The Lady Forfeits Read online

  Gabriel nodded wryly. ‘I’m sure Caroline is advising Diana to inform me she has changed her mind and will not marry me after all.’

  The other man looked intrigued. ‘And your reaction if Diana were to do that?’

  What would he feel if that should happen? Gabriel wondered. Annoyance, certainly, at having to retract the announcement in the newspapers. But what else would he, personally, feel…?

  He would feel nothing else, nothing! Diana was no more necessary to his happiness than any woman had been. If she should change her mind about marrying him, then no doubt he would find another quickly enough who would accept; from the mountain of invitations he had received these past two days it would appear that inheriting the earldom of Westbourne had made him as eligible to the ladies of the ton as it had assured his place back in society.

  Besides…‘Diana will not change her mind.’

  ‘You sound very sure of that fact,’ Dominic murmured.

  Gabriel gave a slight smile. ‘When you have come to know your future sister-in-law only a little longer you will realise that Diana is not a woman to go back on her word.’ The abruptness with which he stood put an end to that particular conversation and Gabriel moved down the table to replenish both men’s glasses before speaking again. ‘Dominic, there is something else I would talk to you about…’

  The other man’s gaze sharpened. ‘Yes?’

  ‘I received a letter earlier this today from my mother’s companion, Alice Britton.’

  ‘The devil you did!’ Dominic burst out incredulously.

  ‘Indeed.’ Gabriel made no effort to resume his seat at the table, but instead began to pace the room.

  ‘For what purpose?’

  He ran a hand through his hair. ‘To inform me that my mother’s health has been fragile since my father died.’

  ‘I am sorry for that, Gabe.’

  ‘As am I,’ he admitted. ‘She also wished me to know that my Uncle Charles and his wife have resided at Faulkner Manor with my mother this past six years.’

  ‘Good God!’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What do you intend to do about it?’

  ‘You are the second person this evening to ask me that.’ Gabriel sighed.

  ‘Diana?’ Dominic said knowingly.

  ‘Exactly.’

  ‘Shall you go into Cambridgeshire, then?’

  Gabriel looked at him. ‘What do you think?’

  His friend snorted. ‘I think that you are as likely to return to Faulkner Manor with Charles and Jennifer Prescott in residence as you are to consign yourself to the fires of hell!’

  ‘Exactly,’ Gabriel confirmed.

  ‘Does Diana know? Is she conversant with what happened eight years ago?’

  ‘I am not a complete blackguard, Dominic,’ Gabriel said. ‘I felt it only fair that Diana be made aware of the…basics of that past scandal.’

  ‘But not the details?’ Dominic asked shrewdly.

  ‘No.’

  ‘Such as the name of the lady you supposedly ruined?’ his friend pressed.

  ‘We both know that I never laid so much as a finger on her.’ Gabriel’s mouth had thinned into a grim line. ‘And I dispute the claim that she ever was, or ever could be, considered a lady!’

  ‘Gabriel—’

  ‘No, I have not informed Diana of her name.’ His hand was now clasped so tightly about his brandy glass that Gabriel was surprised it did not shatter.

  Dominic looked wary. ‘Do you not feel that perhaps you should?’

  Gabriel shook his head. ‘I don’t feel it’s necessary that I do so at this point in time, no.’

  And if he had his way, it never would be…

  Caroline was distraught. ‘I cannot even bear the thought of you marrying a man you do not love. Even one who has surprised us all by being so sinfully handsome,’ she allowed grudgingly.

  Diana smiled affectionately at Caroline now as she paced Diana’s bedchamber energetically. ‘He is rather handsome.’

  ‘Even so—’

  ‘If, like our Aunt Humphries, you are about to raise the subject of the past scandal attached to the earl’s name, then I think you should know that he has already discussed it with me.’

  Her sister’s eyes widened with curiosity. ‘He has?’

  Diana smiled ruefully. ‘If we are to have nothing else between us, then I believe we are to have honesty, at least. But only between the two of us,’ she added firmly as she saw Caroline’s interest. ‘I have no intention of breaking the earl’s confidence by discussing the subject with you or anyone else.’

