A Worthy Gentleman Read online

  Sarah rejoined her friends in time for the next dance to begin. For the rest of the evening her smiles and conversation were a little subdued, though she did her best to hide the heaviness of her heart. However, she was relieved when the ball was over and they were able to go home.

  Mrs Hunter looked at her a little oddly as she said goodnight and went up to her room, but she did not ask any probing questions. The Duke of Pentyre had not so far come up to scratch and she wondered if she had misunderstood his intentions. Elizabeth had told her that Mr Elworthy had had bad news from home, and she thought she could guess at the reason for her daughter’s quiet mood.

  ‘I am not sure what to do for the best,’ she remarked to Lady Tate the next afternoon when they were taking tea alone together. ‘I had expected the duke might speak before this, but he has not…perhaps I read too much into his intentions…’

  ‘You must be patient for a little,’ Lady Tate said. ‘These things cannot be rushed, my dear Selina. I know that you wish to see Sarah settled, but the Season is still quite young.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Mrs Hunter said. She glanced up as a footman came in bearing a letter on a silver salver, taking it with surprise. ‘For me? Thank you, Henry.’ Turning it over, she saw that it bore the seal of the Countess of Cavendish. ‘Elizabeth Cavendish has written to me, Hester. I wonder why…’ She broke the seal and read the first few lines, giving a little cry of surprise. ‘Oh…how thoughtful…yes, it might be the very thing…’

  ‘Good news, Selina?’ Lady Tate asked.

  ‘Yes, it is…at least, it might be,’ Mrs Hunter replied. ‘Elizabeth has very kindly asked if Sarah may accompany them when they return to the country this weekend. She says that she will send her back in their carriage in ten days’ time…’

  ‘Ah, yes, Elizabeth is so perceptive, isn’t she?’ Lady Tate nodded her head and smiled. ‘It may be the very thing, Selina. Sarah was looking a little tired this morning. A few days in the good country air of Yorkshire might be just the thing for her, my dear.’

  ‘And if she is not here for a while it may help to make up someone else’s mind,’ Mrs Hunter said. ‘If the duke is thinking things over, he may realise that Sarah has other admirers…’ She looked well pleased with herself. ‘Yes, I shall write at once and tell Elizabeth that Sarah will be pleased to stay with her for a few days.’

  ‘Do you not think you should ask Sarah first?’ Lady Tate said. ‘She will be in very soon now, Selina. I am sure that she will wish to go, but perhaps you ought to be sure…’

  ‘Yes, I shall ask her, of course, but my letter might as well be written, for I am certain of her answer.’ She lifted her brows at her companion. ‘I am not quite a fool, Hester. I may have ambitions for my daughter, but I know that she once liked Mr Elworthy very much—perhaps still does. I shall give her this opportunity to attach his affections, and I shall allow her to go without me in this instance. However, should she come home without an understanding, then I must do my best for her. I still have hope of the duke.’

  ‘I do not think Sarah truly likes Pentyre.’

  ‘Well, then she must make a push to secure Mr Elworthy—I am determined that she shall not be allowed to dwindle into a sad old age.’

  ‘Selina! You must not say such things, my dear. Sarah is very young yet. I think you worry too much.’

  ‘Perhaps…’ A little shiver went through Mrs Hunter. ‘I do not forget what happened to her, Hester. She is my little girl. I want to see her married to a gentleman who will look after her and give her the kind of life she ought to have.’

  ‘Yes, of course you do,’ Lady Tate said. ‘I am sure Mr Elworthy feels a deep affection for Sarah, and, given the chance, I believe that he will ask for her.’

  ‘For her sake I hope that is so,’ Mrs Hunter said. ‘But if he does not, she must make up her mind to take either Pentyre or the Conte di Ceasares.’

  ‘Oh, Selina,’ Lady Tate said with a hint of reproach. ‘Do not be too hasty or too harsh. Remember what Sarah has suffered, my dear.’

  ‘I do remember it,’ Mrs Hunter said. ‘It haunts me night and day, Hester. I can never be at peace until I know that she is settled with a good husband to care for her. That is why I am determined that she must marry soon…’

  ‘Will you accompany me to the library?’ Sarah asked the following afternoon. ‘It is a pleasant day for a walk and it would be nice to have your company, Tilda.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ Tilda agreed, getting up at once from the desk she had been sitting at. ‘These letters may wait.’

