Chapter Fourteen
Back in London, Lady Amelia was busy making mischief. She attended the exhibition of paintings, and her eyes lit up at the sight of so many people who could be trusted to spread such a scandalous story. She whispered to a friend that she was surprised not to see Miss Welburn here, nor indeed Sir Richard, known as a connoisseur of paintings. “But I do believe they were seen driving out of town together in Sir Richard’s curricle, doubtless on some expedition of pleasure.” She knew that such seeds, deftly planted, would need no further attention.
Once back home, she was incautious enough to invite her favourite brother into her sitting room, where she told him the whole scheme. He laughed heartily and declared it an excellent joke. “And tonight is the Kinghams’ ball, the biggest of the season, and it will soon be noticed that they are not there. Now you are to tell me all the details—I do so relish this kind of intrigue, and I love to see an heiress brought low.”
Lady Amelia gave him an exact account of her discussions with Sir Richard and just what was planned, taking no account of the fact that her maid was in the room, all ears.
Sent out on an errand shortly afterwards, the girl met Valentine’s maid, Jenny, and recounted the whole affair to her. Jenny scampered back to Mountjoy House, took a deep breath, and said she must speak to Lady Mountjoy. Eliza listened with growing dismay. She knew that Valentine had planned to drive out with Sir Richard to visit friends from India, but she had said that Lady Amelia would be with them. She thanked Jenny and immediately sat down at her desk to write a note to Mountjoy. She sealed it and rang for a footman. “Thomas, take a hackney cab and take this note to the House of Lords right now. You must find Lord Mountjoy and deliver it into his own hands, and let no lackey or official prevent you from doing so. It is extremely urgent and a matter of the greatest importance.”
Thomas took the letter that was handed to him, said, “Very good, my lady,” and was gone. He was an energetic young man, and this kind of mission, with its sense of excitement, appealed to him. He was also a young man of resourcefulness, and once arrived at the Houses of Parliament, it didn’t take him long to be ushered into the library, where he found Lord Mountjoy in conversation with Lord Marbeck.
“I’m very sorry to interrupt you, my lord, but there is an urgent letter from Lady Mountjoy for you.”
Lord Mountjoy said in a concerned voice, “Is Lady Mountjoy all right?”
“Oh, perfectly, my lord. But she said it is a matter of the utmost importance.”
Lord Mountjoy had broken the seal and was reading Eliza’s note. His face darkened. “This is an utter disgrace. Damn the man, what a scoundrel he is.”
Lord Marbeck, said, “What is the matter? Can I be of assistance?”
“It’s the most damnable thing—it seems that that Sir Richard has run away with Valentine.”
Lord Marbeck said in an icy voice, “In which case there does not seem to be much that can be done about it. An elopement, I collect?”
“Don’t be such a damn fool, she has more sense than to elope with that man; no, no, it is a plot he has, a devilish scheme to force her into marriage. Of course her fortune is his object, he cares nothing for her, although there may be an element of revenge in all this.”
He handed the note to Marbeck, whose face took on a look of fury as he read it. “How long have they been gone? Sir Richard’s manor house is quite close to London, some thirty or forty minutes’ ride. Lady Mountjoy has written that the plan was for them to take a circuitous route so the journey would last much longer and make her think she had no chance of escaping from his clutches and returning to London.”
Lord Mountjoy said, “Yes, but it will take longer than that in this weather.” He glanced at the note again. “The intention is to take her not to the manor, where of course there will be servants and so on, but to the Dower House, which is empty and boarded up. Curse the man! I’m due to speak in the Chamber in half an hour, and now I shall have to hand my speech over to some idiot who will make a complete mess of it. But there is no alternative. She must be got out of that man’s clutches before it is too late.”
Lord Marbeck said, “Leave it to me. I will go.”
“No, no, she is my responsibility.”
“It’s not a question of responsibility,” Lord Marbeck said.
“I am grateful for the offer, but—”
“It’s not a matter of gratitude either, Mountjoy. Since I intend to marry Miss Welburn, it is very much my affair.” With that, he was gone, leaving Thomas staring, and Lord Mountjoy, after a moment’s stunned silence, bursting into laughter.
“Go back to Lady Mountjoy, Thomas, and tell her that Lord Marbeck has everything in hand.”