Regency: Mischief & Marriage: Secret Heiress / Bartered Bride

Chapter Five

Eliza woke with a sigh on her lips. Her dream had been so enjoyable. She had been living at a pleasant house in the country. In the garden children were playing and she had been aware of a feeling of deep content.

The feeling faded as she recalled that the Marquis of Cheadle was calling that morning. He would want to know every detail of what had happened when a masked highwayman held his carriage at pistol point, and there was so much she could never tell him.

Had she been able to avoid what must obviously be an awkward interview, she would have done so. However, she suspected that the marquis did not give up easily. He was determined to have the truth and she must try to oblige him, without giving Daniel’s secret away.

Oh dear, she was beginning to think of Lord Seaton as Daniel. She suspected that he had been at the centre of her happy dream the previous night and knew she was being very silly. Kate had told her that he was a consummate flirt, though not precisely a rake. He had a mistress and might consider she was fair game, for a companion was not off bounds as a girl like Kate Henderson would be.

A part of her felt that she had known him for years. She both liked and trusted him despite his brief adventure as a highwayman, yet she must not like him too much.

Dressing in a simple grey gown that was far more suitable for her situation than the gown she had worn the previous evening, she went along the hall to see if her employer needed anything. It would be best for all concerned if she put Lord Seaton out of her mind.

Both Eliza and Lady Sarah were in the parlour when the marquis was announced at a quarter to noon. Eliza felt a sinking sensation in her stomach as he was shown into the elegant room.

However, the marquis seemed a perfectly polite gentleman, enquiring after the ladies’ health before sitting down and turning his attention to Eliza.

‘Well, Miss Bancroft, perhaps you could explain to me what happened that day? My coachman says that the rogue rode off with you. He was fearful for your safety, but you returned a short while later seeming none the worse for your ordeal.’ His gaze narrowed intently. ‘Could you explain that little mystery, please?’

Eliza glanced at Lady Sarah and then took a deep breath. ‘I am not perfectly certain what was intended, sir. The… gentleman seemed interested in discovering what I was doing in your carriage, sir.’ Her cheeks felt hot as she avoided his eyes. ‘I hardly like to say what was implied…’

‘Indeed?’ The marquis was silent for a moment, then, ‘May I hazard a guess that the rogue imagined you my mistress?’

‘I think something of the kind was in his mind. When I denied it I was allowed to return to the carriage.’

‘I see.’ The marquis stood up and took a little turn about the parlour before coming back to her. ‘It would seem the rogue claims to have knowledge of me. I must have made an enemy. Were you robbed, Miss Bancroft? I shall repay whatever was stolen, for it was clearly I or someone close to me he meant to rob.’

‘No. My purse was returned to me and a ring that is precious to me. It is all I have of my mother, you see.’

‘And he did not harm or insult you in any way?’

‘Not at all, sir.’ Eliza faltered. ‘I thought it a foolish prank—perhaps for a wager?’

‘A prank you think? Had my men used their weapons, he or they might have died or been badly injured. I do not call that a mere prank, Miss Bancroft.’ She looked at him. His gaze was so severe that she dropped her head. ‘Was there anything you noticed in particular about the rogue? His voice, manner—the colour of his eyes?’

‘Oh…’ She hesitated, then, ‘His voice was rough, but may have been disguised. His eyes may have been grey… or perhaps blue. I could not be certain, sir. I was a little nervous. I am sorry I cannot tell you more.’

‘You have told me more than you imagine,’ he replied with a nod of satisfaction. ‘Plainly, the man is no common thief, but someone with a grudge against me personally.’

‘Who do you think it could be?’ Lady Sarah asked as Eliza remained silent.

‘Someone who knows me well enough to need to disguise himself, though not as well as he imagines. I do not trap decent young ladies into becoming my mistress, though I shall not deny certain accommodations in the past with married ladies who understood the rules.’ His expression relaxed a little. ‘Please forgive me, Miss Bancroft. I am sorry you were used so ill when under my protection. The rogue will be brought to justice, I assure you. If he is a gentleman, he will meet me for this and think himself fortunate to escape the noose.’

‘I am sorry you feel this a personal slight. I am certain it was a harmless prank.’

‘I am surprised that you should take this so calmly, Miss Bancroft. Very surprised.’

He looked at Eliza hard and she blushed. What must he be thinking? Perhaps that she was involved with a man of ill repute—and therefore not the proper person to be companion to Lady Sarah?’

She noticed that he rubbed at the little finger of his left hand, as if he were seeking for something he had lost. Lady Sarah noticed it too.

‘You do not wear your ring,’ Lady Sarah murmured. ‘Is it lost?’

‘Temporarily. I hope to have it restored soon.’

‘Mine was lost years ago, but a ring is just a ring. Memories never leave one.’