  Sarah waited while Tilda fetched a bonnet and pelisse and then they left the house together. The library was only a few streets away from Lady Tate’s house, but it was only to be expected that they would meet some of their acquaintance.

  ‘Ah, Miss Hunter,’ Lady Barrie said. ‘I see that you are on your way to the library. I have just been myself.’ She hesitated, and then, ‘I was wondering whether I ought to call, Miss Hunter. Someone linked your name with a certain gentleman and I thought I ought to make you aware of something I had heard…’

  ‘Linked my name with a gentleman?’ Sarah looked at her sharply. ‘I am not sure I understand you, ma’am.’

  ‘Oh, nothing in the least reprehensible,’ Lady Barrie assured her. ‘At least, as far as you are concerned…it was just some gossip about Mr Elworthy, but perhaps I should not…’ She shook her head. ‘No, forget I said anything. Oh, is that the time? I must fly…’

  Sarah looked at Tilda as the other woman walked hurriedly past. ‘What did she mean? Some gossip about Mr Elworthy?’

  ‘Oh, dear,’ Tilda said. ‘I had heard it, of course, but I did not wish to tell you—I am sure it means nothing.’

  ‘Please, Tilda, you must tell me,’ Sarah begged. ‘You know that I love John. If there is some wicked tale about him, I must know!’

  ‘Well, it concerns his wife’s death,’ Tilda said reluctantly. ‘It is all nonsense, of course, for she took her own life—but some people are saying that it was his fault…that he either drove her to it by being cruel to her or actually—’ She stopped and shook her head. ‘No, it is too ridiculous for words. You and I both know he would never do such a thing.’

  ‘No, indeed he would not!’ Sarah said angrily. ‘How could anyone believe that John might harm his wife? It is ridiculous! I am glad that you do not believe it, Tilda. I only wish that Lady Barrie had dared to tell me for I should have told her that she was much mistaken.’

  ‘Well, it maybe for the best that she did not,’ Tilda said, ‘for it would not do for you to be rude to her, dearest. After all, she does not have the benefit of knowing Mr Elworthy as we do.’

  ‘No, that is true,’ Sarah said, looking thoughtful. ‘But I shall not believe this wicked tale, Tilda.’

  ‘No, my love, and nor shall I,’ Tilda said, linking arms with her again. ‘Let us change our books and forget it.’

  Sarah sat at her dressing table. A little frown creased her brow as she thought about the chance meeting with Lady Barrie the previous afternoon. She had dismissed the tale concerning John as nonsense to Tilly, but during that night she had had a terrible dream. She had seen a girl running away from a house in distress, running to the edge of a riverbank and then a man had come out of nowhere and…he had pushed the girl into the river.

  She had woken in distress, knowing that she must have been dreaming of John’s wife, her nightmare influenced by the story Tilda had told her about the gossip concerning Andrea’s death. It was so horrible that she had jumped out of bed and lit a candle. Once the light filled the dark corners of the room she had felt much better. Of course it was all nonsense! Andrea had taken her own life. Arabella had explained the true story to her.

  She did not believe a word of the gossip! Sarah refused to let such spiteful nonsense influence her. John was brave and decent, and she loved him. She would not think about it again.

  Behind her the maids were busily sorting out the clothes she would be mos
t likely to need in the country. Some of her things would remain here as she would be returning after a week or so spent with her friends. Sarah had been surprised and delighted that Elizabeth had asked her to accompany them back to Yorkshire, and even more surprised that her mother had allowed her to go alone.

  ‘It is very good of you to permit me, Mama,’ Sarah said when shown the letter and told of her mother’s agreement. ‘But Elizabeth also invited you if you wished to come…’

  ‘Yes, she was everything that is kind,’ Mrs Hunter said. ‘But I should prefer to remain here with Hester. You know that I am an indifferent traveller and it would not suit me to travel all that way simply for a few days. You may go and enjoy yourself, my dear. All I ask is that you behave in a way that I should think proper, Sarah.’

