Robert and Adrian had used Adrian’s new motorcar for the trip, driven by his chauffeur. On the way back the car was caught in a nasty downpour in Kent and then hit heavy rain in London. And thick traffic, carriages, gigs and carts, as well as some other motorcars, filled the roads as well. The trip had seemed endless to them both; they were cold and the car’s seats uncomfortable. Despite the luxurious trimmings and the skill of the chauffeur, the journey was no faster than in a carriage drawn by good horses.
He insisted on dropping Robert off at the Grosvenor Square house first. ‘See you shortly,’ Adrian said as Robert alighted.
‘Whenever you can get here,’ Robert answered, and made a dash for his front door. Having told Turnbull he would be returning by six o’clock, he realized when the butler opened the door that it was much later, by the look on his face.
‘A bad journey back I think, m’lord,’ Turnbull said in a dour tone.
‘Quite awful, Turnbull. I’d better get upstairs and change before Miss Stratton arrives.’ He headed for the staircase.
‘Lord Robert, she’s already here. I showed her into the yellow drawing room.’
‘She must be early, surely?’ Robert exclaimed.
‘No, my lord, she was on time. It’s already ten past seven.’
‘Good heavens! I knew we were delayed, but I hadn’t realized it was so late. Please tell her I’ve gone to freshen up and select a pink champagne. I shall change out of these damp clothes quickly.’
‘Yes, m’lord.’
‘Thank you, Turnbull.’
Robert took the stairs two at a time, rushed into his bedroom and shed his damp jacket immediately, then took off his shirt and tie. He realized his trousers were dry, and let his braces dangle down against his legs.
He went into his dressing room, took out a clean white shirt and blue tie, selected a smoking jacket of deep blue velvet and a matching pair of house shoes with his family crest on the front.
When he heard the bedroom door open and close, he frowned, and went into his bedroom. To his utter amazement, Vanessa was standing there, looking around.
He was frozen to the spot.
‘Vanessa!’ he cried. ‘Whatever are you doing here?’ His surprise was evident.
‘I couldn’t wait to see you, so I decided to come and find you. You didn’t even say hello when you arrived home.’ She sounded disconcerted.
‘I was wet, needed to get out of my clothes.’ Suddenly realizing he was bare-chested, he rushed into his dressing room, took his white shirt off the hook, and put it on. He tucked it into his trousers and pulled up his braces.
Returning to his bedroom, he discovered she was standing in the same place, obviously waiting for him. He said, in the mildest voice he could summon, ‘Vanessa darling, I think you should go downstairs. I will finish dressing swiftly and join you momentarily.’
‘But why can’t I stay here, wait for you?’ she asked, teasing.
‘Because it would look improper, and it is actually improper for a young lady to be in a man’s bedroom, watching him put on his clothes. Come along.’
He walked across the room and took hold of her arm, and drew her towards the door. Instantly, she grabbed onto him and pressed her body against his. He felt a sudden flare of desire but controlled himself, and led her into the corridor. ‘Ten minutes,’ he said softly, a smile flickering.
She nodded her understanding, half-smiled at him and went downstairs. Robert stepped back into his bedroom and locked the door, although he laughed to himself as he did this.
It didn’t take him long to finish dressing, but as he did so he realized one thing. He was not too old for her. It was the reverse. She was too young for him. Twenty-two, a mere girl. Seventeen years was a big difference. Had he made a mistake? Should he terminate this relationship?
He was not sure what to do. All of a sudden he was at a loss, myriad thoughts running through his head.
Walking across the dressing room, he looked at himself in the cheval mirror, straightened his tie, adjusted the jacket, and went out and into the bathroom.
After combing his hair, smoothing it into place, he took a face cloth, ran cold water on it and pressed it against his cheeks. The coolness helped, and after a few seconds he dried his face.
At least I look presentable, he thought, glancing in the mirror again. He turned away, preoccupied with thoughts of Vanessa. She was so young, inexperienced and innocent in so many ways. Her sudden and unexpected appearance in his bedroom had signalled all this to him, and now he was on the horns of a dilemma. It was time to decide.
He found her in the yellow drawing room, sitting in a chair. She looked forlorn, even a bit miserable, and his heart went out to her.
As he crossed the floor to join her, he was pleased the fire burned in the grate. The house felt damp, somewhat cold on this wet August evening, and he was still chilled.
Sitting down opposite her, he said, ‘We must have a little talk, darling—’
Instantly, she cut in, exclaiming, ‘Please don’t be angry with me, Robert.’
‘I’m not angry.’
‘But maybe you’re disappointed in me, that I barged in the way I did,’ she cried.
‘No, I’m not. Very simply, I was startled to see you …’ He paused. His thoughts upstairs had made it clear to him what he needed to do. ‘There’s something I must say to you now, Vanessa.’
‘What is it? You sound so solemn,’ she cried, noting the serious expression on his face. ‘Don’t make me think you don’t want us to be together.’
Robert knelt down by her side.
‘Will you marry me, darling, once I am free? Will you be my wife?’
‘Oh yes, I will. I love you so much,’ she answered, her eyes suddenly brimming with tears. Sliding her hand out of his, she took a handkerchief out of her reticule and discreetly patted her eyes.
Robert watched her, loving her in a way he had never believed possible. And she was so guileless, so honest, it touched his heart. ‘I assume those are tears of happiness,’ he murmured.
‘Of course,’ she responded, laughing. ‘I can’t wait to marry you.’
