The Duke's Deception (14 page)

‘Marianne, it’s
for the best. You’re not safe with me. Whenever I see you my best intentions are
overcome and I cannot resist. You’re the most beautiful, desirable woman I have
ever met.’ He lowered his head and covered her lips with his in a gentle kiss.
The merest touch of her mouth on his made him forget his good intentions and he
drew her closer.

Too late he
heard the door open. Miss Grierson’s shocked exclamation echoed around the
library. Theo gently lifted Marianne and placed her on her feet and stood
beside her, his arm around her waist, holding her steady.

‘Miss Grierson,
you may be the first to wish us happy, Miss Devenish has done me the most
inestimable honour of consenting to be my wife.’ The warning squeeze prevented
her immediate denial.

Emily’s face
dissolved into a happy smile. ‘Oh, that’s wonderful news, Sir Theodore. You are
made for each other. Why you even look alike.’ She hesitated as if not sure if
she should come in and embrace her adopted sister or retreat.

Theo solved the
problem. ‘If you would like to convey our happy news to your parents, Miss
Grierson, Marianne and I would like a few more moments alone.’

*

As soon as Emily
had gone Marianne extricated herself from his arms. This was outrageous! He had
had no intention of marrying her when he came; indeed he had come expressly to
sever all connection.

‘Release me,
sir, I wish to go to my room. I have no intention of marrying you. I shall
leave

you to explain the reasons to Lord
and Lady Grierson.’

‘Enough,
Marianne. It’s too late for all the histrionics. We have no choice in the
matter. Your reputation will be gone if you don’t marry me. Good God! Emily
will have the news of what she saw all over Essex
by suppertime.’

She stared at
him with contempt. ‘I would rather be ruined than shackled to a man who doesn’t
love me. I shall leave here, set up an establishment with John and Jane. I will
not be passed from person-to-person like an unwanted package. I never wish to
see or speak to you again. Good day.’

She spun, her
dress a cloud of yellow around her feet, and marched from the room. She didn’t
go upstairs. She needed Jane and her friend was outside in her cottage. As she
hurried through the house and into the yard she recalled there had been news
from London. She prayed even her in her own heartbreak this was not bad news
about John.

Chapter
Fourteen

The small
dwelling John and Jane had been given was at the far side of the outbuildings
and barns and by the time she reached it Marianne’s slippers and the hem of her
dress were soiled.

Jane had seen
her approach and the cottage door was standing open. ‘Miss Marianne, whatever
is amiss? Come in, my dear, come in.’

A strange young
man sat at the scrubbed wooden table eating bread and cheese. He scrambled to
his feet at her entry. Marianne ignored him.

‘I must speak
with you, Jane.’

‘Come into the
parlour, we can be private there.’

In the small,
dark room there was a wooden settle, a selection of mismatched chairs and an
empty bookcase. Jane guided her young mistress to the settle.

‘What is it, my
dear? Tell me. I’ve never seen you so distraught.’

The whole story
poured out, including Marianne’s intention to leave Frating Hall and find
herself
a refuge somewhere else.

‘Oh dearie me!
And coming on top of what I have learnt this morning. I hardly know what to
say.’

Marianne
scrubbed her eyes dry with her sleeve. ‘What news? I’m sorry, Jane, in my
distress I had forgotten about your problems.’

Jane sat down,
her face serious. ‘It’s not my problem, miss. I had better tell you what John
has written. He sent the letter with that young man out there. He has been gone
so long because the lawyers told him Sir Richard Devenish died with no male
heir and the title is vacant. There is no such person as Sir Theodore Devenish.
He’s an impostor.’

Whatever
Marianne had expected, this was not it. ‘What? What did you say? There is no
Sir Theodore Devenish? Then who is he?’

‘That’s what
John’s trying to find out. He is also intending to discover if there’s anyone
else who can be your guardian.’ Jane paused. ‘But if Lord Grierson has offered
to take you on, you could stay here. You should not have to leave because of
that man, whoever he is. Indeed, when everyone knows he’s an impostor nobody
will receive him and
he
will be the
outcast.’

Marianne shook
her head. ‘I can’t do that to him. I don’t wish to see
him
but I love him Jane, I’ll not ruin his reputation as he has done mine. There
could be a genuine reason for his deception.’

‘Then you’re
obliged to accept his offer, pretend everything is as it should be but you can
hardly do that either.’

‘We shall go to London. Mr Sampson, my
lawyer, will know what to do. He can take back control of my inheritance and
with his help we can find a small estate and live quietly together. What you
say, Jane?’

‘In the
circumstances this is the only option, I suppose. That young man can take the
message to Mr Sampson, let him know we’re coming. We’re not going without your
clothes this time, miss, so we will need to borrow carriages. Do you think Lord
Grierson will be agreeable? After all you will be taking away the income which
he sorely needs.’

