Chapter 30
“Wherein ... the plot thickens.”
Lord Nibley and his sister, much to Georgiana’s delight and surprise, were dressed as a pair of Spanish dancers. She exclaimed in delight, having unjustly supposed Percy would look down on such rowdy amusements. He coloured a little at her exclamation and then grinned.
“I admit I had grave misgivings about this evening,” he said, looking a trifle sheepish.
“Hen-hearted I know, but you get such odd and varied sorts as these affairs. I always feel it’s not quite the thing for young ladies, but Florrie was determined to come and well .
.. do you know it’s rather liberating to be someone else for an evening and everyone none the wiser. ”
Georgiana laughed, though her own thoughts were too tangled to enter into his amusement as fully as she might have done.
Privately she also thought anyone acquainted with Lord Nibley would never be deceived no matter the number of garish colours with which he clad his long limbs.
His sister, Florence, was also tall and lean, though thankfully not to the extent of her brother. She had his kind brown eyes though and was a cheerful companion, much inclined to enjoy herself and see everything there was to be seen.
“But I have not yet told you how very lovely you look,” Nibley added boldly, colouring a little but saved by his sister who nodded vigorously.
“Oh, yes,” she breathed, looking flatteringly awestruck as she took in Georgiana’s attire. “The very image of a goddess. You really are very beautiful, and Artemis with her silver bow and arrow is just the thing for your lovely figure.”
“The very image of a goddess indeed,” Nibley said softly, this time causing Georgiana to blush.
Looking suitably awkward Florence settled back against the squabs and they enjoyed a pleasant conversation as the carriage took them via the less fashionable but drier route over Westminster Bridge rather than chartering a boat to Kennington.
They reached Vauxhall Gardens in Lambeth within the half hour, and it looked like an enchanted fairyland glittering in the darkness.
Thousands of glass Chinese lanterns were hung all about the wide, sweeping avenues, glowing gold, and the ornamental lake was lit with floating candles.
The grand rococo rotunda too was all aglow, and everywhere the eyes were assaulted by colourful costumes and the swirl of domino cloaks as masked figures laughed louder and more boldly than usual.
For the first hour Georgiana despaired of ever finding Sebastian in the crush, but she had been right about Lord Nibley’s singularly lanky frame. Beyond relieved, a familiar voice slid over her skin, sending shivers of anticipation down her spine.
“Good evening, lovely Artemis,” he whispered against her ear and she turned, confronted with a black silk domino, lined with scarlet and a black mask.
She knew the dark eyes that glittered behind the mask, however, and felt her tension ease a little. Sebastian would surely know what to do.
“I would be afraid such a powerful goddess would steal my heart away,” he said, his voice still low and serious. “But alas you must find another for mine is already claimed.”
“Oh?” she replied, smiling up at him, despite the fear in her heart that trouble awaited them. “You do not find me to your liking, your grace?”
“Oh, how could I not?” he exclaimed, shaking his head. “But I have lost my heart to a mortal woman and have promised to have no other.”
“I should think not!” she said, with an arch look, making him laugh.
“You look so very beautiful, love,” he whispered and then stepped back a little as Lord Nibley and his sister joined them.
“Your grace,” Nibley said, nodding, though Georgiana thought she detected a cool look in Percy’s face that surprised her.
They walked on along the gravelled avenue as the strains of music tangled on the evening air.
In every grove, temple and lodge they passed, music was heard and the scent of food and chink of glasses as every variety of refreshment and entertainment was offered and the crowds grew ever livelier.
They passed small, brightly coloured tents where gypsies offered to read cards and tell fortunes and the structures of the large Turkish tents glowed with golden light.
The music grew louder as they approached the umbrella of the music room, as dancing was the entertainment within, and Georgiana thought her chance of speaking to Sebastian privately was only to be found here.
She gave a little urgent tug on his arm and gestured towards the rotunda. His mouth quirked into a smile and he paused to bow to her with a very formal air.
“Would you do me the honour, Miss Bomford of dancing with me.”
“Why, your grace, what a charming idea.”
With a promise to meet Lord Nibley and Florence at the box he had reserved for supper in a quarter of an hour, Sebastian led her onto the floor.
The enormous and extravagantly painted domed ceiling was hung with a vast chandelier over eleven-foot-wide, and the noise of music and laughter rose and echoed around them.
An infectious atmosphere swept among the dancers who moved with more than usual effervescence, as colourful silks of skirts and cloaks swirled like intoxicated butterflies.
For a moment Georgiana allowed herself to be swept along with them in her partner’s strong arms, but her uncle’s ugly promise could not be banished from her mind for more than a few moments.
She looked up to see Sebastian’s eyes on hers, his expression troubled.
“We both have much on our minds I see.”
She nodded and gave him a beseeching look. “Oh, Sebastian, I must talk to you alone. I am in so much trouble.”
“Trouble?” he repeated, his voice sharp. “How is this?”
His voice was indistinct with the volume of noise around them and she shook her head.
