The Wolfe's Mate Part 3

Chapter Three.

'Missing?' said Mrs Western to Amelia's maid, who had been sent to remind Miss Beverly that she should have been in attendance on Amelia at six of the clock precisely to see that she was turned out point in order to attend the little supper party which the Earl, George's father, was giving for them at Babbacombe House that evening.

'She's not in her room, madam, and the housekeeper says that she went out early this afternoon, saying that it would not be long before she returned. She has not been seen since.'

'You visited her room, I collect. Was there any sign that she had intended to be away for some time?'

The maid shook her head. 'Not at all, madam. The ensemble which she proposed to wear this evening was laid out on her bed, together with her slippers, evening reticule and fan.'

Mrs Western heaved a great sigh. 'How provoking of her! You are sure that she is not in the house-hiding in the library, perhaps? She spends a great deal of time there which would be better spent with Miss Western.'

'I enquired of the librarian, madam, but she has not visited it today.'

'I should never have hired her-although, until now, she has carried out her duties well enough-but tigers do not change their spots...or do I mean leopards? What are you smiling at, Amelia?'

'It's leopards, mama, I'm sure-or so Miss Beverly always says. But it's no great thing that she's missing. I am to marry soon and shall not be needing a duenna-and in any case, young women about to be married are always allowed greater freedom than those who are not. We could let her go immediately. I, for one, shall not miss her.'

'Not until you're married,' moaned Mrs Western. 'We must be seen to do the right thing.'

She snapped her fingers at the maid. 'Keep a watch out for Miss Beverly and tell her to report to me the moment she returns-she cannot be long now, surely. Her absence is most inconvenient.'

The maid bobbed a curtsy and said, 'Yes, madam.' Later, after the maid had spoken to the housekeeper, they agreed with Mrs Western that the duenna would shortly turn up. But no, time wore on-the Westerns left for Babbacombe House and still the duenna had not reappeared.

'Run off with someone, no doubt,' offered Mr Western when they reached home again and she was still missing. 'If she's not back by morning, we'll inform the Runners of her absence-just in case something odd might have occurred.'

'Never mind that, Mr Western-whatever the circ.u.mstances, you will agree with me that she's to be turned away without a reference.'

'Indeed, my dear. Amelia is right. She no longer needs a duenna for these last few weeks before she marries.'

Susanna was not to know-although she had already guessed-the manner in which her disappearance was treated by the Western family and the way in which it would complete the ruin which Francis Sylvester had begun.

While Mrs Western and Amelia were discussing her fate so callously, she was sitting alone before the now-empty teaboard, Ben Wolfe and his chief henchman having retreated to Ben's study in order to discuss how to extricate themselves from the quagmire into which they had fallen as a result of kidnapping the wrong woman.

Not, Susanna concluded, wondering whether to ring the bell and ask for something more to eat, that there was such a thing as the right woman where kidnapping was concerned! And why was Mr Wolfe so bent on depriving George Darlington of his bride? There was a fine puzzle for her to solve.

The secret little smile she gave when she thought of what the two men might be planning in order to repair their present unhappy situation was quite a naughty one.

I really should not be amused, she told herself severely, for I can think of no happy way out of this brouhaha for myself. On the other hand...She paused, and thought carefully for some minutes. On the other hand, I must admit that Ben Wolfe seems to be a man of great resourcefulness, but he will need all of that to disentangle himself from the spider's web which he has created.

She was not far wrong about Ben. Once out of the sound of Susanna's mocking voice, constantly reminding him of what a cake he had made of himself, he had recovered the cold-blooded and cold-hearted equanimity which had taken him from poverty to immense riches.

'Don't say anything, Jess,' he had commanded, his right hand raised, when they reached his study, a comfortable room that was all oak, leather and bookshelves. 'I freely acknowledge my error. I am entirely to blame, and conceit has been my undoing. You carried out my orders to the letter and the only thing I can fault you for is not reporting to me the lady's reaction when you kidnapped her. What I have to do now is save the situation from becoming even worse than it already is.

'I cannot allow this innocent young woman to suffer as a consequence of my folly, but how to rescue her poses a number of difficulties. If you have any suggestions to offer, pray make them now.'

He flung himself into a high-backed chair which stood before a large oak desk on which pens, papers, sand, sealing wax, rulers and a large ledger were carefully arranged. As elsewhere in the house the room was meticulously ordered, a monument to the care with which Ben Wolfe normally arranged his life and that of those around him.

Jess looked down at him, a rueful smile on his face. 'If I had a magic sentence which, once uttered, put all to rights again, then I would offer it to you,' he said. 'But for the life of me I cannot think what would mend matters-or, indeed, if they could be mended. The young woman is here, will be missed by her employers and will have no tale to offer them which would not end in ruining us all-including her.'

