Secret Heiress (12 page)

So who was her mother? Eliza said the ring was all she had of her mother. Daniel frowned as he puzzled over the mystery. Her parents had been happy together. Obviously her father could not have known his wife had conceived a child by another man…or was he making a mountain out of a molehill?

Daniel smiled at the foolish notion. Of course Eliza was not Cheadle's bastard, though if she were…it crossed his mind that he might use the information as blackmail. He dismissed the idea instantly. He still had Cheadle's ring, but in the morning he would return it and discover what the marquis had to say concerning his cousin Marcus's suspicious death.

However, the notion that Eliza Bancroft might be Cheadle's lovechild remained at the back of his mind. It would explain certain things…the reason why she
was being treated so kindly by her employer and the marquis's readiness to be of assistance.

 

Eliza noticed that her companion was a little quieter than usual as they drove back to the Crescent. She imagined that he was still concerned for her because of the foolish rumours spreading through Bath society. When he handed her down from his phaeton, she smiled at him warmly and thanked him for a pleasant afternoon.

‘You are most welcome, Miss Eliza. I am glad you found the outing to your liking.'

‘Yes, I did. You were kind to give up your afternoon to us, sir. Perhaps we shall see you this evening at the assembly, before you disappear for the next few days?'

‘I am not sure…' Daniel hesitated, fought his natural inclination and lost. ‘Please save two dances for me, Miss Eliza. I shall come earlier this time so they will not be lost.'

‘I shall look forward to seeing you.'

‘Until this evening, then.' Daniel smiled and helped her down from the curricle.

Eliza was smiling as she went into the house and discovered her employer and Lady Julia sitting comfortably together.

‘Did you enjoy yourselves, my dears?' Lady Sarah asked.

‘Oh, very much,' Eliza replied and saw Kate bend to whisper something to her mother. ‘It was very pleasant, was it not, Kate?'

‘Yes, indeed, vastly amusing,' Kate said. ‘Truly, most diverting, Eliza.'

The mischief in her eyes made Eliza wonder what she was up to, but she merely smiled. Kate had a wicked tongue, but she meant no harm.

T
he next morning Eliza visited the library and it was on her return that she found Lady Sarah in some distress. She was sitting with a lace kerchief in her hand and had clearly been crying.

‘What is it, ma'am?' Eliza asked and ran to her, kneeling by her side to take her hand. ‘What has distressed you so?'

‘It is mere foolishness,' Lady Sarah said. ‘I have had a visitor while you were out—it appears that people have put two and two together and come up with five, as they so often do. Lady Anton had the effrontery to tell me she knew that you were my lovechild and that she applauded me for having the courage to acknowledge you.'

‘No! How could she? How could anyone have come to such a conclusion?'

‘I think someone told her last night.' Lady Sarah looked at Eliza. ‘I am not certain, but Kate may have hinted at something—you did not tell her of what I confided to you, Eliza?'

‘You must know I would not.' Eliza gave a cry of distress. ‘Oh, no, she couldn't have meant… Kate told me her mother knew my secret and I begged her not to mention it to anyone, but I did not imagine she was labouring under such a misconception.'

‘What did you think, Eliza?'

‘I was not sure…' Eliza's cheeks were pink. ‘It is nothing very terrible, ma'am, I assure you.'

‘If you do not wish to tell me, I shall not tease you,' Lady Sarah said and a single tear trickled down her cheek. ‘I do not believe this is your fault. If anything, it is mine for wanting to give you pretty clothes. People have jumped to the wrong conclusion; it is foolish but distressing. To have people think…when it is not true—and I wish so much to find my lost child.'

Eliza had been considering whether she ought to confess the truth of her birth to her employer. Lady Sarah surely had a right to know, and yet she might be angry because Eliza had said nothing at the start. When she saw Lady Sarah's acute distress she knew she must say nothing of her own hopes and fears. This was clearly not the time. Lady Sarah might think she had started the rumour herself in order to convince her of its truth.

‘Have you tried to discover the child's whereabouts, ma'am?'

‘There was a lawyer involved in the affair, but he will not answer my letters. He arranged the whole affair for my husband. The babe was given to a good home and I was forbidden to try to find her. My husband tried to make it impossible for me to do so—but Cheadle was asked to contribute to the child's upkeep and he gave me the man's direction.'

The Reverend Bancroft had found Eliza in the church, therefore the similarity between their stories was at an
end. A lawyer paid for his trouble would not simply have abandoned her behind an altar. Her parents had received nothing for Eliza's upkeep. If Eliza had had a faint hope that she might just be Lady Sarah's lovechild, she knew now it was false.

‘Could you not employ an agent to find your child?'

