Chapter One

 

 

Chilly air brushed Letitia’s shoulders and blew loose strands of hair around her face as she walked the familiar lane to Ridlington Vale. She’d made this little trip more times than she could remember, but never in quite such a state of apprehension. Today was the day she would meet the man who might well set her feet upon a new and exciting path.

Her palms were damp as she opened the door to the inn. “Good morning, Mrs. Fisher.”

“And good morning to yourself, Miss Letitia. Bit on the cool side today, isn’t it?” The landlady gave her a warm smile. “I’ve a pot steeping. So you go on in and I’ll bring it through.”

Letitia removed her bonnet and smoothed the unruly hair. “You are so kind. That would be lovely.”

She was about to enter the little parlour that adjoined the snug, when the door to the inn opened once more and a figure hesitated on the threshold. A young woman, bundled in a cloak and clutching a traveling bag as if her life depended on not letting it out of her grasp. She glanced around, her eyes nervously darting everywhere, and her lips tightly folded against each other.

“Hullo.” Letitia walked over to the newcomer. “I don’t believe I know you, and I know most everyone in Ridlington Vale, thus you must be new to the village. Can I be of any help?” She made sure to smile and beckon the woman inside. “It’s getting quite chilly, so do come in and warm yourself.”

“Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet, betraying a little tremor.

She was well-spoken, and Letitia recognized quality clothing. There was something going on here, and perhaps she needed either a helping hand or a friend. Since Letitia had an hour or so before her visitor was due to arrive, she decided to offer some assistance and perhaps learn more about what had brought this young lady to a country inn.

“Do you have anyone with you? A maid, perhaps?” Letitia put her arm out and touched the woman’s shoulder lightly. She was surprised at the quick jump her move elicited.

“No, I’m afraid it’s just me.”

“Well then. I’m about to have some tea. Will you do me the honour of joining me? I have an appointment later this morning, and would love the company to help pass the time until then.”

“That’s very nice of you. I would love a cup of tea.” She stood a little straighter, as if relaxing under Letitia’s gentle interest.

“Good.” Mrs. Fisher came back into the foyer. “Would you pop another cup onto that tea tray, if you please?” Letitia called over.

“Very good, Miss Letitia.” The landlady nodded, her gaze on the newcomer. “It’ll be ready in two shakes of a lamb’s tail.”

“Come on. Let’s make ourselves comfortable.” Leading the way, Letitia ushered the young woman into the little parlour. “There. It’s not very large, but it’s warm. Now let’s get the necessities out of the way.” She watched the woman unwrap her cloak and hang it beside Letitia’s on the hooks. The dress she wore was fine wool, as was the matching spencer jacket, although both were unremarkable in style and colour.

“I’m Letitia Ridlington, and I’m happy to make your acquaintance.” She bobbed a little curtsey.

“I’m…I’m Harriet Selkirk.” The words were almost whispered as she curtseyed as well.

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Selkirk.”

“Thank you, Miss Ridlington. You’re very…wait…Ridlington?” Her eyes widened. “Like the village?”

Letitia sighed. “Yes, I’m afraid so. Come and sit down. You look weary and I’m ready for my tea. Why don’t we settle ourselves and have a nice talk?”

Right on cue, Mrs. Fisher tapped and entered, followed by a young maid bearing a tea tray.

“I took the liberty of adding a few jumbles, Miss Letitia. I knows how you love ‘em and they goes so well with a nice cuppa.”

“Oooh how delightful.” Letitia grinned at the older woman. “You spoil me.”

“Nonsense. Now you and yer friend set right in and if you need anything else, just gimme a shout, all right?” She smiled at both women and whisked herself out, closing the door behind her.

“Jumbles,” breathed Miss Selkirk. “I haven’t had those in—I can’t remember how long.” She licked her lips.

“Go head, please help yourself.” Letitia watched varying expressions chase across the other woman’s face. “I can recommend them. Mrs. Fisher has a way in the kitchen.”

“Thank you.” Politely, and with a slight hesitation, she put two of the biscuits and put them on a plate, while Letitia poured.

“Sugar?”

It was a uselessly polite interaction, but although Letitia was itching to ask questions, she knew this ritual would serve to calm her guest. Perhaps when it was finished, those questions might be answered more easily. Whoever Harriet was, she was very skittish. Something was wrong, and Letitia determined to find out what it was.

