A Suitable Husband Read online

  She closed her eyes and thanked God for answering her prayers. Her own injuries were of no importance compared to Edward’s safety.

  ‘Mama, are you going to swoon? You’ve gone very white.’ His tentative inquiry recalled her to her surroundings and her eyes refocused.

  ‘No, Edward, I was feeling a trifle giddy but I am almost recovered now.’

  Symonds, and the servants, remained at a distance, unable to approach as the dog leapt forward every time they attempted to do so. ‘Your girl is here, madam, and the housekeeper, they will be able to assist you to your chambers.’

  ‘Oh, madam, what a dreadful thing to happen! Let me put this wrap around your poor back then Mrs Mason and I will help you to your room.’

  Sarah gritted her teeth and allowed Beth to take one elbow. With slow, painful steps, she negotiated the endless corridors and marble stairway and eventually reached the security of her room.

  ***

  Edward, Rags held firmly in one hand, hovered behind his mother. His dog was not permitted inside but, in the circumstances, nobody protested. Sally met him outside their suite of rooms.

  ‘Edward, that dog’s not allowed up here. Madam would not wish you to get into trouble. Shall we take him back to the stables? Jack will take care of him for you.’

  The door had been firmly closed behind his mother; he was obviously not wanted in there.

  ‘Rags tried to bite Mr Symonds. That’s why I’m holding him.’

  ‘One more reason to get him out of here.’ Sally decided to take them down the back stairs. She, like all the indoor staff, was terrified of the autocratic butler and it was he that had banned the dog.

  Edward ran ahead with Rags bounding along beside him, showing no further inclination to attack anyone. William, the coachman, and Billy were busy grooming two of the carriage horses but they paused as he ran in.

  ‘Where’s Jack, Billy? He must take Rags; he tried to bite Mr Symonds after the big pot almost fell on us.’

  ‘Whoa, youngster; slow down a bit. What pot are you talking about?’ William said, grinning as he put down his currycomb. Peters appeared in the tack from door. He was not smiling.

  ‘Tell me what happened, Master Edward? All of it, nice and slow now.’

  Edward’s anxiety about his mother returned as he saw the man’s serious expression. ‘We were sitting on the terrace when a huge, enormous, pot thing fell off the balcony. If Mama hadn’t pushed me out of the way it would have landed right on top of me.’

  This news was received in silence. All three men exchanged worried glances. Peters spoke first. ‘Was Mrs Mayhew hurt in any way, Master Edward?’

  Edward nodded, tears welling, as he remembered the blood trickling down his mother’s back. ‘Some stones fell on her and cut her.’

  ‘Has the doctor been sent for, do you know, Master Edward?’

  ‘Yes, Mr Symonds said he did it.’

  Jack walked through the arch, leading Edward’s grey pony. ‘What’s all the excitement about?

  There’s a big fuss going on up the house.’

  Edward ran to Jack. ‘A big pot thing fell off the balcony and Mama has been cut a little. And you must keep Rags away from the house because he tried to bite Mr Symonds.’

  Jack automatically took hold of the dog’s rope-collar. ‘Whatever next? Rags is a gentle animal. Why ever has he taken against Mr Symonds, I wonder?’

  No one was prepared to answer, but the tension in the stable yard was palpable. Peters turned to Jack.

  ‘I’ll go up to the house, and see what’s what. You take the lad and the dog down to the beach for a bit.’ Peters waited until Edward had disappeared before continuing. ‘I think the captain should be sent for. I’ll take a quick look round and then go up to town myself. Will you saddle up that big bay gelding, King John, William? I’ll be ready to leave in an hour.’

  ***

  In the bedchamber Sarah was prone on the bed whilst Beth gently swabbed the scratches and cuts.

  ‘Are they bad, Beth? Will they need sutures?’

  ‘No, madam, I think not. One or two are quite nasty, but most are little more than grazes.’

  ‘They are sore, I know that much. But we were so lucky, had I not looked up when I did, God knows what would have happened.’

