The Accidental Elopement (Scandalous Miss Brightwells Book 4) Read online

  His betrothed’s eyes sparkled at her attempt at humour, and Jack wondered if a similar analogy with regard to his own situation with Odette were not too dissimilar.

  Chapter 25

  With great irritation, Odette had just agreed that she and Jack had no choice but to return from whence they’d come in order to take Diana home when a short, sharp rap upon the door of the private parlour heralded the tavern keeper. Bringing up the rear was Lord Derry, who, after a quick glance about the room, settled his gaze upon Diana with relief.

  “Lord, my girl, but you’ve set the cat among the pigeons with your carryings-on,” he said, not unkindly but not in the ameliorating way that might have won him the child’s approbation. “So! I have instructions from your distraught mother that when I find you you’re to return immediately with me.”

  Diana rose to her feet with a vengeance. “With you? I will not!” She put her hands on her hips and stared directly at Jack. “I’m going with Mr Patmore. He already promised.” She pointed a little finger accusingly at Jack. “He let me have his apple pie on condition I go home with him, and I gave my solemn pledge.”

  Odette seized her opportunity as she smoothed her mulberry and grey check skirts and jutted out her chin. “You’ve already been so naughty as to run away, Diana. Of course you’ll do as you’re told and go with Lord Derry.”

  Jack looked dubiously at Derry’s riding clothes. “You don’t propose to put her in front of you and gallop all the way home, do you?”

  Derry nodded, his look slighting, as if he disliked being called to account by a sapling like Jack. “She’s as light as a feather, and it’ll not do her any harm.”

  Jack stared from the indignant and reluctant child to the older man while concern niggled. “Surely Katherine didn’t expect Diana would be jolted all the way home with…” He was going to say someone she hardly knows, but supposed this was not true. Perhaps it was why Diana did not wish to go with him.

  Lord Derry hovered near the doorway impatiently. “It’ll be less than an hour on horseback, and the sooner I can put her mama’s mind at rest, the better. They still don’t know where she is, of course, and are in quite a panic. Come, Diana. You love an adventure!” He said this with an enthusiasm that had no influence upon Diana.

  She looked at Lord Derry disdainfully, and in that moment, Jack realised he must be the one to win Diana over. Not just for her but for her mother’s sake.

  He crossed the room and knelt down in front of her. “Miss Worthington and I can take you back in our carriage,” he said cajolingly. “It’ll be much more comfortable. Lord Derry can ride ahead to tell your mama. How does that sound?”

  Before Odette could respond, a commotion in the passage was followed by another arrival. Jack glanced up as the tavern keeper’s wife swept into the room followed by a large, voluble middle-aged woman loudly declaring her pleasure to discover that Miss Worthington was in residence.

  Her bonnet was trimmed with more roses than Jack had ever seen and her purple gown was expensive and vulgar yet Odette greeted her like an old friend, rising quickly and clapping her hands.

  “Mrs Monks. Why, I haven’t seen you in more than a year,” she exclaimed, smiling warmly and introducing the woman as their former neighbour and dear friend of her late mother’s. When she established that Mrs Monks was resting for the day before resuming her journey to London the following morning, Odette was quick to suggest that Jack could take Diana in the carriage while she remain.

  “I’m very tired after the long journey, Jack, and if Mrs Monks is here until tomorrow, I shall be perfectly well looked after while you’re gone.” Odette sank into a seat opposite her new chaperone and smiled up at Jack as if the matter was already settled. “Lord Derry can ride ahead to reassure everyone at Quamby House that Diana is safe, or send a message.”

  To Jack’s surprise, the idea of travelling alone and not having to keep up small talk with Odette was liberating.

  He hesitated and Mrs Monks said warmly, “Excellent arrangement, Odette. Now do join us for refreshment, Lord Derry. I knew your dear mama, you know.”

  Jack rather thought she meant that she knew of Derry’s mama. He couldn’t imagine the two on an equal social footing.

