A Highland Conquest Page 17

  “Emma, it may be really hazardous,” he warned.

  “Please, Jamie,” she interrupted softly, pressing against him once more.

  He couldn’t deny her anything; reluctantly he nodded. “Very well, if you are absolutely set on it.”

  Pleased to have achieved her way yet again, Emma smiled, but then seemed to remember something. “We mustn’t forget our side of the bargain.”

  “Bargain?”

  “Isabel thought of it all, and did not do so purely out of the goodness of her heart. She must benefit too.”

  “Emma—”

  “She’s my friend, and in difficulty because of the Maitland chienne.”

  Lauren stiffened in the darkness.

  Jamie gave a brief laugh. “Emma, the advent of Miss Maitland isn’t of any consequence where Rory’s feelings for Isabel are concerned. His affections had been on the wane for some time before he’d even heard of Lauren Maitland!”

  “She is convinced he can be won back, and I believe she is right.”

  “Emma—”

  “Please, Jamie. It’s all very simple, and may even give us more time. If the one item is found where it shouldn’t be, then the inference will be that everything else will be discovered nearby, and while the Maitland creature is blamed for everything, we will be able to cover the miles.”

  Jamie didn’t reply, and once again it was plain he was reluctant to do as she wished. Emma decided not to give him the opportunity to back away, and quickly she went to extinguish the candle. “There is no time like the present,” she said. “Everyone is at the ball, and the coast will be clear.”

  “If there were any other way—” he began.

  “There isn’t,” she interrupted bluntly, then she softened. “Oh, Jamie, it will be all done in a few minutes, and then we can return to the ball. For the moment anyway.”

  “It all feels so very wrong.”

  She laughed a little in the darkness. “My poor darling. But never mind, for soon it will all be behind us, and we’ll be free to do as we please.”

  They went out, and as the door closed behind them, Lauren and Hester stepped cautiously from behind the curtains. The air was heavy with the smell of candlesmoke as they looked at each other.

  “What do you suppose they’re up to?” Lauren asked.

  “I don’t know, but it sounds a little sinister. They mean to steal something, that’s clear enough.” Hester sighed. “Do you know, I almost feel sorry for Jamie, for he quite clearly has reservations.”

  “Not enough to haul him back from the brink. He’s being led by the nose, and my opinion of him has now sunk even lower. He certainly doesn’t have my sympathy,” Lauren replied.

  Hester glanced around again. “Well, we aren’t going to find anything here, so perhaps it would be more sensible to go back to the ball and keep an eye on them there.”

  Lauren nodded reluctantly. “Yes, I suppose so. Somehow I feel we should tell Rory, but I don’t know what to say.”

  “You can hardly tell him you think his brother is about to steal something,” Hester pointed out. “I’m afraid that we’ll just have to hold our tongues for the moment, until something becomes a little more clear. Then we can tell Rory.”

  “They mean to implicate me in whatever it is. Hester, I’m a little afraid—”

  Hester squeezed her arm. “We’ll be on our guard. Come on, let’s go.”

  They slipped out and closed the door behind them, before hurrying back to the ball, where, if they had but known it, disaster awaited for Hester. She felt the queasiness return as she and Lauren were descending the staircase, but this time it was far worse than before, and was accompanied by dizziness. Her steps faltered and she gave a gasp as she tried to hold on to the bannister to steady herself, but consciousness was deserting her. Her legs lost their strength and the lights and noise of the ball began to recede into darkness. Lauren screamed as her cousin pitched down the staircase, tumbling down like a puppet to lie motionless at the bottom.

  The ball came to a shocked standstill. The pipers had been playing, but now their music faltered on discordant notes, and everyone turned. Gasps rippled around the suddenly silent room as all eyes flew to Hester’s still figure.

  Lauren hurried down the staircase, her skirts rustling as she reached the bottom and knelt anxiously beside her cousin. “Hester? Can you hear me?” she cried, her voice catching with alarm.

  But still Hester just lay there, her eyes closed and her face deathly pale. Alex hastened distractedly over and tried to gather his unconscious wife into his arms to carry her up to her room, but Rory halted him.