During the silence that followed her words, Eliza sensed an undercurrent of feeling—of sharing. It was so intense that she wished she might leave them together without appearing to suggest she understood. In her mind there was no doubt that there had been something special between the marquis and her employer. She could feel the sadness and saw echoes of a lost love in Lady Sarah’s eyes. Her senses told her that there was an old mystery here, but in seconds the barriers were in place again. A casual politeness was resumed and the marquis turned to Eliza, his eyes narrowed and thoughtful.

‘My wife and daughter are in Bath. They did not attend the assembly last evening for they wished to recover from the journey. I think my daughter must be two years or so younger than you, Miss Bancroft. I shall make certain that both you and Lady Sarah are invited to our ball.’

‘How kind of you, sir,’ Eliza said.

‘We shall be delighted to attend.’ Lady Sarah smiled a little wistfully. ‘How is Marianne? And your wife?’

‘Both are well. In confidence, I must tell you that we are expecting an offer for Marianne quite soon.’

‘I am sure she will marry well. She is, I know, a delightful girl.’

The marquis nodded, glanced at his watch, asked to be forgiven and took his leave.

Lady Sarah was silent for a few minutes after he had gone, staring into space as if her mind were elsewhere. Eliza noticed that her hand trembled as she reached for a glass of restorative wine. She gave a little cry as it tipped and spilled a few drops.

‘How clumsy of me…’

‘So easily done,’ Eliza said and swiftly wiped the spill with a napkin the maid had brought earlier with their refreshments. ‘There, it was only a little and no harm done…’ She turned and saw that Lady Sarah’s cheeks were wet with tears. ‘Ma’am, are you ill?’

‘No, just upset.’ Lady Sarah dabbed at her cheeks with a lace kerchief. ‘Sit beside me, Eliza. I am going to tell you a secret, because I think you may have guessed at least a part of my story.’

‘You need tell me nothing, ma’am.’

‘I wish you to know.’ Lady Sarah reached for her hand. ‘You will speak of this to no one else. I know I may trust you, my dear. I was once very much in love with the gentleman who has just left us. He was handsome and charming, but at the time not rich. I was married to Lord Manners. He was not kind or loving and spent all his time with his mistresses in town. Because I was lonely, I was drawn into a love affair with a younger man. Henry was charming and he adored me. My husband discovered the affair, but would not release me. When my lover’s child was born, he took it away from me and forced me to give up my lover. I was devastated, but my husband was a cold cruel man and Cheadle would have been ruined had I defied him. He was younger than I and I felt it would be unfair to burden him with a woman who could not appear in society and a child—and so I chose seclusion in the country, where I stayed seeing only a few friends until my husband died.’

‘Oh, ma’am, how dreadful for you,’ Eliza exclaimed in sympathy. ‘I am so very sorry. I think you loved the marquis very much?’

‘He begged me to go away with him. My husband warned me that he would follow and kill us both. Even had my lover killed him in a duel, which he wanted to do, he would have lost everything. He could not have been an officer in the army with such a scandal hanging over him, and his uncle might easily have disowned him. I could not ruin his life so I agreed to my husband’s terms, though it broke my heart. Do you think me weak and foolish?’

‘Certainly not. You were trapped. There was nothing else you could do.’

‘I felt trapped until my husband died. He never forgave me and took every chance to punish me.’

‘I think you must have suffered a great deal.’

‘Yes, that is true. I have been lonely despite my friends and my son, who is very like his father. I hope one day to find my lost child, but my husband did not make it easy for me. Should I find her and acknowledge her, I should lose the right to live at the Dower House and the portion of his estate he left me. That would not leave me penniless, for I have money of my own, which was denied me while my husband lived—but I should be loathe to lose my home. However, I am determined to find my daughter if I can.’ Her hand tightened on Eliza’s. ‘At least I have you to keep me company. You have brought me a great deal of pleasure, Eliza. Indeed, it is almost like having my daughter with me.’

‘I am happy to be of some comfort to you, ma’am.’

For a moment Eliza was tempted to tell her her own story, but she decided that it would sound too particular, as if she were claiming some kind of kinship with Lady Sarah. That would be too much of a coincidence and was a foolish notion, which she instantly dismissed—though the stories were undoubtedly similar.

‘You are far more than that. Having you here has given me a reason to live, Eliza. I was quite low before you came.’

Eliza smiled and held her hand until she recovered her spirits. She was surprised and honoured to have been given her employer’s confidence. It showed trust and liking on Lady Sarah’s part and gave Eliza a warm glow inside. Not since Mama’s death had she felt needed or loved in quite this way. Of course no one would ever replace the woman who had given her so much love in her heart, but there was room for a good friend and she had found that friend in Lady Sarah.

‘Your invitation to join you was such a wonderful thing for me, ma’am. I had so little experience and did not know if my advertisement would bring any answers.’

‘It was so honest and simple that I knew you would be the right kind of girl. I shall of course keep you with me until you wish to move on, Eliza. I spoke of a trial period, but already I know you so well.’ She sighed with relief. ‘I feel better for having told you.’ She sat up straight in her chair. ‘Now we must both get ready. We are going visiting this afternoon. We shall call and take a dish of tea with various of my friends, but first we must have nuncheon here. Just a light meal, for this evening, as you know, we dine with Lady Julia and Kate.’

