CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Lord Barkby left Edward Street at first stunned by the sudden reverse he had suffered, and then very angry, not with Louisa, whose reaction he could understand, however little he agreed with it, but with the Dowager Lady Dembleby.
The woman was poison, and whilst he could simply confront her in public and counter with his ability to prove both his own innocence and that of Louisa, his proofs were not to hand.
The truth of it was that, at present, she was an enemy he knew not how to engage.
He sought out the obvious reinforcement, Mr Gilmorton, though he did not know how he might assist, other than in giving moral support.
Having failed to find him at home, but being informed that he had announced his intent to visit Lady Brailes, Lord Barkby sought him there.
He knew a moment’s pang that he should interrupt the lovebirds, but it would be useful also to inform Miss Brailes of the change of heart undergone by her best friend.
If any other female might influence Louisa Dembleby, it was Caroline Brailes.
Lord Barkby began to announce his bad news.
‘We know, my friend, we know. We were in the Pump Room yesterday. It was pretty grim, I promise you.’
‘I had not heard any rumour,’ said Caroline, ‘until Mama and I went there. I know full well it is a hum, even though I would never have considered it possible that either of you could have acted in such a manner. Why, when she went into Somerset, Louisa knew nobody in the area, and when she wrote of you it was as Lady Barkby’s wounded son.
However, by being her friend, my “evidence” can be set aside. ’
‘And I can prove I was never away from the regiment at the time, but that means sending to Spain, and awaiting the mails back from there, which will take weeks at the least. Emily must have been conceived when we were in anticipation of embarking for Portugal.’
‘It could be proved from the books at the depot in Shoreham that you had no furlough, surely?’
‘That is true, but a piece of paper from a clerk is not going to be given greater credence than the words from the mouth of the child’s grandmother.
If I had an affidavit from the colonel it would carry more weight, but, dash it, Louisa was right, nobody would think a woman would declare her own grandchild misbegotten out of spite. ’
354‘Deuced difficult situation, I agree. What an obnoxious marplot this old Dembleby woman is. No wonder Lady Dembleby, er, your Lady Dembleby, is in such a pucker.’ Mr Gilmorton frowned.
‘Having two ladies with the same title gets confusing. Easiest if the Dowager Lady Dembleby becomes “the Dragon”.’
‘Trouble is, Gil, I could slay a dragon, but not one in a turban and too many pearls.’
‘Very true.’ Mr Gilmorton became pensive, and even stroked his well-shaved chin. ‘What you need is to fight fire with fire,’ he said sapiently.
‘Sounds good, but how in practice?’
‘Well, I cannot promise anything immediately, since I would need to consult my grandmama first.’
‘Consult the Duchess?’ Lord Barkby looked confused.
‘Mmm. We will find her at the Pump Room about now.’ He looked at Miss Brailes, but before he could ask whether she and her mother would care to accompany them, she pre-empted him.
‘Mama wishes to take me to Mrs Howell to discuss additions to my wardrobe, so we cannot accompany you. I am sorry.’
The two gentlemen therefore left Miss Brailes to the contemplation of Berlin silks and twilled muslins, and departed for the Pump Room with the air of men upon a mission.
When they arrived, the room was well filled with people, and making their way to where her grace was ensconced necessitated a considerable degree of weaving, apologising, greeting and excusing.
Lord Barkby was aware that he was stared at, and not because of his hand.
It also 355brought them within view, and earshot, of Lord Orlando Hurstwood.
Lord Orlando felt cheated. Miss Newent had, inexplicably, turned cold upon him after the incendiary incident.
He could not see that for all her lack of intellect, she possessed a kind heart towards others, regardless of rank.
She had been profoundly shocked by Lord Orlando’s unconcern for the poor woman and her children affected by the fire.
It showed him as heartless in the extreme, and however much he may have won her over with flattering attentions, this could not be ignored.
She had, this very morning, actually looked away when he tried to catch her eye.
It was the outside of enough. She was a nobody upon whom he had wasted his time in this ridiculous watering-place of elderly dames and social mushrooms.
Seeing Barkby and Gilmorton together did not improve his temper.
Both these gentlemen had striven to keep him from his prey, and they would still be inclined to gloat over his failure.
He was not ignorant of the rumour that was making its whispered way about Society, and emanated from the Dowager Lady Dembleby, whom he had seen and mentally set down as ‘an old cat’.
His previous knowledge of Barkby as a very upright, if not puritanical, type made him doubt the veracity of her tale, but it did not mean that he would not take great pleasure in discomfiting the man.
