Patricia Veryan - [Sanguinet Saga 07] - Married Past Redemption (9 page)

Bolster laughed, Judith claimed the leash, and they all set
off. Lisette's hope to get to know this shy young gentleman a little
better was foiled, however. They had no sooner crossed Bond Street than
Brutus gave every evidence of being demented. He yowled, barked wildly,
reared onto his back legs, and, with a great bound, tore free from
Judith's grasp and galloped untidily in the direction of a slender
gentleman walking towards them. With sinking heart, Lisette recognized
Justin Strand's quick stride.

"Good heavens!" gasped Judith. "Brutus will knock him down!"

Lisette watched interestedly, but she was not to be diverted
by such a scene. As the dog's mad charge neared him, Strand said a
sharp, "Brutus! Sit!" and the dog flung himself down and sat wriggling
and uttering little squeaks and snuffling barks of joy.

"Why w-won't he do that for m-me?" Bolster asked plaintively
as they came up with man and beast.

Caressing the ecstatic Brutus's ears, Strand caught a glimpse
of Judith's suddenly mirthful countenance, and answered, "Why, he will
in time, Jeremy. You must be firm with him, is all. Good morning, Miss
Van Lindsay."

For the sake of her parents, Lisette returned the salutation
with some vestige of warmth. "I must make you known to my younger
sister," she said, fixing that convulsed damsel with a minatory glare.
"Judith, this is Mr. Justin Strand."

Strand bowed and, well aware that the youthful Judith was
picturing poor Bolster's efforts to snap out a brisk command to Brutus,
enquired as to whether she was a dog lover. Subdued by his steady
stare, Judith replied in the affirmative and in very short order they
were all walking together in the direction of Portland Place. Just how
it came about, Lisette was unable to tell, but almost before she knew
it, Mr. Strand was beside her, while Bolster went on ahead with Judith
and Brutus.

"A beautiful morning, ma'am," Strand observed politely.

"Yes. It is nice to see the sun again."

"And to feel it. Quite a change."

She threw an oblique and suspicious glance at him, but his
face was perfectly grave. "It may be warm, later on," she offered
scintillatingly.

"That would be pleasant, don't you agree?"

She thought, Good God! What a conversationalist! but, much too
well-bred to betray her boredom, responded, "I do," and was unable to
resist adding, "So good for the flowers."

"Well, that's out of the way!" He gave a whimsical grin. "What
next? Shall we turn to Brutus? That would be a safe subject."

Lisette smothered a laugh. "No, Brutus must wait. I have first
to thank you for those charming violets."

"Dainty flowers for a dainty lady." He slanted an amused
glance at her. "Had I supposed you the type to be impressed by
pretension, I'd have sent three dozen red roses."

Lisette's heart began to beat a little faster. He was
commencing his courtship, beyond doubting. Without much subtlety. Oh,
if
only
he had been someone she could care for a
little; someone unrelated to the Strands, who had helped her father
because he was deep in love, not merely because he desired to purchase
a socially acceptable bride. "Only three dozen?" she teased.

He chuckled. " 'Ware, ma'am. I never refuse a challenge. You
may find it necessary to use a scythe to escape your front hall
tomorrow morning!"

She threw up an imploring hand. "Pray—do not! I—"

"Is that villain upsetting you, Miss Van Lindsay?" James
Garvey, driving a dashing black phaeton with wheels picked out in
yellow, pulled up alongside and said laughingly, "How fortunate that I
found you before he bullied you into forgetting our drive."

Lisette hesitated. Surely she had not overlooked an
engagement? Garvey was handing the reins to his tiger and jumping
lightly down. She glanced at Strand. His face was devoid of expression,
but the smile had left his eyes.

"Surely you err, Garvey," he said, a pronounced sardonic ring
to his voice. "Miss Van Lindsay could not have forgot so impressive a
gentleman as yourself.''

Garvey flushed a little, but at once riposted, "There, you
see, ma'am? Even Strand knows a real gentleman when he sees one."

Lisette stifled a gasp. Strand stiffened, and Bolster, who had
watched this dangerous interchange uneasily, walked to his side.
"C-come on, old f-f-f-" he said urgently.

"Fellow," Garvey finished for him, and stepped forward.

