‘Miss Trumble is something of a mystery.’
His eyes mocked her. ‘Miss Trumble? Never!’
‘You see, Mama is often not well enough to escort us to functions, and if Miss Trumble has to do so, she disguises herself in a frightful wig as if she fears to be recognized.’
‘Perhaps she is the disgraced member of an aristocratic family?’
‘No, I think she is merely a trifle eccentric. Such a stalwart as our Miss Trumble cannot have anything too sinister in her past.’
‘How did your mother come to employ her?’
‘My mother advertised for a governess and all seemed to be unsuitable until Miss Trumble turned up, complete with luggage, accepted the post and settled in. She did not have any references, but after some time she produced
them and they were impeccable.’
He laughed. ‘There is probably some previous employer abroad in society whom she detests. She does not want to be recognized by her. What does Miss Trumble think of your ambitions?’
‘My former ambitions, my lord. Well, to be sure, she is heartily tired of the Beverley ambitions to retrieve Mannerling.’ And now that she was beside him again, Belinda had forgotten all about Perry and all about Mannerling.
‘Sensible woman! Are you now telling me that all hope is really gone?’
‘It was all very silly, really,’ said Belinda. ‘I am not going to spoil the rest of the Season by worrying about it.’
Some imp prompted her to add, ‘So who do you suggest I should set my cap at now?’
‘I do not know,’ he said rather tetchily. ‘I am sure your sister, Lady Burfield, and the excellent Miss Trumble are armed with lists of eligibles.’
‘Then I must begin to study them.’
‘I am only sorry I shall not be in London for the rest of the Season that I might witness your triumphs,’ he said, and all the heady elation Belinda had been beginning to feel died away and she said in a small voice, ‘You are leaving? Why?’ She tried to rally and added, ‘Are you not looking for a bride?’
‘Not I. So far I have never come across
anyone suitable.’
‘You must set very high standards.’
‘Believe me, Miss Belinda, I do.’
‘Then I must say goodbye to you. I doubt if we shall meet again.’
‘What? Will you not send me an invitation to your wedding?’
‘Oh, gladly, my lord. I did not think you would wish to attend.’
‘If you marry such as Perry Vane, I might not.’
‘Perhaps I might. I feel you are mistaken in him.’
‘Why do I trouble myself? Your follies are your own affair.’
‘Exactly,’ said Belinda.
She picked morosely at her food and he studied her downcast face. The supper-room was emptying. The dancing had started up again. He felt he should leave, but then she had barely eaten anything.
‘So do you plan to see Mr. Vane again?’ he asked at last.
‘We are to go driving together tomorrow.’
‘My dear widgeon! Is Perry Vane the best you can do?’
‘I repeat, I find him undemanding and amiable company.’
‘Meaning you have found someone to talk to about Mannerling, over and over again?’
‘Oh, leave me alone,’ said Belinda, exasperated and on the point of tears. Her
voice trembled. ‘You seem determined to find fault with me.’
‘There, I apologize. Do you go to the opera tomorrow night?’
‘Yes, my sister has a box.’
‘Then I will delay going to the country and escort you.’
‘Why do you think I would relish your company?’ demanded Belinda.
‘Because I am the fashion and any interest I might show in you will draw suitors to your side.’
‘You are vain!’
‘I am ever practical and pragmatic.’
Belinda opened her mouth to tell him that she did not want to be escorted by him, but somehow the thought that he would be leaving London made her say in a little voice, ‘Oh, very well. I will go with you.’
‘You are supposed to be thrown into a flutter of gratification and say, “Oh, my lord, I am so honoured.”’
She suddenly let out an endearing giggle and her large eyes flirted up at him and she said with a simper, ‘Oh, my lord, I am so honoured.’
‘That’s better,’ he said, although his heart beat harder, that heart which he had always called his own.
Abigail entered the supper-room, which was now empty except for the pair of them, looking anxious. Gyre’s attentions to Belinda were flattering, but to remain at her side in an empty
supper-room was too much, and unless he meant to propose marriage to her, his monopolizing of her would disaffect other possible suitors.
‘The dancing has started again,’ said Abigail lightly.
The marquess stood up. ‘May I have the honour of escorting your sister to the opera tomorrow night?’