  ‘But to even think of marrying without love—’

  ‘Caroline, I am not looking for love and romance in my marriage.’ She sighed.

  ‘Why on earth not?’ her sister demanded, outraged.

  Diana smiled sadly. ‘Possibly because I have good reason to know how fickle those two things can be?’

  ‘I do not understand.’ Caroline halted her pacing to shake her head. ‘I was sure that you and Malcolm Castle were to be married.’

  ‘Malcolm is no longer a part of my life.’ It was Diana’s turn to stand up restlessly.

  ‘But why not? What on earth happened?’

  ‘He is to marry another. And that is an end to it, Caroline,’ she added decisively as her sister would have demanded to know more. ‘Now I am happy to settle for marriage to a man who makes no false declarations of love, but has stated firmly and clearly exactly what he expects of me.’

  ‘He expects you to become nothing but a brood mare,’ her sister snorted.

  Diana stiffened. ‘You are being unfair—’

  ‘Forgive me, Diana!’ Caroline stepped forwards to hug her impulsively. ‘It is only that to love, and know that I am as deeply loved in return, is the most joyful experience of my life: I simply cannot bear the thought of your settling for less.’ The light of rebellion shone in her sea-green eyes.

  ‘I am not like you, Caroline.’ She smiled gently. ‘I do not require that a man be as wildly in love with me as your earl obviously is with you. A mutual respect and liking will suit me just as well.’

  ‘And do you respect and like Gabriel Faulkner, Diana?’ her sister probed softly.

  Did she like and respect Gabriel? Diana wondered, her cheeks feeling suddenly warm. She respected his honesty, at least, and he was, as Caroline proclaimed, sinfully handsome. He was certainly not a man to be overlooked under any circumstances. She had also found his kisses and caresses to be thrillingly pleasurable— But did those things all add up to a liking for him?

  ‘I have every confidence that Lord Faulkner and I will deal very well together in our marriage,’ she finally said evasively.

  Caroline eyed her. ‘That does not answer my question.’

  No, it did not, because she had no idea whether or not she liked the man she had agreed to marry. Surely liking someone was a comfortable feeling, an easy relationship, and did not involve the knife-edge of awareness that Diana experienced whenever she was in his company?

  ‘It is enough for now that I respect both him and the honesty he has given me,’ she reiterated with such finality that even the impulsive Caroline knew not to probe any further.

  ‘We appear to have caused something of a stir when we announced our betrothal to Dominic and Caroline yesterday evening,’ Gabriel commented, glancing across the breakfast table at the coolly composed Diana.

  Neither Caroline nor Blackstone had made an appearance as yet this morning, causing Gabriel to wonder privately whether the pair were not together in one of their bedchambers indulging in the intimacy that had been so apparent between them yesterday evening. Not that he was overly concerned if they were; Dominic had made it more than plain yesterday that his marriage was to take place at the earliest convenience.

  How different, how much more acceptable to Gabriel was Diana’s air of capable calmness than her younger sister’s obvious fiery and impulsive nature; he certainly did not envy Blackstone his choice of wife.
Although he did have doubts as to whether Diana’s cool composure was not merely a thin veneer this morning.

  ‘Perhaps, having had opportunity to talk with your sister, you have decided that you do not wish our own betrothal to continue,’ he suggested.

  ‘If one more person dares to suggest that to me, then I fear I might actually scream!’ Diana pierced him with over-bright blue eyes as she glared across the small table at him.

  Somehow Gabriel did not think so. ‘Caroline?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘And your Aunt Humphries was less than warm to the idea when she was informed, was she?’

  Diana lifted that stubbornly pointed chin. ‘I have given my word, Gabriel, and I will not break it.’

  His mouth quirked as she repeated the claim he had made to Blackstone the previous evening. It seemed his reading of her character was correct. ‘No matter what terrible tales you are told about me?’

  ‘Not even then.’

  Gabriel looked at her admiringly. ‘If we’d had a dozen women like you beside us in the fight against Napoleon, then the war would no doubt have ended much sooner than it did.’