  ‘It’s a scandal, madam. They think they’re so grand here but they can’t even take care of their balconies. If the urn was so dangerous it should have been removed, not left there to fall on an unsuspecting body.’

  ‘It is probably because it is such a vast establishment, Beth, that things can get overlooked. It was a dreadful accident but luckily we were not seriously hurt. I am more concerned about Rags. If he has turned vicious I cannot allow Edward to keep him.’

  ‘That dog is the softest animal alive, madam; he wouldn’t hurt a fly — unless they tried to harm Master Edward, of course.’

  ‘Rags must be kept at the stables in future and not allowed to roam loose until Captain Mayhew returns and decides what to do with him.’ Sarah flinched as a piece of grit was removed. ‘How much longer will you be, Beth?’

  ‘I’ve almost done, ma’am. There — finished. I don’t think I need to put on a dressing. Now it’s all cleaned up it’s not half as bad as I thought.’

  ‘I must get dressed again immediately. Do I have a loose, high necked, gown that will cover my injuries?’

  Sarah rolled carefully off the bed and stood upright. Her back stung and it was painful when she moved her shoulders but she believed her injuries would be no more than a minor inconvenience,. She could hear her maid rummaging through the gowns in the dressing-room and was grateful the weather was warm enough to be left waiting in her undergarments without the danger of taking a chill. She wished Oliver had returned. The accident had made her nervous and brought all the old anxiety flooding back.

  ***

  London was comparatively quiet. The season was over and the ton had departed to their various rural retreats. However Parliament was still in session so Whites and Boodles were still busy. Oliver, a member of both since obtaining his majority, walked briskly down St James Street. He decided to try Whites first.

  His session with Digby and Digby had been satisfactory. The papers Sarah had signed were exactly what she had asked for. They secured her own settlement and made sure Edward’s portion was inviolate. He had been interested to note Sarah had made provision for any future children she might have.

  The meetings with the Fitzwilliam lawyers had also been successful. When Edward eventually inherited Westover the transfer of power to himself would be smooth. As the future Lord Fitzwilliam’s legal guardian the running of the estate and control of the fortune involved would automatically be reassigned to him. He smiled ruefully as he marched along the busy street. He had decided to find himself a rich widow to marry but never imagined he would be given so much responsibility and power. He would give it all up in an instant if by so doing he could win Sarah’s love.

  Whites, at four in the afternoon, was relatively quiet, but Oliver hoped the man he sought was in there somewhere. He greeted a few acquaintances, thanking them politely for their congratulations on his marriage, but continued to thread his way through the overstuffed leather chairs and side-tables.

  If on the premises, his quarry must be in one of the side rooms, probably dipping deep as usual. The panelled room he entered was thick with wine fumes and perspiration. The four men sitting round the centraltable had obviously been playing cards all day.

  Oliver hesitated — this was probably not an auspicious time to interrupt a quartet of hard- drinking gamblers. The youngest of the men, of medium build, his gingery hair cut short a` la Brutus, glanced up, his expression irritated. He did not like to be disturbed when gaming.

  ‘Good God! Mayhew! Where did you spring from?’ Lord Henry Gi
bbons, 27th Earl of Enford, dropped his cards and pushed his chair back. ‘I am out. My stake is forfeit. I bid you good day gentlemen.’ Henry Gibbons, whose life Oliver had saved twice when they were serving together on the Peninsula, joined him at the door pausing only to snatch his mangled neck cloth and jacket from a table top, as he passed.

  ‘It is good to see you again, my friend.’ Henry flung his arm around Oliver shoulders. ‘I hear felicitations are in order? The word is you have landed firmly on your feet and caught a wealthy young widow in your net.’ Oliver’s muscles bunched under his loose hold and he dropped his arm. ‘Did I get it wrong, old fellow? Have I offended you?’

  Oliver relaxed and grinned. ‘Yes and no, Harry. Yes, I have married, a beautiful, spirited, adorable young widow and no, I do not care a fig for the money.’ His grin became even wider. ‘I never thought I would ever be able to say this, but I am neck over crop in love with my wife. It is the reason I married her and whatever you might have heard to the contrary is incorrect.’

