A Perilous Marriage (2 page)

“But you don’t like London,” Lucie offered, hoping for a reprieve.

“True, but duty comes first, and I wish to see you suitably married and starting your own nursery before I am in danger of meeting my maker. To that end, I will investigate, but don’t fret. I will not make you marry anyone you do not like. Contrary to the ways of the ton
,
I have always believed in love matches. Your parents shared much devoted love between them. Perhaps it was a good thing they died together, though I have mourned their passing since then, even if I have had the blessing of your company.”

“Why not leave things as they are, dear Grandmama? We are happy together, and I love Ashbury and its people with all of my heart. If I marry, I will lose everything I have ever known. I really have no wish to be subject to the will of a stranger. How can one possibly get to know someone, particularly a husband, in the short time of a season? To be obliged to move to an unknown house and get used to unfamiliar people seems to me to be the worst thing ever. I cannot believe you would wish me to endure that dreadful fate.”

“Yes, I do know the problem, which is why I have delayed so long. I don’t wish to lose you either, my love. Yet in our social strata, it is the norm. You have a long and illustrious legacy in your ancestors, and you have a duty to continue the bloodline for future generations. It is not all bad. To acquire an agreeable husband means you will have a companion to befriend and guard you as you grow older. As a woman on her own, I know the pitfalls of having to hold my own in a male world. That I have succeeded so far is more down to luck than my efforts. We do, you and I, have a good life together, and I abhor the reason to change. However, I owe a duty to your parents. They would have seen to your marriage long since, and if they were here, would chide me dreadfully for my neglect.”

“You have never said much about the accident they had, Grandmama, although Nanny Ellen said it happened down at New Haven.”

“Yes, they were staying in Brighton to enjoy the sea air and decided to join friends on a pleasure cruise along the coast. I was told afterwards that an unforeseen storm blew up. The yacht was swept over and was unable to recover. Only two deck hands survived the catastrophe as they were able to swim to shore to tell the story. The rest of the crew and all the guests, as well as your parents, were drowned. You might have gone with them, but you were down with a fever—measles, I think—and judged too poorly to travel. So, fortunately, you were left with me or I should have begged mine own life’s ending to come quickly.”

She sighed heavily and took a sip of her drink before smiling at her granddaughter.

“I loved them both so dearly, it took me ages to believe they were gone and I’d never see them again. You were a salvation to me, a reason to go on living and bring you up as they would have wished. There is always change in our lives, no matter how we fight to prevent it. Their deaths changed my life, yet I gained much happiness in having you beside me all these years. Who’s to say you will not gain just as much joy in marriage? We cannot see into the future, but you must believe I will do the very best I can to see you happy.”

She put down her glass and rose awkwardly to her feet with a groan. “Time for bed, I reckon. These old bones need their rest. So consider what I have been saying, my love. We must not be maudlin, child, or afraid to face the future. We must look ahead and figure out how best to plan it to suit all eventualities. Oh, while I think of it, I received an invitation from Edmund Tasker to come to dinner. He has returned from abroad and resumed occupancy of his house. Seemingly, he wishes to get to know his neighbours once more. As we are cheek by jowl with his estate, I accepted the invitation. We are to attend Friday evening. It will give you time to decide on your attire. I am sure you will find something suitable in your wardrobe.”

Lucie’s face paled in an instant. “Oh, surely you didn’t accept? I acquired an invitation too and threw it away. I would rather not attend. I don’t wish to have anything to do with the man. Not now or ever.”

Eleanor stared at her in disbelief. “You surprise me, Lucie. Why ever not?”

“He is a dreadful man. Have you forgotten Emmeline and what happened to her?”

“No, I haven’t forgotten that tragedy. Obviously you haven’t either. Yes, unfortunately, I suspected something was amiss with the situation between Tasker and his young wife but not what it was, and it was none of my business to enquire. You show an unusual distaste for the man. Do you know something I don’t? Perhaps you will enlighten me, miss? Now, if you please.” Her face assumed a forbidding look, one Lucie knew not to ignore.

“I didn’t at first understand why Emmeline was so unhappy, until at last, she confessed she was going to run away as she could no longer endure his beatings. I begged her to think, to get help, but she said she had no one to turn to and, anyway, had decided.”

