Loving Lucy Read online

  Philip turned back to him. “I wouldn’t be doing their duty if I didn’t try.” He spread his hands on the broad sill, leaning against it. “I have to stop this if I can. Lady Royston seems set on it. She made a point of introducing them, and in the summer she attended the same house party as he was at. She changed her plans to do so. I don’t know why, when she has refused or made Lucy refuse so many eligible suitors she should be determined on him. Perhaps he has charmed her.”

  “It would hurt you whoever she married,” Lord Wenlock pointed out.

  Stillness pervaded the room. Philip lowered his head. “I gave that idea up long ago,” he said, voice quiet.

  “you still love her?”

  “I always will.” The simple words were more moving than any florid confession. “She isn’t for me, Ned, she’ll never be for me, but I don’t want her throwing herself away. I want her to be happy. So far, her suitors have been impeccable, but none have taken her fancy. She is taken by Sanders. I only hope it’s a passing fancy, that’s all. If not, I’ll have to find a way to tell her.”

  “It’ll be difficult. Her mother keeps her close.”

  Philip sank his chin on to his chest. “I know.”

  Chapter Four

  Lucy went round in a warm glow, but she didn’t see her admirer. True to his word, he kept to masculine pursuits, and their paths didn’t cross. Lucy was a little annoyed, but her mother thought it was just as it ought to be. “I told him he mustn’t count on anything until our enquiries have concluded, but it seems he’s so much in love he can’t help himself.”

  “Did he say that?” Lucy blushed.

  “Yes,” Lady Royston replied. “I told him I would send for him as soon as I could to tell him the results of the enquiries. Where are you going?”

  Lucy pulled on her gloves and picked up her hat, stopping before the mirror to tie the ribbons becomingly under her chin. “Just shopping, Mama. I’m taking Curtis, and a footman, so you need not worry.”

  Her mother smiled and stood to kiss her daughter’s cheek. “I don’t worry, my dear. You are, in general, a very good girl. Would you run an errand for me while you are out?”

  “Of course,” replied her dutiful daughter.

  “Bespeak a dozen pairs of my usual outdoor gloves from Backstocks’. I’m down to my last two pairs, but I only noticed this morning. They’ll send them round here, there’s no need to collect them.”

  “Yes Mama.” The errand would take her well out of her way, but she didn’t really object to the inconvenience.

  “Are you taking the carriage?”

  “No, I thought I would walk.” She gave a final tweak to her hat, fluffed up one of the flowers that adorned the brim, and turned away from the mirror.

  “Hmm,” said her mother. “I suppose, if you’re not going far - “

  Before she could change her mind Lucy had tripped out the front door, closely followed by her two attendants. She had a particular reason for walking.

  Her route to Backstocks’ would take her past Sir Geoffrey’s lodgings in Clarges Street, and she might - just might - meet him there. She had not made any prior arrangement, but she had mentioned that she might be passing that way to a particular friend of Sir Geoffrey’s the previous evening. The fact that her mother had sent her in that direction gave her a legitimate excuse to pass. It added a certain frisson to the day, even if she didn’t see him.

  Accordingly she set off, quickly at first, in case her mother sent for her to come back, and then slowed down to a fashionable saunter. She knew she looked well in her sapphire blue silk gown topped by a blue velvet pelisse, and her hat was a new one and suited her very well. Her servants followed at a respectful distance, but close enough to make it obvious she was attended.

  Lucy slowed down when she reached Clarges Street, and carefully didn’t look at the houses, but straight ahead. It would be mortifying if she stared at the house and he turned out not to be there. She wasn’t such a ninny as to do that.

  But as she approached the house in question (she had never been there before, of course, but she knew the number) three men approached her from the other direction. They made her feel a little nervous, but she put her head up and stared past them. They were dressed in rough, dirty clothes, and weren’t talking at all. She breathed a sigh of relief when the first two went past her, but the third stopped and blocked her way.

  Lucy was forced to come to a halt. She didn’t look directly at the man, but took a step sideways and tried to move past him. He moved so that he blocked her way once more.

