The Duke's Deception (6 page)

‘Where’s
Charles, Edward? Why didn’t he come with us?’ Marianne asked.

‘The dogs will
be a deterrent. Charles will keep them between the men and us as long as he
can. Don’t fret, he’ll follow soon enough, he’s not stupid. The odds are too
great to stay for a fight.’

Here in the
sunshine their flight began to seem an overreaction. Arabella and Emily had
sunk, worn out by their unaccustomed activity, to the grass and were comforting
each other with pats and kisses.

‘Who were those
men, Edward? Why would they wish to do us harm?’ Marianne got no reply.

Edward was
watching the path but he relaxed as the first of the dogs loped into sight. ‘I
beg your pardon, I wasn’t paying attention. What did you say, Marianne?’

‘I asked who
those men were and why they would wish to harm us. We were no threat to them,
surely?’

‘They were
smugglers, didn’t you see the donkey – the animal was loaded with contraband.’

‘Why were they
out in daylight? I thought such men worked at night.’

‘That wood’s not
used by the locals. It’s well known as a smuggler’s route to Thorrington Creek
and so they avoid it. I suppose those men didn’t expect to see us there.’

‘If that’s so
why did you take us there for a picnic?’

Edward flushed.
‘It’s part of Frating Hall. We can go where we please; it’s our land, after
all. And Charles couldn’t have anticipated meeting those villains. I daresay
they pass that way once a month. It was just bad luck all round.’

Before Marianne
could answer, Charles and the other dogs jogged towards them. He waved and
smiled no sign of his previous fear apparent. He joined them and dropped down
to the grass to speak to the girls who were sitting quietly on the grass.

‘That was
unfortunate. I hope those men didn’t scare you unduly. I thought it best to
run, although you were in no real danger. They were as surprised to see us as
we were them.’

‘My dress is
ruined and I’m quite worn out. Please don’t suggest a picnic to me again,
Charles, for I shall not come,’ Lady Arabella replied pettishly.

He smiled and
sprung up. He offered his hand and pulled first Lady Arabella and then Emily,
to their feet. He spoke to Marianne, his face serious.

‘Marianne, I
apologize for ruining your dress and your afternoon. I believe I may have
reacted excessively but it’s always better to err on the side of caution, is it
not?’

‘Yes, it is.’
She grinned. ‘Actually I quite enjoyed the experience. I realize I am not as

faint-hearted as I had supposed, exactly
the opposite, in fact.’

They returned
rather more subdued than when they had set out on the jaunt but they parted on
good terms. Tom had arranged for Lady Arabella’s carriage to be harnessed and this
was standing ready to return her to Bromley Hall. Charles handed her in and
Marianne saw him

speaking urgently to her, his brown
hair almost touching her black.

‘Marianne, I am
going in to change for dinner will be served in less than an hour and tonight
we are to dress.’ Emily giggled as she saw the parlous state of Marianne’s
gown. ‘You will not be able to wear that. I’ll send you something else. I
believe I have a plain, apple-green silk, dinner gown that will suit you. It
has an underskirt of darker stuff, long sleeves and no-frills or bows anywhere.
I never liked it overmuch’

‘It sounds
ideal, thank you Emily, you are too good to me.’ Impulsively Emily stepped
forward and embraced her.

‘I think of you
as a sister already so it is only right that we share.’

As she sponged
away the dust and sweat of the long run through the woods in her second wash of
the day Marianne went over the events again. Something was amiss; if she
thought hard she was sure she would discover what this was.

Jane had tutted sadly
about the torn gown but promised to wash, press and repair it by the following
morning. She hadn’t asked how the damage had occurred and Marianne had not

volunteered the information. Time
enough when she had it straight in her own mind.

She ran through
the sequence of events for a third time. She gasped and dropped her barefoot
into the basin sending a cascade of dirty water flooding onto the floor.
Charles hadn’t been scared of what the men would do but what they might say. He
had made them race off not because they were in any danger but because he and
Edward were desperate to avoid being recognized or greeted by name.

She felt sick.
Her suspicions were correct. Charles and Edward, who already had a place in her
affections, were involved with free-traders. She had been placed in the
invidious position of having to decide if she would denounce them or turn a
blind eye to their activities. That there was to be a third option did not then
occur to her.

