Author: Beverley Oakley
Category: Nonfiction
Go to read content：https://onlinereadfreenovel.com/beverley-oakley/page,19,554743-the_honourable_fortune_hunter_a_match-making_regency_romance_scandalous_miss_brightwells_book_5.html
Fanny nodded. She understood. The girl before her was not the flighty damsel they had all suspected.
She was about to answer but gasped instead at the sound of thundering hooves, her heart hammering when she saw through the trees a large black carriage drawn by four white horses enter through the park gates at breakneck speed, not ten yards from where the coach-and-four stood ready. Amelia, too, must have recognised the Leighton coat-of-arms on the black-enamelled door, for she put out her hands in entreaty, looking between Fanny and Theo, who’d nearly reached the carriage and who now cried out, “We must leave at once, Amelia! I fear Lord Leighton will search you out without delay!”
Fanny scrambled through the opposite door of the carriage, landing unsteadily in the snow and putting her head into the space she’d just vacated. “Wait just a few minutes, Amelia! I shall keep Lord Leighton occupied and send Lizzy to you! I swear you can trust me!” she cried as she saw Mr McAlister pull open the door on the other side.
Chapter 27
“Would you care for a tartlet, my love?”
Lizzy nodded as Harry delicately placed several on her plate.
“Dearest Lizzy, has the cat got your tongue? You’ve barely said a word all evening. You should be beaming with joy. We have dealt together famously from the start, and we shall continue to do so.” Although they were surrounded by people, he cupped her face. “Such public displays of affection shall be forgiven, I suspect,” he murmured. “Everyone adores a couple in love.”
Except that Lizzy felt no love. Her heart was as cold and heavy as a stone. Nevertheless, she forced a smile while her thoughts drifted to Theo.
Theo was with Miss Harcourt; she was sure of it. And Miss Harcourt must be a very special young woman—or one to whom he owed a great debt—for him to elope with her. For what else could he be doing if he wasn’t with Lizzy?
“Lizzy, congratulations!”
It was Lady Quamby. Lizzy nodded, but did not smile. Lady Quamby had led her into a trap and now Lizzy was paying the price.
“We are very happy.”
It was Harry who answered, gushing his delight before he was claimed by another well-wisher.
“I hope you will be happy, Lizzy,” said Lady Quamby when they were alone. She hesitated. “Have you seen Miss Harcourt?”
Lizzy’s heart felt cold. She’d watched Miss Harcourt leave the saloon not terribly long before. “I don’t think she’s here,” she said.
“Perhaps your maid knows something. What’s her name? Mabel?” Lizzy could hear the stress in Lady Quamby’s voice as she went on, “I believe Mabel was attending to Miss Harcourt’s toilette this evening.”
Lizzy looked at her oddly. Lady Quamby must be very anxious indeed to be quizzing the servants. A disturbance near the door caused her to glance away.
“Where is she? Where is my bride-to-be?”
Lizzy blinked at the large, broad-shouldered gentleman who’d just arrived in their midst, flanked by Lord Quamby, whom she now heard reassuring him, “Miss Harcourt was here just a moment ago,” as he peered amidst the throng.
The earl looked relieved as his gaze fell upon his wife, and he brought the new arrival into their midst, introducing him to Lady Quamby and Lizzy before clearing his throat as if he too were nervous. “Excuse me, my love, but Lord Leighton would like to be taken to Miss Harcourt immediately.”
“Why, Lord Leighton, you’ve only just arrived. You must be weary.” Lady Quamby adopted an air of false bonhomie, and Lizzy’s suspicions ratcheted up a notch as she remembered Mabel describing Miss Harcourt’s unhappiness at the prospect of marrying Lord Leighton.
“Not too weary to see the woman I’m to marry. Where is Amelia? I’ve waited long enough.”
So this was the man Miss Harcourt was to marry. Lizzy took in the wide breadth of his shoulders, the strong nose and chin, the big, meaty hands. He looked to be of middle age—perhaps forty, with the kind of self-entitled confidence of the powerful. Despite his smile, there was something about his eyes and the line of his mouth that Lizzy did not like.
And she was tired of pandering to men she did not like.
