The Society Catch (Harlequin Historical) Read online

  She sat up and considered her situation. It was a setback, for she felt uneasily that until she turned off for Wisbech she was in danger of detection, but otherwise her plan was still holding together. But the delay had made Joanna think, and for some reason a particularly dry and academic book on strategy she had once tried to read came to her mind. She had cast it aside after a few chapters, unable to read further even to impress Giles. What had struck her as so idiotic about it was that the author propounded all manner of cunning manoeuvres without once considering that the enemy would be doing whatever they decided was best, thus overthrowing all the plans of their opponents.

  It was just what she had been doing: planning her life with Giles without thinking for a moment that he might be doing something entirely otherwise. All at once it dawned on her that she hadn’t been thinking about the real man at all, only the object of her dreams, her innocent, ignorant fantasy. Did the man she loved really exist at all?

  Giles Gregory meanwhile was finding a perverse pleasure in the hunt. He had never been an intelligence officer, unlike his friend Alex, but no army officer could rise through the ranks without knowing how to hunt down and track the enemy through hostile or strange county.

  And this was a foreign country to him, he realised, shouldering his way into the bustling inn yards of London. To a man used to command, and used to the least of his commands receiving instant obedience, the experience of being out of uniform and on the receiving end of the London working man’s tongue was instructive.

  ‘Move yer arse!’ he was abruptly ordered when he stood too far into the yard of the Moor’s Head as the stage swung in through the low arch, then, as he sidestepped out of the way, he was buffeted by a swaggering postilion with his iron-shod boots and aggressive whip. ‘Shift yourself, bloody swell cove!’

  He swung round to meet the man eye to eye and the postilion backed off, hands raised defensively, muttering, ‘Sorry, guv’nor, no offence meant.’

  Giles looked him up and down without speaking until the man was reduced to stuttering silence, then said with a hint of steel in his pleasant voice, ‘You will oblige me by telling me the inn for the Lincoln coaches.’

  ‘This one, guv’nor. Let me show you the office, sir!’

  Giles allowed himself to be shown the way. He was taking a gamble, but close questioning of a tearful Mrs Fulgrave by her niece and both men had elicited the fact that her sister Grace was the most likely refuge for Joanna. ‘Then there is her schoolfriend Lady Brandon in Wisbech,’ her mother had said, showing a greater awareness of Joanna’s correspondence than her daughter had given her credit for. ‘And, of course—’ She had broken off, looking guilty.

  ‘Who, Aunt?’ Hebe had probed. ‘We have to think of anyone she could have gone to.’

  ‘Oh, dear. You must not tell your uncle I mentioned this.’ Mrs Fulgrave took a deep breath. ‘My sister-in-law Caroline near Norwich.’

  ‘I have never heard of her, Aunt Emily.’

  ‘I know, dear.’ Emily had looked round imploringly at her audience. ‘You will promise not to tell Mr Fulgrave that I told you? His youngest sister Caroline…’ she blushed and went on bravely ‘…she lived with a married man as his wife. They fell in love, and then it transpired that he had a wife living who had run off with another man. So Caroline and Mr Faversham could never marry. It was impossible, of course, but she went and moved in with him. The family cut her off, even after his wife died, ten years later, and he married her, only to die himself within six months.’

  ‘Oh, poor lady,’ Hebe cried. ‘How sad!’

  ‘I thought so,’ Emily said stoutly. ‘And so I told Mr Fulgrave. I have written to her every year, but he would never relent because he says it nearly killed his poor father. But it is foolish of me even to consider Caro—Joanna could not know of her.’

  ‘Are you sure?’ Giles pressed. ‘Where do you keep her address?’

  Mrs Fulgrave had removed her remembrancer from her reticule and held it out, open at the right page. Giles studied the address, then delicately lifted one long black hair from the crease in the page. Silently he held it up, dark against Mrs Fulgrave’s own light brown hair. ‘I think she knows.’ Only Hebe noticed that as he noted the address in his own pocket book he carefully laid the hair in its folds.

