Untitled

by Wendy Bayne

  Mr Hillsborough was smiling from ear to ear as he stood there with his arm around Patrick. Mrs Baxter was at his other side holding onto his arm. I fumbled with the window’s latch and opened it then yelled down inviting everyone in for refreshments.

  Chapter 30

  Reunion

  Charity recovered from her swoon quickly and rushed out to meet Gabriel and their sons. From my place by the window I could see the de Bearne family grouped together on the lawn, experiencing the joy of being reunited. They were totally oblivious to the groom taking the cart and horse to the stables and all the gardeners working around them.

  Dr Jefferson escorted Mrs Baxter, Mr Hillsborough and Patrick to the salon. I greeted them while remaining at the window, watching the numerous gardeners below. Allan followed them in with a cart loaded down with cakes, sandwiches, cheese, fruit, lemonade and champagne. He nodded at Emilie. “Beg your pardon, madam, for taking the liberty but I witnessed the reunion and thought that additional libation and cakes were in order.” He blushed and almost smiled when Emilie rose, thanking him with a kiss on the cheek.

  Mr Hillsborough settled in, delighted to be able to tell us how he came to be in possession of the two de Bearne boys. “I was in the market after having made several deliveries to some of our larger customers. You see I like to deal with them personally, it makes them feel important when I give them the personal touch and sometimes it puts me in the way of new customers. Plus, I’d promised Ida that I pick up a few things for her and Patrick on my way back.” He stopped and took a sip of his tea after swallowing a tart whole, once he’d washed it down he continued. “So, I’m in the marketplace and who do I run into, Mrs Turner, but your husband. He was in a hurry and a bit flustered. Both he and his horse looked as if they’d just run a steeplechase. Then Mr Hughes comes up with a gypsy walking two equally winded horses and on top of one of them sat two little boys, the spittin’ image of each other. Anyway, the little mites looked fit to drop. But before I could ask what Mr Turner what he was about, he begged me to bring the boys here to their parents but secret-like.”

  Mother was wringing her hands. “And what of my husband, Mr Hillsborough?”

  Mr Hillsborough looked abashed when he answered her, “Why he and Mr Hughes climbed back up on their horses and rode off with the gypsy like the devil himself was after them. I’d not had any time in which to ask them anything. I might say that I was surprised somewhat to see them with a gypsy, though for all the man acted like he was Mr Turner’s equal. If I’d known that any were about I’d have bought some liniment for me old bones from them, they do have knack for making fine potions and liniments.” Mother and Emilie looked anxious for him to get on with his story, but Mr Hillsborough took no notice and continued. “So, to make a long story short, I stowed the boys in the back of the wagon wrapped up in the new feather bed that Ida had me buy and the tykes went right to sleep. Then I picked up Ida and Patrick to come along with me since Ida’s been complaining that she needs to get out of the house more and I still needed to make your delivery anyway.” He looked at his daughter and grinned. “Really though I knew Ida would want to hear about my adventure, but I couldn’t stop to tell her since I promised Mr Turner I’d bring them right here. But being a woman, she couldn’t wait for me to come back.”

  Mrs Baxter reared back glaring at her father. “Is that so! Well, I seem to recall you not being sure of how to deal with the lads once you got them here if the family didn’t want them. They were that scared, Irene, they were holding onto each other and crying…and it was you father dear that asked me to come along and with Patrick to keep them amused.”

  She turned beaming at my mother, “It seems from what the boys could tell me that they were lured away from their prior home by someone promising to take them to their mother. But instead they were brought here. They were so well-behaved on the way here, but they clung to each other with all their might, the poor things.”

  Mother knew that Mrs Baxter wanted to hear the story about the boy’s parents and usually she wasn’t shy about satisfying her curiosity, but she let it go this time. I looked out the window again, the little family were gone and so were the gardeners. My heart leapt into my throat when I heard voices and the sound of footsteps coming down the hall, Charity, Gabriel and the boys entered the room. Introductions were made, and Mr Hillsborough had to tell his tale again much to his delight. It was obvious that the boys were in no condition to tell us more. Allan saw to having the adjoining room to their parents prepared for the boys so after a few handshakes and a whispered thank you, Charity and Gabriel excused themselves. Naturally they wanted to be alone with their boys so without a word from anyone they walked out the door.

  Mrs Baxter was smiling at them as they left, “Well, Mrs Hughes, you seem to have a full house.”

  Emilie raised both brows and sighed, “So it would seem.”

  Mr Hillsborough was getting fidgety, I’m sure he was wanting his supper and he said as much. “Well, Ida, I think we should be away. These wee cakes and sandwiches are all very nice but they’re not very satisfying.” Patrick who had his face buried in a jam tart looked up at his grandfather as if he had lost his mind.

