The Husband Season Read online

  ‘My opinion, my lord? What can I tell you about horses that you don’t already know?’

  ‘You could tell me how comfortable she is to ride, how docile, how responsive she is to the reins.’

  ‘You can surely find that out yourself.’

  ‘Ah, but not side-saddle.’

  ‘You are thinking of buying her for a lady?’

  ‘I might.’

  ‘Oh.’ He was unmarried, he had no daughter, so it could only be for a mistress or a potential wife. Cassie perhaps?

  He mounted his bay and they walked their horses out of Mount Street and along Park Lane to the entrance to Hyde Park. Because of the traffic they had to ride one behind the other until they were in the park, where he came up alongside her.

  ‘From a very poor start we have had a good summer so far,’ he said. ‘I do not think you can have been confined indoors once since you arrived in town.’

  ‘I don’t believe I have. The only rain we have had was during one night that left puddles, but that is all.’

  ‘We might have a good harvest. After last year it is certainly needed.’

  ‘Yes.’

  He looked sideways at her, but she was looking straight ahead over the mare’s ears. ‘Shall we canter?’

  To do so they had to leave the Ride because other riders were only walking their horses or at the most trotting and it would have been hazardous. He led the way and they soon left the crowds behind. Reaching a group of trees, he dismounted and she did likewise.

  ‘Now,’ he said firmly as the horses began to crop the grass, ‘what do you think?’

  ‘Think about what?’ Her thoughts were chasing each other round in her head. His asking her opinion of a horse he was far more qualified than she was to assess and wondering who the mare was meant for, all mixed up with her continuing worry about Teddy.

  ‘Swift. Will she do, do you think?’

  ‘Any lady would be pleased to have her. I cannot fault her.’

  ‘Not lively enough for your taste, though?’ he queried in an endeavour to make her smile.

  ‘I expect she would be lively enough given open country to gallop in.’

  ‘You are probably right.’

  He let the reins of his mount trail and moved nearer to her, so that she became almost overwhelmed by his size and masculinity. She wished he would move away, because his nearness was making her heart beat uncomfortably fast.

  ‘Now tell me what is wrong,’ he said.

  ‘Nothing. I told you I cannot fault her.’

  ‘Not with the horse, with you.’

  ‘Nothing is wrong, my lord. Why do you say that?’

  ‘It is obvious there is.’

  ‘It is nothing.’

  ‘It is more than nothing.’ He paused to look closely at her, but she refused to meet his gaze. ‘It cannot be that you have had an offer of marriage, for that would not make you look so wan, so let me hazard a guess. It is your brother who brings the frown to your brow and drains the colour from your cheeks. Am I right?’

  It was easier to agree than tell the truth, that it was he who disturbed her and set her emotions racing. ‘He was out all night. I fear something bad has befallen him.’

  ‘Why do you think that?’

  ‘Because...’ She stopped and then went on, ‘Because there are so many thieves and cutthroats about.’

  He took her shoulders in his hands so that she was obliged to face him. ‘Look at me.’ Slowly she lifted her eyes to his. ‘Now look me in the eye and tell me the truth. I cannot bear to see you like this.’

  He sounded so concerned, it gave a great leap to her heart, but then it subsided back into the despair she had been feeling ever since Teddy told her of his troubles. ‘My lord, I have told you the truth.’

  ‘Then I shall be obliged to guess again. He is in dun country and has applied to you to get him out of it.’

  ‘He wouldn’t do that. He knows I cannot.’

  ‘He needs a horsewhip to his back.’ It was spoken angrily.

  ‘Oh, no,’ she cried. ‘He cannot help it. It is the way he is.’

  He smiled. ‘There is no end to what love can forgive, is there?’

  She had no answer to that. ‘Let us go back and see if he has returned,’ she said. ‘I cannot enjoy the ride while I am worrying about him.’

  ‘Very well.’

  He helped her to remount, then sprang into his own saddle. ‘Have you seen Captain Moore lately?’ he asked her.