  However, their supposition that Grace was the most likely choice for Joanna to make appeared to be confirmed at the stage-coach office. Not only did the book keeper assure Giles that this was the right departure point for Lincoln, but he remembered Joanna. ‘If you mean the young lady governess, sir? Least, I suppose that was what she was. Remarkable handsome young woman, that I do know. But anxious somehow—that’s why I recall her, sir—that and her looks, if you’ll pardon me saying so. All dressed so demure-like and those big eyes…’

  ‘Where did she buy a ticket to?’ Giles demanded, coming to the conclusion that if he took exception to every man who offended him that day he would not get far.

  ‘Lincoln, she said. At least, first she asked about Peterborough, then she looked confused and said she wanted Lincoln, sir.’

  ‘And what would be the town to change for Wisbech?’

  ‘Peterborough, sir.’

  ‘And what are the stops between here and Lincoln?’ Giles dug his hand in his pocket and began to sort coins. The man brightened at the chinking noise.

  ‘I’ll make you a list, shall I, sir? All of the stops or just the junction points, like?’

  ‘All of them,’ Giles had replied, tapping a gold coin suggestively on the counter.

  Within half an hour his curricle, with the matched greys in the shafts and his groom left behind, faintly complaining, swung out on to the Great North Road heading towards Stevenage. Joanna had a full day’s start on him and he could not risk simply assuming she was going to Peterborough; he was going to have to check at every stopping place on the list. But then, there were French colonels—some of them still alive to remember it—who had had similar starts on Giles Gregory and who had still found themselves tracked down, outmanoeuvred and defeated. One chit of a girl was not going to elude him now.

  Joanna parted with some reluctance from the comforts of the White Hart the next morning. She was anxious to be on her way and to reach Georgy, but the inn and its motherly landlady, Mrs Handley, had seemed safe; although she would never have admitted it, Joanna was feeling lonely and not a little frightened.

  Still, she was taken up by the stage without any problem and Mrs Handley had come out herself to see her off and to remind her which inn in Peterborough to get off at in order to pick up the Lynn stage, which would drop her in Wisbech.

  She eyed her new travelling companions from under the brim of her modest bonnet and was reassured by the sight of a stout farmer’s wife with a basket, a thin young man who promptly fell asleep and a middle-aged gentleman in clerical collar and bands who politely raised his hat to her as she got on.

  ‘I trust I do not intrude,’ he ventured after a few moments, ‘but I heard the good landlady directing you to the Crown and Anchor and I wonder if I might be of assistance? My name is Thoroughgood, Reverend Thaddeus Thoroughgood, and I am changing at that point myself as I do very frequently. I would be most happy to point out the stage office and so forth when we arrive.’

  Joanna thanked him politely, somewhat nervous that he might want to continue talking to her, for conversation with a strange man, even a most respectable-looking clergyman, on a public stage was not what she had been brought up to regard as ladylike behaviour. However, the good reverend did not say any more and she thanked him and leaned back, feeling happier now she knew she had a guide should she need one.

  They stopped once on the short distance to Peterborough. What with the exit of the stout farmer’s wife whose basket somehow got jammed in the doorway, the Reverend Thoroughgood getting up to assist her, slipping on the step and falling heavily against Joanna, and the thin young man leaping up to help everyone, it proved a somewhat chaotic halt. However, they we
re soon at the Crown and Anchor and the Reverend Thoroughgood helped her down with her valise.

  ‘Now, I shall go and collect my gig,’ he said chattily, ‘and be off home to Sister. You just need to go through that door there and you’ll find our good hostess and a nice parlour and she’ll tell you when the Lynn coach comes in. Now, you do have enough money, do you not, my dear young lady?’

  ‘Oh, yes, thank you,’ Joanna replied, confidently. Then, ‘My purse! It has gone!’

  ‘Great heavens!’ the clergyman exclaimed. ‘That young man must have been a cutpurse! Mrs Wilkins! Mrs Wilkins!’

  The landlady came hurrying out, wiping her hands on her apron. She smiled at the sight of Hebe’s companion. ‘There you are again, Reverend. Your gig is all ready for you. But, sir—’ she broke off at the sight of their agitation ‘—what’s about?’

  ‘My money has been stolen,’ Joanna lamented. ‘This gentleman thinks it was a cutpurse on the stage.’

