Sally James (17 page)

'You have been marvellous,' he said softly into her ear, and she was thankful for the friendly darkness which hid her burning cheeks. 'We will be for ever in your debt,' he added more loudly as, his arms still encircling her waist, he guided her towards the faint oblong of the door.

'Indeed, I cannot thank you enough,' Ninian's voice came from his other side.

'Are you feeling fit enough to walk to the chaise?' she asked, her own voice trembling slightly.

'Yes, I am a little unsteady, but Justin and Ned will see to it I do not fall down,' Ninian said with a slight laugh.

'We will see you again soon,' Lord Fordingtoon said briskly, and released Isabella as they emerged into the moonlit stableyard. 'Go in now, we will do very well with Ned's help. I do not wish you to run any more risks.'

Reluctantly Isabella left them. She looked back as she reached the archway, but they had already disappeared into the shadows. Slowly, dreamily, relishing the remembrance of Lord Fordington's embrace, she crept back to bed. There the knowledge they would never again be likely to experience such closeness kept her awake, weary as she was, until almost dawn.

* * * *

The next few days passed with Isabella in a daze. She apparently behaved as normal towards everyone, for no one commented on her abstracted air, but she felt herself to be in a turmoil of emotion, conscious of the ache within her of her suddenly discovered but totally impossible love for Lord Fordington, despondency at the desolate future which stretched out before her, and fiercely suppressed envy of the fortunate Georgiana who had won his love.

On the morning after Ninian's departure Sir Frederick called, full of suspicions still, and threatening to lay charges against Ninian unless the young man came out of hiding.

'This prolonged absence is a trifle too convenient,' he sneered. 'I do not believe any cousin is coming to Priory Dene, it is a fabrication to put us off the scent for longer.'

'No doubt, feeling as you do, you will not care to go to the ball?' William asked eagerly, but Sir Frederick, throwing him a glance of dislike, replied he would make his accusations when the time was ripe.

'So the wretched man will be plaguing you there,' William had complained to Isabella after Sir Frederick had taken his leave. 'Why do you encourage him?'

'You can hardly accuse me of that!' Isabella replied angrily. 'I always do my utmost to avoid him, and shall do so at the ball.'

'I do not understand you,' William said slowly. 'You reject him, and, after all, even I can admit he is a better catch than I am, with his money and title, despite the children and his age, but you reject me too! And there cannot be anyone else. There is no one apart from Mark Westerson, and he can afford to marry even less than I. Besides, he has never shown any special partiality for you.'

'I do not, unlike some females, consider every man I meet as a potential husband!' Isabella snapped, and hastily excused herself, saying she had many household tasks to attend to and was already sufficiently delayed.

Lord Fordington appeared on the following day, but had no opportunity of private conversation with Isabella. However, he remarked that Ninian was in excellent spirits after his stay in Kent.

'Charlotte is rather tired after the journey, though, and Ninian has remained at home to keep her company. He wished me to convey his apologies and say he hoped to ride over in a day or so.'

'Has anything been discovered about who stole your horse for that wicked attack on Sir Frederick?' Lady Sharman asked.

'No, there is nothing further. Midnight is recovering, but I will not be able to ride him for some time. If only he could tell us what happened.'

'Sir Frederick is still suspicious of Ninian,' William told him.

'Indeed? The man is a fool,' was all the reply Lord Fordington vouchsafed to this.

'Fool or not, I do not see how anyone else
could
have been involved!' Lady Sharman insisted afterwards. 'If Ninian was really in Kent, and one can hardly doubt this young cousin's story, then people will be accusing Lord Fordington himself.'

'Nonsense! I do wish you would stop harping on this, Fanny,' Sir Roderick grumbled. 'You'll make things deuced uncomfortable for everyone unless you rid yourself of this nonsensical notion.'

Lady Sharman subsided, but confessed later to Isabella she would be most reluctant to agree to any betrothal when Lord Fordington did offer for Georgiana unless his innocence had first been proved beyond doubt.

'It should be easy enough to prevaricate,' Isabella said soothingly. 'Personally I think Sir Frederick is unsure himself, or he would have pressed charges before now.'