'Job,' said Ben bitterly. 'I might have known that you would be Job's comforter. One thing, she cannot stay here long, in a house of men, with no duenna for herself, so that must be the first remedy-but how?'

He leaned forward, his elbows on the desk, his eyes closed. Jess had seen him do this many times before when he was concentrating, so he remained as still and silent as he could.

Ben began by reproaching himself for his carelessness. The young woman, Susanna, had the right of it. But enough of that. He needed a duenna for the duenna. But who? And how? How much time pa.s.sed as he cleared his mind of thought and waited for inspiration to strike he never knew.

He lifted his head, looked at Jess, and said, 'I have it. Celeste. I wonder that I did not think of her before.'

'Celeste?' asked Jess, puzzled.

'Yes. Celeste. Madame la Comtesse de Saulx who is living not two miles away and whose reputation is beyond reproach.'

'You mean the Frenchwoman who has rented the Hall outside Lavendon. She is the epitome of all that is proper,' returned Jess. 'I had no notion that you knew her.'

'I know her, and she is not French-although she sounds as though she is.'

'And you think that she would agree to help us?'

Ben smiled. He had never looked so wolfish. 'Oh, I think she might be persuaded.'

He did not say, I know that she will and for reasons which I cannot discuss with you-or anyone else. All that remained was for him to ride over to her home, Primrose Hall, and ask her to help him-and immediately.

Jess watched him as he rose, saying, 'Ask Nicholson to have my curricle and my best pair of chestnuts ready as soon as possible. I'll drive over immediately. It's only a short run and she can come back with me straight away. Tell the housekeeper to prepare another suite of rooms for her and for her maid-and possibly an attendant if she wishes to stay overnight. I doubt that she will, but one never knows.

'In her hands, Miss Beverly's reputation should be quite safe.'

He bounded out of the room, all his usual violent energy restored.

Jess called after him, 'And I am to tell Miss Beverly of what you are planning?'

'You are to tell Miss Beverly nothing of that. Tell Mrs Ashton to attend on her and suggest that she goes to her room, change into the clothing provided for her, and be ready to eat an early supper with you, myself, and at least one other guest. That is all.'

Jess watched him go. Now, how in the world had he come to know Madame de Saulx? And know her well enough to demand such a favour of her? She was too old, surely, to be, or have been, his mistress; in any case, she was widely known for her virtue as well as her strong sense of propriety.

He shook his head. He had known and worked for Ben Wolfe for many years-but he still had no real notion of the true man he was, or of the many secret affairs which his employer chose to keep to himself.

Ben himself, cursing his folly, made short work of his visit to Madame de Saulx. He drove at a pace which, although it could not exactly be described as ventre terre, was near to it. He knew that Madame would receive him immediately, not keep him waiting, at whatever hour he chose to arrive.

He was shown into a drawing room which already bore the marks of Madame's impeccable taste, and it was not long before she appeared. She was in her middle fifties, was tall beyond the common height of women, and bore the remains of a great beauty. She was dressed modestly, although her turnout had that air of je ne sais quoi which most Frenchwomen of n.o.ble birth possessed.

Her shrewdness was demonstrated immediately when, after Ben had performed the common courtesies which a gentleman owed to the lady whom he was visiting, she said gently, 'Pray, sit down. I know by your face that you must have come on some matter of great moment, but we can still discuss it in comfort. I have no mind to have you pacing my drawing room like a caged tiger!'

Ben gave a short laugh and did as he was bid. 'How well you know me! I have come, as you have doubtless guessed, to ask a great favour of you.'

'You may ask as many favours of me as you please, great or small. Nothing I can do for you could equal the one great favour you did for me.'

'You exaggerate, but let me come to the meat of my problem as soon as may be,' and he immediately began to tell her the sad tale of how he had, by chance, come to kidnap the wrong woman, and how urgently he needed her a.s.sistance to save three reputations.

'Bien sr,' she said, her voice and manner grave, 'that I shall certainly not ask you why you chose to do such a thing-but I can guess. What do you propose that will mend matters?'

'That you will come immediately to The Den to be introduced to Miss Susanna Beverly as a French n.o.blewoman of impeccable birth, who is ready to a.s.sist her in every way after hearing of the sad mischance which I have so carelessly brought about. I have concocted an explanation which I believe will do the trick of allowing her to retain her reputation and which will also disa.s.sociate her completely from any connection with me-that is, if you agree to it.

