Portrait of Jonathan Read online

  He entered the house and found Lord Melmoth and Giles had returned home. Lord Rowan, too, had arrived. They all, including Lady Melmoth, turned questionlngly towards him.

  ‘She’s been kidnapped— by her father, brother and Lord Myron.’

  Lord Rowan sat down quickly, covered his face with his hands and groaned like a man who had been dealt a fatal blow. Giles’ face turned white and he pressed his fist into his mouth, looking almost like a small boy about to burst into tears. Lady Melmoth gave a cry and ran to her husband who put his arm round her, but his own face bore the same expression of distress as the others.

  ‘How did you find out, my boy?’ Lord Melmoth asked Jonathan.

  ‘I went to Lady Anthea. I thought she would be involved and though she told me that much, she says she doesn’t know where they’ve taken her—and I think she’s telling the truth.’

  ‘She—she told you?’ Lady Melmoth said incredulously.

  ‘I—er—got a little—er—rough with her before she would tell me, but it worked.’

  ‘What are we to do?’ asked Giles in a tremulous voice. He looked pleadingly at his brother who returned his gaze remembering his last remark to Giles. He went over to him and put his arm about his younger brother’s shoulders.

  ‘Come, you shall help me search—we shall not rest until we’ve found her if we have to turn London inside out.’

  Lord Rowan stood up. In a few moments he looked to have aged several years, but he had recovered his composure.

  ‘I shall go and see—my—daughter-in-law,’ Lord Rowan remarked with distaste. ‘For I suppose Gervase will be unavailable.’ He turned to Jonathan, for it seemed they had all looked to him to take the lead. ‘Do you know exactly where they live, Eldon?’

  ‘Yes sir. Might it be as well for us to come with you? If you do learn anything from Lady Kelvin, it may help us to know where to start.’

  ‘Yes, yes, of course. I’d prefer it.’ He sighed. ‘My disreputable family is no secret from you.’

  ‘Come, come, Rowan—take heart. Lavinia has recompensed for all that surely?’ Lord Melmoth tried to comfort his friend.

  ‘Most certainly,’ Lord Rowan replied sadly. ‘But now she …’ He was unable to finish his sentence and left the room.

  The Eldon family exchanged understanding looks and then the two brothers made to follow Lord Rowan.

  ‘Hey, Jonathan,’ Lord Melmoth cried as they were leaving. ‘ What can I do? Don’t leave me here doing naught to help.’

  ‘Come with us then, Father. The more to face her might intimidate Lady Kelvin the more.’

  The streets of London through which they passed grew more and more disreputable until the carriage stopped before a tumble-down tenement building.

  ‘So,’ remarked Lord Rowan bitterly, ‘they are sunk to this. What chance has the child got in hands which will kidnap their own daughter and use her as hostage?’

  They went inside the building and located Lady Kelvin on the second floor. She was alone. A sluttish girl—an insult to the name ‘maid’ —admitted them.

  The four gentlemen could not help but be shocked not only at the dreary condition of the room and shabby furniture but also in the appearance of Lady Kelvin herself. It was obvious that she was a sick woman—one look at her shrunken cheeks, her bulging eyes and the yellow colour of her skin was enough. Her claw-like fingers plucked perpetually at the shawl about her shoulders. She failed to recognise them and would not answer Lord Rowan’s question as to the whereabouts of Lavinia. Her eyes looked them up and down, but it was as if she did not see them.

  Jonathan turned to the girl.

  ‘What is the matter with your mistress?’

  ‘Queer in the ’ead, she is, sir. Been like it for a year or more now, sir. Don’t speak no more, she doesn’t.’

  There was nothing to be gained by prolonging their stay in this place so they left immediately.

  ‘What do we do now?’ Giles said when they were once more seated in the carriage and returning to ‘Eldon House’.

  ‘I suggest we dine,’ Lord Melmoth said sensibly. ‘Naught’s to be gained by starving ourselves, and we can discuss what to do next over dinner.’

  ‘I couldn’t eat a thing,’ muttered Giles.

  Jonathan and his father exchanged a glance. They had both noticed that Giles had remained silent during the whole of the journey to the Kelvins’ home, and they both realised from the expression on his face that as of this moment he had grown up. This incident—in which he had played an unfortunate part through his thoughtless impetuosity—would serve to sober his wildness as the duel had Jonathan’s several years perilously.

