The Marriage Market Read online

  Wovington held up a finger to silence her and removed a slim leather wallet from his trouser pocket. He withdrew Victoria’s handkerchief, still sporting its berry stain.

  “This is a memento of my first taste of wild berries, picked for me by a gracious friend.” He replaced the handkerchief into his wallet and tucked it away before raising inquiring eyes to her face. Touched, Victoria smiled and inserted the handkerchief into the bosom of her dress. While her eyes were averted, Wovington shot a glance at Ladbrook to see if he had noticed the exchange. His friend was busily assisting Mrs. Larke with the positioning of a card table, however, and had missed the entire incident. Smiling triumphantly, Wovington escorted Victoria back to the others.

  Chapter Three – A Ball and a Country Outing

  With the fall weather came Patricia’s first season and her first ball. Both sisters took special care with their attire for that occasion, wearing new pleated white muslin gowns and beaded silk slippers, and Patricia was excited to wear feathers in her hair for the first time.

  It was a memorable evening. The Lower Assembly rooms were crowded, but with the exterior doors open and the outside temperature decidedly autumnal, the dancers were not overly warm. Admiral Larke smiled proudly as he partnered his younger daughter for the first set, paternal eyes shining brightly in the candlelight. Later, both sisters danced with Ladbrook and Wovington, and Admiral and Mrs. Larke took a stately turn upon the floor. The Larke party enjoyed the evening fully and left reluctantly, arriving home at a late hour.

  Tired but happy from their exertions, the sisters adjourned to their rooms. The maid helped them to undress before Victoria sent her to bed and remained behind to chat with her sister.

  “What an enjoyable evening, Tricia,” Victoria said, standing behind the yawning girl as she brushed the intricate braids from her sister’s hair. “I do not think that I have ever danced so much in my life.”

  “How did I do, Victoria?” Patricia asked, glancing over her shoulder at her sister. Patricia had been working with a dancing master since her arrival in Bath.

  “You were wonderful, dear,” Victoria replied, bending to hug her. “Light as a feather and very graceful. Wherever I looked, I saw nothing but admiring glances for you.”

  “Truly? That’s just what I hoped for,” Patricia said with glowing eyes. She gave a happy sigh and leaned back as Victoria continued her brushing.

  “I must say, I am curious as to your opinion, though,” Victoria said. “Who would you say is the more accomplished dancer – Mr. Ladbrook or Mr. Wovington?”

  The room was chilly and Patricia pulled a wool shawl around her shoulders as she considered the question. “I would have to say Mr. Wovington, Victoria, although you would be the better judge. To be honest, I was a little anxious that he would be too accomplished for me, or that I might appear clumsy by comparison. But when he came to claim me, he talked such nonsense about the soles of his dancing shoes being slippery, and that if he should fall, I must be careful not to trip over him and do myself an injury, that he soon had me laughing. I will not be afraid to dance with him again, should he ever ask me. I did enjoy dancing with Mr. Ladbrook, however. He seemed to be enjoying himself so much, humming along with the music all the time. He paid me such a nice compliment, too. He said that he was glad to have such a graceful partner, and that I made him look well despite his lack of elegance. That was very pretty, don’t you think? Although I would never describe Mr. Ladbrook’s dancing as elegant, I did enjoy whirling around the floor with him in a jig.”

  “Indeed,” laughed Victoria, “I’m sure that I was practically running to keep up with his long legs at times. At first he didn’t notice, but when he finally did, he apologized profusely. Then he was so awkward trying to adapt his steps to mine that I could not help but laugh at him. Still, he laughed and promised to be more careful should I be brave enough to foot another one with him. Of course, I granted him a second dance after that.”

  Patricia looked up at her sister. “Both gentlemen admire you, Victoria. I am sure of it. Which do you prefer?”

  “Well, darling, I will admit that they have been attentive these past few weeks, but I cannot say that they seek my company more than yours.” Inwardly Victoria knew that this was not true, but it would have been immodest to say so.

  Patricia turned around to face her sister. “Oh, I would not say that, Victoria. Remember how they both wanted to sit beside you in the carriage last Friday?”

  “That might have been because the only other seat had a bit of spring beginning to poke through the upholstery. I must remember to mention that to father,” Victoria said, laughing when her sister shook her head in vehement disagreement. She kissed the crown of Patricia’s head and turned her around to finish the brushing.

