Spoiled (24 page)

Michael shrugged. ‘Does it matter?'

‘Let's go for a ride,' Gabriel replied. They swung into the saddle and, as they left the entrance of the drive, the viscount guided them so that they were heading towards Sheffield. If Michael realized, he made no comment, although he did direct a narrowed gaze at his half-brother. They rode on in silence until after a while, they saw a carriage approaching them. ‘That looks like the Belton conveyance,' said Gabriel. ‘I wonder why they're returning so soon.'

The coachman recognized Gabriel and Michael, and obediently slowed down. At once, Michael was out of the saddle and at the door of the chaise. Gabriel smiled wryly. The curate might say that he didn't care what Evangeline did. His actions told another story.

At once it was clear that Amelia was the sole occupant of the carriage. When she saw who had brought her journey to a temporary halt, she turned rather pale. ‘Where is Miss Granby?' Michael asked peremptorily.

‘She is with my cousin,' Amelia answered. She had not reckoned upon
having to account for her actions, and was not quick-witted enough to think up another story on the spot.

‘He asked you where she was, not with whom she had gone,' said Gabriel, who had joined Michael at the door.

Amelia turned even paler if anything. Both the men confronting her were tall, well built and looked very angry. Her hand went to her throat. ‘I … I …' she began.

As Michael looked at her, his expression softened. She was a young girl, only a little older than his sister. Shouting at her would get them nowhere. ‘Indeed, Miss Belton, you must tell us,' he said, in a much kinder tone.

‘She cannot be allowed to go off alone with your cousin,' agreed Gabriel. ‘She will ruin her reputation.'

‘As if I'd care about that,' answered Amelia, tossing her head with a return of her usual spirit.

‘You'd care a good deal if I made sure people knew that you were responsible,' Gabriel warned her.

‘I'm not responsible,' Amelia answered indignantly.

‘Yes you are,' he retorted. ‘You left her without a chaperon. Now where are they, Amelia?'

‘At the Cockerel in a village a few miles back; I forget its name,' she answered sulkily. ‘I think they were planning to elope all along, even when they told me that they were going shopping in Sheffield. She was certainly dressed in her best.'

‘Come on, then,' said Gabriel, after they had sent the carriage on its way. ‘Let's be after them.'

‘To what purpose?' Michael responded. ‘You heard what Amelia said. They were planning to elope all along. Why should I spoil sport?'

‘And that's what you're going to tell her parents, is it?' Michael stared at him. ‘Listen,' Gabriel went on, ‘you have only the word of Amelia Belton that they were eloping and you don't want to trust that. Believe me, I've known her from the cradle.'

Slowly, Michael nodded. However miserable he might feel, however Evangeline might have betrayed him, he could not break the promise he had made to Mr Granby. ‘No, damn it,' he said at last. ‘You are right. I must look to her welfare, however much she may despise me for it.'

‘And, of course, you are still in love with her,' remarked Gabriel.

‘I'd have to be a fool to be still in love with her after this,' Michael muttered.

‘Love makes fools of all of us,' Gabriel reminded him. ‘Shall we go?'

E
vangeline had known from the very first hatching of the scheme that the journey to Sheffield in Amelia Belton's company would not be pleasant. She had not bargained for the stare of undisguised hostility that greeted her as Lieutenant Fellowes handed her into the chaise. There was not even the pretence of affection which they had assumed in recent years, but which they both knew to be false. Instead, the occupant bade Evangeline a sullen ‘good morning' and turned to look out of the window. Evangeline returned her greeting and turned her attention to the scenery on her own side.

Lieutenant Fellowes, who was travelling in the carriage rather than riding, eyed the two young ladies from the backward facing seat with malicious amusement. ‘Well, this is very agreeable,' he said, smiling broadly. ‘The miles will simply fly by, won't they?'

To tell truth, Evangeline was not sorry to be travelling in silence. She could spend a little more time rehearsing what she wanted to say to the bishop. She must put a clear case to him, but she did not mean to rely upon logic alone. She glanced down at her deep pink travelling gown. She knew that she was looking her best. A little charm would not go at all amiss in her efforts to make him relent.

She was vaguely aware of having passed through some sort of village, when the chaise gave a lurch and came to a stop. Lieutenant Fellowes raised his brows, then said, ‘I'll get down and see what's happening,' before opening the door and springing out of the coach.

Evangeline glanced at Amelia who immediately said aggressively, ‘Well, don't look at me. It's not
my
fault.'

‘I never thought that it was,' Evangeline replied diplomatically,
conscious that this delay might mean that they would need to spend even more time in one another's company.

‘If you ask me, you've brought it on yourself,' the other young woman said, then coloured.

‘What do you mean?' Evangeline asked, frowning.

