A Country Miss in Hanover Square (23 page)

‘Toby told me that Northaven is not held to be a good marksman. It was likely that his shot would have gone wide—and then Harry would have fired in the air.’

‘But he might have killed him. I could not take that risk,’ Susannah said. ‘I love him too much…’ A little sob left her lips. ‘Is he very angry with me? Do you think he will wish to break off our engagement? I know my conduct was not what it ought to have been. I ought to have pre tended I knew nothing—but I could not. I love him too much.’

‘I do not know how he feels about what you did,’ Amelia replied. ‘However, I am perfectly certain Pendleton will not wish to break off the engagement. He has hardly left your bedside since he carried you up here.’

‘Harry has been here?’ Susannah stared at her in surprise. ‘Did Mama allow it? It was most improper for him to be in my room. I think Mama could not have been pleased?’

‘Your mama knew that if she forbade it, he would ignore her,’ Amelia said and laughed. ‘If you had doubts concerning his feelings for you, Susannah, you may forget them. I have never seen a man more in love than Harry Pendleton. He was beside himself when he thought you might die.’

‘Oh…’ Susannah blushed. ‘Do you think so? I have on occasion thought that my some times-reckless be ha vi our may have given him reason to regret his proposal.’

‘Pendleton admits to a temper,’ Amelia told her and looked thoughtful. ‘However, his own be ha vi our has shown that he is very much in love.’

‘He will still scold me,’ Susannah said. ‘I have caused so much anxiety and trouble.’

‘Yes, you have,’ Amelia agreed and laughed teasingly. ‘What you did was misguided, Susannah, but I do not think you will find that you are much censured. Indeed, I have heard you spoken of as being plucky and having a deal of spunk. I imagine Harry’s relatives believe him to be a lucky man to have inspired such devotion. No one has censured you in my hearing or your mama’s.’

Susannah blushed again, picking at the bedcover with restless fingers. ‘You had intended to leave before this,’ she said. ‘I am sorry, Amelia, I have kept you from your business.’

‘I wrote to Miss Emily Barton and put off our interview for one week,’ Amelia said. ‘I could not entertain the idea of leaving while you were still so ill. Miss Barton will under stand if she is the per son I think her.’

‘I have detained you and Harry’s friends, for they were to escort you home.’

‘Yes, they were. Indeed, Lord Coleridge still intends it,’ Amelia said, a strange look in her eyes. ‘However, the Earl of Ravenshead has had a letter, which means he must go to France.’

‘A letter from France—has he business there?’ Susannah looked at her curiously for she sensed that Amelia was holding her feelings in check. ‘He spoke to me of that country once.’

‘It appears that he has a daughter,’ Amelia replied in a tone that was carefully flat and devoid of emotion. ‘She has been fretting and unwell and he told me that he must go to her.’

‘A daughter? But I thought…’ Susannah saw the look on her friend’s face. Amelia was struggling with her emotions. ‘Harry did not know he had a wife.’

‘He does not,’ Amelia said. ‘It seems that the earl was married briefly during the war in Spain—a French lady, I believe. He rescued her from some troops after her escort had been shot. She had no one and he…married her. She died after the child was born and…the earl put the child into the care of a French family. How ever, she pines for him when he is absent.’

‘Oh…does that mean he intends to live in France?’ Susannah frowned, for she recalled his having mentioned some thing of the kind to her. She could not quite recall what he had said, but thought he might have considered living there for a time.

‘I believe he may not return to England for some months,’ Amelia told her. ‘But we should not be talking of this, Susannah. You need to rest and…it is not our affair after all.’

‘No, it is not,’ Susannah agreed. ‘I am so very sorry, Amelia. Did he say nothing else?’

‘What else should he say?’ Amelia glanced away, but Susannah could see a pulse flicking in her throat. ‘Anything that was between us is long for got ten, Susannah. I shall not allow myself to think of it again.’

‘Forgive me,’ Susannah said. ‘I have said too much. I did not wish to hurt you.’

‘You have not,’ Amelia replied and turned to face her. ‘Nothing has changed—I knew that there was no chance of…’ She got to her feet, her expression bleak. ‘Excuse me, I must tell your mama that you are awake. Everyone has been so anxious.’

Susannah lay back against the pillows, a single tear escaping to trickle down her cheek. She felt so sad for her friend, because she knew that, despite her brave words, Amelia was hurting all over again. She was still in love with the earl, even though she would not admit it.

