Laura Matthews (14 page)

“So what do you intend to do about it?”

“If what you say is true—which I don’t believe for a minute—I shall leave Cutsdean,” the captain said disdainfully. “I have never intruded where I’m not welcome. On the other hand, if she wishes me to stay, I shall continue to placate the little weasel in the interest of maintaining my authority here, since without it I could not be so effective.”

Effective at cowing little boys and stomping out of pianoforte performances? Alvescot struggled to keep his temper under control. “I’m to see Mrs. Damery at three in the Library. Why don’t you join us there?”

“Very well.” Lawrence turned on his heel without so much as a farewell nod and stomped from the room.

Alvescot considered the wisdom of trying to reach Vanessa before the confrontation, but decided there was not the time to explain himself properly. He knew she was going to be extremely angry with his presumption and interference; he also knew that she would be at a disadvantage being presented with so delicate an issue without warning.

And he decided that her confusion was possibly the best means of accomplishing his end—getting Captain Lawrence to leave Cutsdean. Unfair to put her on the spot that way, of course, but potentially beneficial. Alvescot wasn’t precisely proud of his reasoning, but by concentrating on the efficacy of his plan he was able to rationalize it almost to his satisfaction.

* * * *

When the earl entered the Library to find Vanessa bent over some ledgers on the desk, he had grave misgivings. She looked tired and vulnerable, sitting there with her chin propped on her hand, lines of worry distorting the wide forehead. His awareness of her increased each time he saw her. At first she had seemed just another burdensome duty, a rather prickly young woman who continually had him at a disadvantage. Even then, he had noted her wry sense of humor and her unfailing sense of responsibility.

But recently (and aside from his ponderings of the previous evening) he had started to see her somewhat differently, as a woman alone in need of some human warmth. Her children provided it, of course, he reminded himself. And there was Paul Burford offering his friendship. So why did he think she needed him? He had only the advice of an experienced estate-owner to give, and he wasn’t sure she was willing to accept his judgment on such matters— especially if it amounted to doubts of Burford.

Alvescot flirted briefly with the idea that she was a stubborn woman, but his growing understanding of her wouldn’t allow the concept to take root. She was determined, not obstinate. And she was lonely, though not alone. The earl didn’t wish to consider the possibility that she still missed Frederick.

To halt the direction of his thoughts he stepped into the room, causing her to glance up from her work. Before she could say anything, he spoke. “I’ve asked Captain Lawrence to join us.”

“Captain Lawrence? I thought you wished to discuss the ledgers.”

“I do, but this matter is just as pressing.” He could already hear footfalls in the Entrance Hall and felt a sense of impending disaster. “Believe me, I regret handling the problem so you had to become involved. I—”

His words were cut off as the captain, holding himself with precise military bearing, entered the room, nodded coolly to the two of them, and closed the door firmly.

Alarmed now, Vanessa glanced at each of the men’s grim faces and rose. “We’d do best to sit in the alcove,” she suggested, leading the way.

When they were all seated, no one spoke and she folded her hands in her lap. This was no problem of her making, and she had no intention of being the one to probe for the wound. Eventually, Alvescot cleared his throat preparatory to speaking, but the captain rushed in first.

“This
gentleman,”
he said, making a derogatory gesture toward the earl, “informs me that I am a drain on your widow’s jointure and an interference in the raising of your children.”

Vanessa felt sick. How could Alvescot do this to her?

But the captain wasn’t finished. “He discounts the value of my guidance and protection. And he says you house me only out of a feeling of family obligation.”

The quietly folded hands in her lap had become clenched and she stared accusingly at the earl, who immediately volunteered his defense.

“I’m afraid Captain Lawrence is speaking out of context, Mrs. Damery. The fact of the matter is that Edward Curtiss has been blackmailing him on account of something in one of his diaries that Edward had gotten hold of. I managed to recover the diary and restore it to Captain Lawrence, but he insists that Edward would still have this power over him, and he intends to continue allowing himself to be fleeced of his allowance as well as his income from the funds.”

“That’s my business!” the captain bellowed, slapping one hand down against his knee. “I can do what I like with my money.”

The earl glared at him. “Mrs. Damery makes an allowance to Edward. If she wanted him to have more, she would give it to him herself, not expect you to deliver yours to him.”

