If Miss Harleys good name is brought into question, then I will do the honourable thing, your Grace. Whatever made him say that? Andrew asked himself. The idea of marrying the lady had never crossed his mind until the words came out of his mouth.
James smiled. No doubt he would. The niece of one of Englands foremost Dukes would be quite a catch for the grandson of a mere baron. I do not think that will be necessary, he said quite sharply and then relented. I meanyou have managed to bring her here with the minimum of fuss and we can find a way of accounting for her arrival ahead of her mother and sister. All will be well, I am sure.
But we do, indeed, thank you, the Duchess put in, smiling. I had expected Beth to come down and thank you herself
She has thanked me already, Andrew said. I would not wish to put her to the blush by having to repeat it. I did only what any gentleman worthy of the name would do. He put his cup down and rose to bring the interview to an end. He felt uncomfortable, as if he were being quizzed as a potential suitor, when all he had wanted to do was hand over the hoyden and take his leave.
The Duchess rose too. Mr Melhurst, are you, by chance, on your way to your grandfathers house? I collect it is near Newmarket.
Yes, your Grace.
She smiled. And no doubt hoped to be halfway there by now.
Andrew bowed to acknowledge the truth of this. It is of no consequence, he said politely.
I hesitate to ask another favour of you, she began, making her husband look sharply at her, eyebrows raised in enquiry. But I know my sister-in-law will be beside herself with worry. Would you, could you, call at Beechgrove on your way and set her mind at rest? I know it is an impositionif it is inconvenient, please say so.
It will be my pleasure, your Grace. He endeavoured to sound cheerful about it. It was not so much that it would mean taking a small detour, but that he would still be embroiled in the doings of Miss Elizabeth Harley and at the beck and call of the Duke and Duchess of Belfont. Were they so pessimistic about finding the chit a husband they had to drag one in off the street? He felt as though he were being used and he did not like the feeling at all.
Please tell Lady Harley that we will keep Beth here with us, the Duchess went on. But it would be advisable if she were to bring forward her own arrival in London so that it may look as though they all arrived together.
I will do that, your Grace, he said and took his leave before she could suggest any other errands for him to do.
He passed out of the room and on to the gallery. He paused outside the door, thankful to have escaped, and made for the top of the stairs to the ground floor. A movement, a soundhe was not afterwards sure which it wasmade him look up. Above him, at the head of the stairs, stood a vision in green, one hand on the balustrade, one slippered foot poised above the top step, ready to descend. This was no hoyden dressed in male attire, no untidy miss with dark hair tumbling down beneath an over-large tricorne hat, this was a woman of poise and breathtaking loveliness. The gown swirled about her legs, its tightly fitted bodice revealing a figure no less than perfect. Her hair had been twisted up into coils that emphasised a pale and slender neck. She was staring down at him, as if uncertain whether to descend.
He smiled and bowed. Miss Harley, your obedient.
Mr Melhurst. Her foot went back beside the other one. She did not want to go down to him, did not want the humiliation of having to express her gratitude all over again. It would not have been so bad if he had not been so insufferably arrogant. But she could not turn away. His eyes, appraising her, held her mesmerised.
A servant came along the corridor and disappeared into the room he had just left and in a flash she had fled and he was left staring at nothing. Smiling, he descended to the ground floor where the footman who had admitted him rose from his chair to open the front door for him.
He continued to smile as he was driven away. He had been wrong to think of Miss Harley as a chit, only lately out of the schoolroom; it was that strange garb which had made her seem so young. In that exquisite dress she looked poised and mature enough to be already out. There was no need for the Duke and Duchess to drag suitors in from the street, they must be flocking round her. His amused condescension had taken a strange and disturbing turn. He found himself wishing he was not heading for Newmarket.
Sophie, whatever were you thinking of, asking Mr Melhurst to go to Beechgrove? James asked. I could have sent a courier with a note. We are indebted to him enough as it is.
Oh, he did not mind.
Whether he minded or not, is not the point. Why did you do it?
He is a very fine gentleman, dont you think? And aware of the delicacy of the situation. And servants talk
Not ours, or they would not be in my employ.
She ignored that. And he did offer.
To go to Beechgrove? I did not hear him say so, until you asked him.
Not to go to Beechgrove, I did not mean that. I heard you talking to him before I came in. He said he would do the honourable thing.
You did not take that seriously, surely?
Why not? He is handsome and wealthy, judging by the equipage he arrived in, and your father knew his grandfather, so he must be of some consequence.
What is that to the point? We know nothing about him. I seem to remember some scandal which made it necessary for him to leave the country.
Pooh, to that. You forget my papa had to do the same thing and you did not hold that against me.
He laughed. That was not your fault.
And whatever it is may not have been Mr Melhursts fault. You should not judge him before you know the truth, James.
He laughed suddenly. And supposing Beth is not compliant. She is a true Dersingham and a more stubborn one I have yet to meet. She will not be driven.
Oh, James, credit me with a little more sense than that. I am merely making it possible for the acquaintanceship to blossom. Harriet is bound to be grateful and will invite him to call again.
On the other hand, the gentleman might consider Beth too much of a hoyden for his taste and decline.
He has seen the worst of her and now we must show him the best. I do not consider Beth a hoyden, she is intelligent and spirited and very beautiful when she is properly dressed.
And is she properly dressed now?
I believe so. I left her with Rose who has found one of my gowns for her.
Then send for her.
You are not going to give her a jobation, are you, James? She knows how bad she has been and is full of remorse. Scolding her will not make her more compliantit might even drive her to be more outrageous.
I cannot ignore what she has done.
No, but be gentle with her, James. If it had not been for you sending Toby away as if he had caused some dreadful scandal, she would not have felt misused.
I was endeavouring to prevent a scandal.
Beth is not in love with Mr Kendall, James, there was nothing improper in their relationship. She finds him interesting because of his love and knowledge of botany, a passion she shares. You should talk to her about it, you might be surprised at how much she knows on the subject.
You are telling me I have made a mull of it.