At least, not to Ellen.
The rest of the party were on the far side of the monument and Phyllida walked around to join them. Adrian Wakefield and Grace were trying to read the poems carved into the stone while the three young ladies were strolling arm in arm with Mr Tesford beside them. When he saw Phyllida approaching he gave a slight bow and moved away. She looked at the girls, her brows raised.
‘Have I interrupted something?’
‘Not at all,’ replied Ellen with feeling. ‘He is the most tedious character, always trying to separate us. Thank goodness you came and scowled at him.’
‘I did not scowl,’ Phyllida protested.
‘No, no, of course not,’ agreed Penelope. ‘But you did look a little serious, and the fact that he retreated so quickly confirms Ellen’s suspicion that he is up to no good.’
‘Really?’ replied Phyllida, startled. ‘Has he said or done anything untoward?’
Ellen shook her head.
‘Oh, no, he is always very polite, but he does prowl around, watching us.’
‘Watching you, Ellen,’ Julia corrected her. She turned to Phyllida, saying with a giggle, ‘Ellen thinks he is trying to make up to her, ma’am. Because of her fortune. And it is true, he threw out the broadest hints for Grace to invite him today. He told her he had always had the liveliest curiosity to see Sir Bevil’s monument yet he has scarcely looked at it.’
‘I have no doubt Mr Arrandale did much the same with your brother,’ Phyllida responded.
‘He would not need to do so,’ put in Ellen. ‘Adrian is friends with Mr Arrandale and he knows that his mama likes him, too, in spite of his wicked reputation. Lady Wakefield says Mr Arrandale has been a model of propriety while he has been in Bath. And I have always found him most entertaining.’
Phyllida was startled by Ellen’s fierce defence of Richard and she replied swiftly, ‘I believe that is the way with most rakes. They are universally charming and it behoves ladies—young and old!—to beware of them.’
The girls stared at her and Phyllida wondered if she had been wise to respond quite so sternly, then Ellen gave a little trill of laughter.
‘Goodness, Philly, that is the nearest you have ever come to lecturing me.’ She reached out her free hand. ‘Come along, Stepmama, if you are so worried for our virtue you had best stay with us until it is time to ride back.’
Before Phyllida could remonstrate with Ellen for her sauciness Grace Stapleton came up, hanging on her brother’s arm.
‘Did someone mention going back? I think it is time we did. There is a cold wind blowing and the monument’s exposed position means we feel the full force of it.’
‘Then if everyone has seen enough, let us return to the horses, by all means,’ said Phyllida, wondering, not for the first time, if she was indeed up to the task of taking care of her stepdaughter.
As the little party made their way back to the copse where the grooms were waiting with the horses, Arnold Tesford fell in beside Richard.
‘I saw you trying to butter up the widow, Arrandale. You won’t succeed. I have tried but she is having none of it. She keeps a close eye on the heiress, too.’
‘Are you surprised?’
‘No, but I thought the chit might be ripe for a lark. Young women are very keen on secret meetings, that sort of thing. They think it romantic.’
‘Perhaps it is your methods that are at fault,’ drawled Richard.
‘Oh? Have you had more success?’
‘None at all, but then, I have decided to withdraw from the lists.’
Tesford subjected him to another searching glance then, having satisfied himself that Richard was sincere, he nodded moodily.
‘Aye, thinking of doing so myself. Not that she ain’t a little beauty, but she eludes my every attempt to get close. I don’t see that I’ll ever get her into my bed.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I suppose I could try abducting her.’
Richard’s blood ran cold, not only for Ellen Tatham but for the effect such an action would have on Phyllida. He feigned indifference.
‘I doubt if she’d go quietly, she looks like a little spitfire. And even if you compromised her I wouldn’t put it past the family to hush it up and forbid the banns.’
‘Perhaps, but remember the wager. I should still be ten thousand pounds better off.’
‘If you lived to collect it.’
Tesford stopped, his brows raised in surprise, and Richard felt compelled to explain.
‘It’s true that the widow is the girl’s sole guardian, but that doesn’t mean she is friendless.’
‘You mean there is someone who would call me out?’
