The Dangerous Lord Darrington(45)

'How perfectly horrid.' Sophie shuddered. 'At least you are no longer shackled.'

'No, and the food has improved, too.' He grinned. 'All in all it is not  so bad and a lot better than the undercroft at Malpass.'

'I hope we shall have you free soon,' muttered Beth.

'Oh.' Simon looked up. 'Is there news?'

'I am afraid not, but Miles has vowed to help us.'

'Is Radworth still here, then?'

'Oh, yes.' Sophie nodded. 'And at last they have set a date. Miles and Beth are to be married at the end of the month!'

'Really?' Simon beamed. 'Let us hope I shall be free to give you away.'

His brave attempt at humour overset Beth and she collapsed against him, sobbing.

'There, there, sis, no need for this.' He patted her shoulder awkwardly. 'It won't help, you know, and I hate to see you cry.'

She pulled out her handkerchief and began to wipe her eyes, huskily  begging pardon for such a display of weakness, but the tears continued  to flow for some moments and she did not know whether she was crying  more for Simon or herself.                       
       
           



       



They arrived back at Malpass in good time for dinner; as they entered the great hall, Kepwith held out a silver tray.

'Lord Darrington called while you were out, ma'am. He left this note for you.'

The silence in the great hall was thick with apprehension. Beth knew  that Sophie and Davey were watching her carefully. She raised her brows.

'Indeed?' She picked up the letter and broke open the seal. She was  concentrating so much on keeping her hands from shaking that she barely  understood the message. One thing was quite clear from his first  sentence: he would not be lending her the money to pay off Clarice. That  was the only thing she wanted to know-his warnings to her to be on her  guard she dismissed. Clenching her jaw tightly to prevent any show of  emotion, she tore the letter in two and threw it on to the fire.

'There is nothing in it that need concern us.' She dusted her fingers. 'Shall we join Grandmama for dinner?'



Beth found little time for reflection during the next few days as she  busied herself with preparations for her forthcoming nuptials. She had  sent an express to Mr Spalding in London, asking him to resume his  search for Madame de Beaune, and received a note by return informing her  that he believed the lady had left the country with her sister and  brother-in-law. Certainly Bourne Park was no longer occupied.

This missive was quickly followed by a letter from Mrs Cordonnier,  couched in the friendliest terms, but leaving Beth in no doubt that  unless she found the money soon, the deposition would be destroyed. When  she told Miles he begged her not to worry.

'I will reply,' he said, taking the note from her. 'I shall advise her  of our betrothal and that she can expect to receive nothing until after  we are married.'

'But Simon could be taken back to London at any time.'

'We will deal with all these matters as they arise,' he said mildly. 'Trust me, Elizabeth.'

With that she had to be content, but anxiety nagged at her as she went  downstairs to dinner. She had invited Miles to join the family and when  Beth reached the drawing room she found him making polite conversation  with Mr Davies and Sophie, while Lady Arabella looked on in disapproving  silence. Taking in the scene in one swift glance, Beth was obliged to  put her worries to one side and take on the role of perfect hostess. It  was clear her grandmother did not approve of her intention to marry  Miles, but if he could win Simon's freedom it would go a long way  towards helping Lady Arabella to accept him.



It was growing dark as Guy trotted up to the Priory. He thought back to  the very first time he had called here, with Davey stretched out on a  farm gate. The black outline of the building had towered over them, dark  and menacing. Heaven and earth, if he had known the cost of getting  involved with Beth Forrester he would have chosen to carry Davey all the  way to Highridge rather than come within a mile of Malpass!

'Don't be a damned fool, you know that isn't so,' he muttered angrily  to himself as he dismounted and looped the reins over a post near the  steps. Visions rose up before him. Beth directing the servants to carry  Davey inside, Beth with a lamp in her hand, her eyes large and nervous  as a deer when he met her in the corridor in the middle of the night.  Beth with her glorious hair over her shoulders, lying naked in the  moonlight … ?.

Savagely he dragged his thoughts back to the present as he ran up the steps. Kepwith opened the door, but barred his way.

'I beg your pardon, my lord,' he hesitated, and looked a little  embarrassed. 'My mistress has ordered that you should not be allowed  into the house.'

'The devil she has! Then tell your mistress that I wish to see her out here!'