“Now.” She leaned back and put her tea on the table. “Will you tell me how you came to be here, Miss Selkirk? Ridlington Vale isn’t the kind of place that people just decided to visit while on holiday…in fact, it’s awfully quiet most of the time.”

Harriet nodded, and for the first time a quick smile curved her lips. “That is perfect. I am seeking quiet.”

“A place to hide, perhaps?” Letitia tossed out the question to see what the response would be.

Silence fell for a few moments, as Harriet sipped tea. A play for time, if ever Letitia had seen one. But she was patient, and waited.

“You are close to being right, Miss Ridlington. I am looking for a place where I might find some peace. And this seems the ideal spot. Out of the way of the…the…”

“Rest of the world?”

“Well, not exactly.” Harriet risked a glance at Letitia from beneath her eyelashes. “You do have an illustrious resident. If I recall correctly, there is a Baron Edmund Ridlington?”

“My brother.” Letitia nodded. “We live a mile or so up the road from here, Ridlington Chase. You can’t miss it. Some of it is falling down, so you have to be careful in case the Chase doesn’t miss you.”

Smiling at the little jest, Harriet nodded. “’Tis the way of many an older home, sadly. Repairs become so costly they’re postponed. And once postponed…”

“The damage is done,” agreed Letitia. “Was it so for you and your family?”

“Yes.” Harriet’s smile vanished. She sighed. “May I confide in you, Miss Ridlington? I don’t know you, but I sense that you are a person who would understand my request for privacy in this conversation.”

Letitia leaned forward a little. “Of course, Miss Selkirk. Whatever you choose to tell me will be kept in utmost confidence. Word of a lady. I would be honoured should you decide to share your thoughts.”

“Very well.” Harriet took a deep breath. “I am escaping an intolerable future, Miss Ridlington. I refused to marry an elderly, debauched gentleman who wished for a brood mare. Having done so, I was informed that I had no other choice but to become another man’s whore, instead.”

 

*~~*~~*

 

Letitia blinked. “Good God.”

“Exactly.” Harriet smoothed the folds of her skirt. “Now you may fully understand my quest for quiet and a place off the beaten path.”

“Indeed. What an intolerable situation.”

“It is.” She looked up, her eyes worried. “I have a few pounds. Not much but enough to get me here and perhaps obtain lodging for a month or so if I’m cautious. But then what? I have no idea how to plan, what to do, where to go after my funds are exhausted. I have to become invisible, Miss Ridlington. It’s the only way to escape them.”

“Them?”

“My aunt and uncle.” Harriet’s mouth turned down. “My parents died two years ago. The ague. And my aunt and uncle arrived to announce they were going to be my parents from then on. I had not yet turned twenty-one, so I had no choice in the matter. All my family’s assets were left to me, to be released when I turn twenty-five.”

“Ah,” said Letitia. “The ugly spectre of money rears its head.”

“Exactly. I do not know when or how my uncle convinced the bankers that he was the legal administrator of his sister’s estate, until I came of age, but he did. I found out six months ago, when they introduced me to Sir Daughtry Mansfield and said I was to become his wife. The settlements, I learned shortly thereafter, were sizable. Guaranteed by Sir Daughtry, who demanded a virgin within whom he could plant his precious seed.” She looked disgusted. “He attempted to do so, in advance, just to make sure I was a virgin.”

“Oh no.” Horrified, Letitia leaned over and took Harriet’s hand. “Did he?”

The young woman met her gaze with a troubled look. “He had me on the floor, practically naked and was on top of me. But thankfully my maid appeared, screamed, and at last my aunt deigned to intervene.” She gave a short humourless laugh. “She chided Sir Daughtry as if he were a naughty boy. I was told to get up and cover myself and not act like a woman of loose virtue.”

“But…but...”

“Quite.” Harriet’s lips firmed. “That night I made it quite plain that I would never consent to marriage with that beast. Since I had attained my majority just prior to this event, they knew they could not force me to wed, but during the ensuing argument, my aunt let slip that my money had gone. They depended on me to make a financially acceptable match to replenish their coffers.”

Letitia knew this was not unheard of. Money ruled far too many decisions within the aristocracy, as far as she was concerned. She’d watched Edmund and his wife, Rosaline, as they struggled to rebuild an all-but-bankrupt estate, and it was not an easy task.

“And the whore part?” She had to ask.

