Love in the Highlands Page 5

  "It is only proper that the future Marchioness of Elswick should receive suitable greetings from those over whom she will rule," he said smoothly.

  "I – thank you." She tried to withdraw her hand, but he did not release it.

  "You're supposed to look delighted by my attentions," he reminded her.

  Lavina looked directly into his face, giving him the most dazzling smile at her command.

  "My Lord," she breathed, "what joy it is to me to be

  once again with you. How my heart beats with happiness – "

  "Be careful," he murmured, "don't overdo it."

  "Can a woman overstate her pleasure at being in the presence of he who is to be her lord and master?"

  Just for an instant the stone mask of his face seemed on the verge of cracking. She almost thought a smile hovered on the edge of his lips. But he mastered it.

  "Your lord and master, indeed," he replied. "I'm glad you understand that. Now, my dearest love, let me introduce you to the staff that will be yours."

  There were over a hundred of them, bowing or curtseying as she went along the line.

  "I'm rather understaffed at the moment," the Marquis observed. "As I said, this is a bachelor residence, and I do almost no entertaining. Many of the people you see here work in the grounds or the stables. Naturally, the presence of a Marchioness would make all the difference."

  "Naturally," she murmured, feeling rather dazed.

  "This is Perkins, the head butler, who runs this establishment."

  Perkins, one of the few servants who had seen her earlier, bowed, concealing his bewilderment at this incredible development.

  There were several under-butlers, then countless footmen, all powdered and wigged, each nodding his head to her. There followed the under-footmen, and beyond them the chief cook, a magisterial French presence called Laurant, and two under-cooks.

  There were, as the Marquis had said, several maids, smart in black dresses and gleaming white frilly aprons; also several scullery maids. But there was no doubt that they were heavily outnumbered by the men.

  "And now, allow me the pleasure of escorting you into

  your new home," the Marquis said gallantly, taking her hand and leading her through the front door.

  As soon as they were inside, Lavina said urgently.

  "I must speak to you."

  "Has something happened?"

  "Yes, something terrible. The Queen has written to Papa."

  "Saying what?"

  "I don't know, I didn't allow him to open it."

  "You didn't allow – ?"

  "It would have been fatal," she said hurriedly, missing his implication. "Once he has read that letter he must obey the orders contained within it. As it is, he hasn't even received it."

  "I thought you just said that he had."

  "It arrived at the house, but we didn't."

  He frowned.

  "Didn't what?"

  "Arrive at the house."

  "Lady Lavina, you must forgive me for appearing dull-witted but I was under the impression that you had been home, and if you have not I'm at a loss to understand how you knew the letter was there."

  "Of course we've been home."

  The Marquis passed his hand over his eyes.

  "Perhaps we began this conversation at the wrong point," he said faintly. "I have been used to starting at the beginning, but clearly you have devised another method."

  Lavina stamped her foot.

  "I wish you would stop talking nonsense. My meaning is perfectly clear."

  "Not, unfortunately, to me. Did this letter arrive or did it not?"

  "Yes, it arrived while we were here with you, and was waiting for us when we returned home. But Papa must not receive it, so I handed it back to the butler and we left at once.

  "When the Queen's Messenger returns he will be informed that we never came back at all, and he must bring the letter on to deliver it here."

  "Where he will find us all assembled to greet him," the Marquis said, his eye gleaming with appreciation. "Well done! Now that we have sorted out your somewhat tangled explanation, I am proud of you."

  If he meant to placate Lavina by these words he was mistaken. Praise was pleasant, of course, but how dare he patronise her! Did he think she cared whether he was proud of her or not?

  "Where are the maid and dresser you threatened me with?" the Marquis asked.

  "They are following immediately. Since haste was important we left ahead of them."

  "Then one of my maids shall show you to your room. You have the room always occupied by the mistress of the house."

  Lavina soon discovered that what he called a 'room' was, in fact, a palatial apartment. Built on a corner, it had large windows on two sides, flooding it with light.

