A Woman Worth Winning

Front matter

NOVELS BY G. MANVILLE FENN Crown 8vo., cloth extra, 3s. 6d. each ; post 8vo., illustrated boards, 2s. each. THE NEW MISTRESS. WITNESS TO THE DEED, THE TIGER LILY. THE WHITE VIRGIN. A WOMAN WORTH WINNING. Crown 8vo., cloth, gilt top, 6s. London : CHATTO & WINDUS, in St. Martin's Lane. BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN AUTHOR OF *A; 'one maid's MISCHIEF, ' 'THE WHITE VIRGIN," 'the NEW MISTRESS,' etc LONDON CHATTO & WINDUS CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. MOLLY WYNDHAM PAYS A VISIT - - 1 II. SIR MARTIN HAS DOUBTS - - - 7 III. THE TRACK OF THE STORM - - 14 IV. A LITTLE WAY BACK - - - - 24 V. MOLLY SEES TROUBLE AHEAD - - -35 VI. DEAD OR ALIVE ? - - - _ 40 VII. MONEY IS MASTER - - - - 49 VIII. BACK HOME - - - - - 58 IX. MOLLY LEARNS THE WORST - - -63 X. THE SHADOW OF THE LAW - - "6 XI. THE MICE AT PLAY - - - - 83 XII.

THE WOMAN AT WORK - - - 94 XIII. ' COMING EVENTS CAST ' - - - 99 XIV. 'POOR DISAPPOINTED LOVER !' - - - 103 XV. GIVING WARNING - - - - 113 XVI. UNDER THE CLOUD - - - - 119 XVII. FACE TO FACE - - - - 125 XVIII. A DOMESTIC FEUD - - - - 132 xix. molly's troubles - - - - 137 XX. BRENDON HEARS THE TRUTH - - 142 XXI. THE DOCTOR'S PRICE - - - - 151 XXII. A FRESH BLOW - - - - 160 XXIII. HOW EMMA TALKED TO A SOLDIER - - 170 XXIV. BRENDON MAKES PLANS - - - VI CONTENTS

CHAPTER XXV. MOLLY SEES IT ALL

Chapter I. Molly Wyndham Pays

A VISIT. ' By George ! Fd go through anything for a woman like that.1 Only one of the crowd, as Molly Wyndham alighted from her carriage at Sir Martin Jerdan's, in Eaton Square, and he turned to look at the graceful figure going up the steps ; then the door closed upon her, and he passed on. She was worth looking at, as she followed the footman up to the drawing-room, with her beautiful eyes looking piteous and subdued, while her other features kept pace in displaying the changing emotions which agitated her, for the full-curved, deep-red lips quivered, and were then tightly compressed into a line ; the cheeks flushed and turned pale, and it was evident that the visitor was suffering from intense mental pain, which she was striving hard to suppress. In those brief moments she succeeded so well that when the drawing-room door was thrown open and her name announced, she advanced smiling, and seemed to lovingly join in the embrace of Lady Jerdan, who rose from her seat ; but Molly's heart beat high and throbbed heavily, as a pang of jealous hatred shot through her, and something whispered : ' If she were dead how different all might be !' The next minute she was seated near her friend, chatting lightly over everyday matters— two beautiful women, with unruffled faces and no sign of trouble or care. ' What are you going to wear to-night, Linda dear ¥ 'To wear?1 said Lady Jerdan, raising her eyebrows slightly. ' Oh, I hardly know.

What do you mean ¥ Molly laughed softly to hide a quivering of her nether lip. ' At Lady Pattison's ' Oh, I had almost forgotten it. White, I think — if i go: ' If you go ? Why, Linda dear, what is the matter ¥ ' Oh, nothing much — little petty troubles. Hush ! here is nurse.1 There was a tap at the door, and a pleasant, buxom, country-looking woman entered, leading a Cupid-like little fellow of about three, both dressed for going out. ' I beg pardon, my lady ; I didn't know you had com pany, but you said Master Hector ' * Quite right, nurse. Come here, my darling, and say good-bye to Miss Wyndham before you go for your walk." But Master Hector looked from one to the other, pouted his pretty red lips, and turned his back. ' Oh, Hector, my darling ! that's so rude of you. Come and kiss mamma at once.' Master Hector stamped on the carpet, and tried to climb up his nurse. ' You'll come and kiss Molly, won't you, Hee ¥ said the visitor in a sweet, deep voice.

