The Regency Season: Blackmailed Brides: The Scarlet Gown / Lady Beneath the Veil

‘Yes, my lord.’

‘Very well.’ Ralph nodded towards the pail of hot water standing on the hearthstone. ‘Miss Halbrook can have that to top up her supply.’

‘Won’t you be needing it, my lord?’

‘No, I won’t.’ The vision of Lucy bathing was still tantalising Ralph. Great heavens, what was wrong with him? ‘In fact, you had best pour in the rest of the cold water before you go.’

* * *

Lucy rubbed herself dry, her skin and spirits glowing. To be able to call up a bath at a moment’s notice was luxury indeed and she could forgive her employer a great deal for that.

She could not forgive him everything, however, and the idea that she had been brought here to imitate his dead wife made her decidedly uneasy.

She left the chaos of the bath, buckets and towels in the dressing room and went into her bedchamber, where Ruthie had laid out a selection of gowns upon the bed. They were all new, and had all arrived that day. Lucy was tempted to wear the French cambric that she had brought with her, but she knew enough of her employer by now to be sure that if she did so, he would order her back upstairs to change.

In the end she chose a simple round gown of green silk over a white chemise. Ruthie dressed her hair in loose curls, caught up in a bandeau of matching ribbon, along with a pair of satin slippers dyed the same colour as her gown.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Lucy wondered if Helene had worn a gown like this, but of course she already knew the answer to that. Lucy derived some small, very small, satisfaction from the fact that however well the gown might have looked with guinea-gold curls, it could not have enhanced cornflower-blue eyes as it did green ones. Dismissing the thought as unworthy, Lucy placed a fine Norwich shawl about her shoulders and set off for the drawing room.

As she descended the main stairs she heard voices in the hall. One, which she recognised as Lord Adversane’s, came floating up to her.

‘Adam. What the devil brings you here?’

Adam. Lucy searched her mind and remembered that Adam Cottingham was Adversane’s cousin and heir. A cheerful male voice now made itself heard.

‘Don’t sound so surprised, Cos. I came to take pot luck with you, as I have done often and often.’

‘Aye, but not since the accident.’ She heard Ralph hesitate over the last word. ‘I thought you had vowed not to come here again.’

‘No, well...the past is over and done. Time to let it rest, eh? We should not allow it to cause a rift in the family.’

‘I was not aware that it had done so.’

‘Well, there you are, then. And here I am. I take it you can spare a dinner for me, Cousin?’

Lucy continued to descend, smiling a little at Adversane’s rather guarded response.

‘Of course, it will be a pleasure to have you stay.’

‘Thank you. So, Ralph, you old devil. What is this I have heard about a betrothal? Judith tells me you wrote to say you have installed your fiancée— Good God!’

This last exclamation was occasioned by Lucy’s appearance in the Great Hall. She found herself being stared at by a fair-haired stranger. He picked up his eyeglass the better to study her and said sharply, ‘Ralph, what the devil—?’

Lucy was tempted to run away from such astonished scrutiny, but Lord Adversane was already approaching and holding out his hand to her.

‘My dear, this boorish fellow is my cousin. He has come to join us for dinner.’ He pulled her fingers onto his sleeve, giving them a little squeeze as he performed the introduction.

Mr Cottingham dropped his eyeglass and made her an elegant bow.

‘Delighted, Miss Halbrook.’

Lucy’s throat dried as she responded. Suddenly, she felt very ill prepared. Now that she had met one of Adversane’s relatives in the flesh she was very nervous at the thought of being caught out. When Ralph smiled and patted her fingers she realised that she was clutching his arm rather tightly.

‘Let us go to the drawing room,’ he suggested. ‘I expect Mrs Dean is waiting there for us.’

The short walk across the hall gave Lucy time to collect herself, and once Ariadne had greeted their guest, expressed her surprise at his arrival and assured him that there was plenty of time for him to change before dinner, she was able to sit down and join in the conversation with reasonable calm.

‘Such a long time since I have seen you, Adam,’ said Mrs Dean, fluttering back to her seat. ‘I suppose there is no surprise about that. After all, we used to meet here at Adversane regularly, but of course all that changed when...’ She trailed off, looking self-conscious.

‘When Helene died,’ said Ralph bluntly. ‘I am aware that I have not entertained since then.’

‘Indeed, Cousin, you have become something of a recluse,’ declared Mrs Dean, recovering. ‘But thankfully all that is ended now.’ She turned back to Mr Cottingham. ‘And will you stay overnight, Adam? I can have a room prepared in a trice.’

‘No, no, I will not put you to that trouble. The long evening will give me time to get home before dark.’

‘Do you live nearby, sir?’ asked Lucy.

‘At Delphenden, about fifteen miles hence. I am on my way home after visiting friends in Skipton and thought, since I was passing—’

‘That is hardly passing,’ Ralph broke in. ‘You have come a good deal out of your way to get here.’

Adam laughed. ‘True, but your letter intrigued me and I wanted to know more—and to meet your future bride, of course.’

He turned to Lucy as he said this, but although his words were uttered with a smile Lucy thought the look in his eyes was more speculative than welcoming.

‘There is very little more to know,’ Ralph responded calmly. ‘Miss Halbrook and I met in London and she has done me the signal honour of agreeing to become my wife.’

‘No, no, Ralph, you will not fob me off like that,’ cried Adam, laughing. ‘What a fellow you are for keeping things close! I am determined to know all about this engagement.’

‘And so you shall.’ Ralph smiled. ‘There is nothing secret about it.’

‘No, no, I never— That is...’ Adam coloured. ‘I was not suggesting there was anything... The news came as something of a surprise, that is all.’

‘Miss Halbrook’s father died twelve months ago and she has only recently come out of mourning. That is why we have made no announcement yet.’

Ralph’s tone indicated that this explained everything. Lucy was well aware that it did not and was relieved when Mrs Dean asked Mr Cottingham about his wife.

‘How is dear Judith, Adam?’

‘She is well, thank you.’

‘Oh, that is good. I vow I have not seen her since the last house party here at Adversane—and how are the children?’ She turned to Lucy. ‘Adam has two fine boys, my dear. I suppose they are both at school now, are they not?’

‘Yes, Charlie joined his brother last term...’

The conversation turned to family matters and Lucy felt she could relax, at least for a while, although she was aware of Adam Cottingham’s thoughtful gaze frequently coming to rest upon her. She was not surprised, therefore, when he turned his attention towards her once more but by that time she was more prepared to answer his questions, adhering to Ralph’s advice that they should tell the truth wherever possible.

* * *