Lady Sarah stared at her unhappily. ‘I suppose I might, but this gossip has upset me. The same might happen again and it is so painful—not to say awkward for me. If my husband's lawyers hear…' She shook her head. ‘No matter. I shall not mind it.'

‘Would you like me to leave, ma'am? If you sent me away, the gossip would soon die.'

‘Yes, it would—but I shall not allow it to spoil our pleasure. You are a great comfort to me, Eliza. Please do not leave.'

‘I shall stay for as long as you need me, ma'am.'

Lady Sarah nodded, but Eliza thought there was a little reserve in her manner. She was no doubt wondering why Eliza would not confide her own secret. Eliza made up her mind that she would do so once the gossip had died down. She would show her employer the ring and then tell her of how she came to be adopted by the Bancrofts. In the meantime, she would take every opportunity to deny the foolish rumours.

 

Daniel walked from his meeting with Cheadle feeling relieved that the business was over. He had returned the marquis's ring, refused to take the money offered, asking quite bluntly to be told what Cheadle knew of his cousin's affairs.

‘Marcus Standish was a fool,' Cheadle said, answering in as blunt a fashion as Daniel asked. ‘He was in with
a crowd of whom I know little and wish to know less. If you imagine I am mixed up in their shady business, whatever it may be, you mistake the matter. You should address your questions to Kettleton. I believe they were thick together at one time—but I can be of no more help. As far as your cousin's debt was concerned, I regret now that I spoke to Standish of the matter.'

‘Had you waited a while, I think he would not have minded as much. A gambling debt must be paid, after all.' Daniel frowned. ‘I do not think I know Kettleton—where may I look for him?'

‘I think he has a house in the country somewhere. It may be somewhere near your uncle's home, but I can tell you no more. I have played cards with the man—who is a cheat, I may tell you. It was because he tried to fleece me that I was angry over your cousin's debt. I thought it a plot between them to recover Marcus's debt, but I may be mistaken.'

Cheadle frowned. ‘I am known to be ruthless in play and I do not suffer fools gladly—but I am not a cheat. Your father drank too much the night he lost heavily to me. I warned him to give it up, but he would not listen. Indeed, he increased the stakes. I dare say you hate me for it, but I could hardly refuse to play with him.'

‘My father was suffering from grief after my mother's death. What he did was foolish but, as I said previously, a gambling debt must be paid.'

‘Yes, it must. However, had I known of your mother's recent death, I might have forgone the debt. I am sorry for it if it has caused you difficulty?'

‘My affairs are my own,' Daniel said stiffly. ‘I believe our business is at an end, Cheadle. You have your ring—and I accept that you knew little of my cousin's affairs.'

‘Kettleton is a dangerous man,' Cheadle said as Daniel prepared to leave. ‘Be careful of him, Seaton.'

‘Thank you for your concern. Good day, sir.'

Daniel was thoughtful as he left the marquis. His warning was uppermost in his mind as he walked towards his lodgings.

 

Eliza wore her white gown again that evening. She glanced at herself in the mirror when she was ready, wondering why people should have become convinced that she was Lady Sarah's daughter. She did not think they looked alike for Lady Sarah's colouring was not the same. Her hair was much darker, her eyes that greenish-brown that some people called hazel.

If Kate had caused this distress, it really was too bad of her!

Putting the troublesome thoughts from her mind, Eliza went along the hall to her employer's room. Lady Sarah looked at her thoughtfully.

‘You must hold your head high, Eliza, and do not mind what people say to you—but remember, if you are in distress, we shall go to my home. I am determined not to part with you whatever happens.' She sighed. ‘I have decided to employ an agent to find my daughter, as you suggested, but I am not sure how to begin.'

‘You must be very careful, for your husband's lawyer might make trouble for you.'

‘He might try…' Lady Sarah shook her head. ‘I do not care for what he may say, but my son might be upset—and I should not like to be turned out of my home.'

‘I am sure one of the Bow Street Runners would be discreet, ma'am.'

‘What do you know of such men?'

‘Nothing personally, but I have heard that they can sometimes find people.'

‘I imagine Lord Seaton might know more,' Lady Sarah said, looking thoughtful. ‘I may ask him how one goes about these things when he calls on us.'

‘I believe he is going out of town for a day or two,' Eliza said. ‘A matter of some horses.'

‘Well, I dare say it will keep until he returns.'

The subject was dropped as they went out to the waiting carriage.

 

The ballroom was even more crowded that evening, if that were possible. Eliza tried to find a seat next to Lady Sarah, for she would have preferred not to dance, but Kate would not allow it.

‘You must not allow the gossips to win,' she said and took Eliza's arm firmly, guiding her to the ballroom. ‘You will dance with everyone just as before and let people think what they will. And I am sorry, Eliza, if something I said carelessly has led to this gossip. I truly believed you were Lady Sarah's daughter and so did Mama. She is most upset to have distressed her good friend and she's very cross with me—though all I said was that it was fortunate Lady Sarah had found someone she could love as a daughter. I did not mean to start a rumour.'