‘Now that is settled, let us move on.’ He smiled at her warmly, and continued, ‘Let us say that if my life were normal, and I was single, the thing I would do now is go to your father and ask for your hand in marriage. I am sure he would welcome me as a future son-in-law. We would become engaged, an announcement would be placed in The Times, and there would be an engagement party. After that we would wait a year, and then get married. Always a year, so there’s no suspicion of a shotgun marriage.’
Vanessa nodded. ‘I understand all that, but what are you getting at?’
‘I don’t believe engaged couples should indulge in an affair before marriage. Don’t you agree?’ Robert focused his eyes on her intently, waiting for an answer.
After a moment’s reflection, she said, ‘I suppose you’re right, and what you’re saying is we’re not going to have an affair right now. Or ever.’
‘You are correct, Vanessa, but I promise you I will do my damnedest to get my divorce as swiftly as I can, and that we will get married the day after I’m free.’
She stared at him, bedazzled by those vivid blue eyes, his charm, the wide smile on his face. She loved him so much she would agree to anything. She must never lose this remarkable man. Caught up in his powerful personality, she could only nod her understanding.
Before Robert could say another word to her, Turnbull hovered in the doorway, and announced the arrival of Lord Fraser.
Adrian hurried into the yellow drawing room, smiling, holding an envelope.
‘Good evening, Vanessa, you look ravishing as always,’ he said to her, bowing slightly.
‘Good evening, Adrian, and thank you for your kind words.’
Going to Robert, Adrian embraced him, and said against his ear, ‘I’ve got great news.’
The two men stepped away from each other, and Robert said, ‘You made it back very quickly, Addy.’
‘I did. I wanted to give you this.’ He handed Robert the envelope. ‘It was awaiting me when I got home.’
Glancing at it, Robert asked, ‘Who is it from? Do you want me to read it now?’
‘You can read it later. It’s a letter from my agent in Switzerland.’
‘Oh! Is it about your villa? The one you want to rent?’
‘It is. But it’s not for rent any more. The owner needs to sell it. I shall buy it, because the other person, who also wanted to rent it, can’t afford to do that. You could say it’s already mine,’ Adrian explained in a slightly gloating voice, still smiling broadly.
‘I understand what you’re saying. You will buy it immediately, I assume.’
‘I will. What’s that old saying? Make hay while the sun shines.’
Robert put the letter in his jacket pocket and went to pour the champagne, saying as he did, ‘How about a drink to toast your new acquisition, Addy?’
‘Thanks. I’d like that.’
‘I’m sure you would like a glass too, wouldn’t you, Vanessa darling?’ Robert said.
‘Of course, Robert,’ she answered, having found her voice again, and was filled with curiosity about the villa they had just discussed.
A few seconds later, he carried the champagne over to them, and they all sat down around the fire. After they had clinked glasses and taken a first sip, Robert said, ‘I’ve decided to inform Lucinda she can no longer live at my house in Yorkshire. She must stay in Ireland or with her brother in town. I have put it off, but I don’t want to stay away from my own estate. I need to be there; I have plans and responsibilities. And I hope I can go up there soon. I want you to come, Vanessa, along with Caroline as your chaperone, and you too, Adrian. Do you both accept my invitation?’
‘Of course,’ Adrian said, grinning at this suggestion and loving the idea of Lucinda being barred.
‘I’d like to come,’ Vanessa murmured, obviously flattered to be asked, a beatific smile on her face. ‘And I know Caroline will enjoy it, too.’
Much later that evening, after supper and Vanessa’s departure in Robert’s carriage, the two men sat in the library, each holding a balloon of Napoleon brandy.
‘How come Lucinda can’t buy the villa?’ Robert asked, his eyes searching his best friend’s face, his interest apparent.
‘She’s been paying off her brother’s gambling debts for years. He owes every gambling club in London. He’s a drunk – a reprobate, actually – and he’s bled her dry. Valentine is bad news.’
‘How foolish of her. Is she broke?’
‘More or less, and she certainly can’t buy the villa, which she wants to buy. Desperately so. As a home for her and the Frenchman.’
‘And we know all this from our private investigator in Zürich?’ Robert asked.
‘Yes. If I buy the villa next week, I will hand it over to you, and you then have a huge bargaining chip—’
‘I must pay you for the villa!’ Robert cut in peremptorily. Putting down the balloon of brandy, he got up and threw another log on the fire, pushed it around with the poker, then returned to his chair.
‘If you wish, of course,’ Adrian agreed. ‘She will be given the villa by you as a gift, if she returns to England, so that she can be served the appropriate divorce papers. This is what you have to relay to your solicitor on Monday morning. And she has to agree to a quiet divorce. And everything has to be done with great speed.’
Adrian sat back in the chair and propped his feet on the brass fender, brought the balloon to his nose and breathed in the cognac. ‘That’s your task next week.’
‘I will do everything you suggest, Addy. You have managed the situation so well,’ Robert murmured. ‘My only question is how do we get everything done with speed? I’m eager to marry Vanessa soon.’
‘As long as Lucinda does as she’s told, your divorce should be through in a few months.’
‘Are you sure?’ Robert said, doubt echoing in his voice. ‘How can you manage that?’ A worried look settled on his face.
‘Money talks,’ Adrian answered. ‘And in your case, you’ve got plenty of it. We shall use it wisely.’
Later, after wishing Adrian goodnight, Robert sat for a few moments staring into the embers of the dying fire. He could never have imagined when he stood on the terrace at Bolton Manor, preparing for this trip to town, how much his life would have altered in just a few short weeks. That he could have met Vanessa.
His boys were with their grandparents and his wife was in Switzerland. It was time to take the steps to reclaim Bolton Manor as his own, and to make a new life for himself.