  “Have a care, Alex, for she may have broken bones,” he said gently, and then knelt down next to Hester to see if he could tell.

  The guests pressed anxiously around, and there was very little sound as Rory looked at Alex again. “I think it’s all right to move her. Take her to your room, and I will send someone for the doctor in Dumbarton. I fear it may take some time, as there is no guarantee that he will be immediately available—”

  “Just see that he comes as soon as humanly possible,” Alex interrupted, scooping Hester up from the floor and beginning to carry her up the staircase. Lauren immediately hurried with him, and Rory straightened, turning to Fitz, who stood nearby.

  “Mary’s ball mustn’t end like this.”

  “I’ll see that it doesn’t,” Fitz replied, reaching out to take Mary’s hand and then leading her through the gathering to the center of the floor. He nodded at the pipers, and immediately they struck up once more. As the jaunty notes of another reel rang out over the hall, everyone moved away to form sets and commence to dance. But although the ball had been resumed, the atmosphere had changed and few really felt like going on.

  Rory beckoned to a footman. “See that a rider is dispatched for Dumbarton on the fastest horse in the stables.”

  “Your lordship.” The footman bowed, and hurried away.

  Rory then made to follow Alex and Lauren up the staircase, but Isabel appeared at his side. “I will come too, Rory, for I may be of some help,” she murmured.

  He smiled, but shook his head. “You will be of more use to me lending your invaluable assistance down here.”

  Her lovely blue eyes were wide and understanding. “Possibly, but it wasn’t you I was thinking of. Poor Miss Maitland looked very upset, and may need a little comfort. Oh, don’t look like that, for I know that she and I haven’t exactly hit it off, but maybe now is the time to put that right. I know I’ve lost you, and I do accept the situation, truly I do, but if we are still old friends, as I believe we are, then you must allow me the chance to make amends.”

  He smiled again. “As you wish,” he said, offering her his arm.

  But as they proceeded up the staircase, there was a glimmer of anticipation in Isabel’s eyes. She wasn’t a reformed character, nor was she in the least contrite; on the contrary, she was as determined as ever to win Rory back, and a moment before she had perceived Emma on the gallery. Emma had nodded, signifying that all had been accomplished, so now it was simply a matter of waiting until the time was right, at which moment the Maitland creature would rue the very day she first set eyes upon Rory Ardmore.

  Lauren was still oblivious to the trap yawning so close, for Hester’s accident had driven all else from her mind. Alex was distraught as he laid his wife on the bed and then took her hand to try to arouse her. Rubbing her cold fingers, he gazed anxiously at her ashen face.

  “Hester? My darling, please open your eyes,” he begged, his voice catching with emotion.

  Lauren stood beside him and put her hand on his shoulder. “I… I’m sure she’ll be all right, Alex,” she murmured, but the words sounded lame. Hester looked so deathly, and her eyelids didn’t flicker at all. If it were not for the fact that she was still breathing…

  Rory and Isabel came quietly into the candlelit room, and Lauren’s heart sank as she saw the latter. Oh, no, not now…

  Rory came to the bedsi
de, slipping his hand into Lauren’s for a moment. “How is she?”

  “There’s no change at all.”

  “I’ve sent someone for the doctor, but I can’t promise when he’ll arrive. It’s a good two-hour ride to Dumbarton, and then he may have been called out elsewhere. We can only wait.”

  She nodded. “I understand. Oh, I feel so guilty.”

  “You? Why?”

  “Yes, she hasn’t been feeling well all day today, and I allowed her to talk me out of sending for the doctor earlier on. If only I’d been a little stronger.”

  “It’s hardly your fault, and from what I know of Hester, you’d find it impossible to make her do anything she didn’t want to.”

  Isabel reached out to touch Lauren’s arm. “Is there anything I can do, Miss Maitland?” she asked, her gaze full of concern and sympathy.

  “No, thank you,” Lauren replied, trying not to sound as stiff and frosty as she felt.

