The Makeshift Marriage Page 12

  “Forgive me for speaking my mind, Lady Grenville, but Sir Jasper was an unnatural father, making his preference for his brother’s son only too plain. In Sir Nicholas he had so very much, but he chose to forfeit it. I love Sir Nicholas; indeed I have come to look upon him as the son I never had, and I see in him the will and determination to bring this estate, which is his birthright, to its feet again. I admire him greatly and will willingly stay here to assist him. I endured here because of him, and when I thought he had been killed….” The agent’s voice died away, his glance falling on some neat piles of papers on a shelf.

  They were too neat for Mr. Dodswell, she thought, and then realized quite suddenly that they were like that because he had been setting everything in order. He had been intending to leave King’s Cliff, because without Nicholas the estate did not matter. “Mr. Dodswell,” she said gently, “I too endure because of him.”

  He smiled at her. “Of that I have no doubt, my lady.”

  “Tell me, Mr. Dodswell, how long will it be before the debt to the moneylender falls due?”

  “Unfortunately it is overdue now, and that is why I was so anxious to see Sir Nicholas.” He smiled again. “Until yesterday I believed the estate to have fallen into the clutches of the Earl of Langford, and so could not have cared less about the debt—I feel very little but dislike for the Earl. However, with Sir Nicholas alive still, the matter changes dramatically. I must see him, to have his permission to sell something of value in order to stave off the duns. Mr. Peterson of London is the most notorious and most pitiless of all his tribe, and he will show no mercy at all. Sir Nicholas must be made aware of how dangerous the situation is.”

  Daniel looked sharply at him. “He cannot be worried, not in his present state. The calmer and more relaxed he is, the better for his recovery—”

  “I understand, Daniel, but you must understand my anxiety, However, until I actually receive a communication from Peterson, no doubt things can be left in abeyance. One thing is for sure, the Earl of Langford will not give his permission for anything that might yet come to him to be sold, no matter what the reason!”

  “The Earl of Langford?” asked Laura. “But what has it to do with him?”

  “Unfortunately,” said the agent, “there is a long-standing arrangement within the Grenville family for each head of a household to come to the aid of a kinsman or kinswoman at time of distress, such as illness as in this case. Sir Nicholas is obviously not in any state to run King’s Cliff for himself, and so the responsibility falls upon the earl. There is nothing which can be done about it—for the moment the earl is in command of King’s Cliff’s affairs. Legally, that is. As to the moral aspect, well that is quite another matter. James Grenville was quite openly delighted to learn of Sir Nicholas’s apparent demise, and he has already been making preparations for taking over here—indeed, his intention was to quit Langford Place, which is not so fine a dwelling, and to live here. No doubt with Miss Townsend as his bride.” The agent’s face told volumes of his low opinion of both the earl and Augustine, for distaste and dislike twisted his thin lips for a moment.

  They were silent for a while, and then Laura spoke again. “So, Mr. Dodswell, for the moment there is nothing we can do?”

  “Nothing—unless Sir Nicholas himself expresses his wish.”

  “And he must not be told anything which will cause him stress.” She looked at Daniel, who immediately nodded.

  “Mr. Dodswell, is the debt to this Mr. Peterson the only one now outstanding?” she asked.

  “The only one of any urgency. Coutts, the bankers, are awaiting payment, but they will not press while Sir Nicholas is so very ill. It would be infinitely better to implement any changes Sir Nicholas wishes to make here immediately, but obviously that cannot be helped. The changes must wait.” He picked up a small sheaf of notes. “Before he left for Venice, he asked me to draw up a list of every parcel of unprofitable and useless land, every item of unnecessary equipment, every surplus hand employed by the estate—and there are a considerable number—in short, everything which can be dispensed with. I have completed that list. I know that he intends selling the hounds, draining the marsh, and so on, for he had come to that conclusion before he left and went away merely to put everything into perspective in his own mind. I know what must be done and what he wishes to have done, but without his hand at the helm there is absolutely nothing I can do about it. The Earl of Langford holds sway here for the time being, and he will not agree to anything at all which will change King’s Cliff.”

  “And there is nothing at all which can be done?”

  “The man in me wishes there was, but the lawyer tells me there is not. The law upholds the earl in this.”

  She nodded. “Then I must accept the situation, must I not? But at least I can learn a little about the running of an estate like this. There are estate books which will inform me?”

  “There are a great many books, Lady Grenville, but I must warn you that although I find them most interesting and informative, you may find them decidedly dry. Information about the valuing of tithes, stock, and crops, the marking, measuring, and selling of timber, complaints from tenants, and guidelines for the taking on of new tenants is hardly enjoyable reading for a lady.”

  “We do not all read only Gothic novels, I promise you. I will try my best to find them interesting, Mr. Dodswell,” she said with a slight smile, getting to her feet and preparing to leave.

  “We have kept you from your work for long enough. Will you have some ledgers and books sent to me at the house?”

  “I will, Lady Grenville. Lady Grenville…?”

  “Yes?”

  “I have not welcomed you to King’s Cliff, but belatedly I do so now. I see that Sir Nicholas has been very fortunate in his bride.”

