Читать книгу The Earl and the Governess - Sarah Elliott - Страница 6

17 May 1822

Ouch.

William Stanton frowned and sat up, rubbing his injured head. He’d been sleeping peacefully until his driver had reined the carriage to an abrupt standstill, causing him to hit his head on the brass hook that held the velvet curtains back. He glowered at the front wall of his carriage, in the general direction of his driver’s back, but McGrath was already remonstrating loudly with some obstacle in the street.

‘Wot th’ bloody ’ell you doing?’

Will stuck his head out of the window and craned his neck to see what was blocking their passage. A vegetable-laden cart had apparently pulled out in front of them, and as it swerved to avoid them, it nearly overturned, losing half its load. The rotund greengrocer who’d been driving it was now collecting his belongings with deliberate slowness, picking up each cabbage head and carrot one at a time while smirking at McGrath.

Will sighed and sank back into his seat, regarding the scenery outside his window and wondering how long this would take. He’d been away for four days and was eager to get home. He’d neither planned nor desired to leave London in the first place; the event had been thrust upon him by one Miss Matilda Hume, headmistress of Miss Hume’s School for Girls. His goddaughter, Mary Weston-Burke, was a student there. She’d become his ward three months ago, when her father died—meaning, apparently, that whenever she decided to put a newt in her French tutor’s teacup it was now Will’s responsibility to sort things out.

Frankly, he thought Miss Hume had made rather too much of what seemed to be nothing more than a childish prank. There was, he’d pointed out during their meeting, no actual tea in the cup, and therefore the newt had not been in peril. Miss Hume was more concerned about Monsieur Lavelle, who’d nearly suffered une crise cardiaque.

He hoped he’d managed to smooth things over.Apparently young Mary was a bit of a hellion, although he’d not have known it from the sallow, quiet creature he’d treated to tea.

McGrath had chosen a direct, but not picturesque, route through east London. Shabby buildings, many with boarded-up windows, lined the pockmarked road, and the only businesses that seemed to thrive were public houses. The curious stopped what they were doing to stare at his gilded carriage with resentful eyes. Filthy dogs with protruding ribs sprawled on the pavement unattended, while a group of ragged children entertained themselves by rolling a hoop.

And then he noticed a rather pretty girl, walking briskly not far from his carriage.

Will had known enough beautiful women that most did not turn his head, but he made an exception this time, perhaps only because she looked so entirely out of place. She was taller than most of the people who surrounded her, including the men. He’d caught just a glimpse of her face, but he’d noticed high cheekbones and full lips. Her skin was fair, in keeping with her unruly chignon of red hair. He wondered if she had freckles, and he wondered where she was going and what she was doing there to begin with. She was nicely, although not fashionably, dressed. Her high-waisted muslin gown followed the lines of the current style, but made no other concessions to trends. She appeared modest, respectable and perhaps even rather severe. And that just didn’t make sense. For a woman with a face like hers, in a neighborhood like this, the only money to be made was on her back. But she definitely wasn’t a doxy.

He realised he wasn’t the only one watching her. Two men, sitting lazily on a wall in patched trousers and heavy labourer’s boots, allowed their heads to rotate as she passed them. She seemed to be oblivious to the attention and walked on, head held high.

‘Bloody ’ell, ’urry up!’

Will turned his head to see what his driver was shouting at now. The greengrocer was moving even slower, in apparent protest at this derisive treatment. Will lost interest and turned his attention back to the girl.

She was easy enough to locate, since she hadn’t gone far. She’d stopped walking, in fact, and seemed to be scanning the crowd rather nervously as if looking for someone or something. The leather bag sat unattended at her feet, and Will felt his body tense. Even from a distance he could sense several pairs of eyes regarding it with speculative interest. He opened the carriage door and stepped out, waving to his disgruntled driver as he crossed the street.

He walked quickly. He didn’t really know what he was going to do—offer his assistance, perhaps, although there was a good chance she wouldn’t welcome it. Utterly foolhardy for her to be walking there, whoever she was. But he wasn’t fast enough to offer anything. When he was still about ten paces away, a lanky youth hurtled into her, sending her off balance. She was quick enough to grab the bag’s handle, but the boy latched on, as well, and he was stronger. The tug of war lasted about three seconds before he yanked the bag from her hands, sending her flying backwards on to the pavement. She started to scramble up, but the boy had already turned on his heel to flee.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn’t looking where he was going. Two long strides and he’d collided with a very large and solid human form.

