Felicia Read online

  She was more shaken by his action than she cared to admit and looked down at her gloved hand in amazement. Shaking her head, she mounted the steps and entered the house.

  “Is that you, Felicia?” Lady Louisa’s voice floated into the hallway. “Hurry, child, I have need to speak to you.”

  Felicia ran into the blue drawing room, carefully removing her riding hat as she went. “Yes, Lady Louisa,” she answered, stopping short as she saw the look of agitation on Lady Louisa’s face. “Whatever is the matter, ma’am?”

  “I have just heard from my friend in Manchester, Felicia. And she says there is no such person as Mrs. Barton, and the address you were given is nonexistent.”

  Eight

  Dr. Ross had just seen the last patient in his waiting room when the messenger from Lady Louisa arrived. Her note was short, merely asking him to call at his earliest convenience, so he dismissed the messenger saying he would be there later that afternoon. He was not expecting Felicia to resume her treatments with him until the morrow, so he assumed Lady Louisa was inviting him for a social visit

  It was only when the second missive arrived an hour later from Lord Umber that he realized there was some urgency to the matter. Pushing aside the papers he was working on, he hurried out into the street and was thankful to see a vacant hackney on the corner. Ten minutes later he was being ushered into the small study at Lady Louisa’s house. Lord Umber rose to greet him.

  “Paul! Thank you for coming so promptly. It’s Mama. Nothing serious, I am sure, but she has had another attack of nerves.” There was a worried note in Lord Umber’s voice.

  “I will go and see her immediately, Ian, but I don’t think you need worry. I am certain it has been brought on by the excitement of seeing all her old friends. I rather suspected it might happen.”

  “Not Mama,” Lord Umber smiled. “The attention she has been getting from all her old cronies has been most gratifying. No, she has just received word from her friend in Manchester, and it is that which has her overset.”

  “Miss Richards is to leave soon, then?”

  “Far from it, Paul. It would appear that someone has played a malicious trick on the fair Miss Richards. There is no such person as her Mrs. Barton.”

  “No one!” Dr. Ross exclaimed. “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely. I have read the letter through umpteen times and there is no mistake. Here, read it for yourself.” Dr. Ross read the letter and was silent for a moment before asking, “How does Miss Richards fed about this?” There was a genuine note of concern to his voice.

  “She took the news stoically enough, Mama said, but is now convinced that we will suppose she deliberately planned the entire gig.”

  “What utter nonsense!”

  “My words exactly, Paul. But I am afraid that I have the strange ability to rile Miss Richards, and for reasons best known to herself, she delights in misunderstanding everything I say to her.”

  “Excuse me, then, Ian. I had best see both ladies and try to calm them. Mayhap I can persuade Miss Richards that we don’t believe the worst. Though there is no denying that it is a setback for her. The question is, why would anyone want her out of the way?”

  He left Lord Umber, shaking his head slowly. He was still shaking it when he returned.

  “I just do not understand, Ian,” he said. “It is the most callous trick to play on anyone.”

  “I am inclined to agree with you, Paul. How is she now?”

  “Calmer. As you said, she has an amazingly prosaic attitude that enables her to bear tremendous stresses. She will come about, I have no doubt on that score. I am even hopeful that this may shock her into remembering something that will be useful. The mind works in such strange and deceptive ways, Ian, it is fascinating. Absolutely fascinating.”

  “Quite so, Paul,” Lord Umber interrupted hurriedly, for he was in no mood to sit and listen to a dissertation on the therapeutic benefits of animal magnetism.

  Dr. Ross smiled, as if he realized what was on his friend’s mind. “Oh! By the way, I have persuaded her that the job as companion to Lady Louisa is as permanent as she wants it to be.”

  “Of course. How could it be otherwise? Did she accept?” His hidden anxiety was apparent to Dr. Ross as he asked the question. “At least Mama will be happy,” he continued as the doctor nodded his head in agreement.

