The Savage Marquess Read online

  M. C. Beaton is the author of the hugely successful Agatha Raisin and Hamish Macbeth series, as well as a quartet of Edwardian murder mysteries featuring heroine Lady Rose Summer, several Regency romance series and a stand-alone murder mystery, The Skeleton in the Closet – all published by Constable & Robinson. She left a full-time career in journalism to turn to writing, and now divides her time between the Cotswolds and Paris. Visit www.mcbeatonbooks.co.uk for more, or follow M. C. Beaton on Twitter: @mc_beaton.

  Titles by M. C. Beaton

  The Poor Relation

  Lady Fortescue Steps Out • Miss Tonks Turns to Crime • Mrs Budley Falls from Grace

  Sir Philip’s Folly • Colonel Sandhurst to the Rescue • Back in Society

  A House for the Season

  The Miser of Mayfair • Plain Jane • The Wicked Godmother

  Rake’s Progress • The Adventuress • Rainbird’s Revenge

  The Six Sisters

  Minerva • The Taming of Annabelle • Deirdre and Desire

  Daphne • Diana the Huntress • Frederica in Fashion

  Edwardian Murder Mysteries

  Snobbery with Violence • Hasty Death • Sick of Shadows

  Our Lady of Pain

  The Travelling Matchmaker

  Emily Goes to Exeter • Belinda Goes to Bath • Penelope Goes to Portsmouth

  Beatrice Goes to Brighton • Deborah Goes to Dover • Yvonne Goes to York

  Edwardian Candlelight

  Polly • Molly • Ginny • Tilly • Susie • Kitty • Daisy • Sally • Maggie • Poppy • Pretty Polly • Lucy • My Lords, Ladies and Marjorie

  Regency Candlelight

  Annabelle • Henrietta • Penelope

  Regency Royal

  The Westerby Inheritance • The Marquis Takes a Bride • Lady Anne’s Deception • Lady Margery’s Intrigue • The Savage Marquess • My Dear Duchess • The Highland Countess • Lady Lucy’s Lover • The Ghost and Lady Alice • Love and Lady Lovelace • Duke’s Diamonds • The Viscount’s Revenge • The Paper Princess • The Desirable Duchess • The Sins of Lady Dacey • The Dreadful Debutante • The Chocolate Debutante • The Loves of Lord Granton • Milady in Love • The Scandalous Marriage

  Regency Scandal

  His Lordship’s Pleasure • Her Grace’s Passion • The Scandalous Lady Wright

  Regency Flame

  Those Endearing Young Charms ? The Flirt • Lessons in Love • Regency Gold • Miss Fiona’s Fancy • The French Affair • To Dream of Love • A Marriage of Inconvenience • A Governess of Distinction • The Glitter of Gold

  Regency Season

  The Original Miss Honeyford • The Education of Miss Paterson • At the Sign of the Golden Pineapple • Sweet Masquerade ?The Constant Companion • Quadrille • The Perfect Gentleman • Dancing on the Wind • Ms. Davenport’s Christmas

  The Waverly Women

  The First Rebellion • Silken Bonds • The Love Match

  Agatha Raisin

  Agatha Raisin and the Quiche of Death • Agatha Raisin and the Vicious Vet

  Agatha Raisin and the Potted Gardener • Agatha Raisin and the Walkers of Dembley

  Agatha Raisin and the Murderous Marriage • Agatha Raisin and the Terrible Tourist

  Agatha Raisin and the Wellspring of Death • Agatha Raisin and the Wizard of Evesham

  Agatha Raisin and the Witch of Wyckhadden

  Agatha Raisin and the Fairies of Fryfam • Agatha Raisin and the Love from Hell

  Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came

  Agatha Raisin and the Curious Curate • Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House

  Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance • Agatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon

  Agatha Raisin and Love, Lies and Liquor

  Agatha Raisin and Kissing Christmas Goodbye

  Agatha Raisin and a Spoonful of Poison • Agatha Raisin: There Goes the Bride

  Agatha Raisin and the Busy Body • Agatha Raisin: As the Pig Turns

  Agatha Raisin: Hiss and Hers • Agatha Raisin and the Christmas Crumble

  Hamish Macbeth

  Death of a Gossip • Death of a Cad • Death of an Outsider

  Death of a Perfect Wife • Death of a Hussy • Death of a Snob

  Death of a Prankster • Death of a Glutton • Death of a Travelling Man

  Death of a Charming Man • Death of a Nag • Death of a Macho Man

  Death of a Dentist • Death of a Scriptwriter • Death of an Addict

  A Highland Christmas • Death of a Dustman • Death of a Celebrity

  Death of a Village • Death of a Poison Pen • Death of a Bore

  Death of a Dreamer • Death of a Maid • Death of a Gentle Lady

  Death of a Witch • Death of a Valentine • Death of a Sweep

  Death of a Kingfisher • Death of Yesterday

  The Skeleton in the Closet

  Also available

  The Agatha Raisin Companion

  The Savage Marquess

  M. C. Beaton

  Constable & Robinson Ltd.

  55–56 Russell Square

  London WC1B 4HP

  www.constablerobinson.com

  First electronic edition published 2011

  by RosettaBooks LLC, New York

  This edition published in the UK by Canvas,

  an imprint of Constable & Robinson Ltd., 2013

  Copyright © M. C. Beaton, 1988

  The right of M. C. Beaton to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  A copy of the British Library Cataloguing in

  Publication Data is available from the British Library

  ISBN: 978-1-47210-135-8 (ebook)

  Cover copyright © Constable & Robinson

  For Tilda Chesney Grenier, with love

  Contents

  1

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  6

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  8

  9

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  11

  12

  1

  “My dear, he’s back! Rockingham’s back!”

  The Earl of Clifton sighed noisily and rustled his newspaper defensively. He had brought his wife to London to prepare for their daughter, Ismene’s coming-out. He had wrenched himself away from his beloved country home for the few months of the Season and felt he had done enough.

  “Who is Rockingham?” he asked testily.

  The Countess of Clifton sat down in a flurry of satin and lace. “You are indeed out of the world,” she said with that affected laugh of hers which never failed to grate on the earl’s nerves. “The Marquess of Rockingham. The Savage Marquess. The one they say has sold his soul to the devil. He disappeared for years after that scandal when his mistress tried to hang herself. Now he is back and announces he is looking for a wife.”

  “Rich?” asked the earl, trying to show some interest.

  “Vastly so. And devilishly handsome.”

  “Then he should have little trouble in finding one.” The earl yawned and picked up his newspaper again.

  “But that is the point! No l
ady of breeding could face the idea of such a monster. ’Tis said he beats his servants.”

  “Stout fellow,” came the languid voice of her spouse from behind his newspaper barrier. “Some of ’em could do with a beating.”

  “And he gambles and drinks to excess.”

  “Then he won’t stay rich for long.”

  “Ah, but that is why they say he has sold his soul to the devil, for he mostly wins.”

  “Then if he is such a nasty character,” said the earl in an abstracted voice, “he probably cheats. Since he is obviously not a suitable prospect for Ismene, may we drop this tedious subject?”

  Lady Clifton pouted. She had once been a great beauty and still adopted all the mannerisms of a youthful belle. “You take no interest in Ismene’s welfare,” she said. “You know Ismene is monstrous lonesome in London and craves company of her own age. You promised and promised to find her a companion and yet you do nothing about it.”

  “I had hoped,” said Lord Clifton, putting down his newspaper with an air of defeat, “that our daughter might have managed to endear herself to some members of her own sex. It seems hard I should have to pay for a companion as well as paying the expenses of a Season.”

  “But don’t you see! It is because Ismene is so very beautiful. All are jealous of her.”

