The Passionate Friends. Meg Alexander

      “You are headstrong, miss. I have never been deceived by your milk-and-water ways. In this you will obey me. You may not leave this house again before I speak to Mr Truscott.”

      Dismissed without ceremony, Judith returned to her room. She was seething with rage. If she’d ever had any doubts of the need to escape from Mrs Aveton’s clutches, they vanished now. She’d thought long and hard before she had accepted the preacher’s offer for her hand, fearing that she was cheating both herself and him. She didn’t love him, but in the materialistic circles in which she moved, love seldom played a part in settling a marriage contract.

      And she was no longer the timid nineteen-year-old who had given up her love in the face of calumnies and opposition. The years had changed her. Unless she was to wither away in the Aveton household, she could see no alternative to marriage. What else could she do? She might have taught in some small dame school, or become a governess, had she not inherited her fortune. Now it was out of the question.

      And she would not cheat Charles Truscott. In her heart she had vowed to make him a good wife. She could help him in his parish work, run his household, and bear his children.

      She buried her face in her hands, knowing now that it would never be enough.

      Why had Dan come back at just this time? In another month she would be safely wed, and could put him out of her mind for ever. She would not think of him. She mustn’t. She pulled down the central flap of her writing desk, and pressed a small knob just behind the hinges. A hidden drawer slid out, revealing a pile of manuscript. Listlessly, she scanned the pages, noting an expression here and there which might possibly be improved to make her meaning more exact. With pen in hand she scored out several lines, and began to write.

      When the Reverend Truscott was announced, Judith was not informed immediately. Mrs Aveton received him in her salon.

      As always, he was quick to sense trouble.

      “What is it, ma’am?” he murmured.

      “You may well ask, sir. Your bride-to-be is behaving ill, I fear.”

      “How so, dear lady?”

      She was quick to put him in possession of the facts.

      “Judith was besotted with the creature, and he with her. Now he is returned, and I fear that she may change her mind.”

      It was only with the greatest difficulty that he forced a smile. He had drunk deep the night before at the house in Seven Dials, and his head was pounding. A day of debauchery had done nothing for his temper, but a man had to have some relief. The strain of leading an apparently blameless life could be borne for just so long, and the intervals between his visits to his trollop were growing shorter.

      It was unfortunate that he’d had to go away, but on this occasion he’d had a purpose other than bedding the wench. His mission had been successful, though her brothers were not, at first, as easily persuaded as he’d hoped.

      “Not murder?” the younger one had pleaded. “Won’t a beating serve?”

      “No! That won’t make an end of it!” He’d indicated the pile of gold upon the table.

      “It might make an end of us. I’ve no wish to dance on air at Newgate…” The elder of the two had shaken his head.

      “You aren’t thinking straight,” the preacher snarled. “I’m speaking of an accident.”

      “To three people?”

      “Three drunken sots. They might be run down by a cart or, better still, fall into the river.”

      “What do they want you for, Josh?”

      “Mr Ferris to you, my lad. And my quarrel with them is none of your concern. Haven’t I always paid you well?”

      “Aye, Mr Ferris, if that’s your name, which I take leave to doubt. But it were for smaller jobs. This gelt ain’t enough for what you’re asking us to do.”

      “Of course not! There will be more.”

      “How much more?”

      The preacher named a figure which brought an avaricious sparkle to both pairs of eyes. Then he leaned back, smiling easily, prepared to discuss the details of his plan. He was safe enough. He was known to them only under an assumed name, and they could not trace him.

      Now his look was bland as he confronted Mrs Aveton. They’d understood each other from the first, but even she had no idea of the lengths to which he was prepared to go to gain his objective. Inwardly, he was cursing his own ill luck. The fates themselves seemed determined to thwart him, but Judith should not escape. He’d have her and her fortune one way or another.

      “I must hope that you haven’t distressed our little Judith, ma’am,” he said mildly. “Nothing could be more fatal to our plans than to set up opposition.”

      “She’ll do as she is bidden,” came the sharp reply. “Now, as you may guess, she is sulking in her room. I have forbidden her to go out.”

      “Utter folly!” His voice was harsher than he had intended. “You have no notion of how to handle her.”

      “You think you will do better?” A snort of disbelief accompanied Mrs Aveton’s words.

      “Pray allow me to try. Won’t you send for her?”

      His glance followed his companion as she rose to ring the bell. He detested her. Aside from anything else, the woman was a fool. His lips twisted in amusement. Did she really believe that she would get her share of Judith’s fortune?

      An unpleasant surprise awaited her. She might storm and rage to her heart’s content, but she would have no redress. She could not force him to pay. Would she sue him in the courts? He thought not.

      He turned as Judith came to join them; walking across the room, he took her hand.

      “I hope I find you well, my love?” he murmured. “Are you, perhaps, a little low in spirits? You seem to have no smile for me…”

      She looked at him uncertainly.

      “Now let us sit down together,” he suggested. “Your mama has been telling me of her worries about your peace of mind. I have assured her that she is mistaken.”

      “Thank you!” she said briefly.

      “Come, you shall not be so stiff and formal. Mrs Aveton thinks only of your happiness and my own, my dear. I hope I have convinced her that nothing in your conduct could ever fail to please me.”

      Judith gave him a grateful look. “Then I may visit my friends?”

      “Of course! I would not have you consider me an ogre. Why should I object when these visits give you so much pleasure? There can be no possible harm in your going about just as you would wish.”

      Judith smiled at him then, feeling that she had never liked him quite so much before.

      “You are very good,” she whispered.

      “Nonsense! A woman of honour must be the best judge of her own actions. Now, dearest, I have some boring details to discuss with your mama. Will you excuse us? I am somewhat pressed for time today, but I’ll call on you tomorrow.”

      “I shall look forward to your visit.” With another charming smile Judith left them. Once again he had smoothed over an ugly quarrel. She sighed, wondering why she found so little pleasure in his company. It must be a fault of her own character.

      “Well, ma’am?” The Reverend Truscott glanced at his companion. “Was I right?”

      “I suppose so.” The admission was made with some reluctance. “You are mighty clever, sir, but the girl puts me out of all patience. She will bear watching. I wonder that you allow her so much freedom. Pray heaven that you won’t regret it.”

      “It won’t be for long,” he promised. “Meantime, Mrs Aveton,