Secret Heiress (7 page)

“You will love it here, Mama,” said Arabella. “I do. Giles has taken me for rides in the Park and he has given me such a pretty fan to go with my gown. Let me show it to you.” She ran out of the room.

Mrs. Chedworth raised her eyebrows. “Arabella seems very happy, Henrietta,” she said. “I knew that I could rely on you. But tell me, I hope that Giles has not bored himself entertaining a child just out of the schoolroom. I would not want Arabella to be a nuisance to him.”

“I am sure she is not that,” said Lady Kimborough. “Such a sweet child; so engaging, so charming. I am certain Giles has enjoyed having her here to bear him company. She, I know, regards him as an elder brother or a doting uncle.”

“Indeed,” said Mrs. Chedworth carefully. “I am delighted to know that Arabella has found such a friend. An elder brother can be such a help in one's first Season. Naturally,” she continued, “I wish Arabella to meet many eligible gentlemen. Neither her father nor myself wish her to fix her affections before she has had the opportunity to ‘spread her wings,' as they say. I do not scruple to tell you, Henrietta, that the cost of presenting a daughter is higher than we had thought, and there are the other girls to consider and none of them the beauty Arabella is. Chedworth has even been thinking of selling out of the Funds! We are no longer in the position of being able to permit Arabella to pick and choose without regard to fortune.”

“I understand,” said Lady Kimborough. “I should like nothing better than for the dear child to make a splendid match, which I predict that she shall. Tell me, when did you say your house will be ready? I dread the thought of losing Arabella, but I know you must wish to be established under your own roof.”

At that moment, Arabella returned to the room, bearing the fan.

“See, Mama, isn't it lovely?”

“Very nice, my love. It was very kind of Giles to give you such a gift; as if he were the older brother you never had.”

Arabella contemplated that. “But Giles is not . . .” She blushed fiercely. “I think I must change,” she said. She curtsied slightly and excused herself.

“Perhaps it will be best that we establish ourselves under our own roof as quickly as possible. I am certain you understand.” Her eyes met Lady Kimborough's and there was a challenge in them. But there was something more. There was concern as well.

Mrs. Chedworth was as good as her word. Within a week of her arrival the house had been readied and she had removed herself and Arabella to it. Mr. Chedworth's arrival several days later to carry out his obligations during his daughter's come-out completed the removal of Arabella from the Kimborough sphere. On the night of the ball being held in Arabella's honor, Lady Kimborough commented on it to her husband when he entered her boudoir. She signaled to her maid to leave and said, “You know, Kimborough, I have scarcely seen Arabella since she left here.”

“As I understood it, my love, you did not wish it to appear as if you were monopolizing Arabella's attention or trying to marry her to Giles. Have not things worked out exactly as you planned?”

“Whilst I did not wish Giles to appear to monopolize Arabella, I certainly did not expect Lavinia to so completely isolate her. I do not believe Giles has seen her once! And I do not credit Lavinia's cry of poverty. I am most displeased with her. I am one of her oldest friends. I believe she does not wish Arabella to marry Giles. And he is not exactly nobody! He is the son of an earl and of an earl's daughter, after all! She should consider herself fortunate to be able to marry her daughter to a Kendal!”

“Giles shall certainly have the opportunity to see her tonight, my love,” said Kimborough mildly. “From what I have heard at the clubs, the entire world has been invited this evening. Your protégée's reputation has preceded her and she is certain to be one of the catches of the Season. If Chedworth's fortune has diminished, it is not generally known. Giles had better take care. He would not wish to lose the opportunity to marry a female of beauty and fortune, but he would also not wish to find himself leg-shackled to a female whose fortune has disappeared. I do know that it would be of no use to speak to Giles. He'll make up his own mind.”

“It is regrettable, Kimborough, that Giles need take after your family. There is a stubbornness about him which puts me rather painfully in mind of your father.” She picked up her fan. “Shall we go?”

“Yes, my love,” replied her lord meekly.

In Woburn Square, Caroline was also dressing for the ball. She had been surprised and not a little chagrined to receive an invitation for herself and Aurelia. She knew that it had been at Giles Kendal's prompting and presumed he had done it to show her that he was generosity itself. For her part, she had not the least desire to watch Giles Kendal make a fool of himself over Arabella Chedworth, but she did not want him to think that she had cried craven. She had vowed to look her best and she was indeed in fine looks. Her gown, in the ashes-of-roses pink that was so becoming to her, was shot through with silver thread. The bodice and small puffed sleeves were edged with deeper pink ruching, as was the ruffle at the bottom of the skirt. Her shoes were of the same deep pink silk. Around her neck was a strand of pearls and another strand was interwoven with pink ribbon through her hair. If she had fears about the success of her costume, the doubts were dispelled by the arrival of Adrian Bradford to escort them to the ball.