  At that moment Lady Ismene flounced into the room. She was indeed a dazzling beauty, from her pomaded brown curls to her little rosebud mouth and dainty figure.

  “What are you talking about?” she asked.

  “I was trying to interest your father in Rockingham’s return.”

  “La! No one talks of anything else. I confess I am bored with the Savage Marquess before I even set eyes on the man. I asked that cat, Miss Sommers, to go driving in the park with me and she said she was too busy. And yet I have just seen her driving in a vis-à-vis with that antidote, Miss Flanders.”

  “Perhaps she had a previous arrangement,” said the countess. “We have also been discussing the idea of hiring a companion for you.”

  “That would be fun,” said Ismene, pleating the fringe of her stole. “I mean, a companion would have to go everywhere with me, would she not?”

  “Your father has promised to attend to the matter urgently. Whom are you going to employ, Clifton?”

  The earl threw down his newspaper and marched to the door. “I am going to my study to think about it,” he snapped.

  Once in his study, the earl sighed with relief and sent for brandy to soothe his nerves. This Marquess of Rockingham would never put up with such henpecking, he thought. But, he decided, the sooner he found someone to accompany Ismene, then the sooner he would be left in peace.

  He went over to his desk, dipped a pen in the standish, and furrowed his brow as he turned over the names of various poor relations. If only he could think of someone staid and practical who would be a good influence on his spoilt daughter.

  His thoughts turned longingly to his country home, Beechings. In his mind’s eye he could see the graceful porticoed entrance, the rose gardens, and the smooth lawns. On the edge of his estates lay the village of Sarral, a pretty, picturesque place with its old Norman church.

  As a picture of the church floated across his inner eye, he sat upright. What had been the name of that curate? Westerville, that was it. He had read a most affecting sermon one Christmas when the vicar had been ill. Sterling fellow. And he had a daughter who must now be Ismene’s age!

  He had heard Westerville was ill. Now, in return for the use of his daughter, he would send this Westerville the best physician and enough funds to ensure he could hire proper care while his daughter was in London. What was the girl’s name? Pretty thing. Lovely hair. Ah, Lucinda, that was it.

  The Earl of Clifton began to write busily.

  Lucinda Westerville sat in the shed in the garden of her family cottage, waiting for the water in the copper to boil. The vast copper basin held by its brick framework had been laboriously filled with pails and pails of water, carried from the pump. In a basket on the floor beside the copper lay a pile of sheets. Once the water was boiling, Lucinda would put them in the copper, boil them for an hour, and hope that some of their yellowish hue would be miraculously taken out. The women in the village used a mixture of chicken dung to whiten yellowing linen, but Lucinda could not bring herself to mix anything so evil-smelling into the wash.

  Lucinda was not pretty by the standards of London fashion. Her nose was too short and her mouth was a trifle too generous. Her eyes were hazel and fringed with long lashes and her chestnut hair was thick and had a natural curl. But she was too tall and too thin in an age when plump bosoms and rounded arms were much admired.

  The water in the copper began to bubble. She raised the heavy wooden lid and then heaved up the basket of soiled linen and tipped in the contents.

  She went out into the garden, preparatory to going into the house to make a nourishing vegetable broth for her sick father.

  The spring sunlight struck down on her bare head and a light warm breeze flirted with the darned skirts of her muslin gown. She turned away from the house instead and wandered down to the end of the garden, where there was a rustic seat under the spreading branches of an apple tree.

  She wanted to pray for her father’s recovery, but found she could not. What kind of God was up there who could ensure that the vicar, the Reverend Mr. Glossop, his wife, and two nasty daughters continued to live in riches and health while her father wasted away? When his curate, Mr. Westerville, had first fallen ill, Mr. Glossop had cut his miserable wages in half and had considered he was doing a great Christian act by paying him even a pittance. Lucinda knew it would be only a matter of time before Mr. Glossop ceased to pay him anything at all.

