The Earl Plays With Fire Read online

  ‘We really don’t need him, Mama,’ Sophia chirped. She was in fine form, still bubbling from the two long dances she’d managed to extract from Sir Julian at the Seftons’ party. To add to her pleasure, Christabel appeared of late to have lost her usual bloom.

  ‘Stebbings will be with us and that will be sufficient. In fact, Bel can stay home too. She still doesn’t look at all the thing,’ she added solicitously.

  ‘What nonsense. You cannot possibly go driving with just a groom for company.’ Lady Harriet looked anxiously across the table at her elder daughter, ‘You will go with Sophia this morning, I trust?’

  ‘Yes, of course, Mama, it’s arranged that we meet the Misses Banham at eleven.’

  She couldn’t remember exactly why she’d agreed to drive with two sisters she privately considered bird-witted in the extreme, but managed to finish brightly, ‘It’s another beautiful day for a drive in St James’s.’

  She went quickly upstairs after breakfast to complete her toilette. Sophia was already arrayed in midnight blue and she had no wish to challenge her sister’s colourful palette. Instead she donned a robe of figured cream lace over an underdress of soft amber silk. Her hair was brushed into shining auburn curls and threaded through with a simple cream ribbon. She felt instinctively that this was an important day and she wanted to look her best in meeting it head on. A newly discovered sense of purpose had brought back colour to her face and the porcelain cheeks now sported a delicate glow. She looked as fresh and as young as the spring morning into which the sisters now ventured.

  Sophia glared at her in annoyance. A resurgent Christabel was not what she wanted. Sir Julian had mentioned at the rout that though he must give immediate attention to business brought back from Rosings, he would be riding in the park this morning and hoped to see both herself and her sister there. Sophia was under no illusions as to whose company he really sought and had hoped to intercept him before Christabel once more entered his orbit. She was anxious to exploit their friendship of two nights ago in any way she could and her sister’s radiant presence would hardly further her plan.

  Once out of the house Benedict suddenly remembered a prior engagement and swiftly excused himself. He had made a casual promise to Domino to ride with her this morning and this was likely to be more entertaining than plodding dutifully after his sisters’ carriage. He was also feeling a little guilty at having abandoned the girl so cavalierly at the Seftons’.

  Sophia was pleased to see him go. If she could only think of a pretext to lose Christabel too, she would be free to seek out Sir Julian and fascinate him as she knew she could. But Christabel was going to be difficult to evade; her sister had opted to take the reins, the groom by her side, and further frustration swiftly followed when they encountered the Misses Banham waiting for them at the north gate of the park. Annoyingly they had remembered the arrangement to meet and while Christabel held the horses steady, they were soon clambering noisily into the carriage. They were arrayed in matching dresses of sprig muslin and each carried a frilled parasol in a contrasting colour. They positioned themselves on either side of Sophia, like two chattering bookends. Laughing and giggling their way into the park, they exclaimed at Christabel’s skill at driving the carriage through such busy thoroughfares and asserted with loud squeals their complete confidence that she could be trusted to tool them around the park without mishap. Most of what passed for conversation between them—the latest scurrilous on dits circulating in town—went unanswered, but since they needed no audience but each other, they were not disconcerted by their hosts’ silence.

  When they’d finally exhausted current gossip, they turned their attention to their companions. They complimented the Tallis sisters on their looks, their dresses, their carriage. Everything that could be praised, was praised. Unusually for Sophia she seemed not to notice their flattering remarks even when they were particularly lavish in their admiration of her blue satin. Christabel thought she seemed disturbed, almost excited, looking nervously from right to left and then behind, sometimes even hanging over the side of the carriage to gain a better view. It hardly seemed likely, but was it possible that Sophia had made an assignation with someone?

  ‘There’s Lucy,’ the elder Miss Banham suddenly shrieked. ‘And with Petronella!’

  ‘Our cousins,’ the younger sister explained to the startled Tallises. ‘Miss Tallis, Miss Sophia, would you mind awfully if we were to get down? It’s an age since we’ve seen our cousins and there’s so much to tell!’

