Regency Masquerade, page 13
“Ah, I see,” murmured Carleton. “To be honest, I was hoping to see Miss Frances Metcalf. I understand she is staying here.”
Mrs Pearson looked back nervously at the door. “I am afraid I cannot stay out here talking to you any longer my lord, but if you should happen to be in Regent Street’s lending library later this afternoon at about 4 o’clock, I might see you then.”
“I shall hope to see you there,” he replied and bowed his head. “Good day, ma’am.”
Mrs Pearson went back inside.
“What were you doing out there?” demanded Lady Murray.
“Apologising!” she answered resolutely. “Hanson was so rude to that poor man.”
Lady Murray curled her lip, “That poor man as you call him was the rake who debauched Frances!” she exclaimed crudely.
Her companion stared at her in disbelief, she could not credit it, he had been so polite, so very much the gentleman. She thought she would still go to the library later that afternoon.
Lord Carleton was inside waiting for her when she reached the library and he came over to the same shelf she was looking at and picked up a book.
“Can you tell me what has happened?” he murmured in a low voice.
“You know Miss Frances is her granddaughter?” she replied quietly. He nodded. “Everything was going along famously when my lady received a report from her solicitor Mr Pilkington, that Frances had been.. had been..” she faltered. “It mentioned a place called Chatswood, my lord. Are you familiar with that?”
Carleton drew in his breath. “That is my home ma’am. Let me reassure you that whatever you have heard, Frances has not done anything to be ashamed of but, in any case ... well, the long and the short of it is I wish her to be my wife. I would marry her tomorrow if she wills it.”
“Oh! My lord, I had hoped as much when you came to visit today. But my lady has taken against her and will not let anyone see her. She says she has lost her senses and has locked her in the old nursery and put a guard outside her door. I do not know what is to be done!”
“Can you meet me again tomorrow? I would think on this.”
“Let me see,” she thought. “I will borrow a book she has already had, then I can return it tomorrow. I will try to be here around the same time, my lord.”
They separated and Carleton went off to keep his appointment with John Hopgood at the Regent Hotel. The two men took a couple of mugs of ale over to a table in a quiet corner of the taproom, and sat down while Carleton told John what had happened that afternoon. The manservant nodded, “I guessed it must be summat like that, my lord. What do you reckon we should do next?”
“We can hardly force our way into the house! At least not without creating a shocking scandal.” He took a sip of ale and continued ruefully, “I confess I did consider whether one of us could break in at night and bring her out, but I doubt that would be as easy as it sounds.”
John had been thinking, “This woman, the old nurse, feels kindly towards Miss Frances you say?” Carleton nodded. “Do you think she could get something to her? Her pistol mayhap? I reckon Miss Frances could get out of that house easier than we could get in.”
Carleton considered the suggestion, “That’s a good idea,” he said. “In fact.. are her male clothes still here, in her room?” John nodded. “Then perhaps you could pack a small bag, including the pistol and give it to Mrs Pearson.. No wait, she does not know you, it would be better for you to give me the bag and I will pass it to the nurse. Then if she can get the bag to Frances, she will be able to leave the house much easier in breeches than in skirts, she could even climb out a window if necessary.”
The other man was nodding in agreement, “But I don’t like the idea of her coming back here,” he mused. “It would be too easy for Lady Murray to swoop in with her tame doctor and whisk her off again. We will have to return to France. I will pack the rest of her belongings here, hire a post-chaise and we will be off to Dover tonight.”
Carleton stared at him aghast. “Dover! I was expecting that she would come home with me!” he protested.
The other man stared at him in return.
Carleton flushed. “She will come to no harm with me. I plan to ask her to be my wife.”
John was sure his mouth had dropped open. “What if Lady Murray sends the runners after her? She could say you had kidnapped her.”
“I do not think so. Not even Lady Murray would wish to cause such a scandal. And in any event, she will be safe staying with me as Peter Francis.”