Marianne jumped
up. ‘I had forgotten about that. I shall insist he keeps the funds. I must tell
him I’m going to get away from Theo but intend to return when he is gone. That
should do.’

Jane found pen
and paper and Marianne quickly wrote two letters, one for John and one for her
lawyer. That done she was ready to return to the Hall with Jane to face
whatever recriminations and accusations there might be.

Jane hurried
upstairs to begin the packing. The house was quite enough, no raised voices, no
dramatic shouts and exclamations. Where was she most likely to discover Lord
and Lady Grierson at this time?

She decided to
try the small drawing-room which was used when the family was alone. She pushed
open the door and found herself face-to-face with the one person she hoped
never to see again. He looked tired, his eyes dark, his complexion sallow. He
had been expecting her.

‘Marianne, don’t
run away, we must talk. Please come and sit down. I shall be brief, I promise.’

Reluctantly she
did as he suggested and selected a chair as far away from him as possible. He
resumed his seat, staring at his boots for several seconds before speaking. His
voice was quiet, his tone sincere.

‘All this is my
fault. I am a man grown, I know how to go on and you do not. No one, least of
all me attaches the slightest blame to you.’ She raised her eyes at that -
there was something compelling in his words that caught her attention.

‘But you are in
an impossible position. Miss Grierson saw you sitting on my lap. You are
compromised. I have to offer for you, you have to accept. Neither of us wishes
this but we have no choice. Otherwise your reputation will be gone and I cannot
let that happen.’

‘I’m sorry,
Theo, I cannot marry you. I have decided to move to London, to reside with my
lawyer and his family until I decide what to do next. I thought to have Mr
Sampson lease me a small estate and live there in seclusion with John and
Jane.’

He gaped at her
as if she had just escaped from Bedlam. He ran his hands through his hair
leaving it standing on end. She longed to go over and smooth it down.

‘You would
rather become a social outcast, an old maid, than marry me?’

He sounded so
astounded her mouth twitched involuntarily. ‘Well, put like that I must admit
it seems a strange choice, but yes, sir, that’s what I would prefer to do.’

How could he sit
there and look so affronted by her refusal? This was all a charade for him, he
was not Sir Theodore Devenish and when this was revealed, as eventually it
would be, what then? She would be a laughing stock and her name even further
sullied. Had he no shame - no decency - to try and foist an engagement on her
that could never stand?

She stood up,
her face impassive. ‘I am sorry, sir, but I must tell you again that my mind is
made up. I have only to arrange to borrow the carriage from Lord Grierson and I
will be away from here.’

He was on his
feet his feelings carefully masked. He bowed formally reminding her of their first
meeting. Was it only three weeks ago? It seemed so very much longer.

‘Then I will
importune you no more, Miss Devenish. I wish you God speed on your journey.
Good day.’

She almost
called him back to tell him she agreed to his proposal, tell him she loved him
and would take him whoever he was on any terms at all. But she did not. She
hardened her heart.

She still had to
find Lord and Lady Grierson. She could no longer think of them as parents. It
had been scarcely three weeks after all - it should not be too difficult to
distance herself. If she had the strength to push Theo away she could do
anything. She found them on the way back from the summer parlour having been
visiting Charles.

‘I wish to speak
with you both, if you please.’ Did she detect a certain reserve in their
greeting?

‘Come to the
study, Marianne, we shall be private there,’ Lord Grierson said.

She got straight
to the point. ‘I must apologize if my behaviour has offended you but I cannot
marry Sir Theodore even to put matters right. I’m going to live in London with
my lawyer as you will not want me anymore. The scandal will spread and Emily
could become contaminated by association.’ She paused hoping one of them would
protest, try and persuade her to change her mind. They did not.

‘Sir Theodore is
a good man, Marianne. Could you not reconsider and accept his offer? It is the
only way you can come about, you know.’ Lord Grierson’s voice was kind and
Marianne’s eyes filled.

‘I am sorry but
I find I cannot do that. I have my reasons and one day you might know them and
understand why I am forced to take this course.’

‘Very well, my
dear. That has to be the end of the matter. You will need transport for
yourself and your luggage. I shall send round to the stables. I must bid you
goodbye, Miss Devenish and say how sad I am we must part like this.’

Marianne watched
him walk away and knew he was as moved as she but unable to let his feelings
show. Lady Grierson took her hands and Marianne could see the tears pooling in
her eyes. ‘Goodbye, my dear child. I wish I could ask you to stay, to ride it
out, but it would not be fair to our girls. We understand you were not at
fault. Sir Theodore made that quite clear but it is ever the way of the world.
The gentleman may do as he pleases and the lady takes the blame.’

