Mine for Ever Read online

  “I have met him once, that is all.”

  “He is a member of the secret Russian police and we believe he is a spy. Do you understand how serious this matter is?”

  Fear clutched at her heart – was not the sentence for treason still death? She imagined herself having to go and throw herself at the feet of the Queen and plead for his life.

  She felt sick and dizzy.

  “Surely there is some error? My father is loyal to Her Majesty and would never do anything to compromise her or his country.”

  “Thankfully in this land no one is guilty until they are tried. At the moment we are arresting a number of suspects and once they are brought to trial then the law will decide.”

  “And Papa?”

  “Because of his position, I am prepared to grant him bail for a security of one thousand pounds.”

  “One thousand! I don’t have that amount!”

  “Then I am afraid that your father stays in prison until his trial.”

  “But the scandal! You are aware he is a Member of Parliament?”

  “MP or not – one thousand pounds will secure his release. I am a most reasonable man and am aware of the scandal imprisonment will cause, which is just why I am offering bail. Miss Parker, this must all come as a shock to you, so I will allow you three days to find the money. You must go home and speak to your mother as well.”

  “Yes, I must. Now, can I see Papa?”

  He thought for a moment – Lilliana was certain that he was enjoying his sense of power.

  “Very well,” he said after a long pause. “I will ask the Sergeant to take you to the cells. But I must warn you – it is no place for a lady to linger.”

  Lilliana rose and tried to remain collected.

  Her heart went into her mouth as she followed the Sergeant along a narrow corridor and down some stairs. In his hand he held a huge bunch of keys.

  Finally they reached a door that he unlocked and a horrible smell hit her in the face.

  She suddenly felt foolish in her ball dress and long gloves and pulled her cape round her tighter. There were a row of wooden doors in front of her and she knew that her father was behind one of them.

  “He’s lucky, miss,” said the Sergeant, as they came to a halt. “He’s got the best one.”

  The Sergeant selected a key and put it in the lock of the first door. Swinging it open, her eyes soon adjusted to the dim light.

  Inside the cell were a bed and a chair and her father was lying on his back with his hand over his face.

  “Go away,” he grunted in a dull voice.

  “Come now, Sir William, is that any way to talk to a man who’s brought your daughter to see you?”

  “Lilliana!” he cried emotionally. “I hoped that you would come for me.”

  “I’ll be outside, miss,” said the Sergeant, retreating behind the door. “Five minutes.”

  “Oh, Papa!” she called as she rushed into his arms. “What has happened? The Chief Inspector has made some wild claims about your passing on secrets!”

  Her father sighed and looked down.

  “There has been a big mistake, Lilliana, but that is all I can tell you. The man is a fool and he will soon find out that I have done no wrong. More, I cannot say.”

  “Papa, he will not free you before your trial unless we put up one thousand pounds in bail money. That is a fortune! Will Mama be able to raise the money?”

  “I am afraid not, Lilliana.”

  “Then your bank surely – ”

  He shook his head.

  “No, Lilliana”

  She stared at him in disbelief. But they were rich! What can he have been talking about?

  “Lilliana,” he began slowly, “one of the reasons I have been working away so hard is that we are in financial trouble. An American mine I have invested in has gone bankrupt and I have lost a great deal of money.”

  “Does Mama know about this?”

  “She does.”

  “But neither of you has said a word to me!”

  “Darling, we did not wish to worry you. Besides, I believed that the Earl of Sherborne was about to propose to you and I did not want you thinking we could not afford a wedding. We would have found the money somehow.”

  Tears streamed down Lilliana’s face.

  “But Papa! If that had been a problem, we would have waited. Besides, Robert is rich enough to have given you a loan. If he was here, he could get you out of this predicament, I am certain.”

  “Perhaps, but the fact remains that we do not have the funds to pay the bail. You must go home at once and be with your mother.”

  “Papa, there must be someone who can help – one of your colleagues at the House of Commons? A friend – ”

  He shook his head.

  “No, Lilliana, there is no one. Until this matter is sorted out, I must remain in prison. I am sorry – I know this will cause a great deal of trouble, but I do promise you things are not as they seem.”

  “Why can you not tell me, then? If you say you are innocent, then I believe you, but I don’t understand why the Police will not let you go. They seem convinced that you have done something terrible!”

  “Darling, you and your mother must trust me. This buffoon here does not know with whom or what he deals and I must go along with it until such time as I can reveal the truth. I am sorry I cannot explain more. Suffice to say that national security is, indeed, the issue at stake.”

  “Papa, you talk in riddles,” she groaned, feeling as if her head was bursting.

  Just then the Sergeant opened the door.

  “Time is up, miss, I have to insist that you leave.”

  Lilliana threw herself at her Papa. She hugged him fiercely and soaked his jacket with her tears.

  “Miss Parker, I must insist,” the Sergeant came in impatiently.

  Lilliana kissed her father one last time and left.

  ‘However will my Mama cope?’ she thought, ‘and Elizabeth – I shall have to return home first thing in the morning. She will be so upset!’

  By the time she returned to White Horse Street, she had composed herself.

