Disgrace and Desire(37)

She had never attended a public ball before and as she walked into the large echoing entrance hall her first instinct was to turn and run back to the safety of her carriage. Not that she could find fault with the bewigged and powdered footmen on duty at the door. Their livery was as fine as any she had seen, but the shrieks and unbridled laughter coming from the masked and disguised guests was very far from the genteel murmur of a ton party. Uncultured, nasal voices clashed with the over-refined accents of females whom she suspected to be the wives of wealthy tradesmen, dressed as fine as duchesses and gazing about them in surprise and disapproval at the free and easy manners of some of the revellers.

Eloise wanted to clutch her cloak about her but an insistent footman blocked her way and it was quite clear that she would have to give it up. As she moved to the stairs she put her hand up to her mask to check that the strings were secure, then, squaring her shoulders, she moved up the sweeping staircase towards the huge ballroom, where the strains of a boulanger could just be heard above the noise of the crowd.

In the ballroom she looked about her, dismay in her heart when she observed so many strangers, all attired in gaudy costume. She wondered if Jack was present. Perhaps he was one of the figures disguised head to foot beneath an enveloping domino. A waiter approached and offered her a glass of wine. She waved him away: she needed to keep a clear head tonight. She moved to the side of the room and turned to watch the dancing. It was not yet midnight but already the crowd was very wild. A Harlequin skipped passed and grabbed at her, trying to pull her on to the dance floor. Eloise dragged her hand free and stepped back even further, until she was standing at the edge of a small, shadowed alcove.

‘Not inclined to dance tonight?’

Jack’s low murmur drew a gasp from her and he added quickly, ‘Do not turn. Keep your eyes on the dancers.’

She began to fan herself, holding the sticks high to cover her mouth as she replied,

‘How long have you been here?’

‘Not long. I saw you come in.’

‘I am glad you are here. I did not expect it to be quite so…raucous.’

‘Do not be afraid. I will let no one accost you.’

‘Let me see you.’ She wanted desperately to look at him. ‘How shall I find you?’

She heard him chuckle.

‘There are many black dominos here tonight. Best to let me find you.’

‘Oh, but—’ A laughing couple cannoned into her and she was knocked back against the wall. They ran on, heedless, and by the time she had recovered and turned to peer into the alcove, it was empty.

Eloise wandered around the room. Her low-cut gown was attracting attention and she studiously ignored the many invitations from gentlemen to dance or to join them for supper. It was a comfort to know that Jack was nearby, although she could not see him. Her eyes sought out anyone wearing a black domino. There were several, but most were far too short to be Jack. She was so engrossed in her thoughts that she did not notice the gentleman in an old-fashioned coat and large black periwig until he spoke to her.

‘So you came, Lady Allyngham.’

She stiffened immediately, but knew an irrational desire to laugh when she looked at the speaker.

‘I had no choice.’ Her lip curled. ‘You see yourself as the merry monarch, Sir Ronald?’

He bowed.

‘It seemed appropriate, since you are Nell Gwyn. Allow me to say how well you look in that costume, my dear.’

She waved her hand impatiently.

‘Say what you have to say and let me leave this place.’

‘I want your answer. Will you be my wife?’

‘I have not yet decided.’

He placed a hand under her elbow and guided her, none too gently, to the far end of the room, where a series of pillars supported a minstrels’ gallery. The area beneath the gallery was not lit, and the heavy columns cast deep shadows across the space. At first Eloise thought the area was deserted, but as her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom she could see that there were couples in each of the shadowy corners, their bodies writhing against the walls. She averted her eyes.

Sir Ronald turned to face her.

‘My patience is running low, madam. I have given you time enough to make a decision. You know the consequences of refusing me. Are you prepared to suffer that? Your name disgraced, Mortimer branded a criminal.’

She snapped open her fan and began to wave it angrily.

‘I am well aware of the risks, but what you ask…’

His lips parted in an evil grin. She took a step back and found a cold, unyielding pillar behind her.

