Master of His Fate

Glancing at his daughter, noting the surprised expression on her face, he immediately let go of Alexis’s hand and took a step back. ‘Wherever it is you are going, Miss Malvern, we will take you there.’ Turning, he put a hand under her elbow and began to walk her to his carriage.

‘Thank you, Mr Trevalian,’ Alexis said, ‘I have my carriage here, but such a kind offer on your part.’

Claudia said swiftly, ‘I’m so glad we met, Alexis, and I look forward to visiting Haven House on Tuesday.’

Taking hold of her father’s arm, still amazed by his fascination with her new friend, she made to lead him in the direction of their carriage. He shrugged her off gently, an amused look settling on his face.

‘I shall escort Miss Malvern, help her into her carriage,’ Sebastian announced firmly, and did just that, with Claudia staring after him, more and more surprised.

After stepping up into her carriage and seating herself, Alexis rolled down the window and looked at him, her attention held by his pale-grey eyes.

‘Thank you,’ she murmured.

Sebastian stared back at her for a long moment, before saying, ‘I do hope we shall meet again, Miss Malvern. Soon. I shall have Claudia give a small supper. You will come, I hope?’

Alexis found herself saying, ‘I would enjoy that,’ and then she wondered why she had accepted so quickly.

He nodded politely, and as he turned away she noticed the small smile playing around his mouth.

Her carriage moved forward, the horses snorting, the driver urging them on. Alexis leaned back against the leather seat, thinking about Sebastian Trevalian. His behaviour had been a bit odd. No, not odd. Very male. She knew he had been surprised by her appearance. And he had been attracted to her. Very much so.

With a little jolt, she understood that Claudia had been startled by her father’s behaviour. And she wished she had not accepted his invitation with such alacrity. It might look too eager. And she didn’t have the slightest interest in him. None at all.

And yet her thoughts stayed with Claudia’s father as the carriage rolled on towards Mayfair. He was undoubtedly one of the handsomest man she had ever set eyes on. It was his silvery-grey eyes, translucent and clear, that were so arresting and compelling.

His colouring was very fair, his light brown hair filled with blond streaks. There was no doubt that he was an Englishman, although his face had strong lines. It was sharply chiselled, with a Roman nose, a masculine jawline and generous mouth. He looked too young to be Claudia’s father. Her guess was that he was only forty.

Oh bother, what does it matter, she thought, as the carriage finally pulled up at her front door, at the bottom of Chesterfield Hill on the corner of Charles Street. Why am I thinking about him? I’m not going to supper. I’ll never see him again.

But she was wrong.

Alexis crossed the marble-floored entrance foyer and noticed that the library door was half-open. She hurried forward.

Her father was sitting in a chair near the fireplace and immediately jumped up, putting the book he was holding on a nearby occasional table.

‘There you are, my dear. I hope you had a good afternoon and that all went well.’ His smile was welcoming.

She kissed his cheek, and went and sat on the edge of the chair opposite his. He also seated himself again.

‘Yes, it was a great success, Papa.’ Opening her reticule, she took out the envelope, explaining, ‘Delia has written to you about your donation.’

Henry Malvern took the envelope, opened it and read the note. He passed it back to his daughter, so she could read it for herself. ‘She expresses herself very well,’ he murmured.

‘And it is indeed a very generous gift to us. Thank you again, Papa. Delia’s husband donated and so did Vera’s, and Claudia Trevalian the same amount. We’ve suddenly got a nice cash reserve.’

‘You do indeed!’ he exclaimed. ‘Is your friend Claudia Trevalian by any chance related to Sebastian Trevalian?’ he asked, an interested expression on his face.

‘Yes, she is his eldest daughter,’ Alexis answered but, noting the curiosity, seeing an eagerness in her father’s eyes, she said nothing else.

Henry leaned back in the wing chair and was silent for a moment or two, wondering how well his daughter knew Claudia. Unable to resist, he finally asked, ‘Have you known Claudia a long time? Is she part of the charity?’

Although she knew where this was leading, Alexis understood she had no option but to continue the conversation. ‘No, not an old friend, I met her today. She’s Delia’s cousin, and yes, she really wants to be genuinely involved, from what she said. She’s come up with the idea of teaching some of the women to read and has offered to pay for bookshelves and bring books.’

