Lady Beneath the Veil(41)

'She promised to be here by ten o'clock so, yes, we can eat together first, if I hurry.'

'No need,' he said, walking to the door. 'Gwen was never one for timekeeping. Don't expect to see her until at least eleven!'

* * *

But in this instance Gideon was proved wrong, for the clock in the hall  was chiming ten when Gwen swept into the breakfast room, the skirts of  her bronze-velvet walking dress billowing around her and the ostrich  plumes on her matching hat bouncing quite violently.

'No, don't get up, my dear, finish your coffee.' She put a hand briefly  on Dominique's shoulder, then walked around the table to kiss Gideon,  who had risen to meet her. 'Dear brother!' She shifted her searching  gaze to Dominique. 'Well, what am I to make of your leaving my party so  early last night?'

'My wife was fatigued,' offered Gideon, his mouth lifting with the beginnings of a smile.

'Indeed?' Gwen's eyes narrowed as she looked from one to the other,  then she gave a little trill of laughter. 'Heavens, but you both look  very guilty! You have no need, my dears, I do not need to quiz you,  since there is such an air of happiness about you both.'                       
       
           



       

'So you are off to town this morning.' said Gideon, changing the subject. 'Where do you shop?'

'Bond Street, of course.'

'If you have time, perhaps you would call into Irwin's, on Oxford  Street,' he suggested. 'He was fixing a new band on my best beaver hat  and it should be ready.'

Gwen pulled a face, but Dominique said immediately, 'Of course we can  call there, Gideon. It is not too far out of our way, is it, Gwen?'

Lady Ribblestone gave an elegant shrug.

'No-o, we can as well look in the shops there as anywhere else, I  suppose. And afterwards I shall take Dominique to Grosvenor Square for a  little refreshment before I send her back to you in time for dinner.'

'Excellent.' Dominique pushed back her chair. 'I will fetch my pelisse.'

As Dominique walked past her husband he caught her wrist. 'I have no  objection to you spending whatever you need, my dear, as long as it  includes at least one shift as outrageous as the one you wore last  night.'

Gwen laughed, but Dominique's cheeks flamed and she almost ran out of the room, dragging Gwen with her.

* * *

Gideon drove the five miles or so into town at a steady pace, his mind  as much on the events of the night as the forthcoming assignation.  Dominique had surprised him yesterday. He stifled a laugh. She had said  she deliberately set out to lure him and, by God, she had succeeded.  From the moment he had seen her in that red gown, looking so delectable,  he had been unable to think of anything else. He had even forgotten to  warn his sister to cease her flirtatious behaviour or risk Anthony's  wrath. Perhaps there would be time to speak to her when she brought  Dominique back from her shopping trip. Dominique. He could even call her  by her rightful name now. How wrong he had been to treat her like some  fragile creature who would break at the slightest chill wind, when in  fact she was flesh and blood, as passionate as he. All those months of  restraint, of keeping his distance, of believing she was responding to  him only out of duty.

He had thought that the passion they had shared on their wedding night  had been a mistake, a heady mix of anger and nerves and wine. Since then  he had done his duty, keeping his desires and his feelings buried deep,  but it was a long time since he had thought of his wife as a burden, an  inconvenience-his wife by mistake. When he had awoken this morning and  found her asleep in his arms he had been overwhelmed by some deep,  primitive emotion that he now recognised as a profound and all-consuming  love. It had cost him something to leave her sleeping, when he had  wanted to wake her and tell her of his revelation, but there would be  time for that later. First he needed to meet Agnes, to look at those  papers and see if they really did mean that Dominique and her mother  were not penniless. He did not care a jot that his wife had no dowry,  but he knew it mattered a great deal to Dominique and he valued her  happiness and comfort far above his own.

He took out his watch: eleven-thirty. He was in good time. He skirted  Hyde Park and entered Piccadilly from the west, knowing that Gwen and  Dominique were unlikely to come so far out of their way, especially now  they were collecting his hat for him from Oxford Street. As on the  previous day he left Sam with the curricle and went off alone into Green  Park. Several couples were strolling there, but the area of trees where  he was to meet Agnes was deserted. He was beginning to wonder if  something had occurred to prevent her coming when he saw her hurrying  towards him, her grey cloak pulled close, despite the warmth of the late  May sunshine.

