He pulled open the door to disclose Mr. Redmon on the step outside.

“Good morning, Crenshaw,” he said. “Fine day.” He looked at Mr. Dunham, then said, “I should like to see Miss Lindley.”

“She’s not in,” said Eliot curtly before Mr. Dunham could reply. “Gone out to the Rundgates’ I believe.” His tone was barely polite; it was clear that he wanted Mr. Redmon away.

The younger man’s face fell. “Not in? What damnable luck, just when I have prepared myself for the thing.”

This made Eliot smile slightly. “You might go round to the Rundgates’,” he suggested. “You could escort Clarissa home.”

Mr. Redmon brightened. “That’s a capital idea. I’ll do it.” He turned back toward the door, recollected himself, and took a polite leave of his host. As he was about to pass through the door Mr. Dunham was holding for him, he was arrested by a piercing shriek from upstairs. Both he and Eliot turned in that direction, startled, and the sound came again.

“Good God,” said Mr. Redmon. “What is that?”

“I don’t know,” replied Eliot, “but I mean to find out.”

He took the stairs two at a time, Mr. Redmon right behind him.

In the corridor outside the bedrooms, they found Nancy holding a piece of paper in one hand and moaning. The girl’s round red face was creased into an expression of anguish, and her eyes were bulging. When she saw the two men, she shrieked once more and waved the paper before them.

Eliot grasped her wrist impatiently. “What is it, my girl? Are you hurt?”

Nancy gasped for breath and finally blurted out, “She’s gone, gone away, sir. And she didn’t take hardly a gown. Lordy, lordy!”

Eliot’s grip on her wrist tightened enough to make the girl wince. “Who is gone?” he demanded. “What are you talking about?”

Nancy fixed her eyes on his face. “Miss Clarissa, sir; she’s gone, eloped. I found this note on the dressing table. She’s gone.” She began moaning again, and Eliot pulled the letter from her fingers with an impatient exclamation.

“What does she say?” he snapped as he unfolded it.

“Oh lawks, Mr. Crenshaw, I never read it. I wouldn’t do no such thing. But she’s taken her clothes and all, and I thought…”

Eliot cut her off with a gesture as Mr. Redmon crowded forward to read over his shoulder. At first Eliot started to push him away, but a look at the younger man’s face stopped him. He held the sheet so that both could see it.

The note was addressed to Laura. It said, “I know you will disapprove of what I am about to do, but it is the only way, Laura. All must be well when true love rules in marriage. I will see you soon again. Love, Clarissa.”

Mr. Redmon clenched a fist as he reached the end. “Who is the blackguard? I’ll kill him.”

Eliot turned. “Don’t be ridiculous, Redmon.”

The other stared at him fiercely for a moment; then his eyes dropped. “You are right. If she loves the fellow, the best thing for me to do is disappear.” He put a hand over his eyes. “Dear God.”

Eliot’s lips twitched sardonically. “I meant, do not jump to ridiculous conclusions about this note,” he said. “I see no positive evidence of an elopement here.” He turned to Nancy. “You may go, my girl, but if I hear that you have spread your silly fancies through the house, you will regret it.”

Nancy’s eyes widened. She dropped a small curtsy and departed.

Eliot took Redmon’s arm and led him into his bedroom. Closing the door, he said, “Now then, get hold of yourself, man. I have no doubt that Clarissa has gotten herself into some mad scrape, but that she has eloped, I do not believe. It isn’t possible.”

Mr. Redmon looked up, hope lighting his eyes. “You think not? But where has she gone then?”

“That I do not know. She said she was going to the Rundgates’.” He stopped. “Wait a moment,” he added, frowning. There was a pause, and Mr. Redmon watched his face anxiously. “Yes,” said Eliot finally, “I think she has hatched some scheme involving the Rundgate girl.”

“Anne Rundgate?” replied Redmon.

“Yes. I’m sure that’s it. What a tiresome girl Clarissa can be. I suppose someone must rescue her from this tangle, but I haven’t the time. You must go after her.”

“I?” echoed the younger man stupidly.

“You,’’ said Eliot impatiently. “I am not wrong in assuming that you want to marry the girl, I suppose.”

“No. That is, yes, I do want to marry her… but I have not… that is, she has not…”

“Just so. And if your mother gets wind of the devilry Clarissa is up to today, neither of you ever will. So it is up to you to save her from the consequences of her own folly. I should set off at once if I were you.”

The younger man stared at him. “But what should I… Where do I begin? We do not know how she travels or even
if
she travels.”

“I daresay she is in a post chaise going north. You may easily catch up with her on the north road. The pike keepers will be able to help you there, I fancy. I advise you to take your team of grays; they’ll outrun any job horses in existence.”

“But, but…”

“There’s no time to waste, man.” And he hustled Mr. Redmon down the stairs and out the door almost before the young man could snatch his hat from Mr. Dunham. “Bring her back here,” said Eliot as he saw him out. “I put my faith in you.” And he shut the door.

There was a slight smile on his face as he turned back, but it faded as he again sighted the book on the hall table. He strode into the library and sent for Nancy.

“Miss Lindley’s note was on her dressing table, you said?” he asked the nervous maid when she entered.

“Yes sir,” replied Nancy, curtsying slightly.

“Had it been disturbed?”

“Sir?”

“Did it appear that anyone else had seen it?” asked Eliot impatiently.

“Oh. No, sir. I was the first in there this morning.”

“My wife did not go to look for her sister, perhaps?”

Nancy frowned. “No sir, I don’t believe so. Unless she went in before she went out shopping.”

“Ah, she is shopping this morning?” Eliot’s tone was carefully casual.

“Yes sir. Mrs. Crenshaw went out before eleven. I met her in the hall. Properly put out she seemed, too. Said the dressmaker hadn’t delivered something she promised, and she had to go and get it. I offered to go myself, but she didn’t want that. I’ve never seen her so put out, I haven’t.”

“I see. Thank you. That will be all.”

When the maid was gone, Eliot went directly upstairs to his room. When he emerged, he was wearing top boots and a riding coat and carrying a crop. As he started down the stairs again, someone called his name, and he turned to find Marina standing in the corridor. “What is wrong?” she asked rather breathlessly. “I heard the screams, but I was trying on a new pattern and I, that is, I could not come out. Is someone hurt. Can I help you?”

“Thank you, no,” answered Eliot. “One of the maids was upset, but all is well now.”

“I see,” said Marina.

“If you will excuse me, I am in a hurry.”

“Of course.”

And Eliot turned once more and went quickly down the stairs, leaving Marina staring after him, a frown of puzzlement on her face.