The Saint and the Sinner (13 page)

“You’re as wise as your mother was, Miss Pandora,” Mrs. Meadowfield replied. “Many’s the time she said to me about your grandfather, ‘Let His Lordship think it’s his idea, Mrs. Meadowfield,’ and that’s exactly what I done. “

“And that is what you must do again,” Pandora said.

Mrs. Meadowfield looked round the room to see that everything was in order. Then she said,

“It’s here you belong, Miss Pandora, and that’s a fact. I’ve often said to my sister: ‘It’s not right Miss Pandora should be at Lindchester when her home’s here, so to speak.’”

Pandora kissed Mrs. Meadowfield on the cheek. “That is what Chart Hall, Chart village, and you will always be to me,” she said, “home!”

She went downstairs to find that because she had stopped to talk to Mrs. Meadowfield most of the party were there before her.

Kitty came rushing in just as the Earl was looking at the clock, with a frown between his eyes.

She was wearing an even more daring gown than she had worn the night before. There was a necklace of emeralds round her neck and emeralds in her hair.

She took the Earl’s arm in a possessive manner. “You are late!” he said uncompromisingly.

“What you should really say is that I’m worth waiting for,” Kitty replied.

She had covered herself with a strong, almost overwhelming perfume which Pandora could not help thinking clashed both with the fragrance of the flowers and the smell of lavender and beeswax which had always been a part of Chart.

They proceeded into dinner very much as they had the night before, and once again she found herself beside Sir Gilbert.

Last night she had been afraid of him, but tonight she told herself that she had a new confidence and would not allow him to be tiresome.

They were a much smaller party and there were fewer ornaments on the table, but it had been decorated with flowers and Pandora guessed that it was a sign from the gardeners that they too were pleased with the changes.

She felt sure that Michael Farrow would re-employ Mary’s father and wondered if perhaps he had done so already, which would certainly account for the flowers.

“You are like a flower yourself,” Sir Gilbert said as he followed the direction of her eyes.

“I personally think people are more like animals,” Pandora retorted, just to be argumentative.

“If that is so, then you are an elusive little fawn like the ones I have seen in the park,” Sir Gilbert said. “They are alluring little creatures, once you have tamed them.”

Pandora pretended not to hear what he said, but she knew it was going to be a difficult dinner, and she was not mistaken.

Sir Gilbert tried to make love to her and everything she said, however commonplace, he managed somehow to twist into a compliment.

She realised he was very experienced but she was sure that any ordinary man would have become bored or even affronted by her snubbing replies to such ardent remarks. But not Sir Gilbert! He continued plaguing her until she was thankful when the meal came to an end.

“Would you like to take the ladies to the Salon, Pandora?” the Earl asked.

Pandora rose to her feet, but Kitty cried,

“We’re not going to leave you to drink your port until you’re under the table. Either you come with us or we’ll stay with you!”

“Oh, come on, Kitty! Be a sport,” Freddie said. “We want a glass of port and you are not having any after what it did to you last night.”

“I’m drinking nothing but champagne,” Kitty answered, “but I’m staying with Norvin, whatever you may say.

She glared at Pandora as she added,

“Or whoever else tries to give orders – being in no position to do so!”

“I will tell Burrows to bring the brandy into the Salon,” the Earl said. “Perhaps Kitty is right and we should do better without port tonight.”

“That has spoilt my evening!” Freddie exclaimed. “But perhaps I will be able to make up for it tomorrow.”

“I dare say you will manage to do that,” Clive said. “If ever there was a three-bottle man – or should it be a five-bottle man? – that is you, Freddie!”

“Norvin’s cellars can stand it,” Freddie said quite unabashedly.

They all moved in a body towards the Salon, where to Pandora’s surprise she found that there were card-tables laid out.

“We’re going to gamble – good!” Hettie exclaimed. “I hope Clive can afford your losses,” Kitty said spitefully. “It cost him a fortune the other night.”

“I won quite a bit back the next night,” Hettie retorted.

To her relief, Pandora heard Sir Gilbert having a wager with Freddie as to who would draw an ace first.

