His Reluctant Mistress

His Reluctant Mistress - Chapter 5

Chapter Five

The rain beat down harder, seemingly determined to hamper the
movements of the lone rider bent almost double on the back of the
horse as it picked its way carefully through the muddy water that
sluiced round its legs. A rumble of thunder made the horse throw back
its head and whine in alarm, only to be calmed again by the soothing
voice of its master. As suddenly as it had begun, the storm passed,
the raindrops petering to nothingness in the blink of an eye.

Adam straightened and stared at the sky in disbelief, uttering a vile
curse to mother nature. He pushed back the collar of his great coat
and wrung out water from his ruined hat, casting another glare at the
sky. The storm had caught him unexpectedly just as he approached the
outskirts of London, too late to seek shelter and so forced to endure
the stinging downpour. Much to his aggravation, the sun came out from
behind the clouds and he swore loudly.

“This is preposterous,” he muttered to himself, yanking off his cravat
and hurling it to the ground. “I am not been compensated enough for
this. I will kill Ravenscroft when I get my hands on his scrawny neck”

His horse neighed in response eliciting a smile from his disgruntled
master. “I see you have murder on your mind too. Patience Thunder, we
shall return to the countryside soon as I deal with that blackguard”

The thought of his country home inevitably brought thoughts of a
certain young lady to mind, something he had been studiously avoiding
since the unfortunate incident in her home. For the hundredth time, he
cursed himself for being so foolish. He had spent the night and the
day after, in dread, for he could not fault Lady Catherine if she
arrived at his doorstep with an angry male relative in tow, demanding
marriage or find himself staring down the barrel of a blunderbuss.
Both options were highly unsavory of course, for he had no plans to
settle down in matrimony in his lifetime. He certainly hoped Lady
Catherine would not choose to confront him.

“That would be most disastrous indeed,” He muttered, picking up the
reins and setting the horse to a brisk canter. Fortunately, his
townhouse was quite close by and he needed a change of clothing.
Thunder expertly weaved his way through the heavy traffic and in no
time at all, Adam was home.

His valet was waiting at the door, the picture of efficiency. “Welcome
Your Grace, I trust you had a safe journey?”

“Safe, yes. Comfortable? Not at all,” Adam replied, tugging off his
riding gloves as he strode through the doors, his eyes sweeping over
the hallway, finding it as pristine as always. “I shall require a
change of clothes, and a fresh horse, for I intend to pay a visit to
Lord Kelster immediately”

“Very good Your Grace. Would you like a bath drawn too? Perhaps a meal?”

“No, there's no time for that.” Taking the stairs two at a time, he
hurried to his rooms, divesting himself of his coat and waist coat,
leaving them in a sodden heap on the carpet. Already, his thoughts
were on the Ravenscroft issue. He attacked the buttons on his shirt,
pulling it off impatiently, then started on his boots, sinking down on
the edge of his bed while he untied the laces.

“A letter arrived for you yesterday Your Grace,” George informed him,
stooping to pick up the discarded clothes his master had thrown on the
floor.

Adam paused and looked up with a frown. “Who is it from?”

“It bears the St. Cyre seal, so I dare say Lord Grayson sent it”
George handed him the envelop and stood watching as his master broke
the seal and perused the contents.

“Hmm...so he knows Ravenscroft is in town,” He tossed the letter aside
and resumed tugging off the boots, uttering a growl of frustration
with every tug, “Bloody hell George, don't just stand there man, get
these infernal things off me”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“Give me one good reason why I restrain myself from shooting you?”
Adam growled, striding into Lord Kelster's study, “Why was that cur
allowed back in London?” he stopped before the huge writing desk and
glared down at the young man seated behind it.

If Lord Kelster was startled, he gave no visible sign of it, simply
raising an eyebrow at his friend. He pushed back a lock of fair hair
and grinned, blue eyes dancing with mirth, “If by the 'cur' you mean
Ravenscroft, I assure you I had no idea of it until I saw the
scoundrel at Whites last week.”