  “To be honest, I don’t know which gentleman I prefer, Tricia. They are both very charming in their way. Mr. Wovington is like a purring cat, all sleek and sure of its welcome, and Mr. Ladbrook is like a gambolling puppy, so lively and eager to please. I can read all of Mr. Ladbrook’s emotions in his face because he has such an open countenance. And he is so curious, and not at all concerned about appearing sophisticated. Mr. Wovington, on the other hand, is very worldly-wise, a gentleman with good taste and experience. But, sometimes when he smiles at me, I’m not sure if he’s amused by my ignorance or smiling in agreement.”

  Victoria finished her sister’s hair while Patricia giggled. “There, your hair is glowing and I’m cold. Let us go to bed before the candles burn out. Sweet dreams, Tricia.”

  Life was not so jolly for Victoria when Wovington was forced to leave Bath temporarily on business. Fortunately, Mr. Ladbrook was quite happy to prolong his visit, and made himself available whenever the family wanted him.

  Late October saw the dying echoes of autumn’s splendours. On hearing that Admiral Larke had a reunion of shipmates to attend the following day, Ladbrook proposed one last outing before the fine weather was at an end. He engaged a barouche-landau and a driver for the following morning, and he and the ladies travelled some fifteen miles beyond the city to visit a fine old stone church renowned for its stained glass windows. They toured the church and the adjacent graveyard, Ladbrook managing to fall behind with Victoria, before adjourning to a nearby inn for a simple meal of roast chicken, salad, cheese, and cider.

  The afternoon shadows were beginning to lengthen by the time the company returned to the barouche. Mrs. Larke and Patricia were already seated and Ladbrook was just handing in Victoria when a shot rang out from a hunting party in a nearby grove. A flock of birds burst from hiding and startled the team. Victoria was thrown sideways as the carriage lurched forward, and was flung out as one of the horses reared. Ladbrook was just able to catch her before she fell. Suddenly, Patricia shrieked. Looking up, he saw Mrs. Larke and Patricia clinging to the side of the pitching carriage. Ladbrook quickly lowered Victoria to the ground and darted forward to help the driver. Grabbing the traces of the nearest horse as it reared, he used his weight to drag the horse to the ground.

  Patricia cried out, “Mr. Ladbrook, you are bleeding!”

  Distracted, the gentleman was unable to avoid the horse’s trampling hooves, and one of them landed heavily on his boot. A grunt of pain burst from his lips, but he ignored his injury to soothe the frightened animal until it finally settled. Leaving the horses to the driver, Ladbrook limped hastily back to Victoria. She was sitting on the grass where he had left her, clutching her side.

  “You are hurt, Miss Larke. What is amiss?” he asked, kneeling beside her and wrapping a supportive arm around her shoulders. She leant against him and gasped.

  “It’s my side, sir. I think I injured a rib. It hurts, and it is difficult to breathe.”

  Mrs. Larke ran up to them and crouched down in the grass. “How are you, Victoria?” she asked. Victoria reached for her mother.

  “Mama, my side hurts,” she cried.

  “Shall we lay her down, do you think, Mr. Ladbrook?”

  “
No, ma’am, I don’t think that would be best. Miss Larke may have broken a rib. I think it would be better if you examined her for anything amiss.”

  Mrs. Larke removed her gloves and did as Mr. Ladbrook suggested. “I don’t feel anything broken, but I’m not sure that I should be able to tell.”

  “If you will permit me, Miss Larke, Mrs. Larke,” Ladbrook said before gently probing the injured area. “I do not feel anything amiss, either. I think that I had better lift Miss Larke into the carriage, and we will get her home as carefully as possible.”

  “Let me climb in first so she can rest her head in my lap,” Mrs. Larke said. She turned to Patricia, who hovered anxiously behind them. “Patricia, make haste and precede me into the carriage.” The two women hurried back to the vehicle where the driver helped them into their seats.

  Ladbrook squatted on the ground beside Victoria and bent his head close to hers. Her eyes were shut, and her face was white and taut.

  “Are you ready, Miss Larke?” he asked. Victoria nodded and pressed her lips together. “Wrap your arm around my shoulders and I will lift you as easily as I can.”

