The Valentine's Day Ball (27 page)

He chewed a moment longer and swallowed noisily. “Mr. Tuttle told me. Really, Cousin, you should be more careful if you wish to remain incognito. Mr. Tuttle is a sad rattle.”

Jane ignored his taunt. “Never mind that. What do you want?”

“I merely wanted to see you, a member of the family, a familiar face in this foreign land and all that.”

“Hmpf!”

“Cousin Jane, you wound me!” She glowered at him, and Roland actually put his fork down. “Oh, very well, Jane. I hesitated because the topic of my visit is so unpleasant.”

“Roland, I have no money to spare while I’m in Paris. I must save enough to get home.”

“No, no, you persist in misunderstanding me.”

“Then it isn’t for a loan that you’ve come?”

“Certainly not! No, I have come to warn you.”

“Warn me? About what?”

He had her attention now. Jane sat forward expectantly.

“I wanted to warn you about Lord Devlin. I spied him yesterday. I didn’t think anything about it until Mr. Tuttle told me about you being here in Paris.”

“So?” asked Jane warily.

“I couldn’t tell you when we were in Bath, but now I must. Devlin is a cad. He’s done everything possible to earn his nickname Devilish Devlin.”

“Rubbish!” said Jane resolutely. “That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.”

“Yes, you would say that. I am ashamed, yes, ashamed, to admit that I didn’t reveal the truth about the man from the very beginning. It was inexcusable, but he was blackmailing me.”

“Blackmail!” Jane whispered. Closing her eyes, she felt the foundation of her world slip and slide beneath her feet. Then her good sense reasserted itself. “Why would he do such a thing? And don’t tell me for money. I happen to have it from a reliable source that he is very plump in the pocket. Explain yourself, Roland.”

“It began innocently enough. When I invited him to join me at the Valentine Ball at Heartland, I had no idea he could be so devious. After the ball, he began to talk about Heartland constantly. It seems he’d gone all over the house that night. He said the house was just what he had been searching for.”

“I am aware that he offered to purchase the estate through my solicitor.”

“Yes, of course, but when you sent him about his business, that’s when the trouble began.”

“Roland, you’re bamming me, and I’ll not be taken in!”

He stood up after swiping at the jam running down his chin. With pompous dignity, he said, “Very well, Jane, if that is how you feel. I have done my family duty. I wash my hands of the affair. Any consequences are entirely on your head. I only hope—”

Jane felt her resolution tremble like the tiny tremors before an earthquake. “Sit down, Roland. You may as well have your say. I shall then decide whether or not to believe you.”

“That’s all I ask. As I was saying, he talked of Heartland all the time. I was dining at his house one evening—”

“I had no idea you were such close friends.”

Roland shrugged. “We played cards from time to time.”

“Go on.”

“We were having our port after dinner, and he asked me would I sell Heartland to him if I were the master there. I laughed and answered yes, for you know, Jane, Heartland does not hold any special meaning for me,” he added apologetically. Jane nodded, impatient for him to continue. “Then Devlin asked who stood to inherit the estate should you die childless.”

The colour drained out of Jane’s face, and she gripped the edge of the table. She wanted to scream, to shut out her hateful cousin’s words, but she doubted she could have produced a sound.

“Yes, I was shocked as well. More shocked when I discovered he’d been questioning a solicitor about the matter.”

“Is there anything else?”

“Well, you know about that silly trick at the chapel at Heartland. But I began to wonder about other times. Do you remember when you and he were locked in St. Valentine’s vault at the abbey?”

“Yes,” she replied with a shudder. “Someone locked us in from the outside.”

“Did they? Think, Jane. Did you try the door, or did you just take Devlin’s word for it?”

Jane tried to recall, but her memories of that time were blurry. She had been too terrified to think straight at first. Then, with Drew’s arms around her, rational thought had been impossible.

“And, of course, you know about the notes.”

Jane’s head popped up. “What notes?”

“From some stupid play; I forget the name. It was a joke, at first. Later, I suppose his reasoning was that if you thought someone was in love with you, then perhaps you’d sell Heartland in a fever of confusion.”

“Of course,” she muttered. “That’s why I thought his handwriting so familiar yesterday, that awful scrawling handwriting.” She choked down a sob.

“I’m sorry, Jane. I had no idea this news would upset you so. Have you formed some sort of attachment for the man?”