  Mrs Baxter shrugged, rising to her feet. “I suppose we’d better be going before you have to turn to eating your shoe leather and Patrick gets a belly ache. Come along, my brave knights, let us adjourn to our own castle.” Mr Hillsborough waved his hand at his daughter to move along but bowed over my mother and Aunt Emilie’s hand then bowed to me and the gentleman in the room and left.

  Patrick came to me mimicking his grandfather by bowing over my hand then he bowed to the both sides of the room. It brought a smile to my face when he ran up to Miles and told him that he had it on good authority that it would be prime weather conditions tomorrow afternoon for kite flying if he was available. Emilie brightened at the idea and suggested that weather permitting we should all enjoy an English picnic the next day. Patrick grinned while asking, “Will there be tarts?” Emilie laughed and nodded. His mother put her arm around him, lecturing him on manners as she exited the room to catch up with her father.

  Before long, Mother and Emilie were in full planning mode for the picnic, they hardly needed my input. Dr Jefferson had been speaking to the Earl, the Marquis and Miles quietly but when I took a seat by Miles, the conversation stopped. “Please, gentlemen, don’t let my presence prevent you from continuing your discussion.”

  Miles laughed openly as he took my hand. “Dr Jefferson, my dear, has a mind to invest in my uncle’s London endeavour. So, you are more than welcome to join in.”

  The Earl looked sharply at Miles but quickly veiled his eyes, the Marquis sat with his eyes downcast. The good doctor as always gave nothing away. I knew he was lying and pursed my lips, I was on the verge of giving them a piece of my mind on men and their ridiculous ideas about a woman’s intelligence and specifically regarding their need to shield women from unpleasant truths. But I decided to forgo it when Miles squeezed my hand as if he knew what I was planning. Instead I smiled blandly to convey my displeasure. The doctor and the Marquis both coughed into their hands, but the Earl looked right at me and laughed. “Miles, you were correct, Miss Turner misses nothing and if I’m not mistaken has decided not to chastise us for lying to her just now.”

  Miles sighed. “I see that marrying an educated and curious woman will cause me no end of problems.”

  The Earl nodded. “And endless delights as well. Your mother was just such a woman. Perhaps that’s why my subsequent choices have been less than satisfactory in the matrimonial line.”

  Miles sat back looking curiously at his father, “Even Lady Jane?”

  The Earl clasped his hands together pursing his lips before saying, “I care for her a great deal, son, but her head is as empty as a cracked egg. She’s pleasant enough company, is an efficient housekeeper and an excellent mother, but she could never replace your mother. Maria was the love of my life. While Carolyn on the other hand meant
less than nothing to me. I shouldn’t have, but I married Jane for purely selfish reasons in a desire not to be alone. And before you ask me, yes, she is aware of my reasons for marrying her. I have always been honest with her.” He sighed, looking sad. “Romantic feelings don’t seem to run deep in Jane. She is happy with her situation and as far as I am aware has never harboured a grand passion for anyone. Perhaps when I’m gone she will discover that with someone. I sincerely hope so; the girl deserves it, but I don’t believe she has it in her.” He smiled at me. “You’re shocked that I am so pragmatic about my wife. But some women are like that, Miss Turner, they are pleasant people, but they have no passion. Carolyn was cold and empty, she married me only for my title and wealth. Whereas Jane is content within herself, but she is a good friend and a willing listener. She told me before we had married that she had accepted me because it was expected that she should marry and since she had no means to support herself independently I seemed to be an appropriate choice…I ticked all the boxes. But she didn’t expect me to love her. I believe she thought I would be kind and not too demanding. Her father was a martinet and a calculating opportunist, he never gave a care to his daughter, she was left with nothing when he died.” I smiled at the Earl and at his honesty and looked forward to meeting his lady one day to see if what the Earl said was true…men, after all, are terrible at understanding women.

  “Miss Turner, I hope you will forgive us for excluding you. We have in fact been discussing how to go about apprehending both my son and this Ramsey Clarke and return them to England. None of us trust the French to deal with Ramsey effectively and if my son Edward is behind someone shooting at me then I want him in an English court and not somewhere that he or Burley could buy his way out.” The Earl looked careworn except whenever his eyes drifted to Miles then they would light up showing the deep affection which he harboured for his son.

  “Your concern for justice does you credit, Lord Shellard. But perhaps my father and Uncle Samuel are better suited to the task of apprehending them.”

  The men laughed, and Miles said, “She has you there, Father. Neither you nor my uncle is of an age to be racing about the countryside looking for miscreants and criminals. While the good doctor is capable he has his instructions to stay here at the chateau to watch over the ladies since I’m still incapacitated with my affliction and can hardly provide them protection without assistance.” He voice was a little bitter though he tried not to show it.

  Emilie rose from her seat and joined us, “Excuse me, gentleman, Lissa; Dr Jefferson, could I speak with you in private for a moment?”

  “Of course, Mrs Hughes,” the Doctor bowed and escorted Emilie out of the room.

  Mother I noticed was leaving as well but as she reached the door, she said, “Lissa, I’ll be with James if you need me, dear.” She left with a touch of a smile on her face.

