by Jane Jackson
Charlotte’s thin lips tightened as she sat back. ‘Well, I am relieved to hear it has all gone so well for you, particularly as I understand there have been some very disquieting rumours.’
Disguising her flinch by moving slightly as if to be more comfortable, Melissa was too wise now to enquire about the content of the rumours and simply shrugged. ‘It is a sad fact that success and popularity such as that enjoyed by my father often breeds jealousy.’
With a sniff strongly reminiscent of her mother’s, Charlotte stretched her mouth into a smile that would have curdled milk. ‘Indeed.’ She turned away and called sharply to a harassed young nursemaid struggling to placate a fat two-year-old lying on his face, roaring loudly as he hammered the grass with feet and fists.
‘Some tea, Miss Tregonning?’
She looked round. James Chenoweth was proffering a cup and saucer. ‘I daresay you would welcome some refreshment.’ His expression was all bland innocence. But though Melissa thought she detected a note of complicit sympathy she was not ready to relax her guard.
‘Thank you, Mr Chenoweth.’ She took the saucer carefully.
‘James, please. Let us not stand on ceremony. We are family, after all.’ He smiled, raising one eyebrow. ‘I understand from my cousin Brinley that you are having the woods bordering the creek chopped down?’
Her start made the cup rattle. Then she saw the glint of humour in his eyes.
‘Not quite all of them. Actually, it is work my father had planned before he – before he was taken ill.’
‘It must surely confirm his reputation as an astute businessman, given the current difficulty of obtaining wood from abroad.’ He smiled again. ‘Such a project must require considerable organisation.’
Though she acknowledged the possibility he might simply be making conversation, the seed of doubt in Melissa’s mind put out a tiny shoot.
‘I imagine it must,’ she agreed. ‘I am sure Tom – that’s Tom Ferris, our foreman – was vastly relieved that with the practical arrangements already in place, all that was required of him was to supply a team of men.’
Though she longed to give Gabriel the credit that was due to him, to mention a stranger’s name was bound to invite questions. Given her aunt’s nature, curiosity would inevitably turn into suspicion. ‘When George gets home I have no doubt he will be both astonished and delighted that the yard and estate have continued to operate with such efficiency.’
‘I do hope, Miss Tregonning …’ He hesitated, and she guessed he expected her to follow his lead and permit him use of her first name, as they were family. But when she did not speak, he continued smoothly, ‘I beg you will not take it amiss if I express my most sincere admiration for the fortitude you are displaying in the wake of the tragic events that have befallen your family.’
His words had the effect of a needle pressed with slow deliberation into tender flesh. Fortitude? She was living on the edge of terror; staggering from one crisis to the next. Her eyes pricked, the view dissolved into a bright blur, and she lifted the cup to quivering lips, sipping and swallowing as she fought for control.
‘But I wonder – and I beg you to believe I make this observation with only your best interests at heart – if you might be allowing hope to blind you to the very real possibility that your brother may not be on his way home. That he might, in fact, not come back at all.’
Icy rage stiffened her spine and tingled to her fingertips. Lowering the cup, she looked directly at him, tone and manner so cold they almost crackled. ‘May I enquire your meaning, sir?’
‘Forgive me,’ he said quickly, his voice low. ‘It was not my intention to cause you anxiety. Though the West Indies is, I am told, a most unhealthy place, I understand your brother to be blessed with a strong physique. No, the point I wished to make is that, as a naval officer in wartime, duty might prevent him leaving his ship.’
Melissa was silent for a moment. It was a fair point. But the way he had made it, deliberately invoking her worst fears, told her that whatever he claimed for his intentions, she would be wise to remain very much on her guard. ‘I allow that this possibility has crossed my mind.’
‘I could not help but overhear what you said to your cousin,’ he confided. ‘I am relieved and delighted to hear of the kindness that has been shown you at this sad time. But a great burden of responsibility has fallen on your shoulders. One you should not be carrying alone.’