A large, growling, and muscular bulldog was suddenly between
the group and the advancing Corinthian. Strand snapped, "Brutus!" and
the dog checked, but did not relax his threatening mien.

Garvey also halted. "Gad, Miss Van Lindsay." He looked
straight into Strand's cold eyes. "I believe you were right when you
said 'twas a most unattractive creature!"

Beneath his tan, Strand was very pale, but those blue eyes
fairly blazed, and the jut of his jaw was alarming. Lisette felt
Judith's trembling hand slip into her own. In another moment there
would be a challenge—and she the cause! She dared not offend Strand,
and had no wish, to hurt Garvey, and therefore said quickly, "Do you
know, sir, you are mistaken. My engagement was to drive in the park
with you this
afternoon
—not this morning."

"True," lied Garvey, wrenching his eyes from Strand to smile
down at her. "But—
c'est tragique
—I find I am
unable to be in Town this afternoon. Can you deny me?" His contemptuous
gaze returned to Strand. "Under the circumstances?"

"Oh, very well." Lisette glanced to the scared Judith. "But,
my sister—"

"Why, Bolster's a good fellow," said Garvey. "He will see Miss
Judith safely home."

The slight was as cutting as it was obvious. Bolster frowned,
but Strand ignored it and declared, "We will be most happy to escort
your sister home, ma'am. The price you must pay is to allow me the time
Garvey has relinquished this afternoon."

Garvey scowled, but before he could speak, Lisette turned and
held out her books. "Thank you so much, Mr. Strand. In that case, will
you be so kind as to take these home for me?"

Strand accepted the books. He was still pale and his eyes
savage with anger, but he said in a controlled voice, "Gladly. I shall
call at three."

It was earlier than was customary, but the weather was still
too cool to make a later drive desirable. Lisette nodded, gave her hand
to Garvey, and was assisted into the vehicle. Garvey took up the reins.
His tiger released his hold on the bridles of the team, sprang back,
then made a dash for the back of the phaeton as it rolled past. He
clambered onto his perch and sat like a graven image, arms folded and
back ramrod straight.

"The impertinence of that beastly fellow!" fumed Garvey. "I
may find it necessary to teach him a lesson in manners!"

Very conscious of the pair of small ears behind them, Lisette
was silent, If such a man as Mr. Garvey could really have been her
champion, how gratefully she would allow him to shoulder her burdens.
But in this situation, no one could help. Stifling a sigh, she said
softly, "I could wish you had not repeated my remark about Brutus. I
fear Mr. Strand may have placed a wrong interpretation upon it."

"I certainly hope he did! Oh, I know it was very bad in me,
but truly, I could not resist. And if it should drive him off, it will
have been worthwhile. I admit most of London's bachelors are my rivals,
but
that
particular individual I will not
tolerate! Some of the things I hear— And that such as he would have the
gall to pursue so pure and highly born a—"

"Sir!" Lisette interpolated. "Your servant!"

"Who?" He glanced over his shoulder at the boy. "Lion?"

Lisette laughed softly. "Your tiger's name is Lion? But, how
quaint!"

"I must have named him with a premonition that someday it
would cause you to laugh in just that delightful way," he murmured.
Lisette blushed. She said nothing, but Garvey sensed her embarrassment
and said, "Never worry, dear lady, he would never betray me. Would you,
Lion?"

" 'Slight, sir," said Lion woodenly.

"You'd not dare, you young rogue!" Garvey grinned. "At all
events, ma'am, I must not complain of Strand's despicable conduct,
since it has enabled me to have you here, beside me. Only see how the
sun came out today—purely to shine on your beauty." He peered down at
her. "I am
most
grateful you came.

"You must suppose me to be fast, I fear. But—you both seemed
so angry, and I could not bear to be the cause of real ill feelings."

They turned into the park and, slowing his team, Garvey said
grimly, "You are not, ma'am. What I feel for Justin Strand goes beyond—
But enough of him! Likely you would prefer to walk for a little?" He
drove along beside the Serpentine, then pulled the team to a halt and
tossed the reins to the small Lion. "Walk 'em!" he said tersely, and
springing out, reached up to aid Lisette from the vehicle.