'He would not dare make such a serious charge without being absolutely certain, for Lord Fordington is very influential in the county. Poor Sir Frederick, I cannot help but feel sorry for him. Those poor dear children, they must have been so terrified! And without a mother to comfort them!'

* * * *

This was Lady Sharman's theme some days later when they were all at the Rectory. Inevitably the topic was one of the first to be discussed after Ninian, restored to his normal healthy colouring but, Isabella noticed, moving his left arm very carefully, had laughingly asked his hostess whether she was afraid she was entertaining a wicked criminal.

Lady Sharman frowned and then, sitting beside Mrs Westerson on a generously proportioned sofa, with Lord Fordington standing behind her, expatiated on the evils of Sir Frederick's situation.

'He has been paying marked attentions to dear Isabella, you know,' she confided, lowering her voice. 'It would be an ideal solution for the dear child. I expect he is waiting until my own Georgiana is settled before speaking, for he must know Isabella considers her first duty to my daughter. Afterwards, although naturally I would be most lonely without her I could not stand in her way, and those three motherless girls need her more than I do!'

Lord Fordington, his expression inscrutable, glanced across the room towards Isabella, who was talking with Diana and Lydia, both of whom were looking rather uncomfortable. Ninian had, after a first rather constrained greeting, avoided Lydia and engaged Sir Roderick in earnest conversation. His mother was monopolising the Rector's attention and, while Mark talked to Georgiana, William was seated beside Charlotte.

The newcomer was a petite, dark, vivacious creature, with sparkling, mischievous brown eyes and a shapely though dainty figure which set off her modish primrose yellow gown to perfection. She had smiled prettily at the ladies, dimpled at the older men and cast roguish looks at Mark and William. Her conversation, most of which Lydia could hear, seemed to consist of references to herself and Ninian, and she frequently cast languishing glances in his direction.

Isabella, while feeling deeply for Lydia and her obvious discomfiture, could not help admiring what she assumed was Charlotte's dramatic ability, and silently congratulated Lord Fordington on his tactics for extricating Ninian from an embarrassing entanglement. Lydia was bound to be hurt, but it was better she should realise the meaninglessness of Ninian's attentions now rather than when her affections had been more firmly established.

At dinner, which was plain but ample, Mrs Westerson believing in good wholesome dishes rather than fancified sauces, as she often told Isabella, Lydia had been placed beside Ninian, with Lady Sharman on his right and Diana on her left. Isabella, seated opposite between William and Mark, was in the most advantageous position to witness her discomfort. Ninian, after a few constrained remarks, either turned to Lady Sharman when her attention was not engaged by the Rector, or looked at his plate. Isabella saw he was as uneasy as Lydia and, taking advantage of the greater informality which soon developed, talked across the table in an attempt to relieve the constraint, but Lydia responded only with a wan smile.

In the drawing room afterwards Lady Fordington's main interest was her forthcoming ball and she engaged the older ladies in a discussion about the local residents who had been invited.

'For I must learn something more of them than I already know, and I depend on my good friends to assist me,' she confided.

The younger ladies, therefore, drew together in a group and Lydia, apparently unable to refrain from aggravating her wounds, questioned Charlotte eagerly, demanding more details of the pranks Charlotte had laughingly referred to earlier which had also involved Ninian.

Charlotte complied, and very cleverly contrived to imply that although they had outgrown such frivolities she and Ninian were even closer than they had been. Unable to bear the sight of Lydia torturing herself yet more, Isabella took the earliest opportunity of turning the conversation and succeeded by asking what they all intended to wear at the ball. This topic lasted until the gentlemen rejoined them and the groups split up.

After a while Isabella realised Lord Fordington was making an effort to entertain Lydia and, even though Lydia's laugh was subdued, saw he had in part succeeded in making her feel more at ease. Mrs Westerson, whose shrewd eyes had missed nothing, commented quietly to Isabella that his lordship, although possibly ruthless, had most effective methods of obtaining his own way.

'Better far than all out admonitions,' she said ruefully. 'I am grateful to him, however, for charming as Ninian is he will not, for many years yet, make a reliable husband! Unlike his brother,' she added. 'I wonder if Lady Sharman's expectations will be fulfilled?'

