Twenty-one

Elisabeth was completely occupied for several days after that. Tony returned home with Mr. Aldgate, who insisted upon opening his own townhouse rather than staying with them. At luncheon the day they arrived, Elisabeth couldn’t resist saying, “We found last week that one of our friends claims acquaintance with you.”

“Really?” replied Aldgate. “Who might that be?” He didn’t seem astonished.

“The Duchess of Sherbourne,” answered Elisabeth.

Lavinia was watching Mr. Aldgate anxiously. “Judith Chetwood,” she added. “She was, I mean. Before she married, you know.”

“Ah,” responded Mr. Aldgate.

There was a short pause. Elisabeth watched her guest, but she could find no clue in his expression. “You did know her, then?” she asked finally, determined not to be put off so easily.

Aldgate looked at her and smiled a bit. “Judith Chetwood I knew, yes. I was in town the year she made her come-out.”

Lavinia frowned, but said nothing. Elisabeth tried to be encouraging. “Really? How interesting. You’ll meet her again at my evening party next week, you know. I hope you still mean to come?”

“Indeed. I look forward to it.”

“It will be nice to see an old friend again,” the girl suggested.

Mr. Aldgate merely bowed silently. Before Elisabeth could press him, Tony interrupted. “You should have seen Growser in the country, Cousin Elisabeth. He went nearly wild. He even sniffed out a fox one day and chased it across the property line into the next stand of timber. I think he’ll make an excellent hunting dog. I shall try him when we go down to Willowmere.”

Elisabeth was smiling. “What sorts of game did he bring you?”

“Oh, well, as to that, he never actually brought in anything.” Tony was airily unconcerned. “But he has the instinct, you see. The fine points can be taught him.”

Elisabeth laughed. “I daresay. But I believe Mrs. Lewis keeps chickens. You must see that he is trained not to molest them.”

“Oh, he wouldn’t,” exclaimed Tony, indignant at this slur on his pet. “He’s not so rag-mannered. And besides, chickens!” His expression showed contempt.

“You’ve asked nothing about my wedding, Tony,” Belinda interrupted. “It is rather more important than your horrid dog, I should think. You are to give me away, you know.”

Tony looked aghast. “What! I shall do no such thing. Fancy me making a cake of myself marching up the aisle with you.”

“But you must.” Belinda’s eyes widened. “Who will do it if you don’t?”

“I don’t care a farthing. I shan’t do it.”

Belinda’s eyes filled with tears. “But Tony…” she began.

Elisabeth intervened hastily. “I’m sure we can come to some agreement. We’ll talk of it another time. Has everyone finished? Shall we return to the drawing room?” She rose, as did Mr. Aldgate, and they managed to quell the rising quarrel. When they got back to the drawing room, Aldgate took his leave, promising to call again after he had gotten settled.

Belinda was engaged to go walking with Amelia Wincannon, and Lavinia was off on her never-ending errands, so Elisabeth and Tony were left alone. She looked at him, smiling. “You will do, I think,” she said. “You seem almost wholly recovered. Are you tired?”

Tony shook his head. “At first, I was tired all the time, but I hardly notice it now.” He raised his eyes challengingly. “Will I have to be in Belinda’s wedding?”

“Well, if you really don’t wish it, I suppose we might make other arrangements. But Belinda particularly wants you, and you are the man of the family, of course.”

This gave him pause. “Oh. But there is my uncle; he would do much better than I.”

Elisabeth nodded. “We could ask him. The family will be down for the wedding. But as I said, Belinda hopes to have you beside her.”

Tony looked mulish. “I don’t see why. I’ll probably make a mull of it.”

Elisabeth smiled. “I’m sure you won’t. And we’ll have instructions in what to do, you know.”

“What, are you to be in it too?”

She nodded. “I’m to stand up with Belinda as a…a sort of bridesmaid.”

Tony gave a shout of laughter. “Very well. If you are to be there, I’ll undertake to endure it. What fools we’ll look.”

“Good. That is settled.”

She was about to go on when Ames came into the room. “Mr. Jarrett is below,” he said in response to Elisabeth’s inquiring look.

“Mr. Jarrett?” echoed Elisabeth. “Oh dear, he chooses such awkward times to call. Tell him that I am occupied and cannot see him now, Ames.” The butler bowed and went out, and the girl continued. “I wish to talk more about your kidnapping, Tony, while we are private together. Did you see the house Mr. Aldgate thought to be the one where you were held?”

“Yes. And he was right. But there was nothing left to help us. They were too careful.”

Elisabeth frowned. “You must keep thinking over the incident. Perhaps you can remember something that would lead us to the kidnappers.”

Tony shook his head. “So I hoped. But I’ve gone over and over it a thousand times. There is only the maid. I daresay I could recognize her, but they’ve gotten her well away by now, I wager.”

“Yes.” Elisabeth struck her knee with a closed fist. “It galls me. They go free after what they did to you, and we have no recourse.”

Tony agreed.

Elisabeth rose from the sofa and turned, feeling the need to pace about the room. But as she stood, she saw Mr. Jarrett standing in the drawing room doorway, his hat in hand. “Mr. Jarrett!” she exclaimed involuntarily.

