Royalty Defeated by Love Read online

  She looked angry as she continued,

  “Frankly, none of us can see the point of rebuilding a castle which is falling down.”

  Before Michael could speak, Bettina gave a cry.

  “Oh, you must not say that,” she parried. “It means so much to us and we are all thrilled and delighted that his Lordship has come to the castle.”

  “I really cannot think the place matters that much,” Alice retorted scathingly. “As I just said Michael’s friends in London are missing him. We all think it is time he returned.”

  Bettina stared at her before saying,

  “But we will miss him too. We need him here.”

  There was an expression on Alice’s face which told Michael that she was going to say something unpleasant.

  He therefore spoke quickly and rather loudly.

  “Let us concentrate on thanking the owner of this charming house and wonderful garden. Although he has not yet joined us, we will drink his health in his own wine.”

  He handed the two women a glass each as he spoke and took one himself.

  Then before Alice could say anything, he lifted his glass and toasted,

  “To the castle. May it bring happiness and wealth to the village and make all those who live here feel proud.”

  Raising her glass, Bettina said to Michael,

  “You are magnificent! The whole village will look on you as their saviour.”

  There was such sweet fervour in her voice that Michael felt a sensation surge through him. She spoke like that when the welfare of the village was concerned. To himself she showed only coldness, but for her friends she would do anything – even if it meant associating with him.

  He lifted his glass and replied,

  “Thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope I will be as successful as you believe I am going to be.”

  “I am sure you will be,” Bettina replied. “Already we are very proud of you.”

  Alice raised her glass and managed a smile, but it was clearly an effort and when she spoke she sounded as though her teeth were on edge.

  “How nice to know that you are so appreciated, Michael. And, as you say, this house and garden are charming, so much so that I would like to see what the Major has achieved. Why don’t you take me outside and show me everything?”

  “It is very well worth seeing,” Michael said. “But I think the person who should show you around is Miss Newton. After all, it’s her garden.”

  “But I want you to show it to me,” Alice pouted. “Miss Newton will not mind, I am sure.”

  Michael’s urgent eyes sought Bettina’s.

  The message was unmistakable.

  ‘Don’t desert me now.’

  “Oh, but I would mind,” Bettina breathed. “I am so proud of the garden that Papa and I have created together, that I simply must have the pleasure of showing it to you.”

  “That is most kind of you,” Alice began, “but I – ”

  “I know!” Bettina seemed to have been struck by a blinding inspiration. “We will all go together.” She clapped her hands like a child. “Won’t that be nice?”

  “Delightful,” Alice answered in a hollow voice.

  “In that case, ladies, it will be my pleasure to escort you both,” Michael declared with a fervour that barely concealed his relief.

  He offered them an arm each and the three of them processed out into the garden.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  The next half hour took all of Bettina’s ingenuity. Having failed to dislodge her, Alice accepted her presence with poor grace and clung to Michael like a limpet.

  Bettina acted as their guide, pointing out one bloom after another, while Alice kept saying, “isn’t that lovely, darling?”

  Michael winced every time she called him ‘darling’, but Bettina supposed he could hardly reprove her in the presence of a third person, however much he might want to.

  It was clear that he was telling the truth when he had said he did not want to marry Alice, but Bettina would have given much to know what there had once been between them.

  Ignorant of fashionable Society, she could hardly imagine that Alice had become so sure the Earl owed her a proposal of marriage without some encouragement from him.

  She tried not to feel jealous, but it was hard when she regarded Alice’s luxurious clothes, so different from her own simple white dress.

  The young lady wore a promenade costume that was the last word in elegance. It was made of a finely-ribbed silk called faille, in a deep violet with an over-dress of blue and white striped silk, trimmed with white lace.

  Perched atop Alice’s dark hair was a velvet hat in matching violet, decorated with white flowers. Against her brunette beauty the effect was ravishing, and Bettina wondered how the Earl could possibly be immune to it.

  Every giggle Alice gave, every proprietary tug on his arm and every repeated ‘darling’ coursed through Bettina painfully and made her wonder why she had ever agreed to help Michael.

  “He is such a clever man, your father,” Alice gushed. “And you, darling, are clever too, for having hired him to create your garden.”

  The word ‘hired’ made Michael wince again, for he was too much in awe of the Major’s learning to regard him as a hired hand.

  “I am really looking forward to meeting your father, Bettina,” Lady Alice enthused. “I must tell him all my favourite flowers so that he will know what to plant in the castle grounds.”

  “Miss Newton is almost as great an expert as her father,” Michael intervened, stressing the first two words to indicate his disapproval of this rudeness.

  “Then I can tell her instead,” Alice said. “You will act as my deputy, won’t you Bettina, and make sure everything is as I like it?”

  “My father does not permit me to interfere with his projects,” Bettina responded with composure. “And I believe that Lord Danesbury has already settled the castle gardens with him.”

  “Oh, but all that has changed now I am here,” Alice said with a silvery laugh.

  “No,” Michael said quietly, “it is not!”

  “Darling, of course it is. You want me to like the castle and the grounds, don’t you?”

