The Mysterious Governess (Daughters of Sin Book 3) (21 page)

Not wishing to be observed, Ralph quickly entered into conversation with Admiral Cannington, who was clearly delighted to have an audience for his latest adventures in the West Indies, where he’d apparently distinguished himself and made a fortune to boot.

Meanwhile, he noticed Miss Maria kept looking over her shoulder, as if she were being observed. Or searching for someone. Yes, that’s what debutantes did, didn’t they? Sized up the quarry because, after all, the whole reason they were here was to find a husband.

Perhaps Lissa was worried that the young lady had fixed her interest on someone unsuitable. Well, Ralph would ensure she didn’t do anything rash.

Therefore, even as Ralph indulged in the excellent champagne that was circulating and enjoyed, more than he’d expected, his conversations with a variety of guests, his protective instincts were on alert when he noticed the young lady receive a discreet note from a waiter.

He saw her eyes widen as she took it, and her quick furtive look across the room, before her gaze settled upon a rather portly, fair-haired young man in military attire talking to a middle-aged woman in a purple toque. The young man seemed to feel her eyes upon him, for he turned to look over his shoulder, smiling when he intercepted Miss Maria’s gaze.

She colored and looked away, while Ralph felt both somewhat of a voyeur but also the importance of the task entrusted to him. For some reason, Lissa was concerned, and she needed Ralph to ensure this young lady didn’t get herself into trouble. Perhaps this portly, unassuming young man was the unsuitable object of her interest.

“Baby brother, I didn’t expect to see you here tonight. Not the kind of entertainment you usually frequent.”

Ralph looked up into the smiling face of his eldest sibling and clapped him on the arm before he greeted his companion, Miss Partington, with polite restraint. He wasn’t sure what he felt about this young woman, who did indeed resemble the woman he loved but who elicited such very different emotions. He certainly felt no warmth in her gaze, though she smiled and said how delightful it was to see him.

Ralph wondered at Teddy’s interest in Miss Partington, which was a little awkward, in view of Ralph’s interest in her half-sister. Perhaps Miss Partington felt similarly uncomfortable. It would not be unreasonable.

Of course, it was only natural Teddy would wish to take a wife at his age. Ralph just wished he’d not set his sights on Miss Araminta Partington. Nevertheless, he engaged her in pleasant conversation and she declared how much she loved riding, which quickly resulted in an eager invitation from Teddy to take her in his high-perch phaeton the following day. Ralph was surprised she elected to go before luncheon when she’d been warned there was a greater chance of morning rain.

And then Teddy and Miss Partington disappeared into the garden, and Ralph continued to chat to all number of people until the clock struck eleven, at which point he noticed the young lady in green nervously whispering something to her brother before hurrying toward the door that led into a passage beyond. He felt uncomfortable following her, and in fact nearly failed in his task when he was waylaid by the garrulous Mrs. Gargery, but after a minute or so he extricated himself and carried on, just in time to hear the click of what he knew to be the library door farther up the corridor.

About to go in, he hesitated. Perhaps she had a secret assignation with the portly young man, in which case it was no business of his to interrupt, despite Lissa’s request.

However, Lissa’s brief note had conveyed more concern than anything else for the wearer of this particular green dress. For a moment he marveled at her talent for intrigue, which was just what Ralph had always aspired to in his position. The longer he worked for Lord Debenham, the more unsavory dealings he uncovered, though not as yet anything that would put His Lordship in the dock. Debenham was too canny for that. Like most cruel men, he’d learned to cover his tracks.

Ralph put his ear to the door and, to his amazement, discerned his employer’s iron-clad yet silky tones. He could not interrupt but if Lord Debenham was alone with innocent Miss Maria, he needed to stay near in case he was required to render immediate assistance.

“So, you have enticed me here, madam. What? Because you
esteem
me? No, you plan to blackmail me, don’t you? You look very young for intrigue, yet the deadliest are the unlikeliest. Well, what are your demands?”

Should he intervene? What
was
Miss Maria about? Ralph remained frozen on the spot while he digested the silence, menacing and pregnant with possibility until broken again by Lord Debenham sounding even angrier. “Speak up, you puling little fool. Who sent you? Won’t tell me? Lost your nerve, have you? By God, but you have chosen the wrong man for your foolish and naïve carryings-on.”