‘How remarkable! And it’s an excellent idea. I’m certain a lot of those women never went to school. So now you’re all set to open Haven House, aren’t you?’

‘We are, Papa, and Delia and I will probably do so next week. We want to get the word around first, so that people know of its existence.’

‘I will tell Jack Holden and some of the other stallholders when I go to the Malvern on Monday. They’ll spread the word. Good news travels as fast as bad news, you know. And how old is your new friend?’

‘Claudia? Oh, I’m not sure – about twenty, I think.’

‘Yes, that sounds right. Her mother died when she was quite young … ten years ago, if I remember correctly, when Claudia was ten. And I must say Sebastian has done a wonderful job of bringing up his three girls. With the help of nannies, I’ve no doubt, but he’s been a spectacular father, devoted to them.’

Before she could stop herself, Alexis said, ‘You sound as if you know him.’

‘I do, but not in the sense of being a friend. He’s a nodding acquaintance, shall we say. We’re members of the same club.’

Alexis merely nodded, not wishing to be drawn into a conversation about Sebastian Trevalian. But her father had other ideas, and her heart sank when he began to speak.

‘Trevalian’s the most eligible man in London, from what I hear. Only forty or so, a widower with a fine reputation, no scandals about women. Handsome, rich and available. No wonder women fall at his feet.’

‘Oh really,’ Alexis muttered, ‘Have you seen them actually doing that?’

Henry began to laugh. ‘No, of course not; no one means it literally. It’s just a saying. They do flock around him, though, according to some of the other club members. A few of the men wonder why he’s never remarried, others don’t. They think he enjoys his bachelor life to the hilt.’

Alexis sat very still on the edge of her chair, not liking the way she was feeling. Her chest had tightened, and she was suddenly uneasy. Obviously Sebastian was one of those men-about-town they called playboys. Why do I care? It doesn’t matter to me what he does.

She knew she must remove herself from her father’s presence for a while, otherwise he would go on and on about Claudia’s father. Single men drew him like a bee to honey. He was always on the lookout for a good, upstanding, available man. For her. Even though he knew she was not interested in becoming involved with any of them, and certainly marriage was out of the question. For her.

She stood up, clutching her reticule and the envelope, which she passed back to her father. ‘If you don’t mind, Papa, I am going to go to my room and change my clothes. I thought I would wear one of my house gowns for supper. They are much more comfortable.’

‘Yes, my dear, do go and change. And I shall continue to read David Copperfield.’

‘Yet again,’ she said, smiling at him. He looked about to speak, and she cut across him and said, ‘I do know it’s your favourite book of all time. It was even Dickens’s own favourite.’

‘Do you always have to have the last word?’ he asked, his eyes loving.

She brought her fingers to her lips, shaking her head. Then she blew him a kiss and disappeared.

Within minutes, her lovely maid, Tilda, was in her room helping Alexis undress. First she undid all of the little buttons down the back and helped her out of it. Alexis removed her small hat. Then Tilda began to unlace the tight corset which went over her torso and down over her hips. Once the corset was removed, two different petticoats came off, then the half-hoop which was tied around her waist. The last things to be removed were her knickers, the chemise across her chest, and finally the garter belt and silk stockings.

Naked, Alexis slipped on the silk robe Tilda held out to her and tied it, turned around to look at her maid, and thanked her profusely.

‘What a relief it is to get these undergarments off,’ Alexis said. With a smile and another word of thanks, she went into the adjoining bathroom as Tilda began to hang up the gown.

Feeling free at last, Alexis stretched her arms above her head; she bent low, touched her toes, then she waved her arms in the air and reached for the ceiling. She did these exercises every night, the moment her garments were removed. They were very constricting.

Once she felt suppler and free, she leaned forward, gazed at herself in the mirror above the washstand. There was no doubt in her mind that she did look rather nice this afternoon … how hard he had stared at her. When she had looked at him through the carriage window, he had held her eyes, devoured her with his. She had been unable to look away. His eyes were so translucent she felt as though she were looking deep into his soul. Something had been said without words … a message had been sent.

She turned away from the mirror swiftly. Why was she thinking about Sebastian Trevalian? She must dismiss him from her thoughts.

