The Secret of Castlegate Manor

by Karen Cogan

  "What about my reticule?" she asked, glancing down at her hand baggage that now carried her gray muslin traveling dress.

  "Just take it down like you are taking it to a passenger. The gentleman what hired me said you should keep walking until you were told to get in a carriage."

  She followed the porter back on deck. The gangplank was nearly devoid of passengers, the ship nearly ready to sail. Lady Aberly and Lavenia peered intently up at the rail, trying to catch a last glimpse of Caroline.

  Caroline kept her head down as she disembarked. She walked past the line of well-wishers, so close to Lady Aberly and Lavenia that she would have laughed at the subterfuge had she not been so terrified of being discovered.

  A footman stopped her as she wove her way behind the crowd to the waiting carriages. "This way if you please."

  Caroline followed him to a curtained hackney. He opened the door, and to her relief, she saw Geoffrey waiting inside. He smiled broadly at sight of her.

  His eyes roved her trousered form. "This is a sight I never thought to see. You make even the meanest attire look attractive."

  Caroline settled as far back on the seat as the carriage would allow. "This was certainly not my preference of what I would choose to wear. When will I have opportunity to become more myself?"

  "I have arranged to stop at an inn on the outskirts of Bristol. You may pretend to be my servant and change in my room. I have reserved another chamber for my sister whom I said would be joining me, although I wish she were already my wife."

  "I can think of nothing I would like more."

  She began to relax as the carriage moved away from the harbor. All had gone as planned. Surely, she was now safe from discovery.

  She allowed Geoffrey to hold her hand as they traveled along the busy streets to the outskirts of town where a small inn sat, looking lonely by comparison to the buildings along the crowded streets.

  Caroline felt a resurgence of anxiety. Would her attire attract attention? She could not wait to be rid of it and, yet, if she were caught leaving Geoffrey's room after she changed, she would never forget the humiliation. It was all most unsuitable, and unfortunately, most unavoidable.

  Her fears were relieved when the owner of the inn, a short balding man of middle age, barely gave them a glance. His attention was absorbed by a serving girl who had dropped and broken a favorite mug. Caroline pitied the girl who was receiving the rough edge of his tongue. At the same time, she was grateful that her own appearance got little notice.

  Most of the guests were already in the dining room, leaving the halls empty. She slipped into Geoffrey's upstairs chamber and changed into her dress. Then, leaving the porter's uniform folded upon the bed, she peered into the hall where Geoffrey was quietly waiting.

  He greeted her with a smile. "I must say, you look quite back to your usual radiance, and a suitable dinner partner. Shall we go down and procure our meal?"

  Caroline met his approving gaze. "That would be most welcome. I must admit, I am famished."

  "I must tell you we will be joined by a young lady I have met."

  "A young lady?" Caroline froze on the steps, her hand on his arm."

  He patted her hand. "Do not frown. I knew you were uncomfortable with the circumstance of being here with me without an abigail. I arranged with the local vicar for his daughter to act as your companion for the evening. She believes that you are my sister and that you are leaving school in Bristol to travel to my estate. I told her we would need her services for one evening only."

  "It was kind of you to consider my reputation," Caroline replied.

  The young lady who was to be her companion waited just inside the door of the inn. She was only a young girl, barely in her teens.

  Geoffrey introduced them.

  The girl's name was Ann. She curtsied, and made polite reply, before following them in to dine. The girl seemed quite uncertain of herself until Caroline asked kindly, "Do you help your father in his duties as vicar?"

  "Oh, yes, my lady. My sisters and I take the soups that Mother makes to the sick in our parish."

  Caroline smiled. "You and your sisters must be a true blessing to your parents."

  Ann blushed and visibly relaxed.

  They concluded a pleasant supper, then a walk in the back gardens of the inn. Geoffrey was careful to keep the conversation away from any subjects that would arouse Ann's curiosity as she followed behind them.

  Caroline felt pleasantly tired when Geoffrey escorted them back to the bed chambers. After a chaste good-night at the door, Ann and Caroline entered their chambers while Geoffrey departed for his own room.

  "Will you be quite comfortable here, away from home?" Caroline asked the young girl.

  "Yes, my lady. It was ever so kind of your brother to let me take on such a pleasant job with a lady like yourself."

  Caroline smiled at the compliment, pleased that the girl did not question her posture as a lady.

  "You must be tired, Ann. I know I am quite fatigued, myself. You may take the small bedroom in the back and retire as soon as you desire."