MOLLY WYNDHAM PAYS A VISIT 3 ' No ; shan't !' said the boy decidedly. ' Oh, Master Hector,' cried the nurse reproachfully, ' you shouldn't. He's very cross, my lady, because he has got to go out, and I wouldn't let him throw all his toys out of the nursery window. He did throw the big box of skittles into the area.' ' Take him away, then, nurse, and bring him back good. Won't you come and kiss mamma, Hector ¥ ' No ; shan't !' said the little fellow, scowling, if so comically charming an expression of his cherub-like face could be called a scowl. The next moment the mother's handsome features contracted, and she winced slightly, for as the nurse seized the child to bear him off he flung his arms about her neck, and began kissing her with all his small might. ' There, Molly,' said Lady Jerdan, smiling to hide her pain ; ' you asked me what's the matter.

It's very stupid, I know, but I can't help feeling hurt to see a thing like that. Bickton seems to win the child's affection from me, and it does seem so hard.' ' What nonsense, Lin dear ! That's weakness. Children will vary like that with their little whims. What is it ? Tell me. There is something else.1 Lady Jerdan was silent for a few moments. ' I do not ask for your confidence, Lin,' said her visitor coldly. ' Oh, Molly ! don't you turn against me, too,' cried Lady Jerdan ; and acting upon the impulse of the moment, she started from her seat and threw herself upon her knees, embracing her friend, and resting her face against her arm. ' I want love and sympathy, dear, for I am the most unhappy woman in the world.' 1—2 ' Oh, shame, Lin dear ! this is foolish and hysterical. AVhy, what is the matter ?' Lady Jerdan's face was hidden, but her visitor's was plain to see as she spoke, with all its strange nuances of change, subtle playings of her beautiful countenance, which were robbed of mystery by a something which seemed to suggest prior knowledge of that which she asked to know. ' I— I can't— I dare not tell you,' sobbed Lady Jerdan. ' Very well, dear.

Troubles come, and troubles go. As in our" old schooldays, you always have my love and sympathy.' ' I will tell you, Molly dear,' cried Lady Jerdan passionately. Then there was a pause, during which the subtle changes went on in the beautiful face which bent over the kneeling woman. ' It worries me to see little Hector's love so estranged by a servant.1 ' What nonsense ! Why, Lin, you ought to be the happiest of women, with a home like this, wealth, that beautiful child to train, and the love of a true, good, manly husband.1 Lady Jerdan sighed. ' Come, Lin dear,1 whispered the visitor, ' had you not better speak out ¥ ' Yes, dear, I will. Everything here is changed. Martin's ailment has made him so strange and irritable that often I can hardly bear it. He has said things to me that have at times half broken my heart, and again at others raised such a feeling of anger and resentment that I have been ready to reply bitterly.

I never knew before that I could feel so angry. It seems to have awakened something that I did not know existed.' MOLLY WYNDHAM PAYS A VISIT 5 'This is very sad, Lin dear. And I thought you so happy.' 'No, no; just lately he has made me the most unhappy woman in the world.' ' From what cause, Lin ?' said her friend, looking down with a strangely eager, searching look in her eyes. ' He has been so unwell, and it has made him irritable.' ' The more reason why you should be more patient and loving. But, Lin dearest, is there nothing else ¥ said her visitor in a whisper. Lady Jerdan raised her face, which was aflame, gazed resentfully in her visitor's eyes, and then burst into a hysterical passion of weeping as she buried her face again. ' Yes, yes, Molly dear,' she said at last, in a low piteous voice ; ' there is something else — Captain Brendon ' ' Hah !' came in a low expiration of the breath, as Molly Wyndham drew herself up, and there was the hard, inexorable, judge-like look in her face that might have been seen in the stern countenance of some Roman Empress in answer to a vanquished gladiator's silent appeal for mercy. ' But, Molly dear, don't you believe it.