Returning to her bedroom, she found it was empty. Tilda had put her clothes away and disappeared. Before leaving, her maid had closed the draperies and placed a small quilt on the chaise, so that Alexis could take a rest before supper.

She lay down, covered herself with the quilt and closed her eyes. But she did not fall asleep. Her mind turned and turned … about the charity, her new friend Claudia, and Claudia’s father.

Why had he stuck in her mind? Because of his extraordinary eyes, and what they had told her so eloquently. That he desired her, wanted to be with her, aimed to get her. She could not allow that to happen. Sebastian Trevalian might be the most handsome man she had ever met, but he was also the most dangerous.

NINE

Claudia Trevalian loved Aunt Dorothea, her father’s sister. She was a very special woman, rather unique, and she had been kind to them all after their mother’s death, extremely caring. Claudia’s two younger sisters, Lavinia and Marietta, loved her as much as she did, and their father adored her.

At this moment Thea, as she had always been called, was sitting with Sebastian near the bay window in the parlour; Claudia was at the other side of the room, seated near the fireplace. Even on this late afternoon in July, the weather had already cooled, and the fireside was a warm and welcoming place to relax.

Although Aunt Thea was a widow and well taken care of by her husband’s considerable estate, Claudia was aware that she was a shareholder in the family’s private bank, which her father ran. His sister was also on the board of directors and had been for years. Of course she was. Her father protected those he loved.

Close together, chatting animatedly, Claudia saw them objectively for a moment. Anyone would know they were brother and sister, so alike were they in appearance. Although Aunt Thea had brighter blonde hair and pale blue eyes, their features were similar, cast no doubt.

Dorothea Trevalian Rayburn was fifty years old, but did not look it. Her husband, Martin, had died fifteen years ago in a riding accident. He had been thrown by a new stallion he was attempting to break and train. It was an instantaneous death; he broke his neck in the fall.

Aunt Thea had once told her that she was glad it had been so quick and that he had not been left wheelchair-bound for life. ‘He wouldn’t have been able to tolerate that,’ Aunt Thea had explained, ‘being such an athletic man, a hunting-shooting-fishing man.’

Claudia saw the truth in that, but then she was down-to-earth, just like her aunt. She glanced around whilst her father and aunt went over more bank papers.

As always, she admired the way Aunt Thea had furnished the room in light pastel colours. The upholstered sofas and chairs were filled with cushions and were comfortable, and there weren’t too many small occasional tables. But Aunt Thea’s were tall tables, chosen to accommodate the crinolines the women wore. Because of their height they didn’t get knocked over.

Her thoughts went to Alexis, who had been dressed in a tailored gown, the kind she herself now preferred. The purple suit she was wearing today was the most comfortable outfit she owned, and she decided there and then that she would have another one made by Madame Valance. Alexis. Her image hovered in her head. She had liked her the moment they had met at Delia’s house earlier, had thought her quite beautiful. No wonder her father had looked at Alexis twice. That she understood. What had puzzled her was his blatant moving in on Alexis, the way his eyes had been riveted on her the entire time she was with them.

Turning in the chair, Claudia stared at the fire, watching the flames flying up the chimney. She was remembering how, when they were in their carriage, finally coming here to Kensington, her father had been silent, looked preoccupied, gazing out of the window most of the time. Hardly speaking. And she had noticed he appeared to have been genuinely affected by Alexis, which was something she had never ever seen happen with any other woman before.

In fact, there had not been many women around him since her mother’s death. He had certain women friends of longstanding, whom he invited to join him on special occasions or to go to events, but she was aware they were merely friends. If he knew any other women, with whom he might have more intimate relationships, she did not know about them …

‘Claudia, here we are.’ His voice brought her out of her thoughts as he strode across the room, followed by her aunt, who said, ‘I’m afraid I’ve neglected you, my dear,’ and sat down in a nearby chair.

Claudia smiled at her. ‘It’s nice just being here in this lovely room, Aunt Thea. And I think I’ve spotted a new painting, haven’t I?’

‘You have indeed,’ Thea answered, and immediately rose, beckoning Claudia to follow her.

Sebastian said, ‘It’s the John Everett Millais you mentioned to me, isn’t it?’

‘It is indeed.’