‘Certainly,’ said Abigail, surprised and gratified. Her little sister was doing well—driving with Mr. Vane, who had already secured her permission, in the afternoon and being escorted in the evening by Gyre.
‘After that, I shall be leaving for the country,’ said Lord Gyre, ‘and will not be back in London for some time.’
‘Then the social scene will be lessened by your absence,’ said Abigail, very glad now she had interrupted them, since Gyre did not seem to have any serious feelings about Belinda. It was only a pity that Lord St. Clair appeared to have lost interest in her.
* * *
At that very moment, Lord St. Clair was cosily ensconced in Mrs. Ingram’s drawing-room. He had called to proffer his thanks over her intervention with his father and then had found himself reluctant to leave.
‘I feel like getting even with Perry,’ said St.
Clair. ‘But he’s a cunning one. If only I could get him to show his hand.’
Mrs. Ingram looked at him measuringly. She was becoming increasingly fond of this amiable fop. ‘If you want to rile him, you could say you think Mannerling has too much land and you intend to sell some of it off as soon as you are married.’
‘But he’ll go running to Pa!’
‘No, I somehow do not think so. He knows you have only to deny it and accuse him of trying to discredit you. And what proof will he have, since you don’t intend to sell the land anyway?’
Saint Clair’s pale eyes gleamed with excitement. ‘What do you think he would do?’
‘I think he might try something drastic. You would need to be on your guard. Don’t you remember the scandal about Harvey Brooks, who wanted his brother’s inheritance? He sent his brother a box of poisoned chocolates. Brother feeds one first to the family dog, which promptly drops dead. Runners call at the shop where the chocolates were purchased and found they were purchased by none other than Harvey Brooks. It was hushed up because the family did not want an open scandal, and so Harvey was shipped to America to join all the other murderers and poisoners. If I ever went to America, I should be quite terrified to accept an invitation to dinner!’
‘Oh, I don’t think he would go that far.’
‘I think he might. And if your father thought your life was in danger, I really think he would be prepared to give you what you want.’
Lord St. Clair looked at the ceiling and then at the floor and then, summoning up all his courage, he said, ‘I want you.’
She looked at him with affection and then said, ‘We’ll see. But I would seek out Perry and tell him about the planned sale and see what happens. He is actually not very clever, but he thinks he is and that is his weakness.’
‘No one is as clever as you, ma’am.’
‘Why, thank you, sir. And now you must go or my doubtful reputation will become even more doubtful.’
He got to his feet and said to throatily, ‘May I have a kiss?’
She rose as well. ‘Come here.’
He walked into her arms and held her close, feeling her warm lips against his own, comforting and caressing, and he wanted her more than anything else in the world.
* * *
The next day, Perry was dressing when he found to his surprise that St. Clair had called. ‘Show him up,’ he said to his manservant.
He did not turn around when his cousin entered the room. He did not have to. The cloud of scent which surrounded St. Clair’s body always advertised his arrival.
‘What do you want?’ demanded Perry ungraciously.
‘Lot of land at Mannerling,’ said St. Clair, slumping into a chair and admiring the glossy toes of his boots.
‘Yes, and in very good heart, too.’
‘Which means I should get a good price for it. Came to get your advice on how much I should ask.’
‘You cannot sell any of the Mannerling lands!’ cried Perry, his face flaming with shock and rage.
‘Course I can. It’s mine, ain’t it?’
‘Let’s see what your father has to say about this.’
‘Going to run to him, Mr. Tattle-Tale, are you? Well, for the moment, I’ll say you’re making it up to spite me. But when I’m wed, I’ll do as I please.’
‘Never!’ shouted Perry.
‘You cannot do anything about it,’ said St. Clair with a truly awful smirk.
Perry fought to control his temper. He must plot, he must plan.
Then his face cleared and he said evenly, ‘But you ain’t married and you’re not likely to be.’
Saint Clair was certainly not going to mention Mrs. Ingram. ‘You’re wrong,’ he said. ‘All I have to do is ask Belinda Beverley and she’ll say yes.’
Perry had been indulging in dreams of being
wed to Belinda, a fellow enthusiast when it came to Mannerling. Although he had been alarmed to mark how much time Gyre had spent with Belinda the night before, he had comforted himself with the thought that everyone knew Gyre was due to leave for the country. He would propose to Belinda Beverley himself that very afternoon.
