A Suitable Bride Read online

  ‘If you are Lord Sheldon then I’m not surprised you’ve been unable to find yourself a suitable bride and have had to resort to inviting all and sundry...’ Her words trailed away as she realised her colossal breach of etiquette.

  His eyes narrowed and he towered over her determined to give her the set down she so richly deserved. He was drawing breath to speak when someone shouted a warning, before he could react he was hit from behind by half a ton of angry stallion.

  There was nothing he could do to prevent the accident. He was hurtled forward and cannoned into the unfortunate Miss DuPont who fell backwards into the carriage wheel. The hideous sound of her head hitting the metal rim before she collapsed unconscious would remain with him forever.

  He ended up on his knees but was on his feet in seconds and spun to face a horse with barred teeth and flattened ears. He didn’t hesitate; he stepped in and punched the animal squarely between the eyes. This was enough to distract the horse whilst he grabbed the trailing reins. ‘Enough, old fellow, you’ve caused sufficient damage for today.’

  A terrified young groom appeared from behind the carriage, his face blood-streaked and one arm hanging uselessly by his side. Then one of the coachmen tumbled from the box and took the stallion from him.

  Bennett turned to the prostate form of Miss DuPont to find that a lady of middle years was already there. He dropped to his knees and tore off his neckcloth. ‘Here, madam, we need to stem the bleeding before we do anything else.’

  ‘I daren’t move her, sir, I fear she might have broken her neck.’

  ‘Let me examine her, I spent years as a military man and have picked up a deal of medical knowledge on the way.’

  The blood from the gash at the back of the girl’s head had already soaked into her gown and showed no sign of stopping. He put his fingers at the juncture of her chin and neck and was relieved to feel a steady pulse. Then he carefully ran his hands from her neck to her hips and sighed with relief. ‘I’m certain her neck and back are uninjured – however she’s taken a nasty blow to the back of her head and will require the immediate attentions of a physician, but first we must attempt to stop the bleeding.’

  He didn’t need to ask; she immediately tore off a strip from her petticoat and handed it to him. Deftly he folded his neckcloth into a pad and secured this across the wound. ‘That will have to do for the moment.’

  With her help he rolled the unconscious girl against his chest and regained his feet. There was no need to send word to the house, his brother and sisters were running towards them. Beau arrived first.

  ‘I’ve sent for Doctor Adams. This is a damnable thing, not a good way to start the summer party. Who is she, do you know?’

  They were now halfway to the house. ‘Miss DuPont, she’s Lady Peabody’s goddaughter and wasn’t expected to arrive until tomorrow.’

  Fortunately the entrance hall was empty of visitors and Bennett suspected that his sisters were responsible for this. The housekeeper was waiting to escort him to the designated chambers and he was dismayed to find this new arrival had been placed in a small room which would better serve for a governess or companion.

  ‘This won’t do. Miss DuPont will go elsewhere.’ Anderson didn’t argue – nobody did when he used that tone.

  The fact that some other young lady would now be banished to the small room didn’t bother him at all. His concern was for the young lady he’d inadvertently injured so seriously.

  *

  Grace was heartily sick of being carried about like a parcel, but thought it prudent not to reveal she’d regained consciousness and was perfectly fine. Lord Sheldon was not a gentleman to toy with and she’d already caused more than enough excitement for one day. Her desire to remain in the shadows would no longer be possible. She kept her eyes closed until, to her relief, she was placed carefully on a bed.

  ‘I’ll leave you to take care of her; I’ll wait next door for the physician.’

  She remained still until the door closed and then risked a peep through her eyelashes. Good – he’d gone. There was a swish of material and Aunt Sarah and Annie were at her side.

  ‘Thank the good Lord you’re awake, my dear. You gave us quite a fright. Your head made a dreadful crack when it hit the carriage wheel.’

  ‘Apart from a dull ache at the back of my head, and the fact that my gown is now covered in blood, I’m perfectly well, thank you and I’ve no wish to remain on this bed. Please help me to a chair.’