  The Sergeant had put her in a Hackney cab and had given the driver enough money to take her home.

  Lilliana did not care at all for public conveyances, but she accepted the lift without hesitation.

  Elizabeth and her aunt were waiting up for her.

  “Lilliana! You poor thing! Manners told us there has been some trouble.”

  “Yes, it is my Papa – he has been put in prison. I am afraid I will have to go home tomorrow – I will catch the train.”

  “Nonsense, you cannot travel on public transport on your own. If you insist on going home, then you must use my carriage. Now, you should go to bed, Lilliana, you are upset and need to rest. We will speak of this further in the morning.”

  Lilliana looked up at the clock in the hall as she and Elizabeth went upstairs – it was almost two o’clock in the morning.

  Outside her room, Elizabeth kissed her on the cheek and bade her goodnight.

  “We shall talk in the morning.”

  “I am so sorry. I fear I have ruined your evening.”

  “Nonsense, I had a wonderful time. I will tell you all tomorrow. Goodnight!”

  She disappeared and Lilliana knew that she would not sleep easily in spite of being so exhausted.

  How could she with her father in prison?

  *

  Lilliana had tossed and turned until she heard the first rustlings from the servants and then had dropped off.

  Antoinette came with a cup of tea at eleven o’clock.

  “What time is it?” she asked sleepily.

  “It’s quite late, miss, but we all thought you should sleep. This came for you. I hope it’s not bad news.”

  She handed Lilliana a telegram.

  Her hands shook as she pulled it open.

  “Mama is on her way to London!” she sobbed, as utter relief flooded her body. “Thank God!”


  “Is everything all right, miss?” asked Antoinette.

  “There is a family problem to be resolved. As soon as Mama arrives, all will be well.”

  Even as she said those words, she did not believe them.

  *

  Around midday Lilliana had word that her mother was at Brown’s Hotel and would wait for her there.

  Elizabeth offered to come with her.

  “Is your Papa in terrible trouble?” she asked.

  “Alas, yes, but we will speak of it later. For now I would much rather hear all about the gentleman I saw you dancing with last night!”

  Elizabeth could not conceal her delight.

  “Oh, Lilliana – he is most handsome and dashing! I danced with him all night and then he asked if he could call on me this afternoon!”

  “What is his name?”

  “Gordon McCloud. He is a Scottish Laird of noble birth. I cannot wait for Mama and Papa to meet him.”

  “Are you in love?”

  “I believe I am! I long to see him again and I feel as if I am floating on air!”

  “Did I not foresee that you might meet someone in London?”

  “You did, indeed! Did you not see his blue eyes, Lilliana? They are so merry and bold. And with dark hair too – it’s my favourite combination.”

  Lilliana laughed as they chattered girlishly – for a few moments she almost forgot the horrors of the previous evening.

  “Elizabeth, I am so pleased for you.”

  “And you, you seem remarkably composed about your father’s plight?”

  “I confess that I am not inside, but I must remain calm. It is all a misunderstanding and will be dealt with.”

  “Even so, your dear Mama must be so upset. Think what would happen should word spread – a mistake or not, there would still be a scandal.”

  “God willing we shall be able to overcome all our difficulties and I just hope that the newspapers or people at home do not get wind of it.”

  Lilliana was so distracted that she did not see the slight figure in a top hat walking towards them.

  It was only when he was a foot or so away that she realised it was Lord Farringdon.

  “Miss Parker, what a happy coincidence,” he said in a quiet tone that was full of menace.

  Lilliana’s heart leapt in fear.

  “Lord Farringdon,” she answered, not meeting his gaze, “allow you to introduce my friend, Miss Fullerton.”

  Lord Farringdon inclined his head.

  “Miss Parker, there is a private matter I would wish to discuss with you.”

  “Oh?”

  “It has come to my attention that your father finds himself in, shall we say, a little difficulty,” he continued in an unctuous manner.

  She stared at him in horror – how could the news have travelled so fast?

  “Oh, do not worry – your secret is safe with me, let us just say that I have certain friends in certain places and they make it their business to keep me abreast of events.”

  Although relieved, she had the most awful feeling that Lord Farringdon was preparing to bargain with her.

  “You may speak freely in front of Miss Fullerton – she is aware of what has happened,” she snapped.

  “I believe I am in a position to be of help to you. If you would permit me to call on you tomorrow, then we can discuss my offer at length.”

  “Your offer?”

  “As I have just said, I can help you in your current predicament. Shall we say at two o’clock?”

  Lilliana hesitated and then answered,

  “Very well. I am staying with Lady Walsington in White Horse Street. Number 21.”

  “Until tomorrow, then, Miss Parker.”

  As the two girls watched him limp away, Elizabeth let out an audible shudder.

  “Ugh! What an unpleasant man! But his face – it is familiar to me.”

  “He was at the ball. He proposed to me while you were dancing with your Scottish Laird!”

  “You did not say – ”

  “Events with my father’s arrest have overshadowed what occurred last night in the Duke’s garden.”

  “He proposed!” cried Elizabeth, “and I assume you declined.”

  “Naturally.”