The three of them stood grouped in front of the painting on a side wall. It took pride of place, hanging alone, without any other paintings to crowd in on it.

‘What a beautiful little boy blowing bubbles,’ Claudia said, staring at the painting, her face full of smiles.

‘It is called Bubbles, my dear. The perfect name, I think,’ Thea replied. ‘The artist started it in 1885, and finished it in 1886. I was so happy to acquire it.’

Sebastian stared at the painting for the longest moment, before saying, ‘Millais is the best of the current painters, in my opinion, and his attention to detail is quite amazing. I think that if I touch the boy’s trousers, I’ll actually feel the velvet, it’s so realistic. And congratulations, Thea, I know how much you longed to own this.’

‘I did. And I’m going to let it hang alone, Sebastian. I think it needs space, nothing competing with it.’

‘I know what you mean,’ Claudia said. ‘People make their rooms far too cluttered these days, in my opinion. They hang too many paintings on one wall, then they add a palm tree in a brass pot, and soon you can’t move in the room, or know which painting to look at.’

They both laughed and agreed, and Thea said, ‘I haven’t offered you any refreshments. Won’t you have something before you leave?’

Sebastian shook his head. ‘No, thank you. Reviewing the bank papers took longer than I expected. I have a guest arriving at the house very shortly, and we must leave now, I’m afraid.’

Claudia hid her surprise, wondering who he was expecting, and merely smiled. She moved closer to her aunt, kissed her cheek. ‘My congratulations, too, and I’d like to talk to you next week, if I may? About a charity I’ve become involved with.’

‘Then you must come for lunch. Any day you prefer?’

Once they were in their carriage and driving to Sebastian’s house in Grosvenor Square, Claudia spoke out.

‘Who are we expecting, Papa?’

‘My dear friend, Uncle Reginald,’ Sebastian answered, settling back against the seat, crossing his long legs. He was taller than many of his friends.

‘Did you invite him for supper, Papa?’

‘Yes, I did. However, I have a feeling he may wish to go to the club, although I would prefer to remain at home. I must dine alone with him if we stay. It was my understanding he needs to discuss something private with me.’

Claudia nodded. ‘Whatever you wish, Papa, that is fine.’

Sebastian looked across at his eldest daughter, responded in a warm voice, ‘You always say that, and have ever since your mother died. I don’t know what I would have done without you by my side, Claudia, over the past ten years.’ He shook his head almost wonderingly. ‘I’ve leaned on you a great deal; perhaps made you grow up far too quickly by sharing some of my problems with you.’

‘I wanted to be by your side, to help you if I could, Papa. And so did the others, but they weren’t old enough then.’ She began to laugh. ‘And I don’t mind if I’ve become more grown up. And I am twenty now, Papa. Don’t forget that.’

His quirky smile played around his mouth for a moment, but he remained silent, looked out of the window for a while. Then he brought his gaze back to her. ‘How old is she?’

Claudia had known he would discuss Alexis with her, and she was prepared for his questions. ‘Delia told me she is twenty-five.’

‘Oh, I thought she was older.’

‘She doesn’t look it, not to me.’ Claudia frowned as she spoke.

‘Nor to me. But I’ve realized exactly who she is whilst we’ve been at Thea’s. She is extremely well known. Works with her father and has a reputation for astuteness and acumen. So twenty-five, not much older than you.’ He turned his face to the window, looking out, remained silent, tautness in his shoulders.

When the silence had dragged on far too long, Claudia decided to open up the conversation again. ‘Papa, I need to speak to you.’

He swung his head to face her. ‘What is it?’

‘It’s about Alexis. I’ve never seen you behave like that, ever in my life. You were … startled by her … caught up in her. Actually, I think the best word I can use is mesmerized.’ Claudia sat back, watching him, hoping he wouldn’t close himself off, like he so easily could when he did not want to discuss something.

He sighed. ‘Mesmerized, eh? Is that how I seemed to you, Claudia?’

She merely nodded.

He was reflective for a moment. Finally he spoke. ‘I was stunned by the vividness of her colouring and her beauty. And then something strange happened I felt … I don’t quite know how to describe how I felt …’ His voice faltered.

‘Attracted to her? Happy? Joyful?’ Claudia suggested, aware he couldn’t find the right way to describe his reaction.