  “It was the best possible news I could give Lady Louisa. She perked up immediately, though she is still a deal upset by the thought that Miss Richards might have been stranded in an alien city without friends or money. I would prescribe a quiet night for the pair of them, and they will be as right as rain in the morning.”

  “She…eh, Miss Richards. Did she indicate how long she wished to remain with Mama?”

  “At least until we can discover who her family is. She is level-headed enough to realize that she cannot be wandering the streets without knowing who she is.”

  “I should think not,” Lord Umber ejaculated. “Anyway, I would not let it happen. Does she say what she plans to do in the event her memory fails to return?”

  “You mean, should I fail? That, my dear friend, is a word she does not accept, and I do believe I am beginning to share her optimism. You know how convinced I am that she is of a genteel background,” he continued abruptly.

  Lord Umber nodded, wondering what was on his friend’s mind.

  “I have asked Lady Louisa to make some inquiries through her friends about a family called Richards. Conceivably you could do the same, discreetly, of course?”

  “You think we can turn up something to help you?”

  “It is worth a try. I need hard facts to use when I have Miss Richards in a trance. I have still been unable to jolt her unconscious mind into recalling anything other than fragments of her happy childhood memories. I know I am on the verge of breaking through, but I need names and places that are familiar to her.”

  “I will bear it in mind, then, Paul,” Lord Umber said as he pulled out his fob watch and opened it casually. “In fact, I can start immediately. I promised to look in at Lady Barbara’s for tea, and there is bound to be a cluster of her admirers I can ask.”

  “Good, good,” Dr. Ross said absent-mindedly. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

  However, it was Lady Louisa, on the following afternoon, who uncovered the first clue of Felicia’s true heritage. They had arrived at Lady Jersey’s imposing house in Belgrave Square at the appointed hour, and Lady Louisa was immediately surrounded by many of her old friends. Felicia managed to slip out of the circle without being missed and within a very few minutes had struck up a conversation with a shy, unimpressive young girl who looked pathetically out of place. Her chaperone was one of the women clamoring for Lady Louisa’s attention.

  Some time after their entrance, Lady Louisa managed to find a seat and, drawing one of her oldest friends, the Honorable Mrs. Melanie Courtney, out of the main press of people, bade her be seated. This was not a thoughtless gesture, for Melanie Courtney was known to be a walking Debrett’s. Casual chatter composed the conversation for a while until Lady Louisa artfully brought up Felicia’s name and quickly outlined the mishap that had befallen her with the resultant loss of memory.

  “How terribly confusing for the poor child,” Melanie murmured sympathetically, quizzing Felicia through her lorgnon. “And such a beauty, too. What a terrible shame. Your niece, you say, Louisa?”

  “No. No, Melanie,” Lady Louisa said hastily, for it would never do if that exaggeration was put around. “Great Aunt Agatha’s granddaughter,” she improvised quickly. “A very remote connection. But when I needed someone to make the journey with me, Great Aunt suggested Felicia, as she thought the change would be beneficial.”

  “So prettily behaved, too,” Melanie continued approvingly. “I can quite see her capturing a few hearts this Season. Not a large fortune, I don’t expect, if she is from Agatha’s side.”

  Lady Louisa shook her head as she wondered what trouble her one lie would
lead to.

  Melanie, who had two sons of marriageable age, was in no way put out that another beauty had arrived on the scene. Her only regret was that Felicia did not have a large dowry. She sighed. What a pity that face and fortune seldom accompanied each other.

  “Did you say you knew Felicia’s mother, Melanie?” Lady Louisa asked vaguely, afraid that she had lost her friend’s attention. “I never met her myself. She must have been in London during my confinement with Ian.”