“I do not wish to offend you my lord,” said John carefully, “but I will need to hear from Miss Frances whether she is happy to go with you or not.”
Carleton nodded, “Of course. I suggest you pack up and settle the account here as you intended but come to my house and I will put you up. I will wait for Frances tomorrow night in my carriage, then bring her home and she can decide what she would rather do. There will still be time to travel to Dover if that is her wish. If you will trust me to do so, I will write a note explaining our plan to her, and it can go in the bag with her clothes.”
John agreed. “I hope this will all go as planned my lord. If you can wait here a moment I will go and get the bag for you now.” He was back in less than ten minutes with a small haversack. “Here you are my lord. I will be around to see you tomorrow afternoon with the rest of our baggage.”
Carleton took the bag, “Very good, I will tell Rawlings, my butler to expect you. I will be at the library to meet Mrs Pearson all being well.” They took their leave and Carleton went home to have his dinner and write a letter to Frances. He hoped he could persuade Mrs Pearson to deliver it to her.
Mrs Pearson had endured a half-hearted scold from Lady Murray over the twice borrowed book and allowed herself to be persuaded that she should return to the library the very next day to exchange it. Again Lord Carleton was already there when she arrived. He waited at a distance until she had dispatched the maidservant who had accompanied her on an errand, then approached her this time as an old acquaintance for the benefit of anyone else in the library, “Mrs Pearson, I hope I find you well ma’am?” He lowered his voice, “How is she? Have you seen her?”
“Not yet,” came the disappointing reply. “I will try again on my return.”
“I have a small bag here containing items she may be able to use to help her escape. Do you think you might be able to get it to her?” He spoke urgently and she looked a little flustered.
“Oh my lord, I am sure I don’t know...what does it hold?”
“Some clothes she can use as a disguise, and a letter from me,” he admitted. “I know you would not normally be involved in a clandestine correspondence, but these are far from normal circumstances! You may read it if you think you must but it is merely a letter reassuring her of my intentions,” he added, hoping the last comment would dissuade her from the attempt. She blushed slightly and took the bag from him.
“I will be waiting outside tonight in my carriage,” he told her.
Feeling as if she were engaged in a thrilling adventure, Mrs Pearson said conspiratorily, “If I am not able to get the bag to her by tonight my lord, I will leave a light on in my window, it is at the front of the house on the first floor.”
“What a clever notion. You have my gratitude ma’am.” He had a sudden twinge of conscience. “If per chance you should suffer from this nights’ work, come to me and I will help you.” They parted just before the maidservant returned from her errand. “Where ever did that bag come from ma’am?” she exclaimed.
“I brought it to carry some library books I have borrowed for Miss Frances,” the old nurse improvised. I am becoming quite good at this she congratulated herself.
When she returned, she sought out Lady Murray straight away. “My lady, no matter what Miss Frances has done, I do think I should see her and make sure she is all right up there. I have brought some library books for her that I think will prove helpful, a book of sermons my late father was very fond of, most edifying. I am sure I shall be safe if Tom is with me,” she added craftily.
Lady Murray thought for a moment. Mrs Pearson held her breath.
“Very well, Tom will take you up in a minute. Don’t be upset if she appears a little.. wild, Dr Russell said the medicine she is taking has some odd side effects.” In fact thought Lady Murray, I hope she becomes hysterical, it will help persuade Mrs Pearson and everyone else she is not quite right in the head and needs to be confined.
Carrying the haversack herself, Mrs Pearson followed Tom up the stairs with some trepidation. Tom opened the door without knocking and stepped inside. “You’ve got a visitor Miss,” he said and ushered the old nurse into the room.
