Ralph looked up into the smiling face of his eldest sibling and clapped him on the arm before he greeted his companion, Miss Partington, with polite restraint. He wasn’t sure what he felt about this young woman, who did indeed resemble the woman he loved but who elicited such very different emotions. He certainly felt no warmth in her gaze, though she smiled and said how delightful it was to see him.
Ralph wondered at Teddy’s interest in Miss Partington, which was a little awkward, in view of Ralph’s interest in her half-sister. Perhaps Miss Partington felt similarly uncomfortable. It would not be unreasonable.
Of course, it was only natural Teddy would wish to take a wife at his age. Ralph just wished he’d not set his sights on Miss Araminta Partington. Nevertheless, he engaged her in pleasant conversation and she declared how much she loved riding, which quickly resulted in an eager invitation from Teddy to take her in his high-perch phaeton the following day. Ralph was surprised she elected to go before luncheon when she’d been warned there was a greater chance of morning rain.
And then Teddy and Miss Partington disappeared into the garden, and Ralph continued to chat to all number of people until the clock struck eleven, at which point he noticed the young lady in green nervously whispering something to her brother before hurrying toward the door that led into a passage beyond. He felt uncomfortable following her, and in fact nearly failed in his task when he was waylaid by the garrulous Mrs. Gargery, but after a minute or so he extricated himself and carried on, just in time to hear the click of what he knew to be the library door farther up the corridor.
About to go in, he hesitated. Perhaps she had a secret assignation with the portly young man, in which case it was no business of his to interrupt, despite Lissa’s request.
However, Lissa’s brief note had conveyed more concern than anything else for the wearer of this particular green dress. For a moment he marveled at her talent for intrigue, which was just what Ralph had always aspired to in his position. The longer he worked for Lord Debenham, the more unsavory dealings he uncovered, though not as yet anything that would put His Lordship in the dock. Debenham was too canny for that. Like most cruel men, he’d learned to cover his tracks.
Ralph put his ear to the door and, to his amazement, discerned his employer’s iron-clad yet silky tones. He could not interrupt but if Lord Debenham was alone with innocent Miss Maria, he needed to stay near in case he was required to render immediate assistance.
“So, you have enticed me here, madam. What? Because you esteem me? No, you plan to blackmail me, don’t you? You look very young for intrigue, yet the deadliest are the unlikeliest. Well, what are your demands?”
Should he intervene? What was Miss Maria about? Ralph remained frozen on the spot while he digested the silence, menacing and pregnant with possibility until broken again by Lord Debenham sounding even angrier. “Speak up, you puling little fool. Who sent you? Won’t tell me? Lost your nerve, have you? By God, but you have chosen the wrong man for your foolish and naïve carryings-on.”
The sound of his heavy footsteps was followed by a short, shrill cry, and then the door burst open and Miss Maria hurled herself into the passage, tripping over her skirt and falling to her knees.
Ralph helped her up but the girl was clearly too distraught and in a hurry to leave to look him in the eye, much less recognize Ralph. Not even pausing to say thank you once she was back on her feet, she tore past him and disappeared into the ballroom.
Ralph was hardly going to enter the library right now. In fact, he knew it was time to make tracks to be well out of sight, should his employer choose to follow the unfortunate young lady, though he considered this unlikely. He was about to turn back to the ballroom when his surprise at recent events was compounded by the clear, surprised tones of another young lady who sounded remarkably like Miss Araminta Partington.
“Good evening, Lord Partington, how are you this evening? I hope we didn’t interrupt anything.”
His su
spicion was confirmed when Ralph heard His Lordship greet Miss Partington by name before addressing Ralph’s own brother. Clearly Miss Partington and Teddy had entered the library through the garden.
Ralph decided he’d remained long enough at Lady Grenville’s soiree. He wished he could stop by the Lamont household and contrive a secret meeting with the divine Miss Hazlett. He needed to warn her that for some reason her half-sister had intended a secret meeting between Lissa and Lord Debenham. He shuddered, relieved that it had all fallen flat, but glad he had evidence of the young woman’s duplicity. Ralph had worked too long for a villain not to recognize others of his ilk.
But it wasn’t possible to speak to Miss Hazlett tonight. Once he returned, he had to satisfy himself with writing a lengthy description of what he’d heard through the closed door, which he dispatched to a street urchin who must have run his hardest for his money. For Ralph was just preparing for bed when he received a surprising answer from his lady love.
Wearily he slid beneath the covers, holding the hastily scribbled note to his chest. For the moment, it was the closest he would get to her.
Chapter Sixteen
It was little wonder Nellie and Harriet could not concentrate on Lissa’s lesson on the great rivers of the world when Miss Maria’s wails and the remonstrances of her mother could be heard two floors away.
That Miss Maria’s evening had not been a success was borne up by Ralph’s detailed missive the night before. Now Lissa was bursting with impatience to learn every detail. She was therefore astonished to be summoned by the housemaid, who told her she had a visitor in the drawing room.
The reason she was not banished elsewhere was clearly because the rest of the family was determined to hear whatever her mystery caller had to say.
When she saw it was Ralph, she affected cool politeness though her heart raced up her throat and threatened to turn her into a gibbering fool. However, her worst fears regarding her ability to manage the situation were not realized, and she decided she must be getting rather good at this intrigue lark.
“Mr. Tunley, how nice to see you again,” she greeted him. “Do you have a message from Lord Debenham perhaps?”
“Lord Debenham is paying his respects?” Mrs. Lamont asked with a mixture of fear and hope. This elicited a muffled wail from Miss Maria, who was sitting unusually hunch-shouldered upon the chaise longue.
Ralph smiled. “I’m afraid not. Please excuse me for speaking plainly, Mrs. Lamont. I find myself in an awkward situation, for my employer is a man who does not mince words, and I certainly would not choose to pass on this message.”
Lissa bit her lip and stared between Ralph and the Lamont family, who were gazing at him in almost terrified expectation. When none of them spoke, Ralph went on. “Lord Debenham respectfully requests that his gifts should be enjoyed by the intended recipients. I refer, in this instance, to a certain green dress.”
He did not get any further, for at this, Miss Maria threw herself forward and onto her knees, covering her head with her arms as she wailed, “I never knew! I never knew it wasn’t for me!”
“Yes, you did,” Lissa said crisply. She looked enquiringly at Ralph. “Was there any other message from Lord Debenham?”
He responded with commendable aplomb. “Indeed there is, however, he was adamant that it was for your ears only, Miss Hazlett.” He turned to the three Lamonts, who were now all staring at him with fear in their eyes. “I trust you’ll grant Miss Hazlett a few moments of privacy?”