A Companion of Quality Page 12

  Caroline blinked. She tried to free herself, but Mr Grizel was more tenacious than he looked and hung on to her hand with grim determination. Worse, he suddenly went down on one knee on the path in front of her.

  “Be mine, admired Caroline! May I be greatly daring and call you thus? Consent to be my wife and make me the happiest of men! Only say the word—”

  “I fear that the word is no, sir,” Caroline began. This was worse than her worst imaginings, comic but sad at the same time. She tried to extricate herself once more. “I am deeply honoured, but I fear I must decline—”

  “But why?” Mr Grizel wailed in anguish. “Surely it is more favourable than your current situation? I am not without means—”

  “Please, sir,” Caroline said quickly, wishing to spare both of them embarrassment, “say no more! We should not suit! And pray get up! You are kneeling in a puddle and someone is coming!”

  “Time,” Mr Grizel pressed on hopefully, covering her hand with moist kisses. “All ladies need time to consider an offer! I shall—”

  “Pray, sir, desist!” Caroline said forcibly. She abandoned all hope of sparing his feelings. He really was an irritatingly persistent man and perhaps he deserved to be snubbed after all. She pulled on her hand; he pulled back. Caroline slipped on the damp grass by the path and managed to twist herself from his grip. And at the same time there was a clatter of hooves on the path, a muffled oath from the approaching rider, and the horse missed the prostrate curate by less than a foot.

  Mr Grizel scrambled up, but the rider had already flung himself from the saddle and lifted the unlucky cleric clear of the ground. Mr Grizel was not a small man, but dangling in Lewis Brabant’s fearsome grip made him appear rather puny. Lewis let him go as suddenly as he had pounced on him, and Mr Grizel staggered over to the wall and leaned rather heavily against it. Caroline found her voice.

  “Captain Brabant! You cannot treat a man of the cloth in such a manner—”

  It seemed, however, that Lewis was not moved by a spirit of brotherly love towards Mr Grizel. Ignoring Caroline’s comment completely, he stepped threateningly towards the cowering curate.

  “What can you mean by manhandling Miss Whiston in that outrageous manner, Grizel? Good God, I would have expected more self-control in a man of your stamp! And to conduct your amorous affairs in the middle of the road at dusk is downright foolhardy, let alone ridiculous!”

  “Captain Brabant!” Caroline exclaimed again. “How dare you, sir!” She was infuriated by his casual reference to amorous affairs, as though she were some tavern wench. She moved closer to the shrinking cleric. “You are the one who should be apologising! Treating Mr Grizel as though he were some miscreant—”

  “The gentleman would have suffered more if I had not been able to stop my horse in time!” Lewis said coolly, looking directly at Caroline for the first time. “The next time you encourage a proposal, Miss Whiston, pray make sure that you choose a safer place or you will find that you are betrothed one moment and sped on your way to heaven the very next!” He stood back and gave Caroline a heavily ironic bow. “But tell me, am I to wish you happy?”

  Caroline glared at him. She had totally forgotten the cringing Mr Grizel, who was still trying to efface himself against the wall.

  “No, you are not!” she said hotly. “I could have managed the business perfectly well without your intervention, sir! I wish you would take yourself off!”

  “I have no intention of leaving you at the mercies of this zealous suitor!” Lewis said derisively, his gaze pinning Mr Grizel to the spot. “I will take you up with me as far as Hewly, Miss Whiston!”

  “Ridiculous!” Caroline said roundly, her temper now as inflamed as his. “There is no need! Mr Grizel will be on his way home and I can cut across the fields and be back before dark—”

  “Whilst you are under my roof you are my responsibility, Miss Whiston,” Lewis said, with icy politeness. “I beg you not to argue. Your servant, Grizel.”

  Before Caroline had any idea what he was about, he had tossed her up on to the horse’s back and swung himself up into the saddle behind her. It was all accomplished so smoothly that Caroline had barely drawn breath before Lewis had taken up the reins and turned Nelson’s head for home.

  “Put me down at once—” Caroline began childishly, but Lewis only laughed.

