Page 62 of Dangerous Illusions (Dangerous #1)

L OOKING OUT THE CARRIAGE window at the passing countryside, Daintry sighed, thinking her father had whisked them out of London so fast that she had scarcely had time to snatch up the things she would need along the way.

They had not departed until nearly two o’clock, however, and she had kept an eye on the square in hopes that Deverill would come to call before they left, but he had not.

Perhaps he had thought better of it. More likely, he simply had not realized they had meant to leave so soon.

Penthorpe, too, would be surprised by their abrupt departure, although her father had promised to send word to him.

“No point in staying longer,” St. Merryn had declared before retiring the night before, “for there’s no saying what mischief you’ll be getting up to if we do.

We came to town to find you a husband, after all, and now Penthorpe’s back, it will be better to be married from your own home, and so I have explained it to him.

He may not want to go to Cornwall at once, I suppose, but I shall make it clear that he is not to linger here too long. ”

Lady St. Merryn had objected, albeit weakly, when the plan was made known to her, but Cousin Ethelinda had attended to the details, and since all but the upper servants and their personal ones would be following at their own pace with the baggage, she could give no good reason not to leave at once.

Charles and Davina, much to everyone’s surprise, had also decided to go.

Davina, peeping into Daintry’s room soon after Nance had wakened her that morning, had said laughingly, “It is dreadful to be rousted out so early when one would much rather sleep all day—especially after such a night—but your father is complaining that if we delay, we shall not be able to leave until Monday, and he is quite right because dear Mama St. Merryn will make a grand fuss if he tries to make her travel on a Sunday.”

“You really are going with us, then.”

“Oh, yes, for now that matters are clearer between us, we don’t mean to spoil them again, and our habits have become so set, you know, that there is no telling what will happen if we go on larking about as we have been.

I shall miss the parties and balls much more than Charles will, but I daresay I shan’t miss them quite so much if I can spend more time with him. ”

That she might actually get to spend more time with him was evident by the fact that he had agreed to occupy a carriage with her rather than riding as he usually did, so although Daintry was not convinced that things would turn out as Davina hoped they would, she could not blame her for believing they might.

For once, she shared a carriage only with Lady Ophelia, who was looking particularly chipper.

As the carriage left the cobblestones for the Exeter road, she said, “A pity we must leave just when I’ve finally had the benefit of a good night’s sleep, though I cannot think what possessed me to drift off like I did. ”

Feeling sudden warmth in her face, Daintry was grateful for the dim light in the carriage, and hoped her great-aunt would not notice her reddening cheeks.

Lady Ophelia went on, “You know it was the oddest thing, my dozing off like that. I believe I have never done such a thing before in my life, and to think I did not so much as stir when I was carried upstairs or when Alma undressed me and got me beneath the covers. I am no lightweight either, you know. I hope whoever carried me did not do himself an injury.”

“It was Deverill, ma’am. He had no difficulty.”

“I do not suppose he would, though I own, I am surprised your father allowed him to penetrate so far into the house.”

“Papa had other things on his mind, I suppose,” Daintry said, thinking of Geoffrey and Susan and wondering what her father had heard about that unfortunate incident. She wished that she might have seen her sister before they left, to learn if Deverill had been right to think she would be safe.

Lady Ophelia chuckled. “Poor St. Merryn. What he must have thought, finding me sound asleep like that, but I tell you, I am too grateful to have had a full night’s repose to concern myself with what a figure I must have made.

Why, I had begun to believe I should never adapt to London hours this year. ”

Daintry bit her lip.

“What is it?” the old lady demanded. “You look like a cat that’s been at the cream. What mischief have you been brewing?”

“It was not my brewing, ma’am, and was mischief only because it went awry, but I confess, your sleep was not entirely natural.

When you said you were thirsty, Penthorpe gave you a cup of punch that Deverill had intended for him to drink in hopes of keeping him from getting into an altercation with Geoffrey. ”

Lady Ophelia stared at her, then burst suddenly into a peal of laughter. “What was in it?” she demanded when she could speak. “I tell you, I’ve never slept so soundly.”