  ‘My God! Struck down by Cupid in your prime! Well done, Oliver. I sincerely envy you. Am I to get an invitation to meet this paragon of beauty?’

  ‘Anything is possible, but I don’t think my wife is quite ready for you. She has led a sheltered life.’

  They men found an empty room and went in, closing the door firmly behind them. Oliver got straight to the point. ‘I need some information, Harry, about a Richard Fitzwilliam. He has an estate in Hertfordshire, and as that’s your home too, I’m hoping you can tell me something about him.’

  ‘Richard Fitzwilliam, yes, I do know him. His estates run parallel to mine. He is not precisely a friend, but definitely an acquaintance. What do you wish to know?’

  ‘His financial circumstances, family, anything and everything. I will explain why I need this information later.’

  ‘Richard is one of the warmest men in England. He inherited millions from his maternal grandfather. He is pleasant enough. He and his family spend half their life aboard a yacht he had commissioned for him. He is married and has offspring, but I have no recollection of their ages or sex.’

  ‘Is he abroad now?’

  ‘Actually I think I heard he has returned prematurely; his mother has been taken ill. I believe. He has been back in residence for a few weeks, at that monstrosity he had built for himself. I have never visited, but I understand it rivals The Pavilion for vulgarity and size.’

  Oliver rubbed his eyes, his thoughts troubled. ‘I will explain why I need to know.’ When he had finished his tale Henry shook his head.

  ‘You have the wrong cat up your tree, Oliver. Fitzwilliam has no interest in the title; he is something of a Republican in his sympathies. Now, if you had been accusing him of being a Bonapartist and aiding the enemy, I might have been interested.’

  ‘Then who in God’s name has been trying to harm Edward and Sarah? The man I captured named Fitzwilliam and he was too terrified to lie to me, I can assure you.’ Oliver frowned and thought back over exactly what his prisoner had said. Something was niggling at the fringes of his memory. ‘God’s teeth! I have it now!’ He slammed his hands on the table with such force Henry recoiled. ‘The prisoner described the go-between as dark-visaged, black garbed and well spoken. I have actually encountered a man who meets that description but failed to realize it. I have been searching in the wrong direction all this time.’

  ‘Explain yourself Oliver. Who is the murdering bastard, if it is not Fitzwilliam?’

  ‘Westover is behind the attacks. His manservant, Symonds, is the go-between.’

  ‘Are you certain?’ Henry sounded as horrified as he looked.

  ‘Yes, it makes perfect sense.’

  ‘For God’s sake, man why are you still sitting here? Your wife and stepson are in Westover’s power. With you absent he has free rein to attack again!’

  The blood drained from Oliver’s face. He should not have needed his friend to point this out to him but for a moment his brain had refused to recognise the importance of his discovery. This was too awful to contemplate. He had blithely ridden off leaving his beloved wife at the mercy of a ruthless killer. Eventually his limbs responded to his will. He was on his feet and out of the door before Henry could wish him ‘God speed!’

  Chapter Twenty

  ‘There’s a basket of fruit for you, madam,’ Beth said, staggering across Sarah’s private sitting-room.

  ‘Good heavens! We will never eat all this. The three vases of flowers that have already arrived are sufficient apology. I wonder what will be sent up next?’

  Edward was already investigating the basket. ‘Can I have a peach, Mama?’

  ‘Yes, darling, of course. Do you wish to finish this game or shall we consider it a draw?’

  Edward, chin dripping with peach juice, grinned. ‘I was winning, you know I was.’

  ‘Very well, I admit defeat.’ She handed him a napkin. ‘Go and sit down and eat that, please, it is dripping on the carpet.’ She watched him curl up in the window seat glad he was, for the moment, content to remain indoors with her. There was a third knock at the door. Beth hurried over to answer it and was informed, by a footman, that the doctor had arrived.

  ‘Dr Radcliff’s here, madam. Do you still wish to see him?’

  Sarah considered. ‘Yes, I suppose I must. It would be discourteous to send him away without a least speaking to him. Ask him to come up.’ Beth relayed the message and closed the door.

