Untitled

by Wendy Bayne

  Father was watching him closely and had not interrupted or changed his stoic expression. “Mr de Bearne, you’re telling me nothing that I’m not already aware of, so how do I know that I can trust you?”

  Gabriel laughed out loud and his laughter brought the other gentlemen to the doorway. “I have asked you to protect my family. Do you honestly think I would leave them in your hands only to betray you? You have to take a chance at some point, Turner, and I’m offering my services to enact my revenge.”

  Father stood unmoved just watching Gabriel, the tension kept building, it was my mother who finally stepped forward. “He’s right, Colin, he won’t betray you. He needs your help as much as you need his information.” She looked pointedly at Gabriel. “Otherwise, his revenge would be murder.” Father appeared to be considering Gabriel’s offer as Mother walked over to him and took his arm. “Colin, you know that you would do exactly the same thing if you were in his shoes.” And with that she kissed him on the cheek then went up the stairs followed by Emilie.

  Gabriel walked over to stand beside my father as I looked on, “You have a remarkably astute wife, Turner, and she’s right, we need each other.”

  Chapter 33

  Loose Ends and Going Our Separate Ways

  Over the next few days, things did not progress as swiftly or exactly as we would have liked. The ambassador wanted an answer he could live with regarding the murder of Julian Browne, so the plan was to tell him the truth with just a few essentials left out. The de Bearns presented themselves with their children to Lord Grenville and they explained their story in detail that they had followed Julian to the Embassy party and then followed him outside. When they saw him walking away quickly with a woman who seemed to be resisting, they were torn between going after him and going back for help. They chose to follow and attempt to aid the lady. But before they could catch up with him they heard a shot. Mr Johnson was standing ahead and to the right of them with a gun at his side, but they were positive that the shot hadn’t come from his gun and they would swear to it. When other people came to assist the young lady, they left without knowing that the shot had been fatal. It was close enough to the truth that it stood up to cross questioning and verification in as much as my father and uncle were willing to provide. Lord Granville was walking a diplomatic tight rope and that he was not in possession of all the facts. But he was wise enough to know that it was probably a good thing particularly since Gabriel’s Uncle Francisco was on the verge of being called back from exile and into the position of a potentially powerful ally to England. Julian on the other hand was a proven kidnapper as verified by the de Bearne boys and my father plus he had attempted to abduct me. My Father pointed out that this could be a huge embarrassment to England and the ambassador, so he suggested that the official story should be that Julian had been shot attempting to prevent my abduction by one of the gang of thieves terrorizing Paris and the countryside. The ambassador decided without prompting that the de Bearnes wouldn’t be mentioned in the official report. It was not a neat nor clean story, but it was acceptable to all parties. The death of Julian Browne was labelled as death by misadventure in the attempt to save me. I wondered how ironic it would seem to Lord Burley that the very people he sought to destroy had saved his family’s name from being sullied.

  Mr Dunhill was also on the list of things to be dealt with, he had not been cooperative when questioned until Gabriel appeared with my Uncle Samuel. It turned out that he had been blackmailing many of Embassy guests and they were very happy to discover that he was under arrest for treason. The disposal of his case was left up to the ambassador to handle through normal channels. No one felt he would survive long in prison if he even made it there. But the ambassador had masters to answer to just as my father did and they may consider it easier to dispose of Mr Dunhill than to try his case in a court of law.

  Ramsey Clarke was still missing though Charity swore she had at least wounded him but by the time Gabriel had arrived on the scene he had disappeared, leaving his confederates to take the blame for his crimes as well as theirs. When Marion, the band’s leader, was questioned, she insisted that she didn’t know where Ramsey had gone. Her brother told us that Marion had often met a blond man at a nearby crossroads tavern set back off the road and when Uncle Samuel and Gabriel questioned the owner, he was willing to say anything for a price. But the barmaid told them that Ramsey had been there about three times to talk to Marion and once he had come with another man, but she couldn’t give us a description since she only saw his back. On that occasion Ramsey had insisted on a private room in which to meet Marion and it was Marion who served them. They returned to Marion with this additional information, but she wanted to bargain for her release or at least for her life if she told them what she knew about the man. Father said he couldn’t promise her anything but that he would speak on her behalf. So, Marion told him, “He didn’t speak except in a whisper to Ramsey and always in English. He sat in the shadows never taking off his hat or cloak.” She swore that was all that she could tell us. My father subsequently issued a plea for leniency in her judgement, it was all he could do for her.