Melissa gazed into the distance. ‘Perhaps. But with my mother so much affected by grief and currently in poor health I have little choice at the moment. However –’ she accompanied her brief glance with a polite smile ‘– I am fortunate in being blessed with the loving support of close friends, and family, of course.’
‘That is all well and good, and just as it should be. But surely –’ he edged slightly closer ‘– in such circumstances as yours, the ideal solution would be found in a husband who would remove the weight of responsibility from them and from you.’
Furious with him for his crass impertinence and with her aunt for deliberately contriving this meeting, Melissa struggled hard against a burning desire to slap the smug, knowing, and spuriously sympathetic face. But though he deserved no less, it was she who would be blamed, censured, accused of ill manners and ingratitude.
‘My circumstances, sir, are that I am in mourning for a dearly loved father. Speaking purely for myself, I consider the idea of marrying simply to offload one’s responsibilities on to someone else both selfish and reprehensible.’ She nodded coolly. ‘I will not detain you. As your visits are so rare no doubt you will wish to converse with the rest of the family.’ She deliberately turned away and, after a few moments, heard him clamber to his feet and move off.
‘Melissa! Come and sit by me.’
Glancing round, Melissa saw that the chair next to her aunt was indeed empty, the previous occupant having no doubt been sent on some errand expressly for the purpose of vacating it.
‘So,’ her aunt whispered, leaning toward her, ‘how do you like James? I find him most charming. Such style and address.’
‘I am glad he pleases you, Aunt. I found him tactless and totally lacking in consideration.’
Her aunt’s features sharpened. ‘Indeed, miss? It is clear something has upset you, though I cannot believe James to be the cause. He was most anxious to renew your acquaintance.’
‘He is a stranger, Aunt. I do not remember ever meeting him before.’
Louisa brushed this aside impatiently. ‘Take heed, Melissa,’ she hissed. ‘Opportunities such as this do not present themselves often. With your father gone and your mother away for God knows how long, someone had to do something. I have put myself to some considerable trouble organising this afternoon.’
‘I wish you had not.’
‘Don’t you take that tone with me. You should be on your knees giving thanks that someone in this family cares enough for your future welfare. James would make you an excellent husband.’
‘Aunt Louisa, until George comes home, I cannot –’
‘But will he come home? That he might not is a possibility you must consider. The newspapers are full of reports of fierce battles between the French and British over Guadaloupe and Martinique.’
Distracted for a moment, Melissa frowned. ‘But they are in British hands. Our navy took them last year.’
‘Well, the French want them back and are willing to fight. George’s ship is out there. If anything happens to him, you are your parents’ sole heir. You will be the target of every fortune hunter in the district.’
‘Will I?’ Melissa’s short laugh was edged with bitterness. ‘You mean my numerous disadvantages will matter less than the size of my inheritance?’
‘Don’t be missish,’ her aunt snapped. ‘That’s the way these things work, as you know perfectly well. But none of this need trouble you if you accept James. I’m sure if your dear father were alive, it’s what he would want: to keep it in the family.’
‘That is what I int
end doing, Aunt Louisa. Though as my father is dead, you cannot possibly know what his wishes would be. But my brother is alive, and until I receive an official letter to tell me differently, I shall continue making preparations to welcome him home. This is not a suitable time to be thinking of marriage, and I am astonished that you should think it so.’
‘My dear Melissa, you quite mistake my intentions –’
‘I am sure they are good, Aunt. No doubt you wish to see me as happily settled as your own daughters are.’
‘Precisely so. Now –’
‘I must beg you to excuse me, Aunt Louisa.’ She stood up. ‘I suddenly have a headache and must go home.’ Making a brief curtsy, Melissa walked quickly away without a backward glance.
Gabriel winced, every muscle protesting as he pulled up his breeches and slowly tucked in his shirt. Washed clean of blood and dirt, the rips mended, it smelled fresh and felt soft – until the material rubbed against his raw flesh.
He caught his lip, biting hard. After Melissa’s visit he had spent the rest of the morning painfully stretching and flexing; trying to loosen bruised and strained sinews. Gilbert had brought a tray of food and helped Lobb prop him up with pillows.