  “Richards, you said, was the last name?” Melanie frowned in unaccustomed concentration. “I do believe I met Arabella once or twice, but that was years ago. ’Twas not the done thing at all, as I recall, to speak to her for she had eloped with a gambler. It was just a rumor, which I never did set much store by, of course…that he was a gambler, I mean. They dropped out of sight as he had supposedly won a small fortune from one of the York’s. But you know how it was in those days, ladies were never included in any of the really interesting conversations. That didn’t stop us from speculating though.” She smiled at her own recollections.

  “Of course,” Lady Louisa agreed. She quickly took a sip of the tepid tea as the excitement she felt at uncovering the name of Felicia’s mother threatened to overwhelm her. “Whatever became of Mr. Richards? Great Aunt always did refuse to talk about him.”

  Melanie’s barely concealed yawn indicated she was getting bored with the topic. “Lord only knows,” she answered carelessly. “As I said, they both vanished. Although, perhaps I did hear something to the effect that he was consumptive. Mayhap he died.” She glanced around the room and espied another acquaintance of hers. “Aha! I see Lady Gordon has arrived. What a wretched hat she is wearing! You would think she would know better than to dress herself up in all those feathers.”

  Lady Louisa glanced toward the unfortunate lady in question. “I don’t know, Melanie, dear. I think she looks quite becoming. Besides, feathers are so fashionable nowadays, even though they do make one sneeze.” Disappointment at not being able to pursue her conversation about Felicia caused her to speak unthinkingly, and it was only when Melanie sniffed loudly and moved away, her voluminous taffeta underskirts rustling like a galleon in full sail, did Lady Louisa remember that one should never disagree with the Honorable Mrs. Courtney.

  She sat back in reflective silence as she pondered Felicia’s parents. Her instinctive reaction was to protect her from the truth, but she knew that was an impossibility. “Poor child,” she murmured to herself. “I do hope she will be all right.”

  “Louisa!” Lady Jersey’s voice boomed. “How absolutely divine you look! Positively radiant! Whatever made you stay away for so long? I swear you are a wonderful tonic to us all.”

  Lady Louisa smiled sweetly at Sally Jersey’s friendly compliments, and pushed her meditations away. “Sally dear, it is so good to see you after such a long time. Though with your looks and vigor, you are in no need of a tonic. Nay, ’tis you that remind us that health and happiness go together. You make me feel quite ashamed for staying away for so long.”

  “Seriously, my dear Louisa, it is truly wonderful to have you back in our midst. I cannot tell you how much your gentle good humor has been missed. Without your restraining arm, we were turning into a bunch of savages.”

  “I am thankful I have returned in time, then, Sally,” Lady Louisa laughed. “For I would hate to be thrust into the position of a missionary!”

  “Who is the young lady you are chaperoning?” Lady Jersey asked abruptly. “Do I know the Richards family? A comely girl.” She stared rudely at Felicia as she gave her voice of approval. “A credit to you. I suppose you are looking for vouchers?”

  Lady Louisa nodded, glad that on this occasion Felicia was not within earshot. For she had been most adamant this morning about not wanting vouchers or any other such nonsense that would end up costing more than she could ever hope to repay.

  “It would put me in your debt, Sally, for I know Felicia’s sojourn in town would not be complete without a visit to Almack’s. And I do hear talk that a certain young lady is in need of a little competition.”

  “Haven’t changed a bit, have you, Louisa?” Lady Jersey laughed. “Still able to twist us all around your little finger and get us to do exactly what you want. Well, this time, it will be my pleasure. As you have so shrewdly observed, we could do with another beauty on the scene. Lady Barbara is in need of a setdown. She has become far too conceited, and the attentions of your son have only raised her expectations.” Her voice was light as she teased Lady Louisa. “What is her pedigree, did you say?”

  “I didn’t, Sally, for you never gave me a chance! Great Aunt Agatha. A remote connection, but a good one.” She sent up another prayer for forgiveness for the lie, and hoped that when the truth came out her standing in Society would be sufficient for her to hold onto her position.

  “I will send them to you then, Louisa,” Lady Jersey said as she moved away, chuckling to herself. She always enjoyed Lady Louisa’s company.