  The Tallis sisters readily assented. They were both heartily weary of the clamour that had accompanied their drive around the park. Sophia’s face became intent. She had now only to free herself from her sister’s company and she could at last seek Sir Julian alone. But nothing happened to aid her plan and just a few minutes later they saw him riding towards them.

  He hailed them with pleasure, reining in his horse by the carriage to greet Christabel for the first time in nearly a week. For a while he sat silently gazing at her. He had forgotten just how beautiful she was and was suffused with eagerness to make his declaration and possess her as his wife. Belatedly he remembered her sister’s presence.

  ‘Good morning, Miss Sophia. I trust you suffered no ill from your exertions at the rout?’

  Sophia smiled a little sourly. Sir Julian seemed not to notice and immediately turned his attention back to Christabel.

  ‘I was most sorry to hear of your indisposition, Miss Tallis, but I see from your looks that you are now fully recovered. I had hoped to see you at the rout but in your absence your little sister kept me on my toes.’

  ‘So I understand, Sir Julian.’ Christabel smiled, her green eyes warm and welcoming. ‘And how did your business at Rosings prosper?’

  ‘It went well, plenty to do, you know, as always, but also plenty of time to plan.’ He looked suddenly serious. ‘I am most pleased to find you here this morning. There is something particular I wish to discuss with you. I wonder if you would do me the honour of walking a short way with me?’

  She knew that this was the moment that had threatened for so long. Now that it had finally come, she felt calm and resigned. This was something she must do for herself and her family. It was no good thinking that a dashing white knight was going to ride to her rescue. Those were the foolish daydreams of an immature girl. This was the reality—a comfortable life with a comfortable husband. She allowed Sir Julian to hand her down from the carriage and stood waiting for him. He was about to join her when Sophia indicated that she also wished to alight. Sir Julian was surprised by this lack of tact, but, polite as always, he carefully handed the younger girl down and they began walking together over the luxuriant carpet of grass from which the dew had only just disappeared.

  At that moment Benedict and Domino were manoeuvring their horses through the busy West End traffic. Pedlars, carts, every kind of carriage thronged the roads leading to St James’s and all their attention was taken up with gaining a safe passage through the maelstrom of noise and bustle. Twenty long minutes later they finally reached the safety of the park and trotted smartly through its eastern entrance. Benedict glanced briefly at his companion. He was not the most acute observer, but she seemed unusually subdued. At first he had put it down to the late nights and this morning’s early rising, but as they rode, he became increasingly aware of tension within the slight figure alongside him. After a few abortive attempts at conversation he gave up talking and they rode in silence.

  The air was still and cool and shafts of sunlight filtered through the newly leafing trees overhead. As they pushed their way further into this small island of nature, Domino decided to make her confession. Her frustration at Richard’s continued blindness had been replaced at the rout party by a new fascination. In that hot, enclosed little room she had been captivated by the ebb and flow of changing fortunes, the excitement of placing her stake, the rush of adrenaline as the cards sped from the faro box and the thrill of delight when the pile of rouleaus in front of
her began to grow.

  Not so delighted, though, when they began to disappear. But then Lord Moncaster had come to her rescue, had advanced her some of his own rouleaus for no more payment than her handkerchief. In the thrill of the game it had seemed perfectly normal for her to hand over this small personal possession. But the sly looks the other players exchanged alerted her to the fact that his lordship’s offer was hardly usual. He’d behaved impeccably, though, even advancing more tokens without demanding anything further from her. At least for the moment. He’d said that he would think of some way she could repay him, but that she wasn’t to worry her pretty head. He was a rich man, a few losses meant nothing to him. At these last comments Domino’s immediate neighbour, apparently so correct and punctilious, had smirked knowingly. She caught both his grimace and Leo Moncaster’s answering smile and a vague discomfort became a pressing anxiety to leave.

  ‘What do you know of Lord Moncaster?’ she asked suddenly.

  Benedict looked at her cautiously, trying to gauge how much he should say. ‘Not a lot,’ was his unhelpful reply.

