Most Rebellious Debutante (14 page)

She couldn’t help wondering if maybe Lord Rockhaven would feel more attracted to her if he saw her thus dressed? She knew he probably thought her to be nothing more than a hired servant, or a poor relation at the very best. Well, if he really were returning before Christmas and Lady Montcliffe took up residence at the family home once more, surely the Cunninghams and Templetons would be invited to share in at least one dinner party. She knew Marissa was fondly hoping so, and, just as surely, her mama would not let pass an opportunity to parade her daughter before such an illustrious peer of the realm. Her face glowed at the thought.

But, first, he had to get here safely and re-establish himself in his proper and rightful place without the threat of his cousin’s machinations hanging over him.

So, she must conclude her business in town and then go to the village to discover what news she could glean of Lord Rockhaven’s return.

With the new carriage gown and all the accessories conveyed to The Red Fox by a liveried servant, Lucy was reunited with Nora and they spent the next hour gazing into shop windows and deliberating over ideas of what to buy as her gifts to family members and close servants. Her choices made, neatly wrapped parcels were piled in Nora’s arms as the maid excitedly followed Lucy from
establishment
to establishment, smiling delightedly as she received compliments from shopkeepers she had known all her life but never had the means to even enter their shops.

At length, with her purchases completed to her
satisfaction
, Lucy suggested they return to The Red Fox to partake of light refreshments before returning home.

‘Yes, miss. Mam said she’d lay aside her best parlour for you and Dottie an’ Edna are going to serve you. Higgins and me’ll have something in the kitchen. Mam’s ever so pleased I’m doing so well. I’ll tell ’em you’re here, shall I?’

Nora ran ahead and disappeared through the side door of the tavern. Lucy hesitated on the threshold, unsure whether to proceed or not. She had never been into a town tavern before. Her only experience of such places was when she had been travelling to or from home and then only in the company of her mama and numerous servants, when she had simply followed where they had led. Her limited experience made her aware that young ladies of her class did not enter such places unaccompanied and, quite frankly, now she was faced by the dim interior of the tavern, she didn’t know which way to go.

Hearing voices from behind a closed door, she tentatively pushed the door open but her body froze into immobility as a portion of the smoke-filled room came into view. She immediately realized that the room was occupied by men only and most of its occupants were garbed in the sombre colours of the lower classes, their voices rough and
untutored
. She knew that such a room was not for the likes of herself and made to draw back before she was spotted. Her withdrawal was halted when the back of a figure previously hidden by the door stepped partly into view.

It was his many-caped coat and the outline of his head as he arrogantly tossed a coin on to the table where the other men were sitting that first caused her to pause and, for one hopeful moment, her heart leaped as she thought it was Lord Rockhaven himself. But the over-cultured voice as he said, ‘… and there’s more of the same for any man looking
for a good night’s work!’ made her silently draw back, for it wasn’t Lord Rockhaven at all.

It was his cousin, Lieutenant Piers Potterill.

L
UCY COULDN’T BELIEVE
Potterill was so convinced that he was above the law! But it seemed he was! He was either very sure of himself or very foolish. Lucy hoped it were the latter.

‘And what sort of work would that be,’ one drinker was saying as Lucy listened silently.

‘Work that any man worth his salt should be able to do with little effort,’ Potterill loftily responded. ‘As long as he’s willing to keep his mouth shut!’

Lucy’s swift intake of breath caused the man to swing round to face her, his expression darkening as his gaze rested upon her. Lucy felt a stab of alarm. Would he
recognize
her from their previous encounter? Hopefully not, since she was now dressed in her sister’s fashionable gown and bonnet.

She decided to play with an innocent air and, forcing down her fear, she flashed a charming smile around the small room.

‘I beg your pardon for disturbing you, gentlemen. I seem to have lost my maid, but I can see she isn’t in here. Do excuse me.’