  Her abigail carefully removed the ruined dress. ‘We would have been here before you, miss, but Lord Sheldon didn’t like the room you’d been given and brought you here instead. This is ever so smart, nearly as grand as the one you had at the Manor.’

  ‘I only have a vague recollection of how this accident occurred – tell me what happened.’ When she’d heard how Rufus had attacked Lord Sheldon she was horrified. ‘This is worse than anything I could have imagined. First my dogs knocked him from his feet and then my horse did the same. Thank goodness I was injured and he was forced to act as my saviour otherwise I fear we would have been sent packing.’

  They had been conversing in little more than whispers as they were aware this formidable gentleman was lurking in her sitting room. ‘You will need stitches in that head wound, Grace, and we mustn’t touch this makeshift bandage until the doctor’s here. You lost a prodigious amount of blood and mustn’t make matters worse.’

  At this point Grace began to wonder why none of the Silchester staff were present. Surely there should at least be a chambermaid on hand to fetch what might be needed. The only explanation for this omission could be that her being moved to these rooms had offended the housekeeper.

  ‘As soon as the doctor has put in the sutures I’ll move from here to the room I was allocated. Annie, make sure my trunks are taken there and you can begin to unpack. Have you any idea where you’ll be sleeping, Aunt Sarah?’

  ‘None at all, but I’m not worried. They weren’t expecting me to accompany you, so I’ll be happy to sleep in the servants’ quarters if necessary.’

  ‘You’ll do no such thing – I shall insist that you share with me if there’s nothing else available.’ She looked down at her petticoats, they were in little better case than her gown. ‘Annie, would you find me some clean clothes. I’ve no intention of remaining here and can hardly parade around the place as I am.’

  ‘I’ll do that right away, miss. I’ll be back in a jiffy, that’s if I don’t get lost.’

  ‘Here, I think you should drink this lemonade unless you feel unwell?’

  ‘I’m not going to cast up my accounts, if that’s what you mean. I don’t have a concussion. I think having fallen from a horse so many times my constitution is able to cope with these small mishaps.’

  She watched the dressing room door anxiously hoping that her maid would return with fresh garments before the doctor arrived to examine her. She wished to be respectably dressed and make it quite clear she was unharmed apart from the gash in her scalp.

  ‘Aunt Sarah, could I ask you to do me an enormous favour? Would you go next door and inform Lord Sheldon that I’m quite well and there’s no need for him to remain? I don’t wish to draw any more attention to myself than I already have.’

  ‘I should be happy to do so, my dear. Although the circumstances of your meeting was a trifle unfortunate, I couldn’t help but notice he’s an attractive gentleman, not at all what I’d expected.’

  Grace couldn’t hear the conversation through the closed door and hoped the message would be enough to send him away. The longer he spent attending on her the greater the risk that the other hopeful debutantes and their mamas would take a dislike to her because she was monopolising the gentleman they’d come to ensnare for themselves.

  Annie returned at the same time as Aunt Sarah and, despite her assurances to the contrary, Grace did feel a little unsteady and was grateful for their assistance as she stepped in and out of her garments.

  Once she was safely clothed she ask
ed what Lord Sheldon had said. ‘He thanked me kindly for my message but has refused to move.’

  ‘Good grief! Are you saying that he’s still ensconced in the sitting room? This won’t do – this won’t do at all. He’s been up here for almost three quarters of an hour and you can be very sure this will be noted by the guests who arrived ahead of us.’ She stood up and took a few tentative steps around the room until she was sure her balance was restored. ‘I shall go in and speak to him myself. He can hardly remain when he sees me freshly garbed and perfectly well.’

  ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea. He’s not the sort of gentleman who takes kindly to being told what to do.’

  Undeterred, Grace paused to check in the overmantel mirror that she didn’t look too much of a fright. ‘Apart from the makeshift bandage I look quite respectable. Would you mind accompanying me, Aunt Sarah, I think it best if I don’t speak to him unchaperoned.’