“My dear Miss Chessington,” he said as she descended the staircase to meet him. “You are enchanting!”

“Thank you, kind sir,” said Caroline, extending her hand playfully. “And may I say that you are most truly the gentleman.”

Adrian bowed. He was wearing full evening dress, with his chapeau-bras correctly folded under his arm.

As they spoke, Aurelia came into the room. She was nursing a bad cold and was despondent that she was forced to miss such a fashionable ball.

“Are you quite certain, my love, that I should not make an effort to accompany you? I am afraid it is not at all the thing for you to go alone. People will think you are fast.” She sneezed.

“Nonsense, Aurelia,” said Caroline, kissing her. “It is not my first Season, you know. Besides, who will know me?”

“I shall take excellent care of Miss Chessington,” said Adrian, “although I deeply regret being able to escort only one of the belles of the evening.”

Thus cajoled and reassured, Aurelia tottered back to bed. Caroline was guiltily conscious of a feeling of relief.

When the Kimborough carriage arrived in Berkeley Square, guests were already alighting and the house was aglow with lights. They were greeted by Lavinia Chedworth, gowned in exquisite taste in shot-purple gauze over satin, trimmed with gold and enhanced by the Chedworth amethysts. But there was no doubt in whose honor the ball was given. Arabella, her color heightened by the occasion, looked enchanting. Her mama had wisely limited her accessories to a garland of white flowers in her hair, a pearl necklace, and Giles's fan. She greeted the Kimboroughs prettily.

“Ah, dearest Godmama and Lord Kimborough. It has been such a long time but you must forgive me! I have been so busy. I had no idea that having a Season involved so much preparation. You must think me a perfect wretch for having neglected you.”

Lord Kimborough beamed and said that the wait was certainly worth the opportunity to see her in such looks.

“Kimborough,” said his lady reprovingly, “would you fetch me some punch?”

“Yes, my love,” said Lord Kimborough. “Now you save a dance for me, you saucy puss,” he remarked as he strode off.

“Indeed, Arabella, you are looking lovely,” said Lady Kimborough when her husband had gone. “But I am sorry we have not seen you. I had thought perhaps your mama would have wished the benefit . . .”

“Of what, Mama?” asked a voice behind her.

“Giles!” exclaimed Arabella with pleasure. “How wonderful to see you!”

Lady Kimborough, not at all pleased at being interrupted, was nevertheless delighted to see the pleasure with which her son was greeted.

“I do not believe you have missed me at all,” he teased. “You are surrounded by so many other admirers.”

Lady Kimborough stepped away as Arabella blushed fiercely. Just then a young buck, an aspiring Dandy sporting extremely high points on his collar, wide lapels, and a waterfall knot in his cravat, came up and bowed. “I believe the next dance is mine, Miss Chedworth,” he said. “Evening, Kendal.”

“Will you excuse me, Giles?” she asked.

“Of course,” he said. “Enjoy it. But save one for me.”

“I shall,” said Arabella as she danced away.

Giles, not wishing to dance with anyone else, strolled to the entrance hall just in time to see Caroline sail in on Adrian Bradford's arm. He felt a jolt of surprise. Giles had not really thought Caroline would come, although she had accepted Arabella's invitation. She looked elegant, he thought, and her presence disturbed him, but he was not sure why. He really did not know Caroline Chessington, despite the several times they had been together. He had been caught up in squiring Arabella Chedworth through the first weeks of her first Season; now he was sorry that his acquaintance with Caroline Chessington had languished. He had enjoyed they conversation, he recalled. Then Arabella had arrived and the next thing he had known, Caroline was constantly in Adrian Bradford's company. Each time he and Caroline had met after that, they had been at cross-purposes—all because of her stubbornness, he thought grimly. Well, he would show her how magnanimous he could be.

As he approached the party, Caroline smiled in welcome.

“Miss Chessington,” he said. “I am delighted to see you. You are looking lovely. Bradford.” He bowed.

“Mr. Kendal,” said Caroline. “Such a lovely party. And Miss Chedworth is in such enchanting looks.”

“Miss Chessington,” said Adrian, “I believe you have promised me the first dance.”

“Indeed I have,” said Caroline. “Will you excuse us?”

For the second time, Giles felt rebuffed.

“May I claim another dance and the honor of escorting you into supper?” he asked.

“Miss Chessington will be accompanying me,” said Adrian.