‘May I say my
farewells to everyone before I leave?’

‘Of course;
Emily will be devastated. You have become part of this family in the few weeks
you have been here. I pray that by some miracle all this blows over and you can
return to us.’ Lady Grierson was too choked to continue. She squeezed
Marianne’s hands for the last time and hurried off after her husband.

Edward was in
the sick room with Charles which made things easier. ‘I have come to say
goodbye to you both, I leave for London
as soon as my trunks are ready.’

Charles was
sitting up in bed, his face grim. The new of the mornings
debacle
had obviously already reached them. ‘It’s not fair that you
are being sent away. If they knew how you had saved this family last night they
would be thanking you and begging you to stay.’

She went to his
side. ‘But they do not and I pray they never have to. What happened between Sir
Theodore and me is a separate issue. Unless I marry him my reputation is in
tatters and by staying here Emily and the girls will be dragged in. I cannot
allow that to happen.’

Edward, who had
been lounging against the wall, straightened. ‘We have discussed this and I am
coming with you as Charles cannot. It’s not right you should travel unescorted.
I have made up my mind so don’t think to argue.’

She smiled - he
was offering her a glimmer of light after a morning of darkness. ‘I was not
going to. Thank you, both of you; it will make the journey less painful. But
what about the letters? How can you deliver them?’

‘There has been
a storm at sea; the boat is delayed and will not be here before the end of next
week. It gives me ample time to journey with you and return with the empty
carriage.’

‘I suppose you
can’t leave them in a hidey-hole?’

‘No, the
arrangement is that they are handed directly to the man who delivers them in France. I have
to keep them safe about my person until then.’

‘I must go.
Charles, I wish you joy with Arabella.’ She bent down and embraced him, and
turned to leave. ‘Edward, have you asked your parents’ permission to accompany
me?’

He shook his
head. ‘Of course not, they might say no.’ He grinned, a welcome sight in so
much gloom. ‘I shall have my togs in a bag. I won’t need much. Charles can
explain to them after I’ve gone.’ She was unconvinced. ‘It’s better this way.
They’ll be glad I’ve gone with you. They don’t wish you to leave but understand
there’s no other option.’

Emily had
refused to open her parlour door and the younger girls were at their school in
Great Bentley with the daughters of other local gentry.

‘I believe we’re
ready, Jane. I hope you have had time to pack your own belongings.’

‘I have, thank
you, miss. Even with all the new clothes you provided it went into one box. The
lads have all they possess stowed in saddlebags.’

Marianne gazed
down the rooms she had occupied for scarcely any time but they felt more like
home than Upton Manor had after eighteen years. ‘It’s all that man’s fault.
Without him my flight would not be necessary. I’ll never forgive him. I had for
the first time in my life found happiness. I had begun to learn what it’s like
to be part of a loving family and he has ruined it all.’

Her anger
carried her out to the waiting carriage. She noted the boys were already mounted,
one leading Sultan, the other Jason, John’s horse. The carriage was empty. No
sign of Edward.

‘Jane, where is
he? We cannot go without him.’

‘Billy says he
is meeting us at the end of the drive just in case anyone’s watching from the
windows.’

Relieved
Marianne settled back, gripping firmly to the straps in anticipation of the
bumpy ride ahead. The carriage jolted to a halt at the end of the drive and the
door was flung open.

‘Here I am,
Marianne, did you think I’d abandoned you?’

She smiled. ‘No,
Edward, I did not. Jane told me your plan. Put your bag under the seat, there’s
ample room next to Jane. Then you sit beside me.’

The carriage was
old but well sprung. Lord Grierson had never stinted himself when it came to
horseflesh so they made good time. The toll road to London was well frequented
and the numerous highwayman and footpads that plagued the route were not a
problem during daylight hours.

‘We have to find
somewhere to put up overnight, Edward. It will be dark in an hour. We don’t
want to be on the roads then.’

Immediately
Edward leant out of the window and shouted at the coachman to pull up. ‘I’ll
ride ahead with Tom and find somewhere. We’ll need a room and private parlour
for you but I can sleep outside with the boys if necessary.’

Marianne was
shocked. ‘You will do no such thing. Your parents would be horrified. We need
two bed-chambers but we could manage without a parlour.’

‘I shall send
Tom back when I have it arranged. It’s early yet, no danger from footpads until
full dark.’

The carriage
seemed empty and quiet without him and Marianne became silent, overwhelmed by
sadness. How had she come to this? To be sent packing for a second time in less
than a month? She had believed herself innocent of any fault when Sir James
Russell had almost enticed her to disaster but now it had happened a second
time she had to rethink her role in these events. Perhaps she wasn’t a
respectable girl but a flighty, flirtatious one, who led men on to behave
badly.