The Chaperon's Seduction Page 14

  Ellen shook her head.

  ‘Oh, no, he is always very polite, but he does prowl around, watching us.’

  ‘Watching you, Ellen,’ Julia corrected her. She turned to Phyllida, saying with a giggle, ‘Ellen thinks he is trying to make up to her, ma’am. Because of her fortune. And it is true, he threw out the broadest hints for Grace to invite him today. He told her he had always had the liveliest curiosity to see Sir Bevil’s monument yet he has scarcely looked at it.’

  ‘I have no doubt Mr Arrandale did much the same with your brother,’ Phyllida responded.

  ‘He would not need to do so,’ put in Ellen. ‘Adrian is friends with Mr Arrandale and he knows that his mama likes him, too, in spite of his wicked reputation. Lady Wakefield says Mr Arrandale has been a model of propriety while he has been in Bath. And I have always found him most entertaining.’

  Phyllida was startled by Ellen’s fierce defence of Richard and she replied swiftly, ‘I believe that is the way with most rakes. They are universally charming and it behoves ladies—young and old!—to beware of them.’

  The girls stared at her and Phyllida wondered if she had been wise to respond quite so sternly, then Ellen gave a little trill of laughter.

  ‘Goodness, Philly, that is the nearest you have ever come to lecturing me.’ She reached out her free hand. ‘Come along, Stepmama, if you are so worried for our virtue you had best stay with us until it is time to ride back.’

  Before Phyllida could remonstrate with Ellen for her sauciness Grace Stapleton came up, hanging on her brother’s arm.

  ‘Did someone mention going back? I think it is time we did. There is a cold wind blowing and the monument’s exposed position means we feel the full force of it.’

  ‘Then if everyone has seen enough, let us return to the horses, by all means,’ said Phyllida, wondering, not for the first time, if she was indeed up to the task of taking care of her stepdaughter.

  * * *

  As the little party made their way back to the copse where the grooms were waiting with the horses, Arnold Tesford fell in beside Richard.

  ‘I saw you trying to butter up the widow, Arrandale. You won’t succeed. I have tried but she is having none of it. She keeps a close eye on the heiress, too.’

  ‘Are you surprised?’

  ‘No, but I thought the chit might be ripe for a lark. Young women are very keen on secret meetings, that sort of thing. They think it romantic.’

  ‘Perhaps it is your methods that are at fault,’ drawled Richard.

  ‘Oh? Have you had more success?’

  ‘None at all, but then, I have decided to withdraw from the lists.’

  Tesford subjected him to another searching glance then, having satisfied himself that Richard was sincere, he nodded moodily.

  ‘Aye, thinking of doing so myself. Not that she ain’t a little beauty, but she eludes my every attempt to get close. I don’t see that I’ll ever get her into my bed.’ He was silent for a moment. ‘I suppose I could try abducting her.’

  Richard’s blood ran cold, not only for Ellen Tatham but for the effect such an action would have on Phyllida. He feigned indifference.

  ‘I doubt if she’d go quietly, she looks like a little spitfire. And even if you compromised her I wouldn’t put it past the family to hush it up and forbid the banns.’

  ‘Perhaps, but remember the wager. I should still be ten thousand pounds better off.’

  ‘If you lived to collect it.’

  Tesford stopped, his brows raised in surprise, and Richard felt compelled to explain.

  ‘It’s true that the widow is the girl’s sole guardian, but that doesn’t mean she is friendless.’

  ‘You mean there is someone who would call me out?’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ said Richard grimly. ‘And he’s a crack shot, too.’

  ‘The devil!’ Tesford went very pale. ‘I wonder if the others know that?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ said Richard, as they began to walk on again. ‘If I were you I’d warn ’em.’

  * * *

  Now what had possessed him to say such a thing? According to Lady Phyllida, Ellen Tatham had plenty of male relations, but he had no idea if any of them would be prepared to fight for her honour. Still, if the thought kept vermin such as Tesford from attempting an assault upon the girl he could not regret it.