“Well, perhaps that was a little dramatic of me. We attended a ball at the Montrose House three weeks ago. There, I was introduced to a Mr. Seton-Mowbray.” She paused. “I will admit he was a handsome man, with sharply defined features and an elegant countenance. But his eyes…they were the coldest blue I’ve ever seen. He looked me over as one would a horse at auction.”

“Oh how horrid.” Letitia listened intently.

“Barely a bow, certainly no smile or any indication that he entertained an interest. And then, as we were departing, he approached my uncle and merely nodded. That was all. I thought nothing of it until we arrived home. Then I was told that Mr. Seton-Mowbray was interested in taking me into his protection.”

“You have lived through some interesting times, I see.” Letitia realized her words were an abysmal understatement of matters.

“You have the right of it. Anyway,” Harriet went on, “not to put too fine a point on it, I was sent to his house, unaccompanied, and told to do whatever he wanted. Otherwise they would have me declared insane and committed to Bedlam.”

“My God, could they do that?”

Harriet snorted. “I didn’t want to find out.”

“I can’t blame you. What happened with Mr. Cold Eyes?”

Incredibly, Harriet chuckled. “An apt nomenclature. He was…cold. I stood in his parlour, where only a few candles were burning. He told me to remove my cloak, which I did.” She took a breath. “Then he told me to remove the rest of my clothing.”

Letitia gasped. “And…did you?”

“I got to my chemise and my hands were shaking so much I couldn’t untie anything anymore.” She shrugged. “At that point I was resigned to my fate. He came up to me and tore off the garment, leaving me…” she gulped, “quite bare to his gaze.”

Letitia was speechless.

“He walked around me, Miss Ridlington. I stood there, unclad, while he walked around me. It was as if he was appraising me. A truly awful experience. And do you want to know the worst thing of all?”

Letitia nodded, still at a loss for words.

“He gave me back my chemise and told me to get dressed.”

“Uh…”

“Apparently, I did not suit.” She sighed. “I put my clothes on, and he was decent enough to tell me he would speak with my uncle soon. But he told me that I did not have the makings of the kind of mistress he was looking for. I was too average for his tastes.”

“What on earth kind of tastes are those?” Letitia cried out. “No, wait. I have no wish to know.” She leaned back, stunned at Harriet’s story. “My dear girl, how can I help? You cannot possibly go back to those awful people.”

“They were already seeking another protector for me. I heard them talking a couple of days ago. And that’s when I knew I could not stay any longer. And why I ended up here.”

“A fortuitous meeting, indeed. I shall do all I can to help.” Letitia nodded.

“You are very kind, but I’m not sure I know how such help could be rendered…”

“I’m quite resourceful, Miss Selkirk. Let me put my mind to it.”

“Oh.” Harriet frowned. “Do you know, I have remembered something. I met a lovely young lady at that ball. Her name was Kitty, and I do believe her last name was Ridlington. I just recalled her as I spoke of that night. Is she a relative of yours?”

Letitia grinned. “Oh yes. That’s my sister, Kitty. Actually she’s my half-sister, but that’s another story for another time.”

“I saw Mr. Seton-Mowbray talking to her. I think they might have danced. He is quite impressive for his height alone, a noticeable presence in a ballroom.”

“I think it most likely they danced,” said Letitia wryly. “Kitty is a wonderful sister, indeed, but made no secret of her desire to travel to London and join in what she viewed as the revelries and fun of the Ton. If he was attractive and noticeable, she’ll have definitely danced with him.”

“And you have no such desire, Miss Ridlington, if you’ll forgive the personal nature of the question…?”

“Goodness no. I have other plans.” She glanced at the clock. “One of which may be about to come to fruition.” She rose, as did Harriet. “As far as your dire situation is concerned, an idea will come to me, I know, but I must take care of my meeting first. Will you wait for me to conclude my business?”

“Of course.” Harriet looked relieved. “I confess it is welcome to have someone tell me what to do, and to be able to answer in the positive for a change.”

“Excellent.” Letitia heard voices outside. “I must go. My meeting is in the snug. It shouldn’t be more than a half an hour or so, I expect. So we’ll meet down here afterward.” She gave a little wave and left the parlour, her mind busy with ideas.

She had indeed passed an interesting hour with Miss Harriet Selkirk. Now she was about to pass another hour or so with Mr. Lionel Lesley, Owner, Lesley and Sons Publishers.

The man who held Letitia’s future in his hands.