Jane ignored his question and made one last attempt to rebuild her crumbling dreams. “You said he was blackmailing you. How?”

“I am terrible at cards, everyone knows that. We played twice, and I lost heavily both times. I have no proof, but I wondered later if perhaps there was some shady dealing…Anyway I couldn’t afford to redeem my notes, so I went to Devlin like a gentleman to request an extension. That’s when he told me he would keep quiet about my financial embarrassment for a price, for you know a man’s honour is at stake when it gets about he had the poor judgement to play deeper than his purse.”

Jane waved a hand impatiently. “Yes, yes.”

“He promised that he would even tear up my notes when he finally possessed Heartland—one way or the other. I had no choice but to agree. That’s why I left Bath; I couldn’t stand by idly and watch his duplicity.”

“Roland, I think you’d better go,” said Jane weakly.

“Jane, dear, I am so sorry for my part in this. I hope you can forgive me.”

“It is not your fault.”

“If I can be of any further assistance to you, in any way…”

Jane shook her head.

His objective achieved, Roland Havelock bowed, his corset creaking, and left Jane alone.

b

Jane wasn’t certain how long she sat staring at the cup of coffee in her hand. It was as though she had been asleep for a very long time when the maid came in to clear the dishes. When the servant would have retreated, Jane motioned her forward.

Setting the cup down, Jane got to her feet. It was difficult to move; her legs felt cramped. She must have been tense during Roland’s visit. She wandered out of the dining room and sought the refuge of the cosy sitting room. She settled on the plump sofa, curling her legs underneath her and laying her head on her arm, which rested on the sofa’s rounded arm.

Perhaps she was jumping to conclusions. She knew Drew better than that. Didn’t she? But if Drew were innocent, then that would mean Roland was lying. She’d known her cousin to lie about sneaking an extra muffin from the kitchen, but that had been when they were children. And how could he hope to profit from lying about Drew? If what he had said were true, Roland was risking his reputation as a gentleman by telling her. A gentleman… Drew had admitted that first night he wasn’t a gentleman. That had been after he had kissed her; after she had found him wandering around upstairs near the nursery, wandering where no other guest would have gone.

And what had been the purpose behind that silly trick at the chapel? He’d been trying to scare her. Had he really thought she would sell Heartland over such a trivial thing? And the falling stones at the abbey—had he been behind that, too? How could she believe such a thing? He was the one who had pushed her to safety. If his purpose had been to…

Jane stood up abruptly. How could she believe any of this about Drew? Drew, the man who loved her, and whom she loved. And he did love her, she was sure of that.

She walked to the window. It had begun to rain, a slow, drenching rain.

Who was she trying to fool? She knew nothing about love or men. It was quite possible that Drew didn’t have the heart to murder her, so when frightening her hadn’t worked, he had realized the only way he would get his hands on Heartland was to marry its mistress. What could be more natural?

Marrying for position or money was done all the time.

b

“Madame, Monsieur Devlin is here. Shall I show him in?”

Jane nodded and wiped away the tear that threatened to spill onto her cheek.

“Good morning, Jane. I was afraid you might still be put out with me and refuse to see me.”

She turned to greet him. He was smiling, that winning smile that always made her forget everything else. But not this time. She wouldn’t be transparent this time; she would keep her self-control.

“Did you enjoy yourself at the breakfast?”

“It was a terrible bore. It was like being in London—the same people, the same conversations.” Drew frowned.

“Jane, are you still upset with me because I’m not staying here? I did explain—”

“No, I’m not upset at all about that, Drew.”

She sounded like she was being truthful, yet her voice held little warmth. “Ah, I see what it is. I told you in my note I would come by last night when I returned to town. It was so late, I knew you would be abed, and since I had no news to report—”

“News?” She had almost forgotten his original reason for attending the breakfast.

“Yes, about Cherry.”

“Oh, yes. I didn’t really expect her to be there. She has put herself beyond the pale, but to appear openly with her lover would be too brazen, even for Cherry.”

“How cynical you sound, Jane. Have you given up hope?”

She looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, I believe I have.”

He moved to her side and started to place his arms around her. Jane turned away, walked to a narrow, straight-backed chair and sat down.

“I’m sorry, Drew. I have the headache this morning. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does the pain is unbearable.” She lowered her head so he couldn’t see her face.

“My poor love, let me send for a physician.”

“It would do no good. Only time and sleep can help,” she said. “Tucker will make up a potion with laudanum for me.”

