The Honourable Fortune Hunter (Scandalous Miss Brightwells 5)

Miss Harcourt glanced up at Fanny with a small frown. “I’m sure he’ll be very amenable. Right now, he thinks he’s running away with me, but he’ll hardly be doing me a favour if I have to live with the knowledge he’s left his heart with Miss Scott for all the years I am his lawful wife.” She stepped aside to let Mabel toss in her mistress’s carpetbag, saying with greater urgency, “Please Mabel, run back to the house and find your mistress. I think the lantern I see up ahead is Theo. We don’t have much time. Now, go!”

Amelia hoisted herself onto the small step of the carriage and hesitated, looking down at Fanny. “Would you care to step inside and get warm so I can further explain our situation? If you take the trouble to hear it, it may stop you from running back to the house to raise the alarm.”

There seemed little choice. A return to the house would see the horses whipped up the moment Fanny’s back was turned. She allowed the postilion to help her into the dim space, settling onto the cold leather seat to face Amelia and leaning forward to warn her, “Eloping carries a great stigma, Miss Harcourt. I’m sure there are better ways of making your elders see reason.”

“And did you take the calm, considered approach, and meekly obey your elders when faced with an unwelcome marriage, Lady Fenton?”

The question silenced her, and Amelia went on, “Sometimes it is as burdensome having a fortune as it is being penniless. In the former case, an heiress is desired for the wr

ong reasons; in the latter, a young woman is desired by no one.”

“And you find it a burden having a fortune, Amelia?” Fanny asked as the postilion tucked hot bricks beneath their feet. “I believe you will come into your inheritance on your twenty-first birthday. That is not very long to wait.”

“Three months. No, it is not.” Amelia nodded. “But Lord Leighton is arriving tonight to take me to my uncle. Lord Quamby is his friend. I do not wish to go, but my wishes will count for as much—or little—as Catherine’s did when Lord Leighton forced himself on her in order to make her his bride. Theo knows what happened.” Amelia shuddered.

Fanny struggled to answer. Amelia’s shocking story sounded credible, but she couldn’t rid herself of Quamby’s scepticism should she not be able to furnish him with more than hearsay.

“I’m sorry, Amelia! That’s truly terrible. It sounds like you’ve known Mr McAlister a long time.”

“For more than ten years. His sister, Jane, was Catherine’s and my best friend. Theo was a little older than us, but like a brother, so, last year, when I received a frantic letter from Catherine telling us that our uncle had tricked her and was forcing her to marry Lord Leighton, he lost no time in bringing her back, but…he was too late.”

She stopped abruptly, and Fanny saw that emotion had overcome her and she’d covered her face with her hands.

“I’m so sorry.” Fanny reached out, then drew back as she heard the tread of Mr McAlister’s footsteps nearly upon them. “Believe me, Miss Harcourt, I am a champion of the love match but…what about your heart? You tell me you don’t love Mr McAlister, but—”

“I’m not sure I’ll ever be in love with anyone or anything—except my independence.” She raised her head. “But I value loyalty above my heart’s desire. If Theo wants my fortune, he can have it for what he’s doing for me.” She cleared her throat. “But if he wants to marry Miss Scott, I’ve decided that I shall loan them what they need until she comes into her inheritance—if he’ll only rescue me from Lord Leighton.”

Fanny nodded. She understood. The girl before her was not the flighty damsel they had all suspected.

She was about to answer but gasped instead at the sound of thundering hooves, her heart hammering when she saw through the trees a large black carriage drawn by four white horses enter through the park gates at breakneck speed, not ten yards from where the coach-and-four stood ready. Amelia, too, must have recognised the Leighton coat-of-arms on the black-enamelled door, for she put out her hands in entreaty, looking between Fanny and Theo, who’d nearly reached the carriage and who now cried out, “We must leave at once, Amelia! I fear Lord Leighton will search you out without delay!”

Fanny scrambled through the opposite door of the carriage, landing unsteadily in the snow and putting her head into the space she’d just vacated. “Wait just a few minutes, Amelia! I shall keep Lord Leighton occupied and send Lizzy to you! I swear you can trust me!” she cried as she saw Mr McAlister pull open the door on the other side.

Chapter 27

“Would you care for a tartlet, my love?”

Lizzy nodded as Harry delicately placed several on her plate.

“Dearest Lizzy, has the cat got your tongue? You’ve barely said a word all evening. You should be beaming with joy. We have dealt together famously from the start, and we shall continue to do so.” Although they were surrounded by people, he cupped her face. “Such public displays of affection shall be forgiven, I suspect,” he murmured. “Everyone adores a couple in love.”

Except that Lizzy felt no love. Her heart was as cold and heavy as a stone. Nevertheless, she forced a smile while her thoughts drifted to Theo.

Theo was with Miss Harcourt; she was sure of it. And Miss Harcourt must be a very special young woman—or one to whom he owed a great debt—for him to elope with her. For what else could he be doing if he wasn’t with Lizzy?

“Lizzy, congratulations!”

It was Lady Quamby. Lizzy nodded, but did not smile. Lady Quamby had led her into a trap and now Lizzy was paying the price.

“We are very happy.”

It was Harry who answered, gushing his delight before he was claimed by another well-wisher.

“I hope you will be happy, Lizzy,” said Lady Quamby when they were alone. She hesitated. “Have you seen Miss Harcourt?”

Lizzy’s heart felt cold. She’d watched Miss Harcourt leave the saloon not terribly long before. “I don’t think she’s here,” she said.

“Perhaps your maid knows something. What’s her name? Mabel?” Lizzy could hear the stress in Lady Quamby’s voice as she went on, “I believe Mabel was attending to Miss Harcourt’s toilette this evening.”