The Earl's Revenge (4 page)

The girl continued brightly. “That is my favorite story. Nana prefers others, but I make her read that one.”

“Can you not read it for yourself?”

“No. Nana says I ought to have a governess, but Papa has not yet sent one, and she is too afraid of his temper to ask.”

“Has he a temper?” She had often suspected so, though she had never encountered it herself.

“So Lily claims. She knew him when he lived at Westron with Mama. I heard her tell Jenny that he was right put out most of the time, snapping the heads off all and sundry. He finally stormed off to London and hasn’t been back since.”

“You should not repeat servants’ gossip, Lady Helen,” admonished Elaine. “They often misunderstand their betters. But surely Nana has taught you your letters, even without a proper governess.”

“It is not part of her duties,” said Helen sadly. “She is getting on in years, you know, and cannot do as much as she would like.”

“How old are you?” asked Elaine, appalled at the words.

“Six.”

Odious man
, fumed Elaine. The girl should have long since acquired a governess. It was unconscionable that so bright a lass could not yet read. “Perhaps if Nana cannot write him, she could ask the steward to do so,” she suggested. “Your father must have forgotten how old you are getting.” More likely, he had forgotten her very existence.

“Oh, good. I must find him when we return. It is no use talking to Nana. She will simply dither forever, or else do something silly like leave Lily and Jenny at Westron. Mrs. Burgess was horrified to find we had brought no maids.”

“Do you make so much work then?” asked Elaine in surprise.

“Nana needs a lot of help,” explained Helen. “We let her think she is in charge, but usually Lily looks after me and Jenny looks after Nana. Old age is getting her down. She was my mother’s nurse, and my grandmother’s as well.”

Helen continued to chatter about her life as they returned to the house. The girl alternated between childish silliness and a startling maturity, undoubtedly arising from her upbringing. It was obvious that she had taken on the role of protector, looking after her elderly nurse and seeing to many of her own needs.

From Helen’s description, the nurse sounded a loving incompetent at best and a senile invalid at worst. Allowing the woman to leave the nursery maids behind also cast doubt on the competence of the Westron housekeeper and steward. At the very least, they would have needed the servants during the grueling week of travel that brought them to Cornwall.

“Where did you find her, Miss Thompson?” asked Burgess when they at last presented themselves at the door. Anxiety troubled his eyes despite his wooden countenance.

“On Lookout Peak.” Burgess’s expression changed to horror.

“I want to show Miss Elaine around the house,” announced Helen. “She has never been here before.”

“Of course, my lady,” answered Burgess smoothly. “But perhaps you could first find Mrs. Burgess and ask that a tea tray be readied.”

Elaine started to protest the need but was stopped by the command in Burgess’s eyes. As soon as Helen left, he relaxed. “Pardon me, Miss Thompson, but this was a complete surprise. The message announcing their arrival must have gone astray.”

“Is Rose not yet returned from her mother’s sickbed?” Rose was the only housemaid at Treselyan.

He shook his head.

“You have a problem, then. From Lady Helen’s comments, I deduce that her nurse needs at least as much care as the child and that both nursery maids were left behind.”

“Exactly. Is there anyone in the village who would be willing to work here during their stay?”

“Not to my knowledge. Betsy Higgins just accepted a post near Wadebridge and Lisa Smith is still abed with an inflammation of the lungs. You will have to send to Bodmin. And someone must instill a little caution in that girl. I was near the cave when she came upon me. She seemed fascinated by the place.”

Burgess paled.

Elaine shook her head. “We both know how impassable that path is after a storm. One slip and she would be over the side.”

“We must forbid her to leave the grounds.”

“Miss Becklin has more experience with children than I, but I suspect Lady Helen is the sort to balk at obedience. On the other hand, she seems very intelligent. Perhaps explaining the dangers would have more effect.”

Helen returned and guided Elaine through the house. It was old-fashioned, worn, and neglected – hardly surprising given the estate’s history. But Elaine was able to make enthusiastic remarks about the well-proportioned rooms and the beautifully textured paneling in the hall and the library. Helen finally returned to the drawing room where Burgess produced a tea tray. Though her hands shook, Helen managed the teapot and passed a plate of cakes and scones, successfully carrying off the role of lady of the manor while she chattered about her recent journey. Only then did Elaine excuse herself.