‘Ah, the dashing dragoon. Used to being well mounted, no doubt, and on another man’s mare it seems. And he so judgemental of others.’
Lord Barkby stopped in his tracks and turned, his face a mask, but his eyes blazing. It had been a terrible morning, and now here was Hurstwood spreading the very slander 356that had cost him the hand of the woman he loved.
‘You are happy to spout lies to my back, but will you dare repeat them to my face?’ The words were clipped, and several people near him fell back a step. Heads turned, and a ripple of silence spread through the chatter.
‘Come, come, Barkby. You ought to be proud, having played the role of honourable hero so well.’ Hurstwood smiled, though a small voice inside warned him that this was a man whom it would be dangerous to goad. He ignored it.
‘You do not know the meaning of either word, sir,’ spat Lord Barkby, white-lipped with anger.
‘Do I not? But why cut up at me? We are men of the world, surely?’ he drawled, apparently unperturbed.
‘Of very different worlds. I will not hear a lady’s name besmirched, nor my own honour cast into the dirt. I demand an apology.’
‘Or what? Would you call me out, Barkby? No, really. And just how good a shot are you with your left hand?’ He sounded patronising.
‘I have no doubt better than you with your right, Hurstwood.’ Lord Barkby sounded very calm, and far more unconcerned than his putative opponent. ‘I can certainly shoot straight enough to wipe the sneer from your damned face.’
‘I cannot meet you, a crippled man.’ There was a slight rise in Hurstwood’s tone, the veriest hint of panic.
‘If you will not meet me, then do as I say: apologise and retract the falsehood, before everyone here. Otherwise I demand satisfaction, and if you refuse to grant it then you 357are marked not just as a liar, but as a coward.’ The words lashed like a whip.
‘I am not afraid to take my chance, Hurstwood. Are you?’
‘No, of course not,’ Lord Orlando snapped. ‘Be it as you wish, then, and as soon as possible.’
‘Gil, you will act for me, yes?’ Lord Barkby turned to Mr Gilmorton at his side.
‘Of course, my dear fellow.’ Mr Gilmorton cast Lord Orlando a look of loathing. ‘Don’t want to make it a killing matter,’ he murmured. ‘Messy when the law takes a hand. Wing the fellow and have done.’
‘A second is meant,’ sighed Lord Orlando, ‘to attempt reconciliation between the parties.’
‘Well, I won’t waste my breath on this occasion, Hurstwood.’
‘You will be my second, Brailes?’ drawled Lord Orlando, mastering his inner trepidation.
‘Me?’ Frederick Brailes squeaked. He had been unaware of the gossip about Lady Dembleby, and the connection was only just starting to sink in. He did not believe it, but he also disliked Lord Barkby, whom he found confrontational.
‘Yes, you.’
‘But I have never … I mean, it is an honour, of course … if you are confident …’
‘I am sure you will be admirable.’ Fortunately, Mr Brailes was too overset to hear the scepticism in Hurstwood’s tone. ‘And let us get it over and done with as soon as possible. I have an engagement in Salisbury on Wednesday. I have no idea of a location hereabouts.’
358‘Claverton Down would be best.’ Mr Gilmorton had dropped his voice. ‘Shall we say tomorrow, at seven, assuming there is no retraction, that is?’ Mr Gilmorton glanced at Hurstwood, and decided that there was no hope of that.
‘Er, where does one obtain duelling pistols? Do either of you gentlemen …?’ Mr Brailes asked falteringly.
‘I have a brace of pistols at home, matched, but not specifically for duelling. Nicely balanced. I can send for them this afternoon, if you are content to use them, Hurstwood.’ Lord Barkby looked at his opponent.
‘Oh, I trust you not to have been aiming at wafers for weeks.’
‘No, I must admit, the last time I used a pistol, the target was alive.’ Barkby could not resist.
‘You have fought a duel before, Barkby?’ Hurstwood paled a little.
‘Good Lord, no. It was a burglar. Only winged him, but it was poor light and there was a lot of bustle going on at the time. First time I had shot an Englishman, though. All the rest were French.’ Barkby sounded casual.
It did not help Lord Orlando Hurstwood feel better, however, and Mr Brailes went a trifle green.
Any thought of speaking with the Dowager Duchess was forgotten, and Lord Barkby and Mr Gilmorton turned about and marched from the Pump Room, with people making way for them as they did so. Mr Brailes wondered, nay hoped, that someone would think to inform upon them to the magistrates.