“Huh!” Eleanor shrugged, “It is no great crime to beat a wife, especially if she is troublesome. However, I knew Emmeline was a sweet, biddable girl and certainly never badly behaved, at least never with us before she married. How did you know this, Lucie?”

“We used to meet in the shepherd’s hut after she married, and one time, just before she ran away, I saw her bruises. They were awful! A savage could not have done more damage.”

“Hmm, why did you not tell me this at the time?” Eleanor frowned.

“Emmeline swore me to secrecy. She was so dreadfully scared that Edmund would find out. But I think he did and somehow caused that accident with their carriage. Martin was a reliable driver. He would have been careful with their vehicle and also with Emmeline. I gathered he loved her very much. Lord Tasker was bound for Oxford the night they escaped, and they were heading for Yorkshire. To gain the North Road, they had to pass the city fairly close. The accident happened near Aylesbury, not a million miles from Oxford.”

“Even so, have you evidence or is it a guess?” Perplexed, Eleanor puckered her brow.

Lucie shrugged. “I have none, of course, or I would have spoken before. Please, I beg you, cry off this dinner, or let me stay at home. I don’t wish to meet Lord Tasker.”

“Lucie, listen to me. We have to go to discover why he has come back. Knowledge is powerful, whether one does anything with it or not. He will be sure to ask other guests who live nearby, and I would not wish to ignore his gesture or be counted rude. Despite your antipathy, you will not convey it by any word or action towards the man. I have deep sympathy for your loss of a dear friend, but time has passed, people overlook these things…and don’t forget, you have no proof. To even allow a hint to Tasker that you had prior knowledge would be the height of idiocy, so we will leave well alone. Is that understood?”

Lucie had never disobeyed her grandmother when she used that tone or made it clear she would stand for no nonsense. Glumly, she nodded, accepting defeat.

“Finish your drink, my dear. We shall attend the dinner and enjoy ourselves, as we have every right to do. You will wear your prettiest dress and be a credit to me. Now, off with you to bed. I shall retire shortly. I just want to finish a task in the study. Lawyers have a great aptitude for reminding one of things either forgotten or left undone because one prefers not to be bothered.” She heaved another sigh. “Sooner or later, there is always a reckoning, and it teaches me to put things in order right away rather than neglecting them.”

Lucie kissed her grandmother’s cheek and plodded slowly upstairs to bed. She wondered what her grandmother had to do but quickly forgot as her thoughts went to the problem of Lord Tasker and his unexpected invitation.

Downstairs, those thoughts were echoed by Eleanor. She hadn’t an unfinished task to perform. Instead, she wanted a solitary moment to think about the disclosures that Lucie had revealed. She hadn’t specifically thought to ask Lucie at the time about her strong dislike for Tasker, or even contemplated why it should be so, only perhaps wondering if Tasker had snubbed her at any time and so brought about the aversion. Young girls were so prone to fancies that the slightest thing could turn them off people.

It would interfere with her plans. She was not only reluctant to go to London and cope with the inevitable crowds, but the reason for going was not to her liking at all. Physically, she was not at her best, and she knew only too well that surviving a season with balls and countless invitations took stamina, and loads of it. Her rheumatism was gaining hold, and she tired easily. Furthermore, she had to be vigilant enough to fend off those who were just after Lucie’s dowry. There were too many fortune seekers around she would have to be aware of. Bearing in mind the time she'd chosen, since her husband’s death, to stay away from London, she was no longer au fait with current events.

She also didn’t want to lose Lucie in marriage to someone who lived too far away to visit often. She loved her granddaughter deeply. Parting from her, even for all the right reasons, would be a great loss. To have her living close, merely an estate away, was the ideal dream. When she heard of Tasker’s return—still single, she’d noted—she wondered if he might search for another wife. In which case, she knew Lucie would be a choice candidate that no man would turn down.