  The furniture was all valuable, antique, but well kept. Dominating the room was a vast four poster bed, hung with honey coloured silk damask, and with a richly carved gold cornice.

  Over the fireplace was a huge mirror set in a cream and gold frame that matched the bed. The ceiling too was a match. Everywhere Lavina looked she saw gold, from the chandelier to the chairs.

  It was breathtaking. Evidently the Marchioness of

  Elswick was expected to live in style.

  The maid showed her around, pointing out the private bathroom, and the door that led to a dressing room.

  One of the great windows looked out over the entrance, and to her relief Lavina saw the coach bringing her servants, followed by a fourgon piled with luggage.

  "Thank goodness," she murmured.

  She was more relieved than she could have said, for now she could employ her most formidable weapon in the strangest situation in which she had ever found herself. Her beauty, her glamour, her magnificence.

  With these she could face the Marquis. And he would come off worse. She promised herself that.

  *

  Mrs Banty's entrance into her domain was made with almost as much ceremony as Lavina's. Dressed in black bombazine, her head adorned by a black straw bonnet, trimmed with black lace, she made a haughty progress up the grand staircase, and along the corridor to Her Ladyship's apartment.

  Jill, Lavina's personal maid, crept along in the rear like a lady-in-waiting.

  Behind them came troops of footmen bearing luggage, which they proceeded to set on the floor, until halted by a commanding voice.

  "This will not do!"

  "Banty dear, whatever is the matter?" Lavina asked.

  "You cannot sleep here. It is disgraceful. I never heard of such a thing."

  She looked sharply at the footmen, who were regarding her in amazement.

  "What are you doing here? Take yourselves off, and somebody tell your master that I wish to see him without delay."

  Their jaws dropped, and they looked at each other, wondering who was brave enough to inform the Marquis that a woman had sent for him as though he were an under servant.

  Luckily for everyone's peace of mind the Marquis himself put in an appearance at that moment. In seconds every footman in the place had vanished.

  "I came to assure myself of your comfort," he said courteously to Lavina. "But I see your servants have arrived, and so all is well."

  "All is certainly not well," Mrs Banty said, glaring at him. "I was never more shocked in my life."

  Lavina held her breath, certain that this was disaster. The Marquis would never tolerate being spoken to in this manner, by a woman and a servant.

  But instead of being offended he regarded Mrs Banty mildly.

  "May I ask in what manner I have offended?" he asked.

  "This apartment is totally inappropriate for Lady Lavina."

  "It is the apartment of the mistress of the house. I meant to do her honour."

  "But she is not yet the mistress of the house, and it is therefore scandalous for her to be in a bedroom that connects with your own."

  "Indeed it does not," the Marquis said, astonished.

  "It connects with this dress
ing room," Mrs Banty said, opening the door, and indicating another door on the far side of the dressing-room.

  "Beyond that door lies Your Lordship's apartment," she said in a voice of thunder.

  "Well yes," he agreed, "but you will observe that there are two beds in the dressing room, and I imagine that you will occupy one, and the maid will occupy the other.

  "Were I to attempt to creep through this room with the intention of assaulting Lady Lavina's honour, I feel sure that you would prevent me. Besides, the door to my apartment is locked."

  But Mrs Banty was made of stern stuff, and did not relent.

  "I have no doubt that Your Lordship has a key."

  "Which I shall be happy to give to you."

  "How do I know that you don't have another key?"

  "Very well," said the Marquis. "I will give you a pistol, and if you find me creeping through the dressing room you have my permission to shoot me."

  Mrs Banty glared.

  "Banty dear," begged Lavina, "please leave this. He's making fun of you."

  "He thinks he is," Mrs Banty declared. "He thinks I wouldn't shoot him."

  Incredibly, Lord Elswick's lips twitched.