“It was a mixture Dr. Kingston had given Deverill for his headaches,” Daintry told her. “I do not know what was in it.”

“Well, we must find out, for I shall not go to London next year without some such thing by me, I can tell you. Miraculous, that’s what it was, absolutely miraculous.”

Relieved that she was amused and not angry, Daintry went on to tell her about the other events of the previous night, and if the tale distressed the formidable lady, she nonetheless tended to agree with Deverill that Geoffrey would not really harm Susan.

“For you may depend upon it, my dear, that he knows folks will forgive his flying into the boughs when he jumped to the notion that Penthorpe was trifling with her, for that’s understandable, but once people begin to believe he mistreats her, it will be quite another matter.

And if he does not understand that, you may be certain that his precious Lady Catherine does. ”

“But Geoffrey always thinks he will be forgiven whatever he does, ma’am. I have frequently observed that.”

“Well, of course, he does, my dear. Gentlemen generally do have that belief, and quite naturally, considering the way this world is ordered to suit them. After all, as angry as you may become over the way he mistreats Susan, he knows perfectly well that you are obliged to be civil to him when you meet, for if you are not, it is you who will be blamed for your poor manners, not he for having provoked them. In this life, manners are the glue that holds everything together, particularly for females.” She smiled wryly, adding, “When a man—even one like Geoffrey—flies into a passion with his wife, the world wonders what she did to annoy him. When a wife does the same thing, the world believes she needs to be controlled, even disciplined, if only to protect her against the consequences of such distempered freakishness.”

Daintry thought about that and decided that if she had to marry, it was better that she was marrying a man like Penthorpe, who would not attempt to mold her into a submissive wife, and not one like Deverill, who would; and, if she did not find these thoughts particularly cheering, at least they occupied her idle moments until they halted for the evening in Bagshot.

The journey back to Cornwall was accomplished more quickly than the journey to London had been, but it was tiring, and she was glad when the carriage finally rolled through the gates of Tuscombe Park.

As they drew to a halt before the front entrance, she looked out the window expectantly, but although they had sent word ahead to warn of their arrival, there was not the least sign of a child on the watch at window or door.

They had no sooner passed into the entrance hall, however, than the reason was made known to them, for Miss Parish hurried down the stairs to meet them, looking perfectly distracted.

Waiting only until she had exchanged greetings with them all, she said uneasily, “I am so sorry Miss Charlotte is not here to greet you, but indeed, no one said she ought not to go, and I did not quite like to forbid her to do so when you had not.”

“Not here,” Lady St. Merryn exclaimed, clasping hands at her breast. “Why, whatever can you mean?”

At the same time, Charles said, “What the devil are you talking about, Parish? Where is my daughter?”

“Oh, sir, she has ridden to Seacourt Head to visit her cousin. Indeed, she has done so several times whilst you were in London. I could see no harm, sir. I do hope you are not vexed.”

Charles turned instantly to Daintry. “Did you tell Charley she could ride that distance on her own?”

“I did not. In fact—” She broke off, not wanting to make matters worse than they were.

Charles glared at her. “In fact you told her she was not to do any such thing. Is that right?”

Reluctantly she nodded. “She asked me several times, but I told her it was too far for her to ride alone. She is perfectly capable though, Charles, and I am sure she took her groom.”

Miss Parish said instantly, “Oh, yes, my lady, she did indeed, and has done every time, but perhaps I ought to confess that I did tell her this morning, she ought rather to attend to her lessons. I am afraid she was a trifle impertinent, saying that you would be home soon, and it might be her last chance.”

“Well, if that don’t beat all,” Charles said. “What sort of a governess allows a child to be impudent to her? Not that it ain’t probably your doing, Daintry, if we but knew it. You were a saucy piece yourself, as I recall the matter.”

“Perhaps I was, Charles,” she retorted, “but if Charley is getting out of hand, you have only yourself and Davina to blame. The pair of you have scarcely paid her any heed at all.”

“Well, that is about to change,” her brother said austerely. He turned to the butler, entering the house behind them, and snapped, “When my daughter returns, send her directly to me.”