Yet Lucie’s revelations seemed likely to spoil her expectations. The girl was quite open with her opinion of Tasker. Still, Eleanor, with her managing nature, decided not to give up hope. Despite Lucie’s adamant disgust, things had a way of changing, sometimes for the better. For now, she would wait and watch. As she had said to her granddaughter earlier, knowledge was powerful. She had learned that homily many times over since she first took control of Ashbury Mead. It had kept her in power not only in her own life, but with the many lives who regarded the estate as their livelihood and their home. In reigning over its acres, she had become a dictator, a benevolent despot, and her daily life was forever concerned that her people would be content under her rule.

Chapter Two

The current fashion for beauty was blonde hair. If one had a pale complexion and blue eyes, success was assured, and maidens with those attributes were sought after by every male seeking a wife to grace his household, or a rake hoping to find a flirt to charm into his arms. The newly arrived debutantes for the start of the season were looked over and marked down as bang-up, maybe a goer, or a no hoper—the latter mainly because of a squint or protruding teeth or any other repellent such as a hyena laugh or inane titter. Though tittering seemed to relate to a particular age group and afflicted all those young maidens on show.

Lucie had never tittered. Nor was she blonde or a diamond of the first water. Her hair was brown with reddish glints that turned deep chestnut in sunlight. Naturally curly, it was the bane of her life in damp weather, as the sleekly brushed hair turned into a mass of ringlets that curled round her head in a halo. Nor was her skin transparently fair and clear. Instead, she had a dusting of freckles over her nose and a lightly bronzed tone to her face. This resulted from her love of the outdoors, her ability as a horsewoman which she indulged every day, and a scorn of using a parasol to shield her from the sun.

She was not considered an outrageous beauty, and her features were not outstanding, except for long, curling, luxuriant eyelashes that veiled eyes that were a deep jade in colour. Opened wide in surprise or displeasure, her eyes drew attention to her gamin face with its tip-tilted nose and wide, usually smiling mouth. The servants adored her, and nothing was too much trouble in caring for her needs. She, in turn, was concerned for each of them, and apart from her grandmother, considered them her family.

Friday evening saw her descending the main staircase dressed in a plainly cut gown of eau de nil. Eschewing the fashion of the day for frills and flounces, it nevertheless looked elegant, and the colour suited Lucie beautifully. It had a wide, square neckline and cap sleeves, and a small matching bow with long trailing ribbons was centred just under the bust. To complete the outfit, she wore elbow-length white gloves and soft jade slippers on her feet. Her maid had brushed and burnished her hair into a bouffant chignon, and tiny ringlets fell softly over her ears which glittered with small diamond earrings.

“Not your
best
dress, I collect” said Eleanor briskly. “However, you’ll do nicely, and I commend your attire. It is suitably restrained for this evening, as we do not know what to expect—though I imagine Tasker keeps a good table, as he undoubtedly should if he hopes to gain praise in this area. Now, my love, enough flattery, or we shall be late, and I abhor lateness. It is bad mannered, and sadly, good manners are lacking these days.”

Lucie smiled at Rowten as he helped her don her cloak, and she caught the twinkle in his eye in an otherwise graven and unsmiling face. “I wish you a pleasant evening, your Grace, and milady,” he said as he bowed them out of the door.

“Thank you, Rowten. We shall try,” the Duchess replied as she walked to her coach.

As Eleanor predicted, a number of coaches had dropped their occupants and were being directed to a waiting area when they arrived, and though their coachman did his best, in the subsequent confusion, they were the last of the guests to be welcomed into the mansion.

“Hmm, a large gathering, it seems,” Eleanor said. “How fortunate we decided to come. You should be able to hide yourself nicely in this crowd once we have made our curtsies.”

However, it became evident that hiding was not meant to be from the moment Edmund Tasker’s eyes lit up when he turned to receive his last guests and saw them ready to curtsy a greeting.

“How delightful to welcome you, your Grace, and of course, Lady Lucie. I was hoping you could attend this dinner as a prelude to getting to know you both again. Come, let me escort you to the dining room. I believe all our guests have arrived, and my chef is particularly keen to show his mettle. We shall see if his reputation is warranted.”