  They found Lady Melmoth in a state of extreme agitation. She ran down the steps to meet them almost before their carriage had stopped.

  ‘Rupert—a boy brought this letter a few moments ago,’ she handed the letter to her husband, who glanced at her worriedly.

  ‘I have never known you intimidated before, my love.’

  ‘Rupert, I am so afraid for the poor child …’ and tears were evident in Lady Evelina’s fine eyes.

  ‘There, there, my dear. Wilford—the letter is addressed to you so why it was brought here I don’t know.’

  Lord Rowan took the letter and sighed. ‘ I’ve no doubt they are so well informed that they know our every movement.’

  He tore open a single sheet and read it swiftly.

  ‘What does it say?’ demanded Jonathan impatiently.

  ‘It reads “Lavinia is safe and well and will remain so but only if you prevent the steamship from arriving in port first”.’

  ‘But—but,’ stuttered Giles, ‘they’re at sea—more than three-quarters of the way home. How can we possibly stop it?’

  ‘We could send a ship out to meet them,’ Jonathan said, his eyes darting from Lord Melmoth to Lord Rowan and back, ‘to try to waylay the steamship and tell Captain Darby to allow the clipper to win.’

  They all went into the house and into the drawing-room before anyone spoke.

  ‘You would do that—see all your hopes for the future of the steamship smashed?’ Lord Rowan asked slowly.

  ‘Yes,’ Jonathan said steadily.

  ‘But these are surely only idle threats. They dare not harm her, dare they?’

  Jonathan met Lord Rowan’s gaze. ‘We cannot take that risk. Lavinia’s safety is worth,’ he swallowed hard, ‘more than any wretched boat.’

  Dinner was partaken with disinterest, the attention of the diners being on the discussion of every possible action.

  ‘We don’t know how we are to reply to this note, do we?’ Lord Melmoth observed. ‘How do they know we shall comply with their demands? How long will they hold her?’

  ‘Until the race is over and the clipper has won, I suppose,’ said Lord Rowan heavily.

  ‘Oh no,’ Giles cried. ‘ That’s weeks. Surely they won’t keep her shut up somewhere all that time?’

  There was a silence whilst they all pictured Lavinia shut up in some dingy room, bound up, perhaps, and cruelly treated.

  Lady Melmoth began to cry quietly, but despairingly.

  Jonathan rose from the table with the agitation of anxiety.

  ‘Lord Rowan, can you think of anywhere—anywhere at all—where your son might think to take her?’

  ‘No—I can’t. I’ve tried. And with Myron involved it may be a place of his choice.’

  Lady Melmoth shuddered. ‘Poor Lavinia—in that man’s clutches again. Oh Rupert, you don’t think he’ll, that Myron—will—I mean, last time …’

  ‘There, there, my love. Lavinia is not the frightened creature she was then, remember she’s far more able to—to defend herself.’

  ‘It’ s a possibility we cannot completely disregard,’ Jonathan said, a catch in his voice, ‘ but perhaps it is not such a fear as you suppose.’

  ‘Why, Jonathan?’ Lady Melmoth asked.

  ‘Lady Anthea informed me,’ Jonathan continued dryly, ‘that she is to marry Lord Myron.�
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  Despite their great anxiety the company allowed themselves wry smiles, unable to understand the woman’s mind. Jonathan added softly, ‘ I think they are well-matched.’

  Those few words swept away any remaining doubt there may have been in the minds of his parents and brother as to Jonathan’s present feeling for Lady Anthea.

  ‘Are we agreed then,’ continued Jonathan, ‘to send a ship to meet the Lavinia and prevent her winning?’

  ‘I’m agreeable—most certainly,’ Lord Melmoth said. ‘Wilford?’

  Lord Rowan sighed heavily. ‘Lavinia will not wish to be the cause of you losing this race—she thinks a great deal of the steamship and I know is very proud to have it named after her.’

  ‘It’s not her fault, is it?’ broke in Giles. ‘ It’s mine. I’m to blame for it all.’

  ‘Nonsense, my boy,’ said Lord Rowan kindly. ‘No one could be expected to contemplate such treatment from her own family. The family relationship you enjoy naturally leads you to believe that other families are similarly united.’