  ‘Well now, miss,’ the landlady said sympathetically, ‘that’s a dreadful thing. Why, there is no stopping the impudent rascals. That’s the third time we’ve seen that happen, is it not, Reverend?’ She patted Joanna’s arm. ‘We had better be telling the magistrate, miss.’

  ‘But that won’t get my purse back,’ Joanna stammered. ‘What am I going to do? I have to get to Wisbech.’

  There was a silence, then the clergyman said, ‘Normally I would not suggest it, of course, but as I have an open gig, and it is still broad daylight, would you consider riding with me to my home where my sister awaits me? You can spend the night most securely under her protection and then in the morning we can consider what is best. To write to your friends in Wisbech, perhaps? Or I may have a neighbour who is driving that way.’

  ‘There now, that is a good idea,’ the landlady said approvingly.

  Joanna bit her lip. It did seem the best of the alternatives, for the clergyman appeared well known and trusted at the inn and he obviously kept his gig there frequently. A clergyman’s sister sounded a most respectable chaperon…

  And there was the benefit of it taking her off the main road in case of pursuit. She made up her mind. ‘Thank you, sir,’ she said decisively. ‘If Miss Thoroughgood would not find it an imposition, I would be most grateful.’

  The gig was well kept and pulled by a neat black pony and Joanna felt happier as they progressed at a brisk trot through the lanes. The loss of her money was serious, but at least she was not too many miles from Georgy, who was not only the possessor of a vastly generous allowance but was indulged by her husband as to the spending of it. As soon as she knew of Joanna’s predicament, she was sure to send both funds and her carriage at once.

  The Reverend Thoroughgood did not seem anxious to ask personal questions or to make encroaching observations, so Joanna was emboldened to introduce herself. ‘I should tell you a little of my circumstances, sir, for I am sure Miss Thoroughgood will not wish to take a total stranger into her home. My name is J…Jane Wilson and I am a governess on my way to my new employer in Wisbech, Lady Brandon.’

  It felt shocking to be lying to a man of the cloth, but he would hardly assist her if he knew the truth.

  ‘We must see you on your way as soon as possible, Miss Wilson,’ the reverend said, turning down another lane. Joanna was becoming a little confused. The lanes must be more than usually meandering hereabouts, she decided, for it seemed they must be driving in a circle. ‘No doubt but that Lady Brandon will be anxious for you to begin to teach her children, and equally your friends and family will be concerned to hear of your safe arrival.’

  Joanna bit her lip. It would look odd indeed if the only letter she sent during her enforced stay with the Thoroughgoods was to Lady Brandon. ‘I do not have any family,’ she said, trying to sound brave but lonely. ‘And no close friends. A governess’s life is a solitary one, I am afraid.’

  ‘I am sorry to hear that,’ the Reverend Thoroughgood said solemnly. ‘You must turn for consolation to the thought of the good you are doing and the Christian learning you are bringing to young and tender minds.’

  ‘Oh, yes, quite.’ Joanna felt that any further discussion of this would be dangerous. She must recall all she could of her own governesses before venturing into conversation on their lives and duties. ‘Are we near your parish yet, sir?’

  ‘I do not have a parish: I have always been a scholar rather than a pastor, although I have many friends in London to whom I minister and attempt to bring spiritual light and succour by correspondence and the writing of tracts.’

  ‘Indeed.’ Joanna racked her brains; this was far more difficult than making conversation with a duchess. ‘That must be very…satisfying.’

  ‘Indeed it is, my dear Miss Wilson. I feel I myself gain much profit by my efforts in the capital. Now, here we are.’

  The gig turned into the drive of a modest yellow brick house set within a somewhat overgrown and dull garden of lawn and laurels. It looked not so much dilapidated as unloved and uncared for and Joanna shivered despite the warm afternoon. A clergyman in modest circumstances could not afford to spend much on external appearances, she chided herself. It was most ungrateful to be critical after he had offered to help her in her difficulties.

  No groom came round at the sound of the gig and the Reverend Thoroughgood simply dropped the reins as he helped Joanna down. The pony stood patiently, apparently not inclined to wander off, and the front door opened.