“Miss Harcourt? The dark-haired young lady I was talking to not five minutes ago?” She pretended to clarify her identity, wondering aloud where, indeed, Miss Harcourt was. It had not escaped her notice that, not long after the young woman had slipped away from the saloon, Theo had followed.
So, they’d eloped. She had lost him. Lizzy accepted that. At least, in this moment, she could take some comfort from the fact it wasn’t to someone more vibrant and pretty than Lizzy. But, looking at Lord Leighton, she conceded that Miss Harcourt was, possibly, someone as deserving of being delivered from a marriage she did not want.
“That is correct,” said Lord Quamby.
Lizzy thought quickly. If Miss Harcourt had left to elope with Theo, maybe she truly did have a chance to escape…only Lord Leighton was closer on her heels than she might have supposed. Drawing on her inspiration, Lizzy clapped her hands. “I believe she told me she’d promised to read to the children. I saw her head for the nursery.”
Lord Leighton thanked her and began to turn away.
“And then she was going to have a bath and go to bed early,” Lizzy went on. “I’m not sure, but I think I saw her leave with Lady Fenton.” That was a nice piece of inspiration, she thought, for the two men nodded with apparent satisfaction.
To her surprise, Lady Quamby was still by her side.
“Is there anything else, ma’am?” Lizzy asked, and Lady Quamby flashed her a look that combined concern with guilt.
“I apologise for my behaviour earlier, Lizzy. It was ill done of me to take you to meet Mr Dalgleish. Alone.”
“Yes, alone. Which is why I now must marry him, Lady Quamby.” Lizzy didn’t hide the bitterness in her tone. “Mrs Hodge considers my reputation stained beyond redemption on account of it.”
“I’m sorry!”
“So am I, ma’am. But what can I do? Mrs Hodge is my guardian for the next six years.”
Lizzy had followed Lady Quamby towards the supper room as they spoke, and they were now in a quiet vestibule separating the entertainment quarters from the card rooms where it was easier to hear one another speak.
“By proxy only, Lizzy. Please, if there’s anything I can do—”
“Antoinette!”
They both turned in surprise to see Lady Fenton hurrying across the carpet from the direction of the servant’s quarters. She was brushing snow from the serviceable cloak she wore and on her feet were heavy boots.
“Lizzy! You’re here too! Thank goodness.”
“Fanny? What is it? Have you found Amelia?”
Astonished, Lizzy watched the greeting between the sisters. Both seemed in equal states of agitation.
“Disregard Amelia for the moment,” said Lady Fenton in a rush. “I need to take Lizzy with me. Please Lizzy, will you come, and I’ll explain along the way?”
“What? Outside?” Lizzy looked at her dancing slippers and frowned. The woman had clearly taken leave of her senses.
“Yes, I know it’ll take a few minutes for you to dress yourself against the cold,” said Lady Fenton, drawing them away a little from a passing elderly couple. “Mabel has a warm cloak and has gathered together some things for you.”
“Good lord, sister, it’s the middle of a ball. Have you gone quite mad?”
“Trust me, my dear.” She looked at Lizzy. “I’ll explain everything as I can. I realise the announcement of your betrothal has just been made. Are you happy?”
Lizzy stared. What could she say to that? She glanced about her, expecting to see Mrs Hodge.
Before Lizzy could answer, Lady Quamby said urgently, “I can’t find Miss Harcourt anywhere and Lord Leighton is looking for her. He’s here already.”
Lady Fenton nodded. “I saw his carriage arrive. That’s why I’ve hurried here as fast as I can.” She drew Lizzy and her sister a little closer to where they would not be observed.
“Lizzy, there’s no easy way to say this. It’s rash and impulsive in the extreme, and I would not advocate it…only, I’ve just been speaking to Miss Harcourt and Mr McAlister who are in a coach-and-four by the park gates.”
“You caught them?” Lady Quamby put her hand to her chest. “Then I’ll find Quamby.”
“No!” Lady Fenton gripped her wrist. “I’ve just spoken to them.” She drew in a breath, glanced about, then lowered her voice, adding, “And I’ve promised I’ll bring Lizzy to them.”
“What?”
Lizzy and Lady Quamby spoke over each other, but Lady Fenton put up her hand for silence. “Antoinette, trust me. I have heard their story and I believe it’s the right thing to do. They must escape Lord Leighton…but they want Lizzy to come. Now!”