  Ladbrook gathered Victoria into his arms and lifted her in one smooth motion. He was dismayed to see a tear fall from her lashes, however, for even a little jostling gave her pain. Carrying her to the carriage, he climbed in as evenly as he could and eased her into a reclining position beside Mrs. Larke. Then he removed his coat and draped it over her, for she was beginning to tremble. Unable to do anything more to make the young woman comfortable, he sat beside Patricia and instructed the driver to walk on as carefully as he could.

  “But what about you, Mr. Ladbrook?” Patricia asked. “Your nose needs attention. Here, take my handkerchief.”

  “Thank you, Miss Patricia,” he said, accepting the cloth and swabbing his face, “but do not distress yourself. See, the bleeding has already stopped. Are you and Mrs. Larke well?”

  “We are fine, sir,” Mrs. Larke said. Victoria winced as the wheel of the carriage bumped over a stone. “Mr. Ladbrook, do you have any spirits about you? I think that a drop of alcohol might ease Victoria’s pain,” the mother said.

  Ladbrook handed her his flask, and Mrs. Larke supported Victoria’s head while pouring a little brandy into her mouth. The subdued party drove home in very different spirits from when they had set out that morning.

  Chapter Four – The Invalids

  Johnson, the Larke’s unflappable butler, was startled to find an agitated Mrs. Larke waiting on the doorstep when he opened the front door. Looking past her, he saw Ladbrook, his shirt front blood-caked, carrying Victoria up the stairs. Johnson stepped aside to allow them to pass. Patricia hurried in behind them, her hat askew.

  “Johnson, is Admiral Larke at home?” Mrs. Larke demanded.

  “No, ma’am,” the butler replied.

  “Never mind. Send for Dr. Barr immediately. Tell him that Victoria has fallen and has injured a rib. Then send for the admiral at his club. Ask him to come home at once.”

  The last remark was flung over her shoulder as she flew up the stairs past Ladbrook and Victoria and opened the door to her daughter’s room. Ladbrook laid Victoria carefully upon the bed, and was banished from the room. A maid showed him to a guest bedroom, where he washed the dried blood from his face and eased his aching foot from his boot.

  Dr. Barr and the admiral arrived together a little while later. The doctor hastened upstairs, while a tearful Patricia clung to her father’s arm. Dr. Barr examined Victoria and discovered that she had two cracked ribs. She had also suffered a blow to the back of her head where it had connected with Mr. Ladbrook’s nose. Fortunately, her bonnet had cushioned the blow and there was no concussion, although her head ached. Dr. Barr bandaged her ribs tightly, gave her laudanum to ease the pain, and left her tucked up in bed with her mother in attendance.

  Then the doctor visited his second patient. He determined that Ladbrook’s nose was unbroken, although the appendage was swelling painfully, but the small toe on his right foot was broken. The foot was swelling, making it impossible to replace the boot, so Ladbrook was put to bed with protestations that he was inconveniencing the family. Admiral Larke lent Ladbrook a night shirt, and Mrs. Larke sent in the maid after the gentleman was abed to remove and clean his clothes. The admiral came to visit him soon afterward, bearing two glasses of an excellent French brandy.

  “Really, Admiral, this is quite unnecessary,” Ladbrook said, pulling back the bedclothes and starting to rise. “I do not need to be coddled like this. Just send me home in your carriage.”

  The admiral waved him back into bed. “No, Mr. Ladbrook, I can do no such thing, even if I wanted to indulge you. Neither my wife nor my daughters would speak to me if I were to oblige you. Anyway, you will be much more comfortable here with friends to spoil you than in bachelor’s lodgings, and Doctor Barr will find it more convenient to see both his patients under the same roof.” He sat down on a chair beside the bed and handed the young man a snifter of brandy. “To your health, Mr. Ladbrook, and to the health of my wife and daughters. From what I’ve heard, you did us a great service today, preventing Victoria from coming to greater harm and saving my wife and Patricia from being overturned. You acted as guardian to my family in my absence, and I am greatly indebted to you. So, do us another kindness and stay for a few days until your foot begins to heal and your face is recovered enough from its bruising to risk being seen in the streets. Victoria’s skull must be as tough as a coconut – your face looks quite battered, sir.”