  Then our attention was turned to something of a more personal concern, the claim for the chateau was before the courts a process which the Minister of the Interior had promised to accelerate. True to his word within a week the chateau and all its properties were returned to Emilie with no fanfare. The papers were merely delivered by the minister’s personal secretary with a bow to Emilie saying that the people of France welcomed her home. The Marquis who had been instrumental in assisting with the vagaries of the French system became aware through a friend that there was a considerable sum in back taxes that would be assigned to the new owners in the next quarter. He told my father that it was likely an attempt to regain the control of the property. The sum would be considerable burden and with neither the chateau nor the Abbey turning a profit and it could ruin my uncle.

  Miles came to hear about it as the Marquis and my father tried to determine the best way to let my aunt and uncle know and came to me explaining the dilemma. He knew that I wanted nothing to do with my grandfather’s legacy and suggested that if I still wished to give my uncle the money that I had inherited from the General that this was the perfect opportunity. I agreed, went to my father and mother who heartily approved of the scheme and with my father’s help and the Marquis, I was able to use a sizeable portion of my inheritance to pay off the back taxes before the papers were turned over to my uncle and aunt. The only stipulation I made was that they would never know what I had done. Emilie and Samuel were ecstatic that the property had been returned to her, but it meant that they could not return with us to England right away. The estate had been cared for but not very well. They needed to hire someone they could trust with the running of the property, so it would turn a profit when they were not in residence. Even with my help they could not afford to just have it stand empty between visits. It was Lady Granville who approached us with a possible solution. The Embassy often ran into issues with providing adequate quarters for visiting dignitaries and she proposed that the Embassy rent the chateau when the family were not in residence. That way the staff could retain their employment and the house would not sit empty between their visits. Before accepting Emilie wanted to discuss the possibility with the staff to see if this would be an acceptable arrangement for them and they still needed someone to oversee the house and the estate. It had once been a successful working farm which had stagnated from mismanagement. There were vineyards that had gone wild and Samuel and the Marquis thought there might be the possibility of producing wine in the future.

  So, while the men were about their business of tying up all the loose ends from our adventure in France it was Mrs Baxter who offered the solution to my uncle and aunt’s dilemma about the chateau.

  Mrs Baxter was seated in the blue drawing room taking tea with us when she asked, “Tell me, Mrs Hughes, is it true what I heard in the village that you’ll be renting
the property to Lord Granville when you’re not in residence?”

  Emilie laughed. “News travels quickly, I see…yes, it’s true.” Mrs Baxter pursed her lips, opened her mouth then shut it again. Aunt Emilie looked puzzled about this sudden interest. “Do you foresee a problem with that, Mrs Baxter?”

  She grimaced, looked out the window then clasped her hands in her lap and sighed. “I don’t suppose you’ve hired a factor or a housekeeper, have you?”

  Emilie responded with good humour. “No, we haven’t actually. My husband was going to advertise in the papers.”

  Mrs Baxter looked horrified. “Oh, my dear, you’ll get nothing but charlatans and thieves with an advertisement.”

  She raised her chin and pursed her lips again. “Now, I don’t mean to tell you your business, but I think I can help you there. Andre DuPont was our factor before my father came to live with us. The Major was never raised to be a farmer even though he loved to think that he could do it but he left most of the decisions to Andre. Andre knew how talk the Major out of the things he shouldn’t do and into what he should. He still works for us, but my father says that his talents are really wasted, and we can’t pay him as much as he’s worth. Positions such as he’s trained for don’t come along very often so he’s stayed on as my father’s assistant. I thought I would recommend him to your husband for the position at the chateau.” She paused for a breath.