  "On the contrary," he said, "I feel fairly sure that you would. But if you would agree a compromise ma'am, suppose I send for the estate carpenter and instruct him to put some bolts on the door leading to my room. Once you have slid them home, Lady Lavina would be perfectly safe from my evil intentions."

  Mrs Banty graciously signalled her assent to this negotiated settlement, and returned to her task, unpacking Lavina's wardrobe.

  "My Lord, I apologise," Lavina said distractedly, anxious to protect her dresser from the Marquis' wrath, "Mrs Banty is very protective of me – "

  "Do not," he said, his hand over his eyes, "even consider apologising for Mrs Banty. I would not have missed meeting her for the world."

  "But the way she spoke to you – "

  "Reminded me of my old governess. I was rather fond of her. Now I must hasten to give the order for those bolts. If she were to return and find the job not done, I would fear for my life."

  "Ah, but you have not yet given her the pistol," Lavina reminded him, amused.

  "I feel sure she has one of her own somewhere."

  He hurried out, leaving Lavina looking after him, wondering at this man who kept revealing different sides of himself.

  *

  When the Earl collected his daughter to take her down to dinner his eyes popped with admiration.

  "You look wonderful, my darling," he said.

  "Doesn't she!" exclaimed Mrs Banty, who had every reason to be pleased with her work.

  The gold of the room had inspired her to dress her darling in a dress of gold coloured satin, edged with a lavender ruche. Over this was a half skirt of lavender satin, and beneath the gold dress peeped a white silk petticoat with a white lace flounce.

  At the back the dress fell away to a train, embroidered with sprays of purple and gold pansies. The bosom was cut low, not immodestly, but low enough to show the dainty diamond pendant. Lavender satin slippers and white gloves completed Lavina's appearance.

  "My daughter is a credit to you, ma'am," said the Earl, who was always extremely polite to Mrs Banty, because he was afraid of her.

  "Thank you, My Lord." The dresser accepted his tribute graciously, and melted away.

  The Earl sighed with pleasure as he stood back to take another look at his daughter.

  "There won't be a lady there to match you."

  "There won't be any other ladies there at all, Papa," she said with a laugh.

  "Oh but there will be. The Marquis has invited several other guests from the locality. There's the vicar, the mayor, and their wives, and I believe the rest are poor relations who live on the estate."

  Lavina's mouth dropped open.

  "I thought he never entertained like this."

  "It seems he's made an exception."

  "And bringing members of his family to meet me – "

  "Well, he's doing it properly, which is very much to our purpose."

  "Or his," Lavina thought. But she said nothing.

  There was a knock on her door. Jill opened it, and admitted the Marquis.

  He was splendidly dressed in black evening clothes, set off by a gleaming white embroidered shirt, at the top of which nestled a diamond pin.

  Lavina had to tell herself not to stare. It crossed her mind that she had never seen a man look so handsome.

  He inclined his head graciously in her direction.

  "My compliments, ma'am," he said. "You are a bride of whom any man would be proud."

  "I'm glad you feel that I'm a credit to you sir," Lavina replied with equal graciousness.

  "There is only one thing needed to make your appearance perfect," he said. "Would you honour me by wearing these?"

  Then she saw that he was carrying a large black box, which he opened, revealing the most astounding set of jewellery she had ever seen.

  There was a necklace, a diadem, a bracelet, ear-rings, and two brooches, all in the most fabulous emeralds, set in gold.

  "These are the Elswick emeralds," the Marquis explained. "Anyone seeing you wearing these will have to believe in the reality of the engagement."

  He turned slightly to show the jewels to Mrs Banty.

  "I should value your opinion ma'am," he said meekly.

  "Very nice and suitable," she asserted.

  "Which would you suggest for tonight?"

  Mrs Banty considered.

  "The necklace, the diadem and the ear-rings," she said.

  "A bracelet?"

  "That would be a little too much," she declared firmly.

  "Then if you will be so good."

  He stood back to allow Mrs Banty to do what was necessary.

  When the jewellery was in place Lavina knew that she had never looked so magnificent. She looked, in fact, like a Marchioness.

