A Shameful Secret (8 page)

* * * *

Paul frowned as he set out that morning. His attempts to persuade some memory from the widow Stern had met with little success. She had been willing to tell him anything she knew, but unfortunately her husband had kept his business separate and she knew nothing other than that he was frightened of a gentleman with whom he had had some dealings.

“He did say as he wished he’d never done it, but he took the gentleman’s money and he was caught in a trap. I think he did something bad, sir, and that’s why he was in trouble.” She looked at Paul in distress. “If I knew I would surely tell you, sir, for I am sorrowed to think that my poor husband went to his grave a sinner.”

Paul refrained from telling her the truth, for the poor woman had more than enough to grieve her. He gave her some money, thanked her, and set out for Bath once more. He did not know why, but he had a feeling he was needed there and decided to make all speed.

* * * *

Because of Paul’s decision to return to Bath immediately, Hester’s hopes were rewarded sooner than she might have hoped. She saw his commanding figure as soon as she entered the Assembly Rooms the next evening. He came up to her shortly after she and Charlotte arrived.

“Miss Weston.” His eyes were dark with anger, and she knew that Geraldine must have told him of the incident at the abbey ruins. “I believe I owe you a debt of gratitude.”

“No, indeed, sir. What I did was for Geraldine’s sake.” Her relief showed plainly as she gazed up at him. “You have no idea how pleased I am to see you here this evening. I have been anxious for Geraldine, but now I believe I may be easier in my mind.”

“You may certainly leave this sordid affair in my hands. Mortimer will not insult my cousin again.”

“I was sure that everything would be more comfortable once you returned, sir.” Hester’s eyes were warm with trust and belief in his power to protect his cousin.

Paul felt a jolt of extreme pleasure as he saw the manner in which she looked at him. She had always shown a certain reserve while in his company thus far, but had dropped the barrier in her concern for Geraldine. Her warmth and sincerity had an appeal that awoke a long-suppressed need in him. Never before had he felt such tenderness towards a young lady. His mistresses had amused and aroused him, giving him a sharp, sweet pleasure in the bedroom but fleetingly so that he was able to dismiss them after they had gone, but this emotion flooding him now was something so very different that he hardly knew how to cope with it. He knew an urgent desire to hold her close, to feel the warmth of her flesh and touch the silk of her skin, to kiss her sweet lips and mould the curves of her lovely body to him. His need ached deep in his loins, but beneath that was a longing for something else, something he had never experienced before.

“Geraldine tells me that your parasol was quite ruined.” There was humor in his eyes as he teased her. “You were very brave, Miss Weston. I confess I should have liked to be there to witness the rout.”

“I was exceedingly angry,” Hester replied with an answering smile. “Geraldine was upset, and she could have been harmed. She might even have been abducted had I not decided to follow her.”

“It is her godmother’s legacy of course,” Paul said. “Geraldine may not have mentioned it, for she does not care to brag about her good fortune, but she will inherit a sizeable fortune when she marries. I know that the Mortimer estate is in debt, though not desperate to my knowledge. However, I dare say Richard Mortimer has expensive tastes.”

“No, she did not tell me herself,” Hester said, “but I have been given hints. I think you are right. It may be that the viscount hoped to ruin her reputation so that she would be forced to wed him.”

“That is very likely his intent, and he may have other reasons for his behavior.” Paul shook his head as Hester raised his brows at her. “No, but I could not send my cousin’s husband to the gallows, which is my intended fate for Mortimer if he is guilty of the crime I believe he was a party to.”

“You have found the proof you sought?”

“Unfortunately not,” Paul replied. “Someone made sure I could not question the man who might have told me. Yet, I have not lost hope of bringing the culprit to justice. I know he is guilty of the deaths of some of my men. It may have been the result of greed or there may be a more serious purpose behind what was done. I have sworn to bring the perpetrator to justice, and one day I shall do so. I have not the least doubt of that.”

“I wish you good fortune with your mission, sir.”

Paul's gaze narrowed for she seemed to shiver.

“Have no fear, Miss Weston. Mortimer will not attempt another abduction.”

“You will be careful, sir?”

“You must not be anxious for my sake, Miss Weston.” His expression lightened, became warmer as he saw that she was indeed anxious for him, and the knowledge made him suddenly lighthearted. “And now we have spoken of this wretched business for long enough. Will you dance?”

“Willingly, sir,” Hester said and gave him her hand.

A smiling Henry Blackwater greeted Hester on her way to the lending library the next morning. He looked extremely handsome in a coat of blue superfine that moulded to his powerful shoulders, a striped waistcoat, and a cravat that could only be described as artistry. It fell in beautifully arranged folds that must have taken either him or his valet endless trouble to arrange.

“Miss Weston,” he said sweeping off his tall crowned beaver hat and making her an elegant leg. “How charming you look this morning.”

Hester blushed and disclaimed, thinking that of the two of them he had the better claim. She was wearing a light blue gown under a pelisse of grey velvet, for it was cooler that morning, and her bonnet of matching velvet trimmed with silk roses—but only the bonnet was new.

“You flatter me, sir, but it is very kind of you.”

“Who would be anything but kind to you, Miss Weston?”

Hester could think of several people who had been less than kind to her in the past, but she merely smiled and shook her head. Mr. Blackwater would make some fortunate young lady a kind and considerate husband, she thought. Had she been free to marry, she might have been happy as his wife, though he did not make her heart leap as did another gentleman of her acquaintance. However, it would be foolish to think of marriage at all. Her father had forbidden it, and her mother would never relent.

“Have you been invited to Lady Jersey’s ball?” Hester asked, deciding to steer the conversation to safer waters. “Countess Danbury has heard a whisper that the Prince Regent may attend.”