“Please, gentlemen,” Vanessa begged. “I’d like to have a clearer understanding of precisely what’s been happening here. How did you learn of this scheme, Lord Alvescot?”

“I overheard the two of them in the spinney the night of my arrival.”

“And, Captain Lawrence, why is it that Edward could still blackmail you, even without the diary?”

“Because he could tell them what’s in it,” the captain muttered. “You don’t have to have proof to defame someone’s character.”

Vanessa’s brows rose. “Surely you don’t think I would allow Edward to speak disrespectfully of you with or without the diary.”

The captain scowled at her. “You wouldn’t have anything to do with it. He could tell them at any time, and he probably will, now the diary’s been removed from his room.” He turned his scowl on Alvescot. “I’d have been
better
off if you’d never interfered.”

Alvescot was surprised by Vanessa’s vehemence. “Nonsense!” she exclaimed. “I won’t have such things happening at Cutsdean. One word from him to anyone and he leaves here immediately. In fact, for his villainy I’m afraid he’ll have to leave anyhow, though I can’t think what I’m to tell his mother and his sister.”

“Don’t do that!” The captain looked shaken. “If you make him leave, there will be nothing to keep him from telling them.”

Impatient, Vanessa shook her head. “I can’t let him stay and continue to blackmail you, Captain Lawrence. I have no choice.”

“There is one possibility,” Alvescot smoothly interjected. “If Captain Lawrence were to leave Cutsdean and settle elsewhere, I doubt Edward would make the effort to follow him or harass him in any way. Edward’s lazy. He only chose to extort money from him because he was close at hand. I would have a word with Edward and you may be sure not a breath of scandal would leave his lips if he wished to remain here.”

Neither of his companions welcomed the suggestion, to judge by their hostile expressions. Vanessa’s cold eyes positively froze him, but she was the first to speak.

“I think, Lord Alvescot, that if you were to leave us alone, the captain and I might reach some understanding.”

Being dismissed like a schoolboy was not exactly the disaster Alvescot had foreseen. Embarrassment, tears, conciliation on Vanessa’s part were more what he had had in mind. He rose, stiffly formal, bowed to the two of them, and left the room. There was no one in the Entrance Hall and he stood undecided for a moment. What he really needed was a ride to work off his spleen, but he couldn’t make himself leave the house. He wanted to have an opportunity to explain to her, as soon as possible, that he had done what he had in her best interests.

After a while he wandered out onto the East Terrace, but not before he had stopped Tompkins, the butler, to inform him where he would be if his mistress should seek him out. Alvescot sat on the stone railing for half an hour, his long legs dangling almost but not quite to the flagstones. The weather had cooled, the wind had risen. Overhead clouds were beginning to gather, forerunner to a summer storm. Maybe she had no intention of allowing him to explain.

“Lord Alvescot.” She was standing in the open doorway of the Saloon, frowning. “Could I see you for a moment?”

“Of course.” He stepped down from the railing and followed her, to his surprise, to the Morning Room, her private sanctum. If he had bothered to picture it, the room would have been much as he found it—cozy, comfortable, sparsely furnished. Vanessa hesitated before taking a seat on the small sofa. Alvescot joined her there, knowing she had done it purposely to make their talk more informal, less abrasive. Which only let him know how truly annoyed she was.

“Captain Lawrence will be leaving,” she announced, choosing a spot somewhere to the left of his head to address.

“I think it’s for the best.”

“I realize that’s what you think, Lord Alvescot. And I realize you believe you acted on the most worthy of principles.” She allowed her eyes to meet his. “Would you be interested in hearing how I feel the whole affair should have been handled?”

Since she had effectively taken the initiative away from him, he could see no option but to agree.

“Well, let me see. First, there is the matter of your overhearing the conversation between Captain Lawrence and Edward which led you to suspect what was going on. If you had been a visitor in Frederick’s home, you would doubtless have taken the matter to him to sort out, rather than charging ahead on your own. You never for a moment considered approaching me, did you?”

“No.”

“And yet I am mistress of Cutsdean. You were a new arrival and hardly knew how matters stood here. If you had brought the matter to my attention, I would have spoken to the captain to find out what was going on. If he refused to assist me, I would have approached Edward. I’m not afraid of any of these people, Lord Alvescot. They may be fools or worse, but they are my household and I expect to arrange affairs in my own way. I don’t need to be protected.”