  He was glad that Odette seemed comfortable with the new plan and surprised that she didn’t think it vulgar when Mrs Monks glanced about the sitting room with approval, saying, “This will do very well for an old woman to rest her weary body, and you shall be just the panacea I need, Odette, after having to listen to my husband who is now snoring upstairs!”

  Derry looked less than enamoured of the idea of spending time in her company, Jack noticed, quickening his pace towards the door in case Odette changed her mind.

  “I shall be back within a few hours,” he promised, “if you’re certain you don’t wish to accompany me.”

  He was relieved when she shook her head while Mrs Monks suggested that she and her husband could take Odette in their carriage and deliver her to Patmore Farm if Jack was delayed. It was an offer Jack wasn’t going to refuse though he told himself he wasn’t going to linger at Quamby House. Not even to talk to Katherine.

  “So, are you ready, Diana?” he asked, surprised at the enthusiasm in his tone.

  She nodded, clearly much happier with the arrangement to leave with Jack rather than Derry.

  “You make sure you apologise to your mama, young lady,” Derry said, finally lowering himself into a chair opposite Odette and Mrs Monks, and clearly relinquishing Diana as his responsibility for he turned eagerly as refreshment was offered.

  Jack wondered what Katherine’s reaction back at Quamby House would be. He found it odd to think of her as a mother with cares and responsibilities when she still looked so much like the innocent girl he’d fallen in love with.

  Fallen in love with. The thought caught him by surprise and he made a mental note to remember how long ago that had been. And that she was a friend. Only.

  They were halfway home when the coachman unexpectedly drew to a halt.

  When Jack put his head out to ask the reason, he was told that Lord Quamby’s carriage was coming towards them. Indeed, as he recognised the handsome equipage that had stopped just in front of them, a well dressed woman stepped out and onto the road.

  “Jack! I knew you’d find her!” Lady Quamby called out gaily, as Jack opened his door and climbed out to greet Katherine’s aunt.

  He was disappointed, he found, that in all good conscience, he could relinquish Diana to her aunt.

  Which would mean he’d not see Katherine.

  “Lady Quamby, your hunch was correct.” Quickly, he explained the arrangements that had been put in place then turned to call for Diana. However, when he started to tell the child that her aunt and, as it turned out, her Uncle Bertram, too, would take her to Quamby House, Lady Quamby interrupted with a trill of laughter. “I really have no wish to retrace my footsteps, Jack. Would you be so good as to save us the journey and take Diana back to London? Bertram and I are on our way Patmore Farm, in fact. We were confident you’d find Diana and all would be well. We’ll see you at your parents’ home, then?” She smiled hopefully.

  Jack hesitated, desire to comply warring with what he knew to be the safest course. A great deal of potential heartache could be avoided if he simply turned around and went back to Odette. He realised this now as he recognised the disappointment he felt at being denied a chance to see Katherine again.

  Jack was a sensible man. And he had made his bed.

  Just as Katherine had all those years ago.

  “Odette is waiting for me at the Northcote Arms about half an hour from here. No doubt she’ll be bored if not anxious.”

  “I thought you said just now that Lord Derry was keeping her company.” Bertram Brightwell had now brought his portly self to bear, smiling benignly at Jack from over his sister’s shoulder.

  “Lord Derry is with her, that’s correct—”

  “Then she’s being entertained as well
as she might be. Chaperoned, of course, by Mrs Monks,” he added quickly.

  “Well chaperoned, but no doubt anxious to resume her journey.”

  “And what a happy situation that we are going to the very same destination,” declared Lady Quamby. “Such a lovely girl, your Odette is. I feel I don’t know her as well as I would like to, and this will prove the perfect opportunity. You were always so dear to us, Jack, and we’d like very much to further our acquaintance with the wife you’ve chosen.” Lady Quamby ruffled Diana’s hair, which earned her a scowl and then a smile as Diana’s aunt said, “You don’t mind continuing to see your mother in the company of Mr Patmore, do you, Diana?”

  She shook her head. “Not if he tells me more about the elephants in India which I could ride if I lived there. He’s very interesting.”

  “Just as Lord Derry is!” Bertram said robustly.