  ‘Lucille, my dear!’ The Reverend Thoroughgood took Joanna’s arm with one hand and her valise with the other and urged her towards the door. ‘I have a young lady in distress who has been cast adrift upon the highway by the actions of some pickpocket. She is on her way to her new employer and has no friends or family to turn to.’

  The woman who stood on the step, one long white hand raised to hold open the door, surprised Joanna. She was tall, dressed with sombre elegance in a dark gown of excellent cut and, although at least forty-five, retained striking good looks. In Joanna’s experience ladies of that age were matrons and dressed and appeared exactly that. This lady had a faintly dangerous and independent air about her.

  She looked Joanna up and down, a faint smile on her well-cut lips, then raised an eyebrow at her brother, who hastened to complete the introductions. ‘Lucille, my dear, this is Miss Wilson. Miss Wilson, my sister, Miss Thoroughgood.’

  Joanna bobbed a curtsy. ‘I must apologise, ma’am, for this intrusion. The Reverend Thoroughgood has been most kind to me in my predicament and has offered to allow me to stay for a few days until my letter reaches my new employer and she is able to send a carriage for me.’

  ‘Of course. We are delighted you are here, Miss Wilson. Would you like to come upstairs to your room?’ Her voice was cool, not unpleasant, but Joanna sensed a strange current of amusement underlying her words. It made her uneasy, which was ridiculous. She was tired, that was all. Tired, upset by the theft and still not entirely recovered from her stomach upset.

  ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ She followed her hostess into a dark hall, up the stairs and into a room. Miss Thoroughgood stood aside as she entered and Joanna walked forward a few steps before turning to see both brother and sister standing in the doorway watching her. ‘I…’ Her voice died away as she took in their cool, assessing expressions and realised that the room she was in was virtually bare except for a bed and a washstand. The narrow window was barred with iron.

  Chapter Six

  ‘I must congratulate you, Thaddeus,’ Miss Thoroughgood said, eyeing Joanna up and down in much the same way as she might have assessed the points of a horse. ‘This one will do excellently. A real young lady.’

  ‘And a virtuous young lady,’ he replied, tugging off his clerical collar and bands with a grunt of relief. ‘You are a virtuous young lady, are you not, Miss Wilson?’

  Her flaming cheeks were all the answer he wanted and a smirk of satisfaction crossed his nondescript features, which up until that moment Joanna had found reassuringly bland. />
  The sudden change in tone was completely disorientating. ‘I think there must be some mistake,’ she said coldly, taking a step towards them. ‘I will leave now.’

  ‘Oh no, dear,’ Miss Thoroughgood replied. ‘You will not leave this room until we are ready to send you to London.’ She turned to her brother. ‘When is Thomas collecting the next consignment?’

  ‘He has a carriage making the rounds now, he should be with us by the day after tomorrow.’

  ‘London? What are you talking about? Let me go at once.’ Joanna tried to keep her voice steady and confident, but it shook despite her efforts. The brother and sister seemed to grow before her eyes until all she was aware of was their assessing looks, their amused smiles, the way their eyes slid over her body.

  The woman addressed her frigidly. ‘You go where we send you. You belong to us now. In a day or two you will be in the hands of your new master, on the way to your new…home.’

  ‘Belong? What are you talking about? I have an employer…’

  ‘You are about to get an owner. Milo Thomas, the biggest whoremaster in the capital, is going to pay us very well indeed for such an untouched treasure as you, my dear.’

  ‘Whore…no!’ Joanna backed away, stopping abruptly as the back of her legs hit the bed. ‘You are wrong about me! I am a respectable girl, not…’

  ‘Not yet.’ Thaddeus sounded amused at her lack of comprehension. ‘Not yet, but you will be. You will learn all you need in one of Milo’s closed houses, and you will earn him a fortune. Someone is going to pay very good money to deflower such innocence and beauty, and even more are going to pay handsomely to watch.’

  ‘No!’ Joanna pressed her hands to her mouth. She was going to be sick, she was going to faint and then wake up and find this was a nightmare. His words made no real sense to her, except to convey a disgusting, terrifying threat. How could they imagine… She struggled for courage and to think. ‘I told you I was a governess, that I was alone in the world. That was not true. I am running away from home and I have a rich and influential family. They will be looking for me—they will pay you to get me back.’