I'm sure Martin does not at heart, only his illness makes him so strange,' cried Lady Jerdan pleadingly. ' In all these four years there has never been such a cloud on either side, and it seems so horrible now. Oh, why did he come back ¥ ' Then, do I understand that there have been some love passages between you and Captain Brendon, dear?1 'Oh no, no, no! How can you, Molly? It is too cruel. You know how it was before he left. I had never dreamed of such a thing. He came to me one day at home, and told me in a hurried, excited way that he had long loved me, and asked me to be his wife.1 ' Yes, I remember,1 said Molly coldly. ' It was the day after you had accepted Sir Martin.' ' Yes, dear ; and I told him as gently as I could, and he begged my pardon, and left me at once. Then, as you know, he sent me that handsome bracelet, wished me all happiness, and the next I heard was that he had gone to India.' ' And you did not see him again until he called here the other day.' ' No, dear,' sobbed Lady Jerdan, ' and I told Martin directly, and it was all forgotten ; but he looked strange when Captain Brendon called.

He was only cross and irritable before ; now he is dreadfully cold and distant, and all the time, Molly dear, I have never had a thought that was not for him. You believe me ?' ' My own darling, yes,' whispered Molly affectionately. And then there were tears on both sides mingled in a long embrace, during which Molly's handsome face grew less hard, her heart ceased to beat so heavily, and when Sir Martin Jerdan entered a quarter of an hour after, the two ladies were talking together calmly enough. CHAFFER II. SIR MARTIN HAS DOUBTS. The meeting between Molly Wyndham and her old com - panion's husband was friendly enough, but it struck her that there was a peculiar look in his eyes, and that he glanced from one to the other in a quick, suspicious way, as if asking himself whether they had been talking about him.

There was something very gentle and sweet, though, in Molly's manner as she calmly returned the feverish pressure of his hand. ' I hope you are better,' she said. ' Oh yes ; much better,' he replied, giving her a nervous, inquiring look. ' It has been a mere nothing, Molly. I'm not going to die and leave her a widow yet.' ' Martin !' cried Lady Jerdan. ' Well, don't you believe it ?' he said, with a strange, forced laugh. ' It's true enough. A man of thirty, as strong as a horse, can't afford to give up so soon.' ' Don't talk like that,' said Molly reproachfully. ' How can you be so cruel ? Do you know, that wicked little tyrant would not kiss me when he was going out. You both spoil him, I'm sure. There, good-bye, both of you, till to-night. I shall expect to see you looking your best.1 She kissed Lady Jerdan coldly and formally, and then, seeing a look of wonder and reproach in her friend's eyes, bent down again, and the kiss was warm and affectionate. 'Good-bye,' she said to Sir Martin. 'No, no; you need not come down to the carriage.

What a lovely day ! Tell little Hector I am horribly angry with him, and shall bring him no more sweets.1 She swept out of the room, and as the door closed after her Sir Martin turned to where his wife stood by the bell, which she had just rung, and said sharply : ' What did Molly mean by that " seeing you to-night ?11 1 ' At I^ady Pattison's, dear. But tell me how you are, Martin dear ; it worries me so to see you look so strange.1 ' Strange ? I strange ?' he cried, with a forced laugh. ' What nonsense ! I was a little out of order, but I am all right now — never better in my life. But Lady Pattison's ? Oh yes ! I remember : her evening, with a sort of carpet dance, isn't it ?' ' Yes, dear,' said Lady Jerdan, watching her husband anxiously, and shivering slightly as she saw how he seemed to be watching her in turn. ' Did you tell Molly you were going ?' ' I — I think I did, dear ; but I have given up all idea of going now.' ' You have ?' he cried. ' Why ?

Tell me why ?' ' I fancied you would be too unwell to go, and would rather stay at home.' ' I ? Yes, of course. I am not ill now, but I care so little for these things. But you will go, of course ¥ ' No, Martin ; if you stay I shall stop with you.' 'What nonsense! You are so fond of dancing, and they would miss you. You promised Lady Pattison to go, did you not ?' SIR MARTIN HAS DOUBTS 9 ' Yes, dear ; but indisposition cancels promises like that.' ' Oh, nonsense, nonsense !' he cried hastily ; ' there is no indisposition to mind. You know what Scarlin said about indigestion and that sort of thing. There's nothing to mind, Linda.' ' But there is, Martin dear,' she cried, laying her hands upon his shoulders. ' I can't help it, love ; you have seemed so different these last few days.' ' I ? I ?' he cried impatiently. ' Absurd !