The sound of his heavy footsteps was followed by a short, shrill cry, and then the door burst open and Miss Maria hurled herself into the passage, tripping over her skirt and falling to her knees.

Ralph helped her up but the girl was clearly too distraught and in a hurry to leave to look him in the eye, much less recognize Ralph. Not even pausing to say thank you once she was back on her feet, she tore past him and disappeared into the ballroom.

Ralph was hardly going to enter the library right now. In fact, he knew it was time to make tracks to be well out of sight, should his employer choose to follow the unfortunate young lady, though he considered this unlikely. He was about to turn back to the ballroom when his surprise at recent events was compounded by the clear, surprised tones of another young lady who sounded remarkably like Miss Araminta Partington.

“Good evening, Lord Partington, how are you this evening? I hope we didn’t interrupt anything.”

His suspicion was confirmed when Ralph heard His Lordship greet Miss Partington by name before addressing Ralph’s own brother. Clearly Miss Partington and Teddy had entered the library through the garden.

Ralph decided he’d remained long enough at Lady Grenville’s soiree. He wished he could stop by the Lamont household and contrive a secret meeting with the divine Miss Hazlett. He needed to warn her that for some reason her half-sister had intended a secret meeting between Lissa and Lord Debenham. He shuddered, relieved that it had all fallen flat, but glad he had evidence of the young woman’s duplicity. Ralph had worked too long for a villain not to recognize others of his ilk.

But it wasn’t possible to speak to Miss Hazlett tonight. Once he returned, he had to satisfy himself with writing a lengthy description of what he’d heard through the closed door, which he dispatched to a street urchin who must have run his hardest for his money. For Ralph was just preparing for bed when he received a surprising answer from his lady love.

Wearily he slid beneath the covers, holding the hastily scribbled note to his chest. For the moment, it was the closest he would get to her.

I
t was little wonder Nellie and Harriet could not concentrate on Lissa’s lesson on the great rivers of the world when Miss Maria’s wails and the remonstrances of her mother could be heard two floors away.

That Miss Maria’s evening had not been a success was borne up by Ralph’s detailed missive the night before. Now Lissa was bursting with impatience to learn every detail. She was therefore astonished to be summoned by the housemaid, who told her she had a visitor in the drawing room.

The reason she was not banished elsewhere was clearly because the rest of the family was determined to hear whatever her mystery caller had to say.

When she saw it was Ralph, she affected cool politeness though her heart raced up her throat and threatened to turn her into a gibbering fool. However, her worst fears regarding her ability to manage the situation were not realized, and she decided she must be getting rather good at this intrigue lark.

“Mr. Tunley, how nice to see you again,” she greeted him. “Do you have a message from Lord Debenham perhaps?”

“Lord Debenham is paying his respects?” Mrs. Lamont asked with a mixture of fear and hope. This elicited a muffled wail from Miss Maria, who was sitting unusually hunch-shouldered upon the chaise longue.

Ralph smiled. “I’m afraid not. Please excuse me for speaking plainly, Mrs. Lamont. I find myself in an awkward situation, for my employer is a man who does not mince words, and I certainly would not choose to pass on this message.”

Lissa bit her lip and stared between Ralph and the Lamont family, who were gazing at him in almost terrified expectation. When none of them spoke, Ralph went on. “Lord Debenham respectfully requests that his gifts should be enjoyed by the intended recipients. I refer, in this instance, to a certain green dress.”

He did not get any further, for at this, Miss Maria threw herself forward and onto her knees, covering her head with her arms as she wailed, “I never knew! I never knew it wasn’t for me!”

“Yes, you did,” Lissa said crisply. She looked enquiringly at Ralph. “Was there any other message from Lord Debenham?”

He responded with commendable aplomb. “Indeed there is, however, he was adamant that it was for your ears only, Miss Hazlett.” He turned to the three Lamonts, who were now all staring at him with fear in their eyes. “I trust you’ll grant Miss Hazlett a few moments of privacy?”