  * * *

  Phyllida used the ride back to Bath to think over all Richard had said and done. He had assured her he had no interest in Ellen, and his behaviour today had gone some way to confirm it, but she could not be sure. She had so little experience of men. Of life. She wanted to believe him, she would believe him, although she would not trust him, not just yet. She would give him the opportunity to prove himself. That, she thought, was a sensible solution, and one that made her feel just a little happier. When they reached the streets of Bath and the party broke up to go their separate ways, Julia asked shyly if Ellen might be allowed to join them at Laura Place for dinner. Ellen spoke up before Phyllida had time to reply.

  ‘That is very kind of you, Julia, but I really must go home. My Aunt Hapton is arriving today. She is Phyllida’s only sister and I should like to be there to greet her. But we shall all meet up again at the Denhams at the end of the week, will we not?’

  * * *

  ‘Was that not the most wonderful ride out, Philly?’ declared Ellen as she rode back to Charles Street with Phyllida. ‘So much more interesting when there is a goal to be reached, although I think on balance I preferred the ruins at Farleigh, did not you?’

  She chattered on, and when they had left their horses with Parfett and made their way into the house she even went so far as to throw her arms about Phyllida and hug her ruthlessly.

  ‘I am so glad Mrs Ackroyd could no longer keep me in Kent. I thought at first that Bath would be the most boring place, full of invalids and old people, but I am having a most enjoyable time. And Penelope and Julia are quite delightful, so I am not missing my school friends very much at all.’

  Phyllida returned her embrace, her heart swelling with pleasure and no little relief. She felt she had made the right choice after all.

  ‘I am very pleased to hear you say so,’ she said. ‘Now, I think we should go upstairs and change. We must be positively windblown and if your aunt catches us looking like this we shall both be in trouble!’

  * * *

  They had only just come downstairs again when Lady Olivia was announced. She sailed into the drawing room, full of energy and with an apology tripping from her tongue.

  ‘I have bad news, I am afraid, I can only stay three nights and then must away to London. Hapton is already there, poor lamb, trying to rally the opposition to this disastrous peace that Addington has brokered and he needs me. There are dinners to arrange.’

  This was said so much in the manner of a soldier anticipating battle that Phyllida was obliged to smile.

  ‘Oh, well, that is a disappointment but at least we have you for a few days.’

  She invited her sister to sit down upon the sofa beside her. Lady Olivia was some four years older than Phyllida and had always been described as the prettier of the two sisters. She was now considered a handsome woman. Since her marriage to Lord Hapton ten years ago she had provided her doting husband with a quiverful of children, including three lusty boys. She ruled her household with a loving tyranny, and supported her husband’s political aspirations. She would happily have taken the newly widowed Phyllida under her wing, if her younger sister had permitted it, but Phyllida was no longer the shy and biddable girl who had left the Earl of Swanleigh’s household six years ago. Marriage to the kindly baronet had given her the confidence to take control of her own life and she had no wish to give up her independence. However, that did not stop Olivia from expressing her opinions.

  * * *r />
  When Ellen retired after dinner, leaving the sisters to enjoy a little private conversation, her first act was to take Phyllida by the shoulders and turn her towards the light.

  ‘Hmm, widowhood suits you, Phyllida, you are positively blooming.’

  ‘Olivia!’

  She shrugged off her sister’s laughing protest and made herself comfortable on a sofa.

  ‘It is true, you look even better than when Tatham was alive.’

  ‘Be careful what you say, Sister,’ Phyllida warned her, ‘I was very fond of my husband.’

  ‘And so you should have been. He looked after you exceedingly well and you blossomed under his care. You lost the careworn, anxious look you had as a girl. That of someone about to be reprimanded.’

  ‘With good reason,’ put in Phyllida, a touch of bitterness entering her voice. ‘Nothing I did ever pleased Mama and Papa. Save for marrying Tatham, and even then they made it very plain how fortunate I was to find anyone to offer for me.’

  ‘Yes, well, your lack of looks did not matter to Sir Evelyn. He wanted a good bloodline and I must say he was always very generous, considering you never produced the son he wanted.’