Just the same as I always have been. It is you who are unwell — hysterical and strange, do what I will to please you. There, there, don't hang upon me like that ; it makes me hot and uncomfortable. And — there; I expected as much. Do keep your tears in your pocket-handkerchief. You know how it worries me when you will cry.1 ' Yes, yes, dear,1 cried Lady Jerdan, with a piteous attempt at a smile. ' There, they're quite gone now. It was foolish and hysterical, dear. But don't press me to go to Lady Pattison's. Indeed, I would rather not go now.' ' And I would rather you did,' he said, speaking rapidly. ' I will not have you give way to these hysterical fancies, and go on making believe that I am ill.' ' But, Martin dear ' ' I said I wished you to go. You want change, I know,' he cried, with an angry look. ' Very well, dear,' she said meekly ; ' if you wish it, I will go: ' I do wish it very much, so let's have no more words about it.' ' You will come with me, Martin dear ?' she pleaded. ' No, no ; absurd !

Surely an old married woman like you can take care of herself.' ' Yes, dearest.' 'Perhaps I'll look in after leaving the club. What time will you order the carriage ?' ' At twelve, dear.' ' But don't depend upon me. There, for goodness1 sake don't let's have any more of these tears ! I'm going on to the club now.' 'But you will be back to dinner, dear?' said Lady Jerdan, giving him a wistful look. ' Yes, yes, of course. Are you going for a drive ?' ' Not to-day, dear.' Sir Martin did not seem to hear her words, but hurried out, looking wild-eyed and strange, and every now and then muttering to himself as he walked sharply in the direction of the enclosure. ' A blind — a blind,' he said. ' Oh, these women — these women ! What babies they think us ! Oh, curse all this ! As if I were not ill enough before !

But I'll know the truth — yes, I'll know the truth if it kills me. No ; it will not kill me,' he said, after a pause, and there was a curious contraction of the pupils of his eyes, accompanied by a dull, strange glitter — ' no ; it will not kill me.' He laughed softly as he hurried on, and soon after took refuge in the smoking-room of his club, where he sat smoking and thinking moodily hour after hour till the chiming of the mantelpiece clock roused him from his musings, and with his face set in a hard, gloomy look, he took a cab home, and was just in time to dress for dinner. ' Yes, sir,' said the butler ; ' her ladyship has gone up to dress.' And Sir Martin went to his own room to follow his wife's example, looking all the time like one who was SIR MARTIN HAS DOUBTS 11 mentally rehearsing some part which he was about to play in an actual social comedy.

By the time he was dressed he caught sight of a medicine bottle and glass laid ready upon a side-table, and he took them up, but set them back with an impatient ' Pish !' and went down to the drawing-room, which he entered silently, to find that his wife had preceded him. Here he stood for a few moments, gazing at the beauti ful woman, exquisitely dressed, and with arms, neck, and hair glittering with jewels — his presents and those of friends. A thrill of pleasure ran through him, and old thoughts came back till, as in his pride he gazed and gazed, his eyes lit upon a diamond bracelet worn upon the left arm, when his brows contracted, and he drew his breath softly between his teeth. Whether Lady Jerdan heard it or she felt that she was being watched does not matter : she was gazing sadly and pensively down at the fire, with her beautiful features reflected in the great mirror over the mantelpiece; and she suddenly turned and saw her husband. ' Martin dear,' she said, with a faint smile, ' I did not hear you come in.

Edwards has announced dinner, but you will not ask me to go there to-night ¥ ' Eh ? Not ask you ?1 he cried, with a forced laugh. ' AVhat, after all these preparations ? Yes ; you will be the observed of all, my beautiful wife. Oh yes ; you must go.1 Lady Jerdan sighed, and they went down to dinner together — the chilly meal during which nothing but the most formal remarks were made in the presence of the two servants. At last they were alone, and she rose from her chair to go to his side, but the angry gesticulation he made, and A AVOMAN AVORTH WINNING 12 the look of repugnance by which it was accompanied, chilled her, and with a sigh she went up to the drawing room, to sit with a book in her hand, but not grasping its import. Then she sat gazing into the fire, thinking of how rapidly this change had come about, and that it must principally be due to her husband's illness.