  “What, do you prefer a cold walk home to a little time spent in my company?” he said softly in her ear. “I thought, perhaps, that we might continue our discussion of your matrimonial plans!”

  Caroline suddenly found that she could not have spoken even had she wanted to. His arms were around her, holding her with infinite care against his chest, and she could feel his breath stirring the tendrils of hair about her face. He arranged the folds of his cloak about her and the soft cloth, smelling of him, brushed her skin. The words dried in her throat, the anger draining from her like water evaporating.

  “I am surprised that you rejected poor Grizel,” Lewis said, after a moment. “He is one of the Oxfordshire Grizels, you know, and is accounted quite a catch. Besides, it would be a way out of your current circumscribed existence, so perhaps you will change your mind when you have had a little time to consider—”

  “I think not, sir!” Caroline snapped, her annoyance rushing back at his presumption. “Not that it is any of your business, but I would never make a marriage of convenience just to escape my situation!” She wriggled indignantly. “A fine opinion you must have of me—”

  “Steady,” Lewis instructed quietly, tightening his arms as she started to slide off the horse’s back. “Do not startle Nelson! He is of a most nervous disposition!”

  “Nonsense!” Caroline said indignantly. “I am sure the poor creature is as insensitive as you are, sir!”

  She felt Lewis laugh. The sound was warm and disconcertingly intimate in the darkness. He spoke quietly. “How is it possible that a lady so soft to the touch can have a tongue as sharp as a sacking needle?”

  “Stop at once and put me down, sir!” Caroline said furiously, betrayed by the trembling of her own body. His words had stirred the memories in her, the feelings she had sworn to freeze out after their last encounter. It made her all the more angry. “I do not have to heed your words—”

  “Oh, but you do…” Lewis’s voice was still little above a whisper. “You are entirely trapped, are you not, Caroline? A novel experience for so self-sufficient a lady! Dear Caro…” He lingered over the words as he had done once before. “Be calm. We are having such an enlightening conversation! You would not make a marriage of convenience and I am happy to hear you say so.”

  “It is none of your concern, Captain,” Caroline said, trying to sound cold when her whole body was suffused with heat. “You are unmannerly—”

  “Yes, I know.” Lewis’s sleeve brushed her cheek and Caroline bit her lip. Here, in the near-dark, pressed so close to him, she felt acutely vulnerable. “We have spoken on this before,” Lewis continued. “I have been away at sea too long and have no idea how to go on—”

  “Nonsense!” Caroline snapped again. “You know perfectly well how to behave, sir, you simply choose to be ill-mannered! It is shameful!”

  “My dear Miss Whiston!” Lewis bent his head and his lips touched the corner of her mouth. They were cold against her cheek. “I now feel precisely like one of your badly behaved charges! Or perhaps,” his voice changed, “not precisely like one of them…”

  Caroline was immensely grateful to see the lighted windows of the Manor approaching. She turned her head away and tried to still the traitorous weakness that swept through her. When they turned into the stableyard she was forced to wait until Lewis had dismounted and lifted her down in his arms, for she knew her legs were too shaky to support her. She tore herself from his grip and walked with head held high towards the door of the house. Lewis caught up with her as they crossed the gravel sweep. She thought that he said something—her name, perhaps—in an undertone shaken with laughter, but then
the door was thrown open and Julia stood on the threshold. It was evident that she was in a towering rage.

  “Caroline! Where have you been? I have been waiting these two hours past in need of your assistance with a letter—” Her gaze slid from Caroline’s flushed face to Lewis’s blank one and lingered there thoughtfully. There was a long pause, broken fortunately by Richard Slater’s emergence from the library. He seemed blissfully unaware of any tension in the atmosphere.

  “Lewis! Did you have a good ride back?”

  “Eventful,” Lewis said expressionlessly. “Would you care for a drink before dinner, Richard? I feel in need of one!” He bowed to Caroline and Julia. “Ladies, pray excuse us—”

  “Well, really!” Julia said, as the study door closed behind them. She seemed uncertain whether to vent her spleen on Caroline or Lewis. “It’s all of a piece as soon as there is another gentleman in the house!” She swung round sharply on Caroline. “And what were you looking so guilty about, pray? You looked as thought you had been caught kissing in the shrubbery!”