  She was so startled by this question coming so unexpectedly, her hands tightened on the reins and Swift shied. Steadying her gave her time to think of an answer. ‘Not lately,’ she said. ‘Why do you ask?’

  ‘Because wherever the captain is, there will your brother be.’

  ‘Oh, no, he hasn’t seen him, either.’

  ‘But you said you hadn’t seen Captain Moore lately.’

  ‘I forgot. I met him by chance yesterday and he told me so.’

  ‘I see.’

  He didn’t believe her, she knew that, but she was too ashamed of what she had done to tell the truth. He would be disgusted with her. Nor could she tell him what Teddy had suggested as a way out; it would put him in the invidious position of having to let her down gently. Nor did she want him to think she would even consider marrying him for his money, even in the unlikely event that he would agree. They rode on in silence.

  * * *

  When they arrived outside her aunt’s house, he dismounted and held out his hands to help her down. She slid off the saddle and straight into his arms. He held her there several seconds longer than was proper. It was long enough for her to feel the warmth of him, the beating of his heart, his strength and the feeling of being safely enclosed from harm.

  He let her go and smiled down at her. ‘Let us go inside and see if your brother has returned.’

  But he had not, and even Lady Cartrose was beginning to be concerned. ‘You hear such dreadful tales of footpads and the like,’ she said to Adam. ‘I have sent round to Mrs Malthouse and to Lady Martindale but they have not seen him since the picnic. I cannot go to the gentlemen’s clubs and I cannot think where else he could be. You haven’t seen him, have you, my lord?’

  ‘No, my lady, I am afraid I have not. But don’t worry. I’ll take Swift back to the stables and go in search of him. He cannot be far away.’

  ‘Would you? Oh, that is kind of you. Isn’t that kind of him, Sophie?’

  Sophie had not recovered from the sensation of being held in his arms and was wishing he had never let her go, for now she felt unsteady and isolated once more. ‘Oh, yes,’ she managed to say. ‘But we are keeping his lordship from other matters more important to him.’

  ‘Nothing that cannot wait,’ he said. ‘I will locate Mr Cavenhurst and bring him home to you.’

  ‘And if you cannot find him?’ Sophie queried.

  ‘Then I will come back and tell you so. Had you planned to go out this afternoon?’

  ‘Only for a carriage ride and a little shopping,’ her ladyship said. ‘We can easily postpone that. This evening we were all going to the opera.’

  ‘I hope to have him back with you long before then.’

  Adam left them to set about his errand. Ten to one the young man was at one of the clubs getting more heavily into debt. He had had an uncle on his father’s side who had the gambling fever and he knew what unbridled gambling could do to a family. They had lost their house and all their assets, and in the end the man had killed himself. Adam had been looking after his wife and daughter ever since. It was the innocent who suffered most in such circumstances. He didn’t want Sophie to have to endure anything like that, though how the fever could be cured he had no idea.

  Deciding he would do better on foot, he left both h
orses at the livery stables and made for St James’s where most of the gentlemen’s clubs were situated. Teddy was not at any of them. Toby Moore had not seen him and he was as anxious for him to be found as anyone. ‘He owes me and I would have my money,’ he told Adam.

  ‘You’ve no idea where he might be?’

  ‘No, and so I told the filly when she came here.’

  ‘The filly?’

  ‘His sister.’

  ‘She came here?’ He could not keep the surprise from his voice.

  ‘Yes, dressed in her brother’s clothes and her hair pushed under one of his hats. Very fetching she looked, too.’

  He was shocked. Were there no lengths to which she would not go? Everyone knew that ladies—real ladies—did not go to St James’s and certainly did not try to enter the clubs. Whatever had she hoped to achieve? He pulled himself together. ‘She was looking for her brother, no doubt.’

  ‘No, she came to plead with me to give him time to pay his debts.’

  ‘I doubt you agreed.’

  ‘On the contrary, I said I would waive them—for a consideration, of course. She declined.’

