Marguerite dabbed at her eyes with a lace kerchief that smelled of rose water. ‘I do not know what I have done to deserve such kindness from you.’
‘I was distressed when Lucinda took her own life,’ Amelia replied. ‘She was my friend. I did not know you as well, Marguerite, but I have often thought of you. Had I realised sooner how your life had changed, I should have done more to help you.I know your mama
refused to allow you to stay with me, but had I appealed to her personally, she might have done so. I shall write and thank her for allowing you to come to me.’
‘Mama admires you, Amelia. I am sure she needs no thanks for agreeing to something that costs her so little.’
‘Nevertheless, I shall write to her.’ Amelia smiled. ‘It will be so pleasant to have your company, Marguerite.’ She turned to Emily, missing the odd look in Marguerite’s eyes. ‘Will you help Marguerite settle in, dearest? I am going to sort out a few gowns that I do not need. I shall bring them to your room later, Marguerite. You would look well in green or blue—colours will suit you so much better than that grey gown.’
‘Come with me, Marguerite,’ Emily invited. ‘I shall show you the rooms we mostly use here—and then you may try on those dancing slippers.’
Amelia found six gowns that she thought might appeal to Marguerite. She chose a green ball gown that she had never worn, ablue evening dress, a silver grey evening dress, two afternoon dresses and a striped green morning gown. She added a spangled shawl, two pairs of evening gloves and a velvet evening purse.
She judged that the gowns would be enough to see Marguerite through their short stay at Coleridge. Once they were at Ravenshead, she would order new gowns for all of them.
‘Martha, would you take these to Miss Ross’s room, please?’ Amelia said when she had finished
laying out the clothes. ‘You may take the silvergrey gown first and the others can follow later. I am not sure whether Miss Ross has a gown pressed for this evening, but this one is ready to wear.’
‘Yes, Miss Royston. Are you sure you meant to give this ball gown away, miss? It is new and your favourite colour.’
‘It becomes me well, but I have many others. My friend was unable to bring much with her and she will need these gowns until new ones can be ordered.’
‘Yes, miss. I just wanted to be sure.’
Amelia smiled to herself as the maid took the gown away. She was dressed ready for the evening and she wanted to go down early. She had sensed that Gerard was surprised by Marguerite’s arrival and she ought to explain that she had said nothing to him only because she had not been sure her friend would come. She had not expected Marguerite to simply arrive, imagining that she would receive a letter from Mrs Ross in the first instance.
Now that she had a moment to herself, she was at last at liberty to think about the scene in the library with Gerard. He had kissed her and she had not held back. What might have happened had Marguerite not come in at that moment?
Gerard had told her more of his feelings when Michael had him thrashed and sent him away. He had spoken of his bitterness, his longing for her and lonely nights. For the first time Amelia understood how he had felt, realising that his pain had been as deep as hers, if not deeper. He had been hurt and humiliated—her
brother’s bullies had been too many and too strong for him to fight back.
He had married Lisette while still feeling resentful. She had thought he must care for her but it seemed he hadn’t loved her. When he spoke of her he seemed deeply disturbed. He had spoken of Lisette’s terrible unhappiness, which drove her to take her own life. He said that he could not give her what she needed…would it be the same when they married? Or had Gerard been unable to love his wife because in his heart he still wanted Amelia?
His kiss had been passionate and hungry. She had felt that he truly wanted her. Perhaps he did love her in his way…
‘I trust your judgement completely,’ Gerard said after Amelia had explained why she had asked Marguerite to come to them. They had met once again in the library so that they could be alone for a few moments before dinner. A fire had been lit and the candles burned brightly, giving the room a warm, intimate feeling. ‘It is a sad thing that Miss Ross should have been treated so badly. I did not remember her when we spoke earlier, but I have been thinking and I seem to recall a young woman with a similar name.’ He frowned, an odd, slightly uneasy expression in his eyes. ‘Was not Lucinda Ross Marguerite’s sister? I think Lucinda Ross was the young woman who killed herself some years ago?’