  “He would have been infinitely more fortunate had I been wealthy, Mr. Dodswell, but I bring nothing to King’s Cliff, nothing at all.”

  “Except yourself,” he said gallantly.

  “Well, that is not a very great contribution on my part, is it? Good day, Mr. Dodswell.”

  “Good day, Lady Grenville.”

  He watched her go out and then looked at Daniel, who was putting on his hat and gloves. “I was guilty of grave prejudgment where she was concerned, Daniel, for I believed that she could only be a scheming adventuress. I quickly perceived how wrong I was, for she is every inch a lady of quality, and she is so obviously in love with her husband.”

  “But is he in love with her, that is the question?”

  The agent nodded sadly. “His wife is worth a thousand Augustine Townsends.”

  “I’ll drink to that,” said Daniel softly.

  “Remember that she is another man’s wife, my friend. I know you well enough to recognize that look in your eye when you watch her.”

  “What man could not desire her? As to remembering that she is Nicholas Grenville’s wife, I do not see how I can damned well forget it. Oh, but it would be good to suffer a little amnesia!” Daniel grinned at the agent. “Good day to you, Charles.”

  “Good day, Daniel.”

  Chapter 17

  As Laura and Daniel came within sight of the house again, they saw immediately that Augustine’s ride to Langford Place later that morning would no longer be necessary, for word had already reached the furious earl who had immediately driven over to see for himself what was happening on an estate which only the night before he had believed to be his own at last.

  Laura looked with some trepidation at the landau with its fine team of whites, and Daniel reassuringly put his hand over the small fingers that rested on his arm. They entered the house and Hawkins immediately came forward.

  “My lady, the Earl of Langford expects you to attend him in the library at one o’clock.”

  “Thank you, Hawkins.” She glanced at Daniel. “He expects that I attend him? Oh, he does indeed regard this house as his, doesn’t he?”

  He took out his fob watch. “You have half an hour in which
to fume.”

  She smiled. “And fume I will. I will also take myself to my room to change. Shall you go to Nicholas now?”

  “Yes.”

  “I will come there directly my ordeal is over.”

  He watched her ascend the staircase. How small and lost she looked, and how desperately vulnerable, for all her brave talk. Charles Dodswell’s words came into his head again. “Daniel, my laddo,” he admitted to himself, “You do indeed begin to covet that which is not yours.”

  * * *

  Laura’s route took her past the red saloon, and as its door was not properly closed she heard low voices inside. She stopped, recognizing Augustine’s voice.

  “But I beg of you, James—”

  “I will not be made a fool of, madam; nor will I allow you to forget that which you are party to.”

  “That was uncalled for!”

  “Was it? I think not, and it would seem that a timely reminder is quite in order under the circumstances.”

  “You are only saying these things because you are angry that Nicholas is alive.”

  “Angry? I am damned well furious! And your decision now, madam, does little to soothe that anger.”

  Mrs. Townsend spoke then. “My lord, I do not think you are at all fair with my daughter.”

  “What has being fair to do with this? Is she fair with me? Well—is she? There, you cannot give me an answer, because you know that she is not. I am not fool enough to think that over the past weeks she has encouraged me because she has miraculously fallen in love with me! She has welcomed my advances simply and solely because of this house—oh, and maybe also because of my wealth and title. But it is the house which sways her, isn’t it? I have accepted that, because I cannot expect anything else, for I have not the looks and charm of my elegant cousin! What I cannot and will not accept, however, is her return to his side after what has passed between us.”

  “But I have not returned to his side,” protested Augustine, with an air of innocence Laura could only admire. “How can I when he has a wife now?”

  “An unconsummated marriage can be set aside, as you and I both know full well. So I think we may forget this so-called wife, don’t you? It is quite obvious to me that the moment he is well enough, he will wish to rid himself of an unwanted marriage, and that he will then take you as his bride.”

  “James, how can I convince you that I am true to you now? I have every intention of becoming your wife the moment your two years of mourning for your first wife are over. In six months time your ring will be on my finger, but in the meantime I must ask you to allow me to conduct my affairs as I see fit.”

  “Would to God I could believe you….”

  “You can believe me.”

  “Prove it then by agreeing to let our former agreement stand.”

  “It would not look well.”

  “Since when has that concerned you? Augustine, I swear that unless you do as I demand now, then I will work against you, and believe me, that is no idle threat.”

  “Against me? In what way?” Augustine’s voice was suddenly very wary.

  “By openly and warmly welcoming the new Lady Grenville. By effecting introductions for her, by generally signifying my approval and thus making it very difficult indeed for Nicholas to cast her off.”

  “You would not do that!”

  “But I would, Augustine. I love you and have done so for longer than I care to mention, for my wife was certainly alive when first I wanted you. It is my desire for you which drives me so far—why else do you imagine that I sought to—?”

  “Don’t!” she cried. “Don’t say it aloud, not here in this house!”

  “Why not? Because it offends you? Come now.” He gave a short, cold laugh.

  At the door Laura felt the mirthless chill of that laugh, and, she shivered. Her mind was racing. What was he referring to? What had he done that so frightened Augustine now?

