Lady Elizabeth's Comet by Sheila Simonson

Author:Sheila Simonson [Simonson, Sheila]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Regency Romance, Romance, Historical Romance
ISBN: 9781601740465
Publisher: Uncial Press
Published: 2008-04-18T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

As things turned out I did not have to think up a scheme to get rid of Willoughby. Two days later, as I was writing a letter to Anne in the withdrawing room, there was a ruction in the hall and Willoughby stormed in unannounced.

"Good God, Willoughby, what is it?"

"You're responsible for this, Elizabeth."

"For what?"

"Cecilia has run off with your pet chirurgeon."

"With Charles? If she did you must have provoked her. What have you been doing, tying her to the bedpost?"

"Clearly, I ought."

We stared at each other. Willoughby was ruffled, his cravat awry and his hair mussed. As I had never seen him with a hair out of place my fascination may be forgiven. Perhaps he sensed my amusement.

His mouth thinned. "Why did you suddenly set your cap for Bevis, Elizabeth, dear? He was ready to offer for Cecy. I laid odds on it. You failed to bring Bevis up to scratch five years ago. Do you fancy you can do the trick at eight-and-twenty?"

I went cold, but a thread of common sense held my wrath in bounds. I said in a carefully level voice, "I don't follow your drift, but your tone is insulting. I presume you're foxed. Good day, Willoughby." I rang for Agnew.

"Oh no, you don't." He took a step toward me, hand raised. I stared, widening my eyes deliberately. And his violent demeanour did surprise me. If this were the Willoughby beneath the masque, then Cecilia's subdued behaviour--one might even say idiocy--in his presence was understandable.

"Did you ring, my lady?"

"Mr. Conway-Gore is just leaving. Show him out." I kept Willoughby's furious eyes locked on mine. "I know nothing of Cecilia. Take your Banbury tale elsewhere, Willoughby."

"She's gone to the border!"

Agnew looked from Willoughby to me.

"Never mind, Agnew. Mr. Conway-Gore has decided not to go after all. Bring the sherry tray, if you will."

"Sherry!" Willoughby's voice rose.

Ever tactful, Agnew withdrew.

"Sit down, Willoughby." When he remained obstinately standing, I sat, rearranging my skirts with nice attention. "Sit down."

He sat.

"Explain. And a little less rodomontade, if you please."

Suddenly he buried his head in his hands, which were shaking. "Oh God, Elizabeth, I'm done up for sure."

"You're done up? I thought all this was in aid of Cecilia."

"You don't understand."

"No. I understand that Cecilia thought herself enamoured of Bevis--and that she has now changed her mind."

"She had to marry him--or Clanross."

"My word." My mind raced over Cecilia's appearance. She couldn't be with child, silly wench. Absolutely not. Light began to glimmer.

"Do you mean that you're in real difficulties, not just a temporary shortage of funds, and that you intended to marry off Cecilia advantageously in order to stave off your creditors?"

"I've been living on my expectations ever since your father's death. When you told me at Christmas that Clanross was ill..."

"You told your creditors 'any day now.' I see. How injudicious of you. Does Clanross know?"

"No! That canting Methodist."

I fear I laughed.

"He don't play and he ain't fashionable, and what's more he don't care to be. He wouldn't understand."

"That's as may be, but I think you should lay your trouble before him.

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