  Phyllida flinched at her sister’s bluntness, but she could not deny it. Sir Evelyn had married her for an heir, but when their union failed to bear fruit he had accepted the situation with grace, behaving with more forbearance than Phyllida’s parents, who considered her failure to conceive a personal slight upon their family and continued to rebuke her for her undutiful behaviour until their deaths some four years ago, when a sudden chill carried them off within weeks of each other.

  ‘No,’ continued Olivia, blithely oblivious of her sister’s sombre thoughts. ‘You are looking very well. Of course, you are tall and your figure shows to advantage in these high-waisted fashions.’

  The unaccustomed wistful note in her sister’s voice was not lost on Phyllida, who said quickly, ‘As the mother of a large family, Olivia, it is no wonder if your figure is not so, er, willowy as it was.’

  ‘That is true. And speaking of children brings me to another thing I meant to say to you, Phyllida. It has taken me only a few hours in Ellen’s company to realise that she has lost none of her liveliness! From everything I heard at dinner she is leading you a merry dance, with parties and outings every day.’

  ‘And I am enjoying it immensely,’ replied Phyllida, with perfect sincerity. ‘I have never been so busy, nor felt so happy. You have said yourself I am looking very well.’

  Lady Olivia shook her head, saying ominously, ‘She will run you ragged, mark my words.’

  ‘No, no. Ellen is certainly spirited, but she means no harm.’

  ‘But?’ Olivia prompted her. ‘I can tell from your voice that something is worrying you.’

  Phyllida sighed.

  ‘I had not expected her to be so, so courted.’ She paused, her brow furrowed as she sought to explain. ‘I know she is an heiress, but gentlemen are positively falling over themselves to befriend her, and not all of them unmarried, which is not at all what I expected.’

  ‘Men are always susceptible to a pretty face, married or not.’

  ‘And Ellen is undoubtedly very pretty.’ Phyllida sighed again. ‘I wonder, sometimes...however, Ellen is very good. Her head does not appear to be turned one jot by all the attention she receives. But I confess I had not thought Bath would be so full of dangers. She must be accompanied everywhere.’

  ‘I thought you had brought her maid with you.’

  ‘Matlock? Yes, she is here and I do, often, send her out with Ellen.’

  ‘But you prefer to be with her yourself, is that it? So you have exchanged looking after a husband for caring for his daughter. You should pack her off to her uncle. Tatham would have her, would he not?’

  ‘Yes, but Walter and Bridget are so, so...’

  ‘Stuffy?’ suggested Olivia. ‘Outmoded? Boring?’

  Phyllida laughed. ‘Yes! They would put Ellen in the schoolroom with their own children and that dragon of a governess until her come-out next year, which would be disastrous. I am sure she would run away. No, I am her mama—’

  ‘Her stepmama.’

  ‘Very well, her stepmama, but it is my duty to look after her.’

  Olivia snorted. ‘You are not old enough to be anyone’s mama.’

  ‘I am four-and-twenty.’

  ‘Yes, and you should be enjoying your freedom now that Tatham is dead. A rich widow is a very attractive prospect for a man, you know. Well, there is no point in being coy, Philly,’ she continued, when Phyllida made a quiet protest. ‘Tatham only married you to get an heir.’

  ‘And I failed him miserably.’

  ‘That is not your fault,’ said Olivia robustly. ‘Sir Evelyn’s health was poor when he married you and you must admit he behaved very handsomely to you. I have no doubt you would find yourself a dozen suitors if you did not have Ellen constantly by your side. I cannot lie to you, Phyllida, she does rather put you in the shade,’ said Olivia, crushingly frank. ‘If you would but send her to her relatives you could have a very pleasant life.’

  ‘But how could I do that to her? She has never liked her Tatham relatives and having lost her father how could I turn her off?

  ‘Easily. She is not you, Phyllida, she is far more robust and could survive a few months with Walter and Bridget, I am sure. And although I am very fond of Ellen I must say that she is very forward. The sooner she is married off the better.’