But she shivered slightly again and again, and shrank from dwell ing upon the cause which had seemed to intensify the irritation. At last he joined her, and she was startled by his appearance. His face was flushed, and as soon as he spoke, with a kind of forced gaiety, she knew instinctively the truth. He had been drinking heavily, glass after glass of the rich old Burgundy, which, as a rule, he hardly touched. ' Hallo ! no tea ?' he said sharply. ' No, Martin dear ; I did not care for any to-night, and you never touch it.' ' Pah ! no. Here, isn't it time the carriage had come round ?' ' I — I hardly know, dear,' she faltered ; ' but, Martin love, pray don't send me there to-night.1 ' Send ? Absurd ! You are going of your own free will, to keep your promise.' ' Then come with me, dear.' ' No !' he cried sharply, and she let her pleading hands fall to her side, and sank back in her seat, trying hard to think of something which she could say to draw him once more to her, but trying in vain.

He threw himself into a chair, and sat back in the shadow, watching her, till the sound of wheels was heard, about ten o'clock, and then, in a despairing tone, Lady Jerdan exclaimed : ' Martin dearest, must I go ?' SIR MARTIN HAS DOUBTS 13 ' Of course,' he said abruptly, starting as if out of sleep. She tried to make a fresh appeal, but his manner still chilled her, and, struggling hard to keep back her tears, she turned away. Sir Martin had seemed half asleep, but as the door closed he sprang up, darted across the room, and opened it, to stand listening intently, and detecting every move ment overhead, till the front-door was heard to close, when he darted back to his seat. ' The carriage is at the door, Sir Martin,' said the butler. ' All right, Edwards.' The man descended, and his master was at the door again listening, till the rustle of silk overhead sent him back with the full knowledge that Lady Jerdan must have been to the nursery, for he heard the door shut ; and as he threw himself back in his chair he uttered a low sigh, as if in pain.

The next minute Lady Jerdan entered, draped in a long fur cloak, and something glittered as she crossed the room — something that was not one of her jewels. She crossed to where Sir Martin lay back in a lounge, bent down quickly, and kissed his forehead, waited, and kissed him again. ' Are you asleep, dear ?' she whispered. There was no reply, and, uttering a low sob, she turned and hurried out of the room. A minute later the front-door was heard to close, the horses started, and Sir Martin Jerdan sprang to his feet with an oath. ' False ! false ! false !' he cried. ' But I shall know all now.

Chapter III. The Track Of The Storm

Sir Martin waited till the servants had had time to descend, and then he hurried down to the hall, and was in the act of putting on his overcoat, when a deep groan of despair escaped from his breast, and he threw down the wrapper and sprang upstairs. ' Poor darling !' he muttered, and he hurried on up to the third floor, where the words ' her ladyship ' arrested him. It was foreign to his nature to play the listener, but the nursery door was open, and the words of the women within held him powerless to move. ' Something wrong ?' said the under-nurse, in a drawling voice ; ' I don't know what you mean.' ' Of course you don't, because you're a goose. You'll know soon enough. She wouldn't have come and hung over the poor neglected bairn, and cried, and kissed him, if there hadn't been something wrong.' ' Something wrong ?

There you go again. AATiat do you mean, Lucy ?' ' A\rell, I don't believe she's coming back again. Now do you understand ?' 'Not a-coming back? Oh! I beg your pardon, Sir Martin.' THE TRACK OF THE STORM 15 The girl cried aloud, and shrank away from the ghastly looking face which suddenly appeared close to her, and then hurried out as Sir Martin stood pointing to the door by which he had entered. Lucy Bickton, the upper-nurse, was following, looking startled, but Sir Martin caught her fiercely by the wrist and led her into the side-room, where the child was lying asleep in its cot. ' Say what you mean,' whispered Sir Martin harshly ' I — I don't mean anything, Sir Martin,' faltered the nurse. ' What !' he whispered, so fiercely that the woman began to sob. ' Curse you, speak out !' he cried, seizing her by the shoulders and shaking her. ' AMiich I won't stop another day in the house — I won't !' ' Speak out, woman !' cried Sir Martin, in a harsh whisper.

