Spoiled (16 page)

‘I think that I had better leave,' Evangeline murmured, colouring now at the memory of what they had just been doing. She pushed past him and hurried to the front of the aisle below the chancel steps.

‘Miss Granby – Evangeline,' Michael began, following her. They both heard heavy footsteps as someone entered the church and then Old Samuel appeared. Pulling himself together with difficulty, Michael cleared his throat and said, ‘I am very sorry, Miss Granby, but I do not think that your prayer book has been found. Ah, Samuel, you come in a good hour,' he said. ‘Miss Granby has mislaid her prayer book. Have you found it anywhere?'

The old man shook his head. ‘Doubtless it's lost for good, now,' he said, his tone no more cheerful than usual.

‘Were you looking for me?' Michael asked him. He was acutely conscious of Miss Granby a few steps away.

‘Aye, I was,' Samuel replied. ‘Lady Agatha's back. You'll find her in the Halfpenny House.'

‘Thank you,' Michael answered a little stiffly. ‘I will call upon her. Where is the Halfpenny House?'

‘I can show you, if you like,' Evangeline suggested.

Michael stared at her. God alone knew what would happen if he was alone with her again. On one level there was nothing that he wanted more than to pull her into his arms and hold her close, yet that was the last thing that he ought to be doing. What he needed was a walk in solitude to think about what had occurred. ‘There is no need, Miss Granby. Samuel will tell me the way.'

The old verger stomped out into the porch.

‘Was it he whom we heard before? Do you suppose he saw?' Evangeline asked anxiously, her voice a whisper.

‘I've no idea,' Michael answered in the same low tone. ‘I pray not. If he says anything, I'll let you know. Are you coming?'

‘I will remain here for a little while, if you do not mind,' she said. He looked at her steadily, not wanting to turn away. Her cheeks were faintly tinged with colour. Never had she looked lovelier.

‘Of course.' He paused, wanting to say something else, but with no idea in his mind of what it should be. Eventually he simply added, ‘We will speak of this again.' She nodded and they stared at each other for a long moment. She was the first to turn away, then after a moment or two, she heard the sound of his footsteps as he walked down the nave of the church.

She stood with her hands pressed to her hot cheeks. She had exchanged a kiss or two before with the occasional young man who had attracted her, but never had she experienced such a passionate embrace. If she closed her eyes, she could remember how it felt to be in his arms, to experience the touch of his lips.

She had come to the church furious with him and feeling that his interference was unjustifiable. Passion had washed away all those other feelings, so that none of them seemed to matter. She might try to tell herself that she was only flirting with Michael for fun, as she had flirted with others before. She might even pretend that she was only a little smitten with the handsome new clergyman. The truth was that she had fallen head over ears in love with him and the whole process had begun in Sheffield when they had first met. While she had no idea what her father would say about it, she really did not care. Lieutenant Fellowes might behave as beguilingly as he could and strut about in his scarlet coat for all he was worth, but Michael was the only man that she wanted.

What did Michael want, though? They had shared more than one passionate kiss, but that did not necessarily mean anything. True, he was a clergyman; but Evangeline had met other clergymen, including her
friend's brother, the vicar, who had been terrible flirts. She now recalled that Michael had been obliged to leave two previous curacies. Could this have been because of some kind of misdemeanour with the opposite sex? Could his heartfelt wish that Samuel should not have seen them be more to safeguard his reputation than hers?

Suppose though, just suppose that he really was sincere. What had she herself done? She had defied him, mocked his poverty, and threatened his calling. It was hardly the kind of behaviour designed to endear herself to him. Meanwhile, Miss Leicester was serving him tea and scones and proffering wise advice, whilst Amelia Belton looked at him as though he was the Archbishop of Canterbury. No wonder if he preferred both of them to her!

Deciding that this kind of reflection could do her no good at all, she left the vestry and walked back to the curate's cottage.

‘I
s he dead?' Theodora Buckleigh's question so startled Evangeline that all she could do was simply stand and stare.

After a moment, she said, ‘I beg your pardon?' in rather a blank tone.

‘My brother; is he dead?' said Miss Buckleigh, enlarging upon her point. ‘The last time I saw you, Miss Granby, you were on your way to murder him.'

Evangeline laughed self-consciously. ‘Oh, that,' she answered. ‘No, I decided to let him live for the time being. To kill him now would be to leave nothing for later.'

‘Will you not come in?' Theodora asked. ‘I was just thinking how refreshing it would be to have a cup of tea.'

‘Thank you, I would be glad to,' Evangeline answered, crossing the threshold.

‘You will have to excuse me while I get it myself,' said Theodora, as she limped towards the kitchen. ‘Someone comes in to clean and do some of the cooking, but in between we make shift for ourselves.'

‘Of course,' Evangeline answered.

‘Before you say anything, Miss Granby, you will have noticed that I walk with a limp.' Theodora's tone was something between matter of fact and defiant.

‘Yes, I had noticed,' Evangeline replied gently, watching as Theodora carefully put tea into the pot and took the kettle from where it was hanging over the kitchen fire. ‘Was it the result of an accident, or were you born with it?'