A strange, terrified excitement gripped Lizzy. She could feel it travel slowly from the tips of her toes to the ends of her fingers. Could it be true? Could Theo really want Lizzy to go to him? Now?
But…Miss Harcourt was with him!
And, outside, it was snowing. It was cold. Lizzy was in her most beautiful ballgown. Not a warm, serviceable travelling dress.
Yet…surely Theo would not ask her to go outside in the middle of a ball unless the ‘rash and extreme’ measures Lady Fenton suggested included escape. Miss Harcourt was escaping.
So, why not Lizzy?
The double doors to the saloon opened and a waft of warm air and chatter filtered into the room. She glimpsed Harry and his mother speaking with animation just on the other side, and her heart cleaved with revulsion and rebellion. Harry was now joined by Mrs Hodge, and catching a glimpse of Lizzy, the three of them bore through the entranceway.
“I have not yet congratulated my new daughter-in-law,” said Mrs Dalgleish, arms outstretched while, beside her, Mrs Hodge beamed her satisfaction.
And Harry his.
Satisfaction that his bullying tactics had worked, and he’d won her through fair means or foul. That he had subjugated her.
It’s what they all thought. It was written all over their smug, beaming faces.
Lizzy smiled as she fanned herself, pretending to accept their felicitations with good grace, inclining her head and noticing out the corner of her eye that Lady Fenton was smiling too. That she’d discarded her cloak to resume her role as the consummate hostess, not allowing herself to be fazed, when clearly her desire was not to make small talk with these people.
Lizzy just hoped no one noticed Lady Fenton wore walking boots instead of dancing slippers beneath her ballgown. They might wonder, then, if she’d had a hand in helping Lizzy to escape too. For that was what she was going to do. Escape. If Theo was in a carriage outside, asking for Lizzy, what did it matter if Miss Harcourt was there too?
Lizzy had trusted Theo with her heart. She’d trust him with her life too.
As Miss Harcourt was doing.
“My dearest Lizzy has made me the happiest man on this earth.” Harry raised her hand to press a moist, unwelcome kiss upon her palm and Lizzy steeled herself not to shudder.
Instead, she inclined her head. “If congratulations are in order, they should go to Mrs Hodge who has delivered me to you, as you all would wish.” She smiled as if she’d just offered a compliment. She darted a less than charitable look at Mrs Hodge as she added, “Mrs Hodge is formidable. I yield before her.”
The fact that Mrs Hodge met her expression with a look of secret, smug satisfaction hardened Lizzy’s resolve, if that were even possible.
Mrs Hodge would soon see who was the real champion.
“Sadly, Lizzy has just confessed to suffering a terrible megrim,” said Lady Fenton with apparent regret. “After all the excitement, I shall order a sleeping draught so that she might enjoy tomorrow as much as possible.”
As the other ladies murmured their sympathies, Lady Fenton added with a smile directed at Harry, “For tomorrow is an exciting day for a young lady about to embark upon a new life with her future husband.”
Lizzy sucked in a steady breath as the thrill of possibility fizzed through her. Future husband? Theo was the most noble of men. Lady Fenton would surely not be here to bring Lizzy to Theo unless the consequences were honourable.
She glanced at Lady Quamby and was assailed by a moment’s misgiving. Lady Quamby had led her into what turned out to be a trap.
But that had been because Harry was there, waiting.
Lady Fenton wouldn’t lie about who was waiting for her.
And if it were Theo, he’d do the honourable thing. Lizzy was sure of it. He might be a fortune hunter, but he was the most honourable fortune hunter she’d ever met.
“Yes, my dear Lizzy needs to have all her wits about her to enjoy tomorrow as she should,” said Harry, his next words drowned out by the heavy tread of Lord Leighton returning from the upper levels and who now announced peevishly from the landing that Miss Harcourt was not to be found in the nursery.