The door was closed again as the butler went off to deliver his  message. Guy looked at his watch. The family dined early, so they should  have finished by now. Would she come? As the minutes dragged by, he  began to doubt it.

At last the door opened and he looked up quickly, only to have his hopes dashed when he saw who was standing there.

'Davey! Will she not see me?'

'No, she will not.' Davey stepped outside and pulled the door almost  closed behind him. 'Radworth is here, but I doubt if she would have  admitted you, even had he not been.' He tucked his hand in Guy's arm.  'Let us walk away from here, where we will not be overheard.'

They descended to the drive and walked away from the house, Guy slowing his stride to match Davey's limping step.

'Did she receive my letter?' he asked bluntly.

'Aye, but she burned it.' Davey shook his head. 'She thinks you have deserted her.'                       
       
           



       

'Because I refused to hand over the money to that blood-sucking woman? I  asked her to trust me and the next I hear is that she and Radworth are  to be married in three weeks!'

'She is very angry with you, my friend.'

'I thought she knew me better than that!' He gazed up at the darkening  sky, his breath escaping in a hiss. 'Davey, when Clarice came here  demanding money she had a surprising amount of information, more than  she could have gleaned from Madame de Beaune's letter-and before you  fire up at me, I do not think that she learned any of it from Sophie!'

'And do you know now who is her accomplice?'

'No, but I have my suspicions. I fear this matter is not purely about  the money. Forgive me,' he said quickly, when Davey opened his mouth to  speak, 'I have a plan, but it depends upon total secrecy and I will not  divulge it to anyone, even you. But believe me when I say I am relieved  that you are staying at the Priory.' He stopped. 'I have not asked you  about your leg, my friend.'

Davey shrugged. 'It is healing slowly. As you see, I can manage well enough with a stick now.'

'But perhaps that is far enough for today.' Guy turned and they began  to walk back towards his horse. 'I am going away for a couple of days.  Watch over Beth for me while I am gone, Davey.'

'Where are you going?'

Guy shook his head.

'It is better that no one knows. But I intend to return in time for the  Fentonby Assembly.' They had reached his horse and Guy turned and  gripped Davey's hand. 'I will be back as soon as I can.'

'Do you have a message for Mrs Forrester?' asked Davey as Guy scrambled up into the saddle.

'Would she receive it?' Even in the deepening gloom he read the answer  in Davey's face and said bitterly, 'No, of course she will not, but I  shall leave one anyway. Tell her-if you can make her listen-tell her to  keep faith with me a little longer.'



Beth looked at the shining gown spread out on the bed. The  kingfisher-blue silk gleamed in the candlelight. It was her newest gown,  the only one she had bought since her father's death that did not  signal mourning.

Less than ever did she want to wear bright colours, but she had  promised Miles she would dress appropriately for the Fentonby Assembly  and the formal celebration of their betrothal. Miles had told her that,  once they were married, he would be able to help Simon. He did not say  how, but she clung to that hope. Only the day before he had dissuaded  her from making Clarice an offer for the deposition.

They had been on their way back from Thirsk after visiting Simon, and  Beth had been desperately trying to think of ways to raise the money.

'Sophie and I could sell our jewels, then there are the Malpass diamonds and the silver from the house-'

'My dear.' Miles raised his hand, saying gently, 'You forget. The contents of the Priory are not yours to sell now.'

She shook her head, saying impatiently, 'Oh, I know I have signed the  contracts in readiness for our marriage, Miles, but surely, to save  Simon-'

'My dear, saving your brother is uppermost in my thoughts. We shall  attend the Fentonby Assembly tomorrow night, I shall be at your side and  this Mrs Cordonnier will realise she has me to deal with.'

Dear Miles. Beth could not think that Clarice would be at all  impressed, unless Miles was willing to pay her the money she wanted.  However, there had been no further demands so she could only hope that  Miles was right. She put on the kingfisher-blue gown and allowed Tilly  to put up her hair with a single, glistening ringlet hanging over her  bare shoulder. All the local families would be at Thirsk tonight, ready  with insincere condolences over the fate of her brother and equally  false congratulations for her forthcoming wedding. She disliked being  the object of so much gossip, but it could not be avoided and Miles  insisted this show of solidarity would be beneficial to Simon. Beth  could only be thankful that Sophie was going to be there to support her.