And the woman turned white and trembled, as she faltered, in a low tone : ' It was only what I thought, Sir Martin. Her ladyship came up crying and unhappy, and — and leaned over Master Hector's cot and kissed him, and went out, but came back twice to kiss him again ; and she cooed over him, and bid him good-bye like, and — and — and her ladyship has been in such trouble like, and was dressed to go out, and — and I thought she didn't mean to come back no more.' Two ghastly faces were close together, gazing in each other's eyes for some moments, before Sir Martin wrenched himself away and bent down over the cot to press his lips upon the brow of the sleeping child. Then, without another word, he hurried out of the room and downstairs, flung on his coat, and a few minutes later was in a cab, being driven to St. James's. He checked the man in Prince Street, sprang out, bade A AVOMAN AVORTH AVINNING 16 him wait, and walked on a few yards to the front of one of the houses let out in chambers, where he stood gazing across the road at one particular window, which was quite dark.

The next minute he was back in the cab, being driven to Curzon Street, where the man took it for granted that he was to fall in line with a dozen or so other vehicles waiting to set down at one of the mansions where the lights, awning, and carpeted pavement told of a recep tion. By the time he alighted Sir Martin looked perfectly calm, and there was a smile upon his lip which passed muster with two people who knew and saluted him on the stairs. It passed, too, with the hostess, standing ready to receive her guests. ' Ah, Jerdan !' she cried ; ' so glad you've come. I wanted some more handsome men who can dance. Your wife said you were going to be late. There, be a good boy, and pick all the wallflowers you can. It will please the dowdies, and make my party a success. You've got a pretty wife, so anything will do for you.' He made some bantering remark, and passed on smiling, but with a burning sensation in his breast.

The next minute he was lost in the crowd which thronged the noble suite of rooms, nodding to one, shaking hands with another, but all the while eagerly scanning the occupants, but with out seeing the face he longed to encounter. The scene was bright enough, but to him everything was as black as the rage within : the flowers seemed to be funereal, the music which floated in from the ball-room sounded dirge-like, while the burning, suffocating sensation at his chest was ever on the increase. He had been all round, and the blood seemed to be rising to blind his vision. It was all planned, then : she THE TRACK OF THF STORM 17 was not there, neither was Captain Brendon present, and he could only draw one conclusion. AATiat should he do ? Go back, and ask the servants where Lady Jerdan had been set down ?

No ; he could not do that — it would be like exposing everything, and making him more mad than he was then. But what could he do ? Go back to Brendon's chambers ? AArould they be there now ? He shivered in his self inflicted agony, and caught at the back of a chair, for a sudden feeling of vertigo attacked him. It passed off, though, and, mastering himself, he began to make another tour of the crowded rooms. All c.t once he caught sight of a familiar face, and, after some difficulty, succeeded in crossing the room to bend down and speak, just as Lady Pattison swept by. ' Ah,' she cried laughingly, ' that's right ; do pray help with the dancing ; there are scores of ladies waiting for partners. But that's not fair, Jerdan. I told you to pick out wallflowers, and you've chosen the belle of the evening.' ' AVill you dance, Molly ?1 said Sir Martin. ' No. Excuse me, I am not well.

Have you seen Linda ¥ ' Not yet,1 he said carelessly. ' I have only just come. AVhere is she ? In the refreshment-room ¥ ' No ; she was here just now. She is waltzing with Captain Brendon.1 The words were spoken without thought, but they were followed by repentance, as Molly AAryndham gazed steadily in the strange ghastly face before her. It was stony in its fixedness : there was the forced smile upon the lip, the indifferent raising of the brows, and the fashionable aspect of boredom, but there was a gleam in Sir Martin's eyes A WOMAN AVORTH WINNING 18 which went through her, and her voice trembled as she said quickly : ' Take me to have an ice.' . ' An ice ? Yes,' he said, in a low harsh voice, which told of the agony he was suffering ; but he offered his arm, and they passed slowly through the crowd to the packed room where attendants were dispensing the refreshments.