She made to withdraw but Lieutenant Potterill swiftly
strode towards her and grasped hold of the door to prevent it from closing. Lucy took a step backwards and Potterill reached out a hand to restrain her. ‘Not so fast, ma’am! I don’t take kindly to people eavesdropping on my
conversations
! What is your business here?’

His grip on her wrist was hurting and Lucy tried to control the fear that was once more rising within her. His daring to touch her caused a spurt of anger to surface and she used it to her advantage. She drew herself upright and forced herself to look him straight into his eyes, letting her anger be known.

‘I have already apologized for my interruption,’ she said coldly. ‘Please let go of my wrist. You have no need to restrain me.’

‘I will be the judge of that!’ he snapped. ‘I ask again, what is your business here?’

Lucy held his gaze and his hold of her slackened a little. She decided to try to disarm his suspicions and allowed her stance to relax slightly as she said a little ruefully, ‘It is as I said. My maid is new. She stepped ahead of me, no doubt thinking to clear the way of any unwelcome attentions to my person but I was too dilatory in following her. I have never been here before, nor have I ever entered any such hostelry unaccompanied. As you can see, there are numerous doors in this corridor and I tried the first one to hand.’ She gave a deprecatory laugh. ‘I found the darkness a little unnerving, sir, as I am sure you can understand.’

Potterill’s hard glare relaxed slightly and the thin line of his mouth twisted into the start of a sneer at her feminine apprehension. It caused Lucy to react with resentment at his poor opinion of her femininity, a reaction he didn’t miss
and he tightened his grip once more, his brow puckering in concentration.

‘Have we met before, ma’am?’ His eyes narrowed as he studied her face. ‘I feel we have and I very rarely forget a face.’

Lucy’s alarm grew. She didn’t want him to connect her in any way with his cousin. ‘I am sure I would remember
you
!’ she retorted spiritedly. ‘I am not used to such cavalier treatment!’

‘Aren’t you?’ His tone was slightly sarcastic, but he seemed to respect her refusal to be cowed by his treatment of her. ‘Then perhaps you should be more careful where you place yourself. Young ladies who wander unaccompanied into places such as this should expect to meet with, shall we say, a lack of the usual courtesies you would meet with in a drawing room.’

His lips parted in what he might have supposed to be a smile but, to Lucy, it seemed more threatening than
placatory
. Their eyes locked once more and her movements froze for an instant.

A sound behind her made her jump and she quickly glanced in the direction of the sound and was vastly relieved to see Nora’s face looking anxiously at her.

‘Ah, there you are, miss!’ Nora spoke with evident relief. ‘I thought you’d got lost, miss. Mam ses will you come this way?’

‘Thank you, Nora. I am coming immediately.’ She faced Potterill again, her chin held a fraction higher than before. ‘Good day, sir. My presence is required elsewhere.’ She jerked her wrist and this time he released her. Then, just as swiftly, he caught hold of her hand and raised it to his lips.

Lucy couldn’t suppress a shudder and hoped he put it down to maidenly innocence.

‘I look forward to our next meeting, Miss—’ He paused enquiringly. ‘I don’t recall you sharing your name?’

Lucy pulled her hand free. ‘No, I didn’t,’ she responded haughtily. ‘I feel under no obligation to do so. Good day, sir!’ And she quickly followed Nora through the door that led into the front part of the hostelry, aware that she was shaking inside.

As Nora ushered her forward through the door into a much lighter part of the inn, Lucy’s mind whirled over the alarming encounter with Theo’s cousin. What was he doing here? Did he know Theo was returning? Was he planning to waylay him? If so, how much did he know? Did he know the exact date of Theo’s return? Was it today? Or tomorrow? She needed to find out more.

Nora led her to a small but pleasant room that
overlooked
the street in front of the tavern. A round-faced woman who was waiting there bobbed a small curtsy as Lucy entered.