  She took a few steadying breaths and then walked briskly into the sitting room. Who was the more astonished by her sudden appearance she couldn’t say – but her jaw dropped as low as his. He had been slumped in an armchair the picture of dejection as if a member of his family was at their deathbed and not a complete stranger only slightly injured.

  He was on his feet and moving towards her before she had recovered her wits. ‘God’s teeth! What the hell are you doing on your feet? You should be in bed waiting for the doctor to attend you.’

  His less than obliging comment had the desired effect and her tongue was loosened. ‘I’m sorry to inform you, my lord, that despite your best efforts I’m perfectly fine. When the doctor arrives please have him sent to my original chamber – not here – I’ve no wish to occupy rooms meant for someone else.’

  He stopped a scant yard from her. For a moment the matter hung in the balance but then he smiled and something unexpected happened. Her anger vanished to be replaced by an emotion she didn’t recognise.

  ‘I apologise, Miss DuPont, I was under the erroneous impression you were at death’s door. I’m delighted that I was wrong in my assessment of the situation. However, whether you like it or not this is now your accommodation. You will not remove yourself elsewhere.’

  She was about to protest but something made her bite her tongue. She curtsied. ‘In which case, my lord, I shall do as you bid and remain in these luxurious surroundings. I hope whoever has been ousted is not too disappointed with the inferior accommodation she must now occupy.’

  His bow was suitably low. ‘I can assure you, Miss DuPont, that you will hear no complaints from anyone on this score.’

  No one would dare to quibble if he looked as fierce as he did right now. She was saved from making further inflammatory remarks by the arrival of the doctor. By the time he had put four stitches in her head she was heartily sick of the whole episode.

  ‘There, Miss DuPont,’ Dr Adams said as he stepped away. ‘You need to wear a dressing on the gash for today, but if there is no infection then you can remove it tomorrow. I believe you will be able to arrange your hair in such a way your injury will not be visible.’

  ‘Thank you, I shall remain in my rooms until I am fit to be seen. When will you return to remove the sutures?’

  ‘I shall call in tomorrow as instructed by Lord Sheldon and make my decision then. I should think they can come out next week, or possibly sooner.’ He dropped his instruments into his bag and collected the used swabs and these followed. He must have seen her surprise. ‘I have nothing else of importance in my bag today and I like to take away everything I’ve used.’

  She was about to stand up when he waved her back. ‘Stay where you are, you might feel a little lightheaded and it’s far better that you rest. I’ve asked the kitchen to send up a jug of watered wine – I find this very beneficial after blood loss.’ He pulled down his waistcoat and then turned to the mirror in order to straighten his stock. He then pushed a few stray strands of hair into place before nodding as if satisfied with his appearance.

  He was remarkably vain for a man of his years for he must be over forty at the very least. Although his figure was reasonable, his complexion clear and he had a decent head of mouse-brown hair, he certainly wasn’t an attractive gentleman.

  However, he wasn’t here for his charm and good looks, but for his proficiency as a medical man and she’d no complaints about his skills. He picked up his bag, nodded politely, and departed promising to be back before noon tomorrow.

  ‘As I am to remain incommunicado for the next twenty-four hours I might as well retire. I do feel rather lethargic and my head hurts abominably.’

  ‘An excellent notion, my dear girl, you look a trifle wan. I shall spend the time settling myself into my own accommodation. It would appear that I’m now to occupy the room originally intended for you. I’m more than satisfied and if I use the backstairs I can be here within a few minutes.’

  Grace told her maid she could continue to unpack the trunks as with the curtains drawn around the bed she wouldn’t be disturbed by anything going on in the adjacent dressing room where the wardrobes and closets were.

  She was drifting into a light doze when someone coming into the bedchamber disturbed her, but she was too sleepy to open her eyes and investigate.