  “I want everyone to like them,” he said, doggedly refusing to react to her lures.

  “Oh, you know what I mean.”

  Suddenly Alice giggled. Bettina had the feeling that the noise set Michael’s teeth on edge. She knew just how he felt.

  Alice pulled Michael’s head nearer to hers and whispered something in his ear, which Bettina just managed to catch.

  “Why don’t we tell her? It’ll be such fun.”

  “Because there is nothing to tell,” Michael replied in a firm, quiet voice.

  Then he spoke more loudly.

  “Miss Newton, do you know exactly when your father will be home?”

  “At any moment, I believe. Do you wish to see more of the garden?”

  “No, Lord Danesbury and I are going back inside,” Alice announced, cross at being thwarted. “I expect you will find something to do out here.”

  “As a good hostess, Miss Newton will naturally accompany us indoors,” Michael said at once.

  So they returned to the house, each holding one of his arms and no more in accord than they had been when they had set out.

  The atmosphere continued to be strained and it was a relief when the door opened and the Major entered the room.

  “Papa!” Bettina exclaimed in relief.

  “I have brought two more guests,” he said cheerfully.

  Then the others saw Win and Katherine, coming in behind him.

  “Lord Winton and Miss Paxton were taking a stroll in the castle grounds,” he said. “So I invited them to come and join us.”

  Alice stared at the sight of Win and recognised that his presence might be useful.

  “Good afternoon, Lord Winton,” she said, giving him her most ravishing smile.

  “Good afternoon, Lady Alice. Allow me to introduce Miss Ka
therine Paxton, whose father is the Vicar of Hedgeworth.”

  Alice greeted Katherine coolly, but found that nothing that she did could discompose the Vicar’s daughter. Katherine was impeccably polite, as from some mysterious source she had found a calm self-confidence that no one could disturb.

  “Win, come and talk to me,” Alice purred, stretching out and taking his hand.

  “By Jove, yes,” he said, taking her hand, but holding on to Katherine with his other hand, in a scenario that, had he known it, was a duplicate of the one earlier.

  But Alice recognised the echo and she had endured as much as she could stand. She tightened her grip on Win’s hand.

  “Miss Paxton will not mind my taking you away, I am sure,” she hissed through gritted teeth.

  “Of course,” Katherine agreed at once. “I must see if I can help my hostess.”

  She bustled away. Evidently the thought of leaving Lord Winton with Alice held no terrors for her.

  “May I assist you?” she murmured to Bettina.

  “Thank you, but I don’t think I am going to have to do anything,” Bettina said. “Look out there.”

  Through the windows they could see a procession beginning to arrive outside. The Earl’s chef made a stately entrance and took over the kitchen.

  Bettina, trying to lay the table, found herself forestalled by Brooks, whose minions had transported china, glasses and cutlery from the castle.

  Alice glanced into the room and watched the proceedings with narrowed eyes. Bettina guessed what she was thinking. Why could this lunch not have taken place at the castle?

  And since Alice was not a stupid woman, the answer was bound to occur to her.

  And then, just when it seemed that the atmosphere could hardly become tenser, another guest arrived.

  Lady Lancing had called at the castle in search of the Earl. Hearing that he was at the Major’s house, she had pursued him thence.

  She arrived in haughty state and was immediately aflutter at being introduced to Lady Alice Randall, the daughter of an Earl.

  Her sharp eyes took in everything, especially the possessive looks that Alice was giving Michael.

  Lady Lancing was not an intelligent woman, but she possessed a cynical shrewdness that served her well in this situation. She knew now why the Earl had fled to the castle from London, she guessed why Lady Alice had pursued him and she heartily wished her well.

  If she could only see the Earl trapped into matrimony by a woman of his own class, Lady Lancing felt she would have her revenge on that little upstart Bettina Newton.

  When Michael would have honoured her by seating her next to himself, she refused with a coy titter, declaring that she was sure he would much rather sit next to Lady Alice.

  Thus Michael found himself sitting beside Alice whether he liked it or not.

  “Miss Newton,” he said quickly, “as you are our hostess, will you honour me by sitting on my other side?”

  Bettina murmured something and took the seat. In fact she had no choice, since Michael was gripping her wrist with a firmness of which only she was aware.

  Michael could feel Alice sitting as close to him as she possibly could. When he spoke to Bettina he could feel Alice’s anger reaching him in waves.

  ‘This is ridiculous,’ he thought.

  He therefore said aloud to the Major,

  “It is so good of you to have us for luncheon, Major. Afterwards we must have our discussion. I know you have a great deal to tell me about how the work is proceeding.”

  “But surely you don’t need to supervise every detail yourself,” Alice said. “Why, I am certain that the Major is hoping you will return to London and leave him to carry on undisturbed.”

  “Not at all,” the Major said heartily. “I prefer a client who takes a close interest.”

  “And I am going to stay here until I have achieved my object,” Michael stated firmly. “There is no question of me altering my mind.”

  For a moment there was a rather uncomfortable silence.