‘Yes, that is correct. Lucinda was in some trouble. It happened during that summer. I thought at one
time—’ She broke off and shook her head. ‘Northaven…I know that he had been to the house a few times. I once saw him flirting with Lucinda in the gardens.’
‘Both Harry and I were also invited to some functions at the home of Mr and Mrs Ross—but Harry would never dream of seducing a young woman of good family. Nor would I, come to that, but at the time I could think only of you. It was you I loved, Amelia.’ He frowned, hesitated, then, ‘I do recall the name, but not Lucinda’s face, though I remember meeting her. I might have liked her sister more for I believe I danced with her a few times, but there was nothing more than politeness between us. Indeed, I could not recall her when we met, but she may have changed. That gown and hairstyle are not becoming to a young woman.’
‘You do not mind that I have invited her to stay with us for a while? She is not beautiful, but I think she would be attractive wearing the right clothes. I hope that she may meet someone she likes who will offer for her.’
‘Playing matchmaker again?’ Gerard teased.
‘No, for I have no one in mind for Marguerite. I merely wish to give her the chance she has been denied so long. Besides, she loves children and she will be a big help to me.’
‘Then I am delighted she has come,’ Gerard said and smiled. ‘Are you looking for ward to the ball, my love?’
‘Yes, of course.’ Amelia moved towards him, her breath catching as she gazed up at him. ‘We shall be able to dance together as often as we wish. Once our
engagement is announced no one could lift a brow if we danced all night—though I suppose it might be thought rude to ignore one’s friends altogether.’
‘I think it would be pistols at dawn if I dared to monopolise you completely,’ Gerard said teasingly. He turned his head and frowned, then strode towards the door and threw it open.
‘Is something the matter?’ Amelia asked.
He turned to Amelia, frowning. ‘I thought someone was eavesdropping outside the door. If someone was listening to our conversation, he or she fled before I could discover who it was.’
‘Listening to our conversation?’ Amelia stared at him. ‘Surely not? In this house…who would spy on us, Gerard?’
‘I wish I knew.’ Gerard’s eyes darkened. ‘It is foolish, but since we came here I have grown more uneasy.’
‘You expected an attack on the road, did you not?’
He nodded. ‘We were prepared for it, but it did not happen. Therefore our enemy has something else planned—something more devious and perhaps more dangerous. I have men watching the grounds, Amelia. I can shoot a man who tries to abduct you, but I have a feeling that something more sinister is going on.’
‘What are your reasons? What has changed?’
‘I do not know, but I trust my instincts. They served me well in Spain and at other times.’
A shudder caught Amelia and for a moment she was afraid of something she could not understand. ‘I must confess that frightens me…’
‘Won’t you withdraw before it is too late? I could go away—take the danger with me, for I feel it is directed at me. However, you may be hurt, because this person will use you to get to me.’
‘No! I have already told you nothing will keep me from you. Would you go away and condemn me to a life of solitude?’ Amelia demanded. She moved towards him, clutching at the lapels of his immaculate coat. ‘Will you let me die a maiden—unfulfilled and regretful?’ Her eyes were fearful, desperate. ‘Have you no idea of the feelings I have for you—the longings I know must seem immodest in an unmarried lady?’
‘My dearest one! You cannot believe me indifferent? You are beautiful. Any man would be grateful to have such a woman as his wife.’ Gerard caught her to him, kissing her with a fierce hunger that set her pulses racing. She clung to him, her body melting into his as the raging desire swept through her. ‘I would leave you only to protect you, believe me.’
‘If you do, I may as well die.’
‘Never!’ Gerard gazed down into her wild face, a thrill of laughter and triumph sweeping over him as he saw the passion he had always believed was in her. ‘I shall not give you up, Amelia—and nothing shall part us for a second time.’
‘Do you swear it?’
‘Is wear it with my life. Only my death will part us.’
Amelia pressed herself against him, lifting her face for his kiss. As he took her mouth, she parted her lips for him, meeting his tongue in a delightful
dance of sweet desire. Her body flamed, tingled with the need to know him, to lie with him.
‘Gerard, I want to be truly yours.’