The man bowed. “Excuse me,” he said. “I overbore your butler inexcusably. I wished urgently to speak to you. But I see I have chosen a bad moment.” Jarrett spoke very abruptly; he seemed agitated about something.

Elisabeth raised her eyebrows, annoyed at this intrusion. “You might have realized that when I refused myself,” she said coolly.

“Indeed, I should have. But I am… I was…” He paused a moment and put a hand to his forehead.

Jarrett looked up. “If I might come tomorrow?” He looked at Elisabeth.

“M’cousin is engaged tomorrow,” said Tony belligerently.

“Tony,” said Elisabeth. She looked at Jarrett apologetically. “I’ve been much involved in planning an evening party, you know. You received the card?”

“Yes, yes, I did, I believe. But I…”

“Well, then, you can see my cousin there, can’t you?” put in Tony.

“Tony, please,” said the girl, “you are being rude.” Tony looked unrepentant.

Jarrett didn’t seem to notice Tony’s remarks at all; he continued to gaze intently at Elisabeth. “I must talk to you,” he said. “It is vitally important.”

His tone unsettled her. She dropped her eyes in the face of his piercing stare. “I’m sorry,” she continued. “I have no time before the party; it takes place in a very few days, you know, and there is much still to be done. But we will have a good conversation that evening, I promise you.”

Jarrett didn’t relax. “It’s difficult to be private at a party. I need to see you alone.”

At this, Tony again took exception. “I believe you heard the lady say she was busy,” he said.

The scene was becoming too much for Elisabeth. “Later next week, perhaps,” she put in hurriedly. “Or…or…oh, I do not know precisely, but I assure you we’ll find some opportunity to talk.”

Mr. Jarrett opened his mouth to speak, thought better of it, then started again. But before he could say anything, Elisabeth walked toward the bell pull. Jarrett frowned, made a quick gesture, then bowed and strode out of the room.

Tony followed. “I’ll just see that he really leaves this time,” he said over his shoulder, making little effort to lower his voice.

Elisabeth sat down again, and Tony returned a moment later. “He’s gone,” he said. “I don’t like that fellow. A queer customer. I saw Ames as I was coming back up. Jarrett didn’t push past him at all. Ames said he showed him out. Must’ve waited outside, then come back in once Ames had left the hall. Dashed havey-cavey way of visiting.”

“He is a strange man,” agreed Elisabeth. “But he has lived in the Indies for many years. Perhaps their conventions are different.”

“Did he, by Jove? Well, I doubt if sneaking into people’s houses is fashionable even there. I don’t like him, I tell you.”

Elisabeth shook her head. “No, I begin to think I don’t either.”

The next morning, Elisabeth drove into the City to see her banker one last time before leaving town. It was not a lengthy visit. In less than half an hour, she returned to the street. She had started to climb into her carriage when she heard someone call her name. Turning, she confronted a small dark man hurrying along the pavement in her direction. “Miss Elham,” he repeated. “I wish to speak to you, please.”

For a moment, Elisabeth looked blank. Then she recognized the Creole gentleman who had called on her some time ago. She hesitated.

The man came to a breathless stop before her. “You must excuse me,” he panted, “but seeing you there across the street, I wanted to speak. I apologize again for my presumption.” His face was bright red from exertion, but he seemed happier than when Elisabeth had seen him last. “I’m leaving England now,” he went on. “I go back to Martinique on Wednesday, to the warmth, thank God. It was like an omen, seeing you; I wished to tell you.”

Elisabeth bowed her head slightly. “I hope you have a good voyage.”

He laughed, showing a nervous excitement. “I will,” he replied. “I will. I have just been to the banker for the last meeting.” He laughed again, and Elisabeth eyed him uneasily.

“I was just returning home…” she began.

“Yes, yes,” he said. “I will not keep you. I only wished to say that you need not consider Jarrett any longer.”

“I beg your pardon.”

The man rubbed his hands together gleefully. “I have succeeded. I couldn’t get the law to help me publish his guilt, but I have recovered some of my sister’s wealth, at least. The monster who had her life shall not enjoy her money. He will be ruined, Miss Elham. He will have to leave London. That is what I wished to say. There is no need to regard him now.”

“I see,” answered Elisabeth. She felt a little sorry for Jarrett suddenly. This man’s enjoyment of his plight was so intense.

The Creole seemed to notice this. “You think me hard-hearted, perhaps? But then you didn’t know my sister, mademoiselle. You would think differently then.”

“Perhaps so,” acknowledged the girl. “Now, if you will excuse me.”

He stood back. “Of course. I do not mean to keep you. Goodbye. I felicitate you on your escape from Jarrett.”

“My escape?” Elisabeth turned back to him curiously.

The man looked surprised. “He pursues you. You do not yield. You are right.”

She frowned and started off. Looking back, she saw the West Indian disappearing down the street in the opposite direction. “Who would have thought I would see him again,” she murmured to herself.

She was thoughtful all the way home, and the subject recurred to her off and on through the afternoon. She longed to tell Jane about this development and see what she made of it. If Mr. Jarrett had indeed married for money, he must be bitterly disappointed now.