“Then I’ll leave so you can go back to bed. I’ll call this evening to see how you are?” He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder for a brief moment. Then he left her, never noticing the tears beginning to fall on the tightly clasped hands resting in her lap.

b

The headache had become a reality by the time Tucker came into the room a half hour later. “The seamstress is here with yer gown, Miss Jane.”

“What? Oh, thank you, Tucker. Is the young shopgirl here, also?”

“Yes. What is it, Miss Jane? Ye’ve been cryin’.”

Jane stood up and squared her shoulders, determined to ignore the pain in her temples and her heart. “It is nothing, Tucker. Come along. I can’t wait to see how the red dress is coming.”

While the seamstress poked and prodded, Jane stood quietly, smiling at the shopgirl occasionally. Marie held the package of pins and the tape measure, jumping each time she was addressed by the stern seamstress.

“Tucker, why don’t you help Madame Lefevre pack her things? Marie can help me out of this,” said Jane when they had finished. Tucker nodded and opened the door to the dressing room for Jane and the girl.

When they were alone, Jane said, “You must meet all of Madame Arnot’s customers, Marie.”

“Yes,
madame
, almost all of them.”

“I suppose many of them now are English.”

“That is also true,
madame
. If
Madame
will just step out of the skirt?”

Jane complied and asked, “Did you ever see a young lady named Miss Pettigrew?”

“I don’t know,
madame
. There are so many strange English names.”

Jane stepped into her blue morning gown. “You see, one of my cousins is in Paris, but I’m not certain where she is staying. Cherry is so thoughtless—”

“Did
madame
say ‘Cherry’?”

“Yes, have you seen her?”

“I believe that is what they called her. It seemed an odd name; that is why I remember it.”

“Was she beautiful? Petite, blonde, and blue-eyed?”

“Yes, that is she!” Marie began to rattle on as she buttoned up the back of Jane’s gown, and Jane listened in growing amazement. “She was with her aunt. Ah
non
, not an aunt. She called her Lady Pierce. I remember well, now. I was trying to decide who was related to whom. There were two other young ladies. One, I think, was Margery.”

Jane whirled to face the girl. “Are you certain about who was with her?”

“Certainly,
madame
. It was only yesterday morning, not long after you had left. They were collecting their new gowns to wear to the great breakfast at the
Palais de Versailles
. They were going there straight from Madame Arnot’s shop.”

Jane held the girl’s arm as she sank onto a nearby chair, her legs shaking. She felt dazed by the news. Cherry hadn’t run away with Lord Pierce at all! She was, quite properly, under the unexceptional chaperonage of Lady Pierce. Her reputation was unblemished.

While Jane’s…?

Jane began to laugh, a hysterical laugh that sent the young servant scurrying from the room. When Tucker hurried in, Jane was almost falling out of her chair, gasping for breath between bouts of silent giggling.

“She’ll be all right. Sometimes things just strike her funny,” explained Tucker to the bewildered Madam Lefevre and Marie. “If you’ve gotten everything, that’ll be all.”

When they were alone, Tucker said severely, “Here now, Miss Jane. You’ll be having those two Frenchies believing all Englishwomen are mad.”

“I’m sor-sorry…Tucker…I simply couldn’t help it. You’ll never guess—Miss Cherry is with Lady Pierce, not Lord Pierce. She’s done nothing wrong, at least, not in the eyes of society. All she is guilty of is disobeying her mama.”

“That’s wonderful, Miss Jane! Now we can get her and go home!” said Tucker thankfully.

“No, we can’t just go and get her. How would I explain my presence here? I couldn’t tell her the truth, and Cherry knows only too well that nothing short of a catastrophe could bring me to Paris when Heartland’s Open Day is less than a month away. No, I’ll just have to go home as anonymously as I came. Heavens, it will be good to get out of these blacks again!”

“Lord Devlin’ll be glad, he will.”

“Lord…?” Jane sobered instantly. “Marie told me Cherry attended that breakfast, Tucker—the one Lord Devlin went to yesterday. But he told me she wasn’t there.”

“Maybe he just missed her. It was probably very crowded.”

“Not that crowded. My God, Roland was right—right about everything.” Jane sat as still as a statue while the enormity of her mistake permeated her. Just as a person whose loved one has died suddenly can feel no further pain beyond that one terrible fact, Jane was too shocked to feel anything yet.