‘Why has Harry not been to see me for two days?’ Susannah asked when her mama visited her that morning. ‘He popped in to say he was glad to see me recovered from the fever, but he did not stay and he has not come to visit me since then.’

‘He sent you those beautiful roses,’ Mrs Hampton said, indicating a vase on the dressing chest. ‘You must not expect him to visit now that you are recovering, dearest. While you were in the fever he sat with you, but it would not be proper for him to do so now that you are over the worst of it.’

‘Then I shall get up,’ Susannah told her. ‘I want to see him, Mama. I need to talk to him.’

‘The doctor says that you must stay in bed for at least another week, my love. Please do not be difficult, Susannah. You were very ill, and you told me only just now that your arm is still very sore.’

‘Yes, it does hurt,’ Susannah agreed, ‘but if Harry will not come to me, then I must go to him.’

‘You know that it is extremely improper for a gentleman to visit an unmarried lady in her bedroom, do you not?’

‘Yes, Mama, I know,’ Susannah replied, her mouth set stubbornly. ‘But if he does not come to visit me today, I shall get up.’

‘Well, I believe he is out on estate business at the moment,’ Mrs Hampton said and sighed. ‘However, I shall tell him when he re turns. It really is most improper, my love.’

‘Please do tell him, Mama,’ Susannah urged. ‘If he does not come, I shall dress and come down this evening.’

‘You are a trouble some girl at times,’ her mama said and shook her head in frustration. ‘But I suppose you must have your way.’

Susannah looked through the book of poetry that Amelia had given her before she left Pendleton, tossing it aside restlessly. It was almost teatime! If Harry did not come soon, she would be forced to carry out her threat and go down, even though she did not truly feel well enough. She was about to ring the bell and summon her maid to help her dress when someone tapped at her door.

‘Please come in,’ she called and sat up expectantly. ‘Harry…I am so glad you came!’ She smiled at him as he hesitated near the door. ‘Pray do come in. I am quite decent, for I have my dressing robe on.’

‘You are better, Susannah,’ Harry said as he walked towards the bed. ‘You know I ought not to be here now—though I dare say any damage was done before this. It is just as well that we are engaged, otherwise I should have had to propose if only to save your reputation. Your mama was very cross with me, you know.’

Susannah saw the gleam in his eyes and knew he was teasing her. She laughed and shook her head at him. ‘It is such a bore having to sit here, Harry. I have had lots of ladies to visit me, but I wanted to talk to you.’

‘Well, I am here now—what have you to say to me?’

‘I think I must apologise for all the trouble I have caused.’

Harry arched his right eyebrow. ‘Must you? Perhaps you should, for everyone was very anxious for you while the fever raged. We thought we might lose you. I must tell you that several of my family have severely reprimanded me for placing you in danger—and I could not blame them. I should never have forgiven myself if you had died.’

‘Would you have minded very much?’ Susannah looked at him, an unconscious appeal in her eyes.

‘I cannot tell you how much,’ Harry said and looked stern. ‘Why did you do such a foolish thing? Was it that you were afraid I should be killed?’

Susannah nodded, her cheeks on fire. ‘I know it was wrong of me, Harry—but I do love you so.’

‘I adore you, my brave, foolish darling,’ Harry said. He advanced towards the bed, sat on the edge and took her hand. ‘I was not sure if you liked Toby better, but he assures me that you are merely friends—and that he refused to tell you where the duel was. Tell me, how did you discover it, Susannah?’

‘I heard you say some thing as you came in that night—and then I listened at the library door, which was very bad of me, I know. I watched the direction you took that morning, and I asked Tim if there was a clearing in the woods. He told me which trail to follow and—’ She bit her lip. ‘Why did you not fire at once? I thought you would be killed and I could not bear it.’

‘So you risked your life for mine,’ Harry said. He carried her hand to his lips and kissed it, his look tender. ‘I am not sure that I deserve such devotion, Susannah. I must ask you to promise me that you will not take such a foolish risk again.’

‘I shall promise—if you promise not to fight another duel.’

‘I had to fight him, Susannah—not for Miss Hazledeane’s sake, but because he was my enemy and he might have tried to harm you if I had not challenged him.’

‘Oh…’ Susannah’s eyes widened. ‘I did not know—but I still do not wish you to fight again. I should not want to live if you were killed, Harry.’