Lady Fenton put her hand on Lizzy’s arm and nodded to Harry and the ladies. “Come with me, Lizzy, so I might get you what is necessary.” She glanced up at the ill-tempered viscount just entering their midst, and added with a glance at Lizzy, “Please excuse me, Lord Leighton, but I have a young lady to rescue. She’s just become betrothed and the excitement, it appears, has proved a little too overwhelming.” She patted Lady Quamby on the arm, adding, “I heard that Miss Harcourt, also, has retired early for the night. However, my lord, you’ll be happy to hear that my sister has just evinced a strong desire to entertain you for the rest of the evening.”
Chapter 28
Theo had just pulled the carriage door closed and was about to rap on the roof to indicate they were ready to leave with all haste when Amelia put a restraining hand on his arm.
“Wait, Theo. There’s something I want to say.”
“Amelia, did you not see Lord Leighton’s carriage arriving?” While he had to admire her calm, he thought perhaps she did not appreciate the urgency of the situation. Lord Leighton would start looking for her the moment he arrived at Quamby House.
If his lordship apprehended them before they had made good their departure, the damage he could do would be worse than simply abducting Amelia. He touched his throbbing eye. He’d had enough of rancorous thugs using their fists on him to protect the women to whom they’d laid claim.
“I saw him arriving, Theo.” Her voice was very measured though with a distinct breathlessness.
“Then we must leave, now!”
“When we’re ready, Theo. And we’re not all here.”
He looked down at her small, gloved hand resting on his forearm and then into her face. Her eyes were almost black in this light, and for the first time, he was conscious of an air of extraordinary serenity; as if she’d accepted her fate, whatever it was.
But Theo hadn’t risked so much, and given up so much, to be thwarted at the final hurdle.
“Amelia, we will escape him. Trust me!”
“I do trust you, Theo.” She smiled. “I trust you more than I’ve trusted anyone my whole life. You are good and honourable and you deserve the best. You deserve to have what your heart truly desires.”
Now he realised what she meant. But this was not the moment to imperil everything they’d worked towards, purely on account of her needing reassurance of his love. She had that. Love was love, romantic or otherwise. Looking at it in these terms had helped him make the decision he had.
“My heart’s desire? You know what that is! To protect you, Amelia! To atone for leaving Catherine to die alone! It’s self-interest to want to live with my conscience; I admit it.”
“You’re in love with Miss Scott. That’s who you want to live with, Theo. Admit it!”
Even Harry Dalgleish’s knee in the solar plexus hadn’t had such an effect as Amelia’s words.
For a moment, he was speechless.
“Go on, Theo. Admit that I’m right. Tell me you love her if it’s really true.”
He hung his head in misery. So, Amelia had guessed. A
nd now she wanted him to reassure her that he could still live with the arrangement they’d made together. That he might even grow to love her, despite what he felt for Lizzy.
“It’s true, Amelia,” he whispered. “I love her.” He kept his eyes closed for he couldn’t look at Amelia right now. Not when the image of Lizzy’s lovely face, bright with irrepressible humour, danced before him.
“Then she is coming with us.”
“Are you mad?” The words rolled off his tongue before he could recall them, but he didn’t regret the disparagement. He needed to say whatever he could to get Amelia to move. The idea that Lizzy’s beautiful visage would suddenly appear out of the darkness in front of him was, while like a dream come true, in reality, laughable.
“Not at all. But I do think I have a solution to all our problems if you will just listen.”
“I can listen when we are on our way.”
Amelia clasped her hands neatly in her lap and said, crisply, “You can listen while we wait for Miss Scott, who wishes to marry Mr Dalgleish as much as I wish to marry Lord Leighton.”
He was silenced. For what could he say? She was laying out in the plainest terms exactly what his heart desired. He felt his breath catch.
Hope. It was a dangerous thing.
And what she was hinting at seemed too good to be true.
It had to be too good to be true.
“I don’t believe you.”
She didn’t deny it, merely nodded.
“Miss Scott is on her way here?”
“Only if she wishes to marry you, Theo.”
There. That was the catch. Theo relaxed back against the squabs. Only if she wished to marry him.
He flicked his gaze towards the illuminated house through the trees. The ball was in full swing. Lizzy would be surrounded by gaiety.
And Harry Dalgleish. She might not wish to marry him, but he was a presence that would be hard to evade.
Only a young lady with the greatest fortitude would have the courage to leave all that in order to dash out into the darkness towards a man who hadn’t properly declared his love.