‘Yes, I think I see how it happened. The gossips already imagined I was a secret heiress and it was a short jump from there to thinking that Lady Sarah had decided to introduce her lovechild to society. Were there many that knew at the time, do you think?'

‘Her friends must have known. Mama said there was some gossip concerning her seclusion, and people do not forget. Years later they still remember scandal and
often make things worse by inventing what they do not know—as we did. I am very sorry, Eliza. I thought it so fortunate for you—but I have hurt you and I would not do so for the world.'

‘I should have been plain with you, Kate. I thought you meant something else.' She shook her head as Kate questioned. ‘Not here. People already think ill of me. I would not have them overhear something that would convince them all they were right in the first place.'

‘Well, it was an easy mistake to make, considering how fond Lady Sarah is of you, Eliza.'

Kate did not know that Eliza had been adopted as a baby or she would have been convinced of the truth of her theory.

They had entered the ballroom and Eliza tried to put her distress from her mind. Almost immediately, gentlemen wishing to dance approached Eliza and Julia. The first were Mr Thatcher and Lord Smythe. Mr Thatcher was as polite as on the first evening. She could detect no change in his manner and acquitted him of being affected by the gossip. Their dance was pleasant, as was the one she enjoyed with Lord Smythe. It had no sooner ended than she saw Daniel coming towards her, a look of determination on his face. Her heart stopped for one moment and then raced on as he inclined his head.

‘I believe you have saved two dances for me, Miss Eliza—may I enquire when I am to have the pleasure?'

‘The next set of dances, if you please—and a waltz later in the evening, sir.'

‘I am delighted to have arrived in time. I was delayed for a few minutes or I would have been here at the start.'

‘I did not reserve the first dances for I was not
perfectly sure at what time we should arrive ourselves, sir.'

Without meaning to, Eliza had given something of her feelings away. Daniel looked at her intently. ‘Has something more happened?'

‘No… Yes,' she replied. ‘Nothing I can speak of here, sir. Lady Sarah hopes you will call on her soon.'

‘I would do so tomorrow if I could, but I am promised to Hastings. I shall be away only two days. Will that be soon enough?'

‘I am sure it will.' Eliza smiled. ‘I assure you it is not urgent. Shall we enjoy our dances?'

‘Yes, of course.' Daniel took her hand, leading her into the formal dance. It was the kind where sets of steps were performed in rotation and partners changed, returning to one's original partner at the end of the formation.'

It was impossible to do more than exchange a few words when they performed their set at the end of each change. After the music ended, Daniel took her arm and steered her towards the long windows that led out on to the terrace.

‘Would you not like a breath of fresh air, Miss Eliza? It is very warm, is it not?'

‘Yes, it is a little,' she agreed, glancing at the stern set of his chin. ‘Is something wrong?'

He did not answer until they were on the terrace, and even then he waited until they reached the shadows at the far end before turning to her fiercely.

‘Why did you not tell me immediately?'

‘Oh…you overheard something?'

‘One of my partners was agog with the news. She whispered to me in confidence that you were Lady Sarah's lovechild.'

‘Of course it is utter nonsense,' Eliza said. ‘You really should not listen to gossip, sir. People will make these things up. I have no idea why it pleases them to imagine such things.'

‘Are you sure it isn't true?' Daniel's gaze narrowed suspiciously as he looked at her. ‘Tell me the truth, Eliza.'

‘If I thought… It is just rumour,' Eliza said. ‘It cannot be true. Even if…no, it is not my story to tell. I shall not add fuel to the flames. You should ignore the stories. They are exaggerated and foolish.'

‘I should not be happy if I thought you had made a fool of me, Eliza.' He looked at her hard. ‘I will ask you again—is there any chance that these stories could be true?'

‘No…' Eliza moved away from him. How could the rumours be true when she had been found in the church and Lady Sarah's daughter had been given to a good family? It was mere coincidence. ‘Do not press me. I think I shall return to the ballroom.'

‘Eliza…'

She ignored him as he seemed to call her back. It was very wrong of him to demand answers, and at such a time. Anyone might overhear. She could not be sure of anything and she would say nothing to anyone. There was only one person she was prepared to ask for the truth and she would do that as soon as she could.

Eliza returned to the ballroom and sought her employer. Lady Sarah was talking to a rather beautiful young lady, who turned as Eliza approached.

The girl had dark honey-coloured hair and blue eyes. She was very lovely, the line of her cheek perfect, as was her skin. Her dress was white and sewn with spar
kling stones that looked like diamonds, and she wore a pendant of diamonds at her white throat.