  Chapter Five

  Bennett sent the doctor on his way and was about to join the gentlemen who were playing a lively game of billiards, when an unaccountable urge to check for himself that this troublesome new guest was indeed suffering no ill effects from her accident overcame him.

  He had no wish to announce himself, in fact had no wish for anyone to know he’d even been back to the apartment. He paused outside the sitting room until he was satisfied the room was empty then moved silently to the bedchamber door which was fortunately ajar. Entering this room was a shocking breach of etiquette, but he couldn’t help himself.

  If he remained in the doorway, with one foot firmly in the sitting room, then hopefully this would be considered acceptable if anyone ever heard of it. Slowly he pushed the door wider until he could see across to the bed. The curtains had been partially drawn but not on the side that faced him.

  She was lying on her side, her eyes were closed and he could hear the regular rhythm of her breathing. He stepped back and carefully pulled the door shut and then, satisfied he’d done no lasting harm by his actions, returned to join the guests.

  The rise and fall of the conversation of the ladies coming from the grand drawing room gave him pause; he would leave them to their gossip and find more convivial company. Beau waylaid him before he reached the billiard room.

  ‘How is Miss DuPont?’

  ‘Amazingly, she appears to have suffered no serious harm apart from the gash on her head. Doctor Adams advised she rest today so she won’t be coming down again. I blame myself for the accident. The stallion was just trying to protect her, I was being unforgivably rude and the animal must have picked up on my anger.’

  ‘I was just going out to inspect this horse myself – why don’t you come with me? It’s scarcely credible that an animal of this size and power is the property of that young lady.’ Beau smiled. ‘You might be interested to know that I checked the rules you drew up for your races and there’s nothing there that would prevent her from entering if she so wished.’

  ‘I know, and from the brief time I spent with her I can say with the utmost certainty she will definitely wish to enter. I suppose you heard about the wretched dogs?’

  ‘I’m afraid to tell you, brother, that every detail of both incidents is already the main topic of conversation inside.’

  ‘It serves me right. I have an unfortunate tendency to forget I’m not still Colonel Sheldon and bark orders expecting them to be instantly obeyed.’

  As always word had travelled ahead and they were expected in the stable yard. When they enquired about the stallion it was to be told that he, and the carriage horses he’d arrived with, had been turned out as he’d objected strenuously to being put in a loose box.

  B
eau wandered off on an errand of his own and Bennett was on his way around the house to the terrace when Madeline called his name. At first he couldn’t see where his sister was, but then saw she was beckoning to him from the shrubbery.

  What the devil was she doing over there and behaving in such a secretive manner? He increased his pace concerned that something else untoward had occurred.

  ‘What’s wrong, sweetheart? Why are you hiding out here?’

  She grabbed his arms and drew him into the shadows where they couldn’t be observed. ‘You’ve caused the most frightful fuss by moving Miss DuPont into the accommodation set aside for Lady Penelope, the Earl of Swindon’s eldest daughter.’

  He shook his head in bewilderment. ‘There are plenty of other rooms available; surely Lady Penelope can have one of those? As she’s not actually here, how can she object?’

  ‘I know that, it’s the fact that a commoner has been given precedence over a member of the ton that’s causing all the discontent. Anderson and I spent hours going through the guest list and making sure everyone was in their proper place and given the chambers appropriate to their station. Miss DuPont might be a perfectly pleasant young lady, but she’s a nobody as far as society is concerned. She cannot remain where she is.’

  Bennett held onto his temper with difficulty. ‘I don’t give a damn what any of our guests think is appropriate. I allocated the rooms in order to recompense for the injury Miss DuPont sustained because of my behaviour. You may tell those who are complaining that the girl intended to remove herself to her original room but I refused to allow it.’ He stared at his sister and she got the message. ‘Therefore, if they wish to complain they must do so to me, otherwise there will be no more said about it. If I hear Miss DuPont is being treated unfairly because of this then you will have me to answer to.’