  ‘No, not at seventeen,’ said Phyllida quickly. ‘It is far too young. Why, even Papa—’

  She broke off but Olivia finished for her, saying in her blunt fashion, ‘Papa waited until you were eighteen before he married you to a man old enough to be your father. But you are not Ellen, that school she attended has made her far more independent than is proper for a gel. I have never been in favour of educating young women but I know her father was adamant about it. No, at eighteen you were far too young to be married, and far too innocent. But then, that is what Tatham wanted, a young bride he could keep to himself, no hint of scandal.’

  Phyllida could not deny it. Sir Evelyn had looked after her very well, making it plain to any young buck and even to the married men of his acquaintance that any attempt to dally with his young bride would not be tolerated.

  ‘You have no idea how to keep the rakes at bay,’ Olivia told her.

  Phyllida put up her chin.

  ‘I am learning,’ she said quietly.

  Olivia pursed her lips.

  ‘Yes, well, I shall come out and about with you while I am here and see for myself just how well you go on. It is a pity that Hapton needs me with him next week or I would remain in Bath with you. But if Addington can be made to see that the peace will not hold then I may be able to come back here very soon.’

  After that dire warning no more was said on the subject and the two ladies soon retired to their beds, the one with her head full of plans to bring down the government, the other hoping for nothing more than to get through the next few days without mishap.

  * * *

  Lady Olivia might stigmatise Bath as a slow, unfashionable place, but she was not unknown amongst its residents. When they visited the Pump Room the following morning it seemed to Phyllida that her sister was acquainted with almost everyone present, and of the remainder she knew some relative and thus claimed a connection. Consequently, their progress around the room was very slow. Ellen had already gone off to talk to Penelope Desborough, and as Olivia showed a propensity to take over every conversation, Phyllida found herself with little to do. She was happy to stand back and watch, thinking with an inward smile that with her talent for remembering everyone’s name and family connections, her sister was the ideal political hostess.

  ‘My dear, I can see that you are very well regarded in Bath,�
� murmured Olivia, as they moved on from the latest introductions.

  ‘I am glad to have earned your approval, Sister,’ Phyllida replied drily. ‘I—’

  ‘But that does not meet with my approval!’ Olivia interrupted her, staring fixedly across the room.

  Following her gaze, Phyllida observed that Richard Arrandale was now part of a small group gathered about Ellen and the Desboroughs. Olivia gripped her arm and began to propel her through the crowds.

  ‘I do not know what brought Arrandale to Bath but he is not the sort of man to be allowed anywhere near Ellen. His reputation is most unsavoury.’

  ‘I know all about his reputation,’ retorted Phyllida, bridling, ‘but I assure you he—’

  ‘Oh.’ Olivia’s pace slackened as they drew nearer and the whole group came into view. ‘So he is here with Lady Hune. I suppose in that case you are obliged to acknowledge the connection.’

  There was no time for Phyllida to reply. Mrs Desborough had spotted her and was even now smiling and making room for them to come up. More introductions followed. Olivia might not approve of Mr Richard Arrandale but there was no sign of it in her greeting, and if, in the course of their brief conversation, she gave the impression that Miss Tatham was under her especial protection and would not be allowed to fall into the clutches of a known womaniser, it was done so subtly that no one could take offence.

  Phyllida glanced surreptitiously at Ellen, hoping she would not resent her aunt’s interference and was relieved to see that she and Penelope Desborough had their heads together and were paying no heed to anyone else. When Olivia claimed Lady Hune’s attention Richard had moved to stand beside Phyllida.

  ‘I am impressed,’ he murmured. ‘I have never been warned off in such an elegant manner before.’

  She fought down the urge to apologise.

  ‘Your reputation precedes you, sir. You cannot blame my sister for disliking the acquaintance.’

  ‘I do not blame her. I am impressed by her eloquence.’

  ‘But it is unnecessary, is it not?’ She raised her eyes to his face. ‘You have already assured me you have no interest in Ellen.’