“We can’t discuss it here. I can hardly hear myself think.”
With skilled ease, he guided them through the throng to the edge of the dancing and led her back out onto the paths.
“We’d best make our way back to Nibley,” he said, his voice low.
“Neither of us can afford a scandal right now. I’ve had the very devil of a day, persuading my mother’s companion not to go babbling to her family about how ill-used she’s been.
Not to mention how my mother recently lost her mind and tried to kill her! ”
“What?” Georgiana exclaimed. “You’re not serious?”
“Deadly serious, love,” he replied, his face grim.
“Oh! This is all my fault isn’t it?”
He stopped and grasped hold of her hands.
“No! Never think it!” He squeezed her fingers, his eyes warm behind the mask.
“I have blamed myself for much of her illness. But I spoke to her doctor and ... and he explained a great deal that I hadn’t understood.
Georgiana, none of this is of our making.
You were but a babe at the time it began, and I’ll not allow our futures to become mired in their mistakes. ”
“B-but she knows ... about us?”
He sighed and placed her hand back on his arm.
“I don’t know if she does or not, truth be told, Georgiana. She’s ... she’s lost her mind. She attacked me too, though she thought I was my father. After reading the scandal rags ... I think it was too much. It brought the past too much to her mind and ...”
He shrugged and gave a crooked smile in response to her horrified expression.
“Can you really bear it, love? It is such a lot to ask of you, to face the scandal all over again and to be married into such a family.”
“Oh, how can you believe I would change my mind over such a thing!” she cried, shaking her head. “Only,” she paused, hearing her voice tremble as the violent encounter with her uncle came to mind again. “It may be that you ... you’ll have to, when I’ve told you ...”
“Impossible,” he replied, interrupting her, the word sure and stern. “Nothing will stand between us, not now. But you’d best tell me, and we’ll see what’s to be done.”
The moment was lost, however, as Lord Nibley approached them.
“I saw you wandering off in the wrong direction,” he said, his voice light, though he cast Sebastian a very dark look. “So, I thought I’d best come and rescue you before you became hopelessly lost. They’re about to serve supper, you see.”
Georgiana murmured that he was very kind, and they followed in his wake back to the private box he’d booked for the evening.
“I’ll find a way to speak to you,” Sebastian whispered. “I must return to my own guests now, but I’ll think of something. Until later, love.”
She nodded, looking up at him and praying he would. A whole sleepless night without the comfort of knowing her troubles were shared with him was not something she could face easily.
The meal was pleasant and Lord Nibley and his sister amiable company, but Georgiana’s appetite had deserted her.
Vauxhall’s famous muslin thin ham and a vast array of cheeses and salads were presented and would usually have pleased her greatly. But she could hardly do it justice, though she tried her best to cover her distress.
It was a sore trial to have to smile and pretend to be amused when her thoughts were snarled around her wicked uncle and his despicable plans to control or ruin her.
After supper they returned to the paths to wander back to the Chinese Pavilion to await the fireworks.
Florence paused for a moment with her brother at one of the stalls to look over some pretty silk fans, but too lost in her own thoughts to stand still, Georgiana continued, albeit at a slow enough pace that they could catch her up with ease.
She was startled then to be approached by a tall, well build man of older years. He was dressed as a Harlequin but the eyes behind the colourful mask were knowing. He had the look of a libertine, once handsome and charming, but now rather jaded and a trifle shabby.
“Miss Bomford,” he said, bowing and giving her a smile she did not find reassuring in the least.
“I do not know you, Sir,” she replied, and made to return to Lord Nibley and his sister but her way was blocked as the man moved to stop her.
“Oh, but I know you, and I bear you a message from your uncle, the baron.”
He raised his hand, and between his finger and thumb he held a lock of red hair.
“Just a little reminder for you,” he said with a sneer. “And you may be sure, I remember every particular of our intimate rendezvous, as I have always been blessed with a remarkable imagination.”
Georgiana gasped and took a hurried step backward. “Get away from me, you vile creature.”
She was given the benefit of a theatrical bow and the man stepped away.
“Until we meet again, Miss Bomford,” he said, his voice loud as he melded back into the crowd.
Georgiana stood trembling.
Oh God, oh what was she to do?
She looked around, alarmed as she felt a cold hand touch her arm. A scruffy looking street boy of perhaps eleven stood staring at her, his brown eyes frank.
“You Miss Bomford?” he demanded, scratching at his thick dirty hair with one hand.
“Y--es,” she replied, her tone cautious.
“This is for you then.” He thrust a small white card into her hand and ran away before she could ask him anything further.
Her tension left her all at once as she read, His Grace, The Duke of Sindalton, embossed on the fine white card. She turned it over to read the words, my carriage awaits you on Kennington Lane. I will make all good with Nibley. Hurry. S x
Sparing a last, backwards glance towards Lord Nibley and his sister and hoping Sebastian could find a way that they would forgive her rudeness, she ran down the gravelled path towards Kennington Lane.