Page 37 of Venus in Disguise

“Then what difference can it make if you let me out?” Narcissa asked in growing desperation, as she feared this might be her one chance to get free. Emotion made the words tremble as she pleaded again. “Sally, please don’t leave me here.”

There was silence on the other side of the door, then a scratching sound before something skidded over the polished wood floor by Narcissa’s feet. Looking down, she stared at the key to the door.

“Thank you!” she whispered, but Sally had already gone.

Too aware that time was of the essence, Narcissa packed up everything she could carry in a portmanteau and stood before the locked door, the key clutched in her hand. If she did this, she would likely ruin herself and end up in even worse straits than she was now. At least if she married Lord Wishen, she would have a home and status. She would never have to worry, and she would be out of her father’s control. But was that enough? After everything she had learned about herself these past weeks, could she bear to give up on the possibility there was something more, if only she were brave enough to reach for it? She was tired of allowing fate to sweep her along, tired of doing everything her father wished of her, only to be reviled and abused anyway. No one was coming to save her, but perhaps if she was daring, she could save herself. She knew the chance of Ash wanting her in the way she hoped was slim after everything she had put him through, but perhaps if she did this, he would see she was prepared to risk everything to be with him, that she could be brave for him. She would not despise herself for being a coward again. This time, she would take her courage in her hands, and make her own choice, for better or for worse.

Taking a deep breath, Narcissa stepped forward and unlocked the door.

12th March 1850, Goshen Court, Monmouthshire.

Ash stared down at the fire in the hearth. He didn’t know what to do. Despite Pip’s best efforts, and Leo’s worst ones, he was still as restless and unhappy as he’d been when he arrived ten days ago. He did not know whether to go back to town. The temptation to do everything in his power to snatch a moment alone with Narcissa, to demand if those words had been true, burned in his chest. Yet what was the point? If it were true, he’d have gained nothing, and if they were not… what then?

Currently, Leo was staring at him like he was sandwich short of a picnic, an expression of pitying concern in his eyes that was damned irritating. Not that Ash blamed him. He had just confessed to Leo that he had feelings for Lady Narcissa Ponsonby. That certainly entitled Leo to have him locked up for insanity, in Ash’s opinion. The chink of glasses told Ash that Leo had decided he needed a drink to cope with such a ridiculous confession and was more than relieved when Leo handed one to him.

A knock sounded, heralding the butler. “The post has arrived, Mr Hunt, Mr Anson.”

Rather to Ash’s surprise, Leo leapt for it, colour rising to his cheeks when Ash gave him a curious glance as whatever it was he’d been hoping for appeared not to have arrived. Too blue devilled to enquire, Ash let it go, about to turn away when Leo handed a letter to him.

“For you.”

Ash stared at it, an odd sensation climbing down his spine as he stared at the unfamiliar handwriting. It couldn’t be. Could it? He tore it open, discovering a sheet of paper and another note sealed within it.

Dear Mr Anson,

I was asked to see this letter delivered to you, but the gentleman I spoke to at your club informed me you were staying at Goshen Park. I pray it reaches you safely, for I did not know where else to send it.

I do not know if I am being kind or cruel in sending it on, for I fear I have already meddled unduly in an affair I had no business in criticising. Please understand that jealous and spiteful as I was, I truly sought to protect Narcissa from the fate that befell me.

When I had almost given up hope of ever marrying, I fell in love. I believe my gentleman loved me in return. He was a good man, though of humble origins, and the duke refused to countenance our marriage, though I am hardly an important figure in the family history. But Beresford wishes to control everyone and everything within his power, and he does so with cruelty and malice. I wish I’d had the courage to run away to my gentleman and to escape his tyranny, but life is full of wrong turns and regrets.

I cannot advise either of you what to do next, but I know Lady Narcissa admires and esteems you. So much so that she told the duke to his face that you were a better man than he, than he could ever hope to be. He struck her for that, so severely she fell to the floor with the force of the blow. She has realised too late just what a man her father is, and I do not see how she can ever escape his clutches now. I pray you will find a way to help her, if your feelings for her are strong enough to withstand the difficulties you will surely encounter.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Maud Pinkerton.

Ash stared at the letter, his heart beating very hard. The sealed note lay in his hand, unread but he did not trust himself to read it in front of Leo. That the duke had hit Narcissa made a sensation far past any anger he had ever experienced before burn like acid in his chest. He wanted to kill the man for laying a finger on her. And she had told her father that Ash was a better man than he—to his face! Regret at having not done more, at not realising she was speaking under duress when he had visited the house, made him feel sick to his stomach. Somehow, he had to get her away from the duke.

“Oh, the devil,” Leo said in disgust, tearing Ash’s attention from the letter in his hand. “It’s from her, isn’t it?”

Ash didn’t answer, not wishing to discuss it with Leo, for there wasn’t time. Instead, he tucked the letter and the note away in his pocket and said nothing, just downed his drink in one large swallow and headed to the door.

“Ash, where are you going?” Leo demanded, hurrying after him.

“I’m leaving,” Ash said, not turning as he strode to the stairs.

“Why? What for? Oh, you great lunatic, you’re going to do something ridiculous, aren’t you?”

Ash paused on the stairs, regarding Leo with an enigmatic smile.

“Quite possibly,” he said, and carried on his way.

14th March 1850, Albany Street, Regent’s Park, London.

Two wearying days later, Ash stepped down from the carriage, his heart heavy as he wondered what the devil he was to do now. When he had reached Hardacre Hall, the place had been in a state of uproar. Not that he’d gained entry to the Hall itself, but the rumour mill in the village of Hardacre was working overtime. Not only had Lady Fidelia Ponsonby eloped, but she’d done it with Hart! Ash’s mind boggled over this information, which he would normally have found intriguing in the extreme. Just at the moment, however, he didn’t give a damn about that strange turn of events, his entire being focused on the second part of the scandal: Lady Narcissa had also disappeared.

After examining everyone he could get his hands on, it had become clear that Lady Fidelia, her brother, and Hart had all gone off together in the same carriage, bound for London. As for Narcissa, no one seemed to know. They hadn’t noticed her disappearance until the afternoon of the following day, but no one could tell him more than that. He’d gone to the railway station, had visited every inn for miles, checked every source of transportation he could think of, and no one had seen a glimpse of her. How it was possible that such a dazzlingly beautiful female travelling alone could pass unnoticed, he simply could not imagine.