‘Then I must give you my word—the word of a gentleman,’ Harry said. ‘For I feel much the same, my love.’

‘We are agreed,’ Susannah said. She tipped her head to one side, a gleam of mischief in her eyes. ‘When do you think I shall be ready to drive my horses again? You promised to give me a race. I trust you have not for got ten?’

‘No, I have not for got ten,’ Harry replied and laughed softly. ‘It will be some weeks before you are ready for such a mad adventure, my love. Your arm will be painful and stiff for some time. I think the race should wait until after the wedding—do you agree?’

‘Oh, yes,’ Susannah said and gave him a wicked look. ‘How soon can we be married?’

‘Amelia is making all the arrangements. We shall go down as soon as you are able to travel and the last banns may be called when we can attend the church.’

‘I cannot wait,’ Susannah said. ‘I shall get up tomorrow and per haps we can go down next week.’

‘If you are well enough to get up tomorrow, I shall show you my apartments at Pendleton,’ Harry said. ‘I would like to set any work in hand before we leave.’

‘Yes, I should like that,’ Susannah replied. She looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Tell me, do you think the Earl of Ravenshead will come back from France for our wedding?’

‘I do not know,’ Harry said and frowned. ‘I know what you are thinking, Susannah—but I cannot help you. I had no idea that Gerard had a daughter until a few days ago when the letter came summoning him to France. He will need to settle his daughter—and he will try to find Miss Hazledeane and make sure that she is safe, as safe as she can be in her cir cum stances. I doubt that he will find time to make the trip back for our wedding. We can hardly expect it.’

‘I see…’ Susannah sighed and looked wistful. ‘I just wondered. I do not mean to interfere, Harry. I have learned my lesson, and I know that there is nothing I can do.’

‘If they are destined to be together, they will,’ Harry said and leaned forwards to kiss her on the lips. ‘However, I am more concerned about you—about us, Susannah. Have you forgiven me for all the things I have done to hurt you?’

‘Yes, of course,’ she said and laughed. ‘You have done nothing but treat me kindly. It was my own fault that you were angry. I should have told you what I knew concerning Miss Hazledeane, for I should have known that you would treat her fairly. I think I must be a very trouble some girl to you at times, Harry.’

‘Oh, indeed, you are,’ he agreed. ‘But I would not have you otherwise.’

Susannah’s arm was still sore when she went downstairs the next morning. It was bound with a fresh bandage, but she wore a stole to cover it. Her appearance in the drawing room just before nuncheon caused a stir. None of the gentlemen had seen her since her unfortunate accident, and they rushed to set a chair for her, offering to bring her drinks and making such a fuss that Susannah laughed. Her fears that she might be censured for her rash be ha vi our were quite for got ten as she heard herself hailed as a plucky little thing and just what this family needed.

‘Harry is fortunate to have found a gel of the right mettle,’ Lady Ethel said in a voice that carried to everyone. ‘In my day we were not so mealy mouthed and I’ve known ladies to fight their own duels, my dear. In fact, I once challenged a man to a duel, but the coward would not meet me!’ Her eyes gleamed. ‘I was a whip in my day, you know, and a good shot. I raced Harry’s father round the park here once and I have some times shot pheasant with the gentlemen.’

‘Oh, I did not know,’ Susannah said, amazed at the revelations. ‘I do not think I should be as brave as you, ma’am, for I should not dare to challenge anyone to a duel—but I should like to race my horses once my arm is healed.’

‘You’ll be as fit as a fiddle in no time,’ the lady said with a nod of approval. ‘I’d wager a few guineas on you against almost any one, m’dear.’

‘Really, Ethel, you are outrageous,’ Lord Booker said, but winked at Susannah. ‘She is quite right, m’dear. Harry kept us waiting a long time, but he certainly knows how to pick a bride!’

Since most of the relatives that still remained at Pendleton seemed to feel the same, Susannah was able to enjoy her lunch with out embarrassment. However, every time she glanced across the table at Harry, she felt like laughing, so she was obliged to desist from glancing his way. However, once nuncheon was over, he claimed her for himself before anyone could ask her to play cards or sit in the gardens.

‘If you feel up to it, I should like to show you where we shall stay when we visit here, though you know that I have other houses where we may stay. I do not expect you to live here all the time, Susannah.’