  ‘But I should have thought—I should have realised after last time …’

  ‘Come on, Giles,’ Jonathan interrupted. ‘ Make yourself useful—we’ll start looking for her. But first we must send a message to the office—we are agreed, are we not, to send a message to the ship?’

  Lord Rowan and Lord Melmoth exchanged a despairing glance. ‘Of course,’ Lord Melmoth said and Lord Rowan merely nodded, feeling, no doubt, the burden of the impending disaster which this could cause to their Company.

  ‘I’ll attend to that, Jonathan,’ said Lord Melmoth.

  ‘Very well. Father.’

  He turned in the doorway. ‘ Lord Rowan, I presume you wish all this to be kept secret.’

  The Earl sighed deeply. ‘I begin to think I should no longer protect my son, but the reflection on Lavinia …’

  Jonathan nodded. ‘ If we could find her ourselves it would save her, and you, a great deal of embarrassment. Come, Giles.’

  The two brothers left to begin their search and whilst they both feared that this was of little use, neither of them could sit idly by and wait for something to happen. During the hours of darkness whilst they rode through the deserted streets, the two brothers felt themselves drawn inexplicably closer together, even though they were already, by most standards, singularly united as brothers. Jonathan’s earlier outburst of blame against Giles was forgotten, each acknowledging that it was said in a moment of emotional distress. Giles, though readily accepting that he was to blame, and therefore that Jonathan’s threat was fully justified, wondered vaguely whether Jonathan did—whether he realised it himself or not—love Lavinia in the same way in which she loved him. Giles began to hope that he did. The night passed without any accomplishment, and the brothers returned home to breakfast weary-eyed but not desirous of sleep.

  Rowan and Melmoth, too, it seemed, had not slept, nor had they left Lord Melmoth’s study all night. They had discussed the matter through the night. Only Lady Melmoth had been persuaded to retire to bed, though it was obvious that she too had found sleep impossible.

  Conversation was little at breakfast for no one wished to indulge in idle chatter and all discussion on the one topic which held them totally absorbed had been exhausted. As the meal was ending, the butler hurried in with a note.

  ‘This has just been pushed through the door, sir.’

  ‘Did you see who brought it?’ Lord Melmoth asked sharply, whilst Jonathan and Giles sprang up and hurried to the window.

  ‘No, sir, I am afraid I did not. I have only just seen it on the floor just inside the main door, sir.’

  ‘There’s’ no sign of anyone leaving,’ Jonathan remarked.

  ‘It says,’ read Lord Rowan, ‘ “ the girl is safe—at the moment—but you are delaying taking the necessary action. Perhaps you do not value her life?” ’

  An explosion of oaths from the gentlemen greeted the last words, whilst Lady Evelina gave a cry of alarm.

  ‘Wilford,’ she gasped, ‘surely they would not—dare not …’

  Lord Rowan sat with his shoulders hunched. He looked at her sadly. ‘I no longer know what to think, Evelina,’ he said heavily.

  ‘Oh, ’tis only a threat, my dear,’ Lord Melmoth tried to comfort her, but his words failed to convince anyone in the room.

  ‘They should know by now that we’re planning to send a ship out to meet the Lavinia,’ cried Giles. ‘Why do they say we have taken no action?’

  ‘I would imagine this was written last night—late into the night probably—and has only just reached us by messenger,’ Jonathan said.

  ‘Then they could be some distance away?’ Giles suggested.

  ‘Presuming the note was written from where they are holding Vinny, yes.’

  Giles ran his hand through his hair distractedly.

  ‘If only, if only …’

  ‘When will the ship leave?’ put in Lady Melmoth.

  ‘Unfortunately, not before tomorrow,’ Jonathan replied. ‘We had nothing ready to sail and it cannot possibly leave before noon tomorrow.’

  ‘Do you think they will release her once they know you’ve sent a ship out?’ she asked.

  ‘No, I don’t,’ Jonathan said, ‘for that will not be proof enough for them that we mean to lose the race.’

  Later that morning the news that the steamship was now well ahead of the clipper only caused the family greater alarm, when normally they would have been filled with exhilaration.

