Wendy Soliman (19 page)

“Lady Towbridge, perhaps?” Saskia suggested sweetly, causing Felix to choke on his wine and Luc to grin broadly.

When the gentlemen rejoined the ladies, it was immediately obvious to Felix that his mother was not to be outwitted for a second time. The opportunity to escort Saskia into dinner had been as welcome as it had been unexpected. His mother’s disapproval had been easy to ignore, a small price to pay for the pleasure of having her to himself for a few hours and the opportunity to repair their faltering relationship.

Dinner had passed far too quickly for Felix’s liking. Sitting with Luc and Clarissa, Saskia at his side in that becoming gown, had seen the restoration of his good humour. He’d put his best efforts into entertaining her, doing all he could to drive any lingering thoughts of the other men in the room from her head. By the time the ladies left the table she was laughing with him as naturally as she’d done in Swyre.

To Felix’s eye, and to that of every other gentleman in the room unless he mistook the matter, Saskia had never looked lovelier. When she had appeared on the terrace, wearing that revealing gown, his first reaction had been instinctively appreciative. It was replaced by annoyance when he saw the effect it had upon the rest of the assembly. Still, he would have overcome that had she but looked in his direction and made some effort to apologise for her abrupt departure that afternoon. He thought he’d made her see the folly of her ways, but instead of thanking him she stormed off in a high dudgeon.

She had made no effort to seek him out when she stepped onto the terrace, but instead appeared to make a point of curtseying low to Snelling. After all his warnings, she was still determined to associate with that scoundrel. He noticed her drinking champagne faster than any lady ever should and openly flirting with the men who surrounded her. Her behaviour disgusted Felix and left him fuming with impotent rage. But when his mother unexpectedly relaxed her rigid rules, Felix was no longer able to control his desires, and knew there was only one lady whom he wished to escort. If she was so determined to flirt then let it be with him.

Now that the party was once again assembled in the drawing room, many of the gentlemen applied to Saskia for music. But Lady Western cut them short, abruptly announcing that she had other plans for the evening. Noisy games of chance were to be played, and Felix was not surprised to find that he was needed at a table far away from the one occupied by Saskia. It concerned him that Saskia had consumed so much wine and that many of the gentlemen now surrounding her were also aware of the fact.

Felix fared badly at cards, mainly because he was more concerned with keeping half an eye on the distant table occupied by the lady whom he intended to have as his wife. A great deal of noisy laughter came from that table, as many of the gentlemen loudly encouraged Saskia to be bold and wager her all. Felix’s jaw set in a rigid line as he sat across the room, powerless to do anything to protect her from their audacious intent.

One by one the games came to an end and the occupants of the drawing-room milled around, some seeking the cooler air on the terrace. Felix, frustrated by being at a table still playing, was unable to follow Saskia in that direction, but the gentlemen who had been her gaming partners were not similarly restricted. Silently he fumed, but so elegant were his manners that even Lady Maria, seated beside him, couldn’t have known it. Constantly she leaned toward him and asked for his advice, which he gave charmingly, his mind only one-tenth occupied by the demands of his pretty companion. His mother however, misinterpreting his conduct, sighed with satisfaction.

At last Felix could escape and go in search of Saskia. He could wait no longer. They would have their conversation tonight, and he would reveal his feelings to her. Heartened by this decision, he gained the terrace before his mother could think of further excuses to delay him. Clarissa and Luc were already there, and he had supposed that Saskia would be with them. She wasn’t, and Felix felt the first stirrings of alarm when they said they hadn’t seen her since leaving the drawing room.

Felix strode around the side of the terrace, but it was deserted. Where else could she be? She could not have returned to her room. To do that she would have had to pass through the drawing room and he would have seen her. So where?

His question was answered for him when he heard a familiar masculine voice coming from the direction of rose garden. His blood froze. It was Snelling, and by the sounds of things he had Saskia there with him…alone.

“Come on, you little tease,” he heard Snelling encourage. “You’ve been offering yourself to me all week. It’s too late now to be acting all coy.”

“Unhand me, sir!”

“Oh, so that’s how you want to play it, is it? Well, I have no objection to a little sport.”

“I…I don’t understand your meaning.” Felix could hear the panic beneath Saskia’s coolly spoken words, and broke into a run to cover the distance still separating them.

“Enough! Now are you going to come to me voluntarily, or must I come and get you?”

As Felix rushed headlong toward them, he heard the sound of a hand slapping hard against flesh. What in God’s name was Snelling doing to her now?

