Love is Triumphant (11 page)

"Why not? I'm simply playing you at your own game. As you say, it's politics and you're becoming an accomplished politician. So we fight on even terms."

Rosina's eyes shone with excitement.

"No quarter asked?"

"None asked or given," he said.

"In that case – I have the letters upstairs."

She left the library and mounted the stairs, Sir John behind her. As they reached her room she said,

"You'll have to wait out here."

"Naturally," he said, slightly shocked at the suggestion that he might do otherwise. "But leave the door open so that I can see what you're doing."

"Why, don't you trust me?"

"No."

She slipped into her room.

The next moment the door was shut in his face, and the sound of a bolt shooting across told him he'd been fooled.

From behind the door came her triumphant voice.

"There's more than one way to fight dishonestly."

He was about to knock furiously, when he beheld the terrible sight of the housekeeper approaching. He thought fast, and, raising his voice, addressed the door.

"I'm glad to have been of service, Miss Clarendon."

Then he turned and walked down the stairs with as much dignity as he could muster.

And her laughter followed him all the way.

Next day Sir John went to attend to some business in his constituency and Rosina did not see him for a while. Meanwhile her giddy social life went on whirling until it was almost out of control.

As a debutante she was presented at court and was winked at by the Prince of Wales. She attended parties, balls and picnics. She joined a merry group at the races where the Prince had a horse running, put a discreet wager on the animal, and lost.

Miss Holden was there and lost a great deal of money, which seemed to bother her not at all. George Blakemore also had substantial losses, which he shrugged off.

For a few days she did not see Lady Doreen, and she wondered what had happened regarding Arthur Woodward, who seemed to have vanished from the social scene. She was thinking of calling on her, but then she saw her at a ball they both attended, given by the Duke of Malton.

Her friend smiled and came over to her.

"I've been hoping to see you," she said. "I have so much to tell you."

They drew aside together into a tiny room.

"Tell me what happened," Rosina begged. "Did you

send Arthur Woodward on his way?"

"Oh yes. When I reached home Papa was there and he could see that I was upset. He wanted to know why, and so I had to tell him everything. He was displeased that I had encouraged Mr. Woodward's pretensions, but he forgave me.

"I told him about the last letter, the one in which that man boasted of the match he was about to make, and Papa was furious. He sent for him and told him never to set foot in our house again. Since then Papa has been warning people to have nothing to do with him."

"I am so glad," Rosina said fervently.

"And now Papa wants to speak to you."

Lady Doreen took Rosina's hand and led her to Lord Blakemore, who said gruffly,

"My daughter has told me what she owes you ma'am, and I thank you. Should you ever need anything, you may command me."

"Thank you, sir. I'm only glad to have been able to help my friend."

She smiled at Lady Doreen as she said this.

"And you have been the best possible friend to her," Lord Blakemore said warmly. "It was my intention to back Mr. Woodward as a candidate for the new constituency of South Gradley. But now I have withdrawn my backing. I did not, of course say why, for my daughter's sake. I simply made my lack of enthusiasm known, and I'm happy to say that his candidacy is at an end."

"That's wonderful news," Rosina exclaimed.

"Yes, but don't be too sure you've seen the last of him. He has an ingratiating manner and he'll find another opening in some place where my influence does not extend."

"Is there such a place?" Rosina asked.

"He will discover one. When I think I esteemed him so highly that I was going to let Doreen canvass for him, it fills me with horror."

"But perhaps she can join me in canvassing for Papa," Rosina said.

"That's what she tells me she wants to do. It'll be time for you all to go to the constituencies soon."

"And I should so like to help Sir Elroy win his seat," Lady Doreen said eagerly.

"Of course you may, my dear. Miss Clarendon, I bid you goodnight. And please remember that you have my eternal gratitude."

Almost overwhelmed, Rosina thanked him. She could hardly believe what was happening. Mr. Woodward was defeated. She only wished Sir John could be here to witness her victory.

In fact, any gathering from which he was absent, seemed strangely lacking in interest. If he was here she could at least enjoy a good quarrel with him.

But then, she realised, even if he was here, he would probably be too busy dancing with Lettice Holden to have any thought for herself.

Miss Holden was dancing with George Blakemore, but as the music ended George hailed her and came over to ask Rosina to take the floor with him. She danced with him twice, then with several other highly placed admirers who praised her to the skies. One, a Marquis, was clearly laying the ground for a proposal, until she gently discouraged him.

Finally she went home, filled with relief to have escaped her admirers, who frankly were beginning to bore her.

As she descended from the carriage and approached the front door, something made her turn and look towards the end of the street.

She gasped.

For an instant she had almost imagined that she saw Arthur Woodward standing there, glaring at her.

But the place where she had seen him was empty. She must have imagined it. Then the butler opened the front door and she went inside.

'I'm beginning to imagine things,' she told herself. 'It's Sir John's fault, trying to make me afraid when there's no need. This is my night of triumph, and nothing is going to spoil it. But it's a pity he isn't here to see it.'

These days Sir Elroy was staying later and later at the House of Commons and it was clear that matters were coming to a head.

"The Reform Bill is in its final stages," he told his wife and daughter one evening. "As soon as it's passed, Parliament can be dissolved, and we can really concentrate on the election."

Time seemed to drag on forever, and still Sir John did not return. Rosina was surprised to realise that he had only been away for two weeks, since it felt like months.

One evening she and Mama returned home very late from an evening where she had been the belle of the ball. Lady Clarendon was in ecstasies over her daughter's success.

"But I must just put you on your guard my love. You gave three dances to the Hon. David Conroy, who, after all, is only a younger son."

"But he makes me laugh, Mama."

"Ah, yes!" Lady Clarendon sighed. "Your Papa used to make me laugh when we first met. Sometimes he still does. I know how attractive it can be. But still – a younger son."