  Emilie looked flabbergasted. “Mrs Baxter, that’s wonderful! Even though my husband was raised to run a large estate, our family seat in England will require most of his attention, we may not be in France as often as we’d like. Plus, he has his work for the Crown, so I am afraid,” Mrs Baxter looked totally dejected and was biting her lip as Emilie continued, “he would have to do most of his consultation here with Mr DuPont by correspondence and would rely heavily on that him to make decisions without his input. Would Monsieur DuPont be comfortable with that?”

  Mrs Baxter beamed and nodded. “Oh, my, yes, he is a most capable man and his English is excellent!”

  Emilie looked extremely pleased. “If you can spare him, could you please have him come to the chateau tomorrow? He can have luncheon with us and he can discuss the particulars with my husband.”

  Emilie sobered and sighed. “Now if you could only find me a housekeeper! After looking at the accounts I’m sure that that odious concierge has been robbing the estate blind.”

  Mrs Baxter smiled and reached out to pat my aunt’s hand. “I don’t have to find one for you, my dear, you already have one!”

  Emilie sat back stunned. “I can assure you, Mrs Baxter, I do not have a housekeeper at present.”

  Mrs Baxter smiled. “Of course you do, it’s Bridgette your laundress!” Emilie looked at a loss for words. Mrs Baxter laughed. “She is little Jean’s mother! And before that weasel of a concierge was installed by the local magistrate, she oversaw the house and did an excellent job too. Has your Mr Allan not told you how the staff always turn to her for approval whenever he issues an order? It’s not just because he’s English, Mrs Hughes.”

  Emilie sat forward sensing a story, “But why did the magistrate replace her if she did such a decent job?”

  Mrs Baxter sat back in her chair and took in a deep breath. “Because of the tavern owner’s wife. It was a case of pure and simple jealousy. Even though the ways of the old regime are dead not everything has changed, such as the pecking order in the local social strata. Here as in many villages the people from the big houses have more status than the people in the village. So, Madam Toulouse used a trumped up charge that the chateau’s housekeeper had not paid them for services rendered. The local magistrate at the time was her brother and she won her case. But the magistrate found that there was not sufficient evidence to remove her from the chateau altogether so instead of dismissing Bridgette he only demoted her to Head Laundress.”

  Emilie clearly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “That is outrageous…how can I right this terrible wrong?”

  Mrs Baxter looked like the cat that swallowed the canary. “Just hire her back, this is your home now and the concierge will be leaving since he is a government appointee. It was never proved that the tavern owner was cheated, and the chateau’s books were in perfect order. That’s why she was only demoted just to shut up the tavern owner’s wife. The only person in the village that will be unhappy about her reinstatement will be that shrew.”

  Mrs Baxter was very pleased with herself, but Emilie looked worried, “Mrs Baxter, where is Bridgette’s husband, does he not have a say in this?”

  “She has no husband, Mrs Hughes.”

  We all started at this. “But what about Jean, her son?”

  She shook her head, “The poor waif is not hers. She found him lying in the orchard sick as a dog; he couldn’t have been more than four years old. The pitiful thing had been living off the green apples from the orchard, he was rail thin, filthy. She brought him back to the chateau and cared for him. We all searched for the child’s family, but no one knew him nor claimed him, so she raised him as her own and as far as he is concerned she is his mother.”

  I could tell Mother was thinking of James as a tear ran down her cheek. Mrs Baxter changed the subject as she looked at me. “Now that that’s settled when you are and your young man going to marry?” I must have turned a bright red for I could feel the heat creeping up my neck and I wanted to hide my face before she could see my blush.

