Disgrace and Desire (23 page)

‘There will be a notice in tomorrow’s newspapers, announcing that the engagement has been terminated,’ he said. ‘In the circumstances I do not think anyone will be surprised. Lady Allyngham will not dishonour her late husband’s memory by
marrying a cheat.’ He fixed Sir Ronald with a steady look. ‘You have no hold over the lady now, Deforge.’

Sir Ronald stared at him.

‘What have you done?’ he ground out, his chin jutting pugnaciously.

Jack merely smiled. Two burly footmen appeared behind Sir Ronald and Lord Keworth said coldly, ‘I would be obliged if you would leave my house immediately, Deforge. You will not touch the money lying on the table,’ he added, as Sir Ronald glanced towards it. ‘I do not need to tell you that you are no longer welcome here.’

An expectant silence hung over the room. Eloise found herself stiff with tension as Sir Ronald cast a venomous glare in her direction. She returned his look with a haughty stare until at last he looked away. One of the footmen put a hand upon his shoulder and with a snarl Sir Ronald shook him off. He straightened his coat and headed for the door. As he passed Eloise he stopped and turned towards her, his eyes menacing. Immediately Jack stepped in, as if to shield her.

‘Just go, Deforge. If you have not left town by the morning it will give me very great pleasure to call you out!’

Eloise caught her breath. The two men glared at one another for a long, angry moment before Sir Ronald turned and flung himself out of the room. Jack turned back to her, the angry light in his eyes replaced by something much softer. He said quietly, ‘It is over, my lady. Now you may be easy…’

She struggled to concentrate. His voice seemed to be coming from a great distance. Blackness was closing around her. The last thing she saw was Jack’s face smiling at her before the darkness overwhelmed her and she fainted.

Jack did not hesitate. As Eloise began to fall he swept her up into his arms.

‘Ah, poor thing,’ exclaimed Lady Keworth. ‘Bring her this
way, Major, into my sitting room.’ She led Jack out of the salon and across the landing to a small, cosily furnished parlour. ‘I will have the fire banked up…’

‘No, thank you,’ said Jack, gently laying his precious burden on a chintz-covered daybed and sitting down on the edge. ‘I think it was the heat in the salon that caused Lady Allyngham to faint. It is quite warm enough in here.’

Alex appeared in the doorway.

‘Is she all right?’

Lady Keworth hovered over the daybed.

‘Lady Allyngham will be very well, I am sure. Perhaps you would like to leave her with me…’

‘No!’ Jack softened his first, instinctive response by directing a charming smile at his hostess. ‘I feel responsible for Lady Allyngham, I shall look after her.’ He pulled off her gloves and began to chafe her hands. ‘But perhaps a glass of water?’

‘Yes, yes, of course.’

Alex stood aside to allow Lady Keworth to hurry away.

‘I did not see,’ he said, stepping into the room. ‘Did Deforge attack her?’

‘No, she has fainted, nothing more,’ said Jack, not looking up. ‘Is he gone now?’

‘Aye. Keworth’s men showed him to the door. He was looking as black as thunder, as well he might. No one will receive him after this night’s work.’ He glanced down. ‘She’s stirring.’

Jack felt the little hands tremble and his own grip tightened.

‘Be easy,’ he murmured. ‘You are safe now.’

She looked up at him, her eyes as dark as sapphires. Her fingers clung to his and only the knowledge that Alex was in the room prevented him from pulling her into his arms.

‘Aye,’ said Alex, coming to stand beside him. ‘It is over, Elle. Deforge is finished.’

Lady Keworth bustled back into the room with a glass of water.

‘Well, my dear, I am so glad to see you have come round,’ she said. ‘Such a fright you gave us, but I am sure you will be better now.’

Eloise struggled to sit up. Jack went to rise but her slender fingers clung to his hand so he remained perched on the edge of the daybed.

Lady Keworth held out the glass. ‘There, my dear. Are you sure there is nothing else I can do for you; shall I summon a doctor?’

Eloise’s fingers were shaking when she took the glass and Jack immediately reached out to help her, putting his hand over hers to steady it. She cast a swift, grateful look in his direction before turning to address Lady Keworth.