“You little wild cat, you’ll pay for that, you whore! No, don’t even consider screaming. If you do you’ll only succeed in bringing everyone on top of us. They’ve all seen how you’ve been playing up to me, and will know you asked for it. Your reputation will be ruined. Don’t imagine they’ll accept the word of the likes of you against me. Now just relax and let me…”

“N-oo-oo!”

“Come on now, sweetheart, just a little fun.”

“The lady said no, Snelling!”

“Felix, thank God!”

“Nothing for you to concern yourself about, Western,” drawled Snelling, clearly unperturbed. “This is a private matter between the lady and myself.”

Felix walked up to him, seemingly relaxed and self-assured, refusing to allow his anger to determine his actions. He was half-a-head taller than Snelling, considerably younger, and far more muscular, and was thus able to intimidate him easily, in spite of his injuries. Snelling, at last sensible to the threat that Felix posed, eyed him with suspicion. Felix stood mere inches away from him and spoke in a deceptively mild tone.

“If you lay so much as one finger on the lady, Snelling, so help me God, I’ll pulverise you, regardless of the fact that you are my mother’s guest.”

Snelling paled beneath the intensity of Felix’s unwavering stare, and the steely timber of his quietly spoken words.

“Of course, Western, I wasn’t aware that you have a prior claim,” he said with a meaningful smirk. “I’ll just leave the field to you then, shall I?”

Without waiting for an answer, Snelling backed away. Felix would have smiled at the sight of him tumbling over a rosebush and landing in an inelegant heap, had he not been focusing all of his energies upon keeping his blistering temper in check.

“Oh, Felix, thank you!” Saskia said in a grateful rush.

Without speaking he grabbed her elbow for the second time that day and steered her around the side of the house.

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going nowhere,” Felix growled from between clenched teeth. “You, on the other hand, are going straight to your chamber. We’ll talk tomorrow.” She flinched at his hostility. “Are you hurt?”

“No. But, Felix, I couldn’t help what happened just now. It wasn’t my fault. He duped me into going with him.”

“Saskia, I’m in no mood to hear it, now. If I don’t get you safely back into the house within the next two minutes then it’s possible that I might cause you permanent harm. You’ve clearly learned nothing from our conversation this afternoon.”

“I don’t see — ”

“Be quiet!”

He roared the words at her, still too angry to look her in the eye. They had reached the side door to the hall, and Felix opened it. None too gently he steered her up the stairs and opened the door to her room.

“I trust you’ll find nothing to tempt you in here, madam. Good night.”

Without another word he turned on his heel and left her staring at the closed door.

H
ALF
A
N
H
OUR
L
ATER
Earl Western, searching for his son, found him slumped in a chair in the library, an enormous glass of brandy in his hand, an angry scowl doing nothing to improve the appearance of his already bruised face. The earl helped himself to his own share of the brandy and sat down opposite Felix.

“Your mother wondered what had become of you.”

Felix sighed. “Whom would she have me dance attendance upon now?”

The earl paused. “Have you spoken to her yet?”

“Who, Mother?” Unsettled by his father’s penetrating gaze, and well aware of the true nature of his question, Felix settled for candour. “What’s the point? I thought I understood her character, but obviously I was mistaken.” Felix finished his drink in one swallow and moodily reached for the decanter.

“And your solution is to get thoroughly foxed?”

“Why not? It seems to work for her.”

“What happened just now?”

“I found her in a compromising position in the rose garden with Snelling.”

The earl grimaced. “But you saved her?”

Felix nodded morosely.

“And you blame her?”

“Certainly she must accept her share of the blame. I advised her this afternoon that her behaviour was not up to the mark.” He scowled. “I might as well have saved my breath.”

Felix’s father merely smiled. “And what was Mrs. Eden’s explanation for being there with Snelling?”

Felix hesitated, slightly less sure of himself. “She didn’t actually say.”

“She didn’t say or you didn’t give her the opportunity to explain?”

Felix merely shrugged.

“Do you have so little faith in her? Felix, you know how it is with Snelling. He has the scruples of an alley cat. If he set his mind to getting her alone, it would be the work of a moment for him to come up with a plausible way to do so. One doesn’t need to be a genius to see through Saskia’s façade of sophistication and glimpse the naivety that resides beneath it.”

Felix hesitated. “Maybe, Father. But, that being the case, why has she been flirting so blatantly with Snelling, and all the others for that matter, for the past two days? What can she imagine she will achieve by such behaviour?”

Earl Western answered his son’s question with one of his own. “Was she doing so when you first arrived?”