Adam blew out a frustrated breath and began pacing the length of the
room in quick angry strides. “Dammit, I thought we had men watching
the docks? How is it he managed to elude detection? More importantly,
why is he here in London?”

“First, we do indeed have men watching the docks, but no one was
ordered to be on the lookout for Ravenscroft. All our attention has
been focused on rooting out the spies passing information to the
French.”

“Hmmph.....perhaps...,” Adam conceded grudgingly, “Still, someone
should have seen him”

“An error on our collective parts, I will admit,” Lord Kelster said
thoughtfully, “But I can tell you why he is in the country at the
least”

Adam ceased his pacing and stared at Edward curiously, “You know? Well
out with it man, at once”

Edward chuckled and leaned back against the plush high backed leather
chair, “Begging has never been one of your strong suits Adam. Well, I
shall tell you before you rip out my heart, The elder Ravenscroft is
on his death bed, and as the heir to the title, John feels a familial
duty to visit his father”

Adam snorted in derision, “He will wish he never inherited the barony,
his father was a wastrel and a gambler. I imagine the creditors will
be knocking down his door the minute he inherits.”

“Ah yes, but then he will be a gentleman with a title and of course,
he can decide to marry a rich heiress and spend the rest of his days
wasting her money, and settling his debts of course”

“He will be sorry he returned to London for any reason,” Adam ground
out, his jaw clenched in fury, “Not after what he did to Juliet”

Edward's face showed concern, “Is she still furious with you?”

“Aye, she's shut herself in her chambers and refuses to come out or
speak to anyone.” Adam replied, suddenly tired. He crossed to the fire
and stared into the flames, as he contemplated his sister's plight. He
had tried to initiate conversation several times but each time, she'd
simply stared through him like he did not exist. It had been a year
for heaven's sakes, why did the girl insist on being so damn stubborn?

She had never believed that John Ravenscroft did not care for her,
simply the large dowry that would be his.

“Perhaps what she needs is some female company,” Edward's voice broke
into his thoughts, “Have you tried that?”

Adam let out a short bitter laugh. “Why do you think I have so many
female guests at Weighbridge?” he ran a hand through his hair in
frustration, “that hasn't worked either man. I confess I have even
entertained the thought of dragging her out of that room myself, but
that will only make matters worse. My own blood despises me for saving
her from a union that would have damned her”

“Well, Juliette’s stubborn, that much is certain. Give it time Adam”

“Time? Time? It been a whole bloody year and she won't talk to me still,”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Catherine stood on the threshold of Weighbridge House and took a deep
breath in a vain attempt to calm her fluttering nerves. This was the
last place on earth she wished to be, certainly not after that fiasco
in her drawing room the other day. She had been plagued with sleepless
nights, tossing and turning, relieving that moment when he had kissed
her hand and the strange feelings that had bombarded her traitorous
body. Now she had to face him again, every nerve screamed for her to
turn tail and flee from the lion's den, but alas, duty came first, and
by heavens she would see this to the very unpleasant end.

“Well dear, it is a lovely day and all, but are you going to stand
there admiring the door or will you knock?” Mrs. Lester called out
kindly from behind. A small chorus of agreeable murmurs rose up from
the small group of women gathered on the courtyard. Catherine raised
her eyes to heaven and muttered a silent prayer for divine patience,
then resolutely grasped the heavy brass knocker and lifted.

The heavy doors swung open almost immediately and she had a feeling
that the butler had seen them approach and had been lurking by the
door for her knock. A tall lanky man with graying hair stood before
her, his carefully blank expression betraying no surprise at finding a
half dozen ladies, all dressed in their Sunday best, looking at him
expectantly.

Catherine assumed command and inquired to see the master of the house.
“We have a prior arrangement to make use of the ballroom and if you
will be so kind to let him know Lady Catherine requests to see him?”

“Pardon me my lady, but His Grace is not at home presently, He has
journeyed to London on urgent business. However, he left instructions
that should you arrive, I am to show you the ballroom immediately. If
it please you my lady, will you step this way?”