  Felicia looked toward the awesome figure that was bearing down on them and curtsied when Lady Jersey introduced herself. After a few seconds of conversation, Felicia saw Lady Louisa beckoning to her so she excused herself thankfully and obeyed the summons.

  “Enjoying yourself, child?” Lady Louisa asked indulgently. “Sally Jersey always has such interesting soirees, don’t you think?”

  “This one most certainly is, ma’am, but I cannot speak for the rest, as I have never attended one before.”

  “Who was that girl you were talking to? She seems to be a shy little thing. It was prodigious kind of you to sit with her so long. Even Lady Jersey remarked on it.”

  “That was Miss Williams. She has been sent up to London by her wicked stepmother to find a husband.” Felicia rolled her eyes in mock horror. “And she is terrified of the fate in store for her should she return home without the necessary ring on her finger.”

  “You silly chit,” Lady Louisa laughed. “With looks like that and no fortune, I fear the worse for her.”

  “That is unfair, ma’am,” Felicia protested. “She does have a respectable dowry, and I swear with a change of hairstyle and a more becoming cut of clothes, she would do well enough. In fact, I have recommended she go to Miss Sophy.”

  “So kind of you, my dear,” Lady Louisa murmured distractedly. She was already thinking of the note she wanted to write to Dr. Ross and was eager to get home. “But I do not think it necessary to take a more personal interest in her welfare. It would never do, my dear girl, for word to get around that you collect strays.”

  Felicia giggled. “’Tis what people would accuse you of, ma’am, if they knew the truth about me. Miss Williams at least has an authentic pedigree.”

  “Quite so. Quite so,” Lady Louisa rejoined unabashed. “But with me, people will put it down to mere eccentricity.” She rose from her seat, dismissing the subject. “Come. I declare I am fagged to death and, as Ian has promised to join us for an early supper, I will need to rest a while. Say your good-byes prettily to Lady Jersey, for she has been prodigious generous.”

  Felicia looked at Lady Louisa blankly. “Generous, ma’am?”

  “I will tell you more about that later,” Lady Louisa said hastily. “Let us go before I find myself engaged in more exchanges of gossip.”

  They made their farewells and were soon ensconced in their carriage. Felicia looked out the window morosely as she felt her enjoyment of the afternoon slip away at the thought of Lord Umber’s dining with them. The last thing she wanted was an intimate meal with him, for she was afraid that the mutual antagonism they felt for each other would not go unnoticed by Lady Louisa. Perhaps she could plead a headache and yet, she was anxious to find out how his affair with Lady Barbara was progressing. She sighed unhappily. Oh! How she wished she did no find his presence so disturbing. His arrogance always seemed to anger her even though David had told her that it was a veneer and something she should try to ignore. Her thoughts drifted to the friends of Lord
Umber she had met, and she decided that David was certainly the most considerate. Dr. Ross she regarded in an entirely different light, though he was probably the closest friend of the Alverston family. Her relationship with him was entirely professional, hence it precluded personal feelings. Yet she knew instinctively that she could rely on him for help if she ever found herself in trouble.

  She almost enjoyed her visits with him. The only thing to mar her pleasure was her inability to recall anything of importance to help him. In her many talks with him, she had discovered how dedicated he was to his mentor, Anton Mesmer, and how important solving her case had become. For Mesmer was experiencing difficulties in Vienna and Paris persuading people to believe in his methods for curing the sick. His reputation for effecting strange cures was arousing interest only with the occultists. Dr. Ross was convinced, however, that if it could be shown that serious students of medicine were able to effect similar cures using Mesmer’s animal magnetism methods, then the professional physicians and chemists might be more willing to listen and believe the practical evidence of his theories.

  The opening of the coach door interrupted her reverie, and with an effort she shook off her depression. A note from Lord Umber was waiting, which the butler delivered to Lady Louisa on a silver platter. It merely informed his mother that David would be joining the party for dinner.