Elizabeth had found it impossible to give him a reason for Mr Elworthy’s behaviour, which seemed odd to her—as, indeed, were all the circumstances of the affair. She could not blame her brother for wishing to investigate further, as she might herself had she been in his shoes, but she did fear that he might land himself in some trouble. She could not bear it if Simon were to end up putting a pistol to his head as their father had done the day after the disastrous wager.
It had taken Lord Wentworth’s word to persuade her that Papa had not been murdered. Even now, she still had a nightmare in which her father appeared to her and demanded justice for his wrongful demise.
Sighing, Elizabeth pushed the disturbing thoughts away from her. There was nothing to be gained from dwelling on the past—she could not bring back her beloved parents. She must make up her mind to do the best she could for her future employer and simply pray that Simon would stay out of trouble.
‘But that is shameful of you, Mama,’ the Earl of Cavendish said, a wicked sparkle in his blue eyes. He was glad that he had decided to come down, for it was exactly what he needed to sweep away his growing sense of restlessness. His mother was up to mischief and his good humour was restored, his quest to find Sarah banished temporarily from his mind. ‘To lure the girl here under false pretences that way…’ His gaze swept over her fashionable toilette, taking in her elegant gown and the lustre of eyes that were almost a mirror image of his own. ‘I will own that it is almost two months since I last visited you, but…’
His mama gave a little cough and lay back against the piles of silken cushions on her elegant daybed. ‘Have you no pity for your poor mother, Daniel? I have had a terrible chill and my doctor absolutely forbade me to leave my room for ten days. I was confined to bed for five. You cannot imagine how tedious that was, dearest—especially as your sister is increasing and cannot come to me. I was lonely. Besides…’ her eyes twinkled with mischief ‘…in her last letter, my dear Serena told me that Elizabeth is very proud—a lady of character. She suspected that the girl intended to find some employment and of course it upset her dreadfully…poor Serena. It is all the fault of that scoundrel Sir Montague Forsythe, of course. He cheated her poor husband out of his estate and in desperation the foolish man put a pistol to his head.’
‘Yes…’ The earl’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ‘Had Elworthy not witnessed the scene I might have doubted the wager ever took place—but he swears it was as Forsythe says and I have never known John to lie.’
‘No, indeed. When Serena told me that your friend was the one reliable witness my heart sank, Daniel, for I could not doubt him. He would never lie for anyone—and especially a man he despises.’
‘That has been my experience, though he says he was not one of their party, merely an observer.’ The earl’s face was thoughtful, and there was something in his eyes that might have led the men he had fought with in Spain some years earlier to suspect that he was not being as open as he might be on the subject of Sir Montague Forsythe.
‘Well, we must suppose it was an aberration,’ Lady Isadora said and sighed. ‘But I have been determined to do something for the family since I learned of their trouble. I would have offered Serena a home here had the Wentworths not done so before me—but I shall do something for the boy and I am determined to find Elizabeth a husband.’
‘But did I not hear someone say that she is plain?’ The earl raised his brows. ‘I know she did not take at her first Season and there was never another. I do not remember her for I was away serving with the army, but I am sure someone told me—it may have been you, Mama.’
‘I did not see her when she had that Season,’ Lady Isadora said, wrinkling her brow. ‘I recall her as a thin child, tall for her age, with a dark complexion and her hair in pigtails. Of course, she will have altered a great deal since then. I blame myself for not visiting the family more often. I always meant to, but somehow there was always something to prevent it. Your papa did not care for visiting and then I was busy with Melanie’s wedding, and then your father was ill…’ Lady Isadora sighed. She had been very fond of her husband, though it had not been a love match at the start. ‘After he died, I did not wish to visit anyone for a long time. I might have gone when Sir Edwin died, but Melanie was expecting her first child and—’
‘And now she is expecting her second,’ the earl said with a rueful look. ‘I dare say Rossleigh is delighted, though how he bears with her temper I do not know.’
Lady Isadora laughed wryly. ‘Yes, well, I admit that your sister gets a trifle irritable when increasing, but it is a most uncomfortable time for ladies, Daniel.’
‘Yes, I dare say,’ the earl said and smiled at her. ‘But we digress, Mama. You have lured Miss Travers here under false pretences. How do you know that she will not simply turn tail and go home again once she realises that you are not the invalid she imagines?’
‘I am confident that she will not desert me when she realises that I need her.’ Lady Isadora saw the challenge in his eyes. ‘Well, I do need companionship now that Miss Ridley has left me, Daniel.’
‘You know full well that she went reluctantly to nurse her ailing mother, and that she may wish to return if anything happens in that quarter—which it may well do, Mrs Ridley being past seventy.’
‘Yes, and of course I shall take her back—how could I not?’ Lady Isadora said. ‘But sometimes I do long for young company, Daniel—and if my sweet Jane had not died of a fever when she was but a child, I should have been making plans to bring her out this year, you know.’
The earl nodded—he was aware that his mother had never quite recovered from the loss of her youngest child, and because of that made allowances for her. ‘Supposing Miss Travers does not wish to be brought out, Mama? She is, after all, grieving for the loss of both her parents.’
‘I do not mean to rush her up to town. I would not be so insensitive. However, once she has learned to know and like me, I shall suggest a visit to Brighton for my health. The sea air does me good, you know. I am not looking for a title for Elizabeth, dearest. I shall be quite content with a pleasant gentleman of modest fortune. It is merely that I know Serena would not have wanted her daughter to work for a living.’
‘Well, you must do just as you wish,’ the earl said, giving his mother a warm smile. Although they did not live in each other’s pockets there had always been a deep affection between them. ‘But what is it that you wish me to do for you, Mama?’
‘I shall entertain only a few of my neighbours for the next few weeks,’ Lady Isadora said. ‘We must be quiet at first until Elizabeth recovers her spirits, but…I wondered if you might bring a few of your friends to visit next month…’
‘And whom had you in mind?’ the earl asked, a militant sparkle in his eyes. ‘I am not sure that any of my particular friends is likely to be interested in a plain spinster past the first blush of youth—especially if she has no fortune to recommend her.’
‘But I intend to repair her fortune. Your father was generous to me, Daniel—and I have not touched the twenty thousand pounds my father left me. I thought I might settle ten thousand on her.’
‘Indeed?’ The earl raised his brows. ‘That is generous, Mama. I dare say you may find someone willing to take a plain bride for such a sum—though I am not sure you would care for Winchester or Ravenshead.’
‘Those fortune hunters?’ Lady Isadora shook her head. ‘No, indeed, they will not do for Elizabeth—but I rely on you to produce one or two others who might.’
‘Mama…’ Her son eyed her warily. ‘Supposing Miss Travers does not want to be married off to one of my friends?’
‘Well, I am not saying she must, Daniel. Do not be so obstructive! I only wish her to have some acquaintance