Page 54 of Needs Must
‘He is aware of our friendship and probably hoped to drive a wedge between us,’ he contented himself with saying. ‘He would not dare to confront you if … excuse me, he had misinterpreted the nature of our friendship. Which I rather suspect he has.’
She blushed scarlet as she nodded, her expression severe. ‘That would explain it,’ she agreed. ‘Anyway, let Lady Celia do her worst. As I say, I always knew the day would come. I thought I would have more time but there’s no help for that. People like nothing more than to gossip, and since I have neither the means nor the desire to mix in society, the speculation can do me no harm.’
‘That is not the point.’
‘I will take a position somewhere in the country, as a governess, and people will soon forget all about my scandalous past. In the meantime, you had best distance yourself from me.’ A brief smile slipped past her guard. ‘I should not like you to be tainted by association. Only imagine what they would have to say to that in theton.’
‘Thetoncan mind its own damned business. And no one will tell me whom I can and cannot consort with!’ he cried, with passion.
‘Use your sense, Cal!’ she responded with impatience. ‘You can’t help me. No one can. The villagers’ tongues have been wagging since you sent your carriage to collect me last night. I dare say your servants will confirm that gossip by revealing that I dined with you.’ Two spots of colour appeared on her pale cheeks. ‘And now Mr Dawkins has seen us ride off together, which will imply a liaison.’
‘What a delightful prospect,’ he said, amused by her embarrassment.
‘This is no laughing matter!’ But she smiled anyway. ‘How will I be able to acquire a respectable position if my reputation is in tatters?’
‘Is that really your intention?’
She lifted one shoulder in a negligent shrug. ‘What other options are available to me? But my main concern is for Miriam. She is no longer young, and I need to make sure that she finds something worthy of her talents before I think about myself.’
Cal was moved by her compassion. She herself was about to experience yet another severe downturn in her circumstances but was more concerned about her maid than her own situation. She would, Cal sensed, be broken hearted to be separated from her maternal substitute. Surely there must be a way for them to remain together. Some genteel occupation that would bring in sufficient income for them to survive.
‘The speculation you fear will only arise if we cannot find a way to prove Ian Harte’s culpability,’ Cal pointed out.
She rested her elbow on her knee and her chin in her cupped hand, looking glum. Resigned. ‘Which we will never manage,’ she pointed out.
Cal winked at her. ‘Don’t be so downhearted. Divide and conquer. In my experience, it seldom fails.’
‘What on earth are you talking about?’ she asked impatiently.
‘You mentioned that Harte and Aykroyd dislike one another.’
‘Intensely. They each thought of themselves as Jonathan’s righthand man. Jonathan knew it, of course, and played them off against one another. He found it amusing, and it made him feel important.’
‘In that case, it’s reasonable to suppose that the antagonism still exists, and their new alliance is not founded on loyalty or trust.’
‘True,’ Donna agreed slowly nodding. ‘You imagine, I suppose, that Aykroyd, who we know is loitering in the vicinity, might be willing to change sides and help us to get to the truth.’
‘The possibility crossed my mind. After all, he knows where you are and hoped to set tongues wagging by speaking about you to Graves, but has not actually accosted you or, presumably, told Ian where you are. So why did he make a point of letting you see him?’
Donna tapped a finger against her teeth as she considered her response. ‘I have been wondering about that myself,’ she said. ‘Aykroyd is wilier than a fox, and seldom impulsive.’ She glanced at Cal. ‘He wanted me to know he was there, perhaps just to frighten me. In which case, he succeeded better than he could possibly know.’
Cal reached out and took her hand. ‘No one will harm a hair on your head,’ he said fiercely, concerned by the fear in her eyes that her defiance failed to completely conceal. She snatched her hand away.
‘Thank you, but you cannot offer guarantees of that nature. I have already caused enough discord in your family. You would be better advised to steer well clear of me.’
‘Don’t give another thought to Celia’s ugly threats. I will not be held to ransom by a member of my own family. Suffice it to say that Celia will not speak out of turn regarding the death of your husband.’ Cal firmed his jaw. ‘In fact, she will not speak of it at all.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Trust me,’ he replied. ‘I know how to handle my sister, and she will not defy me.’
Donna looked suddenly vulnerable and unsure of herself, perhaps because of the vehemence in Cal’s tone. ‘Even if she does not, you will only be delaying the inevitable,’ she said with a little laugh that was not driven by humour. ‘Thank you nevertheless for gaining me a respite.’
She straightened her shoulders, jutted her chin and appeared more in command of herself. Just as well because her momentary weakness had tested Cal’s resolve to the limit. He felt a fierce, burning desire to protect her and had been on the point of pulling her into his arms in order to comfort her in the manner that sprang spontaneously to mind.
He had been resisting that particular temptation since he’d first made her acquaintance, he conceded. The lady had worked her way through his defences without attempting to impress him and there was little he would not do to assure both her safety and her future.
Cal knew that he was in danger of falling helplessly in love with her, but he also knew that his feelings were misplaced. Even he realised that any lasting connection between them would be impossible, unless … until he could clear her name beyond doubt of any involvement in her husband’s death.
