Ellen’s explanation of events came back to her. Was she perhaps maligning Richard unfairly? Had he behaved honourably on this occasion? It could not be. Everything she knew about the man said he was a rake and he was not wealthy enough to refuse the chance to win ten thousand pounds. She had to face the fact that his behaviour towards her, and towards Ellen, was calculated to win their trust. But it was all a sham.
As if she had conjured it, the restless, shifting throng parted briefly and she saw Richard on the far side of the room. He was standing beside a voluptuous brunette, bending close to murmur something that made her laugh and rap him playfully on the knuckles with her fan. Quickly Phyllida turned away, her fears confirmed. Richard Arrandale was no gentleman, and the only interests he had at heart were his own.
‘You are very quiet.’
In the blackness of the carriage Richard felt the tap of Lady Hune’s ebony stick against his leg.
‘Forgive me, Sophia, I must be fatigued.’
‘From flirting so outrageously.’
‘That would be it.’
He forced himself to smile, even though he knew she could not see him. He had had to do something for the rest of the infernal evening, after Phyllida had ripped up at him and left his spirits flayed and sore. Lady Heston had been throwing out lures to him all evening. It was a comfort to his bruised self-esteem that someone appreciated him. His great-aunt’s voice interrupted his thoughts.
‘Do you wish me to drop you off in union Street, at that hell you frequent?’
‘Not tonight.’
He had no interest in gambling. He wished to heaven he had never gone to Burton’s. Even more he wished he had refused to get involved in that damnable wager.
‘You have not asked about that little matter we discussed,’ she said. ‘It is all arranged. We go to Shrewton Lodge a week on Monday. The Wakefields, Mr and Mrs Desborough and their daughter, and of course Lady Phyllida and Miss Tatham.’
He turned his head to look at her, but Sophia’s face was no more than a pale blur in the darkness.
‘Are you sure? When was it agreed?’
‘Before you fell out with Phyllida. Do not deny it, I saw you studiously ignoring one another for the last hour. Would you like to tell me what it was about?’
‘I was trying to be a gentleman, for once.’ He rubbed a hand across his eyes. ‘My actions were misconstrued. I think I may have ruined your plans, Sophia. I doubt Lady Phyllida will come to Shrewton now.’
For a while there was silence in the carriage, the only sound the rhythmic clop of the horses’ hoofs and the creak of wood and leather. Then he heard Sophia’s soft, determined voice.
‘She’ll come.’
There was little time for private speech once the Desboroughs had been set down at their door, so when they reached Charles Street Phyllida sent Ellen up to bed. She waited until Matlock had gone downstairs before following Ellen to her room.
‘Are you come to scold me, Philly?’ Ellen eyed her nervously. ‘I pray you won’t. I was about to blow out my candle, I am too tired even to read tonight.’
‘No, I have not come to scold you.’ Phyllida perched herself on the edge of the bed. ‘I have been thinking that perhaps we should remove from Bath.’
‘Oh, pray do not do so on my account, Philly!’
‘I thought we might spend a few weeks at Worthing. The weather is so warm, do you not think we would be much more comfortable by the sea?’
‘I would prefer to remain here, with all my new friends.’ Ellen reached out and caught her hand. ‘Please don’t take me away,’ she begged. ‘I have promised to be good. And indeed, I have behaved myself since I have been with you. I have not once slipped out of the house alone, or exchanged love letters with anyone, or persuaded any gentleman to sing outside my window—’
‘Did you do so at Mrs Ackroyd’s?’ asked Phyllida, momentarily diverted.
‘Oh, yes, several times. It was mostly the very young men, you see, when they had been too pushing, but sometimes the older gentlemen could be just as silly, trying to entice me away from my friends to flirt with them, or even to enter their carriage! If I thought they needed a lesson I would tell them how partial I was to hearing a love song outside my window at night. My room was at the back of the house, but Cook slept just above and when they came serenading she would tear into them and threaten to throw the contents of her chamber pot over them if they did not desist.’
Phyllida smothered a laugh.
‘I am relieved you have not been playing such tricks here!’