“Not that I could detect,” Felix conceded.

“Then what’s changed?”

Close as he was to his father, Felix couldn’t bring himself to admit that she’d observed him in intimate conversation with Angelica. “I couldn’t precisely say.”

“Felix, what is the exact nature of the feelings you entertain toward Mrs. Eden?”

In a state of semi-inebriation, Felix saw no reason to prevaricate and answered his father’s question with straightforward honesty. “When I saw her for the first time, even though I thought her to be in league with her despicable father, something changed inside me. I was powerless to fight against it.” He lifted his shoulders. “I can’t really describe the feeling adequately, but it was as though I’d discovered something that I hadn’t been aware I was seeking. She was so strong and determined, Father. I wish you could have seen her.” Felix stood to lean against the mantle, smiling as he relived the moment. “She was proud, in spite of her straightened circumstances, and resilient enough to overcome the problems constantly being thrown in her path. Some days she was almost dropping with fatigue, yet still managed to find time for her children and to play hostess to the guests at Riverside House with astonishing poise.

“She’s totally unaware of her beauty, and the effect it has upon people, and that’s part of the attraction for me. I am so used to
tonnish
women, who are just the opposite. I’ll never forget the look on her face, either, when she spoke of her resolve to facilitate my introduction to her father. She was petrified of him, but not for one moment did she permit it to show. She was magnificent!”

The earl smiled at his son. “And so, at last, you’ve found your destiny?”

Felix’s soft expression was replaced by an angry scowl. “I thought I had, but now, after the episode this afternoon and then again this evening, I’m no longer quite so sure.”

“Felix, do you still not comprehend the folly of jumping to conclusions, even after the events at Swyre, which you thought you understood from the word ‘go’ but got entirely wrong?”

“Well, I — ”

“Perhaps you should listen to her explanation first?”

Felix looked at his father in amazement. “Father, I know what mother’s reaction to my choice is likely to be, and in spite of our difficult relationship I will be sorry to cause her pain. But it was the thought of disappointing you that was causing me to hesitate. Saskia is merely the daughter of a Cit; not quite the thing, as no doubt the tabbies will enjoy reminding one another. And if that’s not bad enough, when her father is finally prosecuted and the truth regarding her background comes out, who in good society will wish to receive such a person?”

“And that bothers you?”

“Not in the slightest. But I was rather afraid that it might be of concern to you.”

It was the earl’s turn to leave his seat and pace the library. “Felix, we will ensure the world knows that Saskia played a leading part in bringing her father to justice, having distanced herself from him years ago. If that, or the strength of our position within society, isn’t sufficient to withstand a little scandal, then I shall be delighted to turn my back on the world.”

Felix gaped at his father. “But, I thought you would be — ”

“You wound me, Felix. I thought you understood my character better than that. I think Saskia is a spirited and imaginative young woman. Everything that Maria Denby is not. She would stand up to you and keep you on your toes, just as she’s been doing for the past few days.”

Felix looked up at his father in surprise.

“Well, is that not the truth? I’ve never seen you half so distracted. Excellent, excellent!” The earl chuckled. “And anyway, even if I did have reservations about her suitability, any lady who can make the sort of music that she does would always be welcome in my drawing-room.” He turned toward Felix and grinned. “And as for those twins of hers, well I can hardly wait to become their step-grandpapa.”

“You mean it, Father.” Felix was stunned. He knew his father was a fair-minded liberal, but could never have expected such whole-hearted approval of his choice of bride, a choice that he was well aware would heap far more censure on the family that his father pretended to realise.

“Certainly I’m in earnest. Felix, I wouldn’t have countenanced your betrothal to the Denby girl, even if your mother had somehow persuaded you to it. I want to see you happy. You’re the most important person in the world to me, and I have no wish to see you forced by circumstances to live your life in the same manner as me.”

Felix was too stunned to speak. He knew his father was referring to his own unhappy union, and the resulting necessity to take a mistress. It was something that had never been discussed openly between them before.

Seeming to understand Felix’s confusion, the earl continued in a brisk tone. “Talk to Saskia in the morning. Send word to her first thing, before she gets embroiled with the rest of the ladies, and allow her the opportunity to explain herself. I’ll keep your mother at bay and give you time for the interview. But don’t waste any time,” added his father with a devilish grin, “for Bingham is behaving like a love-sick puppy and could well beat you to it.” Felix’s answering scowl caused the earl to roar with laughter.

“I’m naturally grateful to you for your support, but what of Mother? She will be scandalized.”

“Your mother,” the earl said emphatically, “will do as she’s told.”