‘Please be seated, Miss Templeton, and make yerself at home,’ the woman bade her. ‘I’m Nora’s mam. Me and Joe are right glad you’ve done us the honour of coming under our roof and letting our Nora pay us a visit. Our other
daughters
’ll fetch you a tray of tea and buttered scones when you’re ready and Joe’ll pop in to see you when he has a minute but he’s a bit busy with other customers right now.’

‘Thank you, Mrs Roper.’ Lucy sat down but her head was whirling. What could she do? How could she find out more about what Potterill was planning? Did she dare trust Nora’s parents? But what could she say? What could she
ask of them that wouldn’t betray too much of Lord Rockhaven’s confidences? Would they be loyal to a man they mightn’t really know all that well? A man whose reputation had been recently besmirched?

They weren’t local to the Montcliffe estate and she didn’t know enough about them to know if she could place her trust in them. They would probably regard it as a bit of female hysteria. No, she must think about it calmly before taking anyone in to her confidence. They mightn’t think it worth the risk of displeasing a customer.

But Higgins might! His family lived in the village and some of them possibly had worked on Montcliffe land and, more than likely, hoped to do so again. Surely he’d have some loyalty to the family? She’d have to risk it.

She forced herself to stay calm and smiled warmly as she peeled off her gloves. ‘Whilst I am waiting, Mrs Roper, I would be obliged if I might have a word with my groom?’

‘Of course you can, miss. He’s supping a pint of ale in the kitchen. Nora, go and tell the lad to come here … and tell our Dottie and Edna not to keep your mistress waiting. Get on, now. We’ve other customers to see to, as well … I begs yer pardon, miss.’

Mrs Roper bobbed another small curtsy and bustled out in Nora’s wake. It wasn’t long before an anxious-looking Higgins presented himself in the parlour. He touched his forelock and mumbled, ‘I’m sorry, Miss Templeton. I thought it’d be all right if I only had one pint.’

‘Pardon? Oh, your drink of ale. No, that’s all right, Higgins. What I want is something entirely different. Tell me, honestly, what are your thoughts on the Montcliffe family? Are you looking forward to their return to their home?’

‘Eeh, I am that, miss. We all are.’ Higgins response was swift, though he looked puzzled. ‘They’ll soon get things up and running again, miss. They’ll see us all right, like they always have in the past.’

‘Good. There’s something I want you to do for me, Higgins. Something important, but you mustn’t let anyone realize what you are doing. There’s a man … a gentleman … talking to some local men in the back room out there. I fear he is up to no good. Can you somehow listen to what he is saying and what the men say in return? And then come and let me know? It’s very important.’

‘Yes, miss. I already took a tray of their drinks in, to help out, like. I’ll offer to take another, shall I?’

‘Yes, do that. And quickly, before he finishes his business and goes.’

Higgins left and was soon replaced by Nora’s two younger sisters, both smartly scrubbed and giggling nervously at each other as they bobbed hurried curtsies and placed their trays on to the table. Lucy had two pennies ready for them and they bobbed another curtsy as they grabbed the pennies and backed out of the room.

Lucy really felt too nervous of what Lieutenant Potterill might be planning to have much appetite but the scones looked appetizing and almost melted in her mouth. Her compliments to her hostess were genuine when it was time to leave. She hoped Higgins had completed his mission without drawing attention to himself. Had he learned anything important?

As Nora slipped quietly back to her side, she whispered conspiratorially, ‘Higgins is back outside, miss, and he says the gentleman ’as gone.’

Higgins was waiting by the side of the barouche, the step already down. He looked around quickly before saying, ‘It seems no one took the gentleman up on his offer, miss, and he’s left in a huff. Whatever he wanted, no one here was willing to do it for him.’

Lucy didn’t know whether to be glad or sorry. At least if someone had agreed to the offer, she might have had the chance to find out what Potterill had in mind. ‘Right. Thank you, Higgins.’ She paused with one foot on the step. ‘I would appreciate it if you say nothing whatsoever about what has just happened to any of the other servants, Higgins. Nor you, Nora. I just know that that man is an enemy of Lord Rockhaven’s and he is planning something bad, but I don’t know quite what.’

