Pride of the Courtneys (9 page)

‘I am surprised, Louella, that you have the audacity to show your face about the house this morning. A moonlight escape would not have surprised me.'

‘I have no need to escape, Lady Courtney, for I am innocent.'

‘You will only make matters worse by lying, you foolish girl. You will remain in your room until Mr Bassett has decided what shall be done with you. Your meals will be brought to you, though you don't deserve to be fed from our table. You will not communicate with anyone, least of all Georgiana. The soft-hearted girl may believe in you.'

There was no more to be said, it was useless to argue with a biased woman like Lady Courtney. I left her and returned to my bedroom, where I sat at the window and looked upon the serene world, fresh and pure in the morning sun, and wondered what I had done to deserve this to befall me.

Mary brought my breakfast and though she had obviously been told not to speak to me, she squeezed my hand quickly before she hurried from the room, and I knew that at least I had one other friend in the house.

The morning dragged on. I wondered whether or not Georgiana had been able to keep her promise and speak to her brother on my behalf, though I had little hope of her success in convincing him of my innocence when he had seen me in that ridiculous plight in Millicent's room.

But I was wrong.

At the very time when I had been thinking of her, Georgiana must have been confronting Bassett, for, just before noon, she knocked and entered my room, bringing an unwilling Bassett with her.

‘Louella, I have convinced him. See, I said I would.'

I rose and gaped at them both, in wonderment. Could she mean it?

‘You tell her, Bassett. I can see she does not believe me. Poor thing, she has been so miserable.' And Georgiana crossed the room and put her arm about me.

I gazed at Bassett and waited for him to speak.

He cleared his throat obviously ill-at-ease.

‘Georgiana believes that you would not—could not—do such a thing as to steal the dagger.'

He moved closer and looked down into my eyes as if to read the answer in them.

Innocence or guilt? My eyes would give me away. But I returned his gaze steadfastly. I had no guilty conscience, only fear of my enemies at large in the house.

‘And I agree with her,' he finished softly.

‘Thank you.' It was all I could reply and all that was needed. As I looked up at him, humbly thanking for his trust in me, I thought how fortunate I was that he believed in me, that I had been spared his wrath. For I still feared him greatly. I suddenly thought how wonderful it would be to be loved by a man like Bassett Courtney and to love him in return. There would be times when he would be angry, or preoccupied with business. But the times when his attention would be wholly concerned with his loved one, what indescribable moments of blissful passion and tenderness they would be.

Bassett turned away.

‘I have work to do,' he said gruffly. ‘ You are to return to normal way of life, Louella. The incident will not be referred to again, unless it is to throw some light upon the real thief. Until that time, it is forgotten.'

And with that command, he left the room.

‘There, you see, he's not so bad after all. Say you like him a little more, Louella, just to please me,' Georgiana pouted prettily. ‘After all, I have worked exceedingly hard to help you, you might repay me a little by liking my dear Bassett.'

I smiled. She was hard to resist when she put on her coaxing act. I did not wonder that Bassett had believed her in her defences of me. In her own way she was as strong as Bassett, I thought.

‘I like him a little more,' I replied obediently. And in that moment I believed it to be true.

Life, as Bassett had commanded, returned to normal, though Lady Courtney and Millicent had fresh fuel to the furnace of their hatred for me. Whenever they caught me alone without Bassett or Georgiana to back me, they continued to upbraid me and almost torture me about the theft, breaking Bassett's rule that it must not be mentioned. And even in company, veiled references of thefts and suchlike were always directed at me, I knew.

I realised now that Lady Courtney's plans for ridding Courtney Hall of my presence by marrying me to Charles Corby were thwarted. And though no doubt she was gleeful at my downfall, in being branded as a thief, she was annoyed to think that I should continue to live at Courtney Hall. Indeed, one of her torments was to say that Dr Corby would not wish to marry a thief and that she doubted whether the Courtneys had anyone of their acquaintance who would be so prepared. It seemed I was condemned to die an old maid.