  As if he was aware of the tension, the Major began to talk about his time as a soldier, when he had discovered that many countries boasted flowers which could heal human beings.

  “I hope you are writing a book about it?” Michael enquired.

  “I have made a start,” the Major replied. “But when I try to concentrate there is always a knock on the door and someone wants my help. By the time I return to my desk I find it difficult to remember what I had intended to say.”

  “You should allocate set hours for those who seek your help,” Michael suggested. “It is how doctors work and this book of yours is going to be important.

  “As soon as the castle is finished I shall invite you to stay, Major. You will be locked in one of the rooms at the very top and no one will disturb you.”

  “I will remind you of that one day soon,” the Major answered smiling.

  Alice gave a cry.

  “You are not to encourage him to stay down here for ever. He is wanted in London.”

  She added slyly,

  “Or perhaps, if he will not come to London, then London must come to him.”

  At this threat Michael paled. He was being hunted with more determination than he had realised.

  He glanced sideways at Bettina who, he felt, was his only protection.

  He found her looking at him and was aware again of her blue eyes and sweet face.

  He thought she was undoubtedly the prettiest girl he had seen for a long time. In fact he could not remember anyone more beautiful.

  There was something about her which was different from all the girls he had met and danced with in London.

  He could not put it into words, yet he knew it instinctively. She was unique and in every way different from Alice.

  ‘How is it possible?’ he asked himself. ‘She is a country girl, who I am quite certain has never been to London or enjoyed the gaiety and excitement of ‘coming out’ as a debutante. Yet, in some extraordinary way, I feel she knows more about life than Alice and is certainly a lot more intelligent.’

  Then he told himself he was being ridiculous. It was quite impossible to compare the two women.

  And yet the thought lingered.

  Lady Lancing felt that the table had lasted long enough without the benefit of her observations.

  “What a cosy, delightful, little feast,” she gushed. “And so much more to your taste, Miss Newton, I feel sure, than the banquet at the castle.”

  Seeing Alice register surprise, she swept on,

  “Oh, my dear Lady Alice, did nobody tell you? Lord Danesbury gave a great feast at the castle and Miss Newton acted as his hostess.”

  Alice gave an audible hiss.

  Michael groaned inwardly.

  Bettina held her breath.

  “It was such a delightful occasion,” Lady Lancing resumed, apparently oblivious but actually taking in every detail. “Of course Miss Newton is not experienced, but we all felt she did very well. Very well indeed.”

  “Miss Newton was in every way what a hostess should be,” Michael declared firmly. “I could not have asked for better.”

  Alice did not hiss again, but her silence was more ominous than words.

  This time it was Win who began to talk determinedly, asking the Major questions about plants and displaying a knowledge of the subject that Michael had not known him to possess.

  When he flagged Michael took over, discussing the castle grounds, so that when the meal was finally finished,

  Alice was able to draw Michael outside to the garden and say,

  “You have had your talk with the Major, so now you can return to the castle with me and show me my bedroom.”

  Inwardly Michael groaned to discover that she had not relinquished this idea.

  “You will need to return to London,” he suggested hopefully, “and you should leave now.”

  Alice gave a merry peal of laughter.

  “Nonsense, darling, I am not going. I came to help y
ou and from what I have seen already, you do need my help.”

  “Alice, it would ruin your reputation to stay alone with me at the castle.”

  There was silence for a moment. Then Alice responded archly,

  “It would hardly matter if we were engaged publicly instead of privately.”

  “We are not engaged. I am sorry to be blunt, but you must understand once and for all, we are not engaged.”

  There was more silence before Alice replied,

  “You know that Papa and all of London expect us to marry each other.”

  “Then they will learn that they are wrong,” he retorted bluntly.

  She laid her hand on his arm, trying to draw even nearer to him.

  “You do not mean that, I love you and you love me. Let’s return to the castle and tonight we will have a long talk.”

  Michael drew a sharp breath,

  “What you suggest is impossible. I advise you to go back to London immediately before anyone hears of such outrageous behaviour. It is only too easy to become the talk of Mayfair and then the gossip will reach the Queen’s ear.”

  “Oh, the Queen desires our marriage as much as anyone else,” Alice replied blithely. “Oh, darling, let’s not fight. You need a Mistress for your wonderful castle. I will turn it into a showpiece for you.”

  Michael felt his head whirl. Was there any way to get through to her? But of course, she was obeying her parents’ dictates. He was fighting not only Alice, but a vast unseen army behind her, at the head of which was the Prince of Wales and behind him, his formidable mother, Queen Victoria.

  “You are returning to London, right now,” he ordered firmly. “I will escort you to your carriage.”

  But Alice still held one more card to play. As Michael took her hand, meaning to draw it firmly through his arm, she gave a little moan, murmuring,

  “Forgive me, I feel so strange.”

  The next moment she had fainted dead away against him. Michael found himself holding her inert body, looking around desperately for someone to assist him.

  Help came in the blessed appearance of Bettina. Taking in the situation at a glance, she hurried up to them and forcibly took the burden of Alice’s body from him onto herself.