'I beg your pardon, I was delayed.' She pulled a packet of papers from  under her cloak. 'They are all there, including the letter from Coutts'  Bank. I hope you can use them to serve the earl a bad turn. Give 'im a  bloody nose from me, Gideon.'

'I shall do my best.' Gideon glanced at the papers. He would need to  study them, but not here. 'Thank you, for these. What do you do now?'

'I ain't going back to the earl, that's for sure.' She folded her arms  across her chest. 'That's why I was delayed. I sent my things off this  morning and I mean to follow them.'                       
       
           



       

'Where do you go?'

She shook her head. 'Best you don't know, my dear. All I will say is that I am to catch the Holyhead mail.'

Gideon frowned. 'That sets off from the Bull and Mouth, doesn't it?'

'Aye, t'other end of Piccadilly. I left the earl's carriage waiting for  me on the south side of the park. By the time they realises I ain't  coming back I shall be long gone.'

'It is still dangerous,' said Gideon. 'If the earl discovers what you  are about, he is bound to search the coaching inns.' He thought quickly.  'The next stop will be where, Islington?'

'Aye, the Peacock.'

'Then I'll drive you there. You will be safer out of town.'

'That's very kind of you.' She shot a glance up at him. 'Is it for old times' sake?'

He laughed.

'No, but when you tricked me into marriage it was the best thing that  ever happened to me, so you deserve something for that! Come along. Let  us get you away from here.'





Chapter Seventeen

Dominique spent the carriage ride into town warding off her sister-in-law's questions.

'This is most ungenerous of you,' protested Gwen, laughing. 'You arrive  at my party last night, looking so ravishing that no man has eyes for  anyone else, then you steal away with Gideon before the tea tray is  brought in! What am I to think?'

'Whatever you wish,' replied Dominique twinkling. Then, relenting, she  laughed and blushed. 'Oh, Gwen, it was wonderful. I really think he  cares for me.'

'Did he say so?'

'Not in so many words, but I hope that will follow.'

'Yes, I hope so, too,' replied Gwen sincerely. 'He was certainly very loving towards you this morning.'

Dominique hesitated. 'Perhaps you should try the same thing with your husband.'

'I gave up trying to woo Anthony years ago. He is more interested in  his politics than his wife. I have positively flaunted my flirts before  him and he does not notice.' Gwen's mouth drooped and for a moment she  looked very despondent, then she gave herself a little shake, and her  generous smile reappeared. 'But this is dismal talk when we have  shopping to do. Madame Sienna's first, I think, and then perhaps we  should visit Bertram's warehouse and find something to make you another  dashy dress!'

* * *

Dominique had been quite happy to go along with Gwen's plans, her head  still full of Gideon and the night they had shared, but she was forced  to put aside her beatific daydreams when they emerged from the modiste's  shop.

'Oh, dear,' exclaimed Gwen, 'it is your cousin. Look, he has just emerged from Clifford Street. And he is coming this way.'

There was no avoiding him and, judging by the way his face lit up when  he recognised her, Dominique knew he was going to stop and talk to her.

'There is no avoiding him now, I suppose,' muttered Gwen, linking her  arm though Dominique's for support. When he raised his hat she said  coolly, 'Lord Martlesham.'

'Lady Ribblestone, and my dear cousin.'

His oily greeting immediately put Dominique on the alert. She nodded  silently, hoping he would stand aside to let them pass, but, no. He  merely looked pained.

'So haughty, Dominique, after all I have done to promote your happiness.'

'To destroy it would be more accurate.'

'No, no, Cousin, your welfare has always been my first consideration. Does your husband know you are in town?'

Dominique raised her brows, saying coldly, 'Of course.'

'Perhaps he has arranged to meet you later.'

'No, he is at Chalcots.'

His smile grew.

'I think not.'

'You must allow Mrs Albury to know best, my lord,' put in Gwen. 'We left my brother taking breakfast.'