  The girl seemed relieved to find her evening was nearly at an end and that she would earn money badly needed by her family for this small service of keeping company with a lady.

  "Then I will bid you good-night, Miss. Please call if there is anything I may do for you," Ann said.

  Ann tucked herself away in the back room and blew out her candle. Caroline lay in the dark, savoring the opportunity to drop her guard.

  She slept deeply, awakening to Ann's gentle touch on her shoulder. "Your brother says it is time to get ready, Miss."

  Caroline could not, for a moment, remember how she came to be in the strange room. She stared at Ann until her memory of the day before flooded back.

  "Thank you, Ann. I see that you are already dressed. You may go ahead to meet your father if he is here. I shall be out in a moment."

  "Yes, my lady." Ann paused at the door and turned back to Caroline.

  "I hope you enjoy your new home in Bath. It was a pleasure to meet you, my lady."

  "It was a pleasure to meet you too, Ann."

  After a light meal of tea and biscuit, Caroline and Geoffrey began the journey to Bath.

  "I shall be so glad to get back to the estate. I have missed it," Caroline said.

  "A traveling life is not for you?" Geoffrey asked.

  "I should be content to settle at Castlegate Manor and never set foot from the estate."

  "You really could be content there, could you not? What a blessing to have a wife who is pleased with her lot in life," Geoffrey mused.

  She watched him and wondered if he were thinking of a personal experience. Tact would not allow her to question him about such a matter, so she waited for him to continue.

  "Many of the girls I knew in India wanted a great deal more than a country home to keep them content," he explained.

  "Perhaps I do not expect more because what you offer is far above what I ever expected to attain."

  He leaned forward. "Do you know how hard you make it not to seize you in my arms and cover you with kisses, my sweet Caroline?"

  She drew back and tried to look dismayed. "You must not say such things when we are alone, my lord."

  He laughed heartily. "Would you prefer that I say them when we are in the presence of others?"

  She joined his laughter. "Of course not."

  They spent the pleasant drive to Bath chatting over plans for their future. As they neared the city, they both grew quiet. Caroline knew Geoffrey shared her ominous feeling regarding Lord Humphrey when he said, "I have asked Nottington to make discreet inquiry with Lord Humphrey's servants as to the recent whereabouts of their master. Perhaps he will find something of use."

  "I do wish we could find some way to end this dangerous affair. I shall never feel safe as long as he is determined to become master of the manor. And if he discovers your identity, you shall not be safe, either."

  Geoffrey took her hand, en
joying the softness of her glove and the delicate substance of its content. "But we shall be safe. I shall find a way to be rid of threat that the Viscount presents."

  "I hope so. I should not want to marry you only to worry that you might be murdered at any moment."

  "You shall not lose me. This is one battle the Viscount will not win."

  The carriage left them off at the Circus.

  They lunched at a small tea room, then walked about while Geoffrey gave her a tour of this part of the town.

  "Nottington is meeting us back at the Circus late in the afternoon. Until then, our time is all our own," Geoffrey told her.

  She had managed to put the Viscount from her mind and was having a marvelous time when they stopped for afternoon tea. The sight of Lady Ruyter with an elderly woman brought her back to her senses.

  Caroline whispered, "What shall I do if I am seen with you? How shall I explain?"

  "She has never seen me. Simply tell anyone you meet that I am an old friend from India," Geoffrey suggested.

  Lady Ruyter greeted them politely.

  "Caroline, it is such a pleasure to see you. I assumed that you accompanied Lady Aberly and Lavenia to London."

  "I was going to do so, but some unavoidable business detained me in Bath."

  "What a pity." Her eyes fell on Geoffrey.

  "I would like you to meet an old friend from India, Mr. Geoffrey...." Caroline hesitated.

  Geoffrey bowed. "Geoffrey Nelson, my lady."

  Caroline gave him a quick glance.

  She must remember in future introductions that he had borrowed the last name of his favorite military leader, Lord Nelson.

  Lady Ruyter nodded. "This is my mother, Lady Amelia. You must join us for tea. I want to hear more about India."

  "If you are sure we are not intruding," Caroline replied, wishing she could think of an excuse to decline.

  "I insist," returned Lady Ruyter.

  They joined Lady Ruyter and her elderly white-haired mother.

  It was a relief to have Geoffrey present to regale the ladies with true stories of India and exciting accounts of battles with Lord Nelson.

  Caroline was required to do very little talking and the time passed quickly.

  After polishing off a pot of tea, Lady Amelia stated, "I have enjoyed our visit very much but my daughter forgets that I covet my afternoon nap. I shall be required to seek our departure."