Lissa burst out laughing when they’d gained the conservatory and closed the door behind them. “Oh my Lord, I was so concerned for Miss Maria and what would happen, and while such an encounter with Lord Debenham was very terrible for one so young, it did serve her right. It certainly confirms any suspicions that for reasons known only to herself, Araminta wished to entice me into Lord Debenham’s orbit.” She shivered. “I’m sorry, Ralph, I do not like your employer.”

“And I’m afraid I don’t care overly for your sister. She wanted to discredit you, that is quite clear, only she was not terribly cunning about it. But how can I tell Teddy when he is happy for the first time in years? Teddy told me Miss Partington had passed on the information that she’d seen you spying on Lord Debenhan, all alone, in his supper box in Vauxhall Gardens. When that did not quell my interest, I suspect she devised this neat little device.”

Lissa gasped. “
Spying
? She told him that?” But then, the truth was that Lissa had indeed been spying on Lord Debenham.” She had to let that go. But the other? “Yes, the gown was clearly Hetty’s, for it was too big for Araminta. I believe she entertained herself with this grand subterfuge in order to make it appear I was consorting with Lord Debenham, and ensuring our encounter was witnessed by your brother.” Unable to help herself, she smiled. “Poor Miss Maria, she must have been terrified. I find Lord Debenham frightening enough, but I can’t begin to imagine what Miss Maria felt when she became the butt of his anger.”

“I certainly do.” Ralph’s grin quickly faded. “Sadly, I can’t leave his employ until a plum job as second attaché for some British diplomatist falls into my lap.”

Lissa’s heart flipped. Agitated, she tore off the palm frond she was playing with. “Oh Ralph, you don’t mean it,” she said, crestfallen. “A diplomat? Why, then you’ll be travelling all over the world. We will never be able to—” She bit off the words that would be too forward to utter. Even if Ralph had so often alluded to a shared future, it had always been half jestingly.

“I’ve always wanted to be a diplomatist, but I want you to be my wife more,” he said seriously, taking Lissa’s hands.

“Why, Ralph, that is... I really don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t know why, since you’ve heard me voice the sentiment often.”

“But never seriously.”

“My dear girl, if I were in a position to make you a serious offer, I’d go down on one knee this very moment.” He brought her hands up to his lips. “But I’ll not elicit an avowal of your return affections and deny you an opportunity to accept a rich, handsome suitor who can offer you now, what I cannot.”

“Ralph, don’t—”

For once the quirk that made his mouth seem always to be laughing at himself or something else was not in evidence. He looked as sad as she felt. “It’s true, Lissa, that I want what’s best for you. I will not see you save yourself for me when I have no idea how long it will take me to become elevated in the world sufficiently to take a wife.”

“I’ve lived on very little my whole life. I don’t need a carriage or a—”

“Hush, dear girl, I know very well your wants are modest.” Beneath the drooping fronds of the tallest fern, he cradled her against him and rested his chin on her hair while he stroked her cheek. “But the truth is, I can barely keep myself. Occasionally I get a family handout but I cannot rely on those. My self-respect demands that I am able to offer you at least a modicum of comfort.”

She sighed and closed her eyes. “Very well, then. The fact that you want me will be enough. I won’t insist on anything that will make you uncomfortable.”

He laughed and kissed her forehead as he turned her in his arms, putting his hands on her shoulders, ready to let her go. “What a perfect angel you are. So unlike that half-sister of yours. My poor brother doesn’t know what he is letting himself in for.”

“Hush.” Lissa put her fingers to her lips. “Let’s not talk of Araminta.”

“I won’t say another word on the subject except that I predict interesting times ahead. My brother received a most extraordinary missive yesterday that I hope might change matters considerably, despite certain complications.”

“Oh, Ralph, what?”

He shook his head and buttoned his lips together even as he smiled. “A true diplomatist does not speak of such things until they have come to pass.”

“But you just said you—”

“Loved you? Actually, I didn’t say those words, which was really quite remiss of me, because in fact I do love you. Quite sincerely...and I could go further. Quite passionately, only I dare not dwell on the extent of those dangerous depths when my feelings are immaterial if I’m unable to act upon them.”

“Oh Ralph, what a ridiculous speech. If you love me, you can say it properly. I like to hear it.” She reached forward and kissed him quickly on the lips. “There. In my employer’s conservatory. How much greater proof do you need that my feelings match yours?”