When they sat down to breakfast together, Natalya struggled to smile as Tristan outlined his plans for their future. She would not have been surprised if he had been reluctant to marry her, after she had thrown herself at him so wantonly. Even if her behaviour had not repulsed him, once he learned the truth about her birth he would realise she was not a fit wife for him. And if he did not see it immediately, his friends and family would soon make the matter plain.
He was sitting opposite her and she watched him closely, devouring the sight of his lean, handsome face. He was smiling and looking more relaxed than she had ever known him.
He thinks he loves me, she thought sadly. He is still caught up in the passion of what has happened, but that cannot last. Eventually it will fade and he will see me for what I am, a baseborn impostor whom he cannot respect. Then his passion for me will die and I could not bear to see that.
Tristan was refilling their coffee cups. He said, ‘I shall speak to Pridham today, as soon as we return, to assure him I mean to make an honest woman of you.’ He reached across the table and took her hand. ‘Where do you wish to be married, in Bath? Or there is a pretty little church near Dalmorren Manor, my house in Sussex.’ He laughed. ‘We might even be married in London, if you wish to cut a dash!’
‘Ah, stop. Please, stop!’ She forced out the words before her voice was choked with tears.
In an instant he was at her side, pulling her up out of her chair and into his arms.
‘Natalya, my love, what is it?’
She clung to him, her face buried in his shoulder. ‘My aunt and uncle might not consent.’
He stroked her hair, a gesture that she thought might break her heart. No one had ever shown her such tenderness before.
‘You are of age now,’ he murmured. ‘What can they say? And after what has occurred here, I do not think they have any choice.’
She looked up, saying earnestly, ‘Tristan, I do not wish the Pridhams to know we posed as man and wife. At least, not yet. I would like to talk to them alone, first.’
‘Very well,’ he said, kissing her nose. ‘But if they raise any objections to my marrying you, then we must tell them everything. I will not allow anything to stand in our way.’ He held her away from him, his brows coming together in a frown. ‘Now what is it? Natalya, tell me.’
He was so good, so kind, she could not allow him false hope. She bowed her head and took a breath.
‘Tristan, I did not want to speak of it until I was quite sure but… I have reason to believe, good reason, that I w-was born out of wedlock. If that is the case, I c-cannot marry you.’
A heartbeat’s silence.
‘And why is that?’ Tristan’s voice, calm, polite. Was he trying to be gallant or did he really not understand?
‘Because of the scandal. We would not be accepted.’
‘You have been accepted in Bath.’
‘There are already rumours. If it were not for Mrs Ancrum’s patronage, people would not be so kind to me, I know that.’
‘The lady is one of the highest sticklers in Bath. If she has befriended you, she must believe your birth is respectable.’
‘No. Quite the opposite,’ she said unhappily. ‘She thinks I might be the natural daughter of someone she used to know. She has been afraid to look into it too closely in case she finds irrefutable proof.’ Natalya raised her tearstained face to look at him. ‘Tristan, until I know who I am I c-cannot agree to marry you. You see that, do you not?’
For a long moment Tristan looked at her, his eyes searching her face, then he nodded.
‘I understand your scruples, Natalya, but it does not matter to me who you are. I will marry you whatever your history.’
His response made her feel more wretched than ever.
‘You deserve a wife with a spotless bloodline. If mine turns out to be tainted, then it would not only reflect badly on you, but on everyone connected with you: Freddie, your sister, your friends—even your mother. I will not be the cause of a rift between you and those you hold most dear.’
‘Natalya—’
When he went to take her back in his arms she jumped away.
‘No.’ She put up a hand, as if warding off a blow. ‘No, Tristan, I cannot marry you until I am sure I will not bring disgrace upon you or your name.’
‘You could never shame me, my love, but I understand your fears. I will take you back to Sydney Place and we will demand the truth from the Pridhams.’
‘No! Not today!’ she begged him. She dragged out her handkerchief to wipe her eyes. ‘I pray you, Tristan, I do not want to discuss it any further today.’
‘Poor love,’ said Tristan, reaching out to touch her cheek. ‘This ordeal has shaken you more than you will admit.’
‘Yes,’ she agreed, clutching at the excuse he offered her. ‘I think I need a little time to recover from…from everything that has happened.’
‘Of course.’ He pulled her into his arms again. ‘But not too long, my dear, I am impatient now to make love to you properly. As my wife.’
She clung to him, closing her eyes and trying to fix in her memory the sound of his voice, the feel of his heart beating against her cheek. The familiar scent of his skin. If her fears were realised, she would never have the chance to do this again.