  It was my mother who surprised me by saying, “I think in the late spring when it’s warm, but not too hot, all the flowers will be in bloom then. I would love for her to be married in Northumberland in the old church where her grandmother was married but I’m not sure she really cares.” She smiled at me, but I could see her mind churning. I expect that if she had her way the old vicar would be grovelling next spring. “But there is a lovely chapel near our country estate in the south as well. I’ll leave that up to Clarissa, but I think the spring would be perfect.”

  I felt better and not as red, but her support puzzled me. “There is one problem with your plans, Mother, he hasn’t asked me.” Mrs Baxter recognized my discomfort and before my mother could say anything else she asked after Emilie and my mother’s health. I let my mind wander seeing in my mind’s eye Miles asking me to marry him. He had hinted at it and intimated his intentions to my father. But he had never actually asked me.

  After several days all the loose ends at the chateau had been taken care of. The factor had been hired and the housekeeper restored to her rightful position. The staff were all happy and the cook was delighted that she would be returning to England with us to work for Emilie in their London home. The undercook at the chateau was ecstatic for she would finally be promoted to the position of cook, a promotion well-deserved and was heartily approved by the outgoing cook.

  Everyone seemed excited by the thought of going home. The Marquis had already left to return to his home with a promise that he and his family would visit England next spring. Of course, the men were anxious to leave and act on their plan to bring down Lord Burley’s smuggling ring.

  Gabriel and my Uncle Samuel for some unknown reason had fast become friends, they could often be found in what they called the practice yard, challenging each other in archery and sword play. Father would often join them for hand to hand combat that Gabriel was proficient at, he turned out to be an exceptional instructor. Charity and my mother and Emilie were all caught up with the talk of children, their education, nutrition and all stages of development. I was the template and James as the ongoing experiment. But I was always on the periphery of these conversations and activities. Charity and I did not bond, we were still wary of each other, yet she seemed to have made friends with the other ladies.

  Our staff were busy packing and saying their goodbyes. The reinstated housekeeper had things well in hand and Emilie was very pleased. Mr DuPont was hired as my Uncle Samuel’s factor and found that they were of the same mind as to the farm and the potential winery as they rode o
ut together almost every day to survey the chateau and assess the needs of the farm and tenants.

  Miles however was avoiding me, he was often closeted with Jibben or Dr Grimes and sometimes Dr Jefferson or his father, otherwise he just disappeared. I was left mainly to my own devices. Thoughts of what might have happened to cause his distance between us caused me all kinds of anxiety due to my over-active imagination. It was on our last day at the chateau that I was finally able to speak alone to Miles. I was walking slowly back over the fields after saying goodbye to Mrs Baxter and Patrick when I caught sight of him watching me from edge of the orchard. Even when I came to him he stood there looking straight ahead, his face full of sadness. I wanted to reach out and touch him, but I didn’t, nor did he make any attempt to touch me. He looked down at his feet still not saying anything, so I was the first to break the silence. “What is it, Miles? I assume you have something you want to tell me without the others around.”

  He said quietly but clearly, “I’m leaving.”

  I refused to understand what he meant but my heart was in my throat, my voice was touched with hysteria, “We’re all leaving, Miles!”

  He jerked his head up glaring at me, “Don’t be obtuse, Clarissa, you know what I mean. I won’t be going back to London with you.”

  My brain registered what he said but my heart was on the verge of breaking. “That’s all? Don’t I deserve any kind of explanation?”

  He reached out as if to take my hand then pulled it back. “I’m a liability, poppet, to any of your father’s plans at this stage. I have nothing of value to contribute to anyone as I am.”

  I made a choking sound somewhere between a sob and laugh. “Don’t call me that ridiculous name if you’re so anxious to turn your back on me! I should have been prepared for the day that you no longer wanted or needed me.”

  This time he did take my hand then pulled me to his chest. “My sweet silly girl you’ll be with me in my heart as always. That’s what makes this so difficult, Lissa. I would marry you today and take you with me. But I can’t, I have to do this myself.”