‘Oh, nothing,' Amelia answered hastily. ‘I only meant that it was your idea to go to Sheffield, but it wasn't nice of me to say so. I'm sorry, Evangeline.'

She didn't sound very sincere, but Evangeline thought it wise to respond in kind. She was now beginning to feel uneasy, but she couldn't put her finger on why.

Lieutenant Fellowes reappeared in the doorway. He looked a little concerned. ‘One of the harnesses has worn through,' he said. ‘The coachman has made a temporary repair, but he will have to walk the horses so that it does not snap. I noticed a pleasant-looking inn in the village that we passed just now and the coachman says that there is a blacksmith. I suggest that we go back there and wait while the damage is being repaired. I don't think it will take very long.'

‘I hope not,' Evangeline replied, sounding sharper than she intended. ‘We want to get to Sheffield and back well before the evening.'

The inn in the village did indeed look welcoming, and the inn-keeper was delighted to have the privilege of serving them. He showed them into a very pretty parlour at the back of the inn, where Evangeline and Amelia sat, while he made arrangements for tea and cakes, and Lieutenant Fellowes saw to the disposal of the chaise. ‘It should not take very long,' the lieutenant said reassuringly when he returned. ‘The blacksmith told me that he would be able to effect a repair in the time that it takes us to consume the tea and cakes. Perhaps you would both like a little stroll in the garden,' he suggested. ‘The day is fine and it will make a change from sitting.'

Amelia excused herself. ‘I would prefer to remain inside, I think,' she said with a little sniff. Interpreting this as a wish to be free of her company, Evangeline stood up, for she was indeed a little tired of sitting in one place.

The garden was quite pretty, although rather too small for a stroll, but it was agreeable to be free of Amelia's company, at least for a little while. They talked of trivial matters, until eventually, the lieutenant suggested that tea might now be served.

Amelia was not in the parlour when they went back. The maid who was setting down the tray explained that the young lady had noticed a
loose thread on the bottom of her gown and had gone upstairs so that the landlady could stitch it up for her.

‘Perhaps I ought to go and help,' Evangeline suggested.

‘With Amelia in her present mood?' asked the lieutenant. ‘I don't think that would be advisable. Why is she so annoyed with you, by the way?'

The question took Evangeline by surprise, but as she was engaged upon looking in her reticule to see whether she had put in it a needle and thread and scissors for emergencies, her face was fortunately turned away at that point. ‘We have never got on particularly well,' she confessed, quite truthfully. ‘I suppose we have always been rivals.'

She could have bitten her tongue off the minute the last words were spoken, for they gave him a chance to say, ‘Even more so since a certain young curate has come into the district.'

‘Don't be so absurd,' she retorted, desperately hoping that she would not blush. ‘You know very well how I feel about him.'

‘I know how you
say
that you feel about him,' he replied. ‘I have to say, though, Miss Granby, that I fear that you have been something less than truthful.'

‘How dare you!' she exclaimed.

‘Quite easily,' he answered. ‘You see, when a young lady is observed exchanging a passionate embrace with a gentleman on one occasion; then on another professes a desire to report him to the ecclesiastical authorities, her sincerity is almost bound to be called into question.'

Evangeline turned away from him, her heart beating rather fast. ‘It did not occur to you I suppose that he might have embraced me against my will, and that I might be taking my revenge,' she suggested.

‘No, I must say it did not,' replied the lieutenant. ‘Had the other party been such as myself, then it might have done. But Buckleigh's one of those fellows possessed of a tiresomely chivalrous nature. It's rather absurd in a clergyman, really.'

‘How dare you sneer at him,' Evangeline flashed, turning round. Then she bit her lip, for she knew that she had given herself away.

The lieutenant laughed. ‘Truth's out now, isn't it?' he said. ‘I suppose that your plan is to speak to the bishop in his favour and not against him.'

‘Someone should,' she replied.

‘No doubt you think so. I very much regret that this will not be possible. I have other plans for you. How very foolish of you to think that you could manipulate me. In fact I'm the one who's been doing the manipulating.'

‘What do you mean?'

‘It's just that I'm a little short of cash at present – very short, to tell you the truth. I need some money quite urgently and you will help me to it very nicely.'

‘If anyone has told you that my father is wealthy, then they have been spinning stories,' she replied, striving to keep calm.

‘I'm well aware that your father is not the richest man in the county, but I've no doubt that he will pay handsomely to have you back – shall we say, intact? Naturally he'll pay a little extra to persuade me to keep my mouth shut. If not, well, you're a tempting creature, there's no doubt about it.' He made as if to seize hold of her, but she stepped nimbly round the other side of the table.

‘What a gallant officer!' she exclaimed disdainfully.

‘Gallantry doesn't pay my mess bills,' he said frankly.

‘What about Amelia?' she asked.