“Oh Mrs Pearson, thank heavens!” said Frances with a hitch in her voice, coming towards her. The old nurse put up a hand to fend her off. “Now there Miss Frances,” she said soothingly, “you must keep calm, you know how the doctor said any excitement is bad for you.” She closed one eye, hoping Frances would take the hint. “I have brought you some books. You will find them very instructive.” She put the bag into Frances hands, standing in front of her so that Tom could not see her face for a moment. It was just as well that she did, for Frances nearly dropped the bag in surprise, there were certainly no books inside it. Quickly she put a tremulous smile on her face, “Thank you, that is kind of you.” She let a tear roll down her cheek, only half acting. “I don’t like this place. Grandmother said I might go to stay in the country, do you know when?”
“No my dear, soon I hope. I will talk to Lady Murray and see what is happening, I am sure she is doing what is best for you. I will come up and see you again tomorrow if you would like that.”
“Yes please,” Frances replied in a docile voice, “I am so lonely up here.” She let her voice tremble and was unpleasantly surprised by how easy that was. She flung herself on the bed after the nurse left in case Tom was waiting outside to come back in and check up on her. She waited a good half hour until her tea was brought to her, a slice of bread and butter and a glass of milk, then waited again until Tom came to clear it away, before she carefully opened the haversack. There was a note on pink writing paper on the top.
“My dear,
Tonight, when everyone is asleep, pretend to be taken ill. Call out for Tom and ask him to fetch me, then leave quickly when the door is opened. A friend awaits you in the street.
MP”
She almost burst into tears as took out her breeches, shirt and jacket, boots for her feet and best of all her silver pistol. Wait, there was another paper folded in quarters at the bottom of the bag. She hastily drew the bed spread up to cover the clothes before unfolding the letter.
“Frances,
I love you. Come to me, I will be waiting below, all night if necessary.
Carleton”
Her heart thudded like a runaway horse while she read it again. She would wait until the house had settled for the night and then she would go to him.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Carleton sat fretting in silence in the dark. He had hired a hackney cab for the whole night, giving the driver ten pounds to be at his exclusive disposal. As this was more than he would make in a month, the man had been ecstatic to oblige. Every so often he would flick the horse awake and they would take a turn around the block.
Impatiently Frances waited for her dinner things to be cleared away and the household to retire for the night, then dressed thankfully in the items Mrs Pearson had brought to her. She sat down on the bed and checked that her pistol was loaded. Patience she told herself, wait a bit longer. The minutes passed with agonising slowness until finally she heard the watchman call out the midnight hour. It was time. Hopefully Tom would have roused a little with the call. She started groaning, gradually getting louder, “Oh my stomach,” she moaned. She stumbled noisily from the bed and banged feebly at the door. “Help me Tom, I feel so sick, I think I’m dying!”
She heard a shuffling noise, then his voice came through the door in a hoarse whisper.
“I’m not allowed to come in there, Miss. You’ll be alright once you’ve cast up your accounts.”
“It’s not that Tom, it’s ..oh, I can’t tell you, you would not understand. I need a female to assist me, get Mrs Pearson, please Tom!” She moaned again.
Alarmed and fearful about these mysterious feminine problems, Tom wavered for a moment then left his post in search of the old nurse, this was not something he could deal with by himself. Mrs Pearson rose quickly and draped a cloak over her nightclothes, “Whatever is the matter Tom?” she remembered to ask.
“It’s Miss Frances, she is not well. She asked me to bring you up to her,” whispered Tom.
“Certainly,” she agreed. “I will come straight away. Let’s be careful not to wake Lady Murray,” she added. Tom needed no reminder and they both crept back upstairs to the old nursery.
“Open the door Tom,” she ordered. Tom unlocked the door and opened it for Mrs Pearson to enter. His eyes went straight to the empty bed. Where was the girl?
“Come in both of you please,” came a familiar voice from against the wall, right next to the open door. Tom looked around and was dumbfounded to see a young man in front of him, pointing a pistol at him with very steady hands.
“Inside!” he gestured with the pistol. Mrs Pearson clung to Toms’ arm, preventing him from tackling the youth even if he had wanted to. “Oh do what she says Tom, oh dear, I shall have a spasm for certain.” She leant heavily on his arm.