“Is Prinny visiting Bath?” Henry looked sceptical. “He seldom bothers, for he prefers Brighton or London, and who can blame him? It will surprise me if he shows, but I may be wrong. Have you never met him, Miss Weston?”

“I have been to neither London nor Brighton,” Hester said feeling awkward. He would wonder why, and she would have to lie to satisfy his curiosity. Happily, he did not question her further.

“Perhaps you prefer the beauties of the countryside to the rattle of empty-headed society,” he said with a teasing look. “How wise you are. I sometimes think all this coming and going a waste of time.”

Hester laughed and shook her head. “No, no, I am sure a London season must be delightful. I was to have had one when I was eighteen, but unfortunately things happened to prevent it.”

“Then you would not mind dividing your time between the country and town in the right circumstances?” His eyes were intent as they rested on her face, making Hester feel very warm. His manner was so particular that she could not help thinking he was considering making her an offer at some future date.

“Given the right circumstances I imagine it would be very pleasant,” she replied, hoping that her words would give him pause for thought. “But I do not see it happening in the near future.” With a feeling of relief, she saw Geraldine and Lucinda walking to meet her. He had seen them too and tipped his hat once more.

“I shall leave you now,” he said and nodded to the other ladies. “But I hope to see you at my aunt’s little affair tomorrow?”

“Yes, indeed, sir, we look forward to it,” she said, for she liked him well enough as a companion. “I have heard Lucinda mention it twice. Please, excuse me now.”

She walked forward to greet her friends with smiles and kisses. Both Lucinda and Geraldine had come to do some shopping and to return their books to the library.

“I have worn out three pairs of dancing slippers since we arrived,” Geraldine said and laughed. Hester was pleased to see that the shadow that had hung over her for some days was quite gone. Clearly, she had decided that her cousin would take care of her problem. “I saw some very pretty ones last week in that French shop, and I have decided to purchase them.”

“And I want some evening gloves and a new bonnet,” Lucinda said, tossing her pretty ringlets.

“I have been thinking of buying some new slippers,” Hester said. “It will be fun to buy them together, for we may try on everything at the milliners without spending a fortune.” Thanks to Charlotte, Hester was not short of pin money, but she knew that the other girls had doting mothers who spared no expense in the matter of their daughters’ clothes. She had vowed not to take undue advantage of her cousin’s generosity and had limited her spending as best she could.

However, neither of the other girls was vain or spiteful, and Hester had never been made to feel that she was less fortunate than they were. So she joined them on their shopping trip and enjoyed watching them buy the pretty trifles they chose.

Geraldine bought three pairs of dancing slippers, while Lucinda contented herself with two pairs of white gloves and a pretty bonnet with pink silk ribbons. Hester purchased a pair of black dancing slippers. She tried on several bonnets but declared that she could find nothing to please her, though there was a green velvet one that she secretly coveted. However, she declined to purchase it, for she did not wish to ask her cousin for more money. She was content to be with her friends and happy to be able to buy her slippers.

It was on their way to the Pump Room to meet up with Lady Holbeach and Charlotte that they met Josh Farnham and Captain Crawford. Hester’s heart gave a sudden surge as Paul smiled at her, and she became aware of feeling slightly breathless.

“Good morning, ladies,” Josh said. “I see you have been shopping. I trust you bought that bonnet we saw, Lucinda? I believe it will suit you.”

“Yes, indeed, I could not resist it,” she replied and dimpled as she gazed up at him.

Hester, Geraldine, and Captain Crawford walked ahead as the engaged couple lingered behind. At Paul’s suggestion, they all went together to a popular hotel to partake of the delicious cakes and coffee on offer there. Geraldine excused herself to visit the ladies rest room, and Hester was momentarily alone with Captain Crawford as they waited for the others to catch up with them.

“I must tell you that a certain gentleman has left Bath rather hurriedly. I believe he may have heard that I was looking for him,” Paul said with a slight grimace. “I think we shall not see him for a while.”

“I can imagine he might feel it beneficial to his health to remove himself for the time being,” Hester said, her eyes wide and serious as she looked at him. “I am content that we shall be relieved of his presence and that Geraldine is safe from his attentions. I believe she has had no more of those wretched letters.”

“It may only be a brief reprieve,” Paul said. “One day the opportunity for a reckoning will arise between us.”

“Yes, I expect it may. . . .” Hester’s heart jerked at the thought, for she could not bear the idea of his life being at risk. “But you will take care I hope?”

“I am flattered that you should care for my welfare, Miss Weston.” There was a smile in his voice, a deep caress in his eyes as they dwelled on her anxious face.

Hester blushed as she saw his eyebrows lift. How strangely odd her heart behaved when he teased her. She felt much like a giddy lamb in spring and wanted to leap for pure joy as they did when very young.

“I believe we have become friends, sir. Naturally I should not wish harm to come to you.”

“Naturally. I should be very distressed if anything were to harm you, Miss Weston.” His words were said teasingly, but something in his manner made her heart race. However, she could not reply for Lucinda, Josh, and Geraldine were all converging on them.”

“Do you go to Lady Jersey’s dance, Captain Crawford?” she asked, her cheeks a little pink.

“Yes, I believe so,” he replied. “I have decided that my business will wait. It behooves me to remain in Bath for the moment to keep an eye on Josh.”

His words were for the benefit of his companions, but Hester suspected that he intended to stay for Geraldine’s sake—and perhaps her own. For a moment, she dared to hope, though in the next she recalled her shame. She must not allow herself to look for the happiness of being his wife. It could never be. The pain struck deep into the heart of her, and it was all she could do not to cry out.

Paul’s eyes were on her face. She knew that he was sensitive to her mood and would understand that something had distressed her. Yet, how could she ever tell him the truth? To do so would cause him to turn from her in disgust, and that she could not bear.