Will didn’t do anything more than grab the boy by the shoulder, but the pressure was so strong he winced and instantly dropped the bag, spilling its contents on to the street.

Will was a full head taller than him, and as he looked down at the boy’s face he saw fear. Real fear, that he would be arrested and hanged for attacking a lady.

He released the pressure.

‘Run along.’

The boy did as instructed and immediately disappeared down an alley. Will watched him go, wondering how his thus far pleasant day had ended up like this. The girl was at his feet, hurriedly trying to collect her belongings. He couldn’t see her face. Just the back of her head and her slender neck. Her hair had become loose in the struggle, and a long curl was now tumbling about her shoulders. He realised he was staring and knelt to help her.

‘Here, let me…’

She didn’t acknowledge his presence, just started pushing things into her bag faster. Will’s eye was drawn to one item in particular. A smart red morocco case, half-opened to reveal what appeared to be a pearl necklace. He reached out to retrieve it for her, but her hand darted out to grab it first.

‘I don’t need assistance, thank you,’ she said, not even bothering to look at him. She hastily shoved the case back into her bag and closed it, carefully buckling it this time to prevent further accidents. Her voice sounded soft and rich…if rather hostile. She obviously thought he was as much of a threat as the boy had been.

She rose stiffly.

Will rose, too, proffering his hand in assistance as he did so. She ignored it, but finally looked up. He was struck once more by her beauty. It was an odd sort of beauty, and her features might have looked misplaced on any other face. Her lips, slightly parted in surprise, were luscious and temptingly kissable. Her nose was small, pert and sprinkled with freckles. His gaze wanted to travel down her neck, looking for more freckles, but with great willpower he managed to direct his attention elsewhere. He looked at her eyes instead—a disconcerting violet blue, very surprised and staring back at him.

Isabelle Thomas looked at the ground the second her gaze met his, but she couldn’t conceal the blush that started at her neck and bloomed all the way to the roots of her red hair. She’d expected him to look like every other disreputable man she’d seen on the street; at worst, she’d expected him to look exactly like the man who—if she wasn’t mistaken—had been following her all morning. The man she thought she’d finally managed to elude.

She’d certainly no idea that her wary gaze would settle on a gentleman, and an impossibly handsome one, at that.

She hadn’t meant to speak so sharply to him…it was just that her nerves were on edge and she’d fully anticipated that he’d carry on where the boy had left off. She silently cursed her overly active imagination, but when she looked up once more, he seemed oblivious to her rudeness—that, or completely unimpressed. She rather suspected the latter.

She’d hoped he’d be less attractive upon second viewing, but he was still downright devastating. Too perfect, if that were possible. Tall and broad shouldered, with slightly dishevelled blond hair and emerald green eyes. Dressed impeccably in buff breeches and a dark blue, woollen coat. And she…oh, she, like a bedraggled grey mouse who’d just lost a bout with an alley cat.

It didn’t help that he was still staring at her, but she quickly realised that he’d asked her a question and was simply waiting for her answer.

‘Hmm?’

He moved a step closer, possibly because he now thought she was hard of hearing. Yet his voice was quiet. ‘I said I hope you’re uninjured.’

‘I…I am all right.’She hadn’t even had time to consider if that was true. Was she? She felt well enough, except for her backside, which had managed to land in a puddle. She couldn’t bear to think of the state of her dress.

‘Do you have everything? Is that your paper?’

She looked down at her feet, where a slip of paper floated in a shallow puddle the colour of milky tea. It was hers, and the address she’d scrawled across it that morning in black ink was gradually dissolving.

‘Oh!’

She moved quickly to grab it, but he leaned forwards at the same time. Their foreheads connected loudly. They both straightened immediately.

‘I’m so sorry,’ she said awkwardly.

He grinned ruefully, and she realised that in addition to golden hair and a chiselled jaw, he possessed dimples and straight, white teeth. ‘That wasn’t very coordinated of us. Shall I…?’

She was too embarrassed to protest, so she just stood there dumbly and allowed him to pick up the paper. He handed it to her. The writing was now barely legible, but she could just make out the words 16 Litch—luckily, she remembered the rest. Sixteen Litchfield Terrace. That was where she’d find one Josiah Fairly, surely an ironical name for a pawnbroker. She’d been given the address by Samuel, the boy who delivered coal to the boarding house where she’d taken a room. Fairly was his uncle and she’d been assured he’d offer an acceptable price for her possessions.