* * *
They arrived back at Sydney Place shortly after noon, Natalya travelling in the hired carriage while Tristan rode alongside as escort. They were shown directly into the drawing room, where Mrs Pridham fell on Natalya’s neck and hugged her in a display of uncharacteristic emotion.
‘My dear child, we have been so anxious for you! Until we received Lord Dalmorren’s message, telling us you were safe, I was in an agony of apprehension, wondering what could have happened! What a shocking ordeal, to be stolen away like that and with only the clothes you stood up in.’ Her eyes fell to the pink shawl around Natalya’s shoulders. ‘I suppose the kind people who took you in found that for you. But let me look at you.’ She held Natalya away from her. ‘You are not hurt. Not at all? You are sure of it?’
Her aunt’s eyes darted to Tristan before coming back to Natalya and searching her face.
‘I am perfectly well, Aunt,’ she replied calmly. ‘I was rendered unconscious by my abductors with some drug, which gave me a slight headache, but Lord Dalmorren rescued me before any real harm befell me.’
‘You have been away from your home for three nights,’ put in Mr Pridham, his tone one of outraged disapproval. ‘It would have been better if His Lordship had brought you back to us immediately.’
Natalya blushed at the implication, but Tristan answered him.
‘Miss Fairchild was extremely shaken when I found her.’ A trace of hauteur had crept into his voice. ‘She was in no state to travel further that night and I considered her welfare to be of greater import than your reassurance.’
‘Quite, quite, but nevertheless—’
‘We found refuge in a gentleman’s house, sir, perfectly respectable,’ Tristan continued, ignoring the interruption. ‘One of the maids accompanied Miss Fairchild here and is even now returning in the hired coach.’
Giving you no opportunity to question her, Natalya added, silently.
Mr Pridham looked reluctant to let the matter drop, but after an inward struggle he said stiffly, ‘We must thank you, my lord, for taking such good care of our niece.’
‘It was an honour, sir. But I should like to know how such an abduction could have taken place. From your garden, I understand. How did these men gain entry?’
There was an awkward pause.
‘They were admitted by a treacherous groom,’ said her uncle at last. ‘He and his cronies thought they might make a little money by holding our niece to ransom.’
‘I see. Then you will be able to apprehend the villains.’
‘Yes, yes, it is all in hand.’ He walked over to tug at the bell pull. ‘We will not detain you any longer, my lord. I am sure you must wish to get back to George Street.’
‘Not at all. I have no desire to leave here until I am assured of Miss Fairchild’s safety.’
Mr Pridham drew himself up. ‘Natalya’s welfare is our prime concern, Lord Dalmorren. We shall take the greatest care of her. Now, my lord, allow me to ring for the servant to show you out. I think it best if my niece is allowed to retire to her room and rest.’
Tristan hesitated and Natalya quickly stepped forward.
‘Let me add my thanks to those of my aunt and uncle, sir.’ She held out her hand to him. ‘A few days’ rest and I shall be quite restored.’
She squeezed his fingers, silently begging him to understand.
‘As you wish, Miss Fairchild. I shall send a messenger in the morning to enquire after your health.’ He added, his eyes teasing, ‘And every morning until you are well enough to see me.’
He bowed over her fingers and was gone. Was it her imagination or did her aunt and uncle exchange a look of relief with his departure?
Mrs Pridham was eager to carry her off to her room, but Natalya held back.
‘I did not recognise my abductors, Uncle. Which of the stable hands let them in?’
‘A new man, recently engaged,’ he replied dismissively. ‘You would not know him and you must not make yourself anxious over it. The matter has been dealt with. Perhaps, Mrs Pridham, you will take Natalya upstairs now?’
‘Oh, yes, yes, of course. Come along, my dear. I instructed a bath to be prepared for you and we must get you out of those clothes. They are quite ruined, alas. Aggie shall throw everything out.’
Natalya clutched the pink shawl closer. She would allow her maid to dispose of everything else, but not that. It was Tristan’s gift to her and, along with her memories, it was all she would have of him.
* * *
Tristan made his way back to George Street, a frown furrowing his brow. He felt uneasy about leaving Natalya at Sydney Place. If she had been willing, he would have preferred to take her into his own family until he could marry her, but she was insistent that she should return to Sydney Place. He could understand that, for she was anxious to question her aunt and uncle about her origins.
It was not that he thought the Pridhams were behind the abduction. Their relief at her safe return had been genuine enough, but it irked him that they had been more interested in the time he and Natalya had spent at Farnell Hall than her abduction. Pridham’s explanation about the rogue stable hand was a little strained, too.
Perhaps he was being unfair. It was possible the man was embarrassed that his niece could have been taken from under his nose. Well, that would not happen again. He would set someone to watch the house. He would not run the risk of her being spirited away a second time.