'It goes as follows. You were being driven along Oxford Street when you saw this young gentlewoman overcome by faintness. Of your infinite compa.s.sion you stopped, a.s.sisted her into your chaise and took care of her. She did not recover for some time and, when she did, she was temporarily afflicted with a distressing loss of memory. Again, of your compa.s.sion, you drove her to your pied terre in Stanhope Street near Regent's Park, where you cared for her until her memory returned. After which you immediately arranged to restore her to the family by whom she is at present employed.'

Madame clapped her hands together gently.

'Excellent. You should be writing plays for Drury Lane! I shall, of course, need to drive the young woman secretly back to London and make it known that I had recently arrived there in order to take part in the Season. I shall be happy to oblige you, seeing that I need to visit the capital in order to renew my wardrobe and visit a few old friends.'

'Excellent,' echoed Ben, looking happy for the first time for several hours. 'All that remains is for you to meet Miss Beverly as soon as possible. She seems a most respectable young woman, except that she said something rather odd to me, to the effect that, if it were known that she had apparently run off with me, it would finally destroy her reputation which was damaged already. Have you heard of any scandal relating to a young woman of that name? If you have, I think that you ought to tell me. It would be as well to know exactly where we stand.'

'Very true,' nodded Madame gravely. 'You and I, of all people, know the necessity of guarding our backs. The name is a little familiar-but I will try to gain her confidence this evening; if anything important crops up, I shall not hesitate to inform you.'

She smiled and said after a fashion as cool as his, 'By the by, I must congratulate you on your choice of words to describe the criminal act which you have just committed! To describe an innocent young lady's forcible kidnapping as "a sad mischance" is a feat worthy of the late Dr Johnson himself!'

Ben's grin was somewhat shamefaced. 'You never spare me, Madame,' he told her.

'Indeed not. There ought to be someone in the world who is capable of compelling you to face the truth about yourself occasionally, mon cher.'

And so it was arranged. On the one hand, in London, Susanna's future was being busily destroyed whilst, in the country, a practised pair of conspirators were equally busily trying to rebuild it!

Chapter Four.

Whilst Ben was occupying himself at Lavendon by covering up his blunder, Susanna, at the urgings of Mr Jess Fitzroy, allowed the housekeeper, Mrs Ashton, and the little maid to accompany her upstairs, bathe her, and dress her in the modish clothing which lay on the bed in her suite of rooms.

It was many years since she had worn anything so fine, so expensive and yet so ladylike. Looking in the long mirror, she saw herself transformed. Mrs Ashton who had been a lady's maid herself long ago, not only dressed her hair for her, but also applied a soupcon of rouge with a fine hare's-foot brush, despite Susanna exclaiming that she never used it.

'You are a little wan, my dear. The tiniest application of colour to your cheeks will soon remedy that. There-' and she swung Susanna towards the mirror again so that she could see for herself that the ravages of the afternoon had been repaired.

'Now, you must go downstairs,' said her new guardian. 'I understand that it will not be long before the Master returns and, shortly after that, dinner will be served. It will be at an odd hour, to be sure, but then, Mr Wolfe has his own ways of going on-as you have doubtless discovered.'

Oh, yes, Miss Susanna Beverly had already discovered that! She arrived in the drawing room to find Mr Jess Fitzroy there, dressed in a superfine blue jacket, cream pantaloons and the most elegant evening slippers-to say nothing of an artistically tied cravat and suitably dishevelled hair in the latest fashion.

He bowed to her gracefully. 'Allow me to congratulate you on your appearance, Miss Beverly. Most fitting.'

'Fitting for what, Mr Fitzroy-to be kidnapped again? And maltreated into the bargain?'

He bowed again. 'I pray you, forgive me for that-but do admit...my unfortunate behaviour to you was based on a complete misunderstanding.'

'And am I to infer from that, that all would have been well if you had carried off Miss Western and not myself? If so, I wonder at your morality, sir, as well as your common sense.'

By Jove, Ben had been right. The woman had a tongue like a viper and did not hesitate to use it!

Nevertheless, Jess Fitzroy had the grace to look a trifle ashamed of himself before he muttered, 'Why, as to that, Miss Beverly, there are reasons-'

He got no further before Susanna exclaimed, 'Pray do not enlarge on them, sir, for I am sure that I should neither approve of them nor like them!'

Jess was saved from having to reply by the arrival of Ben Wolfe, with Celeste, Comtesse de Saulx, on his arm. Both of them were dressed in the latest stare of fashion appropriate to their s.e.x and to their different ages.

Ben, indeed, had for once allowed his valet to do his best for him-why, he did not know. It was not that he wished to attract Miss Susanna Beverly in any way, far from it, simply that he wished to rea.s.sure both the Comtesse and her as to his claims to respectability.