  “Did you tell him you were engaged to another?”

  “How could I? I told him my heart was promised to another, but, as he said, there is no ring and there has been no announcement. That does not make it binding in the eyes of the world.”

  “And your parents don’t know either, of course, so he would believe what you told him was a lie?”

  “Exactly. Oh, Elizabeth – what am I going to do?”

  The door of Brown’s Hotel loomed up in front of them and Lilliana took a deep breath before entering.

  “Shall I wait in the lobby?” suggested Elizabeth.

  “No, you must come up to Mama’s room with me.”

  As her mother opened the door, Lilliana could see by her careworn face that she had been crying all night.

  “Darling!” she exclaimed, embracing her daughter. “I am so glad you are here! I have only just arrived. The journey to London was dreadful.”

  “It is an ill time of year for making long journeys,” remarked Elizabeth. “Now, I will wait while you two talk.”

  “Mama, you have not seen Papa yet?”

  “No, I was hoping that you would come with me.”

  “He is well and as comfortable as one could expect in a prison cell.”

  “Do you know what this is all about?”

  “The Chief Inspector seems to believe that Papa has been passing secrets to the Russians!”

  “Count Vaslaski! I knew it!”

  “I suspect as much, although he would not confirm it. He spoke of treason – ”

  “Your father is Her Majesty’s most loyal subject and would never betray his country,” asserted Lady Parker in a shrill voice. “I did warn him that fraternising with the Count would do his reputation no good, but he would not listen. ‘You do not understand,’ was all he kept saying.”

  Lilliana became very quiet – she could not silence the awful nagging thought in her brain.

  “Mama, what if Papa is guilty?” she whispered, almost not daring to give voice to her fears.

  “How could he be?”

  “They say that a traitor’s family is always the last to know – ”

  Lilliana’s mother grabbed her shoulders and shook her so hard that some of her hair came free from its pins.

  “Your father is not a traitor – do you hear me? He is not! He is not! You must not think such things – there will be a perfectly reasonable explanation. I know it!”

  “Oh, Mama! I am so sorry!” cried Lilliana, bursting into tears. “I am just so very worried!”

  Her mother enfolded her in her arms and they both wept.

  After a while, her mother let her go, gently wiping her daughters tears away before determinedly speaking.

  “Come, we must not leave Elizabeth in the sitting room like this! We will go to the Police Station to see your father and then, we will send a telegram to our Solicitor to come to London at once.”

  “Mr. Beadale is far too old for the journey, and I am sure he would not know how to deal with cases such as this. Can we not afford someone in London?”

  “Darling, your father has lost a great deal of money recently and we cannot afford a London Solicitor.”

  “Yes, I know, Mama. Papa told me last night about the American mine, but surely there must be something left to hire a decent solicitor with?”

  “Lilliana, you are twenty-one years of age, old enough to understand that the situation we face is very grave. The Police are asking for one thousand pounds to secure bail for him and we just do not have it.”

  “If I felt it would help, I would pawn every last object I own to raise the money,” Lilliana said, the despair starting to show in her strained voice.

  “Darling – we have re-mortgaged the house just to make ends meet �
�� there is no spare money for anything.”

  “Is there not a relative?”

  “No, we just cannot involve anyone outside of the immediate family.”

  “Then Papa is doomed to stay in prison until he is brought to trial.”

  “I am very afraid so,” sighed her mother. “But we will think of something. Come, we must join Elizabeth!”

  Later, as the three of them sat down to tea in the hotel’s restaurant, Elizabeth tried her best to be gay and amusing.

  She chattered to Lady Parker about the ball and in return, she asked a multitude of questions about the Duke’s house.

  All the while Lilliana remained quiet.

  ‘If Lord Farringdon offers to help, then, whatever the cost, I must agree to it,’ she decided gloomily, as her mother poured the tea.

  *

  Aunt Victoria did all she could to help Lilliana and her mother. She put her carriage at their disposal so they could visit Sir William and invited her mother to stay with them until matters had been resolved.

  After an initial protest she arrived at White Horse Street with all her luggage.

  “How long will we stay in London, Mama?”

  “I will have to go home soon, my dear. You were right about Mr. Beadale – he has replied to my telegram in the negative. Perhaps Lady Walsington could recommend someone.”

  “And there is the matter of Papa’s bail. Tomorrow is the last day before they withdraw their offer.”

  “I have written to a maiden aunt of his whom I have not seen in many years. I believe she is quite wealthy. I have humbled myself and asked for a loan, although I don’t hold out much hope that she will agree.”

  When they arrived at the Police Station, they were told that Sir William had been taken to Great Marlborough Street to await his trial.

  *

  Lilliana had almost forgotten her appointment with Lord Farringdon until she and her Mama returned to White Horse Street.

  There waiting for her was a bunch of violets and his card.

  “Who are they from, darling?

  “From Lord Farringdon. He was attending the ball the other evening.”

  “I see, so you have a new admirer? I would have thought he is a bit old for you, darling, if you don’t mind my saying.”

  Lilliana did not reply.

  Later she hardly touched the superb luncheon that Francois had prepared for them.