  Jonathan and Giles searched the streets again all that day and when they returned home for dinner late in the evening their dispiritedness and tiredness were self-evident. Worry robbed them all of their appetites, so that the dishes left the table sometimes almost untouched.

  ‘The number of derelict buildings we’ve seen,’ groaned Giles. ‘Do you really think that’s the sort of place they’ll keep her in?’

  ‘They’ll not keep her in the obvious places—what else can we do but just look and hope,’ murmured Jonathan.

  As the family and Lord Rowan moved through the hall from the dining-room, Jonathan went towards the front door.

  ‘My dear, you’re not going out again?’ Lady Melmoth said.

  ‘I cannot stay here whilst there’s a chance, however remote, that we might find her.’

  Giles followed him.

  ‘No, Giles, you stay here, you’re tired and …’

  ‘I’m coming with you, Jonathan,’ and the tone in his voice refuted all argument.

  Out into the darkness they went side by side once more.

  ‘What do you think of trying one or two of the roads leading right out of London?’ Giles said. ‘So far we’ve just toured the city streets.’

  ‘Yes, I think perhaps you’re right.’ He sighed. ‘I don’t really think there’s much hope we shall find her but I can’t sit and wait.’

  ‘Nor me.’

  They took the road which led ultimately to Dover and, after some time, came to the suburbs.

  ‘This is a part we haven’t been before,’ said Jonathan and they sat one either side of the vehicle watching out.

  They drove for two hours.

  ‘How far do you think we should go?’ muttered Giles, rubbing his shoulder which ached from sitting in the same position so long.

  ‘I don’t know what to … Wilkes, stop!’ Jonathan roared suddenly.

  ‘What is it …?’ Giles started to say, but Jonathan had flung open the door of the brougham and leapt out. Giles followed him and saw his brother running along the road towards the small figure of a girl, her white dress shining in the moonlight.

  He heard Jonathan’s cry of relief.

  ‘Vinny, Vinny.’

  ‘Oh Jonathan, Jonathan,’ Giles heard her faint cry and saw her stretch out her arms towards Jonathan before she began to fall.

  Jonathan reached her and caught her in his arms.

  ‘My lovely Vinny, what have they done to you, my darling?’ he said huskily.
/>   He picked her up and carried her to the brougham. Her arms were about his neck, her head on his shoulder and a gentle smile on her lips. Hardly comprehending his endearments, she knew, nevertheless, that she was safe in his arms.

  ‘Jonathan, I knew you would come.’

  Without warning she fainted.

  Jonathan placed her carefully in the brougham and they turned with all speed for home.

  ‘Will she come round?’ Giles asked anxiously, as Jonathan hovered over her.

  ‘Yes, in a minute I expect. It will be more fatigue than anything I suppose.’

  ‘How did she come to be here on the road, do you think?’

  ‘We shall only know when she can tell us. Vinny, Vinny, come along.’

  Her eyelids flickered.

  ‘Where …’ she sat up sharply. ‘Don’t you lay one finger …’ she began.

  ‘Vinny, steady, it’s me,’ Jonathan said.

  ‘Oh Jonathan!’ She flung her arms about his neck. ‘I remember now, just for a moment I thought I was back there.’

  Jonathan sat beside her, his arms about her. She leaned against him and sighed contentedly.

  ‘Do you feel all right now?’

  ‘A bit shaky. You don’t mind if I—go to sleep. I’m so very, very tired.’

  Before they could reply, she was asleep.

  ‘Has she fainted again?’ Giles asked.

  ‘No she’s sleeping now.’

  The return journey was accomplished in an hour for their outward journey had been purposely slow.

  Lord Rowan and Lord Melmoth were still up when Jonathan carried the sleeping girl into the house.

  ‘Jonathan—thank God you’ve found her,’ Lord Rowan hurried forward. He put his hand on Jonathan’s shoulder in a gesture of gratitude too deep for words.

  ‘Is she—hurt?’

  ‘No, no, I don’t think so,’ Jonathan replied softly, his eyes never leaving Vinny’s face as he laid her gently on the sofa. But now that they could all see her better, they saw that her face was marked with small scratches and an ugly bruise on her forehead. Jonathan felt his anger rise against her captors, that they should have caused her to be hurt in any way at all.