‘Oh, no, I have been trying to be so good, and I thought I was succeeding very well, until I allowed myself to fall for Mr Fullingham’s silly ruse this evening. But that will not happen again, Philly, and I quite see that I must behave with even greater circumspection in future. I promise you I mean to do whatever you wish, Philly. You may positively hedge me about with guards and chaperons and I shall not utter one word of complaint.’
‘That is very good of you, my love, but I am coming to realise that Bath is more fraught with danger for a young lady than I had ever envisaged.’
‘What, because a gentleman tried to make love to me?’ Ellen laughed at that. ‘I have already explained that it was entirely my own fault and I have learned from it.’
‘But I think I should remove you to somewhere less dangerous.’
Ellen shook her head.
‘Darling Philly, I am as safe in Bath as anywhere—indeed, if you were ever to read The Monk you would believe that no one is safe, even in a nunnery! No, to be serious, Mrs Ackroyd always says that most young ladies, even heiresses, are perfectly safe if only they remain on their guard. She says it is their own foolish hearts that so often let them down, but you know I have no interest in any of the gentlemen I have seen in Bath. Indeed, it is a very sad fact that I have never yet found any gentleman who has made me want to throw my cap over the windmill.’ A loud sigh filled the darkness. ‘I fear I am going to be very hard to please.’
‘I am glad to hear it,’ replied Phyllida seriously. How was she to make Ellen understand? She tried again. ‘I am concerned for your safety, my love. There are—there appear to be—gentlemen in Bath with an eye to your fortune.’
‘But that will always be so, will it not? I am an heiress.’
‘Yes, but these are unscrupulous men who, who would stop at nothing.’
Ellen’s eyes sparkled.
‘You mean they would seduce me? Well, I have already told you I shall not allow that, so short of laying hands upon me and performing a physical abduction I am in no danger at all, am I?’
‘Perhaps not, but—’
‘And another thing,’ said Ellen, triumphantly. ‘If we were to go to Worthing, or Brighton, or anywhere, I might meet the gentleman of my dreams who will sweep me off my feet and I will not be able to help myself. So we will be much safer if we remain in Bath, won’t we?’
Phyllida retired, momentarily defeated and too exhausted to argue further. When she left Ellen’s room she found Matlock on the landing, a pile of clean sheets in her arms.
The maid said in her abrupt way, ‘Miss Ellen’s right, my lady.’ When Phyllida raised her brows she continued, by way of explanation. ‘The doors in this house being so ill fitting, l couldn’t help overhearing, and if you want my opinion we’d be best keeping Miss Ellen here, where there’s a whole army of folks to look out for her, not only myself and Parfett but also the servants from Lady Wakefield’s household and others that I’ve got to know around the town. There isn’t one of ’em wouldn’t hesitate to come forward if they thought Miss Ellen were in any trouble.’
‘Thank you, Matty, that is a comforting thought.’
‘Aye, well, I know you’re worried about her, my lady. Miss Ellen’s always been one to land on her feet, but she can be hot to handle when she’s unhappy. I’d rather have her behaving herself here in Bath than misbehaving somewhere else.’
‘I believe you are right. Perhaps we would be wise to stay here, where we already have such good and trusted friends.’ Phyllida stretched a tired smile. ‘Goodnight, Matty. Ellen is lucky to have you to look after her.’
She moved on, but not before she heard the old retainer mutter as she walked away.
‘If you asks me, it ain’t Miss Ellen who needs looking after.’
Ellen arrived at the breakfast table the following morning in high good humour. Phyllida had risen from her bed feeling dull and listless and it was an effort even to respond to Ellen’s cheerful greeting. The girl was clearly full of energy, and as soon as Hirst had retired and they were alone, Ellen launched into speech, explaining again what had happened in the garden. Knowing it would take more effort to stem the flow than to allow Ellen to talk herself out, Phyllida kept silent.
‘So you see, Philly,’ said Ellen at last, ‘Ri—Mr Arrandale is completely blameless in the whole affair.’
No. He is playing his own game.
Phyllida knew it would be useless to say as much to Ellen.
‘Perhaps,’ she conceded. ‘However, there is no doubt that what happened to you last night could have been very serious. You must understand, Ellen, that a scandal now could ruin your chances of a successful come-out.’