Catherine felt a mixture of relief and disappointment at learning of
his absence. Relief that she would not have to deal with his
disconcerting presence and disappointment....she chose not to explore
that feeling for the moment. She simply nodded and swept past him, the
other ladies in tow, and into a large magnificent hall.

“Oh!” she gasped as she took in the sheer beauty of the twin grand
stairs that sat at each end of the hall, leading to the upper levels,
the high walls that seemed burnished with gold paint and heavy royal
purple drapes and polished floor. Mansfield manor was a lovely home,
but it was nothing compared to this.

The other women oooohed and aahed at the excellent furnishing, quite
overwhelmed at seeing such luxury.

“Goodness!” Miss Bainsley exclaimed, her mouth having fallen open in
awe, “It's like a palace, so beautiful” the others agreed on its
magnificence.

The butler cleared his throat politely to get attention, “The ball
room is right this way madams”

Catherine blushed at forgetting herself and straightened her
shoulders, “Of course, come along girls, we have a lot of work to do
today.” she ushered the women out of the hall and followed the butler.
The ballroom was even more splendid than the hallway, with mirrors on
every wall and huge golden chandeliers hanging from the elegant
ceiling. It would be even more wonderful when the candles where lit
and it was filled with guests in colourful gowns and evening wear.

“If you require something, please just pull this bell here and a
servant will attend to you,” The butler said, indicating the little
bell attached to a silver cord at the corner of the door.

“Thank you....?”

“Bernard”

“Thank you Bernard, we will ask if we need help.”

He bowed and withdrew, leaving the wide doors open. Immediately the
ladies congratulated Catherine once again on securing the use of such
a magnificent place, then set to work, hanging up banners and
decorations, not that much was needed.

Catherine was absorbed in hanging a banner, when she heard a voice
behind her, “Well, what have we here? Does Lord Davenport need to hire
local cleaners now?”

She turned and saw the same blonde woman who had been in the duke's
company the other day looking up at her with a derisive smile, one
elegant eyebrow raised in inquiry.

“Oh not at all,” Catherine replied, struggling to keep her voice
pleasant while she bristled at the veiled insult. “He has given us use
of the ballroom” She stepped down from the stool she'd used to reach
up and smoothed her skirts, then straightened and looked at the lady
coolly.

“I see, well I will leave you alone to continue your arrangements,”
The lady replied and turned in a swirl of silk skirts, and glided off.

“That one's no good,” Dorothy Peters said, coming to stand next to
Catherine. “I hear she is his.....companion”

“Lord Davenport's companion?” Catherine asked, frowning at the tiny
flare of jealousy that stirred in her belly, hadn't he told her he was
in between mistresses? Not that it was any of her business if he was
sleeping with the very devil himself, still....

“Hush now Cathy,” Dotty jabbed her elbow into Catherine's side quite
painfully and grinned, “I only know because my sister's son works as a
footman here but it's also whispered the lady's husband resides here
as well but is unaware of their....tryst, I hear all sorts of
scandalous things go on within these walls, but don't tell anyone I
told you”

Dorothy winked and moved off to join the others. Catherine picked up a
roll of ribbon and unwound it, her mind on the information she had
just gleaned. That he had a mistress while he'd been kissing her
hands, caused her anger to swell to almost boiling point. She should
have slapped him and thrown him out of her house, the man was
everything she despised. Adultery was a sin and he was a sinful, vile
despicable blackguard. She looked down at her hands and flushed when
she saw the ribbon in tatters beneath her fingers.

“Be sensible Cathy” she admonished herself quietly, gathering all the
shreds and hiding them out of sight. “You must not let the devil
blacken your soul to sin”

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

For two days, the ladies came in and worked on the ballroom, keeping
to themselves. Mercifully, Catherine did not encounter either the duke
or the lady, and for that she was thankful, for even though he was not
present physically, the damnable man plagued her thoughts and dreams.
She blushed as she recalled the particularly vivid dream she'd had
that had left her strangely aching for more, and ashamed at the same
time.