The Dangerous Lord Darrington. Sarah Mallory
to our guests.’
‘And very sorry I shall be to see them go,’ declared Lady Arabella. ‘The Priory has been far too quiet since Simon died. We have become positively reclusive.’
‘You know I would willingly move in, my lady,’ offered Miles, ‘if it would comfort you to have a man in residence.’
Lady Arabella stared at him for a long moment, her face quite impassive. She said at last, ‘Thank you, Mr Radworth, but no one can replace my grandson.’
The silence hung uneasily about the room. Beth rose in a whisper of silk.
‘Shall we go in to dinner?’
Beth did not enjoy her meal. Lady Arabella presided over the table with her usual grace, but although the two gentlemen were perfectly polite to each other, Beth was uncomfortably aware of a tension in the air. Even Sophie cast uneasy glances at them. When she considered the matter dispassionately she did not think that any blame could attach to Lord Darrington, who was seated next to Lady Arabella and responded to her questions and remarks with perfect ease and good humour. Miles, however, was above being pleased. He found fault with every dish and, although Lady Arabella did not appear to notice his ill humour, his barbed remarks made even Sophie lapse into uncharacteristic silence. He was also drinking heavily, calling for his glass to be refilled with such regularity that Kepwith was obliged to fetch up another bottle.
The covers had been removed and the dishes of sweetmeats placed upon the table when matters came to a head. Miles was reaching for a dish of sugared almonds when his cuff caught the edge of his wineglass and sent the contents spilling across the table. The earl quickly threw his napkin on the pool of wine as Miles jumped up, cursing under his breath.
‘No harm done,’ said Beth, placing her cloth over the earl’s. ‘We have contained it. Sophie, if you give me your napkin, too, I think that will do the trick.’
‘I beg your pardon, that was dashed clumsy of me,’ muttered Miles, standing back and watching proceedings. ‘That last bottle was bad.’
‘Very possibly,’ said Beth in a tight voice.
A footman brought in more cloths to finish wiping the table.
‘There, all is well again,’ remarked Lady Arabella. ‘Pray sit down again, Mr Radworth.’
‘Aye, I will, but first I am going down to the cellars to find a decent bottle!’ He grabbed the butler’s arm. ‘Give me the key.’
‘Sir!’ The butler’s exclamation was a mixture of outrage and alarm.
Sophie gasped. Beth put a hand on her shoulder, aware that the earl was watching them.
‘There is no need for that, Miles.’ She kept her voice calm. ‘Kepwith shall bring another bottle if you wish for one.’
‘Aye, I do wish it, but I’ll have none of his choosing. It’s my belief he is fobbing you off with poor stuff and keeping the best for himself.’
‘Nonsense,’ said Beth sharply. ‘I do not keep disloyal staff. Neither do I allow my guests to venture into the servants’ domain.’
Her hauteur had its effect. Miles glared at her, but she held his gaze steadily and at last he resumed his seat, saying with a little laugh, ‘You are quite right, m’dear. Plenty of time to discuss how the household is run once we are married, eh? Very well, Kepwith, you may go and find another bottle of claret, and be quick about it!’
Lady Arabella led the ladies away to the drawing room soon after, and Beth was not surprised that the gentlemen did not tarry over their port. Miles seemed to realise that he had gone too far and tried to approach Beth and apologise, but she would have none of it, turning a shoulder to him, only relenting when he announced he was leaving shortly after they had drunk tea together and humbly begged her to accompany him to the door.
‘My dear, I can only apologise for my outburst,’ he said, unclipping his watch and putting it safely in his waistcoat pocket.
She shrugged. ‘The effects of inferior wine, I collect.’
‘Not only that, Elizabeth. I fear I was jealous of seeing Darrington so at ease here.’
She blinked. ‘You are jealous of the earl? You have no need, I assure you. I have no interest in him at all!’
‘Ah, but what if he is interested in you?’ said Miles. ‘I observed how often he watched you this evening.’
‘No, I am sure you are mistaken,’ she cried, her colour heightened.
‘I think not. I fear he may wish to fix his interest with you.’
She raised her brows. ‘How can he, when I am already betrothed to you?’
‘Betrothed, yes, but how I wish we were wed!’ He pulled Beth into his arms. ‘I would have married you the moment you came out of mourning—’
‘I know, but we must give Grandmama time to grow accustomed. You have been very forbearing,’ she said softly. ‘Pray, Miles, be patient for a little longer.’
‘Why must we wait?’ His arms tightened. ‘You are no innocent schoolgirl, Beth—can you not tell how much I long for you? You need have no worry that I am making you false promises to get you into my bed. The contract is signed, ‘tis only the priest’s blessing we are lacking—’
‘Good heavens, Miles, would you have the shades of this old place rise up against us?’ she asked him jokingly. She placed her hands against his chest and held him off when he would have kissed her. ‘But, to be serious, Miles, the church vows are very important to me. I would have nothing spoil our wedding.’
She gazed at him steadily and was relieved when the hot, ardent look died from his eyes and he smiled at her.
‘Very well, my love, you know I can deny you nothing.’
He pressed a last kiss upon her fingers and took his leave. Thoughtfully Beth made her way back to the drawing room.
‘Has Mr Radworth gone now? I cannot say I am sorry,’ declared Lady Arabella. ‘How oddly he behaved tonight. I do hope he is not sickening.’
‘I am sure he is not, Grandmama. I think it is as he says, a poor wine.’
‘More like the quantity,’ put in Sophie bluntly. ‘You did not feel any ill effects, did you, my lord?’
Beth frowned at her sister. She could not be happy about the way Grandmama and Sophie had taken to Lord Darrington. It would be better for everyone’s peace of mind when he and his friend had gone.
Guy noticed the change as soon as Radworth had left the Priory. Lady Arabella’s outward demeanour did not alter, but he sensed she was a little more at ease. Sophie, too, became more talkative. Only Beth remained aloof, but Guy suspected that might be because she was embarrassed at her fiancé’s behaviour.
He was still pondering on the events of the evening when he made his way up to Davey’s room after supper.
He found his friend propped up in bed and thumbing idly through one of the newspapers that littered the bed. He tossed it aside as Guy came in and greeted him with a cry of relief.
‘Darrington, thank heaven you are come! I thought I should expire with boredom!’
Guy grinned at him. ‘You are looking much better, old friend, and sound much more like your old self. How are you?’
‘Everything still hurts like the very devil, but only if I move.’ Davey beckoned him forwards. ‘Come and sit down here and tell me all that is going on downstairs. Have you kissed any of the ladies yet?’
Guy laughed. ‘Only your broken ribs prevent me from punching you for that, Davey! Of course I haven’t! Lady Arabella is a matriarch, born to command, and her two granddaughters are both completely ineligible, one being a schoolgirl, the other a widow.’
‘A very