‘Can you still read it?’ the man asked.

‘Read it? Oh, yes.’ She stuffed the paper in her pocket. ‘I must go. Thank you for helping me.’ She turned to continue walking, but she felt his hand on her arm. Warm and firm—not hurting her, but not letting her go, either. She turned around slowly, looking down her nose at the offending object.

‘You shouldn’t be carrying that bag,’ he chided. ‘Not unless you want to be robbed again. I’ll accompany you wherever you’re going.’

She knew he was right. She’d known she was being foolish when she’d started out that morning. But she hadn’t had much choice about it, and she didn’t need him to tell her. ‘Remove your hand, sir.’

He raised an eyebrow at her imperious tone, but did as bid. He also took a step closer. Although she was tall, she still found herself craning her neck to look up at him. She wasn’t used to that. His voice remained reasonable, but she suspected he might be losing his patience. ‘Half the street knows you’re carrying something worth stealing. If you’d like to keep your possessions, I’d advise you to accept my offer.’

Her gaze darted quickly from left to right, assessing the risk. They made a conspicuous pair, to say the least, and several people were blatantly staring. If he walked away right now and left her there alone, then she’d no doubt that someone would soon relieve her of her belongings—in fact, her belongings were probably the least of her worries. She’d be lucky to make it home unharmed.

She returned her attention to his face. He was certainly big enough to make anyone think twice—and, if she really were being followed, that wasn’t such a bad thing. And yet she didn’t want him to come with her. It didn’t matter that she’d no idea who he was and would never see him again. She was going to a pawnbroker’s, and it was too humiliating.

Unconsciously, she bit her lower lip in indecision. She tried to sound confident, but she knew she didn’t quite succeed. ‘I’m going rather far. I imagine you have better things to do.’

He seemed to sense her uncertainty. His tone brooked no refusal. ‘Actually, I have the afternoon free, and we could take my carriage. It’s just across the road.’

She turned her head. His carriage gleamed with a fresh coat of glossy green paint, and two sleek bays waited impatiently to depart. His coachman, in green livery to match, had alighted in order to confront a cart driver over some infraction. A coat of arms surmounted by an earl’s coronet decorated the carriage door.

Oh, God. He was not only handsome, but he was rich and probably titled, too.

‘Your driver is making friends, I see,’she said drily. She was now more resolved than ever that he would not come with her. She’d some pride left—not much, maybe, but enough that she didn’t want him to witness her sell the last of her valuable possessions.

He smiled again, and she wished she hadn’t attempted humor. ‘McGrath loves an argument. If we linger much longer, they’ll be asking us to second them at dawn. Shall we go?’ He held out his arm.

She stared at it for a second before simply starting to walk again, carrying on in the same direction. The pawnbroker’s shouldn’t be much further now, and she needed to get rid of him quickly. ‘I think that would be unwise. I thank you for your help, but I no longer require it.’

He fell in beside her, easily keeping pace with her long strides. ‘I can perfectly well understand your reluctance to ride in my carriage, but I assure you it would be wiser than wandering around here on foot. We’ll probably both be robbed.’

‘You needn’t come with me,’ she said stiffly.

He sighed. ‘Much as I’m tempted to leave you here, I’m afraid my conscience won’t allow it.’

She kept walking, looking straight ahead. She knew he was watching her face, probably hoping that his mild statement would elicit some reaction: eyes widened in shock, maybe even a verbal rebuke. She refused to indulge him.

‘You’re right to be suspicious, of course,’ he continued after a few seconds of silence. ‘I wouldn’t trust anyone I met wandering around here.’

‘So why are you wandering around here?’ She knew she sounded accusatory, but, well, what was someone like him doing there, and why had he decided to take an interest in her? Her arm was starting to ache from the weight of her bag, and he’d made no sign of leaving. With an annoyed sigh, she placed the bag on the ground and then crossed her arms over her chest, waiting impatiently for his answer.

He looked as if he found her irritation comical. ‘I assure you, I wasn’t. I was just passing through on my way back from the country when I saw you about to be robbed. Could hardly just stand by and watch.’