But her plans for Georgiana's marriage to Cedric Rothbone progressed, to her mind, favourably.

After her elation at her success in restoring me to comparative happiness, Georgiana was now weighed down with her own misery. Though Charles and she were friendly, there was no indication from him that he felt more for her than the fondness of a good friend. She, being in no position to bring about any declaration of love from him, remained in the unsavoury position of being available for marriage to Cedric.

Lady Courtney, with Bassett as a passive ally, suggested the wedding date for the end of September, and duly invited Lord Rothbone and his son to stay at Courtney Hall. It appeared Cedric had no mother, she had been dead for ten years.

As the day of their arrival approached, Georgiana grew pale and listless, and lost some of her beauty. Her mother, noticing the girl's distress, was angry.

‘Pull yourself together, child, and be cheerful. Such a picture of misery will not secure you a husband.'

‘I have no desire to secure Mr Rothbone as a husband, mother.'

‘Come, child. You are being most vexing. I will not have it. You're an ungrateful girl. I can see Louella is having a bad impression upon you.'

These remarks were, as usual, made at the dinner table. But as I kept my eyes firmly fixed upon my plate, I had no means of knowing how the other members of the family were responding to the conversation between Lady Courtney and her rebellious daughter, at least, not until they spoke.

Millicent's high-pitched, whining voice was the first to air her views.

‘I'm sure if my mama were so concerned for my welfare and future happiness as is yours, Georgiana, I should be eternally grateful.'

‘Then you marry Lord Rothbone's son, Millicent,' replied Georgiana. But her tone these days held none of the fire of youth which was her nature. It seemed that, weighed down by the pressure from her mother, not only her physical health was suffering but also her spirit was finally being broken. It was heartbreaking to watch, and yet I could do nothing.

Or was that true?

Whilst the remarks continued about me, I realised that the time had come when I must carry out my promise first made on that day in the summer house.

I must speak to Bassett.

Bassett was the one person in his household who could over-rule Lady Courtney. And as he did not seem to be doing much to secure Georgiana's happiness, it was up to me to speak to him about it. I trembled at the thought. Never had I felt so frightened of him as I did now when I realised that the only thing that I could do for Georgiana was to face her fearsome brother.

It seemed, in this, that even though he loved her so, she had pleaded in vain against the marriage. No doubt she dare not tell even Bassett that she loved Dr Charles Corby.

Immediately after dinner I followed Bassett to his study. I must speak out now for Georgiana before Cedric Rothbone arrived, before he had been approved of as a suitable husband, and before plans were too far ahead to be revoked.

At my timid knock, Bassett's deep voice bade me enter, and I saw he was surprised to see it was me. This was the first time since I had come to Courtney Hall that I had deliberately sought his company. At all times I did my best to avoid him, and no doubt he realised this.

‘Well, Louella, and how can I be of service to you?'

I felt his gaze to be not without sarcasm, and the smile did not reach his eyes.

‘I would like to speak with you about—about Georgiana.'

I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to still the nervous flutterings of my heart.

He frowned and turned away from me and went to stand before the window. I was thankful, it was easier with his back towards me, without his brown penetrating gaze upon me.

‘Well?'

I forgot my calm speech I had prepared. I forgot the fact that I did not want to meet his gaze. I forgot that he was Bassett Courtney, master of Courtney estate, the man to whom I owed everything. I thought only that he was the one person to intercede on Georgiana's behalf.

I ran to him and put my hand on his arm and gazed pleadingly into his face. This was not a feigned expression on my part. I was pleading—pleading desperately for the girl I looked upon as my sister.

‘Bassett, please use your influence to help Georgiana. You cannot make her marry a man she does not love. How can you send her to a life of misery with a man she has never met?'

Bassett's eyes darkened, I could see immediately that I had provoked his anger. But there was no drawing back now, what I had to say must be said.

I rushed on, regardless, pouring out all the fears in my heart for Georgiana, were she forced to marry this man.