  He could only guess what that consideration might be. The thought of it sent his mind in a furious whirl of frustrated anger. ‘What do you take her for, Captain? She is a lady born and bred...’

  ‘Ladies have been known to fall from grace.’

  ‘Leave her alone. She cannot help you recover your debt.’ He paused. ‘How much is it, by the way?’

  ‘Five thousand seven hundred and sixty guineas.’

  ‘You fleeced him.’

  ‘Yes, I did, didn’t I?’ He was smiling with satisfaction, which made Adam want to punch his face. Brawling was not permitted in the environs of the club or he might have given in to the urge. ‘But then he deserved it. He was instrumental in severing a very lucrative partnership with my friend, Lord Bolsover. It lost me thousands, that did, and cost his lordship his good looks.’

  ‘That has nothing to do with Miss Cavenhurst.’

  ‘No, nor you, neither. I’ll thank you not to meddle in what don’t concern you.’

  ‘It does concern me.’

  ‘Oh-ho, that’s the way the wind blows, is it? I wonder what little Miss Malthouse will say to that.’

  ‘I will send a money order to your lodging tomorrow.’ His voice was clipped in an effort to remain civil. ‘Five thousand seven hundred and sixty guineas, I believe you said.’

  ‘Yes, but tomorrow it will have gone up another ten per cent. Interest, you know.’

  That was extortionate, but he was not going to argue about it. ‘I will add another five hundred, but I shall require a receipt from you and an undertaking never to game with Mr Cavenhurst again. It would be better if you left town.’

  ‘I am not the only one. Teddy will soon find someone else to play with. There’s Reggie and Dick and Bertie Gorange. If you look in the betting book, you will find their wagers in there.’ He was grinning mischievously as Adam called for the betting book, which was brought swiftly to him by the manager.

  He opened it and read: ‘Mr Edward Cavenhurst wagers one thousand guineas that Sir Reginald Swayle will not become affianced to Miss Sophie Cavenhurst before the end of July. Mr Cavenhurst undertakes not to try to influence her decision in any way.’ It was dated the first of May, well before Sophie came to London. Both men had signed it. There was another one relating to Richard Fanshawe and another with Lord Gorange.

  He shut the book with a snap and handed it back. ‘How did that come about?’ he asked the manager.

  ‘They were playing cards and bemoaning their disappointment at being turned down. Each was sure they could make Miss Cavenhurst change her mind. They were making bets on it. It was then Mr Cavenhurst intervened to say his sister was too stubborn to change her mind and he would wager they would not succeed. They all took him up on it.’

  He wondered if Sophie knew about that. ‘When did you last see Mr Cavenhurst?’

  ‘Two days ago.’

  * * *

  Adam spent the rest of the day in the search, but as no one who knew the young man had seen him, he concluded that Captain Moore had been right and he had gone home to Hadlea to lick his wounds.

  He went back to Mount Street to tell the ladies of his failure. They were dressed for an evening at the opera. ‘Perhaps he has gone home to Hadlea,’ he said.

  ‘He would not do that without telling us,’ Sophie said. ‘Besides, he told me he daren’t tell Papa about...about...’ Her voice tailed off.

  ‘Has he friends in London with whom he might stay?’

  ‘I can only think of Sir Reginald and Mr Fanshawe.’

  ‘I asked them. They haven’t seen him.’

  ‘You told them he was missing?’

  ‘I told them I was looking for him and he was not at home. They did not appear to attach any significance to it.’

  ‘I think we should go to the opera as planned,’ Lady Cartrose said. ‘We cannot let the ton know there is anything amiss. We shall say he has been detained on business for his father. Besides, he knows we are going and may very well come to us there.’ She turned to Adam. ‘Do you go, my lord?’

  ‘No, I shall continue the search. I have not exhausted all avenues yet. I will come to you tomorrow.’ He had quite forgotten he had planned to leave London the next day.