“Thank you, Father.”

“You’re entirely welcome, my boy. Now come on, you need to have your wits about you in the morning, for I doubt that your feisty intended will let you off lightly.” This caused Felix to scowl for a second time. “Oh, and Felix, about Angelica…”

“Yes, Father, I know what I must do there.”

Saskia was surprised that she’d managed to sleep at all but supposed she had the champagne to thank for that. Now, this morning, her head was thumping and her throat parched. She drank her third glass of water in ten minutes and tried to gather her thoughts.

She could stay at Western Hall no longer. At least she was sure of that much. Matters between her and Felix had come to such a sorry pass that remaining in the same house with him was now impossible. A fresh wave of anger washed through her as she thought of his arbitrary attitude of the evening before. How could he imagine she would deliberately put herself in a compromising position with Snelling, especially after his warning of that afternoon and the splendid time they’d passed together at the dinner table? What did he think she was? Well, all right, it was obvious enough what he thought of her character, but that being the case, why should he care what she did, and more to the point, why did her conduct make him so angry?

Saskia was totally exhausted with playing the games of the indolent rich, the rules of which were totally incomprehensible to her. She thought of Riverside House, and its orderly routine that allowed her no time to reflect upon her feelings. Its familiar presence called to her, and she would not ignore that call. She would return to Aunt Serena’s comforting presence. She would summon Lizzy to pack her meagre wardrobe, seek out the earl, and request transport as far as Plymouth, from whence she and the twins would travel home by post.

Unaware that Lizzy had silently entered the room, Saskia started violently at the sound of her voice.

“Sorry to disturb you, madam, but I have a message for you.” Lizzy handed Saskia a note. She read it rapidly, annoyed that her heart leapt with pleasure at the sight of Felix’s signature. Damn it, he requested an interview with her at her earliest convenience, and she knew that manners forbade her from leaving his house until she had at least confronted him.

For a moment she considered simply penning a line or two saying that she’d been called away. No; that was the coward’s way out. She would face him and see what he had to say for himself. But, if he adopted that puritanical attitude with her again, she rather suspected that he’d finish up with more bruises than he currently sported. Heavens alone knew, after the way she’d seen him behaving he was hardly in a position to adopt the moral high ground.

Bolstered by her resolve not to be intimidated, Saskia rose from her bed and permitted Lizzie to assist her with her toilette. Half-an-hour later she tapped at the library door and complied with Felix’s request that she enter. He stood and smiled at her, as elegantly attired as always, no residual traces of anger in evidence.

“Good morning, Saskia. Thank you for coming so promptly.” He took her hand and sat her on a coach in front of the fire, asking permission to take the place beside her. Saskia nodded, stealing a glance at his profile. From the ravages evident on his own face she took comfort from the fact that his repose had clearly been as inadequate as her own.

“Good morning,” she said.

He poured coffee for them both, his expression unfathomable. “I suspect that we’re both in need of this.”

“Indeed,” she said, stiffly. She didn’t intend to make this easy for him. She owed him an explanation, it was true, and perhaps an expression of gratitude as well, but he most definitely owed her an apology first.

They sipped their coffee in silence — a silence which Saskia obstinately refused to break. The atmosphere between them almost crackled with tension, the sound of their breathing in the silent room unnaturally loud, but Saskia wasn’t about to make the first effort to ease matters. Once again though, Felix surprised her by reaching into his pocket and producing a gold chain. He held it in front of her.

“What’s that?”

“A locket,” he said, with a mischievous grin. “It contains an amulet.” When Saskia looked at him in confusion, he explained further. “It’s purported to possess magical powers, to ward off evil spirits. I thought you might gain comfort from wearing it when in my company.”

He looked so penitent that in spite of her best intentions Saskia burst out laughing. The tension between them evaporated.

“It’s beautiful, sir, and highly unusual, but obviously I can’t accept such a gift.”

“Then regard it as a loan to keep you safe from my quick temper whilst you’re in this house. I’m sorry I was so raddled with you.” His hands moved to her neck, and he fastened the chain about it. Best not to tell her yet that it had belonged to his grandmother and he’d kept it all of this time, always intending it for his bride.

“I suppose you had a right to be angry, but still — ”

Felix drew a deep breath. “You wanted to explain last night. If you still wish to, I’d like to know what that coxcomb said to you to persuade you to go with him.” He saw a combination of anger and uncertainty creeping back into her expression and hastened on. “I’ve had time to reflect; I realize it wasn’t your intention to become embroiled in a compromising position with him.”