  ‘If that situation had been left in the hands of women, then there would not have been a war at all,’ Diana returned waspishly.

  Gabriel gave an appreciative smile. ‘You are determined to go ahead with our marriage, then?’

  Diana’s outward confidence wavered slightly at the caution she sensed in Gabriel’s manner. ‘Unless you are having second thoughts on the matter?’

  ‘Not at all,’ he dismissed easily.

  She felt somewhat reassured by that ease of manner. ‘In that case, I suggest we turn our discussion as to what we are to do about the disappearance of Elizabeth.’

  The earl’s good humour instantly evaporated. ‘Tell me, is she as without fear as Caroline?’

  Diana’s expression softened with affection. ‘Despite appearances, I believe Elizabeth’s character to be less headstrong, certainly. Her initial impulses are invariably tempered by caution,’ she explained at Gabriel’s look of enquiry.

  ‘That is something to be grateful for, at least!’

  Diana laughed. ‘I only met Lord Vaughn yesterday, but I believe him to be more than capable of curbing the more dangerous of Caroline’s excesses.’

  ‘Let us hope so.’

  ‘They are so very much in love, are they not…?’

  Gabriel wondered if she was aware of how wistful she both sounded and looked. Probably not—her own foray into romantic love had not had such a happy ending. Any more than a marriage between the two of them would? he wondered.

  ‘They are, yes.’ Gabriel resolutely shook off any doubts he might have about Diana becoming the wife of a man who was incapable of feeling love. ‘With Blackstone’s help I intend to intensify the search for Elizabeth this very morning.’

  A frown creased her creamy brow. ‘Do you really think it possible she followed Caroline here?’

  ‘I am sure of it.’ Just as sure as he was that it would be too much to hope that the youngest of the Copeland sisters had faired as well as Caroline, who had fallen into a safe pair of hands.

  She gave him a quizzical glance. ‘And you are still as determined this morning not to travel into Cambridgeshire to see your mother?’

  His mouth thinned. ‘Oh, yes.’

  ‘Very well.’ She gave a cool inclination of her head. ‘If you should change your mind—’

  ‘I will not.’ Gabriel threw down his napkin and stood, a nerve pulsing in his cheek. He had succeeded in distracting both Diana’s attention and his own from this subject the previous evening by taking her in his arms and kissing her. A course of action that had, if anything, backfired on himself. ‘The subject is at an end, Diana. I advise you not attempt to discuss it with me again.’

  Diana knew, from the ruthless resolve she could see in his expression as he left the room, that she would have little choice but to do as he asked.

  Or, at least, Diana would have had little choice if a second letter had not arrived from Alice Britton the following morning, care of Westbourne House, and addressed to her this time…

  ‘Caro is becoming most displeased at our lack of progress in regard to our search for Elizabeth.’ Dominic grimaced as the two men strode back into the entrance hall of Westbourne House.

  Gabriel shot his friend a disbelieving glance after handing his hat and cane to the attentive Soames. ‘I cannot believe how quickly you have fallen beneath that young lady’s beautiful thumb.’

  Dominic gave an unconcerned grin. ‘It is not the beauty of Caro’s thumb under which I have fallen!’

  Gabriel snorted with laughter. ‘I would find you quite nauseating if it were not for your obvious happiness with the arrangement.’ In truth, he had never seen his friend so happy or contented; even these few brief hours Dominic had spent away from Caro’s company were chafing the other man’s patience.

  Dominic grinned unabashedly as he turned from handing over his own hat and cane. ‘I cannot recommend the arrangement strongly enough.’

  Gabriel looked down the length of his nose. ‘I am perfectly content with my own betrothal to Diana, thank you very much.’

  ‘As you please,’ Blackstone shrugged.

  ‘I do please,’ Gabriel replied before turning to the butler. ‘Where are the ladies, Soames?’

  ‘I believe Lady Caroline is upstairs with her aunt, my lord.’

  ‘And Lady Diana?’

  ‘She and her maid departed in the carriage more than an hour ago, my lord.’