‘Gone in the chaise long since. Remember that no one knows where you are, apart from Amelia, and she won't tell. Your mother thinks you've gone to see the new baby. There will be no one to rescue you, my dear.' He made another grab for her. Again she dodged round the table. She had forgotten that he was not aware that Theodora knew the truth. The recollection gave her courage.

‘Keep away from me,' she said warningly. ‘I must advise you, Lieutenant, that at one time my tantrums were the talk of Illingham. When I lie on the floor and scream and drum my heels, someone will be sure to come to my aid.'

‘I do not think so,' he replied. ‘I took the liberty of informing the landlord beforehand that you are my errant wife, who had absconded from my side and whom I am escorting back home. As far as he is concerned, Amelia is my sister who has gone on ahead to make sure that our house is ready for us. An extra guinea or two helped to confirm that idea in his mind. In a little while, I shall take you in another conveyance to a place that is a little more off the beaten track, and there you will stay, either until we are found, or until you agree to marry me.'

She stared at him for a long time. Then she turned away, saying, ‘It appears that you leave me with little alternative.'

‘Not very much, no,' he agreed.

‘Then we had better have this tea,' she answered, sitting down gracefully. ‘Tell me, Lieutenant, is there any chance of your becoming a major? I have always found a man in uniform attractive, but a higher rank would suit me better.'

He laughed. ‘With a father-in-law like Mr Granby, who knows what I may not achieve?'

‘Who indeed.' Evangeline had poured some tea. Now she took a sip, and made a face. ‘We have been talking for too long and this is cold. Pray, ask for some more.'

He looked at her with narrowed eyes. ‘I warn you, if this is some kind of trick, then you will achieve nothing by it.'

‘It is not a trick,' Evangeline replied. ‘I have been sitting opposite your disagreeable cousin for well over an hour and I have had to endure rather a trying conversation with yourself. I promise you I will not be at all co-operative if I do not have hot tea. It will be as well if you discover that before we are married, for you will find that if I do not choose to be co-operative, I can be very, very unpleasant.'

For a moment, he looked uncertain, then he opened the door and called out for a fresh pot of tea. ‘Make sure it is good and hot,' Evangeline put in.

A few minutes later, a servant came in with a fresh pot. ‘Is it as you like it?' Fellowes asked, taking his seat as Evangeline took the lid off the pot in order to stir the leaves.

‘Oh, yes indeed,' Evangeline replied. ‘Is that a dirty mark on your sleeve, Lieutenant?' He turned his head to look and, in a moment, she had thrown the contents of the teapot over him. Then, when he cried out with pain, she smashed the pot over his head, causing him to lose his balance and fall off his chair.

Without waiting to see how badly she might have injured him, she whisked herself out of the room. Gathering up her skirts, she ran along the passage intending to go to the stables, find a mount, any mount, and get away. She was in the yard, looking frantically about her, when the sound of hoofbeats alerted her to a new arrival and a moment later Ilam and Michael rode into the yard.

‘Michael, thank goodness,' she exclaimed, holding a hand out towards him as he dismounted. ‘He was planning to abduct me and force me to marry him.'

Michael ignored her hand and simply said, ‘Did you go with him willingly? '

‘No!' she exclaimed. ‘Well, yes, but—'

‘Oh enough,' he interrupted in a tone of angry cynicism. ‘Where is he?'

‘He is in the parlour. I've just thrown tea at him and cracked the teapot over his head. Michael, I wasn't running away with him!'

‘Of course not,' he answered in the same tone. He turned to Ilam. ‘Will you take her home? I'll deal with Fellowes.'

‘Michael?' Evangeline said again.

‘Later,' he said firmly. ‘I'll speak to you later.' He strode into the inn.

‘Come along,' said Ilam. ‘Let's find a conveyance to take you home.'

‘But, Michael,' Evangeline protested, looking towards the inn.

‘He's got a lot on his mind,' Ilam replied. ‘He'll feel better when he's dealt with Fellowes.'

The gig that the lieutenant had planned to use for Evangeline's abduction was ready to go, and soon Ilam and Evangeline were on their way back home. ‘Miss Buckleigh told us that you were going shopping, but when your mother came in and clearly thought that you were in the village, we knew that something was amiss,' Ilam explained, as soon as they were on the road.

‘Did she … tell you why I wanted to go to Sheffield?' she asked him.

‘She told us that you were going to visit the bishop in order to speak for Michael,' Ilam answered.

‘Did she tell you…?'

‘About your writing the complaint? She told me, but not when Michael was present. I thought it pretty spiteful, as a matter of fact.'

‘Well, so do I,' Evangeline confessed frankly, ‘but I never intended to send it.' She paused for a moment. ‘Oh dear, if only one could go back in time and put things right!'

‘I'm sure you're not the first person to wish that,' Gabriel replied, ‘and I doubt if you'll be the last.'