‘I think Georgiana may well have given her heart to someone else. Don't ask me who it is, because I cannot tell you. The gentleman probably does not return her affection and certainly does not know of it. So how can you allow her to be forced to live the whole of her life with a man she may well hate?'

‘Since we are talking of arranged marriages,' Bassett said slowly, his unfriendly eyes boring into mine. ‘I suppose you count yourself an expert, Louella, since you have seen the results at first hand?'

‘W—what do you mean? I know of no arranged marriage. What are you talking about?'

‘Don't you?' I thought he seemed surprised. ‘Then forget it,' he finished shortly.

‘But Georgiana?'

‘Louella, don't meddle in things you don't understand. My mother is an excellent judge of character and would wish her daughter no harm, you silly child. I know nothing, nor wish to know, of the world of feminine wiles and arrangements.'

‘But has love nothing to do with it?' I asked.

I thought I saw a swift expression of pain, unguarded, distort his face.

‘Love?' he said harshly, avoiding my eyes. ‘What do you know of love?'

‘Nothing, but I certainly wouldn't marry a man I did not love.'

‘Wouldn't you, indeed?' And as he looked at me again, I was frightened to see a cruel twist to his lips. ‘We may see about that, Miss Lloyd, we may indeed.'

I did not understand his words, but I had no time to venture further upon that line of thought, all I wanted now was Georgiana's happiness.

‘Bassett, please,' I tried, pleading once more, but it was no use, and as I saw that, my temper snapped.

‘You are the most cruel and odious man I have ever met. How can you stand by and see your sister perish so? I thought you loved her. But I see you have no love in your soul, Bassett Courtney. I pity the woman who marries you.'

Bassett stepped towards me angrily, took me by the shoulders in a vice-like grip and shook me.

‘You ungrateful girl. After I brought, you here against opposition from everyone, stood by you when you were believed a thief, and you turn on me like that, Get out of my sight, Louella, before I … before …'

He was so angry, I fled from the room in fear.

It was some minutes before I could control the trembling of my hands and bring the colour back to my cheeks. Then I had to return to the drawing-room. I had to bear seeing Georgiana's unhappy face, knowing that I had failed her when she needed my help, whereas she had saved me when everyone else turned away.

A few evenings later, as it was drawing to dusk we were once more all seated in the drawing-room, but this night we were awaiting the arrival of the Rothbones.

The conversation was light and there were often long silences, whilst everyone seemed occupied with his or her own thoughts.

Lady Courtney was sitting as erect and severe as ever and though she normally kept the flow of conversation going, especially when entertaining guests, such as Charles and Evelyn Corby, who were again, with us for dinner, she was unusually silent tonight. Bassett, when he joined us, seemed restless and every so often would leave his chair and wander listlessly round the room.

I hoped, even yet, that my words might have some effect. Perhaps, he was thinking about them now.

Sir Hugh had long since escaped from the tense atmosphere back to his beloved books, and indeed, it was the best place for poor Sir Hugh to be, for there was no peace or happiness to be found in this room.

Millicent's watchful eyes never left Bassett for long. She would occasionally address him directly, but after several curt replies, she too withdrew to silence for fear of offending the master, whom she badly wanted to attract.

Evelyn, too, had an unusual expression on her face. She was usually remote and held an unchanging face. One could not read the thoughts behind that sulky mouth, and veiled eyes. But tonight, her eyes were her one failure, she could not hide her feelings. And from time to time she would shoot me a glance of hatred unmatched except by Millicent. Even Lady Courtney's dislike of me was hardly so vicious.

I was shocked. I had not noticed before this. I had realised, of course, that she disliked me, but I had not, during the time when I had been so upset by the disappearance of the dagger, taken much notice of Evelyn Corby.

I had not seen her dislike of me grow into such proportions of hatred.

I sighed inwardly. Her feelings were nothing new. She was only one more to join Lady Courtney, Millicent and probably even Bassett after the display of anger in his study a few days ago. I wondered what I had really done in my short life that deserved the hatred of three, if not four, people.