Dismissing Gilbert, Lobb had moved about the room, tidying. Constant stabs of pain made eating a slow, difficult business. But, aware of the butler’s surreptitious glances, Gabriel took care to be even more awkward, as if unused to silver tableware, crisp napery, and fine china. The butler spoke little but his reserve was all too obvious.
While he ate, Gabriel’s mind raced. What had he said while out of his senses? Not enough to betray his identity. But certainly sufficient to arouse suspicion and cause concern. His continued presence could only make matters worse.
‘Mr Lobb?’ he said as soon as he had finished. ‘I don’t want you to think I’m not grateful, but I shouldn’t be here. So if I could have my clothes I’ll get out of your way.’
‘Miss doesn’t think you’re fit. Looking at you, I’d say she’s right.’
‘It looks worse than it feels,’ Gabriel lied. ‘I’ll be fine once I’m moving. Miss Tregonning is a remarkable lady with a very kind heart. But you and I both know that her family wouldn’t like it one bit if they knew she’d brought me back here. She’s got problems enough without me adding more. You’ve been very good, Mr Lobb. I don’t remember much of yesterday and last night, but if it was you who cleaned me up and dressed my wounds then I’m much obliged to you. Though I’m sure a man in your position has far more important things he should be doing.’
The butler regarded him steadily for several moments. ‘Gilbert will bring your clothes. Miss is going over to her aunt’s house this afternoon. Once she’s gone I shall be busy downstairs.’
Getting out of bed had been accomplished in stages, with long pauses between while Gabriel waited for the nausea to subside and his head to stop swimming. The sweat of pain and weakness stuck the borrowed nightshirt to his scarred back. Beneath its bandage, the wound on his forehead throbbed, as loud and insistent as a drum. Eventually, fearful that she would be back before he managed to get away, he gritted his teeth, closed his eyes against the swirling blackness, and finished dressing.
Pulling on his boots, he crossed to the window to check that there was no one about, and caught sight of his reflection in the dressing-table mirror. He stared in shocked revulsion at the bruised, unshaven stranger whose eyes were full of shadows. Then, hearing a sound in the passage, he turned to the door as Lobb opened it.
‘Ready?’
Gabriel nodded.
‘The front door’s open. Everyone’s out the back.’
Seizing the butler’s hand, Gabriel shook it hard. ‘Thank you, Mr Lobb.’
‘No need for that. What I did was for miss. You go on now.’
Walking down the stairs and out of the house was an agony that had nothing to do with physical pain. But it was, he told himself, for the best.
By the time he had crossed the park and entered the woods the stabs had moderated to twinges as exercise loosened him up. Even the pounding in his head had eased to a dull ache. Though by no means fully recovered, he felt well enough to call at the shack for some money then walk on to join the team in the wood. As well as reassuring them and getting everyone back to work, his presence would put a stop to the inevitable rumours and speculation.
Chapter Sixteen
‘Hey, look who’s ’ere!’ Chirp shouted across the clearing to Zeb, before turning back to Gabriel. ‘Some glad to see you, we are. Young Billy been running round like a blue-arsed fly.’
‘I haven’t! No such thing! It just look like it because you’re so bleddy slow!’
Gabriel grinned. ‘And I was only gone a day.’
Ned stomped out of a thicket, wiping his sweating forehead. ‘Long enough. How are you feeling?’
‘How do I look?’ Gabriel replied.
Ned shook his head. ‘Bleddy awful. Want a drink, do you? There’s still some ale in that there keg.’
‘He won’t want ale,’ Zeb elbowed him, ‘not now he been eating with the gentry up the big house.’
‘What was it like?’ Billy’s young eyes were alight with curiosity. ‘Did they give you rich food and wine and stuff?’
Sensing envy, Gabriel shook his head. ‘No. They gave me beef tea.’
Ned grimaced. ‘I tasted that once. Like’s cat piss it was.’
‘So how would you know what cat’s piss taste like?’ Zeb asked with interest. ‘Got some strange habits you have, boy.’
‘Did Miss Tregonning look after you herself?’ Joe gazed, round-eyed, at Gabriel.
