Lady Beneath the Veil(37)

So Max had planned this. Gideon felt the slow burn of his anger as he  took his seat for the main performance. From his seat he could see only  Dominique's profile, but when Lady Grayson leaned to whisper something  in her ear, the smile she gave in return was forced. The incident in the  foyer was not forgotten.

* * *

The performance ended, but although Dominique applauded heartily she  could not recall a single scene. Lord Grayson went off to his club and  Lady Grayson, oblivious of the tensions in the box, reminded Gwen that  they had planned to go on to the rout at Baverstock House.

'We shall be there in time for supper, is that not what you said, Mr  Hatfield?' Lady Grayson fixed the gentleman with an enquiring gaze and  he floundered hopelessly, unwilling to commit himself.

Lord Ribblestone took out his snuffbox.

'I have ordered the carriage to be waiting and I intend to return to  Grosvenor Square.' He looked towards his wife. 'Will you come with me,  madam?'

Dominique held her breath, willing Gwendoline to go home with her husband.

'But I am pledged to go to the rout,' said Gwen, tossing her head.

For a long moment no one stirred. The atmosphere was brittle as glass.  Lord Ribblestone put away his snuffbox and Dominique thought she saw the  veriest tightening of his mouth.

'As you will, my dear.'

He departed and Mr Hatfield gave an audible sigh of relief. Gwen did  not look very happy with her victory and impulsively Dominique touched  her arm.

'Let Gideon run after Anthony and tell him that you have changed your mind.'

'But I have not,' protested Gwendoline, shaking off her hand. 'La, that  I should forgo a party of pleasure to sit at home! If you are ready,  Lady Grayson, Mr Hatfield, let us be off to the rout.'

* * *

'Shall we go home, my dear?'

Gideon placed her cloak about her shoulders and Dominique immediately  forgot Gwen's troubles as his hands lingered for a moment, their warmth  seeping through the silk and into her skin. The meeting with Max and  Agnes Bennet had dominated her thoughts since the interval. Gideon's  face was a polite mask, but she had no doubt that he, too, was thinking  of it. Dominique understood only too clearly why Gideon had wanted to  marry the actress. She was everything that Dominique was not-tall, fair  and beautiful-and no doubt well versed in the art of pleasing a man.

All through the comic opera Dominique had thought about her. As the  musicians played she had heard that dark, smoky laugh, remembered the  graceful beauty, the cerulean-blue eyes and painted lips curving into an  alluring smile. It was useless to remind herself that she was Gideon's  wife, the mother of his child. If his own father advocated taking a  mistress, why should he not give in to the temptation?

In the darkness of their carriage as they drove back to Chalcots he reached for her hand.

'You are very quiet.'                       
       
           



       

'I am fatigued. It has been a long evening.'

'I hope you are not fretting about your cousin. Or Mrs Bennet.'

'No, of course not.' She was glad he could not see her face in the  darkness. She added, unable to help herself, 'She is very beautiful.'

'Exquisite.' Her heart sank. 'But you have nothing to fear from her,  Dominique. I have no intention of renewing that particular  acquaintance.'

Fine words, but would he be able to resist, having seen her again? Only time would tell.

'Dominique?'

'Yes?'

'You do believe me, don't you?

'Yes. I believe you.'

'That is good.' He kissed her hand and squeezed it before letting it go  so that he could put his arm about her. 'If there is anything troubling  you, anything at all, you must tell me. Do you understand?'

She leaned against his shoulder, breathing in the familiar scent of  him, the mixture of soap and clean linen and the faint spicy cologne he  wore on his skin.

'I understand.'

But when they reached the house, he kissed her gently and left her at the bedroom door. As he always did.

* * *

Gideon found his wife very quiet the following morning and she did not  greet him with her usual sunny smile. He poured himself a coffee and was  debating whether to ask her what was the matter when the butler came in  to tell him that the carriage had just returned from Brook Street.