"I suppose younger sons must marry somebody," Rosina observed.

"But there is no need for them to marry you," her Mama said, dismayed by the turn the conversation was taking.

"I wonder when Sir John will return to London," Rosina said in a carefully indifferent voice. "With matters moving so fast in Parliament, surely his place is here?"

"I'm sure Sir John knows his own business best," Lady Clarendon said.

"He's also supposed to consider Papa. He ought to be here," Rosina said crossly.

"Well, I expect he'll return soon."

This time Rosina said nothing, but her fingers tapped nervously on her reticule.

When they reached home Lady Clarendon went into her husband's study, while Rosina picked up some invitations that had arrived while she was out, and lay on the hall table.

She glanced up as her mother returned, saying,

"Well Sir John has returned, so I hope you'll be satisfied now."

"He's here?"

"Yes, he's in the library with your Papa. They're working very hard. I told them what a great success you'd been tonight, and they said to give you their congratulations, and apologise for not saying goodnight to you, but they are so busy."

"I wouldn't dream of disturbing either of them, Mama. Goodnight."

She kissed her mother and hurried up the stairs to her room, where she closed the door a little too sharply.

*

The following morning Rosina endured an awkward meeting with her father, who had summoned her into his study.

"My dear, whatever have you been up to?" he asked.

"What do you mean, Papa?"

"I've heard such disturbing stories – about Arthur Woodward and a teacher at your school called Miss Draycott. And you knew all about him and have been – I scarcely dare to say the word –
blackmailing
him?"

So Sir John had told Papa all about it. At that moment Rosina felt that she hated him.

"I knew that he had behaved badly Papa, and was behaving badly again. So I stopped him."

"Without confiding in your parents? Good grief, I never heard such – "

He stopped as the door opened and Sir John entered.

"I'm sorry to disturb you," he said, "but that package has arrived."

He handed over a large envelope, which Sir Elroy seized eagerly.

"Thank you, John. Leave me now. We'll talk later."

Rosina swept out of the door, followed by Sir John, who closed it behind them.

At once she turned on him.

"I wouldn't have thought it of you," she said bitterly.

"Thought what of me?"

"You betrayed me to Papa. You broke your word."

"Never. If you mean the letters, I gave no promise about them."

"And so you told him everything."

"I swear that I did not. How can you think such a thing of me?"

"He knows all about it. He just said to me – oh, the same sort of things that you said."

"They are things that any man must say when he thinks that you are in danger. Can't you understand that?"

"You told Papa," she said stubbornly.

"Did he say so?"

"He didn't get the chance, but when I next see him I shall ask him – "

"And get me thrown out of the house," he said wryly.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I didn't say anything about Woodward, but if you inform him that I knew, he's going to be annoyed with me for
not
telling him. I should have done so, of course. So, if you want to do me a bad turn, go ahead."

Rosina glared at him sulphurously.

At that moment the door opened and Sir Elroy emerged. He looked askance at Rosina.

"We'll talk some more on that matter later," he said.

"Yes Papa, but will you tell me how you knew about it?"

"Why, Lord Blakemore told me, of course. I asked why he'd withdrawn his patronage of Woodward, and he explained what he'd discovered, with your help. Why? Who else could it possibly have been?"

"Nobody Papa. I wasn't thinking. I'll leave you two now, because I'm sure you have much to discuss."

She fled. She was blushing all over at the injustice she had done to Sir John. How could she have been guilty of such a terrible thing?

That afternoon a dressmaker called with the gown,

made of shimmering blue satin, that she was to wear that night. On her feet she wore dainty silver sandals, and her head was adorned with Mama's diamonds.

She knew she was a vision of beauty, but for some reason she could take no pleasure in it. She couldn't be happy until she had seen Sir John and apologised.

Mama would not be coming tonight, as the Blakemores were collecting her. When she heard the carriage arrive outside, she began to descend the stairs slowly.

As she came around the curve in the stairs she saw Sir John standing in the hall below. He wore white tie and tails, as though he was going to the ball.

He looked up and saw her.

Then he grew very still.

There was a look in his eyes as they rested on her that made Rosina's spirits soar. He watched as she descended, then reached out to take her hand as she took the last step onto the floor. She waited for him to speak, but he did not. He seemed transfixed by the sight of her.

At last he spoke.

"Rosina," he said softly. "Rosina – "

Her heart was beating too hard for her to speak. She wanted to say something, but no words would be enough to answer what she saw in his eyes.

The world seemed to stop.

"My dear, are you ready?"

The sound of her mother's voice broke the spell.

She came out of her dream and returned to the present. It seemed to be the same with him.

"Yes, Mama," she called, drawing back from him.

Lady Clarendon appeared in the hall, in a flurry of

agitation.

"The carriage is here. Sir John will go with you, he is also invited. Enjoy yourselves, both of you."

The butler was opening the front door. Sir John offered her his arm. Rosina took it and they swept out together.

The magic moment was over.

She still had much to say to him, but now it was impossible. Sitting in the carriage with the Blakemores, they could speak of nothing but trivialities.

But the chance would come at the ball, she thought. He would ask her to dance and they could talk then.

But he never did ask her. He danced with Lady Doreen once, with Lettice Holden twice and with every other beauty in the room, it seemed to Rosina. But he never once approached her and, in fact, left the ball early, saying that he had urgent papers to read.

To Rosina it sounded like a feeble excuse.

Later that evening the Blakemore coach dropped her at home, then went on with Lady Doreen.

As Rosina entered the house her mother opened the door to the library, beckoning her, and Rosina went in.

"Was it a good evening?" Mama asked. "Did anything happen?"

By 'anything' she meant a proposal.

"Lord Senwick made me an offer, Mama," Rosina said listlessly.