“I believe Miss Chessington can speak for herself,” said Giles evenly.

Caroline, who had come prepared to be distant to Giles, was now annoyed at Adrian's high-handed tactics.

“I should be delighted to dine with you, Mr. Kendal,” she said. “And now, Mr. Bradford, I believe this dance is ours.”

Arabella was, in fact, able to give Giles only one dance, for she was never without a partner. She would not dance with any of her admirers more than twice, and neither the importunings of Mr. Geoffrey Stanhope that she was the embodiment of a goddess nor the insistent requests made by the odious Lord Warriner, who seemed quite old and fat, were enough to change her resolution. Her mama had told her she must on no account encourage one gentleman over another at her come-out, and she would not dream of disobeying her mama. Such a wonderful ball! And Mama and Papa so concerned about her happiness! No, she would never disobey Mama.

She did wish she had been able to talk to Mr. Jeremy Tarkington more. From the moment he'd been introduced to her by Mr. Farnham she'd been attracted to him. He had brought her some punch and they'd spoken briefly. He was a poet, although he said his family, stodgy and traditional, did not consider that a suitable occupation for the son of a viscount. They were forcing him to go to Cambridge to study for a political career or some other gentlemanly occupation as yet undetermined, and he was home only on holiday. As for Arabella, she thought being a poet was the very thing! It was so romantic! And he was so handsome. Just the way a young man should look, with his brooding eyes and melancholy smile. He'd promised to compose a poem about the way she looked tonight. He'd said a poet had to search for such inspiration as she provided. Arabella could not wait to receive it. No one had ever written a poem about her before. What a wonderful night it was!

After a sumptuous supper consisting of roast beef, mutton, fillet of veal, Perigord pies, truffles, several removes, jellies, and an array of pastries, fruits, and sweetmeats accompanied by champagne, Giles and Caroline found themselves alone on a terrace.

“Are you enjoying yourself, Miss Chessington?” he asked.

“Oh, yes,” said Caroline.

“You are attracting some attention,” said Giles. “Several people have asked me who you are.”

“I hope you told them no one of importance,” said Caroline.

“I said I wasn't certain I knew,” said Giles. “I would like to know much better.” He took her hands gently in his and tenderly brought them to his lips. Then, holding both her hands in his, as though reluctant to relinquish them, he continued, “Miss Chessington . . . Caroline . . . I hope . . .” He paused.

Caroline gazed up at him. His face seemed different: softer, less guarded. His eyes held a warmth, a look almost of entreaty. He drew her closer and she felt him put his arms around her, his head bending to meet hers. Their lips met fleetingly, softly. As they drew apart, Giles began again, “Caroline, my dear . . .” Just then a voice from behind him said mockingly, “I believe you have promised this dance to me.” It was Adrian Bradford, and Giles swore under his breath.

“Oh,” said Caroline breathlessly, for it was a new sensation, being sought after by two men. She found that she liked it. She turned to Giles.

“I did promise this dance to Mr. Bradford,” she said. In an effort to offend neither suitor, she sounded colder and more distant than she had intended. Giles Kendal colored, nodded politely, and watched them as they left for the ballroom.

He carefully avoided Caroline for the rest of the evening, instead standing aside and watching Arabella in her triumphant come-out. He was unaware that Caroline was carefully watchful of him and of the attention he was directing toward Arabella. She was puzzled, first by his actions on the terrace, and then by his apparent lack of interest. Was he playing a game with her emotions? Was it jealousy, or dislike of Adrian Bradford? For a moment, she had felt something

real between them. It could not be that Giles was merely flirting with her. That was not his way, and he had been too sincere, too tender, too loving, to have been engaging in a flirtation.

Caroline, preoccupied with her thoughts, did not realize that she was attracting attention herself. Adrian had discovered that, too. During supper, some of his erstwhile friends, knowing that he was hanging out for a rich wife, bad twitted him about his unknown companion and his attentiveness to her.

“Must be plump in the pocket,” one had commented, “or Adrian's lost his touch.” Bradford had smiled cynically at this and replied, “Family obligation—the daughter of a distant, rather provincial cousin to whom, regrettably, I find myself in debt. I offered to show her London. Her first trip, you know.” He hoped that would dispel gossip, for he did not wish to encourage any further interest in Miss Caroline Chessington and he especially did not want anyone to know that the object of his attentions was an heiress. He did not need competition.

Lady Kimborough, too, had noticed Caroline and Giles's interest in her. When she asked Giles about his elegant supper companion, his explanation that she was a visitor from the North who lived in Woburn Square with an elderly relation satisfied her that he was in no danger from that source.