‘Oh.’ She picked up the bag and started walking again, now feeling rather guilty for her curt behaviour. He was infuriating, but she’d be far worse off if not for his intervention. ‘I…I am grateful that you stopped that man. I’m sorry if I’ve seemed rude, but I really will be all right on my own. I don’t want to take up any more of your time.’

He nodded, but otherwise seemed to disregard her words. He walked along beside her quietly for a few seconds before offering, ‘I’m William Stanton, by the by. Earl of Lennox, actually, but you needn’t m’lord me.’

‘I won’t.’

She hoped she sounded as unimpressed as she’d intended, but her impertinence seemed only to amuse him. Until a few years ago, she wouldn’t have felt so intimidated by his title. All right, so she’d never been nearly as grand as an earl—quite a few stations in life separated them. But she’d had a bit of money once, and what had seemed to be a respectable family, too. She’d grown up in a rambling brick house draped in wisteria and surrounded by neat gravel paths and herb gardens. She’d never been fashionable—the plain clothes she wore now represented the sort of sensible attire she’d worn her whole life. However, they were well made and reasonably expensive. She’d never had reason to be ashamed of her status.

Only things had changed. The gardens had been replaced by a squalid street, and her unfashionable dresses had become both unfashionable and worn. The one she wore now was several seasons old and many times mended.

‘You might introduce yourself,’ he said, his gaze wandering over her face. ‘It’s your turn.’

She stopped walking to answer him, feeling depressed and defeated. ‘Isabelle Thomas.’

‘How do you do, Miss Thomas. Let me carry your bag.’

‘No, thank you.’

Finally, she’d managed to provoke him. He actually sounded offended. ‘I assure you I’ve no interest in stealing from you. It’s heavy.’

‘No.’ Her grip tightened.

He sighed loudly and then, after a moment’s consideration, began fiddling with his waistcoat.

She turned her head to the side to stare at him, feeling mildly alarmed. ‘What are you doing?’

He made a face at her. ‘My, but you’re suspicious. I’m removing my watch.’

‘Why?’

‘Because we’re going to trade. I will carry your bag, Miss Thomas, and you will carry my watch. So you can rest assured I won’t abscond with your possessions.’ He held it out to her, but when she didn’t immediately accept it he took her hand in his, placed the watch on her palm, and then closed her fist around it. ‘Now, I’ll have your bag.’

She saw no reasonable argument against accepting his offer, but she still didn’t want him to come with her. ‘You barely know me, sir,’she pointed out. ‘I might run off with it.’

‘Then I will catch you. I don’t recommend you test my word.’

She didn’t doubt him, and, seeing no alternative, handed him her bag. Her arm cried out in relief, and she tucked the watch into her pocket. She wouldn’t have dreamed of running off with it anyway, not just because she believed his threat, but also because that would be stealing. She hadn’t yet stooped to that level.

‘I wouldn’t take your watch, you know,’she said quietly as they started walking again. ‘I’m not a thief.’

‘I’m pleased to hear it. What’s in this bag? Stones?’

She paled. ‘If you’re going to complain—’

‘I’m not complaining.’

‘Don’t open it.’

‘I won’t,’ he replied grumpily. ‘Lead the way, Miss Thomas.’

She looked nervously up the street, hoping she remembered Samuel’s directions. She’d written them down and had studied them that morning, but examining them in public would have made her look lost and vulnerable. She knew she had to turn somewhere…

‘Um, left here.’ I think. She started walking slowly, feeling less sure of herself. Left took them up an alley, intersected after about thirty paces by another road. The faded and flaking sign read Litchfield Terrace. She turned right.

‘Where are you taking me, by the by?’ he asked. It was a reasonable question, since Litchfield Terrace looked like a particularly unwelcoming street. It was narrow and unpaved, and the mean houses that lined it seemed to be deserted—or they would, anyway, if not for the high-pitched cry of a baby that carried from a broken window and the rat that skulked along the edge of the road, sniffing for scraps.

‘I’m not taking you anywhere. You’re following me, and I can go the rest of the way myself.’

‘Out of the question.’

And she knew that he meant it. Her footsteps were already beginning to drag with apprehension. Josiah Fairly’s disreputable premises would appear at any second and, oh, the embarrassment…

At the same time, though, she could admit to herself that she was glad William Stanton had insisted on coming. She’d be terrified right now if he hadn’t.

