Page 32 of The Society Catch
‘That was clever, although it has done nothing for his temper, I fear. But, Joanna, truly, he was so anxious about you. He only became angry when he was sure you were safe. Have some smoked trout, or a little of this chicken. No wonder you are so fractious, you must be starving.’
Joanna reluctantly accepted the food, then began to eat ravenously. ‘I had no idea I was so hungry. But, Georgy, you cannot truly mean to let him take me away when he comes back?’
‘I really have no choice. But Jo, why is that so dreadful? You will have to spend the summer in Hertfordshire with the Tasboroughs–’
‘Baby-sitting and being disapproved of by Alex. And that horrible man Clifton will call and try and make me marry him.’
‘Then tell him,No.This is not the Middle Ages and your father can’t lock you up in some tower until you relent. And quite frankly,’ Georgy helped herself lavishly to spiced prawns, ‘you could hardly be in any more disgrace than you are already.’
‘Georgy.’ Joanna put down her knife and fork with someemphasis. ‘I am in love with Giles Gregory. You are telling me that I have to spend days in his company, and that of a disapproving old puritan with a face like a weasel, being sent home in disgrace with nothing to look forward to but the attentions of a loathsome man and the news that Giles’s wedding has been announced?
‘And then when Lord Clifton has finally given up and Giles is safely married to his rich, eligible, lovely wife I will have nothing to do with my life than to dwindle into an old maid.’
‘But how would staying here help?’ Georgy said imploringly. ‘It would save you the journey in the Colonel’s company and the stay with the Tasboroughs, but you would still be no better off.’
‘You told me that you were going to persuade Lord Brandon to take you abroad. You will need a lady companion. I can perform that role and when we returned I could find employment with other ladies who wish to travel. You could recommend me and my languages are excellent. I learned them for Giles,’ she added bitterly.’
‘Jo, I am so sorry.’ Georgy put down the serving spoon which she had just loaded with yet more spiced prawns. ‘I was going to tell you, only your news was so exciting. I am increasing and it will be at least a year, if not more, before I will be travelling on the Continent.’
Giles walked stiffly across the gravel to where the Squire’s hunter stood, its head low. ‘Come on, boy.’ He picked up the reins and started to lead the tired animal down the drive. ‘We’ll find a good inn in Wisbech with a warm stable for you, a bucket of oats and a good rub down.’ The thought of the human equivalent, a hot bath, a thick beefsteak and the depths of a feather bed, were powerfully attractive.
He had been right the other evening to think he was getting middle-aged, he mocked himself grimly. A thirty mile ride acrosscountry, even bareback, was no excuse for the weariness that gripped him. But he had not felt like this until he knew Joanna was safe. It was then the exhaustion had gripped him.
‘Dammit,’ he remarked to the horse which cocked one ear in response. ‘She’s turned me into a worrier. Do you think I am over-reacting?’ The horse snorted and butted him gently with its nose. ‘Hmm? You are right: I have absolutely no confidence that Lady Brandon could stop Joanna doing precisely what she wants, when she wants to, however good her ladyship’s intentions are. Joanna has run away twice now because she thought she was about to be coerced, I am afraid she is quite capable of doing it again.’
With a resigned sigh he veered off the main carriage drive and made for the stables, the low roofs just visible behind a high brick wall. The yard Giles found himself in housed an impressive block in bright new brick and stone. A groom emerged from a doorway, stopped at the sight of a stranger and then came forward knuckling his forehead.
‘Can I help you, sir?’
‘Yes, you can.’ Giles continued forward, ending up leaning on the half door from which the man had emerged and able to see through it to a line of large loose boxes. All were apparently empty except one where a dappled grey rump could be seen over the door and another where a Roman-nosed hunter looked out.
‘I have called to see my…ward, Miss Fulgrave, who is staying with Lady Brandon. You have her mare safely stabled there, I see.’
‘Yes, sir. Were you wanting to look at the animal, sir?’
‘No, no. I had not realised Lord Brandon was from home, and obviously it is quite ineligible for me to stay at the house with only the ladies there. Can you recommend an inn in Wisbech with a good livery stables?’
The man waxed lyrical on the numerous excellentestablishments, ending with some skill at the one owned by his uncle. ‘Used to be a head groom, sir, your horse couldn’t be in better hands. And my aunt cooks a powerful good beefsteak if your fancy was that way.’
Giles noted the name and direction of the inn, gazing round the yard with apparent indifference as he did so. ‘Thank you.’ A coin changed hands, to the obvious pleasure of the groom. ‘Your master has had new yards built?’
‘Yes sir. And a fine new lodging over the tack room for the grooms,’ the man enthused, usefully providing Giles with the information he had been willing to spend another ten minutes in conversation to extract. ‘Why thank you, sir,’ he added as another coin exchanged hands and Giles turned to lead the hunter back out of the yard.
Giles fell into an automatic marching step and applied his mind to strategy. In the big house behind him he was acutely aware that another mind was also setting itself to counter whatever plans he had. The sight of his grim smile might have given Joanna pause if she had chanced to observe it.
Five in the morning dawned clear and chill. Joanna’s footsteps sounded hideously loud on the gravel as she entered the stable block, but she consoled herself that no-one was about to hear her. In the quiet house Georgy would be sleeping soundly, just as her doctor and doting husband ordered, without a thought that her errant friend was escaping yet again.
She paused in the yard, her eyes flicking over the empty space, her ears alert for any sound, but it was silent, with no sound from the stables to suggest an early-rising groom was about his business. The double door to the loose boxes was shut, although above it the door into the hayloft stood open. The interior was in deep shadow and the hoist beam jutted out from it. With its dangling hook and chain it had an unpleasant look ofthe gallows about it.
Suddenly edgy, Joanna tugged back the bolts and set the door open, hesitating on the threshold at a sudden noise. But it was only the sound of Moonstone shifting round in her box to see who had arrived. The relief at seeing the alert head watching her was so great that it was not until a wisp of hay fell, tickling her nose, that Joanna glanced upwards. And froze.
Giles was looking down at her from the hayloft door overhead. He was sitting with his back against the door frame, one leg dangling over the edge. He appeared relaxed and mildly interested at seeing her but Joanna was not deceived in the slightest. ‘Good morning,’ he observed pleasantly. ‘Somewhat early for a ride, perhaps?’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Waiting for you. I had every confidence that you would come.’ Giles got to his feet. ‘No, do not run back to the house,’ he ordered sharply as Joanna gathered up the trailing skirts of her habit and turned back the way she had come. ‘I have no desire to have this conversation in Lady Brandon’s presence, but if you insist, we will.’
With hope draining out of her Joanna watched as Giles leaned out, caught the trailing chain and hook and swung himself down to the ground. Even in the midst of her mingled humiliation, anger and despair she had to admire the ease with which he moved. ‘You must have been very uncomfortable up there,’ she ventured. He was certainly dusty and, knowing him as she did, she could see the tightness around his eyes from tiredness. But the grey gaze watching her was alert and watchful, not at all the gaze of a weary man.