'Surely they will be!' Isabella exclaimed in surprise.

'Lord Fordington has not singled out Georgiana yet, although I put them together at dinner,' Mrs Westerson said musingly.

'Presumably he does not wish to create too much speculation before he makes an offer,' Isabella replied, aware they were guilty of such speculation at that very moment.

'There is no reason why he should not speak if he has decided he wants Georgiana,' Mrs Westerson pointed out.

'From all I hear this has happened often before but he has never come to the point, cooling off just when gossips such as we appear to be are hoping to hear of a betrothal!'

'Would she be very distressed?'

'She is flattered at the notion. I do not think she truly loves him yet, though I have no doubt that once she overcomes her slight awe of him she will be extremely happy.' And what female would not be, Isabella added silently to herself.

Some time later Lord Fordington contrived a quiet word with Isabella to tell her he had as yet received no word about the suspected dice, but hoped to have definite proof in a day or so.

'Do you think Charlotte has been successful?' he added, glancing across to where Charlotte was laughingly recounting some story to William and Diana, Ninian leaning with apparent possessiveness over the back of her chair.

'I could wish Lydia did not have to be hurt,' she replied sharply. 'She will be a fool if she continues to pine for him after tonight!'

'People in love are always foolish,' he replied with a laugh. 'She will recover soon enough.'

'How is Ninian's arm?'

'Much better, although he cannot ride yet and will have to take care dancing.'

During the drive home Georgiana was uncharacteristically silent, and disappeared straight to bed when they reached Woodings. When Isabella looked in to see her she poured out a vehement condemnation of Ninian's perfidy.

'All men appear unreliable!' she fumed. 'I'll never permit myself to be so dependent on one that his behaviour will hurt me!'

'It is perhaps as well Lydia has discovered Ninian's true feelings in time,' Isabella suggested.

'But she hasn't!' Georgiana cried. 'She still loves him as much as ever. I think she is foolish, but she was full of excuses for him, without a single word of blame. I vow no man will ever have such power over me!'

'You will discover differently, no doubt,' Isabella commented, and bade her try to forget Lydia's troubles and go to sleep.

* * * *

Lydia appeared early the next morning, accompanied by Mark, who was on his way to visit his new parish. Invited to remain with Georgiana, she spent most of the morning closeted with her friend in Georgiana's room. When they came downstairs to partake of the cold chicken and ham and fruit which Lady Sharman had at midday, Lydia seemed more cheerful and Georgiana announced they were proposing to go for a ride afterwards.

'Are you still working on your new ballgown, Isabella?'

'Yes, and there is so much work in the flounces,' Isabella replied, 'that I am wondering whether I shall finish it in time.'

'Oh, I will help you tomorrow.'

'You must take one of the grooms with you,' Lady Sharman said vaguely, and departed to lie down, saying she had a severe headache after the excitement of the dinner-party.

The two girls departed. Some time later Lord Fordington was announced. As Sir Roderick and William had both gone to Brighthelmstone for the day Isabella went down to the drawing room to apologise for everyone's absence.

'I hoped for a word with you in private,' he answered. 'It will soon be known that Priory Dene was broken into last night.'

'While you were out? Who was it?' she demanded.

'I have my suspicions. My study and my and Ninian's bedrooms were ransacked, but nothing was taken. No other room was touched.'

'Sir Frederick?' Isabella breathed, aghast.

'I think he would have been busy establishing an alibi,' Lord Fordington said with a short laugh. 'Doubtless it was someone he paid to search for the things Ninian took from him, and probably more importantly, to find the dice. If he could have found the jewels he might have been able to accuse us, but I am certain he is more eager to recover the evidence of his own swindling before we can use it.'

'Everything is safe?'

Lord Fordington laughed again.

'Oh yes, I take no chances and have been expecting something of the sort. The jewels are hidden in what I hope is a safe place, and I have not yet had the dice returned by the man who is investigating them for me. I will let you know the result as soon as I hear from him, but unless I hear today I may have to wait until after the ball before I can take action.'