Reluctantly Tom did as he was ordered. He was a strapping young man and it went against the grain for him to submit to a chit of a girl, pistol or not, but he could hardly throw Mrs Pearson to the floor.
“The key please!” demanded Frances. “I must warn you that I am a crack shot,” she threatened, then added wryly. “Of course I could scarcely miss from this distance!” Tom handed the key over unwillingly. The youth, who Tom knew must be Frances, edged out the room. “I am afraid you are not going to have a very comfortable night, but I need a head start. Give my regards to Grandmother!” Then they heard the sound of the key turning in the lock. Tom half carried half dragged Mrs Pearson to the bed then flung himself at the door, but as Frances had discovered previously it was exceedingly solid. Mrs Pearson sat back on the bed and looked at the ceiling, it was going to be a long night.
Frances slid noiselessly along the candlelit passage, her boots in one hand and her pistol in the other. The haversack was slung over one shoulder. She reached her blue bedroom without incident and found it as she had left it. Hastily she packed a few valuable items into the haversack, including her father’s ring, the more costly of her wigs, the water green gown and a few small items of clothing. The rest of the articles could be retrieved later if possible, unless Lady Murray destroyed them in a fit of pique. The front door would be locked and barred for the night. Cautiously she opened the window and leant out. Her room overlooked the front of the house and she could see the pavement about twelve feet below. She tossed her boots to the ground then swung herself out the window until she was holding on by her hands, then dropped sure footedly to the pavement.
She looked around but could see no-one waiting for her. Just then a carriage ambled quietly down the street and drew up in front of her. Carleton leant forward and opened the door, “Frances?”
“Here my lord,” she stepped into the coach without hesitating and Carleton closed the door behind her. As previously instructed, the cab picked up speed immediately, rattling over the cobblestones on its way to Carleton’s house. It was dark inside the coach, Carleton wished he could see her face. “Are you all right?” he demanded.
“Nothing a bath and a good meal won’t cure,” she responded cheerfully. “Tell me everything that has happened! I was never so surprised to see Mrs Pearson, a conspirator! She carried everything off like an actress born!” She suddenly remembered she had left her locked in the nursery, “Oh dear, I hope she does not have too uncomfortable a night. I had to leave her and Tom prisoners in the old nursery, where they had been holding me!” she added darkly.
“Where are we going?” she asked, suddenly feeling self-conscious. She had thought from his letter that Carleton would sweep her into his arms, but perhaps he felt uncomfortable when she was dressed in men’s clothes
“My house. Your manservant Hopgood is there too,” he reassured her. “He wanted you both to leave for Dover immediately but I hoped..”
“Yes?”
“I hoped you would consider staying with me. Damn this dark! How can I tell what you are thinking if I cannot see you?”
For answer, Frances lent across the seat and kissed him on the mouth. He froze for a stunned second then pulled her roughly to him so that she was seated on his lap, his arms holding her tightly against him. He opened his mouth beneath hers and kissed her back, his tongue licking against hers’, his hand caressing her down the curve of her hip and thigh. It was as if she had set a match to a powder keg. She put both arms around his neck, and wriggled around to get more comfortable. “For heavens’ sake!” he gasped, “Keep still or I shall ..I shall-”
“What?” she asked innocently.
“Never mind, I shall explain things once we are wed.”
Speechless for a moment she drew back from him.
“What is the matter? Do I go too far?” He brought his hand back to her waist, peering through the darkness to try and read her expression.
“Richard, you do not have to marry me. I will be yours as long as you want me.”
He swallowed. “I want you forever Frances, marry me, please.”
“Are you sure? There will be an almighty scandal, most of the ton will not recognise me you know.”
“I am very sure, besides how else will I get my hands on your ten thousand pounds?” he teased.
She laughed. “In that case, yes, I will marry you, just to save you from a life of poverty.”
“Kiss me again so I know you mean it,” he demanded. Some breathless moments later the cab came to a halt outside Carleton’s house, to the disappointment of both its occupants.
