The Dangerous Lord Darrington(27)

Sir Henry shook his head as they watched the earl walk away. 'Sad loss to the country when that young man quit the government.'

'Indeed?' said Beth. 'That was ten years ago, I think?'

'Aye, all of that.'

'Why did he resign?' She tried to keep her voice casual.

'Oh, some scandal or another,' came the airy reply.

Beth hesitated. 'We have just met someone-Kilton-who said-'

'Now you don't want to listen to old Kilton, He has been at odds with  Darrington's family for generations. Don't believe all you hear about  the earl, ma'am. He has his faults but he is a loyal Englishman, that  I'll vouch for! Now, madam, Darrington said you hailed from Yorkshire.  Do you know Ripon? I have some very happy memories of that place … '

Beth resigned herself to the fact that Sir Henry was not going to tell  her anything more about the earl's past and she allowed him to rattle on  as he pleased, only requiring the odd word from her to keep the  conversation going. His attention was claimed by another guest and Beth  quickly excused him with an assurance that she was happy to make her own  way around the room. Many of the guests were newly arrived from France  and she was glad that her excellent education meant she could  communicate with the émigrés in their own language.

She was passing a little knot of ladies when she heard one say, 'So that is Darrington's latest flirt.'                       
       
           



       

'And not a maid, this time,' replied another. 'Very wise, if he wishes to avoid another episode like the Brentry scandal!'

Their unkind laughter and knowing looks brought an angry flush to  Beth's cheeks. She turned away quickly, only to find her way blocked by  her hostess. Lady Shott took her arm, saying quietly, 'Come away, Mrs  Forrester. 'Tis a pity some people have such a penchant for salacious  gossip. And it is quite untrue, of course.'

Beth could not resist saying, 'The scandal they spoke of-was it the Miss B-mentioned in the newssheets?'

Lady Shott nodded. 'Lady Brentry was throwing the poor gel at  Darrington for months and all the while she was pining for another. Not,  of course, that a parson's son could compare with the rich Earl of  Darrington! Then her beau got her with child and married her, but not  before Lady B. had tried to put it about that the child was the earl's!  Not a word of truth in it, of course.'

Beth's eyes strayed across the room to where the earl was talking with a  group of gentlemen. 'How can you be so sure, ma'am? After all, so many  rumours … '

'Because I know Darrington,' replied Lady Shott. 'He would not take  advantage of an innocent. Besides, he was at the other end of the  country when the coupling must have occurred!' She gave a little huff of  exasperation. 'Not that he helped matters by giving the couple a very  generous sum as a wedding present! It looked for all the world as if he  was paying them off! But Darrington was unrepentant and the young couple  were glad enough of the money. They have gone off now to live in happy  obscurity in Wales.' She glanced up and smiled as Lord Darrington came  up. 'Ah there you are, my lord. Any news?'

'I'm afraid not. Leclerc has not seen the de Beaunes, although he did say he had been asked to look out for them.'

'Madame de Beaune has family in England,' said Beth slowly. 'Perhaps they have contacted him.'

'Aye, that will be it,' nodded their hostess. 'Everyone in town goes to  Leclerc for information about the French.' With another genial smile  she wandered away.

'Is there anyone else here we might ask?' asked Beth, looking around.

'I doubt it. I think we must wait to talk to your lawyer in the morning. Do you want to leave?'

'As soon as may be.' Beth shivered. 'Everywhere I look I find people  staring. I have never been the centre of so much attention before.'



He pulled her hand on to his arm and patted it.

'One grows accustomed,' he said lightly. 'The women are wondering who you are and the men are all jealous of me.'

'Is that all it is?' She turned to him. 'What about that man … Kilton?'

He met her glance with a bland, shuttered look.

'Kilton is an old fool. Nothing for you to worry about, Mrs Forrester.  Come along, let us make one full circuit of the room and then we may  take our leave.'

Despite his words she could not be easy, and even as they made their  way to the door she felt someone watching her. She turned quickly and  caught the glimpse of silken skirts being drawn back into the shadows.