He led her along a winding path until they came to a secluded
seat, away from the water and the more travelled areas. It was
improper, she knew, to be alone with him like this, but her heart was
so heavy she scarcely heeded that knowledge. For a few minutes they sat
in silence. Glancing up then, she saw Garvey patiently watching her.
"Oh, your pardon!" she apologized. "I fear my thoughts wandered."

"And sadly." He took up one small, gloved hand. "Miss Van
Lindsay, will you do me the honour to confide in me? What has brought
such sorrow to those lovely eyes?"

"Sir—I am indeed grateful, but—"

"If you are truly grateful, then—oh, pray forgive if I rush
matters. But from the very first moment I saw you—"

Appalled, she tried to free her hand. "No, do not. Please. You
must not."

"How can I help myself? When first I called at your house I
had no suspicion I was about to be dealt a leveller. I had thought only
to—" He stopped, as though having been betrayed into saying more than
he'd intended, then rushed on in a voice husky with emotion. "You are
thinking I should speak to your father, and indeed I mean to do so. Ah,
my dearest, most adored of ladies, can you not know how hopelessly I am
fallen in love with you?"

The pleading intensity, the glowing warmth in his eyes vouched
for his sincerity. Remotely, Lisette wondered why she felt trapped and
afraid, instead of being delighted. It must, she thought, be because of
the circumstances and her dread of wounding him. She drew her hand
away. "No, oh, never say so! Truly, I had no thought to bring you
sadness!"

He stiffened. "I am to be refused, then? I see." And in a
tight, restrained fashion, "I should not ask, I know. But—is there
someone else?"

She wrung her hands, wishing she had never come with him.

"Yes. No! That is—oh, I cannot say, but—but I am not free to—"

"Not free?" he echoed harshly. "No, by God! And not happy,
either! You are not officially betrothed, but someone hounds you. Is
that it?"

Her eyes stinging with sudden tears, Lisette shook her head.

Garvey again captured her hand and held it tightly despite her
efforts to pull away. "You are being intimidated, I'll lay odds! Who
dares to frighten you? If it is that wretched Strand—I've seen him go
into your house several times. I knew he was about some devilment, but—"

"You have
seen
him?" she echoed
unsteadily. "But how can this be? Have you been watching my home?"

He smiled ruefully. "Day and night, dear lady. I fairly haunt
the neighbourhood. Just to be close to you brings me joy—even though
you do not guess I am there."

Overwhelmed by such devotion, she blinked. "Oh—how dreadful! I
had not realized your affections were so deeply engaged."

"They are. And thus I implore that you do not speak with such
finality. Am I to be denied all hope? What is the hold he has over you?
Do you love him? Lisette,
please
tell me if that
is so, and I'll—I'll not trouble you further."

She said miserably, "I have not named Justin Strand, sir.
Or—any other gentleman. My—my future is arranged. I can… say no more."

His voice low and throbbing with anger, he declared, "Strand
was right! It is that same filthy idol—the god of gold! I never thought
when he bragged—" He checked, bit his lip, and grated, "Forget I said
that."

Horrified by his verification of Beatrice's warning, Lisette
cried, "Strand bragged—in your hearing, sir? About—me?"

"I should not," he muttered. "But—oh, devil take him! If I
hear him boast one more time that money can buy anything, I—" Again, he
mastered himself, and did not complete the threat.

With tears of shame and rage glistening on her lashes, Lisette
whispered, "Then, it
was
truth!"

"He
does
hound you, doesn't he? By
heaven, I'll call him to account, the encroaching mushroom! And rid you
of him."

Lisette was so distressed as to feel actually sick, but she
fought off the sensation. It was not beyond the realm of possibility
that Garvey would do just as he said. He had been out before, she knew,
and was considered very dangerous. Quite apart from her natural horror
of duelling, it would be to no avail. If he was wounded or slain she
would have an even heavier weight on her heart, and if he killed
Strand, not only would she consider herself to blame, but the man's
affairs would certainly pass to his sister. The Van Lindsays would get
short shrift from that jade, and thus be in even worse case. She
therefore begged that Garvey not even think of so dreadful a thing. "It
must only make matters worse. And besides, there are other
considerations that I cannot reveal to you, that would make such a
tragedy pointless."

Garvey's green eyes were very empty all at once. "Other
considerations? Such as, ma'am?"

Lisette gave a weary gesture. "As I said, I cannot discuss
them. Please take me home now, or my—"