‘So…’ he said, looking at her curiously, ‘I’ve revealed that I was just passing through…what are you doing in this godforsaken area?’

‘Picking daffodils, obviously.’

That comment got her a burst of laughter. Warm, genuine laughter, and she felt a smile tugging at her own lips, even though she really didn’t want to start enjoying his company. But she managed to suppress it, which wasn’t so hard because they’d reached her destination.

Number 16 waited for her at the end of the road, set apart from the terraced houses that lined the sides of the street. Like the dilapidated buildings around it, it had been built right up against the road, without a front garden to soften its appearance. The word ‘Pawnbroker’ had been painted messily over the door, and two dusty bow windows advertised the faded delights inside: some battered books, a garish, plumed hat, old boots and a pair of candlesticks, their silver plating worn thin to reveal the base metal beneath.

Isabelle stopped walking and wondered if it wasn’t too late to change her mind. Perhaps she could say she’d lost her way and that she’d decided to go home after all. She could come back tomorrow without him…

He noticed her hesitate and gently touched her arm. ‘Miss Thomas, what’s wrong?’

She ignored the unfamiliar shiver his touch produced. Red shame was creeping up her neck and her lip was threatening to tremble. But she wouldn’t allow herself to be such a coward, so she forced herself to meet his gaze. ‘I…I thank you again for your company. I will be all right from here.’

He looked dubiously at the shop. ‘What—is this where we’re going?’

She pretended she hadn’t heard the note of disdain in his voice. ‘My bag, please.’

There was understanding in his green eyes—sympathy, too—and that made it even worse. ‘You’ve no need to feel embarrassed, you know. You’re not the first person who’s had to—’

‘My bag, sir.’She held out her hand, waiting impatiently.

He seemed reluctant to give it to her. ‘I doubt he’ll give you an honest price.’

‘Probably not, but that is my affair.’

Finally, he handed it to her. ‘I’ll wait for you.’

She’d expected him to say that, and frankly she didn’t want him to leave. She just didn’t want him to know how scared she was. ‘I cannot stop you.’

And then she straightened her back like a fire poker and walked alone the rest of the way to the shop and up its crooked stone steps. She took a deep breath and opened the heavy, groaning door.

When she emerged four minutes later, her bag was no lighter. As feared, Josiah Fairly had offered insultingly low prices for her belongings, but she was too despondent to feel angry. She was tired and hungry, and she simply wanted to give up.

She immediately began searching the street, looking for him. She didn’t see him anywhere, and it was clear to her that he’d abandoned her. She couldn’t blame him, and she should have felt relieved, but instead she felt even worse. She sank down on to the steps, placing her bag beside her. Then she crossed her arms over her knees and buried her head inside them. She hadn’t cried in years. She’d been through worse humiliations. But right now—

‘Miss Thomas? What’s wrong?’

She raised her head slowly. He’d returned, and he stood right in front of her, looking so handsome…and she knew her eyes were red and her lips swollen.

‘Nothing,’ she said quietly, wiping away a tear.

‘Please don’t cry.’

‘I’m not.’

He mounted the steps and sat next to her. Not indecently close, but close enough that she forgot about the horrible man in the shop, and began to worry instead about his proximity.

‘I’d just walked down the road a bit,’he said. ‘I’m sorry—I expected you to be inside longer. He wasn’t helpful?’

She shook her head, waiting to hear him say he told her so.

But he didn’t. ‘So what’s it to be now? Would an ice cream cheer you up?’

She shook her head again.

‘No? Um…some proper food, then? How about a very large glass of brandy?’

She looked at him sideways, but she couldn’t help smiling this time. It had been so long since someone had been kind to her or cared if she was happy. ‘You’re absurd.’

The warmth in his green eyes made her catch her breath. ‘If it makes you smile. May I look in your bag?’

‘No.’

‘Please? Perhaps I can suggest something.’

Why not? she thought. She didn’t have the energy to argue any more. She shrugged. ‘Very well.’She slid the bag across the step until it sat at his feet.

He opened it rather hesitantly, as if he expected it to contain snakes. ‘Don’t know why you’ve been so mysterious about it. I’m sure if you took your necklace to a respectable dealer…’But then he broke off, frowning into the bag’s depths. ‘Miss Thomas, you really are carrying stones.’