  He saw her biting her lip and relented a little, ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘Only that I’m interested in the people I met at the Seftons’. I understand it was Lord Moncaster who held the faro bank.’

  ‘He often does. He’s a very rich man.’

  ‘Is he married?’

  Where was this leading? thought Benedict. ‘No, not married.’

  ‘Yet he’s quite old.’

  ‘He’s not that old and he doesn’t exactly lead the kind of life that goes with being married,’ he added bravely.

  ‘What kind of life?’ came the inevitable question.

  ‘Pretty rackety.’ Better to be brutal to be kind if the girl had any idea of snaring Moncaster.

  ‘Benedict, I lost money to him,’ she disclosed in a sudden rush of words.

  ‘We all lost money to him.’

  ‘I mean, I lost more—after you left.’

  ‘You couldn’t have lost much more. You only had enough rouleaus left for one more stake.’

  ‘I borrowed more.’

  ‘Borrowed? From him?’ He whistled under his breath.

  ‘It was not a good idea?’

  ‘Definitely not. What did you pledge?’

  ‘Pledge?’

  ‘What did he ask for?’ Benedict was getting seriously alarmed.

  ‘My handkerchief, first, but then he gave me rouleaus for free.’

  ‘He never gives anything for free.’

  ‘That’s what I’m thinking now,’ she said miserably. ‘What will he do, do you think?’

  Benedict hardly liked to put his thoughts into words. The vague feelings of guilt that had previously visited him found vent in scolding.

  ‘Whatever made you do such an idiotic thing?’

  ‘I didn’t realise it was wrong until later. You were not there to advise me,’ she accused him.

  ‘It shouldn’t be me advising you. It should be your aunt. You must tell her what you’ve done and she must repay Lord Moncaster his debt.’

  ‘I can’t do that. She will be so angry with me and despatch me immediately to Spain.’

  ‘I wouldn’t blame her. You’re too much of a responsibility. Anyway, you’re leaving for Spain at the end of the Season, so why not now?’

  ‘I have my reasons,’ she said gravely, the image of Richard hovering close. Then, following her train of thought, she asked in a falsely bright voice, ‘Is Miss Tallis riding here today?’

  ‘She’s out driving with my sister. I’m supposed to be with them, but Sophia’s screeching sends me insane. I thought you were the better bet!’ He grinned.

  She ignored the witticism. ‘Is she here right now? Perhaps we should go and find her.’

  ‘We won’t have to look too far.’ He raised his arm to point ahead. ‘She’s there, just to the right of that clump of trees.’

  They reined in their horses. A carriage had been drawn up beneath the trees and to one side they saw Sir Julian Edgerton talking animatedly to Christabel. He had her hand raised to his lips and then, as they watched, slipped what looked like a ring on her finger.

  ‘Perhaps not the right time to interrupt,’ Benedict commented drily.

  Domino felt considerable surprise, but also a warm pleasure. If Christabel were pledged to another man, it might mean Richard would look more kindly on her. ‘They are to be married?’

  ‘My mother’s been waiting an age for this—Bel must have finally decided to put the man out of his misery.’

  ‘It’s a very happy day, then. Let’s go and congratulate them.’

  ‘I don’t think I will right now,’ he prevaricated. ‘Just look at Sophia!’

  They looked across from the betrothed couple and saw a figure in bright blue satin some distance from the carriage, standing rigidly with averted head.

  ‘Like I said, perhaps not the best time to interrupt.’ He gave a mischievous smile. ‘Come on, let’s have a gallop. No one’s around to tell tales.’

  ‘I must not, Benedict. I’m already in trouble for that.’

  He set himself to persuade his companion that a gallop was just the thing to blow away her megrims when a large black stallion cut across their path and Richard Veryan was hailing them with a smile.

  ‘Good morning to you both. I’m very glad to see you, Domino, though I must admit I didn’t expect to meet you so early in the morning.’

  ‘It’s such a beautiful day that I couldn’t lie abed. Did you particularly want to see me, Richard?’ Her tone was eager, almost breathless.

