Caroline looked up, smiling, as other guests approached and the conversation moved on.
* * *
The party broke up soon afterwards and everyone went off to change for dinner. When Lucy went up to her room she found the Long Gallery deserted and she took the opportunity to look at the portrait of Helene again. She looked very wistful, but had she really been so unhappy?
‘She is very beautiful, isn’t she?’
Lucy jumped. She had been so absorbed in her own thoughts that she had not heard Adam Cottingham approach. Now she looked round to find him standing at her shoulder.
‘I think she looks a little sad,’ she remarked.
‘She was.’
‘You knew her, did you not, Mr Cottingham?’ Lucy hesitated. ‘Was she not happy here?’
He stared at the painting.
‘No, she was not,’ he said at last. ‘Perhaps—but I should not say this to you.’
‘Oh, please,’ she said earnestly, ‘please tell me what you think. I would much rather things were out in the open.’ She thought sadly of her father, of his absences and her mother’s unexplained tears. ‘One cannot deal with difficulties if they are unknown.’
‘Very true, Miss Halbrook.’ He looked back at the portrait. ‘My cousin is not an easy man to live with. He can be... How should I put it? Tyrannical.’
‘Oh, surely not,’ said Lucy impulsively. ‘I know he can be a little abrupt, but surely—’
‘She was very fragile, you see. Far too meek and quiet to hold her own against Adversane.’ His glance flickered to Lucy. ‘You have the look of her.’
She blushed and disclaimed, ‘It is a mere fancy, sir.’
‘Perhaps.’ He smiled. Lucy did not know what to say, but her silence went unnoticed for Adam continued, as if he was speaking to himself. ‘Everyone loved her for her kind heart, but she was too complaisant, submissive, even. She needed to be worshipped, like a goddess. Ralph never understood that. He was impatient with her. In the end I do not think she could stand it any more.’
A sudden chill ran through Lucy.
‘No. He is not a tyrant, truly.’ She thought of the paint box. ‘He can be very kind.’
‘Kind enough, I grant you, when one adheres to his wishes.’ He added quickly, ‘Forgive me, I should not have said that. I have not seen Ralph for some time. He may well have changed, mellowed. Yes, of course. It must be so, if he has won your regard, Miss Halbrook.’
She did not know what to say but nothing was necessary. Adam gave a sad little smile, bowed and left her.
* * *
‘I’m to dress you in the blue silk again tonight, miss, with the silver stars in your hair,’ said Ruthie. ‘Lord Adversane’s orders.’
Kind enough, when one adheres to his wishes.
Lucy desperately wanted to put it to the test, to tell Ruthie to take the beautiful gown away and bring her another, but something held her back. Her eyes went to the paint box resting on top of the chest of drawers. By that one act of kindness Ralph had bought her loyalty, at least for a little longer.
Her maid had just put the finishing touches to Lucy’s hair when there was a knock at the door. Lucy remained at her dressing table while Ruthie went to answer it. Her heart began to thud against her ribs when she heard Ralph’s deep voice announcing that he had come to escort Miss Halbrook downstairs.
Lucy rose and took a last look at herself in the mirror. The sun of the past few weeks had bleached her hair, making her resemblance to Helene even more marked. Why was he doing this? Why was he putting her through this ordeal?
A simple business transaction.
The words came back to her. She had agreed to it, but had she quite understood what was involved? Resolutely, Lucy turned towards the door.
‘I am ready, my lord.’
* * *
Ralph had not come into her room but was waiting for her in the passage. His figure loomed large in the narrow corridor, a shadowy form with only the snowy linen at his neck and the frills at his wrists standing out, almost glowing in the dim light. He did not move as she went out to meet him, but subjected her to a hard stare. She felt a flicker of annoyance and put up her chin.
‘Well, my lord, do I look sufficiently like your dead wife?’
Nerves and unease added a sharp note to her voice, and she expected a blistering retort, but as she drew closer she was surprised to see an odd little smile playing about the corners of his mouth.
‘It is strange, Miss Halbrook, but when I look at you I no longer see the resemblance.’
‘Well, you may be sure your sisters saw it when I came down to dinner yesterday in this very gown.’
‘You are not wearing it for their benefit.’ He held out his arm. ‘Come along, Miss Halbrook, or we shall be late.’
That implacable note was back in his voice. She knew it would be futile to question him further and silently accompanied him down to the drawing room. The buzz of voices she could hear through the door suggested that the other guests were already gathered. As they entered, Lucy’s apprehensive gaze went immediately to Sir James and Lady Preston. Sir James merely smiled but his wife, more astute where matters of fashion were concerned, gave Lucy a long, unsmiling stare.
‘Ah, here is our host.’ Lord Wetherell greeted them cheerfully. ‘I was just describing the very superior brandy you have in your cellars, was I not, Cottingham—Cottingham?’
‘What? Oh, yes, yes.’ Adam crossed the room to address Lucy. ‘My wife is longing to become better acquainted with you, Miss Halbrook. Let me take you over to her.’
Lucy’s fingers closed on Ralph’s sleeve, as if she did not want to leave his side. Quite irrational, she told herself crossly, and hoped no one would notice. Save Ralph, of course. He could not fail to feel her clutching his arm. However, Sir James had addressed a question to him, and he merely gave her hand a pat before moving away from her. Adam led Lucy across to sit beside his wife, and he pulled up a chair to join them.
Unlike their earlier meeting, Judith Cottingham now exerted herself to be friendly. Gratified and relieved to be away from Lady Preston’s disapproving presence, Lucy responded in the same vein. The conversation covered a wide range of subjects but it was interspersed with questions. It was only natural, she thought, that they should want to know about her family and how she had met Ralph.
She answered as best she could, keeping to the history she and Ralph had agreed upon, but she could not be sorry when he interrupted them, laying one hand on her bare shoulder.
‘I am sorry to carry you away, my dear, but Harry has arrived and you have yet to meet his wife.’
His touch was very light but it sent a tingle of excitement running through her, heating her blood and rousing an ache of longing deep within. Lucy quickly stifled it, reminding herself it was all a charade to convince his houseguests.
* * *
‘Thank heaven for that,’ she murmured as they moved away. ‘I had not realised until they began asking me questions that there are so many gaps in the story we devised!’
‘I thought you were looking harassed. We need to find some time alone to make sure our stories match. Slip away and join me in my study in... Let us meet on the half-hour. That will give us time to discuss the matter and be back here well before the dinner hour.’
His