Her words were spoken not with anger but with sadness. The rebuke held all the more power for being so gentle. Alvescot automatically reached for her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze and continuing to hold it. “I’m sorry. The business was so unsavory and you had so much to do already, I didn’t want to bother you with it. It wasn’t that I thought you couldn’t handle it, Vanessa, but that I didn’t want you to have to.”

She stared at her hand in his, now resting on his thigh, but made no effort to retrieve it. And he had called her by her Christian name. “I . . . I have to learn to handle everything, the pleasant as well as the unpleasant. Otherwise, people
will
take advantage of me, as you think Paul is doing.”

“No one else knew about this. I didn’t intend to usurp your authority. I just wanted to help.”

“By telling Captain Lawrence I didn’t want him here?”

Alvescot grimaced. “I only did that because he was so incorrigible, Vanessa. He was wretchedly ungrateful for my efforts to free him from extortion, and then he had the nerve to tell me you made him an allowance because you wanted him here for his guidance and protection.”

“Perhaps he believes that.”

“If he does, he’s a fool.”

They glanced at each other and Vanessa chuckled. “All right, but you shouldn’t have told him,” she insisted. “It was vastly awkward for me to handle.”

“How did you?”

She sighed. “I told him some of the same things I've just told you—that I don’t need guidance and protection, that Cutsdean is my responsibility, that I appreciated his assistance, but that he shouldn’t stay here on my account. And then I told him about a neighbor of ours in Somerset, an old seadog like himself. The name was familiar to him and he said he’d consider settling in that area, where he’d have someone to talk with about the old days, and the water close by. He’s to go there for a visit. My parents will make him welcome.”

“Surely you didn’t say he could stay with them!”

“No, I told him about the local inn but suggested he call on them. He wants to tell his sisters only that he’s going for a visit. If he decides to settle there permanently, he’ll write to tell them and have me ship whatever belongings he doesn’t take now.”

“So you’ve found a way to help him save face.” He pressed her hand again, though he hesitated to meet her eyes. “Would you let me speak to Edward?”

“Thank you, no.” A faint smile appeared. “I’d prefer that Edward knew I was aware of his rotten behavior, Lord Alvescot.”

“James. And I could tell him.”

“In this instance, I will positively enjoy doing it myself. You saw the way he treated Captain Lawrence’s horse. I have very little sympathy for him.”

“I let him borrow Satin this afternoon.”

“You must be mad!”

His engaging grin appeared. “Thank heaven we don’t stand on ceremony with one another.” But the grin faded and his face became almost stern. “Satin won’t stand for any of Edward’s sloppy riding habits. I’d be surprised if Edward didn’t take a fall or two if he tried them.”

“Edward isn’t a fast learner,” she admitted, her eyes amused. Reluctantly, she withdrew her hand from his. “Shall we discuss your questions about the estate? We seem to have come rather far from the original purpose of our meeting.”

The rapport between them was broken. Alvescot could see that she was already preparing to ward off any damaging blows he might deliver. Not that she had become defensive, exactly, but now she was wary, businesslike. This was not a time for friendship to intervene. Was that what they had exhibited while they sat there with her hand in his? A sort of cousinly camaraderie? Neither of them was willing to examine it too closely, he assumed as she moved to her desk and indicated a chair across from her. Now they were co-trustees of Cutsdean, where personalities and emotions didn’t intrude. He took a list of questions from his waistcoat pocket and put it on the desk between them.

“First, there’s the matter of the drainage,” he began.

Chapter Ten

Vanessa sat alone in the Morning Room for some time after Alvescot left her. His questions about the estate management had been probing and she had found it necessary to give them her whole attention. Not that they had raised any doubts in her mind of Paul Burford’s honesty or his expertise, but they had made her concentrate on matters in hand to provide the right answers. She felt she had helped acquit Paul Burford in the exchange, that Alvescot was coming to believe her evaluation of the estate manager almost against his will. It would have justified his trip to Cutsdean to have found the place a shambles and taken over the obligation of setting matters right, but Vanessa thought he was open-minded enough to accept the real state of affairs.