  ‘I was worried that I might miss you, knowing what a crowded social calendar you have,’ he teased. ‘I wanted to tell you that I’m leaving for Cornwall very shortly.’

  ‘Cornwall? But why now?’ Her dismay rang out clearly.

  ‘Why not now?’ he said bracingly. ‘I’ve tarried too long in London—my mother deserves better. I should be at her side, don’t you think?’

  ‘Yes’, she stuttered, ‘of course, but it seems a sudden decision.’

  ‘Hardly sudden. It’s taken time to organise my affairs, but everything is now in a fair way to being settled. There’s no need for me to remain in London any longer.’

  Benedict saw her face and knew instantly that his supposition over Moncaster was false. But this relationship didn’t look much more promising. There was an awkward silence and he felt it incumbent to oil the social wheels.

  ‘I’ll be returning to Cornwall myself pretty soon, Rick. We must make sure to ride out together—if you can spare the time.’

  The other man smiled his assent. ‘There’s always time for a decent gallop.’

  Domino had been following her own thoughts and blurted out abruptly, ‘But won’t you stay for the Vauxhall spectacle, Richard? It’s only a few days away.’

  ‘I think not, but you’re sure to enjoy yourself. I remember seeing the fireworks for the first time when I was about your age and they were truly spectacular.’

  Domino dug her nails into her hands and screamed inwardly. Wanting to hit out, she said as casually as she could, ‘If you’re leaving so soon, you’d better make haste to congratulate Miss Tallis. She is close by, I believe.’

  Benedict looked at her with surprise, wondering what her game was. Not for the first time he felt completely out of his depth in trying to fathom females.

  ‘Congratulate Miss Tallis?’ Richard was questioning.

  ‘We’ve just seen her with Sir Julian Edgerton in a most romantic situation, haven’t we, Benedict?’ Her companion looked suitably revolted. ‘Benedict tells me that the betrothal between Sir Julian and his sister is something the whole family has been expecting, and it looks as though today it’s finally happened,’ she added helpfully.

  Richard was far too self-controlled to betray his feelings, but his face grew austere and the light went out of the smiling grey eyes.

  ‘I had better do as you suggest, then, and seek Miss Tallis out.’
/>   He wheeled his horse sharply around and rode away. His face might be an impassive mask, but inside he was incandescent. She was going to marry the man! How could she even consider it? Just a few days ago she had kissed him, caressed him, laid herself open to his lovemaking. The thought almost tore the breath from his body. Only yesterday in Curzon Street he’d felt certain that he could leave behind the old history at last. He’d been shocked to discover that Christabel had never known the depths of his youthful love and begun to understand just how easy it had been for Joshua to mislead her. The familiar, nagging hurt hadn’t disappeared completely, but he’d felt better able to contemplate the past with some serenity. Now, though, the wound had opened again and laceratingly. Yet another man was to smile into those startling emerald eyes, to run his hands over that beautiful, lithe body, to laugh and tease and fun with her. No, that he wouldn’t do. Sir Julian Edgerton was not a man made for fun. Nor was he a man made for love, not the kind that she needed at least. If he were still in love with her… But he wasn’t, was he? Her betrayal might have been an act of youthful folly, but she had damaged him too badly for him to trust her again. And now she was to marry this dull do-gooder and be lost to him for ever. How could she? The question thrummed blindly through every particle of his flesh.

  Behind a veil of tears, Domino watched his figure as it grew slowly smaller in the distance. Riding alongside, Benedict maintained a discreet silence. He trusted that he would not be called upon to become a confidant and waited for her to recover herself. With a great effort, she turned to him with a show of enthusiasm.

  ‘That was exciting, wasn’t it, but can we return to my problem? I need to win back the money that I lost to Lord Moncaster. Will you help me do that?’

  ‘You want me to win it?’

  ‘Of course not, I want to win it. It’s my debt. But I need you to introduce me to a place where I can do that.’

  ‘You’re asking me to take you to a gambling den?’