Chapter
Six

Three horses all
eager to depart were being held steady at the front of Frating Hall. Marianne,
out in good time for her morning ride, arrived at the door and her eyes
narrowed.

‘John, do not
tell me, Miss Grierson and Lady Arabella are accompanying us!’

John grinned ‘
Fraid
so, miss; orders came down last night to have three
horses saddled.’

‘I thought I had
made the position clear to Lady Arabella. I told her I had no wish to ride with
her. I cannot imagine what Sir Theodore’s reaction will be.’

‘You will soon
find out, miss, for I can see him coming up the drive.’

Marianne glanced
behind her. There was no sign of Emily. As the two girls had not been invited
she saw no reason to wait. They would depart as soon as her guardian arrived.
She was congratulating herself on a lucky escape too soon because at that
moment Emily appeared at the head of the steps her face wan.

Forgetting her
annoyance, Marianne exclaimed, ‘Emily, you don’t look at all the thing. Are you
unwell?’

‘No, I’m not sick.
Oh, Marianne, I am so sorry but Arabella insisted. I know you didn’t wish us to
come with you this morning.’

Marianne’s anger
evaporated and she smiled warmly. ‘I’m delighted to see you. I was a cross
-patch yesterday - pray forget I ever mentioned not wishing to have your
company.’

At the sound of
hooves behind them they turned. Tom and Sam appeared leading two handsome bay
hacks. Puzzled Marianne looked at John.

‘Good heavens!
Who else is joining our outing? Are we to expect the entire Grierson family to
arrive at any moment?’

‘No, miss. I am
accompanying you. The other horse is for Sam who has to lead Lady Arabella’s
mount.’

‘Leading it? Am
I to believe that as Lady Arabella is not here in person she has arranged for a
phantom to ride alongside us?’

She heard Emily
giggling at the absurdity of her comment. ‘We’re to rendezvous with Arabella on
the far side of the green. She’s travelling in her carriage from Great
Bromley.’

‘Let me
understand this correctly, Emily. Lady Arabella wishes to ride with us but we
have to meet her at Great Bentley?’ Emily nodded her smile fading. ‘She is
being driven to this point?’ Emily nodded a second time. ‘Does Lord Hawksmith
not keep horses at his establishment?’

This was a
question Emily could answer. ‘Of course he does, silly. But Arabella isn’t
allowed to ride outside the grounds of Bromley Park.’

Marianne turned
away not wishing her horrified expression to be seen. John’s face was equally
concerned. Before they had time to discuss the implication of providing a mount
for someone who had been forbidden to ride in public, her guardian arrived in a
flurry of scattered gravel and stamping hooves.

Expertly he
calmed his chestnut stallion and swung one leg casually across the horse’s neck
smiling benevolently down at the assembled group.

‘Morning, my dears.
It appears I am to have a double
delight!
Two lovely companions instead of one.’

‘You are to be
even more rewarded, sir; we are to collect a third, Lady Arabella, at Great
Bentley.’ Marianne paused, unable to decide if she should tell him the rest.
For all his bonhomie, she believed she detected a certain rigidity in his pose.

He raised his
eyebrows and stared at the extra horse now held by a mounted groom. ‘I had no
idea Lord Hawksmith had closed his stables. No matter – it’s not my affair.’
Not allowing a reply he sat back in the saddle and rammed his boot loudly into
the dangling stirrup-iron. ‘If you will get mounted, my dears, we shall depart.
Lucifer here does not take kindly to delays.’

Marianne and
Emily hurried to their mounts and were thrown up by the waiting grooms. Emily’s
pretty bay mare arched her neck and pricked her ears eager to be away. Sultan
still being unavailable Marianne was riding the bay Billy had ridden from Upton
Manor. She had ridden him once before and knew him to be lively.

The cavalcade
trotted down the drive, Sir Theodore leading the way sensibly keeping to the
grass verge and avoiding the many potholes. Marianne dropped back allowing
Emily to ride behind her guardian. She indicated that John should come beside
her.

‘John, this is
an unmitigated disaster. How dare Lady Arabella involve us in her
disobedience?’