  Sally took Edward’s hand. ‘Come along, Master Edward, we will go upstairs. Madam is having a visitor.’

  Edward was happy to go after Sarah gave him permission to select two more pieces of hot house fruit to take up to the nursery with him.

  Dr Radcliff was short and stout, his black waistcoat buttons straining. ‘My dear, Mrs Mayhew, what a dreadful experience for you. I have come at once to attend you. Lord Fitzwilliam is a dear and valued patient and has asked me to take especial care of you.’ The doctor dropped his medical bag on the floor and bowed politely.

  Sarah nodded, she was too sore to do more. ‘Thank you for attending so promptly, Dr Radcliff. However, I am pleased to say your visit is unnecessary. My injuries are minor and my maid has dealt with them.’

  The doctor beamed. ‘Excellent, Mrs Mayhew. I am delighted that you do not need my services. But if you feel feverish or unwell in any way please do not hesitate to send for me at once.’

  They exchanged farewells and the doctor departed. ‘It was kind of Lord Fitzwilliam to engage in his own physician, wasn’t it, madam?’

  ‘Indeed, Beth; but I would expect no less. He has shown us nothing but friendliness and courtesy since we arrived. It is hardly his fault an urn fell from the balcony.’ She walked slowly over to the window; the midday sun glinted on the sea. ‘It is almost high tide. There’s so much water — it appears to fill the horizon.’ She smiled. ‘Easy to see why the ancients believed the world was flat; if I did not know better I would think so myself.’

  Beth joined her at the window. ‘I don’t like the way the sea rushes in so fast, madam. I watched it yesterday. One minute that old wreck was there and the next it had been swallowed by the racing water. It fair scared me, it did. I’ll be glad to get back to the country; you know where you are with trees and such.’

  Sarah laughed. ‘We will be returning in a week or so, I promise. Lord Fitzwilliam wishes Captain Mayhew to spend some time inspecting the estate with his manager. But after that we will be free to return to Rowley Court.’ She attempted to sit in a high back chair but found it too uncomfortable. Restless, she got up and walked around the room. ‘Beth, will you send for Jack. I must speak to him.’

  She perched on the window-seat and waited. When Jack arrived he was uneasy and not his usual cheerful self. Sarah got straight to the point. ‘Jack, I’m concerned Rags has been altered in some way by his poisoning. I wish you
to keep him restrained at all times. Edward must only see him when you are there, is that clear?’

  Jack shifted uncomfortably and mumbled. ‘Yes, ma’am, I understand.’

  ‘What is wrong, Jack? Is there something you are not telling me?’

  Miserably Jack looked up. ‘I’m sorry ma’am, but the dog’s run off. I took him back, like you told me, and tied him up in the stable yard, but somehow he got free. I’ve been searching for him this past hour, but he’s vanished.’

  ‘I see. I’m afraid that rather confirms my fears. This is also out of character. Please keep looking and try and catch the animal. I shudder to think what he would do if he meets poor Mr Symonds.’

  Jack risked a grin. ‘I expect he’s over on the downs somewhere, rabbit hunting. I’ll go there again and take another look.’

  After his departure Sarah found a book to read and settled down, but she couldn’t concentrate. Too much had happened. For the second time that day she wished Oliver was with her. She had been delighted and relieved to discover Peters had ridden off to Town to fetch him back. When he was there even the worst situations were more bearable.

  ***

  The following morning Sarah was fully restored. Apart from a little residual stiffness and she could almost imagine yesterday’s near miss had not occurred. She decided politeness demanded she descend to Lord Fitzwilliam’s quarters where she could offer her thanks for his kindness in person. She could also reassure him that neither she, nor Edward, had suffered lasting damage from the unfortunate mishap.

  Edward was reluctant to accompany her. He had heard that his beloved pet was still missing and wanted to be allowed to go with Jack to search for him. ‘Rags has been out all night on his own. He will be really miserable. I promise I’ll stay with Jack, Mama. Sally can take me down to the stables, then you can go and visit Lord Fitzwilliam in peace.’