Tristan was still deciding which of his staff he would set to this task when he entered his house and was informed that Mr Denham was waiting for him in the drawing room.
‘Charles!’ He closed the door and crossed the room. ‘When did you get here?’
His secretary put down the newspaper and rose to his feet.
‘Last night.’ He gripped Tristan’s outstretched hand. ‘Your valet was telling me about your little adventure. Have you seen him yet? He will be in a stew until he knows you are safe.’
‘The servants will tell Hurley I am returned.’ He waved Charles back to his seat. ‘What news?’
‘I have been making enquiries about Miss Fairchild, as you instructed. I think I have found something.’
* * *
Aggie was helping Natalya into her dressing gown when there was a scratching at the door and Mrs Pridham came in.
‘Ah, you have finished bathing, my dear, good.’ She flicked one hand to dismiss the maid. ‘I thought I should come and see you, to talk to you.’
Natalya had never heard her aunt sound so conciliatory and she was immediately on her guard.
‘Very well, ma’am.’ She sat down at the dressing table and began to pull the pins from her hair. ‘What would you like to talk about?’
‘You have had a terrifying ordeal, Natalya.’
‘Not so terrifying. Lord Dalmorren rescued me within hours of my being carried off.’
Natalya watched in the mirror as her aunt paced to and fro, her fingers twisting restlessly together.
‘Yes. Quite. Lord Dalmorren is indeed to be praised for his swift action.’ She came to a halt behind Natalya. ‘He must appear a veritable hero to you, my dear. Such a handsome man, too. No one would blame you if you were to think yourself a little bit in love with him. And being alone with him like that, I am sure he could be very…persuasive.’
So that was it. By a supreme effort of will, Natalya did not blush. She met her aunt’s eyes in the mirror.
‘Lord Dalmorren did not seduce me, Aunt, if that is what you wish to know.’
‘Oh, good heavens, no one is suggesting anything of the sort! I would never—’
Natalya swung round on the stool. ‘My uncle asked you to come here, did he not?’ Her aunt’s little shake of the head was not convincing. ‘He wishes to know if I am still a virgin.’ She added bitterly, ‘If your investment has been devalued.’
Mrs Pridham looked distressed. ‘Really, Natalya, it is not like that at all. We are naturally concerned for you. We thought perhaps we might ask a doctor to visit you. To…to reassure us that you are unharmed.’
‘Indeed?’ Natalya kept her head up, her whole demeanour challenging. Not by the flicker of an eyelid would she give herself away. ‘Yes, by all means let us invite Dr Caldwell to visit me. You wish him to confirm that I am still a maid, do you not? I will be sure to tell him all about the abduction and how Lord Dalmorren rescued me. And I will explain to him the reason for my uncle’s concerns, that he doubts Lord Dalmorren’s word and that you do not trust me to tell you the truth!’
‘No, no, there is no question—that is, we will not ask the good doctor to call, if you do not wish it,’ her aunt replied hastily. ‘Mr Pridham is naturally anxious. He merely wants to make sure…’
She trailed off miserably and for a moment Natalya almost felt sorry for her. Uncle Pridham was too embarrassed to ask such intimate questions himself, so he had bullied his wife into it. Natalya chose her next words carefully.
‘You may reassure my uncle, ma’am, that Lord Dalmorren did not steal my virginity. I will swear an oath on it, if you wish, but I trust my word will suffice?’
‘You may be sure I shall tell him what you have said, Natalya.’ Her aunt looked a little shocked at this blunt language. ‘I am sure Mr Pridham did not mean—that is, it is because he cares for you, my dear.’
‘But he does not care enough to tell me who I am.’
‘Alas, our hands are tied on that.’ Mrs Pridham stopped and clamped her restless hands to her mouth. ‘I can say no more on that head, my dear, pray do not ask me.’ She drew in a breath, composing herself before continuing in a much more normal voice. ‘Pray believe that we only want what is best for you, my dear. And on that subject, we think it would be best if you kept to your room for a while. We have let it be known that you are indisposed. We did not want anyone in Bath to know what has happened to you. Only think of the gossip!’
‘And we must avoid scandal at all costs, must we not?’ retorted Natalya, her lip curling.
‘Yes, indeed we must. I am glad you understand, my dear. I will have your dinner sent up to you.’
She went out and as the door closed behind her, Natalya’s shoulders slumped. Why had she come back? Tristan had offered to take her to his family and now she almost wished she had agreed, but the idea of explaining her uncertain origins to Lady Dalmorren was too shameful to contemplate. Although a doting mother would be only too willing to support her if she refused to marry Tristan. But what would she do, where could she go? It was best she stayed here until her aunt and uncle told her the truth about her parents. Whatever that might be.