He led Eleanor to a chair beside him while his butler showed Lucie to a seat further down the table between two people she already knew—Henry Bancroft, a professor who had retired to the village some years ago, and Colonel Eves, a much younger man. He had been invalided out from the army and was now living with his widowed sister, Carolyn. She had a seat across the table and lifted her hand to wave at Lucie as she smiled a welcome. Lucie relaxed at finding herself in good company, and with her fears quieted, she settled down to enjoy the evening as the meal was turning out to be as good as promised.

Now and again, she glanced up the table to see her grandmother engaged in light-hearted repartee as she, Tasker, and their neighbours kept the conversation flowing. Eventually, it was time for the ladies to retire, and as Tasker had no hostess, Duchess Braden took on the task. She rose, gave the signal to the ladies, and led the way to the drawing room. The gentlemen soon joined them, and at once, Edmund Tasker came over to Lucie where she stood talking to Carolyn. Ignoring Carolyn, he bowed to Lucie.

“I trust I find you well, Lady Braden, and that you enjoyed the dinner. It is a long time since we last met, and in the interval, you have become a delightfully beautiful woman. It is a pleasure to welcome you to my home.”

Well, if that isn’t doing it much too brown,
thought Lucie
, I don’t know what is!

“I beg to differ, my Lord. I am just as I always was.” She turned to Carolyn who was beginning to look a little embarrassed. “Let me introduce my friend, Mrs Dempster. She is sister to David Eves and new to the village. I expect you know they run the Riding Stables which is such a boon for the young ones in the area who can’t afford their own horses.”

“Yes, I remember you were always keen on riding,” Tasker replied, giving a brief bow to Carolyn, but immediately turned back to Lucie and continued to address his remarks to her. “I have some prime beasts in my stables which you would be welcome to try—”

“It is kind of you to offer,” she interrupted, “but I have my own mare, and I would never desert her.”

“Well, we can still go riding together, can’t we? I need to be reminded of the district again. I was not long enough in residence before to appreciate all the byways.”

“I’m sure you can find more knowledgeable people from your own estate to guide you, my Lord. My time is fully taken up already with duties for my grandmother.”

“I’m sure she will give you permission,” he pressed with a mocking smirk.

“I’ll decide when and if she does,” she said coolly.

Finally, he got the message. Narrowing his lips, he bowed. “I must see to my guests.”

Carolyn watched his rigid back as he walked away then looked at Lucie and whispered, “Ouch, I don’t think I have ever heard you so austere. You don’t like him, do you?”

“I don’t know him enough to like or dislike. I was undoubtedly annoyed at the way he ignored you. Grandmama was talking recently about the lack of manners people display these days, and he was a prime example.”

“Oh, don’t be concerned. I was aware he only wanted to talk to you. I didn’t mind.”

“But I did. You are a dear friend, and he was rude. Come, let us find my grandmama and see if she is ready to go home. Can we give you a lift, Caro, unless you want to wait for David? He looks entrenched with the Hepplewhite’s. I know Matthew wanted some advice on buying a matching pair for a carriage he had ordered, so I suggested he asked David.”

“You are kind. Yes, I’ll come with you. Give me a moment to tell David, will you?”

Lucie nodded and left to seek Eleanor. She stood up at once when she saw Lucie. “Time we made our goodbyes, my dear. I am not for late nights anymore.”

“I offered Carolyn a ride home if that is all right, Grandmama? I think David intends to stay later. He is advising the Hepplewhite’s.”

“Good man, David. They couldn’t do better than ask his advice.”

The look Edmund Tasker gave Lucie was unreadable when they bade goodnight to him, and she felt an uncomfortable itch along her spine that seemed not quite a shiver but a warning. He had not liked her dismissive words. But, with Carolyn there, he could not press his invitation further, and she was thankful to be able to put him off. It remained to be seen what her grandmother had gleaned from the dinner conversation and to decide if she would tell her of Tasker’s bad manners and persistence.

Lucy tried to recall any interaction in the past that had bearing on Tasker taking up with her now. He had known that she and Emmeline were great friends from Emmeline’s parents, but had chosen to ignore the connection. She had never been invited to their home after Emmy married him. In fact, according to Emmy, he disliked her childhood friendships, so all she had ever known of him had been through Emmeline.