But once she was alone, her footsteps lagged. The afternoon’s confrontation had triggered too many memories and had opened a Pandora’s box of emotions. Uppermost was an unexpected wave of sorrow that she would never have a child of her own. She had vowed eight years earlier never to marry, and her determination had not wavered. But she had not considered the ramifications of that decision. Not having been around children, she had given them no thought – until today.

She blinked back a tear and deliberately turned her mind to poetry and the progress of her sketches. One afternoon with a precocious child could neither destroy her contentment nor change her plans for the future. This was merely shock. It would soon recede, and in the meantime she would concentrate on the present.

But Anne was too perceptive. “What happened?” she demanded as soon as her friend appeared in the parlor.

Nothing,” denied Elaine. “I spent a most enjoyable afternoon sketching on the cliffs. I believe this may be my best illustration yet.” Her tone was perfect, but she had never mastered the art of controlling her face – at least not around Anne.

“You met someone.”

“A young girl only.” She could already see the next question forming. “Lady Helen is a delightful child who just arrived at Treselyan Manor, being the owner’s only daughter. She and her nurse will be staying here for some months.”

Anne looked interested. She had thrown herself into the life of the community from the moment of moving to Cornwall. “I had not heard of her arrival. I suppose her parents are in London for the Season.”

“Her father lives there year around. Her mother died in childbirth. Has Lucy started dinner yet?”

But her attempt to turn the subject failed. If anything, it piqued Anne’s curiosity. “Who is Lady Helen’s father?” she asked quietly.

“The Earl of Bridgeport,” said Elaine with a sigh.

“Oh, dear Lord! I had no idea he owned Treselyan!” gasped Anne.

“Nor did I, but it is unlikely he will appear. You know as well as I that he is firmly fixed in London. If anything, Lady Helen’s presence will make a visit even less likely.”

“True.”

But Elaine could not shake the trepidation that had filled her from the moment Helen revealed her parentage. Or the curiosity.

The knob turned and a furious thrust slammed the bedroom door into the wall.

“I knew it!” shouted Lord Wainright. “Strumpet! You will leave immediately for the Grange. As for you, sir, name your seconds!”

Bridgeport, in the final stages of the night’s exertions, was a little slow taking in what was happening. He had never pegged Wainright as the jealous sort. After all, Lady Wainright was well-known for her dalliances. He pulled the coverlet over his back as two footmen appeared in the doorway, poor Hawkins imprisoned between them. Bridgeport abhorred messy scenes, and this was the messiest he had ever seen.

Well, it was too late for circumspection now. And he could hardly deny culpability considering his present position. With unabashed
sangfroid
, he finished what he had started, rolled off Lady Wainright – who was on the verge of either swooning or hysterics – and sat up.

“Let Hawkins go. He can hardly spoil your surprise by warning me at this point,” he ordered calmly, his low voice carrying enough menace that the footmen complied without a single glance at their master.

Wainright frowned at his minions. “Leave us.” It was a measure of Bridgeport’s powerful presence that all three servants glanced at him for permission before turning toward the stairs.

“Get dressed,” the baron ordered his wife.

Bridgeport said nothing. Despite his appearance of calm disdain, his mind was racing in useless circles. In fifteen years of enjoying life, he had never faced so embarrassing or potentially explosive a situation. Normally he stayed away from recent brides, but Wainright already had an heir, and Lady Wainright had caught his attention at a moment when pressing need overwhelmed caution.

“Name your seconds, sirrah,” repeated Wainright.

The earl complied. Dueling was illegal, but refusing a challenge would make him a laughingstock. Yet it was a nasty business. Why had the fellow suddenly decided to cut up stiff? It was common knowledge that the lady had been generous with her favors even before embarking on a second marriage, and Bridgeport knew of at least three others who had enjoyed her in the months since, one as recently as last night. Wainright was no paragon himself.