  “Lord Derry is very boring. He’s never ridden an elephant.” Diana put her nose in the air. “And he only wants to talk to Mama, besides.”

  Jack felt a small tug in his chest cavity. Lord Derry would soon marry Katherine. He was besotted, and little wonder.

  “But Mama doesn’t want to talk to Lord Derry. She says she has to, though.”

  “Goodness, child. What a thing to say!” said her aunt, and Jack would have expected her to shut down whatever indiscretion might be about to issue from Diana’s mouth. Instead, she prompted, “Why does your mama have to talk to Lord Derry if she doesn’t want to?”

  A furtive look crossed Diana’s face as she hesitated. “Mama might be cross if I tell.”

  “Oh, not if you tell me,” Lady Quamby assured her, leaning down to her level so that the flowers in her bonnet trembled like a bouquet in the breeze. Jack had to admire the woman for her style. And her subtle insistence on having her way which she achieved through the greatest charm. “Your mama knows how anxious I am to help. Tell me why you think your mama feels she has to talk to Lord Derry if she doesn’t want to.”

  Diana gave a loud sigh and pursed her lips. “Mama always has to be nice to Lord Derry. Papa told her she had to.”

  “Really?”

  Jack’s ears felt like they were burning. While he wanted to know more, he understood Katherine would not be happy to learn her daughter was so happy to divulge that which was probably not intended to be public knowledge.

  Diana nodded as she clasped her hands demurely in front of her and said, “Lord Derry helped Papa when he had his cribbage crisis so mama had to be nice to him.”

  “Oh…my goodness, Diana. Cribbage Crisis? Are you sure?” There was a definite note of prurient interest in Lady Quamby’s question.

  “Of course. I heard everything,” replied the little girl who looked like she was enjoying the attention. Her tone became more enthusiastic. “I was hiding under the chair by the window. They didn’t know I was there, but Mama said she didn’t want to do what Papa said because it would put her in a comp… “ she struggled with the word, agreeing happily when Lady Quamby suggested, ‘compromising’, then adding, “but Papa said it was the only way, and she had to. Now now Mama has to always be nice to Lord Derry.” She turned to Jack. “Will you tell me more elephant stories, Mr Patmore?”

  “Only if you’re very sure you want to come along with me,” he said cautiously. “I’d hate you to dislike the idea of talking to me—”

  “Oh, you’re much more interesting than Lord Derry,” Diana assured him, turning back towards his carriage and waving to her aunt. “Besides, if I have to go with Aunt Antoinette I know Uncle Bertram will start snoring as soon as the carriage starts moving, and he does make such a terrible noise when he does that. I’m sure it’s the main reason he has such trouble with the ladies.”

  “Snoring? I’m sure I don’t!” protested Bertram, but Jack was too caught up with his own musings to take much notice. Since he’d tried everything to get out of delivering Diana, he couldn’t possibly be blamed for the time he would be able to spend with her mother. Courtesy would demand that he furnish Katherine with the answers to all her no-doubt anxious questions.

  “Please reassure Odette I’ll return as quickly as is practicable,” he said, helping Diana into the carriage.

  “I rather think she’ll enjoy a little respite. You and she have been inseparable since you returned, and that’s certainly not a healthy way to start married life.” Lady Quamby nodded decisively before she turned back to her own carriage.

  Jack was just thinking the same as he closed the door behind him, before he was immediately called upon to give a full accounting of all the animals he’d seen, ridden, shot or eaten when in the Far East.

  But even while he spoke at great length in the most descriptive terms, his mind was dwelling on his forthcoming encounter with Katherine and how much he was looking forward to witnessing her joy at seeing him emerge from the carriage with her daughter.

  He was familiar with all her expressions and his favourite was the look of pleasure that crossed her face when she encountered someone she cared for deeply.

  Like when she’d seen Jack again after so many years. There was a magical quality to their encounter in the darkness seven years ago. He thought of that disembodied kiss, often. It had sustained through much loneliness during his time away.

  And her pleasure at seeing him after he’d returned with Odette sent tendrils of warmth coursing through his body.