As she had no wish to gamble and no money to gamble with, she certainly did not want anyone to sponsor her and so she slipped through one of the long windows out onto the terrace.

It was a warm night without a breath of wind and the sky was the beautiful translucent glow of pink that comes just before the dusk.

Pandora thought as she moved down the steps onto the green lawn that there was nowhere in the world that could be as lovely as Chart.

The lake was like a silver mirror reflecting the golden kingcups and the white water-lilies floating on their flat, green leaves.

She could smell the night-scented stock, the roses, and the honeysuckle, which seemed more fragrant than she remembered them.

She walked down to the lake to stand listening to the croak of the frogs and the noise of the crickets.

Overhead she heard the first high note of a bat and she felt that they all spoke to her and she was a part of them.

“Mrs. Meadowfield is right,” she told herself. “This is where I belong, where in fact I have always belonged.”

She thought that even if she never saw Chart Hall or the village again, part of her would remain here, a part of her heart and mind, which she could never forget.

She was so intent on her thoughts that she did not hear anyone approach until a voice she disliked said suavely,

“I have found you, my elusive lady! I had a feeling you might be here.”

Sir Gilbert broke the spell and Pandora looked towards him angrily.

“I came out here because I want to be alone,” she said.

“And I came because I want to be with you.”

“If I am being elusive it is because I have no wish to listen to anything you have to say to me,” Pandora answered. “You may think it is rude, but I am telling the truth.”

Sir Gilbert laughed.

“I find you different from anyone I have ever known, and it is quite entrancing. You attract me, little Pandora, and I have no intention of leaving you alone.”

He moved and Pandora anticipated that he intended to put his arms round her. She tried to escape, but it was too late.

He pulled her against him and she started to struggle desperately, but realised that she was very ineffectual against his strength.

He drew her closer and still closer, and now he bent his head and his lips were seeking hers.

Pandora gave a little cry of alarm because the touch of him revolted her and the idea of his kissing her made her feel disgusted.

Then as she turned her face from side to side Sir Gilbert ceased seeking her mouth and instead picked her up in his arms.

“We will go somewhere a little more secluded,” he said. “Then I will teach you not to be defiant.”

He spoke in a tone of satisfaction. At the same time, Pandora sensed that she had excited him.

He held her with one arm imprisoned against his chest, and the other was beneath the arm with which he encircled her.

“Put me down!” she cried. “How dare you ... behave like this! I hate you ... do you hear? I hate you!”

“I will teach you to love me,” Sir Gilbert replied, and let me tell you, Pandora, I am a very experienced teacher.”

“Let me go! Where are you taking me? Let me go!” Pandora cried again.

She knew he had no intention of doing anything of the sort, and he was carrying her into the bushes at the side of the lake.

The grass was thick there and he put her down on the ground. Then, when she would have scrambled away, he threw himself on top of her.

Now with a scream of terror she pushed both her hands against his chest. But he lifted her chin with his fingers and she knew that nothing she could do would be effective and she was helpless.

She screamed again, and as he looked down at her she saw the fire in his eyes and knew he was savouring the moment when he would silence her cries.

Someone pushed through the shrubs, and the next moment, almost before Pandora could realise what was happening, Sir Gilbert was jerked backwards by a strong hand at the neck of his evening coat.

Pandora knew it was the Earl, and she felt a relief that was indescribable sweep over her because he was there and because he had saved her.

“What the hell do you think you are doing?” she heard him ask angrily.

He released Sir Gilbert and as he stumbled to his feet the Earl added,

“I thought you were gentleman enough to leave my cousin alone after I spoke to you last night.”

“Why should I leave her alone?” Sir Gilbert asked furiously. “You have your fun and I want mine.”

“Not with my cousin!”

“I will not be ordered about by you!” Sir Gilbert retorted.

Without any warning he hit out at the Earl, and would have smashed into the side of his face if the Earl had not seen the blow coming and moved with a fraction of a second to spare.

However, the blow caught him on his shoulder and he staggered.

Then his fists were up and he struck back at Sir Gilbert in a manner which told Pandora that he was an experienced pugilist.