  Touched, Ladbrook inclined his head and said, “Thank you, Admiral. I would not wish to frighten women and children in the streets. I am happy to accept your hospitality. To the health of your fine lady, and to your daughters.”

  The next day, Victoria did not leave her room, but Ladbrook joined the family downstairs for breakfast. Afterward, he settled with the newspaper on a couch in the morning room. As he turned the pages, Mrs. Larke and Patricia burst into the room, the mother saying, “It’s your decision, child, if you really think it’s necessary. If you must do it, better to get it over with now.” The two ladies stopped in front of Ladbrook, Patricia looking particularly distressed.

  “My word, what is all this?” he inquired, dropping the newspaper and struggling to stand.

  Patricia said, “Pray, do not rise, sir. You must rest your broken foot. Mr. Ladbrook, I wish to make my apologies to you, and if you will accept them, I hope that you will shake hands with me.” The girl’s eyes were downcast and her cheeks were flushed.

  “Miss Patricia, you have done nothing that requires an apology,” Ladbrook protested, taking her proffered hand. “Whatever is the matter? I wondered when you would not look at me at breakfast this morning, but I thought that my face was putting you off your meal.” He smiled at her.

  “No indeed, Mr. Ladbrook, far from it. But I am responsible for your injury and I want to apologize. If I had not called out exactly when I did and distracted you, you would not have been hurt. I am very sorry for my thoughtlessness and pray that you will forgive me.”

  Understanding flooded his face. “Please, do not be troubled any longer. You were alarmed when you saw blood on my face. I have lived around horses all my life, and they have kicked me, stepped upon me, and knocked me down. Animals are unpredictable and accidents happen. It was not your fault, so please do not think that it was.” The gentleman gave her hand a small shake to emphasize his words.

  Mrs. Larke grinned and said, “See, Tricia, Mr. Ladbrook does not blame you, and you must not blame yourself any longer. Everyone knows that you would never intentionally harm a fly.”

  Patricia gazed solemnly at Mr. Ladbrook for a moment before bending to kiss his cheek. “Thank you, sir,” she murmured.

  Mrs. Larke said, “Well done, my dear, and if our rescuer does not mind, I will salute him as well.” She bent and gave his other cheek a resounding kiss. “And when Victoria is feeling better, I will tell her that she owes Mr. Ladbrook a kiss, too.”


  From behind her, Admiral Larke said, “Well, I’m not going to kiss Ladbrook, although it seems a popular occupation this morning. Can I offer you a cigar instead, sir?”

  Looking dazed but pleased, Mr. Ladbrook replied that he would gladly smoke a cigar with the admiral, and the ladies left the gentlemen in possession of the room.

  The next morning, Ladbrook was seated at a small table strewn with drawing materials when Victoria walked in slowly on her father’s arm. Ladbrook limped to his feet, but the admiral waved him back down. Father and daughter approached the table, and the admiral lowered her carefully into a high-backed chair beside the young gentleman. Victoria let out a withheld breath and smiled at Ladbrook, looking pleased with herself.

  “How are you, Miss Larke? Did you sleep well? Have your breakfasted?” Ladbrook asked.

  “I passed a reasonable night and had a tray in bed this morning. Dr. Barr said that I could try the stairs today if I promised to rest in the afternoon. I felt sure that my spirits would improve with some company, and mother is bringing down a bit of embroidery for me to do. But never mind that. I am so glad, Mr. Ladbrook, that you are staying with us until your foot is better. It gives me the opportunity to thank you for your gallant service the other day. Do you know, Father, that I was quite flying through the air when Mr. Ladbrook caught me, even though I struck him hard enough to inflict the damage that I see on his poor face. I’m sure that I would have been more gravely injured had he not caught me. But, forgive me, sir, are you growing a beard?” The gentleman's cheeks, chin, and upper lip displayed a beard of two days’ growth.

  “The skin around my nose and cheeks is a little too tender to shave at present, Miss Larke,” he replied with a smile.

  “Well, it does not matter. You are just as handsome with a beard as without. But, please accept my gratitude for your assistance. To think that your toe was broken all the while that you were saving us.” Victoria laid her hand upon his arm and smiled warmly at her hero.