good, I take it? She may order your things to be delivered…”
“No, she can’t! I mean, that would not do at all. I am to choose…at least…” Her voice tailed away.
“Bessie, will you do this for us? I must speak to your mistress.”
“No, you must not! Bessie, I forbid you…”
Bessie took not the slightest notice of her pleas. She was beaming at Dan, who had always been a favourite with her.
“I’ll be happy to do it, Mr Dan.”
“Then we’ll pick you up on the corner of Piccadilly. Shall we say in two hours’ time?”
“Dan, I can’t! Please set us down. We shall be missed, and then there will be trouble.”
“Nonsense! Prudence informs me that shopping takes an age. Besides, I can’t wait outside your door indefinitely, hoping to catch you on your own.”
“We might have met again in Mount Street,” she protested.
Dan gave her a quizzical look. “Yesterday I had the impression that you didn’t plan to visit your friends for some little time.”
They had reached Bond Street, and he rapped on the roof of the carriage to stop the driver. Bessie sprang down, but when Judith tried to follow her he barred the way.
“Hear me out!” he begged. “It is little enough to ask of you.”
Sensing his determination, Judith sank back into the corner. She had no wish to create a scene in public, and if he followed them someone of her acquaintance might see them together, and draw the wrong conclusions.
“This is folly!” she told him quietly. “You should not have sought me out.”
“Folly?” Dan’s smile vanished. “What of your own? What do you know of the man you plan to marry?”
Judith turned her face away. “He has been kind to me, and he stands up to Mrs Aveton. In his presence she is not so cruel.”
“And that is enough for you? You have not asked yourself why they deal so well together? What a pair! The man is a monster, Judith! He is a charlatan…a womaniser—”
“Stop!” Judith’s nerves were at breaking point. “You must not…you have no right to say such things to me…”
“Long ago I thought I had a right to tell you all that was in my heart. That is past, I know. I can’t deny that our feelings for each other must have changed, but I may still stand your friend, I hope?”
“You have a strange way of showing it. Did Prudence and Elizabeth send you to me? I may tell you that I don’t care to have my affairs discussed behind my back.”
“No one sent me. I came of my own accord. They spoke of you, of course…”
“And obviously of Mr Truscott too. They are both prejudiced against him, but why, I can’t imagine.”
“Perhaps they see another side to his character. You meet him at his best, but how long will that last? If you become his wife you will be powerless against him.”
“Dan, you are making him out to be an ogre. Oh, I know you mean it for the best, and I am grateful…”
“I don’t want your gratitude,” he muttered. “Like all your friends, I wish only for your happiness.”
“Then believe me, you must say no more. You are but recently returned to England. How can you judge a man of whom you have no knowledge?”
“I trust Prudence, and Elizabeth too. They love you dearly, Judith. Would they stand in the way of your happiness? Both of them have hearts of gold. Neither would be so set against this man without some sound basis for their feelings.”
“I have made my choice.” Her face was set.
“Have you? Or have others made it for you? Forgive me, I don’t mean to suggest that you are easily swayed. I know you better than that. You will always do what you think right.”
“Then why won’t you believe me?”
Dan leaned back and folded his arms. “You haven’t told me why you wish to marry Truscott. I am told that he is all the rage among the ton, but that won’t weigh with you, I know. To capture him might be a feather in some other woman’s cap, but not in yours.”
“At least you don’t insult me by suggesting it.”
“Kindness then, and protection from your stepmother? It seems poor enough reason to accept him.”
For once Judith lost her temper. “You don’t know what my life has been! How could you? It was bad enough before, but my uncle’s money has become a curse. You heard of my inheritance?”
Dan nodded.
“I thought I would go mad,” she told him simply. “I was allowed no rest until I agreed to try to break the trust. It couldn’t be done. Then matters grew much worse. Marriage seemed to be the only answer.”
Dan laid a sympathetic hand upon her own, but she snatched it away at once.
“I don’t want sympathy,” she cried in anguish. “That only makes things worse…”
“Oh, Judith, was there no one else? Someone who might have made you happy?”
Judith felt like screaming at him. Of course there was someone else. Why could he not see it? Her situation was so different now. Years ago, when they were both penniless they could have no hope of marriage. Now she could offer him her fortune. It was a vain hope. Knowing him as she did, the money would prove to be an even greater barrier, even if he loved her still.
He didn’t. Had he not mentioned that their feelings must have changed during their years of separation? His present concern stemmed only from the memory of past friendship, urged on, no doubt, by Prudence and Elizabeth, in spite of his denials.
She could not know of the discussion which had taken place the previous evening in the Wentworth home. In her forthright way, Prudence had tackled Dan outright, sweeping away his initial refusal to seek out Judith.
“Don’t try to gammon me,” she’d said. “I know that you still love her. You gave yourself away this afternoon. Will you stand by and let her throw herself away upon a man who will condemn her to a life of misery?”
“Pru, I can’t. She would see it as a piece of gross impertinence on my part, and she would be right.”
“Stuff and nonsense! I think at least that you should try to persuade her to reconsider. Elizabeth and I can do no good with her. She seems bent on self-destruction.”
“And you think that I will fare better?”
“She loves you, Dan. She always has. I know Judith well. Once given, her affections will not change. If you were to offer for her now, all might yet be well.”
She was dismayed to see the bitterness in his normally cheerful face.
“Would you have me add to my tarnished reputation? Must I be considered a fortune-hunter too?”
“So you will sacrifice your love for pride? I had thought better of you. Mrs Aveton’s evil words were forgotten long ago.”
“They would be recalled if I did as you suggest. Judith suffered enough before. This time I doubt if she could bear more slurs. I did not think her looking well at all.”
“She isn’t happy, Dan. At least see her. If nothing more you might persuade her to delay the ceremony. Truscott may yet betray himself.” Prudence rose to her feet, pressing her hands against her aching back, and Dan gave her an anxious look.
“You shall not worry,” he said. “It can’t be good for you, especially at this present time. I’ll do as you say if it will comfort you, though I think you are mistaken in what you say.