'Ah, yes, thank you, Thomas.' Gideon put down his cup and addressed  Dominique. 'Rogers told me yesterday that he has a tenant for my  father's house, so I asked Mrs Wilkins to clear the rooms of all our  personal effects and send them here. There should not be much, but  perhaps you would like to tell the servants where you want everything  stored?'

'Yes, of course.' She began to fold her napkin.

Gideon raised his brows.

'You do not need to dash off immediately, my dear. The luggage will wait.'

''No, I-um-I have finished here, thank you. I shall deal with it now.'

Gideon watched her go, a faint crease in his brow. There were dark  circles beneath her eyes, but surely they were not caused by the events  at the theatre, for he had reassured her that she had nothing to fear.  Seeing Agnes on Max's arm had been a shock, but Gideon was surprised at  how little he now felt for the woman. Perhaps Dominique was fretting  over the baby. He decided he would visit the nursery when he had broken  his fast, but when he got there Nurse assured him that Baby James was  giving no cause for concern. He went off to his study, still frowning.

Was Gwen's behaviour causing Nicky to be anxious? There was no doubt  that his sister was playing a dangerous game with her flirts and  cicisbeos. Gideon did not believe she had taken a lover, but if she  meant to make Ribblestone jealous by her actions then he feared she  would find herself far off the mark. They were dining at Grosvenor  Square that evening, so perhaps he would take the opportunity to drop a  word of warning in Gwen's ear. Anthony was as easy-going as a man could  be, but he would only stand her nonsense for so long. Gideon tried to  think what he would do if Dominique were to tease him in the same way  and was shocked at the anger that shot through him. He was obliged to  push the idea away as he sat down at his desk and began to go through  the post that Thomas had left there for him. If there was nothing urgent  he would find Dominique and invite her to ride out with him. That might  help to dispel whatever worries had driven the smile from her eyes.

The pile of letters was small: a few tradesmen's bills, a note from  Rogers, confirming the arrangements for letting the house in Brook  Street, and a small, sealed note that had been delivered by hand. He  broke the seal and unfolded the paper, his jaw tightening as he read  through the neatly written lines.

* * *

Dominique stood in the hall, looking at the boxes, bags and  portmanteaux before her. She consigned them all to the attics, with the  exception of the battered and corded trunk that Max had sent from  Martlesham. Her eyes dwelled thoughtfully on the door to the oak  parlour, where Gideon was finishing his breakfast, then with sudden  decision she directed the servants to take the trunk to her bedchamber.                       
       
           



       

* * *

Mindful of the instructions in the letter, Gideon drove to Piccadilly  and left Sam in charge of the curricle while he made his way on foot  into Green Park. He strode quickly to the area between the reservoir and  the Lodge and as he approached, a cloaked figure turned and he found  himself looking into the beautiful face of Agnes Bennet.

'We'd best walk on,' she murmured. 'It will look less suspicious if anyone should see us.'

There was a flatness to her vowels that he had not heard before. She was no longer trying to pretend she was a lady.

'You wanted to see me,' he said, falling into step beside her.

'Lord Martlesham ordered it.' She met his sceptical glance and looked  away quickly. 'He threatened to break my arm if I did not do so. He  wants me to make mischief between you and your wife.'

'And do you think you can?'

She shrugged. 'I don't even want to try. Making trouble between a man  and his wife ain't my style. Martlesham played you both false last year  when he contrived your marriage.' She paused. 'I wasn't easy about that,  but if I hadn't done it he'd have found someone else. And he was paying  me so very well it was impossible to refuse. I thought it would be a  little harmless jollity-'

'Harmless!'

She flushed.

'I did not realise he meant to carry it through to a full marriage  ceremony. When I heard-' She looked up at him. 'That was a cruel trick  to play on you and on the young lady. I apologise.'

'Is that why you wanted to meet, to salve your conscience with an  apology?' Gideon could not stop his lip curling in derision. 'Is that  the important matter you wanted to discuss?'

'No! No, although I am glad of the opportunity to tell you I regret my part in the whole thing.'

'What, then?'

'I've information for you, about your wife's dowry.'