  Alarmed now, she looked round for her attendants, but the two men behind her were stopping them from reaching her. Her maid, Curtis, looked anxiously towards her, but she couldn’t get through.

  Lucy took a deep breath and decided to go forward. As luck would have it, there weren’t many people around today, and none that she knew. Screaming was out of the question. Such an ill-bred action wouldn’t help in the least, but she was nearly driven to it when the ruffian reached out and took hold of her reticule.

  Horrified, Lucy snatched her arm away from the stinking specimen of humanity. In fact, she was more horrified than afraid that such a person would confront her. His intention was now clear. She hoped the footman she had brought could fight his way past the other two behind her, though she doubted it. It would be foolish to get hurt for the sake of a few guineas. She removed her reticule from her arm. “You want this? Take it then.” She flung it to the ground.

  The man hardly gave it a second glance, but stared at her insolently. Lucy made a move to get past him and he acted then, raising his arms to take her own in a strong grip. “Leave go. Help. Won’t someone help me?” She called out, hoping that someone would take pity on her plight. Her annoyance had risen to fear, when the man hadn’t picked up her purse. She fought to control her rising terror, knowing that panic wouldn’t help her now.

  The last thing she remembered was the stink of the man who held her close. Then, for some unaccountable reason, she lost consciousness.

  ***

  She came to in a soft place to an appalling smell and a headache. When she opened her eyes, she saw her maid holding a bunch of burnt feathers, which she was waving under her mistress’ nose. Feebly she held up a hand and pushed them aside. “Oh, take them away.” she murmured irritably.

  “Lucy - Lucy my angel.” she heard and looking up, saw Sir Geoffrey hovering anxiously behind the maid. She smiled and moved to look at him properly but the movement brought to her notice the large lump on the back of her head, which hurt abominably. “Oh.” She grimaced, and she put her hand up to her head. It hurt even more when she did that. “My head is broken.”

  “No, but you’ve had a nasty knock,” he replied softly. “It was as well I was leaving my house, for I saw them and called for assistance. We saw them off.”

  “Who were they?”

  It was his turn to grimace. “Thieves, footpads. They’re getting so bold these days they’re even in this part of London. We couldn’t catch them, but your man has gone to report the incident.” He frowned. “For all the good it will do.”

  He looked down at her and his face softened. “I’ve sent for your mother. She should be here soon.”

  Lucy smiled at him, and tried to sit up, but he pressed her back against the cushions. “Try not to move. It would be better for you.” His hand was insistent on her shoulder and he left it there a moment before he seemed to remember, and moved it away.

  Feeling the pressure in her head Lucy relaxed down again on to the soft sofa and murmured; “I feel so foolish.” She was glad not to have to move just yet.

  “I think you’ll be all right, but I don’t think you should move far for a while.” She smiled gratefully at him, but when she opened her eyes again she found the light hurt them, so she kept them shut.

  She opened them when someone came to the door, and within a few minutes, her mother and Aunt Honoria came into the room, followed by Aunt Honoria’s maid.

&
nbsp; “Mama.”

  “Oh my dear.” her mother cried. “In broad daylight too.”

  Sir Geoffrey stood up from his kneeling position at Lucy’s side, but it was not her mother but Curtis who replaced him. “A terrible thing. I can only be glad I was at hand to help.”

  “Yes indeed, sir,” Lady Royston said. “We are most grateful. But I will feel happier when I have her at home.”

  Sir Geoffrey nodded gravely. “I cannot feel it would be right to move Lady Lucinda just yet. She would be the better for some peace and quiet. I’ve been thinking, your ladyship, and if it’s acceptable to you, I’d like to suggest she stays here tonight.”

  A look of astonishment and outrage crossed Lady Royston’s broad features. She opened her mouth to speak, but Sir Geoffrey forestalled her with an uplifted hand. “I will, of course, remove to an inn for the night and make sure the world knows it. I’ll stay at the White Hart, where there are so many comings and goings I’m bound to be seen. Then you may stay here with Lucy, and whomever else you wish. Please, treat it as your own. I feel sure she’ll be well enough to travel tomorrow.”