She climbed into the barouche and Higgins waited until Nora had joined her before lifting the step and closing the door. Lucy was still troubled. Times were hard for common folk. There were always some who would sell their souls for gold and if Lieutenant Potterill looked hard enough, he would eventually find someone willing to help him in whatever dastardly deed he was planning. The fact that he was back in the area showed he knew Theo was returning soon … and Theo wouldn’t know! His life could be in imminent danger: she must, somehow, warn him!

‘Are you all right, miss?’ Nora enquired anxiously.

Lucy managed a faint smile. ‘Yes.’ She didn’t want to talk. She needed to think. ‘I’m just a little tired, that’s all.’

‘It was a lovely outing, miss. Mam and Da were right pleased to meet you. Did I do all right for yer, miss? Will you tell Mrs Cunningham?’

‘You did very well, Nora, and yes, I’ll tell Mrs
Cunningham how efficient you have been. But I think I’ll close my eyes for a moment.’ She knew there was little point going to the village now. Potterill surely wouldn’t have the effrontery to try to recruit accomplices from there and the afternoon was passing by. It would be dark soon. If Theo or Lady Montcliffe were planning to return today, maybe he or she was already there. Unsuspecting targets.

Since Potterill was hiring men to assist him in whatever foul deed he was planning, it must be happening soon. He wouldn’t want to give the men time to change their minds or inform the authorities about it. It must be tonight. Or tomorrow at the very latest.

She wondered if she should ask Higgins to drive on to Montcliffe Hall so that she could make proper enquiries, but she didn’t know if anyone there would be in a position to do anything about it. And, if she did, what would she say? She had nothing to speak of save a growing unease about Lord Rockhaven’s safety.

But that unease was growing. Surely Theo’s safety was the most important thing. What was the threat of
punishment
compared to that?

She knew immediately what she must do. She must risk telling Marissa what it was that she feared. She would have to tell her all about it, right from the very beginning and hope she would understand. And, if Rupert were there,
he
could initiate an enquiry at the Hall. She felt Theo would understand if, by her anxiety on his behalf, she
inadvertently
committed a social blunder. As long as it was handled discreetly.

She almost smiled. When had she started to worry about
doing things discreetly? The word didn’t used to be in her vocabulary.

‘We’re nearly home, miss,’ Nora’s voice penetrated her inner musings.

‘Mmm. Thank you, Nora,’ Lucy murmured. ‘Ohh!’ Her eyes flew open with a start as the carriage lurched over to the left and both she and Nora were flung from their seats into a tumbled heap on the floor. Ouch! Lucy’s head banged against the hard wood of the doorframe and the next few moments became a bit hazy. Sounds of panic from the horses merged with the sound of splintering wood as the axle of the carriage was dragged along the road and it seemed as though the juddering and shaking was never going to stop.

When, at last it did stop, there was an unearthly stillness that seemed all the more alarming and, for a few moments, Lucy felt paralysed in mind and body. What had happened?

She opened her eyes to discover she was in a topsy-turvy world. The roof of the carriage sloped down to her left and both she and Nora were half under the rear facing seats. Above their heads was the seat she had been sitting on; now it was leaning over her at a drunken angle.

One of the horses neighed and must have attempted to move forwards because the carriage lurched again.

‘Miss?’ Nora’s voice seemed petrified.

Lucy forced herself to think clearly. They needed to get out whilst they could do so, in case the horses panicked and caused even more damage to the carriage. She moved her arms and then her body. Although she felt bruised,
everything
seemed to be working satisfactorily and she struggled to extricate her legs from where they were jumbled with Nora’s. At last she was able to sit up.

‘Can you move, Nora?’

Nora struggled beside her. ‘I … I think so, miss. Ooh, my head hurts! I didn’t ’alf give it a bang!’