  Caroline was feeling decidedly out of sorts. “I fear Captain Brabant had been ringing a peal over me for encouraging Mr Grizel’s attentions,” she said, resorting shamelessly to half-truth and evasion. “We had a most uncomfortable journey back.”

  Julia clapped her hands, her good humour restored. “Mr Grizel has made you an offer! I knew it! And have you accepted him, Caroline?”

  “Certainly not!” Caroline said with dignity.

  “I suppose that was why Lewis was so annoyed,” Julia said, with satisfaction. “Really, Caro, you have no idea how to go on! Only fancy rejecting such a suitor! Why, Mr Grizel has a private income of ten thousand a year!”

  “Sorry about last night, old chap,” Captain Slater said ruefully as he and Lewis took port after dinner that evening. “As I said this morning, I had no intention of intruding on the day of the funeral! Fact is, I’d been up in Bath for a few days and your letter must have passed me on the road. If I’d known about your father’s death I would never have come—”

  Lewis made a swift gesture and cut him off. “No apology required, Richard, I assure you. Truth is, I was glad to see you. Things have been damnably difficult here these last few weeks and some different company is most welcome.”

  Richard flashed Lewis a grin. “Well, if you’re sure…To tell the truth, I’ve been waiting all day to hear about your petticoat government! I was uncertain whether I would find you here or decamped to London with the fair Mrs Chessford!”

  Lewis gave Richard a look, his eyes narrowing. “Not sure if I should call you to account for that remark, Richard!”

  “Oh, I can do better than that!” Captain Slater said with a cheerful shrug. “I have a special commission from Fanny to discover whether you are betrothed to Mrs Chessford! The tabbies of Lyme would be taking bets on it if they were not all too genteel to gamble!”

  Lewis looked startled. “How is it that my business is of such interest?”

  Richard made a deprecating gesture. “Fortune, old fellow! Estate! Single gentleman in need of a wife and all that!”

  “How is it that you have escaped their attentions then?”

  Captain Slater looked as soulful as one of his cheerful countenance could manage. “Alas, I have a broken heart and am inconsolable!”

  “The devil you are!” Lewis looked amused. “It’s the first I heard of it! Besides, surely there is some young lady who plans to cure you? To make you happy again!”

  Richard grimaced. “What a dismal idea! Remind me to develop a new strategy before anyone thinks of it! Anyway,” he cast his friend a sideways look, “I may not remain heartbroken for ever.”

  Lewis got up to stoke the fire. “You would not be so unoriginal as to develop a tendre for Mrs Chessford yourself?”

  “Not if you don’t wish it, old chap! No, I had more in mind to fix my sights on the fascinating Miss Whiston!”

  Lewis stopped in the act of passing the decanter. “I beg your pardon?”

  “Miss Whiston!” Richard Slater’s grey eyes were bright with amusement as they dwelt on his friend. “You referred to her as some Friday-faced female, if I recall correctly—”

  “I think not!”

  “Well, you did. But now that I have got to know her—”

  “That was quick work—”

  “Well, I was always renowned for it, if you recall! As I was saying, now that I have met her, I realise that you were fair and far out in your description! I thought last night that she looked like the goddess Juno, and she reads philosophy—”

  Lewis swore. He returned the decanter to the desk with a decided thump. “The goddess Juno? When did you see this apparition, Richard?”

  “Last night, old chap, like I said! She was coming out of the library! I introduced myself at once!” Richard smiled reminiscently. “She had a book of Sophocles under her arm and her hair was loose with the firelight shining through—”

  He broke off at the martial light in his friend’s eye. “Your pardon, Lewis! Sits the wind in that quarter then?”

  There was a silence but for the crackling of the fire. Lewis looked up and met his friend’s quizzical gaze.

  “I believe you said all that on purpose,” he said mildly.

  Richard grinned. “Devil a bit! I should be happy to be at Miss Whiston’s feet!”

  “Well, don’t be!” Lewis’s frown returned. “I have plans—”

  Richard raised his hand in a gesture of surrender.