  Lady Royston looked at her daughter doubtfully, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. Lucy clinched the argument by trying to sit up, and heaving.

  The maid was only just in time with a nearby basin. She held Lucy’s head steady, and took a clean cloth from Sir Geoffrey afterwards, so Lucy could wipe her mouth. Lucy sank back against the cushions, tears sparkling her eyes. This was decidedly not the way she wanted to appear to her admirer.

  When she dared to glance at him, Sir Geoffrey was looking at her in compassion, not the disgust she expected. She ventured a smile, and the warmth on his face showed his return. Lady Royston sighed in acceptance. “I think that clinches the matter. We must accept your offer, sir, with grateful thanks.”

  He waved an airy hand. “Think nothing of it.” His gaze hadn’t left Lucy’s face. “Do you feel better now, Lady Lucinda?”

  She thought for a moment and then nodded. “A little, thank you. But my head still hurts so.”

  “Perhaps you should remain there for a while, my dear,” Aunt Honoria said. Lucy smiled at her. It had always been Aunt Honoria who nursed her in her childhood illnesses, and she suspected it would be no different now. She was right.

  Aunt Honoria cast off her bonnet and gloves and unbuttoned her pelisse, throwing them all heedlessly over a nearby chair. “Then in a little while, we’ll see about getting you to bed.” She glanced at Lady Royston. “I think we should send for a portmanteau for her ladyship, and for ourselves.”

  “Of course.” Her sister turned to Curtis. “Could you return and see to it? We will only need overnight gear, and something to wear in the morning. I’ll have my green silk with the Russian bodice.”

  The maid curtseyed and with a brief, “I’ll be as quick as I can, my lady,” left the room. The slamming of the front door followed shortly thereafter.

  “I have two bedrooms here,” said Sir Geoffrey.

  “I’ll stay with Lucy,” Aunt Honoria said immediately. “I wouldn’t like to leave her with servants tonight.”

  Lady Royston graciously agreed to this.

  “I’ll have the rooms prepared and book my room at the White Hart,” said Sir Geoffrey. With a final anxious glance at Lucy, he left the room.

  Her ladyship looked after him warmly. “Very good of him.”

  Lucy fell into a brief sleep after that, and when she awoke, her aunt helped her to walk the few steps to the bedroom. It was Sir Geoffrey’s own. The bed was furnished with fresh sheets, but it was his bed. Lucy was helped into her night things by her aunt and her maid, given a dose of something, and put to bed. She fell asleep again, probably a result of the draught she had been given.

  ***

  When Lucy awoke it was daylight, but only just. Light filtered through the blinds in front of the window. It took Lucy some time to remember where she was, and recall the incidents of the previous day. Her headache had almost gone, numbed to a bearable level, but when she put her hand cautiously to the back of her head, she felt a large lump there which hurt like the devil, so she decided to leave it alone. Turning over, she prepared to go back to sleep, but it eluded her. She must have been asleep for a long time already, on and off, and she remembered vaguely being woken by her aunt, making sure she was still all right, and giving her another draught.

  She felt much better for the sleep. The light was getting stronger now, and she could look about her. The room was large and pleasant, and while she knew that if - when? - she married Sir Geoffrey she wouldn’t live here, she liked it. The bed was very comfortable. She rolled on her back, feeling slightly wicked that the last back this bed had known had been his.

  She dreamed the next hour or so away, letting her daydreams take charge, until a movement from the truckle bed in the corner told her her aunt had woken up. She heard Honoria’s soft voice; “Lucy?”

  “Yes, Aunt Honoria?”

  At once the other lady got up and threw her robe over her shoulders. She sat on the side of the bed, put her hand to Lucy’s forehead, and smiled. “I can see you feel better, and you have no heat now. Your colour has come back. I think we can safely return home today.”

  The room was very tidy, tidier than hers. Her dressing table was covered with bottles, jars, pretty knick knacks, but this one had only the necessary accoutrements lying on it; brushes, nail polishers and knife, a couple of pots and a large bottle of perfume. Not the many she tended to use and discard before they were half empty.