  Isabel lowered her lovely eyes for a moment. “Please accept my olive branch, Miss Maitland, for I readily admit to having been at fault in the past. But with poor Hester lying so ill, it seems unthinkable that we two should remain at odds. I have conceded defeat, and now wish to sign a peace treaty, if you will agree.” She smiled.

  The last thing Lauren felt like was forgiving and forgetting, for this odious creature had issued threatening ultimatums that very evening! Isabel was a chameleon, changing her color to suit the situation, and for some reason it suited her now to talk of olive branches and peace treaties. But Lauren knew that her own private reservations had no place in the proceedings at a time like this. For both Hester’s and Alex’s sake she would be a chameleon too.

  She smiled at Isabel. “A peace treaty it is, Lady Maxby.”

  “Please allow me to at least secure us both a refreshing glass of lime cup, for it’s very close.” Isabel looked at Rory. “Do you think we’re due for some thunder?”

  It was a subtle way of reminding him that she, Isabel, had also lived in this part of Scotland all her life, and therefore knew as well as he how to read the changes in the weather. Lauren glanced away.

  Rory went to the window and looked out at the summer night. “Yes, I’m sure so. It’s been on the cards since about midday.”

  Isabel gave a light laugh. “I know, for I could smell the Firth of Clyde.”

  He glanced back at her and smiled.

  Lauren felt excluded, just as Isabel intended she should. She looked toward the window and the shadowy outlines of the mountains. A bank of cloud had now concealed the moon, and she knew that all the predictions were right. Soon there would indeed be a storm, but she prayed with all her heart that it held off until the doctor arrived.

  Chapter 18

  Hester regained consciousness about an hour after daybreak, but was very poorly indeed, complaining of feeling very sick and aching all over. She was also very shaken by the severity of her fall, and after taking a soothing draft of orange-flower water had drifted into what appeared to be a comfortable sleep. Alex was a little reassured but was still anxious for the arrival of the doctor from Dumbarton, of whom there would not be any sign for several hours yet.

  Lauren had changed out of her ballgown into a yellow-and-white gingham day dress. She was in no mood to bother with complicated coiffures, and so Peggy had simply brushed her hair loose, and tied it back with a yellow ribbon. The retreat of the sun behind a lowering sky meant that there was a noticeable coolness in the air, and so she carried a warm white woolen shawl. There was as yet no real sign of the promised storm, although thunder could be heard in the far distance and Ben Vane was from time to time enveloped in mist.

  With so many other guests to consider, Rory was obliged to proceed with the entertainment and diversions already arranged, and so after breakfast he and a number of the gentlemen rode up to the moors for some grouse shooting, and the ladies adjourned to the croquet lawn, which had been laid out near the bridge. Mary did not accompany them but chose to sit in Hester’s room with Lauren and Alex, which pleased Lauren considerably.

  But Isabel also chose to sit in the room, which didn’t please her at all.

  Isabel seemed set upon being the personification of kind concern, and made so much of their new so-called friendship that Lauren found it difficult to move without finding Isabel at her elbow, or speak without Isabel being the one to respond. It was quite infuriating, but Lauren bit back the irritation, for Hester’s sickroom was hardly the place to say what she really thought of dear Lady Maxby, who had apparently been plotting with Emma and Jamie to do something which would incriminate the visitor from Boston. With Isabel now behaving in such an unnerving way, Lauren wondered again if she should say anything to Rory. But Hester’s advice still held good, for what could he be told? And now, with Hester herself unable to confirm or deny anything that the plotters said…

  The doctor arrived at noon, and to everyone’s relief pronounced Hester to be in no danger. There were no broken bones or any sign of internal injuries after the fall. And after examining the unfortunate Sir Sydney Dodd as well, the doctor declared that both invalids were suffering the consequences of the dubious fare served by the Crown & Thistle. In his opinion the grouse had probably been hung for far too long, and the ill humors present in them had been transferred to the unfortunates who had dined upon them. There was nothing for it but to wait for the ill humors to be finally expelled, and in the meantime both patients must rest as much as possible. They were not to be subjected to any anxiety or noise, and frequent drafts of orange-flower water were recommended. Only if stomach pains were complained of was laudanum to be administered, and then sparingly. Hester knew very little of his diagnosis, for she slept throughout most of his examination.