‘Oh, yes,’ said Richard grimly. ‘And he’s a crack shot, too.’
‘The devil!’ Tesford went very pale. ‘I wonder if the others know that?’
‘I have no idea,’ said Richard, as they began to walk on again. ‘If I were you I’d warn ’em.’
Now what had possessed him to say such a thing? According to Lady Phyllida, Ellen Tatham had plenty of male relations, but he had no idea if any of them would be prepared to fight for her honour. Still, if the thought kept vermin such as Tesford from attempting an assault upon the girl he could not regret it.
Phyllida used the ride back to Bath to think over all Richard had said and done. He had assured her he had no interest in Ellen, and his behaviour today had gone some way to confirm it, but she could not be sure. She had so little experience of men. Of life. She wanted to believe him, she would believe him, although she would not trust him, not just yet. She would give him the opportunity to prove himself. That, she thought, was a sensible solution, and one that made her feel just a little happier. When they reached the streets of Bath and the party broke up to go their separate ways, Julia asked shyly if Ellen might be allowed to join them at Laura Place for dinner. Ellen spoke up before Phyllida had time to reply.
‘That is very kind of you, Julia, but I really must go home. My Aunt Hapton is arriving today. She is Phyllida’s only sister and I should like to be there to greet her. But we shall all meet up again at the Denhams at the end of the week, will we not?’
‘Was that not the most wonderful ride out, Philly?’ declared Ellen as she rode back to Charles Street with Phyllida. ‘So much more interesting when there is a goal to be reached, although I think on balance I preferred the ruins at Farleigh, did not you?’
She chattered on, and when they had left their horses with Parfett and made their way into the house she even went so far as to throw her arms about Phyllida and hug her ruthlessly.
‘I am so glad Mrs Ackroyd could no longer keep me in Kent. I thought at first that Bath would be the most boring place, full of invalids and old people, but I am having a most enjoyable time. And Penelope and Julia are quite delightful, so I am not missing my school friends very much at all.’
Phyllida returned her embrace, her heart swelling with pleasure and no little relief. She felt she had made the right choice after all.
‘I am very pleased to hear you say so,’ she said. ‘Now, I think we should go upstairs and change. We must be positively windblown and if your aunt catches us looking like this we shall both be in trouble!’
They had only just come downstairs again when Lady Olivia was announced. She sailed into the drawing room, full of energy and with an apology tripping from her tongue.
‘I have bad news, I am afraid, I can only stay three nights and then must away to London. Hapton is already there, poor lamb, trying to rally the opposition to this disastrous peace that Addington has brokered and he needs me. There are dinners to arrange.’
This was said so much in the manner of a soldier anticipating battle that Phyllida was obliged to smile.
‘Oh, well, that is a disappointment but at least we have you for a few days.’
She invited her sister to sit down upon the sofa beside her. Lady Olivia was some four years older than Phyllida and had always been described as the prettier of the two sisters. She was now considered a handsome woman. Since her marriage to Lord Hapton ten years ago she had provided her doting husband with a quiverful of children, including three lusty boys. She ruled her household with a loving tyranny, and supported her husband’s political aspirations. She would happily have taken the newly widowed Phyllida under her wing, if her younger sister had permitted it, but Phyllida was no longer the shy and biddable girl who had left the Earl of Swanleigh’s household six years ago. Marriage to the kindly baronet had given her the confidence to take control of her own life and she had no wish to give up her independence. However, that did not stop Olivia from expressing her opinions.
When Ellen retired after dinner, leaving the sisters to enjoy a little private conversation, her first act was to take Phyllida by the shoulders and turn her towards the light.
‘Hmm, widowhood suits you, Phyllida, you are positively blooming.’
‘Olivia!’
She shrugged off her sister’s laughing protest and made herself comfortable on a sofa.
‘It is true, you look even better than when Tatham was alive.’
‘Be careful what you say, Sister,’ Phyllida warned her, ‘I was very fond of my husband.’
‘And so you should have been. He looked after you exceedingly well and you blossomed under his care. You lost the careworn, anxious look you had as a girl. That of someone about to be reprimanded.’