  Chapter Eight

  Teddy’s disappearance was so much on her mind that Sophie could not pay attention to the opera. When the interval came, their box was invaded by Reggie and Richard, followed soon afterwards by Lord Gorange, all vying for her favour, but she could not give her attention to any of them. And when Lord and Lady Martindale also arrived with Lucy, she felt she wanted to scream and run away.

  ‘Where is your brother?’ Lucy asked her. ‘I felt sure he would be here tonight and join us for supper afterwards. He promised to speak to Papa.’

  ‘Some business cropped up he had to deal with,’ Sophie said. ‘Perhaps he will join us later.’

  ‘Did he tell you...?’

  ‘That he had proposed, yes, he did.’

  ‘I am so happy. I did not need to come to London to find the man of my dreams, did I?’

  ‘So it would seem. I felicitate you.’ She tried to sound sincere and in any other circumstances she would have been pleased for them both, but at that moment all she could think of was that her brother had disappeared and very soon Lucy would have to be told.

  ‘What about you, Sophie?’ Lucy queried in a whisper. ‘Will you accept Sir Reginald or Mr Fanshawe? I cannot think you will entertain Lord Gorange, even though he is the richest.’

  ‘Is he? I didn’t know that.’

  ‘So Papa says.’

  They were interrupted by the arrival of Mrs Malthouse and Cassandra and the box became very crowded. The Martindales took their leave and returned to their own seats to make room for the newcomers.

  Cassie dragged Sophie into a corner. ‘What have you done with Viscount Kimberley?’ she demanded.

  ‘Done with him, Cassie? Whatever do you mean?’

  ‘You are scheming to take him away from me. You said you had no interest in him and yet you go riding with him for all the world to see. And without a chaperon. It isn’t fair, Sophie.’

  Sophie did not see why she should justify herself, but Cassie was obviously furious. ‘He wanted my opinion about a horse he was thinking of buying.’

  Cassie laughed harshly. ‘What do you know about horses that he does not?’

  ‘Nothing, but he wanted to know if I thought it would suit a lady.’

  ‘What lady?’

  ‘He didn’t say.’

  ‘Oh.’

  Sophie watched her friend digesting this information and saw her expression change from a
nger and jealousy to bright expectation. She could only hope that his lordship really did intend the mare for Cassie, otherwise there would be tears. ‘What was the horse like?’

  ‘A beautiful brown mare. I envy the lady.’

  ‘Not you?’

  ‘Of course not me. Cassie, I have told you...’

  ‘I know. I’m sorry I doubted you. We are still friends, are we not?’

  ‘Of course.’

  ‘Where is the viscount tonight?’

  ‘I have no idea. Were you expecting to see him?’

  ‘I hoped he would join us in our box and have supper with us afterwards.’

  ‘No doubt he has business to attend to. I believe his visit to London is not all pleasure.’

  ‘You are doubtless right,’ Cassandra said after a little thought. ‘Everyone is returning to their seats. I must go. Will I see you tomorrow?’

  ‘I don’t know, Cassie. I will have to see what my aunt has arranged.’

  Cassie left with her parents and Sophie resumed her seat to see the second half of the performance, but her mind was not on it. Her whirring thoughts went from her missing brother to Viscount Kimberley. Teddy, who in every other way was a well-balanced, sensible young man, was weak as water when it came to gambling. It was his only vice, but what a vice! Ought she to warn Lucy? Or Lord Martindale? But she knew she could not be so disloyal to her brother.

  And there was Viscount Kimberley. Cassie was determined to catch him and seemed to think fluttering her eyelashes at him and talking nineteen to the dozen would win him. Sophie was sure it would not, unless the gentleman himself wanted it. Did he? Who was the mare for, if not for Cassie? Jealousy was something Sophie had never felt in her life before, but it was taking hold of her now. Her situation was hopeless, and Teddy’s predicament was making it ten times worse. Could she marry without love? Could she marry for money to help her brother? If she could, then she ought to choose the richest. Lord Gorange? She shuddered at the idea, but was it any worse than Jane agreeing to marry Lord Bolsover to save Greystone Manor?