‘Would you rather I traded the journal page by page?’ he said, leaning so close that she could feel his breath on her face. She averted her gaze and he continued softly, ‘I could do that, you know.’ He trailed one finger across the low scoop of her bodice. ‘I would give you a sheet from the journal for each night you spend in my bed. As long as you pleased me, of course.’ His lips brushed her neck and she froze, gritting her teeth to suppress the shudder of revulsion. He laughed softly. ‘You do not like that plan, so I will be generous and honour my original offer: marry me and you shall have the journal immediately.’ He grasped her jaw, forcing her to look at him. ‘And do not think that you can ask Major Clifton to help you.’ He took her arm and turned her towards the room again. ‘Oh, yes, I know he is here, thinking he can protect you. Look—’ his voice grated in her ear ‘—that is your precious major over there, is it not? In the black domino. But you see the two rustics on his right, and the piratical figure behind him? They are all my men. I realised at Renwick Hall that Clifton was likely to be a threat so I had him followed. I only have to give the word and they will cut him down like a dog.’ Eloise gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. Deforge hissed, ‘You have alarmed him. You had best signal to him not to approach. And quickly!’

The tall figure in the black domino had taken a few steps towards her. Behind him a huge bearded man in a pirate’s costume was reaching for the gleaming, evil-looking blade in his belt. Frightened, she shook her head. Jack stopped and with a struggle she summoned up a reassuring smile.

Behind her, Sir Ronald murmured, ‘Well done. You have averted a tragedy.’

‘You would commit murder to achieve your ends?’

‘Not I, my lady. It would have been a drunken brawl. No one could connect it to me.’

‘You are an out-and-out villain!’

‘No, I am merely protecting my interests. You have only to agree to marry me and Clifton will be safe.’

She shook her head and looked at him, bewildered.

‘What happiness can there be with a wife that hates you?’

His thick lips parted into a leer and his grip tightened on her arm, the fingers digging into the flesh.

‘Schooling you will be part of the enjoyment. And you must not forget that you bring with you the Allyngham fortune. So, madam. Your answer, now, if you please.’ She swallowed nervously. A net was closing around her, cutting off every means of escape. At last she said in a low voice, ‘You leave me no choice.’

‘Then you will marry me. Say it.’

‘Yes.’ Eloise lifted her head. ‘I will marry you.’

His triumphant look made her shudder. She watched him raise his hand, an innocuous gesture but immediately the shepherds and the pirate hovering behind the black domino melted away into the crowd.

‘I shall send a notice to the newspapers in the morning, announcing that the wedding will take place on Friday next.’ He held out his arm to her. ‘My lady?’

She stepped away from him.

‘If that is all you have to say to me I shall leave now.’ She fixed her eyes upon his face. ‘But be warned, sir. If anything happens to Major Clifton I promise you I shall cry off, do what you will with the journal!’

His hateful smile appeared.

‘My dear, I think you care for the major even more than your good name. But have you told him what is in that journal? No, I thought not.’ He leaned closer. ‘Do you suppose the honourable Major Clifton will want any connection with the Allyngham family once he knows the truth?’

‘That is none of your concern. I merely want your word that you will not harm him.’

‘As long as you stick to our bargain the major is safe, but his continued well-being depends upon you.’ He ran a finger down her arm. ‘Be a good wife to me and there is no reason why Major Clifton should not enjoy a long and peaceful existence.’ He gripped her arm and added, ‘If you prove troublesome, however, I will make sure that your precious major meets a very slow and painful death. There are ways, you see; methods that would have even Jack Clifton begging for it to end. Do you understand me, my lady?’

Eloise shook off his hand. She said in a low voice, ‘I understand you.’

‘Then everyone is happy.’ The smug note in his voice angered her but she said nothing and he continued. ‘I must hold a party, to celebrate our betrothal. It is short notice, but I believe the ton will come, if only out of curiosity. What think you?’

She shrugged.

‘Do as you please.’

‘Oh, I will. It shall be next Tuesday, at my house in Wardle Street, and I expect you to be at my side. I shall be the envy of the ton, shall I not? The man who won the Glorious Allyngham.’