‘Some worried she was,’ Ned nodded.
Gabriel gave a brief laugh. ‘Not about me!’ For Melissa’s sake they must never know the truth.
Zeb’s forehead creased. ‘What do you mean?’
‘As soon as she got me back to the house she turned me over to the servants and went to check on the horse!’
The men loved it, slapping their thighs as they roared with laughter.
‘So who looked after you, then?’ Zeb wanted to know.
‘The butler and a manservant – so I was told later, I was still unconscious.’
‘There was we thinking miss would be doing most of it herself.’ Joe sighed.
‘The gentry only do that for their own,’ Gabriel pointed out with more truth than Joe, or Melissa, would ever realise. ‘When I came around, my head ached fit to burst and I thought my arms had been pulled off.’
‘All right now, are they?’ Billy’s expression mirrored concern as he hefted the huge axe in his left hand. ‘Only they big trees is more than one man can –’
‘Dear life, Billy!’ Chirp elbowed him. ‘Give him a chance. ’Tis a bleddy miracle he’s upright.’
‘I don’t think I can swing an axe today, Billy,’ Gabriel admitted. ‘But I’d like to hear how far you’ve –’
‘Tell you later.’ Billy looked past him at the sound of multiple hooves and the creak of a wagon. ‘I’ll supervise the loading, shall I? I expect there’s other things you want to get on with?’
Glimpsing the hope in Billy’s eyes Gabriel nodded, glad to see the boy eager for responsibility. It was also a timely reminder that, once they could recognise which trees to fell, they would be able to manage without him. ‘Go ahead. I’ll fetch the paint and mark a few more.’
* * *
Arriving back at Bosvane, Melissa left Samson with Hocking, and hurried to the house, removing her hat and pulling off her gloves as she crossed the gravel. Lobb greeted her at the door.
‘Good afternoon, miss. I hope you had a pleasant afternoon?’
Reawakened anger at James Chenoweth’s insensitive behaviour and her aunt’s meddling interference burned beneath her breastbone. ‘No, Lobb. I did not.’
‘Sorry to hear that, miss.’
‘It’s of no consequence. But I’m glad to be home.’ They were in the hall now. Trying hard to sound casual, she enquired, ‘How is Gabriel?
Is he still in much discomfort?’
‘I understand he is very much better, miss. Before he left he charged me most particularly to thank you for your great kindness.’
Melissa stopped in mid-stride, her hand on the banister, absolutely still as she repeated carefully, ‘Before he left?’
‘That’s right, miss. He said he had given enough trouble, and that his presence in the house, if your family learnt of it, was bound to cause you more problems which he didn’t want to happen especially after you’d been so good to him.’
‘Oh.’ Her throat closed. She swallowed painfully. ‘I see. Thank you, Lobb.’
The butler took a step forward and, lowering his voice, said gently, ‘It’s all for the best, miss. That young man has secrets it’s better we don’t know about. He showed sense and consideration leaving like he did. With respect, miss, it’s time you were thinking of other things. Indeed, though I’ve done my best during your absence these past days, the household needs your attention. Mrs Betts is most anxious to speak to you in connection with the pass books?’
The tradesmen’s accounts. Melissa made a valiant effort. ‘Of course. Thank you, Lobb. Would you bring some tea to the study? And kindly tell Mrs Betts she may come as soon as she wishes.’
He bowed. ‘Yes, miss. Thank you, miss.’
Melissa spent the next hour with the cook-housekeeper discussing the repair and replacement of various domestic items. She checked the pass books for the butcher, baker, grocer, and hardware shop, and counted out the money into separate piles for Mrs Betts to take to the village the following morning to settle the monthly accounts.
Then it was time to change for dinner. Leaving Sarah tidying up, Melissa walked along the passage and opened the door to her brother’s room. The bed had been stripped and re-made. The counterpane lay flat. The bedside table was bare. Apart from the faint herbal scent of the salves she had applied to his wounds, there was no sign that Gabriel had ever been there. The longer they spent in each other’s company the less she knew him.