They spoke little on the journey back to Darrington House. Beth tried  to make sense of all she had seen and heard at the Shotts' house-should  she be more or less wary of Lord Darrington? There was no doubt that  both Sir Henry and his wife thought very highly of the earl, but  Kilton's venomous look and scathing words kept coming back to haunt her.  She had no doubt that he was referring to the long-ago scandal that  Miles had mentioned to her. She put her hands to her temples.

'Tired?'

The tenderness in the earl's voice only added to her confusion.

'A little.'

The carriage came to a halt and she allowed him to hand her down. As  the carriage moved off Guy took her arm ready to lead her up the steps  and into the house, where the butler was already holding the door open  for them.

Beth noticed a figure hurrying towards them, swathed in a voluminous  satin cloak whose folds glinted as she moved. It occurred to Beth that  it was unusual to see a woman alone on the streets in this part of town.  As Guy led her to the steps, the cloaked figure put herself in front of  them and they were obliged to stop.

'Good evening, Darrington.'

The earl's fingers tightened painfully on Beth's arm. The woman raised  her hands and gently lifted the hood back from her golden curls. Beth  glanced at Guy. He was staring silently at the woman, who raised her  brows, saying in a low, musical voice. 'Are you not going to present  me?' She gave a little laugh and fixed her huge blue eyes upon Beth. 'I  can see you are curious to know who I am, and if he will not tell you  then I shall. I am Darrington's fiancée.'                       
       
           



       

And with that she crumpled silently on to the flagway.





Chapter Thirteen



'Oh, heavens!' Beth took a step towards the lifeless figure.

'Leave her.'

She stared at Guy, unable to believe his harsh tone. 'We cannot leave  her lying here in the rain! She must be taken inside.' Beth gestured to  the butler. 'Quickly, come and help your master.' With Beth hovering  about them, Guy and Burley lifted the unconscious woman and carried her  into the house. Beth ran ahead to open the door of the morning room,  which had been prepared in readiness for their arrival. 'Put her on the  sofa here, by the fire.'

'Madam. Beth!'

She ignored Guy's protest as she threw off her cloak and plumped up the  cushions before the woman was laid gently down. Beth knelt beside the  sofa, pulled off the woman's gloves and began to chafe her hands. They  were not as cold as she had expected and she looked closely at the  woman's face. Surely there was consciousness there, despite the closed  eyes-could she be pretending? Her mind was racing with conjecture. Guy's  fiancée. The words lay heavily on her spirits, but she tried to push  them aside and concentrate on helping the unfortunate creature to  recover. The woman's clothes were very fine, but there was mud around  the bottom of the skirts and her satin slippers were dirty from the  street. She wore her fair hair unpowdered, but her lashes had been  darkened and there was an unnatural colour to her cheeks. Gazing into  her face, Beth thought that she must have been very beautiful once. She  was still very handsome, but in a showy way that reminded Beth of an  overblown rose.

'I have a glass of water,' said Guy. 'Let me splash her face with it. That will bring her round.'

'No need,' replied Beth. 'She is stirring.'

'How convenient.'

Beth ignored his cynical comment and spoke gently to the woman as she shifted restlessly. 'Be still. You are quite safe now.'

The woman opened her eyes and stared at her for a long moment before she fixed her china-blue eyes upon the earl.

'Am I safe, Darrington?'

The caressing tone was not lost on Beth. She rose and stepped away from  the sofa, suddenly feeling like an intruder. 'I will leave you … '

Guy caught her arm. 'No, do not go. There is nothing she has to say to  me that is private. Let me present to you Miss Clarice Bellington, and  let me assure you that we are not betrothed-that ended ten years ago!'

'And I am no longer Miss Bellington,' replied Clarice, sitting up. 'I  am now Madame Cordonnier, a widow.' She put one hand to her head. 'Since  you have a glass of water there, may I have some to drink?'

Guy handed her the glass and she sipped at it while her eyes were fixed on Beth.

'Is this your latest flirt? I must say, Darrington, she is not just in  your usual style. In every report I have had of you, your amours have  been fair, very much like me … '