The ride back was virtually silent, each woman either tired or deep in thought. They bade Carolyn goodnight, and when they reached home, Eleanor turned immediately for the stairs. “I’m for bed, Lucie. We shall discuss this evening’s entertainment in the morning.”

“Yes, it is late, and we are both very tired. Goodnight and sleep well.”

“And you, my love.” She kissed her granddaughter and with the help of Ruth, her maid of many years, wearily climbed the stairs.

Lucie lingered only a moment in the hall to bid Rowten goodnight as he locked the main door then she, too, mounted the stairs and retired to bed. Mary, her own maid, waited to help her out of her gown and into her nightdress and brush and braid her hair for bed. She was tired but unable to sleep for a long time as she thought over the events of the evening. She recalled her previous thoughts when first she had heard of Tasker’s return. Why had he come back? What was he after? She still had no clue, but the uncomfortable shiver was still with her. Maybe her grandmother would have more to say tomorrow.

* * * *

It was almost luncheon before Eleanor descended to greet her granddaughter. Ruth had told Mary, who passed the message to Lucie, that her grandmother was resting later owing to the late night she’d had. However, when she came down, she did not look in the least bit tired. Instead, she had a soft glow of pleasure about her, and she greeted Lucie happily.

“I trust you’ve found something to keep you busy this morning, Lucie. Did you ride?”

“I was going to, but Carley had a swollen fetlock this morning, and Haskins was going to poultice it and rest her today. I decided not to ride, and instead, I’ve been busy with Butters to settle on cleaning out the old conservatory near the tool shed and possibly putting in late summer vegetables for when we return from London. He tells me the main garden has been invaded with slugs. He wants to keep a closer eye on the vegetables and prevent infestation if he keeps the slugs out of reach. I said I’m sure you will agree.”

“Now, you know you and Butters decide on everything to do with the garden and have done so for a long time, so who am I to disagree? As long as I can have my roses and other flowers in season, I let those who can manage quite alone and just enjoy the harvest. I don’t know how long we shall stay in London or even if we go at all.”

Lucie looked quizzically at Eleanor. What was brewing in that greying head? “You have changed your mind about London?”

“It depends on you. Last night, Edmund Tasker asked leave to court you with a view to marriage.” She paused as Lucie gave a horrified gasp and held up her hand to stop her speaking. “Hear me out, please. I must speak things as they are so that you know exactly how to reply. He is a handsome, well-set, titled gentleman. Only a baronet, it’s true, but extremely wealthy, I believe. You’d want for nothing. He tells me he wants a wife and children. He has seen the ladies in the Americas but does not wish to marry or reside there. He has looked at opportunities in the City, but was not taken with anyone. He has always had you in mind to measure anyone against, so decided to fix his hopes on you.”

“I don’t believe it! I hardly know the man, leastways the man he purports to be, nor does he know me. I was never invited to their house after he and Emmeline married. The nearest I’ve been to him is passing by in the village, and certainly, we have never spoken.  I tried, Grandmama, without making it too obviously rude, to say I did not want to go riding with him, though he pressed me to agree. His manners last night left a lot to be desired. He snubbed Carolyn unmercifully, scarcely acknowledging her at all although she was standing right beside me. I trust you said no to the man?”

“I merely said I would think about it and discuss it with you. On the other hand, the reason I am in no hurry to give an answer is because I’m expecting a guest to stay, I hope for an extended visit. It’s quite providential, as it happens. It is many years since I have seen my godson, and I had news the other day his ship docked recently in Liverpool, having sailed from America. He is visiting his Shropshire home first, but the letter I had this morning tells me he will be with us shortly. It is both good news and regretfully sad as well, Lucie. I’ve been waiting a long time to see Richard again. His father and I were special friends when I was young. I almost married him instead of the Duke of Braden, but it was not to be. Our lives went in other directions. Not that I minded in the end, as I soon fell in love with your grandfather. However, Richard’s father, Edward Charles Martell, the Earl of Copeland, has just died. Obviously, the reason my godson has returned home. I have kept in touch with him over the years, and he always said he would visit as soon as possible once he was back here, so we can expect him shortly and will make him welcome.”