  Quickly, he reminded himself how easily firm friendship that lasted forever could be mistaken for the transient affection of the heart.

  Yes, he was indeed lucky to be able to claim Katherine as a friend for life. He was sure Odette understood they were almost like kin.

  So Jack could see Katherine, innocently and respectably, whenever he wanted and there’d be nothing untoward in their fond reunion when he arrived at Quamby House after his journey.

  The thought should have been comforting.

  But it wasn’t.

  Katherine who’d been waiting fearfully at Quamby House for news of her daughter, saw the carriage turn into the driveway from her position at the window. She flew down the corridor and out of the front door, reaching the bottom of the steps as the carriage drew up.

  “Diana!” she cried, whisking her daughter into her arms and raining kisses upon her head before the little girl had stepped onto firm ground. “What were you thinking? You weren’t, were you? What could have possessed you to climb into a strange carriage? Do you have any idea where you could have ended up?”

  “I wouldn’t have minded, as long as it wasn’t with grandmother. And Mr Patmore’s told me wonderful stories and given me apple pie. He’s very nice, Mama.” She paused and sent Katherine a searching look. “Don’t you think so?”

  Katherine felt a very sharp tug at her heartstrings. She ventured a glance at Jack. “He is,” she agreed, clearing her throat, then looking at him more directly before she had the courage to put her hand on his arm. “I don’t know how to thank you, Jack.”

  “I put no conditions on helping where I can,” he said, sounding surprisingly formal though something in his gaze was at odds with his pronouncement.

  Nevertheless, Katherine winced. “I must get Diana up to the nursery. It’s been a long day for her but do say you’ll stay a while. You can’t be thinking to return immediately.” To her consternation, Jack had cast several glances at his carriage as if that was exactly what he intended doing.

  “Jack! We’re serving tea in the conservatory. Do come and join us!”

  Katherine was glad her mother had made the offer sound impossible to refuse. She was afraid that her own entreaties would have sounded a note that sat ill with his notion of what duty required of him. Odette was, mercifully, not with him but the pull she exerted was apparent. Duty was like the dead spouse whose memory must be served up at the appropriate times to preserve propriety, she thought suddenly.

  “Katherine, go and see to Diana. I’m sure you don’t want to say all that needs to be said here for all the world to hear. I�
�ll take Jack to the conservatory.” Lady Fenton’s hand was firmly about Jack’s upper arm as she began to lead him into the house.

  There, he couldn’t refuse now, could he? Katherine thought with a surge of desperation that he stay.

  With as much haste as was seemly, Katherine returned from upstairs where she’d transferred Diana into the capable hands of her nursemaid, who was ecstatic to see her young charge safe and in her usual bright spirits. “I’ll be back soon to have a proper talk with you about the decisions you made today, Diana,” she said, trying hard to sound stern but desperate to leave in case Jack should be gone before she returned.

  To her relief, he was ensconced in the conservatory with her parents, but not long after Katherine arrived her mother said, somewhat abruptly, “Jack, do you remember the old almond tree?”

  He looked surprised. “I spent a lot of time eating cake up in its branches.”

  “With Katherine. Yes, I always knew where to look to find her. Katherine, why don’t you take Jack to see the almond tree? I’m sure he’d enjoy such a visit into the past. I thought I might find Diana there. What a naughty child!” But she said it with a twinkle in her eye.

  Katherine felt a jolt of excitement at the idea of leading Jack, with her mother’s sanction, to the almond tree, though surely her mother realised the mission was hopeless.

  She was even more convinced of this when she saw Jack’s obvious reluctance. “I think Jack wants to be on the road before too long,” she said, eyeing him. “He’s worried about Odette.”

  “Fiddlesticks! Odette now has three chaperones: Mrs Monks, Antoinette, and Bertram and it’s highly likely they’re already with Eliza who’s now happily ensconced at Patmore Farm and waiting to welcome Jack to his old home. Jack’s been on the road all day. He must be exhausted. Of course he can’t turn right around and begin another tedious stretch of travel straight away. Now, you two go to the almond tree and tell me if you don’t suddenly feel like children again.”