  Sitting up in bed Lucy realised her headache was fading quickly. She felt so much better that she threw back the covers and tried to stand. This accomplished successfully she went over to the wash stand and rinsed her face in cold, clean water. Her aunt gave her the towel, and she patted her face dry. She studied herself anxiously in the mirror. She was a trifle pale, and there were shadows under her eyes but she looked reasonably well. The lump was on the back of her head, so she couldn’t see if it showed.

  Aunt Honoria laughed. “Vain puss.”

  “Well he’ll come back today and I want to be in looks for him,” she replied, pouting.

  “You want him?” Aunt Honoria wasn’t smiling now. A look of slight anxiety crossed her pale, lined face.

  Lucy turned away from the mirror. “I think so. He’s handsome, of good ton, he loves me - what more is there?”

  “What more indeed?” said her aunt thoughtfully, but didn’t supplement her neice’s enigmatic comment.

  When Lucy had dressed she went to find her mother. Lady Royston was in a small but well appointed bedroom, arrayed in a frilled dressing gown, being attended to by her maid. She smiled slightly when Lucy bent and kissed her cheek. “Well my dear, are you feeling better today?”

  “Much better, Mama. I still have a bump on my head, but that will go soon enough.”

  “The effrontery of such people.” Lady Royston declared. “I had the incident reported yesterday, but I fear it will do little good.” She sighed heavily. “But I have come to a decision. Sit down my dear.”

  She dismissed her maid with an airy wave of one hand while Lucy found a chair and pulled it up next to her Mama. The door closed behind the maid. Sir Geoffrey dined with us last night. I found him a charming and respectful person, a refreshing change to so many young men today.” She paused and looked at Lucy dispassionately. “I have decided to allow his suit.” Lucy blushed scarlet and gasped, raising one hand to her heated cheek. She smiled slightly at her daughter’s reaction. “He is of good family and of excellent ton. I’m pleased with him, and I would welcome him as a son in law.”

  Lucy was nearly speechless for a moment, but she soon recovered from that unusual state of affairs. “Oh, Mama, thank you. It is what I want, really it is.” She squashed the slight doubt that nagged at the back of her mind with a little difficulty.

  “Are you well enough to travel?”

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Then we’ll go hom
e at once and you may receive him there.”

  Lucy understood implicitly and had no argument with it. “Yes, Mama.”

  “Every mother must say goodbye at some point, and I’ve had four and twenty years.” Another little sigh. “Perhaps I will travel. I always fancied Italy. Normally it would be France, but with that monster Napoleon only just put away again, it must be in turmoil. Yes.” She removed her hand from her daughter’s knee after giving it a little pat.

  The move to their own house was achieved with the minimum of fuss. Lucy was sorry she hadn’t seen Sir Geoffrey, but they had left a note behind to thank him and indicate he would be welcome if he called at about noon.

  Chapter Five

  Sir Geoffrey arrived promptly at twelve. Primed by her mother, Lucy kept him waiting for a time before she went downstairs, but his look of anxiety affected her when she first looked up into his face. She couldn’t tease him. “My mother has completed her enquiries and she says she’s content.”

  “And you - are you -?” He reached for her hands and, smiling, she let him take them.

  “Yes.” She smiled up at him trustfully.

  Suddenly he pulled her into his arms, bent his head and kissed her fiercely, so she was breathless by the time he had done. She wasn’t entirely sure she liked it, but she assured herself that she could accustom herself to it in time.

  When he finally let her go he kept his arms about her and smiled down into her face. “Let it be soon. I don’t think I can wait too long to claim you for my own.”

  “As soon as my mother thinks proper.” She was sure she wanted him. His tall, slender, handsome figure, the way other girls vied for his attention, his careful attentions to her all made her sure she wanted him, and soon. “Mama will send a notice to the press today.”

  He kissed her again, and this time she responded as well as she could, but when he ventured to touch her lips with his tongue, she closed her mouth, not sure if she liked it. He didn’t persist, and she was glad of it. There would be time to become accustomed to such things.