  "Some relatives of mine are here," the Marquis observed. "They will certainly recognise these jewels. If the Queen's messenger arrives I shall make sure that he too understands the implications, and – well, anyone else."

  "Anyone else?" Lavina queried.

  "I'm hoping that the local newspaper may send a representative. I told Hunsbury to drop a hint while he was there delivering the telegram, and he thinks it fell on fertile ground. If somebody tries to gatecrash, the doormen have been instructed to let them in."

  There was no doubting it. Lavina had to admit that the Marquis was playing his part well.

  Just before they departed the Earl murmured to his daughter,

  "You two look very fine together, my dear."

  And she murmured back,

  "Papa, you have windmills in your head."

  "Yes my dear, if you say so."

  She went down to dinner on the Marquis' arm, to be introduced to the local dignitaries, and the relations. There were six of them, all elderly and thrilled be invited to Elswick Towers.

  It was the Mayor's wife who told Lavina about Lord Elswick's kindness to them.

  "They are really his pensioners, for he houses them and pays most of their bills," she confided. "Perhaps he did not tell you this, because he prefers people not to know of his kind actions."

  "I'm beginning to understand that," Lavina murmured.

  Of course she knew that his kindness had two edges. In return for his generosity he expected his relatives to be available when he needed them. But it was not lost on her that they all seemed genuinely fond of him, and spoke to him without fear.

  One old lady in particular detained the Marquis with a long, detailed account of some domestic problem. He listened with every sign of interest, promised to send somebody to see to it and never once betrayed impatience.

  Lavina grew even more curious about this man to whom she was officially betrothed.

  At dinner she was seated beside him, and was made the recipient of many flattering attentions. Tomorrow morning, she guessed, the n
ews would be spread far and wide, and all the time she and her Papa would be a little safer.

  And yet, there was something very strange about it all.

  The Earl was enjoying himself, having discovered two kindred spirits in the Mayor and his wife. They were both enthusiastic sailors, and as the Earl owned a yacht moored at Tilbury, and liked nothing better than to cruise in her, they were all soon deep in eager discussion.

  "I've just had The Mermaid completely refitted," he said, "and, of course, redecorated."

  "The Mermaid," sighed one of the lady relatives. "Such a lovely name!"

  "We would normally have gone cruising in her this summer," the Earl explained, "but of course all plans are now in a state of abeyance."

  "A cruise sounds an excellent idea," the Marquis said. "Perhaps we should think about it."

  The talk drifted to other things. The vicar's wife wanted to know about the Queen. The Earl would have preferred not to discuss a subject that now filled him with dread, but he obliged with some innocent gossip about Her Majesty.

  "Do you travel with her?" the Mayor asked.

  "I have been to Osborne, on the Isle of Wight in attendance on Her Majesty," he replied. "But she travels very little, just Osborne, and Balmoral in Scotland."

  "Scotland is such a beautiful place," sighed the vicar.

  The Earl mentioned that he had a cousin who lived in Scotland, near Ballater, and for a while the talk was of the beauties of Scotland.

  At last the Marquis rose to his feet.

  But before he could speak the butler entered and murmured something in his ear. Lavina heard him say, "Send him in here."

  When the butler had left, the Marquis addressed Lord Ringwood.

  "The Queen's messenger has arrived for you."

  The Earl blanched and seemed unable to speak.

  Lavina, thinking quickly, said,

  "I wonder what he can possibly want."

  "I dare say you're used to being summoned to assist Her Majesty on important matters of state," said the vicar's wife breathlessly.

  "Oh yes," said the Earl faintly.

  "And it must be very urgent," pursued that lady, "to make him come here so late."

  "Doubtless," the Earl managed to say.

  "Perhaps it's a matter of national interest," she finished ecstatically.

  This was so close to the truth that the Earl cast her a glance of horror, which made the vicar murmur in his wife's ear that this was really too worldly a discussion for such as themselves.