  She had even humbled herself by going to ask Mrs. Glossop for work, but that sour and snobbish lady had remarked acidly that Lucinda’s place was at her father’s bedside. In vain did Lucinda plead they had not enough money to buy medicine. Mrs. Glossop had ceased to listen and her two daughters had cast sly, pitying smiles in Lucinda’s direction and had continued to play with their latest expensive toy, a clockwork nightingale.

  There seemed to be no way she could earn money. A month ago, Tom Barnet, the squire’s son, had called and had begged her to marry him. He was a tall, gawky youth, quite stupid, and given to long drinking bouts. Lucinda had told him gently she would think it over. By the end of the day, she had decided to accept. Her marriage to the squire’s son would ensure expert nursing and medicine for her father.

  But Tom Barnet did not call again. She had just been summoning up her courage to call at his home when she learned from Mrs. Glossop that Tom had been sent away on the Grand Tour “because it is rumored he has fallen for some undesirable village girl.”

  The post boy’s horn, sounding from the front of the cottage, broke into her bitter thoughts. She ran through the garden and along the side of the cottage to the front.

  “Letter for Mr. Westerville,” said the post boy. “Got a crest and all.”

  Lucinda took the letter from him and examined the heavy-crested seal. She recognized the Earl of Clifton’s coat of arms.

  She went indoors and carried the letter upstairs to her father’s bedroom.

  Mr. Westerville was lying in an old four-poster bed. A shaft of sunlight fell on his thin, wasted face. His sparse gray locks straggled down on his shoulders.

  He opened his eyes as Lucinda came into the bedroom, and gave her a faint, sweet smile.

  “Was that the post boy?”

  “Yes, Papa. A letter for you with the Earl of Clifton’s crest.”

  “Then it is good news,” said Mr. Westerville, a faint tinge of pink staining his cheeks.

  “Good news!” cried Lucinda. “Oh, Papa, I know what it is. You have written to the earl for help.”

  “Not I.”

  “Then how can you possibly know it is good news?”

  “I have prayed for assistance,” said the curate with simple dignity. “I hav
e been daily awaiting an answer to my prayers. I do not care for myself, but I care very deeply about your future, Lucinda.”

  “It is your health that matters,” Lucinda said passionately. “I can look after myself.”

  “Raise me up,” said Mr. Westerville, “and bring me my glass and we shall see what the earl has to say.”

  Lucinda helped him to sit up against the pillows and then handed him a large magnifying glass. He fumbled for a long time with the seal before he got the letter open. But Lucinda was no longer excited about the possible contents of the letter. She was sure it contained some trivial request. She envied her father his simple faith but could not share it.

  Mr. Westerville read the letter very carefully and then put it down on the worn quilt and looked up at his daughter with tears in his eyes. “God is good,” he said.

  “I hope He has seen fit to send us some money,” said Lucinda tartly.

  “Better than that,” said Mr. Westerville. “The earl wishes you to travel to London to be a companion to the Lady Ismene. No!” He raised a thin, transparent hand to check the outburst he saw on Lucinda’s lips. “I shall not be left uncared for. I am to be taken to Beechings, the earl’s home, during your absence and there attended by a London physician and given all care and comfort.”

  Lucinda began to tremble. “You are sure? Oh, do let me see the letter, Papa.”

  He handed it to her, closed his eyes, and moved his lips in prayer.

  Lucinda scanned the contents quickly. It was indeed as her father had said, but there was more detail. The earl wished Lucinda to travel to London almost immediately and was sending his coach, which should arrive a week following the letter. During that week, his servants would move Mr. Westerville to Beechings.

  “A week!” said Lucinda. “What about clothes? I have nothing grand enough for London.”

  Her father stopped praying and opened his eyes. “I have no doubt they will furnish you with a wardrobe as befits your position. I have no more worries now.”

  Lucinda leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “So why do you still pray?” she teased.

  “I gave thanks,” said Mr. Westerville, “and then asked that you should be wed to a man worthy of you.”