Page 22 of The Lyon Rampant

“Oh, Belinda—did you do this?”

Belinda, who’d been preparing to go to the Lyon’s Den for the final time, stared at the letter in Caroline’s hand.

“Did I do what? What’s that you have there?” She’d never seen Caroline so upset.

Caroline’s hand shook as she handed Belinda the letter, but she didn’t wait for her to read it. “It’s a summons from the Earl of Aylsham. I’m urgently required at Forty Court. My parents have had a similar letter asking for my services as a teacher. I’ve been offered accommodation and a good wage, and Mama and Papa are content to let me go, so long as I return to see them regularly. Everything has been decided without consulting me!”

“Of course I didn’t have anything to do with it! Don’t fret, Caroline—is it so very bad? We’ll see each other at Forty Court soon enough. I’m planning to return home anyway since my grand London Scheme for Getting a Husband has fallen on stony ground. I’ll spend some time with my sister and her husband while I decide on my next move. It will all be so much more enjoyable if you’re there, too.”

Caroline was close to tears. “But I want to stay in London. I . . . I can’t tell you why. Well, maybe I can, but I don’t want to upset you. You’ll think I’ve been deceitful, and I’d hate for you to think ill of me.”

A sliver of unease slid down Belinda’s spine. Caroline had been deceitful? How could someone who knew how hard it was for Belinda to trust anybody, let her down like this?

“Deceitful? Is it about the Lyon’s Den?”

Caroline wrung her hands. “Yes, it is. And no, it isn’t. I mean, partly. If we return to Forty Court, I won’t be able to see a certain person again.”

Belinda frowned. Did Caroline mean Mr. Darvill? She’d had a vague suspicion previously, but there had been no indication of attraction since. Caroline was usually so sensible—it wasn’t like her to fall in love with somebody so far above her station. Words failed her.

“I don’t know why this has happened, so out of the blue! Has somebody been spying on me, or is it absolutely as it appears to be—that the earl needs a good teacher at Forty Court and one that he knows?”

Belinda thought out her next question carefully. “If someone had been spying on you, what would they have seen, Caroline?”

Caroline flushed. “Nothing improper. I mean, the gentleman and I have merely sat and talked, whenever he was able to get away. He brought me tea and refreshments and despite his rather large size and fearsome appearance, he’s a lovely man. I . . . I fear I’ve developed a tendre for him. But I don’t know if he has for me. He may just have been acting kind and I may be reading all manner of things into his actions that aren’t there. So, I shouldn’t fret, should I?”

Large size and fearsome appearance? It sounded as if Caroline was not talking about Mr. Darvill. A small sigh of relief escaped Belinda.

“So—you’re telling me that somebody who works at the Lyon’s Den has been talking to you, and you may have grown fond of each other. Is that the case?”

It would explain why Caroline didn’t want to move away from London. All relationships took time to develop, as Belinda had discovered with William. Although, things might not have progressed quite as far had their meetings occurred in public. Secrecy and the anticipated disapproval of Minty and Lord Lamb had added savor to their relationship. Oh, but how badly it all ended! She wasn’t sure if she could ever trust herself to fall in love again. It wasn’t William’s fault that he’d drowned, but if he’d cared for her enough, he wouldn’t have returned to the Army, especially when she’d begged him not to go. He would have stayed and looked after her.

“Oh, but I can see you don’t approve of me talking to the gentleman. It can’t be because he’s a veteran—you like those. Is it because he works at the Lyon’s Den? But then again, you do, too. Did you tell the earl, so he could separate us?”

Belinda blinked. It was most unlike Caroline to rattle on, or accuse her of betrayal. She must like the mysterious gentleman very much.

“Of course I didn’t write to the earl. Why would I, when I didn’t even know you were forming a friendship?”

Caroline took her hand. “Forgive me—why indeed? It must have been Roland Chetwynd then, wanting to curtail our freedom.”

“I’m certain it’s nothing but coincidence—the earl wouldn’t have said he needed you at Forty Court if he did not. I do understand that you’re upset, however.”

It was as if their roles had been reversed, and Caroline had become Belinda, and Belinda, Caroline. Caroline was now the anxious one, not knowing which way to turn, or who to blame—if anyone at all. Whereas she was thinking it all through in a level-headed way and trying to work out what was going on. Perhaps Miss Belinda Bellamy was growing up at last!

“Who is this gentleman? Is he tied to the Lyon’s Den for life? Surely, he could visit you at Forty Court if he chose to do so, or at your parents’ house when you go to see them?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know. I’m afraid that if I don’t see him every day, as I have been doing, he will lose any affection he might have for me. There are so many prettier ladies than myself in Town, some of whom undoubtedly pass through the doors of the Lyon’s Den.” Caroline paused to glance sorrowfully at Belinda. “After your past experiences, I don’t know if it would be wise to trust any man.”

Belinda tilted her head. She still wasn’t good at trusting people, despite her efforts to the contrary. She’d trusted William Coyle and look what had happened! They should have conducted their affair properly—he was old enough, and experienced enough, to know that he should have approached her guardian directly and requested her hand. Even if her guardian had been her sister’s first husband, the drunken and debauched Lord Lamb.

She trusted Roland, of course, for he was too straightforward to deliberately fail anybody.

Then there was Mr. Darvill, who’d dogged her footsteps from the first moment she met him. Had she entirely misread his motives? Did he, in fact, really like her and was he trying to save her from herself? If only she could trust him. No. He’d already ruined her plans—even though he hadn’t known what they were—and tried to manipulate her. He was not the sort of man upon whom one could rely, or to whom one should reveal one’s secrets.

“Don’t despair, Caroline. Sometimes what appears to be a catastrophe is actually the best thing that could happen. It brings things to a head and makes people show their hands. Although I may not be the best person to advise you, I suggest you tell this gentleman that you may be leaving town and see if you can elicit a declaration from him. Or at least some sign that he’s too attached to you to let you slip through his fingers.”

“Very well. I shall be brave and hope for the best outcome. Please forgive me for thinking you had anything to do with it—my recall to Forty Court, I mean. It was foolish of me. I hope it won’t affect our friendship, and if it turns out that Mr. Starveling does like me, I don’t want us to drift apart, whatever happens.”

Belinda tied her bonnet under her chin. “Let us make this important visit to the Lyon’s Den, then. By tonight, I’ll be free of its hold over me, and you’ll be free of my hold over you!”