  The Earl watched them leave then glanced at me, “I think we can expect an addition to the Hughes family in the near future.” I was stunned by this I knew they had been trying but so far had been unsuccessful much to Emilie’s disappointment. I could feel the heat rising to face and knew that I was blushing. He chuckled, “My dear, I have been married three times and am the father of five children, I am well aware of the cardinal signs by now.” He became reflective suddenly looking back into his past. “I enjoy being a father for the most part. I have four children that I am proud of and I only wish that I could reach out to Edward, but he was never my child, he was always Carolyn’s. Perhaps if I had tried harder to counter her influence…” his voice trailed off. “No, I don’t think that there was anything that I could have done differently. He came out of the womb poisoned against me.” There was profound sadness in his countenance and he looked extremely tired for a moment. Then he shook himself and continued, “With the de Bearnes here and Julian dead, Burley will be seeking his revenge if I know him. Perhaps we should see to the defences of the chateau while we’re here, gentleman.”

  The Marquis grimaced, “Does he have any more sons?”

  The Earl made a throaty sound. “Yes, Charles, he has two sons remaining. There is Justin, his heir, and Alexander, his youngest who can’t be above twelve years of age. I doubt that he would risk Justin. But he does have two sons-in-law and there is no reason to believe that they aren’t involved in the family business ventures.”

  The Marquis looked deep in thought but did not appear to be paying attention to what the Earl said. He came out of his reverie looking squarely at Miles. “Miles, my boy, has anyone interviewed the staff here at the chateau? I know it’s not my place but I’m not sure that they can be trusted.”

  Miles brow was creased. “What makes you think that?”

  His uncle ran his fingertips over his eyebrows. “It maybe be nothing, things have changed so much since I called France home but when I was in the garden yesterday there was very little actual gardening happening, it was more like the gardeners were studying the chateau. Then there was the footman who called them to luncheon rather than the scullery maid. That’s rather unusual for a superior servant, don’t you think?”

  Miles stiffened at my side. “How many gardeners were there, uncle?”

  The Marquis bit his lip. “Six, but one was just a boy and the only one who was actually working, he was on his own in the kitchen garden.”

  I spoke up. “That’s Jean, he’s the laundress son, he’s not here every day. His mother sends him to the village school three days a week. She wants him to be a priest and he wants to be a farmer.” I chuckled recalling his plan to fail at Latin to sabotage his mother’s plans.

  Miles reached for my hand. “Lissa, do you know if he’s here today? Did you see him anywhere in the gardens as you stood by the window?”

  I smiled because he had been aware that I had been standing by the window but of course he would know, I had called out when I saw the de Bearne boys. “Yes, I did but he’s probably in the laundry with his mother now. Miles, there were five gardeners were out there when the de Bearne boys arrived but they’re gone now.”

  Lord Shellard rose to ring the bell. We waited but no one answered. Miles turned to me. “Where are the weapons kept on this floor?”

  I hesitated as I slowly realised what he was asking, “This floor but—”

  Miles shook my hand. “Lissa, I know your father, even in a strange house Colin and Samuel would be prepared.” He called out as the Earl was ready to pull the bell rope again. “Father, please don’t pull the bell again. I don’t want anyone downstairs to think that we suspect anything. Lissa, think, where are the weapons.”

  I looked up as the doorway opened and my mother came in with Lettie. “You’ll find them in my dressing room in the wardrobe with my ball gowns, it has a false bottom. No one is answering any summons and all the outside staff have disappeared. I’ve sent Robert to see what’s happening below stairs and to locate Mr Allan and Michael. Murphy and Jacob are with the de Bearnes in the nursery already. I suggest that the third floor offers the best means of defence with only one stairwell it is the old fortress part of chateau. Where are Emilie and the doctor?”

  “Here!” Emilie called out as she and the doctor came rushing into the room. The doctor looked to my mother, “Michael has retrieved the weapons from your dressing room cache.”

  Mother calmly directed us to collect blankets, portable refreshments and fuel for the fires as if she expected us to be under siege. As we made our way along the second floor Meg, Beth, Dalton and Emilie’s maid Gwen joined us. Huffing up the stairs behind us came Mr Allan with one of the kitchen maids, both fortified with sacks of food stuffs. Mother looked over their shoulders. “Mr Allan, did you see Robert below stairs?”

  Mr Allan looked hesitantly at the sullen maid beside him then answered, “Yes, ma’am, he sent the French boy and his mother to the Baxters to bring back help.” The maid gave him a withering look as she swept pass us into the nursery.

  When we entered the nursery, Gabriel was facing the doorway with a lo
aded pistol in one hand and a throwing dagger in the other aimed at us. Charity and their boys sat behind him in the corner with James, they were showing him how to stack his blocks. It seemed like an age before Gabriel finally lowered his weapons, so I had to wonder whose side he might be on, if anyone’s.