‘No, none of those. What I experienced was a sense of excitement. Yes, that is the best word to use. Excitement. And a rush of … need. No, not need. Something else. Something a man feels for a woman. Those are the emotions she evoked in me.’ He shrugged. ‘And naturally you are correct; I did have a strong reaction to her. You said I was mesmerized. Perhaps. I do know I was blinded for a moment or two and conscious only of her.’

‘Has that ever happened to you before, Papa?’

‘No, never. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.’ His smile flickered momentarily.

‘You never felt that about Mama?’

‘It was different. Your mother and I grew up together, Claudia, as you well know. Our families were very close. From the age of fourteen, our parents were quite certain we would marry. And we did. We loved and adored each other. Margot was the perfect woman for me, and we knew each other so well. Just imagine, we were both only twenty when you were born.’ A sigh trickled out and he blinked.

Acutely attuned to her father, after their unique closeness of the last few years, she spotted the sadness in his eyes, which had grown moist. He coughed behind his hand, and sat up straighter on the carriage seat.

Taking a deep breath, wanting to change his mood, Claudia plunged into the deep end. ‘You want to see her again, don’t you?’

He didn’t answer.

His daughter knew he was debating how to respond, always the discreet and careful man – sometimes over-cautious.

‘Yes.’

‘Then you must do so.’

Sebastian gave her a swift look. ‘I did tell her I wanted her to come to supper and that I would ask you to arrange something. I said soon.’

‘How did she reply?’

‘She said she would like that.’

Claudia gave him a huge smile. ‘I think Miss Malvern might well have had the same reaction to you as you had to her.’

‘Perhaps,’ he said, that caution now entering his voice.

Claudia said, ‘We are home, Papa.’

He glanced out of the window and saw that his carriage had already entered the square and was pulling up outside his grand townhouse.

Did this woman Alexis Malvern preoccupy him so much that he hadn’t noticed where they were?

TEN

When Sebastian and Claudia went into the house, they were immediately greeted by Lavinia, who was seventeen, and Marietta, fifteen. Both girls were excited to see their father and Claudia.

They rushed over to them, only slowing down when they reached Sebastian. Smiling with pleasure, he pulled them both into his arms and hugged them. Once he had released them, answered a few questions about Aunt Thea and how she was, he explained, ‘I’m afraid I’ve got to hurry. I must change my clothes. Uncle Reginald will be arriving imminently.’

‘Can we say hello to him?’ Marietta asked, who loved company and was quite socially inclined for a young girl. She was filled with charm, whilst Lavinia was more reserved, a bit aloof.

‘He’ll be delighted to see you, Marietta, and you too, Lavinia,’ Sebastian answered, edging away, conscious of the time.

‘And I think he will like to say hello to me, too,’ Claudia murmured, smiling at her sisters indulgently.

Leaving his daughters standing in the middle of the elegant entrance hall, Sebastian ran up the staircase, and headed down the corridor to his bedroom.

As he entered, Maxwell, his valet, emerged from the dressing room. ‘Good evening, sir,’ he said, and went to help Sebastian out of his black frock coat.

‘I’ll take the waistcoat off as well, Maxwell,’ Sebastian said, and did so. ‘I’ve no reason to change my tie, or my black trousers. However, I will put on one of my smoking jackets. I will be dining at home this evening.’

‘Much more comfortable, sir. Which one do you prefer? The burgundy, the blue or the dark green?’

‘The blue. Thank you. Please excuse me for a moment.’ Sebastian hurried into the adjoining bathroom, where he washed his hands, patted his face with a clean cotton towel, then picked up a silver-topped brush and smoothed his hair back. He glanced at himself, and couldn’t help thinking he looked tired, but he simply shrugged away the thought and returned to his bedroom.

Maxwell helped him on with his deep-blue velvet smoking jacket, which had a tie belt with fringe at each end. ‘Thank you,’ he said, with a nod, and left the room.

Claudia was waiting for him in the library, standing near the blazing fire. ‘So you will be having supper at home, Papa.’

‘Yes. I believe Reginald will prefer it, and frankly, so do I.’ He joined her at the fireplace, and stood with his back to it, warming himself. ‘It’s turned chilly, don’t you think?’ he said, glancing at Claudia.