  “Point taken! No need to call me out! Now, do you remember Charles Drew? Served with you on the Neptune under Freemantle? He was in port last week and called to see me…”

  Lewis sat back and allowed himself to be drawn into reminiscence, but half his mind was elsewhere. Richard’s words had prompted him to think again about the events of the previous night, but it was Julia rather than Caroline Whiston who occupied his thoughts. Something in Julia’s statements about his father had not rung true, but at the time he had not been able to work out exactly what it was. Now he remembered. Julia had claimed that the Admiral had intended to force her into marriage and that she had eloped with Jack Chessford through necessity. Yet in the letter that Caroline had accidentally left in the poetry book, Julia had made some reference to her marriage, and it had been couched in entirely different terms…

  If only he had read more of it! If only he could see the others…Lewis imagined Caroline’s reaction if he asked her to let him borrow them, and smothered a smile. Then she would give him the right-about and no mistake! Yet he had to know, for if Julia were telling the truth it would be one of the most painful discoveries he could make, but if she was lying…

  He thought of Caroline then, of the sweetness hidden beneath the severity. What had Richard said? “Her hair was loose with the firelight shining through…” Lewis shifted in his seat. Every so often there would be a tantalising glimpse of that creature of the woods that he had met on his first day home. Deny it as she might, Caroline Whiston was an intriguing conundrum.

  Caroline was having a peaceful afternoon. Earlier that day, Julia had revealed a sudden need to travel to Northampton for some goods that Abbot Quincey could apparently not supply. Whether this sudden discovery had anything to do with Captain Slater’s avowed intent to visit the town Caroline could not be sure, but certainly the Captain had declared himself delighted to escort her. Caroline wondered whether this was some ploy of Julia’s to make Lewis jealous. Certainly she could not believe that Julia had decided to give up her pursuit of Lewis in favour of Richard Slater, who had a comparatively small competence and was decidedly less good-looking.

  Caroline liked Captain Slater. He had a practical, good-humoured nature and treated her with exactly the same deference and charm as he did Lavender and Julia. Sometimes there was a decided look of admiration in his eyes when he spoke to her, but Caroline found that she was quite comfortable with this and that it did not disturb her in the same way that Lewis’s perceptive regard was
wont to do. Nevertheless, Caroline found herself hoping that Richard Slater would not fall prey to Julia’s blandishments. The idea was a comical one in some ways—how many more of His Majesty’s Navy needed protection against Julia’s wiles?

  Julia had only been gone a half-hour when Lady Perceval and her daughters and the Countess of Yardley came to call on Lavender. Caroline knew that it could only be coincidence that had brought them to Hewly as soon as Julia was absent, but she reflected that her erstwhile friend would fly up into the bows when she heard the news.

  The January weather was unseasonably warm, almost springlike, and Caroline had decided to take a stroll along the Little Steep river. She climbed a stile in the hedge and jumped down the other side, enjoying the pale sunshine. Her mourning clothes were not very practical for walking and eventually she took off her bonnet and swung it by the strings, feeling rather like a young girl playing truant.

  The path meandered along by the side of the river, which was narrow and deep at this point, running fast and brown with the recent thaw. Caroline rounded a bend, sheltered by coppiced willow, and stopped in surprise, for Lewis Brabant was sitting on the riverbank, his back against one of the trees. He had not seen her, for he was engrossed in his fishing, setting his line, his eyes narrowed with concentration.

  Caroline watched him for a moment, undetected. As on that first evening at Hewly, she was struck by how much more relaxed he seemed in the freedom of the outdoors. When Lewis was inside the house it was almost as though there was some part of him that felt confined, held under forcible constraint. That was not to suggest that he did not look comfortable in the elegant drawing-rooms of society, for he had an easy assurance that would no doubt carry him through every situation. Despite that, however, Caroline thought he seemed happiest when he was not restrained by four walls.

  She watched as he cast the line with one strong flick of the wrist then sat back against the tree. The fresh breeze ruffled his fair hair. Caroline felt as though a hand had squeezed her heart, then let her go, leaving her a little breathless. She made a slight, involuntary movement and Lewis looked up and saw her.