‘I was born with it,' Theodora answered. ‘My mother died when I was born, after a difficult delivery. People in the village where I have
lived all my life are used to it, but those who do not know me tend to stare.'

‘I went to the wedding of a cousin in Sheffield recently,' said Evangeline. ‘She has a slight limp, but she has had some shoes specially made and you hardly notice it.'

‘I had not thought of having special shoes,' murmured Theodora thoughtfully. ‘I wonder if they are very expensive.'

‘I'll write to my cousin if you like,' Evangeline suggested.

Once they were enjoying a cup of tea, Theodora said, ‘Miss Granby, I must tell you that I am very pleased to meet you, for ever since my brother wrote to me about your first meeting, I have been consumed with curiosity.'

Evangeline turned bright red. For one horrible moment, she wondered whether Michael had actually told his sister about the meeting between Miss Evans and Mr Leigh. ‘Our first meeting?' she echoed cautiously.

‘You are the young lady who was in the coach with my brother when it was attacked by highwaymen and defended herself so heroically,' Theodora declared.

‘We were attacked,' Evangeline replied, much relieved, ‘But I cannot agree that I was heroic. Whoever described me so has exaggerated, I fear. I was just exceedingly annoyed.'

‘It was my brother who described the events,' said Theodora with a twinkle, ‘but he is a clergyman, so he cannot possibly have exaggerated. I am so pleased to meet you, Miss Granby, for I have been longing for you to tell me the one thing that my brother has withheld concerning the hold-up.'

‘And what is that, Miss Buckleigh?' Evangeline asked.

‘Whether any of the highwaymen was handsome, of course,' was the reply. ‘He cannot seem to be able to tell me.'

‘I hate to disappoint you, Miss Buckleigh, but they were all exceedingly plain,' Evangeline replied.

‘Well I
am
disappointed,' Theodora admitted. ‘One of them ought to have been handsome and gallant like Claude Du Vall, or Dick Turpin.'

‘They were neither handsome nor gallant,' Evangeline disclosed. ‘In fact, one of them was exceedingly rude. In any case, I don't suppose that your brother would have been able to tell you even if one of them
had
been handsome. Gentlemen are remarkably uninterested in the looks of other gentlemen, I find.'

‘I don't know many gentlemen,' Theodora responded. ‘Not well, anyway; only Michael and my father.'

‘I take it that your own journey here was not as eventful as mine.'

‘No, it was not, but it was not very comfortable either,' Theodora replied. ‘The seats on the stage are a little too high for me and I cannot get comfortable. I do wish that I was a little taller.'

‘I have always wished that I was shorter,' Evangeline said. ‘Perhaps none of us is ever satisfied with our appearance.'

At this moment, there was a knock on the door and, when Theodora opened it, it was to find Lieutenant Fellowes standing on the threshold. ‘Forgive me for intruding upon you,' he said with a gallant bow, sweeping his hat off his head. ‘I think you must be Miss Buckleigh.'

‘Yes, yes I am,' answered Theodora, sounding a little breathless. Evangeline could understand why. The sight of the young lieutenant in his red coat and white breeches, his black boots shining and his golden hair waving in the sun was enough to gladden the heart of any maiden – any maiden who was not already smitten with the curate, of course.

‘I had ridden into the village and on seeing Miss Granby's groom outside, I thought I might discharge two delightful errands at once – making your acquaintance, and offering to escort her home when her visit is concluded.'

‘This is Lieutenant Fellowes, Miss Buckleigh,' said Evangeline, stepping forward. ‘He is related to Sir Lyle and Lady Belton, and is thus perfectly respectable, although he will not be pleased with me for saying so.'

‘Please come in and sit down, Lieutenant,' said Theodora courteously, with a touch of shyness in her voice. Evangeline recalled her saying that she did not know many gentlemen. She had probably not had the chance to talk with a handsome young man before. ‘May I offer you some tea?'

‘I will decline, thank you,' the young soldier replied, taking the seat that Theodora had offered him. ‘Tea is a drink that I do not enjoy. But I would be very glad to have a little conversation with you; unless, of course, you are talking secrets that a gentleman may not hear?'

‘If we were, we certainly would not own it,' Evangeline told him.

‘That's given me my own,' he said. He turned to Theodora. ‘You have only just arrived I believe. How are you liking Illingham so far?'

Evangeline took careful note of Theodora's behaviour and found that she was self-conscious without being silly, and her remarks showed that she had an intelligent mind. It would not do her any harm to receive a little attention from a handsome young man who would soon be rejoining his regiment. Nevertheless she, Evangeline, might take the
opportunity of warning him not to flirt too desperately with the curate's sister. For herself, she did not feel in any kind of danger from him. He smiled too much, his laughter was a little forced, and without a scarlet coat he would be nothing special.

After about a quarter of an hour, Evangeline and the lieutenant stood up to go. ‘You must come and spend the day with me soon,' Evangeline told Theodora before she left. ‘Mr Buckleigh must often be out and about his duties and you may then feel a little dull.' Remembering how she had interrupted Michael in his duties that morning and what had happened as a result, she coloured, a fact which Fellowes noted.