To St. Clair’s surprise, his cousin, so enraged only a moment before, now began to look quite cheerful.
He hoped it was an act.
* * *
Perry drove Belinda in the Park late that afternoon. He decided to find out tentatively if he had a chance with her before approaching her mother. So he broke away from the throng in the circle and drove across the grass and reined in his team under a stand of trees.
‘What are we doing here?’ asked Belinda.
‘Do not be alarmed,’ said Perry. ‘I have something important to discuss with you. Saint Clair is threatening to sell off some of the Mannerling lands.’
‘He cannot!’ Belinda turned quite pale.
‘I agree he must be stopped. The only way he will get the earl’s approval to do as he pleases with Mannerling will be if he marries. Now, the only lady who is likely to accept him is you yourself.’
‘Then I shall refuse.’
‘Miss Beverley, dear Miss Beverley, Earl Durbridge will soon become weary of Toby Saint Clair and his antics and Mannerling will be mine—and yours, too—if you would marry me.’
Belinda quickly cast down her eyes. She was suddenly frightened of Perry. She remembered Mrs. Ingram’s warning that Perry was out to get Mannerling. Gyre had warned her of the same thing only the evening before.
‘Your proposal is very flattering, sir,’ she said. ‘You are supposed to approach my mother first, you know, to ask permission to pay your addresses. But it is as well you spoke to me first. I have no longer any interest in Mannerling.’
‘But only last night—’
‘I have come to my senses. I cannot let my life be ruled by a mere house.’
‘Mannerling is not a mere house.’
‘Shall we return, Mr. Vane? I am sorry to reject your flattering proposal, but reject it I must.’
‘It’s Gyre, isn’t it?’ he demanded wrathfully.
‘I am heart-free at the moment, sir, and glad of it. Now are you going to drive me home, or do I have to get down and walk?’
Perry drove her home in furious silence.
Belinda went immediately on her return to seek out Miss Trumble. She sat down and told her all that had happened.
When she had finished, Miss Trumble sat in silence for a few moments. Then she said, ‘I have a little story to tell you.’ She related how she had called at Mannerling before the arrival of the house party and what she had overheard Perry saying to the footman. ‘But the thing that puzzles me is Saint Clair’s intention to sell some of the Mannerling lands.’
‘Why? He is a greedy fop.’
‘A fop, yes, but greedy, no. Besides, even thinking about selling land causes some mental effort, and I would have thought Saint Clair too easygoing and careless a fellow to think of such a thing. Like Mr. Cater, who wanted Rachel as his bride only because he, too, was obsessed with Mannerling, Mr. Vane wants to present Mannerling with a suitable bride. This is madness, Belinda, and you must have nothing to do with it. I gather from Abigail that Gyre is to escort you to the opera this evening?’
‘Yes.’
‘He is a fine man. There, I will talk no more about him or you will think I am urging you to marry him. But watch out for Mr. Vane! I fear that man is dangerous.’
* * *
Another clever woman was listening to a tale about Mr. Vane at that very moment. ‘He is plotting something,’ said Mrs. Ingram. ‘Now, if
he were to propose to Belinda Beverley himself and be accepted, the earl might very well give him Mannerling as a wedding present.’
‘Perhaps it might be as well then to let them get on with it,’ said St. Clair.
‘But there is also the fear that your father might consider Mr. Vane a more suitable heir.’
‘Then what am I to do?’ demanded St. Clair, clutching his pomaded hair.
‘Propose to Belinda Beverley yourself.’
‘But I want you!’
‘We’ll see. But let’s force Mr. Vane’s hand.’
‘But how do I get out of marrying Belinda Beverley once I have proposed?’
And the normally intelligent and shrewd Mrs. Ingram made her first mistake. She had heard reports of Gyre’s interest in Belinda at the breakfast, and remembered the way Gyre had looked at the girl at the house party.
‘I think Miss Beverley will refuse you. You will then go to your father and tell him you have been turned down and your heart is broken. You will tell him that you might have been accepted except Perry no doubt had told Miss Beverley that Mannerling was as good as his.’
‘But why should La Beverley refuse me? Everyone knows she is desperate to get her hands on that wretched house.’
‘She is enamoured of Gyre and he of her. It is all the talk.’