‘Thank you, ma’am. I am sure I shall be very well, if I may only rest here quietly for a little while.’

The lady hovered uncertainly.

‘I shall look after Lady Allyngham, ma’am,’ said Jack again. ‘I am sure you want to return to your guests, they will be growing anxious.’

‘Well…’ Lady Keworth hesitated and Alex stepped up.

‘Indeed, ma’am, we should go: so much excitement—we would not wish it to spoil your card party. You may be easy, madam; before he died at Waterloo, the late Lord Allyngham consigned his wife to Major Clifton’s care.’ He held out his arm to her. ‘Let us leave them now, I am sure they have much to discuss!’ He looked back over his shoulder as he escorted the lady from the room, giving Jack a grin and the suggestion of a wink.

‘
I
thank Providence for Alex Mortimer,’ said Jack, unable to suppress a smile. ‘I thought our hostess would never go away. He has closed the door upon us, too. I fear your reputation will be ruined after this, madam, unless you agree to marry me.’ He turned to Eloise, but his smile quickly disappeared when he saw her pale cheeks and the stricken look in her eyes. He said quickly, ‘Dearest heart, what is it?’

She shook her head.

‘Please, do not call me that!’

He took the glass from her shaking hands and placed it on a small side table.

‘Now, Elle,’ he said, taking her in his arms. ‘What is all this?’

She put her hands against his chest to hold him off.

‘I c-cannot marry you!’

‘No?’ He let her go and she turned away, hunting for her handkerchief. Silently he handed her his own.

‘No. At least,’ she muttered, dabbing at her eyes, ‘not until you know the truth about me.’

He smiled.

‘I know everything I need to know about you.’

She choked back a sob. How was she ever to explain it to him? He put his hands on her shoulders and she jumped, moving to the far end of the sofa.

‘Please,’ she said quickly, ‘do not touch me, not until I have t-told you.’

‘There is no need—’

‘But there is!’ she cried. ‘I w-would have no secrets from you, Jack, not any more. But once you know everything I am very much afraid you will want nothing more to do with me.’ She turned back towards him, her hands clasped so tightly the knuckles gleamed white. ‘I must tell you. I could not bear for you to find out in the future and…and hate me.’

‘I could never hate you.’ He reached out and took her hands. He said quietly, ‘Elle, if this is about Allyngham and Alex, I know. Alex told me everything.’

‘He did? But…when?’

‘The night we broke into Deforge’s house. I was determined to leave town. I told Alex that if you would not trust me then I wanted nothing further to do with you. So he told me what you would not—what you felt you could nott—out of loyalty to your husband and your friend. After all it was their secret, was it not?’

She gazed at him wide-eyed.

‘You are not…outraged?’

He smiled at her.

‘Despite your reputation, my lady, you really have led quite a sheltered life. No. I was not scandalised to learn that Alex and your husband were lovers.’

‘But…in the eyes of the law it is a criminal offence—men can be hanged for it.’ She squeezed his fingers, not sure that he understood her. ‘Lives have been ruined, reputations lost—Tony and Alex were so careful to protect their secret. Tony
knew his name would be disgraced for ever if the truth came out—no respectable person could ever acknowledge him.’

‘Then perhaps I am not quite so respectable as you think me,’ replied Jack, smiling slightly. ‘Alex’s disclosure did not shock me. I was more shocked to learn that you had married Allyngham to protect them both. Mortimer said that you are very loyal and he is right, is he not? A little too loyal, perhaps. You were prepared, nay, willing, to be thought fast—a wanton widow indeed!—rather than have anyone suspect the truth.’

She bowed her head.

‘I am glad Alex told you,’ she said quietly. ‘I did not want to betray him, or Tony. But neither could I let you marry me without you knowing the truth.’

‘Thank you,’ he said, giving her a smile that tugged at her heart. ‘Once I knew you were a maid I suspected the affairs in the journal might be Allyngham’s rather than yours, but I was at a loss to know why you would not trust me with the secret, until Mortimer explained it all.’

‘I am so very sorry.’