  ‘Departed?’ Gabriel repeated softly, a terrible sense of foreboding settling over him.

  ‘Yes, my lord.’

  ‘To go where?’

  ‘She did not say, my lord.’ The butler placed the two hats and canes upon the stand in the hallway. ‘She was in somewhat of a hurry when she left, but she did ask me to keep this note about my person to give to you as soon as you returned.’ The butler produced the slightly crumpled missive from the breast pocket of his jacket.

  Gabriel took the note before striding into the privacy of the parlour and breaking the seal. It was a letter from Diana, explaining where she was going and why. Along with a second letter tucked inside the first, from Alice Britton and addressed to Diana, entreating her to exert her influence upon Gabriel to encourage him to visit his mother at his earliest convenience.

  Gabriel read Diana’s letter three times. Disbelievingly. Incredulously. She had gone to Cambridgeshire! The colour drained from his cheeks and a furious glitter entered his eyes, his fingers finally clenching about the paper before he crushed it into the palm of his hand.

  Chapter Seven

  Diana’s nervousness at her decision to travel to Faulkner Manor in Cambridgeshire accompanied only by her maid increased the further they travelled away from London, aware as she was that Gabriel was sure to be most displeased when he returned to Westbourne House and learnt what she had done.

  Displeased enough, she hoped, to follow her…

  In view of his determination not to even discuss the subject any further, there had seemed no other way in which to ensure that he travelled to see his mother, something she felt even more strongly that he should do upon receipt of that second letter from Alice Britton. The elderly woman was obviously deeply concerned for Felicity Faulkner.

  Except Diana had quickly realised the glaring fault with her plan: there was no guarantee Gabriel would follow her. Indeed, he had not done so in the almost twenty-four hours since she had departed London. Nor had Diana slept during her overnight stay at a coaching inn, as she instead worried about the force of Gabriel’s anger when they next spoke. Yet he still had not arrived.

  Diana’s decision to travel to Faulkner Manor had not been made lightly, torn as she was between worry over her youngest sister’s whereabouts and the obligations she felt were expected of her as the future wife of the Earl of Westbourne. Indeed, she would not have even contemplated such a journey as this had she not been r
eassured concerning Elizabeth’s welfare by the fact that Caroline and Lord Vaughn, now that they were aware Elizabeth was missing, were just as single-minded in their determination to find her.

  That particular concern put to rest, Diana was able to concentrate on her duties as Gabriel’s future wife; as such, she had made her preparations to leave for Cambridgeshire.

  Only now was she beset with such trepidation, both at her temerity in having requested Gabriel’s valet pack a trunk of the earl’s clothes to travel in the carriage with her, and the anger she knew to expect from Gabriel for her having gone at all. She very much doubted that he would appreciate her explanation that she considered their betrothal to mean that his family was now as much her responsibility as it was his!

  It was too late to do anything else now but continue her journey, Diana told herself with a determined straightening of her shoulders. Gabriel might even now—she could only hope—be somewhere on the road behind her, in hot and angry pursuit…

  ‘I trust there is some good reason why you have not already followed Diana?’

  Gabriel slowly turned from where he had been standing, watching stony-faced out of the window in his study as what seemed to be an army of gardeners set to work putting order back into the overgrown lawn and tangled flowerbeds; he had no doubts that the work was being carried out under the exact instructions of Lady Diana Copeland…

  Lady Caroline Copeland stood imperiously in the open doorway, Gabriel’s gaze cool and unemotional as he looked down the length of his nose at her; he had been aware of her brief knock upon the door several seconds ago, but had chosen not to acknowledge it. ‘I do not recall giving you leave to enter.’

  She stepped fully inside the room and closed the door behind her. ‘I do not recall having asked for it.’

  No, she had not, Gabriel acknowledged with grudging admiration. Petite and beautiful in a gown of pale grey, aged only twenty, Caroline nevertheless had a determination of will that exceeded both those attributes—was it any wonder that she had managed to bedazzle the arrogant and cynical Earl of Blackstone?