‘Too late to
repine, miss, there’s little we can do apart from pray Lord and Lady Hawksmith
don’t get to hear of it.’

‘It’s not them I
am concerned about. I think I may have underestimated Sir Theodore. Did you not
detect his displeasure at being obliged to escort this circus?’

John frowned and
then his face creased and he nodded towards the tall man conversing with Miss
Grierson. ‘Not him, miss. He’s more concerned with the cut of his coat than
anything else. Look at him doing the pretty - does he look perturbed?’

Marianne was
obliged to admit that he did not. ‘I hope you’re correct. I’ve no wish to fall
out with my guardian. This would be laid at my door you can be sure of that.’

The short
distance along leafy lanes to Great Bentley was soon accomplished and she
recognized the smart barouche pulled up in the cobbled yard of The Lion.

Emily nudged her
mare forward. ‘I do hope we haven’t kept you waiting, Arabella. See, I have
brought Peggy for you. She’s prettily behaved and will be ideal.’

Her ladyship
stepped down from the carriage and Marianne’s mouth dropped open. The abundance
of gold frogging on the girl’s habit caught the sun almost blinding her. Even
Emily was speechless.

‘You have a new
habit, Arabella. Red and gold - so very bright,’ she finished lamely. Even her
partiality could find nothing favourable to say. Marianne ducked her head
hiding her amusement.

What was obvious
even to a casual observer was that Arabella had dressed to impress. The person
all this splendour was directed at was already on the ground and - surely not -
yes, he was actually kissing the wretched girl’s gloved hand.

Marianne’s
good-humour evaporated. How could he be so gullible? He was taken in by a pair
of flashing eyes and fluttering black lashes. She watched lips compressed as
Lady Arabella fussed and flirted her way to the docile mare. Sir Theodore
tossed her into the saddle and began to adjust the single leather and tighten
Peggy’s girth.

Disgusted to see
him making a cake of himself Marianne shortened her reins and dug in her heel.
She would wait on The Green for them. But her mount leapt forward and taking
hold of his bit bolted across the grass.

As she was an
excellent horsewoman she was in no danger of a tumble and sat deep into the
saddle and pulled hard, first on one rein and then the other hoping to dislodge
the bit from between the teeth of the bay gelding. This failing she grabbed the
nearside rein, releasing the offside and applied double weight to her pull,
gradually forcing the horse’s nose around and obliging him to shorten his
stride.

No longer able
to gallop, held in a tight circle as he was, he slowed his pace and she was
once more in control. Breathless but exhilarated, Marianne leant down and
patted his sweaty neck. ‘Stupid animal! I forgot you were so sensitive, I
should not have kicked so hard.’

She turned to
face the inn and only then realized how far she had come in her mad gallop. Her
stomach lurched. She must return at once. Emily would be beside herself with
worry no doubt believing she had met with a fatal accident. She pushed the bay
into a canter and headed back expecting at any moment to meet John or Sir
Theodore racing out to meet her. Puzzled by their continued absence she urged
the horse into a second gallop. Where was John? Why had he not come after them?

Had something
catastrophic occurred? She should have been gentler and then her mount would
not have taken fright. Arriving at the inn she reined in sharply knowing at
once something dreadful had happened in her absence.

Her guardian was
on the ground beside the apparently unconscious form of Arabella. Emily hovered
close by crying and wringing her hands. Of John and the other Frating Hall
groom there was no sign.

A terrified
ostler was holding a plunging Lucifer whilst another held the reins of the
other three horses. Lady Arabella’s carriage had been circled and was waiting
for Sir Theodore to pick up the injured girl and place her inside. Small wonder
no one had bothered to follow her. She vaulted from the saddle and slipping the
reins of the gelding over his head led him up to Emily.

‘Emily, tell me,
what has taken place here? How does Lady Arabella come to be injured?’

‘When you
galloped off like that it startled all our horses. Even Peggy shied and poor
Arabella fell. I fear she’s badly hurt. She’s lying so terribly still.’

‘Where is Sir
Theodore taking her? Surely not all the way back to Bromley Hall?’

‘He has sent John
to alert his staff and Sam has gone to fetch the doctor. We’re going to Bentley
Hall; remember
it’s
but a few minutes from here.’