Questions continued to bedevil his mind long after the baron dragged his wife away. Nothing made sense.

* * * *

“What on earth made you choose swords rather than pistols?” demanded Carrington as they waited in a foggy dawn at Chalk Farm for Wainright and Albright to appear. “The man is an execrable marksman.”

“Precisely,” agreed Bridgeport. “But his skills at fencing are roughly equal to my own. I have no desire to kill him, nor do I wish to be killed. With pistols, I would feel compelled to delope since I was clearly in the wrong. He might get lucky and hit me. But as we agreed that first blood will determine the winner, neither of us is likely to seriously damage the other.”

“You are a strange man, Mark.”

“Not at all. I feel blessed that he only challenged me. He might have chosen to shoot me where I lay. If I had had any inkling that he cared, I never would have touched his wife. And this may not be the end of it. She clearly craves variety. Both Devereaux and Millhouse have had her recently. Wroxleigh is still involved with her, and there may be others.”

“That is something I had not heard.”

Bridgeport snorted. “In addition to being free with her favors, she freely compares her lovers. I wonder if she is equally open with him. That could explain how he learned when and where to find us. But it makes it even odder that he would bother. If he cannot ignore her affairs, he will face either incarcerating her or bringing a divorce suit, in which case this may become even more public.”

“Maybe he thinks to force you into taking her off his hands.”

“Never. I would retire from society before doing anything that stupid.”

“But you have a reputation for accepting anyone to wife.”

Bridgeport sighed. “Reputations are damnable things. I suppose I must disabuse him of that notion. All else aside, I want an heir who carries my own blood.”

Carrington dropped the subject of marriage, knowing it was not a topic his friend wished to recall. "Is it true that you had the audacity to finish with her before accepting Wainright’s challenge?”

Bridgeport shrugged, but his eyes twinkled. “I might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb – or skewered in this case.”

Richard stomped his feet in a vain attempt to warm them. “Why did you take up with someone so recently married? That is not like you.”

Mark pulled his greatcoat tighter. “She initiated the contact, two weeks ago.”

“I don’t like the sound of that.”

“Nor do I, now that I think on it. Hopefully, Wainright will be satisfied with pinking me.”

“You will let him win then?” asked a surprised Carrington.

“I must, as you would agree if you thought about it a moment. But I will make him work for the victory.”

The arrival of a second carriage cut off Carrington’s response. Like Bridgeport, Wainright had eschewed servants this day. Albright was driving. Wainright was a slender gentleman only a few years older than Bridgeport. Normally of a placid temperament, today his eyes glared with anger and hatred.

“Watch out,” warned Carrington as he removed Bridgeport’s jacket and cravat. “He seems determined to make an end of you. This affair smells worse every minute. Albright said something just now that makes me think that his wife was merely an excuse. I heard a rumor that he blames you for several recent gaming losses. Knowing you as I do, I had not believed the tales, but his eyes look crazed.”

“Ah.” Bridgeport sent a rapier glance toward his rival. “So that is what this is about. I too had heard those stories. They are false, of course, so if that is his complaint, I will have to fight to win.”

The two men took their places and executed the ritual salute. Carrington was suddenly glad that Mark had chosen swords. Given Wainright’s emotional state, Mark might have been forced to kill him.

The combatants were evenly matched, and tension built in the onlookers as the morning air rang with the clash of steel. The sun rose, burning away the fog. Back and forth the action moved, the thrust and parry continuing unabated for more than half an hour. But Carrington gradually relaxed. Their skills might match, but Mark had the greater stamina. Wainright’s guard was slipping. As Mark made a lightning move to his right, Wainright’s foot caught, throwing his sword wide. Mark’s point bit deeply into Wainright’s left shoulder, and Albright called a halt.

Bridgeport murmured a few words to Wainright, stayed on the field long enough to hear the doctor proclaim that the wound was not serious, then joined Carrington in his carriage.

“Let’s get out of here before someone happens by.”

* * * *

A week later, the Marquess of Carrington appeared in Bridgeport’s breakfast room while the earl was still at the table.