‘I should be delighted to do so,' Theodora replied.

‘Perhaps I might fetch you, Miss Buckleigh,' suggested Lieutenant Fellowes. ‘I could borrow my uncle's gig.'

‘Do not expect to be invited to stay,' Evangeline warned him. ‘Remember we might be talking secrets again.'

‘I have no doubt,' the lieutenant replied with a smile. As they were riding back up the village street with Evangeline's groom very properly in tow, he said, ‘A charming little thing. Quite pretty, too.'

‘As well as being far too young for you,' Evangeline pointed out.

‘I know that,' he agreed. ‘I thought that I had made it plain that my interest lay in quite another direction.'

‘You are such a flirt that I cannot imagine your interest remaining in any direction for very long,' she replied.

‘You wrong me,' he complained mournfully. ‘I thought I had made it clear to you that I am your slave.'

‘I'm afraid that wouldn't suit me at all,' she told him. ‘My family support the abolition. Shall we canter?' The conversation had begun to make her rather uncomfortable. She could hardly believe that only a few days before she had encouraged him in a desperate flirtation whilst they were out for the morning, and had almost allowed him to kiss her.

An experienced philanderer, the lieutenant was sensitive to the changing moods of women. ‘Are you trying to get rid of me?' he asked her, when they slowed their pace to accommodate some cows coming the other way.

‘Certainly not,' she answered rather defensively.

‘You see, last time we talked together, you were mad as fire over the curate's interference and were ready to annoy him in any way possible. Now, today, I find you in his cottage, protecting his little sister and blushing at his name.'

‘Nonsense,' Evangeline answered, hoping that she was not blushing
again. ‘The other day I spoke in the heat of the moment. I can see that for Papa to ask the local clergyman to care for me and Mama in his absence is perfectly reasonable, if rather annoying. I called upon his sister to be civil. If I am trying to protect her from you, it's only because I know what a rogue you can be.'

He left the matter at that, but, after he had escorted her home and declined an invitation to go in for refreshments, he rode thoughtfully back to the Cedars. News from the capital had revealed that his debts were becoming rather pressing. He had not had any intention of marrying for a long time, but a marriage for money might be the wisest course after all. Evangeline was not only very beautiful but she was also the only child of a man in comfortable circumstances. He had no intention, therefore, of allowing her to slip through his fingers. Furthermore, it did not suit his vanity to find himself dropped in favour of a curate, particularly one who had behaved towards him in such a high-handed fashion.

Evangeline's attitude had bruised his vanity, so he found it quite soothing to be the object of admiring looks from two young ladies who had come to visit his cousin. He had met Miss French and Miss Barclay at church, and he was by no means averse to dallying with two ladies who were obviously impressed by one of England's gallant heroes. So absorbed was he with flattering and flirting that he did not notice that Amelia was much more subdued than usual. It was only when she slipped quietly out of the room that he realized something was amiss.

‘Oh dear! I fear we were the bearers of rather unwelcome news,' said Miss French, not sounding particularly regretful.

‘Quite shocking, in fact,' contributed Miss Barclay, covering her mouth with her hand.

‘You intrigue me, ladies,' remarked Lieutenant Fellowes.

‘I do not think that we ought to enlighten you,' Miss French replied.

‘Oh, but you must,' answered Fellowes, knowing his duty. ‘You cannot possibly tell me half a story, then refuse to disclose the rest.'

‘But it is, it must be, a very wrong thing to spread gossip about a clergyman, ' Miss French replied, before giving a little gasp.

Fellowes pricked up his ears at this point, but was far too cunning to reveal his interest. ‘I am sure you are right,' he answered. ‘In any case, I have heard my hostess say that Mr Wilson, the vicar of this parish, is beyond reproach.'

‘But a curate is a very different matter,' murmured Miss Barclay. ‘And to think that we had been so impressed with Mr Buckleigh.'

‘Oh hush, Maria,' said Miss French. ‘We ought not to mention names!'

‘But scandal is no fun without names,' said the lieutenant coaxingly. ‘Come, ladies, this is so exciting! Such stories make me feel as if I was back in London again.' This remark did its work, making both young ladies feel very sophisticated and cosmopolitan.

‘Promise you will say nothing,' Miss French demanded, looking round.

‘I swear,' he replied, raising his hand as if taking an oath.

‘We were in Illingham this morning, just to take the air, you know, and Maria thought that she might like to consult Mr Buckleigh on … on a point of … of theology.'

‘Really,' said Fellowes.

‘Yes … yes indeed,' Maria corroborated. ‘So I went into the church, and when I got to the vestry, I saw them.'

‘Them?' He echoed.

She dropped her voice. ‘Mr Buckleigh and Miss Granby; they were kissing!'

‘Indeed?' So this was the reason for Miss Granby's sudden coldness!

‘Oh yes! Mind you, I cannot say that I am surprised,' said Miss French. ‘She has always boasted that she can get any man she wants. We challenged her with seeking to enslave Mr Buckleigh and she did not deny it. It seems that she has gained her objective.' She eyed Fellowes with a shrewdness that he had not expected. ‘I do hope that she has not broken
your
heart as well,' she added.