The afternoon passed swiftly. Eliza found herself looking from the carriage window in the hope of catching sight of Daniel Seaton. Had she known his direction she might have sent a short note to his lodgings warning him that the Marquis of Cheadle intended to discover the identity of the highwayman. She hoped she had not said anything that would give the marquis a clue. She had sensed something between him and Lord Seaton when they spoke the previous evening. Did Cheadle already suspect him? No, no, why should he? Yet there was definitely some hidden antagonism between the two.

The marquis intended to get to the bottom of the affair. Eliza wished that she could warn Daniel, but fate was not kind to her that day. He was nowhere to be seen in the streets they drove through, nor was he invited to Lady Julia’s dinner.

It was not until the next morning that fortune smiled on her. Lady Sarah had asked that she visit the library and pick up a small packet from the home of Dr Morgan.

‘Doctor Morgan has prepared some new powders for me, Eliza. I could send one of the maids, but I prefer not to disclose private matters to others and the servants will talk. His house is close by the library and it will save the doctor another visit.’

‘I shall be happy to fetch the books and your medicine.’

Eliza was pleased with the chance of a walk. She hoped she might have the good fortune to meet with Daniel Seaton and chanced to see him leaving a small hotel opposite the doctor’s house.

‘Lord Seaton,’ she called. ‘A moment, if you please.’

He heard her voice and crossed the quiet street to greet her with a warm smile. ‘Well met, Miss Bancroft. I was thinking I might call on the chance you were free to drive out with me this afternoon.’

‘I fear I have a prior arrangement with Miss Henderson, but I am glad of a chance to speak with you, sir. Had I known the direction of your lodgings, I should have sent a note yesterday.’

‘Indeed?’ His eyes were suddenly intent and very blue. ‘That sounds serious.’

‘I believe it may be. The Marquis of Cheadle knows of the hold-up. He questioned me closely. I told him as little as I dare, but he suspects the highwayman may be a gentleman—perhaps someone he knows.’

‘I am undone,’ Daniel cried and grinned as he saw her start of alarm. ‘No, Miss Bancroft, how could he guess? I dare say there are a hundred gentlemen in London who may have a score to settle with Cheadle.’

‘I think he suspects there was more to the affair than I have told him—that I am perhaps in league with a person of ill repute.’

‘That might make things awkward for you, for he could try to influence your employer against you.’

‘He means to find the man responsible.’

‘Well, I think he will find that difficult.’ Daniel frowned. ‘Still, for your sake, it may be best if we do not appear to be on intimate terms, Miss Bancroft. I would not have you suffer for such a piece of nonsense. However, my advice remains the same—be careful of Cheadle, for I would not trust him. I have good reason for what I say, believe me.’

‘I believe he is painted blacker than he truly is, sir,’ Eliza said, thinking of what Lady Sarah had told her.

‘Indeed? You must know more of him than I, Miss Bancroft.’

‘Oh, no…’ She blushed under his eagle eye. ‘I hardly know him at all. I believe he could be a dangerous man to have as your enemy, my lord. Perhaps you should tread carefully in your dealings with him.’

‘You think so?’ He looked vastly offended. ‘I am not afraid of any man.’

‘No! I did not mean that, of course. It is simply that I feel as if I have known you for so long and I care what—’ She broke off in confusion—she had said far too much.

The expression of annoyance faded and a twinkle appeared in his eyes. ‘Do you, Miss Bancroft? How very odd that is to be sure. I thought it was but a few weeks since I knocked you into the bramble bush and then held a gun pointed at your heart.’

‘You like to mock me, sir. You must understand that our—acquaintance—has been a trifle unusual.’ She had a tight rein on her feelings now. ‘You knew perfectly well what I meant.’

He met her accusing look with one of amusement. ‘Perfectly, since I feel much the same. I would go so far as to say you are in my thoughts almost constantly, Miss Bancroft. You have quite overset all my well-laid plans.’

‘I do not understand you, sir.’

‘Do you not?’ He laughed softly. ‘Perhaps that is as well, for truly I do not either.’

‘You speak in riddles, sir.’ Eliza gave him a frowning glance, but her heart raced. There was such a look in his eyes, a look that seemed to challenge and provoke. She knew he was flirting with her, but could not quite squash the tiny seed of hope that had insensibly taken root in her heart. Her senses told her that this growing feeling between them was more than mere liking, but her mind denied it as a foolish girl’s dream. The sensible woman in her knew that she could never be more to him than a flirt.

She was a lovechild, a bastard, born of good families and brought up as the daughter of a country parson. Papa had been the third son of an impoverished baron, Mama the daughter of a schoolteacher. Lord Seaton was from another world, another class. She must never forget that, because if she did she would lose her claim to respectability.