  He spoke again. “I mean it when I say I will work against you, my dear, and I urge you to think carefully on it, for if Nicholas’s marriage remains intact, then what will there be for you? I promise you that you will not be able to turn to me. You will have nothing, Augustine, absolutely nothing.”

  She was at her most persuasive and convincing then. “James, you have no need to threaten me or to doubt me. Your fears are not justified, for I promise you that when the time comes I will become your wife.”

  “If I have fears, they are of your causing. Allay them now once and for all by allowing the arrangement made yesterday, before all this happened, to go ahead as originally planned.”

  What arrangement? Laura could not even begin to guess what they were talking about, but she did know that all that she had overheard in the red saloon was of great moment.

  Augustine still hesitated over her answer, and the seconds ticked leadenly by as the earl waited. “Very well,” she said at last, “I will come to Taunton, but I will need to make a very convincing excuse—”

  “You will succeed in that, my dear, I am sure.”

  “I do love you, James, please do not think that I do not.”

  “With the answer you have just given me, Augustine, how can I doubt you?”

  “Will you take some more coffee with us, my lord?” inquired Mrs. Townsend, and Laura distinctly heard the chink of a silver coffeepot against a porcelain cup.

  “I fear I cannot, dear lady, as I have to see my cousin’s upstart of a wife shortly, and before then I wish to see that damned valet Henderson, to find out exactly what did happen in Venice. Something is very wrong somewhere, as I think both you and I know only too well. I will not be tricked by anyone, not by anyone.” His heavy steps approached the door and then stopped again. “By the way, I fear I have something to tell you which will not please you at all. You will not receive an invitation to the Duke of Gloucester’s marriage ceremony.”

  “Not?” Augustine’s disappointment was evident. “Why?”

  “Because of your recent connection with me, my dear. The duke and I have never seen eye to eye, and the last time I was in London I am afraid that I crossed him severely, something the duke is not a man to forgive. However, you will soon have your own wedding arrangements to make, will you not? I promise you a wedding as grand as the duke and Princess Mary’s, and I promise you guests of as great consequence.” He came toward the door again.

  Laura glanced fearfully around. Where could she hide? She saw a small adjoining passageway and gathered her skirts to hurry to the shadows there, just as the door opened fully and the earl emerged. She did not see him, however, for he turned in the opposite direction, his slow, careful steps echoing as he walked along the main gallery.

  In the red saloon, the two women continued to talk, and the door remained just that little bit open so that once again Laura could hear what they said.

  Mrs. Townsend’s voice was decidedly anxious. “I think, Augustine, that you would do better to stay with the earl—”

  “And lose this house and Nicholas Grenville? Never!”

  “The house is not more important than your own future, my dear.”

  “My future will always be connected with this house; nothing else matters to me. Except perhaps Nicholas. I swear that I did not know how much I wanted him until I thought him dead.” Augustine’s voice was soft.

  “He has taken another woman as his wife, and if he survives his present setbacks, there is nothing to say he will not wish to keep her.”

  Augustine was scornful. “You think she is capable of taking him from me? No one can take from me that which I wish to keep—and I wish to keep Nicholas Grenville.”

  “And if he dies? The earl may see through you yet, Augustine, for you play a dangerous game with him. We both know how far he will go, don’t we?”

  There was a silence then and Laura knew that her mother’s words had had an effect on Augustine. But the moment was short, and Augustine’s supreme confidence and vanity returned.

  “I know what I am doing, Mama. Believe me
. Whatever happens, if Nicholas lives or dies, I will have this house. I want to live here as Nicholas’s wife, but if that is not to be, then I will live here as the Countess of Langford. But now, enough of this, let us turn to more cheering and immediate matters….”

  They began to talk about arrangements for the masquerade they intended holding, and Laura walked on, turning over and over in her mind what she had heard. What dark secret of the earl’s had Augustine and her mother decided to condone? And what arrangement was it that would take Augustine to Taunton? But all the questions remained unanswered as she reached her own room and called for Kitty.

  Chapter 18

  The earl was alone in the galleried library when she arrived, and he looked oddly out of place among the sedate shelves of leather-bound volumes, for the room was elegant and tasteful, which James Grenville, Earl of Langford, most certainly was not.

  His corpulent shape was unfortunately emphasized by his fashionably tight turquoise coat and by the Apollo corset he quite obviously wore beneath. The corset attempted unsuccessfully to draw in his vanished waist and to puff out his chest, but the effect was alarming, as if at any moment his restrained figure would burst free of the confines which held it. He wore Cossack trousers, a fashion he had eagerly adopted in 1814, two years previously, when the czar had visited England. Their loose, baggy style was decidedly at odds with his tightly corseted upper half, making him look as if everything that was squeezed so much above his waist had somehow sagged beneath to fill out his posterior and his legs. What hair he had was arranged in hyacinthine curls through which gleamed a great deal of pink scalp, the backs of his hands were blanched, there was rouge on his cheeks and lips, and he surveyed her critically through a quizzing glass. He looked quite ridiculous, although she knew he was far from being that in actual fact.