  ‘Yes, Mama, of course. You must know that I shall not do anything of which you could disapprove.’ She crossed her fingers behind her back, praying that her mama would not change her mind at the last moment and forbid her to go. If Mrs Hunter had heard that lying tale about John being responsible for his wife’s death, it was unlikely that she would have given her permission for the visit, but fortunately she had not as yet.

  ‘Well, no, I do not expect it,’ Mrs Hunter said with a smile. Her heart caught as she looked at her lovely daughter, for the nightmare of her loss was always present. ‘Remember that I care only for your happiness, my love. Everything I do or say is for your good. I want you to be well settled for the future.’

  ‘Thank you, Mama,’ Sarah said and kissed her cheek. ‘I hope that I shall soon be able to make you proud of me.’

  ‘I have never been less than proud,’ Mrs Hunter said. ‘I just want to see you happy and safe.’

  ‘Oh, I shall be quite safe with Elizabeth and the Earl of Cavendish,’ Sarah said, smiling at her mother.

  She felt pleased as she thought of the opportunity that would now be afforded to her. John lived only a few miles distant from Elizabeth and Daniel’s home. She was sure to meet him in the next few days. When he saw her he would speak. Surely he would speak this time?

  Sarah knew that she was relying on it, for otherwise her mother would grow impatient and she would have to make another choice. The Duke of Pentyre was the only one to have shown interest in her these past few weeks, though he had not actually proposed to her. But she did not want to marry him. Her heart belonged elsewhere.

  And no matter what dreadful rumours she heard concerning John, she would not believe them!

  Chapter Five

  The journey to Cavendish Hall was accomplished very comfortably. One night had been spent at a respectable inn on the way to make things easier for the ladies, but the Earl’s carriage was lightly sprung and his horses were some of the finest and fastest to be found anywhere. Sarah and Elizabeth enjoyed each other’s company, and the earl rode just ahead of them most of the time. None the less, it was a relief to them all when they arrived at dusk that evening.

  ‘Come along in, Sarah,’ Elizabeth said. ‘I enjoyed my visit to town as ever, but I must admit that I am always pleased to be at home. This is the first time you have stayed with us, of course, so I shall take you upstairs myself and show you where the various rooms are. We are very comfortable here. As you see, Cavendish Hall is not so very large. It is Dora’s favourite home, but she is staying with friends at the moment so you will not meet her, which is a shame for I am certain she would have loved to see you.’

  ‘Lady Isadora?’ Sarah wrinkled her brow. ‘I think we must have met some years ago, but it was a very long time—before…’ She shook her head, because all that was over and forgotten. She did not allow herself to dwell on the past. ‘It is a lovely house, Elizabeth: not too large and overpowering. I think those very big mansions must be difficult to heat in the winter.’

  ‘Some of Daniel’s other houses are much too big,’ Elizabeth said with a smile. ‘He has plans for rebuilding, but he will not tell me much yet for it is to be a surprise.’

  ‘Oh, I love nice surprises,’ Sarah said. A plump, smiling woman had come to greet them and was introduced as the housekeeper. She helped them off with their outer garments and asked if she should bring some refreshment to the parlour.

  ‘Yes, please,’ Elizabeth said. ‘I am going to take Miss Hunter upstairs, but we shall come down in fifteen minutes.’

  ‘There is a cold supper laid in the small dining room, ma’am,’ Mrs Bates said. ‘But I think Cook has some nice warm soup if you should care for it later?’

  ‘We shall have some wine first and then perhaps the soup with our supper,’ Elizabeth said. ‘Come, Sarah, let me show you to your room. It is very comfortable and the one I occupied when I came here as Lady Isadora’s companion.’

  ‘And then you fell in love with the earl,’ Sarah said with a little smile. ‘How very romantic!’

  ‘It did not always seem romantic,’ Elizabeth said with a wry smile as she recalled the turbulent weeks that had led up to Daniel’s proposal. ‘I did not believe that he would wish to marry his mother’s companion—and, of course, there was all that sorry business with Sir Montague Forsythe. He had ruined and murdered my father, you know—and he kidnapped me when he wanted to punish Daniel for poking his nose into his affairs. That was after Daniel, Charles and some other friends had first kidnapped Mr Palmer. Until then they had not been able to prove that Forsythe was responsible for your abduction. However, he boasted of it to me when he thought I was at his mercy, and, as you know, Charles accidentally killed him in the struggle to prevent his escape.’