The Comtesse had not only acceded to his demand that she return to The Den with him immediately, but she had also had herself dressed for dinner with exemplary speed after her arrival there. Ben's valet had pa.s.sed on to him the welcome news that Miss Beverly had joined Mr Fitzroy in the Turkish drawing room where they were awaiting his arrival.

At least the argumentative virago had had the grace to give way over something. Ben had not relished the thought of another slanging match occasioned by his unwanted guest refusing to oblige him by dining with him. Not only that, when he walked in, he saw immediately that she had also obliged him by a.s.suming the clothes which she had earlier refused.

But that was not all that he saw-or experienced-either when she rose to greet him, or when he took her hand to kiss its back after the continental fashion of which he knew Madame la Comtesse would approve. For, seeing Susanna for the first time as a woman, and neither as an object destined to bring about his long-awaited revenge on the Wychwoods, nor as the wretched nuisance who had been carried off as the result of his own folly, had the oddest effect on him.

That indomitable spirit, which had allowed Susanna to overcome the series of disasters which had afflicted her since her father's death, shone through the envelope of flesh which clothed it, and, in doing so, touched Ben Wolfe's own proud and unyielding soul.

There was nothing of the flesh about this experience for either of them. It affected Ben the more strongly and immediately precisely because it was so different from anything he had ever known before. It was not Susanna's fine eyes, or her tender mouth, nor her carefully arranged and l.u.s.trous hair, or even the delicate figure revealed by the arts of a Parisian dressmaker, attractive though these were, which were having such a strong effect on him.

No, it was something more, something which pa.s.sed his understanding and which made him see Susanna in a totally new light. And when he took her small hand in his to kiss the back of it, a shudder pa.s.sed through both of them.

Susanna's eyes widened and she withdrew her hand as though it had been stung. Nevertheless, so instantaneous was their reaction that even the keen-eyed Comtesse did not notice that Ben Wolfe and the pretty young woman whom he was now presenting to her were sharing something which neither of them could explain.

Why meeting Ben Wolfe again after a short absence should affect her so differently and so profoundly from her first sight of him, Susanna did not know. Perhaps, she told herself, it was my anger at being so vilely mistreated on his orders which made my first reaction to him one of acute distaste. That, and the harsh manner in which we both attacked one another.

But I must not trust him until he has proved that he is worthy to be trusted-he and this grande dame who has sprung from nowhere and whose reputation for virtue is such that the whole world knows of it.

As though he had just read her mind, Ben said, 'Madame de Saulx has kindly consented to join with me in arranging that you shall suffer nothing from the mischance which has befallen you today. We shall speak of it later at our leisure, after we have enjoyed the excellent meal which the butler tells me the chef has prepared for us.'

Thus, she had no alternative but to fall in with his wishes when Madame de Saulx said approvingly in her prettily accented English, 'What a splendid notion, cher Ben. I hope Miss Beverly will understand that all her troubles are now over, and that she has nothing more to fear.'

'Other than that when I do return to the Westerns, whatever explanation we may offer them, they will almost certainly terminate my employment,' Susanna could not prevent herself from saying.

'Oh, as to that, my dear young lady,' Madame rea.s.sured her, 'you need have no fear. One way or another you will be taken care of. It is the very least that Mr Wolfe can do for you after causing you so much mental and physical agony as a consequence of his foolishness. Is not that so, cher Ben?'

Susanna was pleased to see that, for once, 'cher Ben' looked a trifle discomfited by this rebuke. Jess Fitzroy even smiled a little at it, only to earn from Madame a rebuke of his own. 'And you need not smirk so condescendingly at your employer, Mr Fitzroy, for your own part in this unhappy business is not without its share of blame.'

Bravo, Madame, was Susanna's inward comment, even as the butler entered to inform them that dinner was served, and Mr Fitzroy proceeded to offer her his arm so that they might properly follow Madame la Comtesse and Mr Wolfe into the dining room where she might forget for a time her unfortunate predicament.

'Allow me, Miss Beverly,' said Ben, 'to inform you at length of the measures which I have taken to explain your strange disappearance from London earlier today.'

They were all back in the Turkish drawing room again; the inevitable teaboard before them. They had just enjoyed the excellent meal which Ben had promised them. During it they had spoken only of the lightest matters, such as the health of the present monarch; the latest scandal about that old and faded figure, the Prince Regent; of his equally faded and scandalous wife, Princess Caroline of Wales; the recent birth of the Princess Victoria and even, at Madame's instigation, of the change in women's dress brought about by the slight lowering of the waistline.