‘I burn for you, my love.’ He smiled ruefully. ‘I would we were at Ravenshead. I could come to you there without ruining your reputation, Amelia. Here, I hesitate to abuse our hosts’ hospitality.’
‘Once we are at Ravenshead we shall not wait,’ Amelia said. ‘Nothing must part us now, for I could not bear it.’
Gerard kissed her, but this time softly. ‘We must wait for the moment, but I agree that nothing shall part us, my dearest.’
Hidden behind a heavy curtain, the eavesdropper sat curled up on a deep window ledge and listened. For a moment it had seemed that Ravenshead had discovered the presence of a third person, but he had gone to the slightly open door, thinking the listener was outside. Seeing no one, he had believed himself mistaken. He was mistaken only in the location. What good luck that quick thinking had prevented discovery the instant they entered the room!
A smile touched the lips of the hidden one. Gerard Ravenshead thought himself so clever, but revenge was close. It was like the taste of honey on the tongue of the person who hated him. A smile hovered. Soon now. Soon the debt would be paid…
Amelia went to bed feeling happier than she had been for years. She could no longer doubt that Gerard
felt a strong passion for her. He might not love her as he once had, but he was certainly not in different. They would not lack for passion in their marriage. She longed for the time when they would be at Ravens-head…when she could at last become one with him.
She had lingered downstairs for as long as she could, but Gerard had been caught up in a discussion about politics with some of the other gentlemen. He had thrown her an apologetic glance, telling her by means of a look that he longed for some time alone with her, but it was impossible. She knew that they must be patient; in a few days they would leave Coleridge and then…
A smile on her lips, Amelia sat down at her desk and took out her writing box. She opened it and took out some sheets of vellum, then dipped her pen in the ink and began to write a letter. She was not yet ready to sleep and she wished to tell several friends her news, for she knew it would please them.
After she had been writing for some half an hour or so she sanded and sealed her letters, four in all, leaving the one addressed to Marguerite’s mother on the top of the pile. In the morning she would take them down to the hall and place them with others to be franked by Max and taken to the receiving office with any other letters his guests wished sent.
Amelia brushed her hair, washed her face and hands and then went to bed. She blew out the candle and settled down to sleep, but her mind was busy and it was
a while before she settled. She was resting, but not sleeping, when the sound of her door opening startled her. For a moment she lay listening, thinking that she must be mistaken. She had not locked the door to her dressing room for it was that way the maid entered in the morning, but her maid would not creep unannounced into her darkened bedchamber at this hour.
‘Who is there?’ she called and sat up in bed, her hand reaching for the candle by her bed. It was a moment or two before she secured it and some seconds more before she could strike the tinder. ‘Who are you?’ she cried as a dark shadow fled through the dressingroom door.
Amelia lit her candle and got out of bed. She went through the door to the dressing room. The intruder had left it open in his haste and she saw that the door that led from the dressing room to the servants’ stairs was also open. Whoever had been in her room must have come and left by that means.
Amelia knew that her own maid would not have reacted in such a way. No other servant ought to have been there at this late hour and would not be on their lawful business. Yet someone had come to her room—why? What were they searching for? Amelia’s jewellery was locked away in her dressing case, which she kept by the bed as she slept. A brief glance told her that it was still there and untouched. So what had the intruder been doing?
Amelia felt chilled, because this was something she had not expected. What might have happened had she been asleep? She wondered if she had been
meant to die—or was it merely an attempt to rob her? She shivered, feeling uneasy and anxious. Ought she to send for someone? Amelia hesitated, but it was past midnight and she did not wish to make a fuss at this hour. However, in future she would make sure that the dressingroom door was locked—at least until they were safe at Ravenshead. Her maid could knock if Amelia were still asleep when she came, but it was more likely that she would be wide awake!
Amelia returned to bed. She was not unduly frightened now that the door was locked. She would not be disturbed again this night, but the incident had shocked her more than she liked. She would have to tell Gerard about the intruder in the morning—and of course Max would have to know. He would wish to make enquiries amongst his servants. It did not seem that anything had been taken, but it could quite easily have been simply a bungled robbery. He would have to warn his people to be vigilant.