‘Elle, you have done nothing wrong,’ he said quietly. ‘You were merely protecting those you loved.’ Jack squeezed her hands. ‘What a burden for you to carry! I admire your loyalty towards Tony and Alex, my dear.’

She bit her lip.

‘I seem to have spent my life looking after them,’ she murmured.

‘And now I am going to look after
you,’
he told her, smiling. ‘Tony said that you deserved better, I didn’t understand him at the time, but now, I hope I can be a worthy husband for you. I shall obtain a special licence: we can be married and away from London within a se’ennight, what do you say to that?’

‘It—it sounds delightful, if you are sure you still want to marry me.’

‘It would be an honour to marry Tony Allyngham’s widow,’ he told her solemnly.

She closed her eyes, suddenly exhausted by the events of the evening. Jack leaned forwards and kissed her cheek.

‘Poor love, you look very tired. I should take you home.’

She nodded.

‘Yes, if you please.’

‘Wait here, then. I must find Alex and tell him we are leaving. And I must speak with our hosts.’ He gave her a rueful smile. ‘It may take some time: you will not mind being left alone here?’

‘No, I shall be well enough, but please, be as quick as you can!’

Alone in Lady Keworth’s elegant sitting room, Eloise reclined upon the daybed, her arms folded over her stomach. She was aware of a little seed of happiness inside her, but she was afraid to allow it to grow too much. She was very weary, but she did not want to sleep, only to lie still and go over in her mind all that Jack had said to her. He knew the truth and he still wanted to marry her. She went back over his words again. He cared for her, he desired her, she knew that, but at no time had he told her loved her. She hugged herself a little tighter. Perhaps, given time, he might grow to love her for her own sake, and not just as his comrade’s widow.

A light scratching on the door made her sit up.

‘Come in.’

A liveried footmen stepped into the room. He carried her blue silk cloak over his arm.

‘If it please your ladyship, Major Clifton is waiting for you with the carriage.’

She rose and followed him out of the door, throwing her wrap over her shoulders.

‘This way, madam.’ He pointed to the backstairs. ‘The major thought you might like to leave by the side door, rather than go out through the main salon.’

‘Of course.’ She followed the servant down the stairs, smiling to herself. How thoughtful of Jack to know she would not wish to speak to anyone.

The side door stood open and she could see her carriage drawn up on the street, the flickering streetlamps illuminating the Allyngham crest on the door. A fine drizzle was falling and Eloise threw her hood up over her hair. The footman went out before her, opened the door and handed her into the waiting carriage. Almost before she had climbed in the door was closed behind her and the carriage pulled away with a jerk, toppling her on to the seat.

‘Goodness, Herries is eager to get home tonight!’ she laughed, addressing the figure lounging in the far corner of the carriage.

Her laughter died and a cold, sick dread came over her as Sir Ronald Deforge leaned forwards.

‘I, too, am very eager, my lady, but we are not going to Dover Street.’

Eloise shrank back into the corner of the carriage.

‘How did you get here? Where are my people?’

‘Trussed up in an alleyway, along with one of Keworth’s lackeys. We needed his livery.’

‘So the footman was one of your hirelings.’ Her lip curled. ‘I did not think you would stoop so low.’

‘I have not resorted to housebreaking,’ he retorted. ‘Do not look so innocent, my lady: I gather from Clifton’s words that you have somehow managed to retrieve Allyngham’s journal.’

‘Yes,’ she said defiantly. ‘It is destroyed. You have no further hold over me.’

He laughed gently and a shiver of fear ran down her spine.

‘Since you are here now, I think I have quite a substantial hold over you, madam.’

Eloise bit her lip, her eyes sliding towards the carriage door. Sir Ronald said coldly, ‘If you are thinking of leaping out, my dear, let me assure you that it will not help you: you might easily break a limb in the process and in any event my men would catch you and bring you back immediately.’

‘Where are you taking me?’

‘To Redlands, a little property of mine near Thatcham. It belonged to my late wife—all that remains of her not inconsiderable fortune. Being a gambler is an expensive business, my dear: I need the Allyngham fortune to replenish my own.’

‘So you have abducted me,’ she said, her voice heavy with anger. ‘When it is discovered that my servants have been attacked and I am missing, everyone will guess you are the culprit.’