Marianne watched
aghast as her guardian lifted Arabella easily and stepped into the carriage.
Her friend jumped forward and closed the door and the carriage moved off. When
she intercepted his freezing stare it sent a flicker of fear down her spine.
This was not the look of a fop overcome by the disaster but a hard, calculating
glare that summed her up and found her wanting.

How could she
ever have thought him feebleminded? For some reason he was a dissembler. Why he
should wish to be seen as a man with no direction and little intelligence she
had no idea, but she intended to find out.

But first she
must endure the agony of waiting to discover if her lack of thought had
seriously hurt Arabella. She didn’t care much for the young lady but had never
wished her to be harmed. The clatter of hooves heralded John’s reappearance.
Having completed the task for Sir Theodore he had returned to discover the
whereabouts of his own charge.

‘Thank the Lord!
You’re safe, Miss Devenish. I’d no time to chase after you. Sir Theodore was
insistent I went to Bentley Hall first.’ He slid out of the saddle and threw
his reins to Marianne to hold whilst he assisted Emily to mount. Then he issued
orders to the ostler. ‘Stable my mount, I’ll ride the stallion.’ The young man
was delighted to hand over his charge having been lifted clear of his feet
several times by the animal’s antics.

‘Stand, damn
you, stand still.’ Lucifer recognizing the voice of authority ceased his
plunging and stood politely as John sprung into the saddle. The ostler ran
forward and took the horse from Marianne and finally all was calm and organized
again.

John called out.
‘I’ll lead; don’t come too close to this beast. I don’t trust him not to lash
out.’ Allowing John to ride a safe distance ahead, Marianne and Emily followed.
Emily sniffed loudly.

‘Marianne, I’m
so worried about Arabella. Peggy didn’t rear she just shied a little and
Arabella tumbled gently to the cobbles. But I fear she must have been kicked in
the head or struck it as she landed for her eyes have not opened since the
accident.’

‘It was a soft
fall?’

‘Yes, indeed it
was. I expected her to scramble up and laugh it off. I was greatly shocked she
lay so still.’

Marianne felt a
flood of fury replace her fear. The scheming minx had used the opportunity to
her advantage. Arabella was unhurt and was shamming in order to gain Sir
Theodore’s attention. She ground her teeth in frustration. Arabella had decided
to set her cap at her guardian - there could be no other explanation. But why?
Surely she held a
tendre
already for Charles? Perhaps
Emily could explain.

‘Emily, I am
sure Lady Arabella isn’t seriously hurt. It’s more than possible she’s merely
in a swoon from which she will be fully covered by the time we arrive.’

‘I do hope so,
Marianne. I cannot bear to think of dearest Arabella injured.’

‘Tell me, Emily,
why has Lady Arabella not had a season? The Hawksmiths are wealthy are they
not? Surely they would wish to puff her off at
Almack’s
and find her a suitable husband.’

‘Arabella is
their only child and very dear to them. I don’t believe they wish her to be
married at the moment but to remain at home with them.’

Marianne nodded
her expression stern and unfortunately spoke her thoughts aloud. ‘So she’s
taking matters into her own hands and is trying to ensnare Sir Theodore.’
Emily’s shocked gasp indicated how unwise these words had been.

‘Oh, Marianne,
how could you say such a horrid thing? Arabella’s so grievously hurt.’ She
urged her mount into a trot and left Marianne to complete the journey down the
long drive, feeling ashamed of herself.

The barouche was
empty. The house, having been built recently, was in perfect proportion. The
hundreds of rectangular windows were equally balanced on either side of the
marble steps. She had not had time to notice these details on her arrival.

The double
doors, flanked by matching marble pillars, stood open; there was nobody there
to welcome her. Perhaps the lack of ceremony was intentional.

Two grooms
appeared from the rear of the building to receive their horses. So they were
expected after all. John rode on following the carriage-wide sweep of drive to
the stables behind the house. Emily dismounted unassisted and ran up the steps
leaving Marianne to ascend on her own.

A familiar
footman appeared at the door. ‘Miss Devenish, Sir Theodore has requested that
you wait in the library. He will join you there presently.’

She swallowed
and her throat constricted. ‘Thank you. How is Lady Arabella? Has she recovered
her senses yet?’