Sir Gilbert, however, was experienced too, and in a moment they had moved out from the shelter of the shrubs and onto the lawn.

They fought furiously, but managed to parry each other’s blows, until suddenly, unexpectedly, the Earl broke through Sir Gilbert’s guard and caught him on the point of the chin.

The older man staggered backwards, and as they were now fighting on the edge of the lake, he slipped on the reeds which bordered it and slowly tipped into the water.

Only as Pandora and the Earl stood watching him, almost fascinated, did the sound of clapping make them both turn in surprise to find that Freddie, Clive, and Richard had been watching them.

“Damned good, Norvin!” Freddie ejaculated. “I had no idea you could be so pugnacious!”

“I learnt in a hard school,” the Earl replied briefly.

He walked forward as he spoke and pulled Sir Gilbert out of the water.

He was for the moment unconscious, but now as he shook his head and started spluttering and spitting, the other men ran forward to give him a hand to get him to his feet.

“It was a cursed good fight!” Clive exclaimed.

“And now that you have both got it out of your system, I think we all need a drink.”

The Earl held out his hand.

“No hard feelings, Gilbert, and I assure you, I did not mean you to drown.”

Sir Gilbert pushed back his hair from his forehead, but he ignored the Earl’s hand. He merely looked at him with an expression in his eyes that was one of hatred.

“I demand satisfaction from you, Chartwood!” he said. “And, by God, I intend to have it!”

There was silence after he had spoken. Then Freddie said,

“Oh, come on, Gilbert, be a sport. It was a fair fight and there is no doubt that Norvin won.”

“We will fight again tomorrow morning,” Sir Gilbert said.

“Are you really proposing a duel?” the Earl enquired. “God Almighty, Gilbert, the whole affair is over. I am quite prepared to say I am sorry I was so rough with you.”

“Are you too cowardly to behave like a gentleman?” Sir Gilbert asked aggressively.

“I do not intend to be called a coward!” the Earl retorted.

“Very well, six o’clock tomorrow,” Sir Gilbert said. “Clive, I ask you to be one of my seconds, and as I do not intend to sleep in this house tonight, Trentham will provide me with another.”

“You cannot be serious!” Freddie protested.

With a dignity which was somehow commendable considering that he was both wet and humiliated, Sir Gilbert walked back alone towards the house.

They stood in silence and watched him go, until Freddie exclaimed,

“I’ll be damned. I had no idea he was that sort!” For the first time Pandora spoke.

“You must not – fight a duel,” she said to the Earl. “It is – very wrong and it might be – dangerous. “

“It will be dangerous if Gilbert has anything to do with it,” Clive said. “He has a nasty reputation for picking duels with inexperienced young men.”

“Well, I am not inexperienced,” the Earl said sharply. “Freddie and Richard – you will act for me.”

“I have no wish to be Gilbert’s second,” Clive said.

“You have no choice,” the Earl answered. “We will meet at six o’clock. I suppose it had better be in the park. We do not want the gardeners as spectators.”

“Can nobody – stop this?” Pandora pleaded pathetically.

Nobody answered her for a moment. Then, as if Clive understood what she was feeling, he said quietly:

“It is an affair of honour. I should not say anything to the other women. They will only make a fuss.

“No – of course – not,” Pandora agreed.

She looked at the Earl and wanted to tell him how grateful she was to him for saving her. At the same time, she had never envisaged that anything like this would happen.

She could hardly believe that he was to fight a duel because of her.

“I am sorry! I am sorry!” she wanted to tell him, but he was walking away in a manner which told them all that he wished to be alone.

He did not go back to the house but disappeared into the garden.

Forlornly and in silence Pandora and the men walked back towards the lighted windows of the house.

Chapter Five

As soon as Pandora and the three men entered the Salon from the terrace, Kitty cried out in a furious voice:

“Where the hell’ve you all been? And where’s Norvin? I told you to bring him back with you.”

“We could not find him,” Freddie answered, “but I expect he will turn up in a moment or two.”

“There’s something funny going on here,” Kitty said disagreeably, “and I don’t like it!”