  After issuing his sterling medical advice, the doctor immediately started back for Dumbarton. As he urged the refreshed horse out of the courtyard, he passed a traveling carriage that was just arriving. It was a splendid vehicle, with a coat of arms on its gleaming gray-lacquered doors, and it was conveying a very late guest, a gentleman whose presence was to have a devastating effect upon Lauren’s happiness. He was shown up to his room, and after changing adjourned to the dining room to partake of some excellent cold pigeon pie and Bordeaux wine.

  As Hester continued to sleep, Mary decided that it would be most agreeable if those around the bedside went to the solar to enjoy a dish of hot chocolate. Alex could not be persuaded to leave his wife, but although Lauren didn’t want to go anywhere with Isabel, she knew that to refuse would be churlish, and so the three ladies left the bedroom together. Lauren was soon to wish she had never left Hester’s side; indeed she was to wish many things before the next dreadful hour was over.

  Before entering the solar, Isabel suddenly remembered something she wanted from her room and hurried away, promising to rejoin the others in a moment or so. This she did, although before sitting down she went to the window behind Lauren’s sofa to look out over the loch for a moment. It was as she did this that, unseen, she placed Lauren’s reticule upon the arm of the sofa. Lauren’s attention was on Mary, and she didn’t notice anything amiss.

  Everything commenced reasonably enough, with the three sitting down with their chocolate and debating whether or not the thunderstorm would eventually descend upon Glenvane. This led to the observation that the grouse shooting and croquet playing would come to grief if it did, and to Isabel remarking that Jamie and Emma would also get a drenching.

  Lauren looked swiftly at her. “A drenching?”

  “Why, yes. They’ve gone out for a drive in his cabriolet, and I do not believe the hood is very efficient.”

  Mary sipped her chocolate. “I didn’t know they’d gone out on their own. Have they been gone long?”

  “Oh, I don’t really know,” Isabel replied vaguely, but her glance slid briefly toward Lauren’s reticule. It was a glance which Lauren failed to intercept.

  Isabel put her chocolate aside and got up. “Maybe they’re on their way back to the castle
now,” she murmured, crossing toward the window behind Lauren again. As she did so, she contrived to knock the reticule to the floor. It fell, spilling its contents over the carpet.

  “Oh, dear, so, so sorry!” Isabel cried.

  Lauren looked blankly at the reticule. How on earth had it come from her room? She hadn’t brought it. Puzzled and a little uneasy, she bent to gather the spilled contents, but Isabel did so first.

  “Oh, Miss Maitland, you must think me the most clumsy creature on earth. I—” Isabel’s voice broke off on a startled gasp, and slowly she straightened.

  Mary looked swiftly at her. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  Isabel seemed at a loss for words, and could only point to the items that had fallen out of the reticule. There, gleaming gold among them, was the locket from the Glenvane jewel box.

  Shaken, Lauren stared at it, as did Mary, and then Isabel gave a light laugh as she retrieved it. “Has Rory made a declaration and sealed it with a gift, Miss Maitland?”

  “I—” Lauren broke off before really replying. What could she say? Yes, that a declaration had been made, but no, the locket had nothing to do with it?

  Isabel spoke again. “Have you nothing to say, Miss Maitland?”

  “Er—no, Lady Maxby, Lord Glenvane did not give me the locket; indeed I have no idea how it came to be in my reticule. As it happens, I don’t even know how my reticule came to be here in this room, for I didn’t bring it.” No, dear Isabel brought it! Too late she saw how the sleight of hand had been achieved, and too late she began to understand what Emma and Jamie had been talking about the night before. Find one item in Lauren Maitland’s possession, and believe that the rest would be nearby? Had the entire jewel box been stolen? Was that how the two lovers intended to gain funds? Her mind raced as thought succeeded thought…

  Mary looked most confused, “You—er—didn’t bring it, Miss Maitland?”

  “No.”

  “But, surely you must have done so.”