‘But that may not be for some time, madam, and how are they to know where we have gone? We shall be at Redlands in a few hours: the rector there owes his living to me: I have the special licence in my pocket.’ She saw his evil grin appear. ‘We shall have our wedding today, as planned.’

‘I will never marry you!’

‘Oh I think you will, madam,’ he said softly. ‘And you will learn to please me, if you do not want me to hand you over to my stable hands for their plaything.’

‘You will not get away with this,’ she retorted. ‘When they come after me—’

‘They!’ He gave a cold, cruel laugh. ‘Who do you think will put themselves out to chase after you, madam? Mortimer
is not fit to ride, and as for the rest, do you think they care what happens to a woman with a reputation such as yours? That leaves only Major Clifton, and what can one man do against myself and the three fellows travelling on the top? You have overplayed your hand, my lady: the
ton
will say that the Wanton Widow has received no more than she deserves!’

Eloise glared across the carriage at Sir Ronald, who lounged carelessly in his corner. Perhaps he was right and the
ton
would leave her to her fate. She had no doubt that Jack would try to find her, but even if he had Alex to help him how long might that take?

Sir Ronald rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘And yet Major Clifton is such a resourceful fellow, he will go to great lengths to do me a disservice,’ he purred. ‘I think I shall hire a room at Maidenhead and take you there, just to make sure of you.’

She curled her lip.

‘Do you think that will save you from him? It will only make him more determined to kill you!’

‘I am well aware that Clifton wants to put paid to my existence. He wants revenge upon me for marrying his childhood friend, the love of his life. You are little more than a pawn in this game, my dear. Did you think you could ever replace Clara in his heart? She was a veritable angel, my dear, as pure as you are wanton. Taking you from me might redress the balance a little, but where would be the satisfaction for him if I had already bedded you? He will not want you then, madam, knowing that I have already sampled your delights. How could he ever lie with you after that, knowing that I had enjoyed you?’ He laughed. ‘But this is mere conjecture. No one knows our direction and it is most unlikely that they will find us before I have wed you. And once we are married I shall make sure you have no opportunity to escape me.’

‘And will you kill me, like you killed your first wife?’

‘Is that what Clifton has told you?’ Sir Ronald gave a bitter laugh. ‘Aye, he would like to believe that. Much more comfortable for him to think I was villain enough to beguile Clara into marrying me and then find a way to dispose of her once I had run through her fortune!’

‘Is that not the truth?’ she challenged him.

‘Far from it. Clara was a sweet, innocent beauty. We were madly, hopelessly in love within weeks of being introduced. Such passion could not last, of course, and I confess that her devotion outlasted mine. She liked to live at Redlands, I preferred town. Once she knew she was with child she settled down, although she seemed to think I should come and live with her. I kept putting it off, making excuses why I could not join her, until it was too late.’ He paused and turned his head to gaze out of the window. ‘I was in London when she drowned herself, driven mad with grief at the loss of her baby. Our son.’

‘I am so very sorry,’ murmured Eloise.

He turned back to her, saying harshly, ‘You need not be. Clara has been dead for three years and unlike your precious major I gave up mourning her long ago. Truth to tell, I cannot say that her death was anything but a relief. I had grown very weary of her maudlin airs and clinging ways. You, my dear, have so much more spirit.’ He stretched out his foot and rubbed it against her leg. She quickly drew back, pulling her skirts about her. Sir Ronald merely laughed again. ‘By Gad, madam, it will be amusing to bend you to my will.’

Eloise returned no answer but huddled in the corner, staring resolutely out of the window, watching the dark landscape flying by. Jack would come after her, she was sure of it, but she was less sure of his reasons for doing so. Sir Ronald’s words had lodged themselves in her brain. Her reputation, even her actions in giving herself to Jack, proved her to be
far beneath the paragon that was his first love. She knew he wanted to marry her because she was Allyngham’s widow, but what if he also he wanted to thwart Sir Ronald? Would he still want her once Deforge had taken her to his bed? Even if by some chance Jack decided upon the right road, there was little chance he would catch them before they reached Maidenhead.