  ‘Yes, I know. Charles told Arabella everything and she told me. I think you were very brave, Elizabeth.’

  ‘As you have been in facing up to what happened and getting on with your life, Sarah. I believe that in times of trouble one does what one has to do,’ Elizabeth told her. ‘I knew that Daniel needed proof of that man’s villainy, and I believed that he or his friends would come to rescue me—and they did, all of them. Daniel got there first, but Charles and John arrived soon after.’

  ‘John was very brave when Sir Courtney tried to kidnap Arabella,’ Sarah said, looking thoughtful. ‘I am sure I never thanked him as I ought…’

  ‘You were in great distress at the time,’ Elizabeth said. ‘John would have understood even if you said nothing.’ She gave Sarah a look of affection. ‘Love will find a way, my dear. It usually does, you know. Do not give up at the first fence.’

  ‘No, I shall not,’ Sarah said. ‘I understand that John must feel distressed that his son is ill, especially as his wife died in such tragic circumstances.’

  ‘Yes, her death was tragic,’ Elizabeth said and hesitated, then, ‘I do not think it was a love match, Sarah. I believe John married her for reasons other than love, though I cannot tell you more than that…it is not my affair. Besides, I speak only of my own observations. I know nothing for certain.’

  ‘I see…’ Sarah said, but in fact she did not. She had assumed at their first meeting that John was still in love with his wife. If that was not the case, then why had he seemed to hold back from her? Remembering the gossip Tilda had reluctantly imparted after Lady Barrie’s odd insinuations, Sarah wondered. Surely it was not possible that John was somehow implicated in his wife’s death? ‘Yet he seems still to be grieving?’ She looked at Elizabeth inquiringly.

  ‘I dare say John will tell you the details if he wishes you to know,’ Elizabeth said. ‘It is his usual habit to visit us at least once or twice a week. He came home four days ahead of us and we must hope that his son is well on the way to recovery. I shall ask Daniel to ride over in a day or so and see how he goes on.’

  ‘Yes, that would be kind,’ Sarah said, and as they went into a charming bedchamber decorated in varying shades of green and blue, ‘Oh, this is lovely. Thank you so much, Elizabeth.’

  ‘I hope you will be comfortable, Sarah. I think you can find your way back?’ Sarah nodded. ‘I shall see you in a few minutes.’

  Sarah looked around the room, which was
at the front of the house and faced the south. It had a warm, welcoming atmosphere and she knew that she would be happy staying here with her kind hosts. All she wanted now was to be able to see John again. Now that he had seen his son, he would surely ride over to visit his friends. Here, in the country, they would have plenty of time to be alone—time enough for him to ask her to be his wife.

  ‘Did you see John?’ Elizabeth asked her husband as he came into the house that afternoon. They had been at home for six days and nothing had been heard of their friend. ‘How is the boy?’

  ‘I do not know,’ Daniel said with a frown. ‘I was told that John was too busy to see me, and that he would visit when he could.’

  ‘How very odd,’ Elizabeth said and frowned. ‘That is most unlike John. Have we done something to offend him, do you think?’

  ‘I cannot think it,’ Daniel said. ‘It maybe that the child is very ill…and yet it was strange for I did not even enter the house. His housekeeper came out to meet me. She said that it was best I did not go in because I might bring the sickness to you and the twins.’

  ‘Did she say what the sickness was?’

  ‘Yes…apparently the child has the smallpox,’ Daniel replied with a frown. ‘I would have gone in, Elizabeth, for I do not fear it, but I thought of you and the children.’

  ‘Oh, this is terrible,’ Elizabeth said. ‘Poor John. It is no wonder that he has not called on us. He must be in a state if his son is ill with something like that—’ She broke off and looked at Sarah as she came into the room. ‘It is bad news, Sarah. Daniel did not see John. His son has the smallpox and he sent word that Daniel should stay away for fear of bringing it to us.’

  ‘The smallpox…’ Sarah frowned and looked thoughtful. She did not speak for a moment or two, then, ‘It would not affect me—but you were wise not to go in for Elizabeth and the children’s sakes, sir. It is a most terrible disease.’