  "It was lovely meeting you," Caroline offered sincerely.

  Lady Amelia smiled graciously. "It was lovely meeting you too, dearie, and your charming friend."

  After the ladies departed, Caroline and Geoffrey adopted a slow stroll back toward the Circus. It felt so right to Caroline to be walking beside Geoffrey, her hand tucked upon his arm.

  She had quite forgotten that Mr. Blois officed near the circus and that it was time to end work for the day. As they passed his establishment, they came face to face with him as he descended the steps.

  "Why, Miss Stewart, what a pleasure," he began.

  His smile faded as he took in Geoffrey's presence at her side. Caroline snatched her hand away. Her face grew as warm as though she were a small girl caught stealing a pastry.

  "Mr. Blois, how nice to see you," she returned. "I would like you to meet Mr. Nelson, an old friend from India."

  Caroline knew she would someday be caught in these lies. She only hoped by then it would not matter.

  Mr. Blois bowed, his expression carefully guarded. "How nice to meet you, Mr. Nelson. I hope that you shall have a nice visit in Bath before you return to India."

  Geoffrey surveyed the young man and the covert look that he gave Caroline.

  "I shall not be returning to India, Mr. Blois. I have decided that a country life is more to my liking and Miss Stewart has encouraged me to stay."

  "I see." Mr. Blois bowed again before adding curtly, "Miss Stewart, Mr. Nelson, good-day."

  Caroline fought back laughter as the young man trod down the street in a huff. "I think you have discouraged my only suitor, Mr. Stewart."

  "If you are waiting for an apology, I can assure you it shall not come."

  They sobered as they spotted Nottington waiting for them at the entrance to the Circus.

  "Perhaps he has some news." Caroline felt her pulse quicken.

  "What did you learn?" Geoffrey inquired of the old hostler.

  "Lady Aberly and her daughter left for London early this morning."

  "Good. Then it is safe for us to return," Geoffrey stated.

  "Did you learn anything about Lord Humphrey?"

  Nottington nodded. "I did some checking with Lord Humphrey's servants. I found a footman whose lips could be loosed with a shilling. I am afraid, though, that you might not like what I learned. This morning, Lord Humphrey left for London."

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Lord Humphrey had made it known that he wished his carriage ready early that morning. The servants had gone about their duties with an urgency that bespoke the master's impatience to be off. His destination had been a fact entrusted only to the butler. However, because his servants felt little loyalty, before the carriage left the gate, everyone including the cook and the scullery-boy knew his itinerary.

  The butler swabbed his forehead as the carriage drove out of sight. He guessed the other servants shared his relief to be rid of the irritable Viscount, who had been in a rare old mood, snapping at everyone for the last week. The servants knew that something had gone badly wrong and chalked it up to gambling losses.

  The butler sighed as he turned back to his duties. He feared, if the Master continued to combine his lavish lifestyle with his customary bad luck, his butler would soon be looking for another employer.

  The Viscount sat stiffly in the carriage, unaware of the glorious scarlet sunrise that ushered in the new day. A morning fog, gray and drizzly, would have better suited his mood. He smoldered at the botch made of his plans by Benson and his associate.

  He had regretted the order to dispatch Lady Aberly, not because of any personal solicitude, but because his plans had been frustrated to such a infuriating degree by Caroline that he was driven to risk murder. He could not have known the two men he had entrusted with the task would murder each other instead and let the intended victim escape.

  Now, he must chance allowing his interest in the estate to be made known in London. He would call upon Lady Aberly's solicitor and have the particulars of the will explained to him. Perhaps he would learn of some other way he could depose Lady Aberly, the stubbornly surviving heiress.

  He arrived in London on the second day of his travel. It was late and the solicitor's office was closed. The Viscount settled upon an inn not far from the office. He had a belated supper, then headed for the local pub where he incurred more gambling debt and a dizzy head from his potables.

  The next morning, he awoke in a surly state to demand his footman bring round the carriage while he choked down coffee and a light breakfast. He intended to see the solicitor as soon as possible.

  He arrived to find that the office was not yet busy. An apprentice showed him into the plush office of the departed Lady Eleanor's trusted solicitor, Mr. Grable.

  Mr. Grable greeted him with a bow. "Good-day, Lord Humphrey. I hope that I may be of service to you,"

  He was a short fleshy man of advanced years. His quiet, deferring manner bespoke his position of service to the gentry of London. The Viscount pegged him as a man of refined tastes. Perhaps, they would do business together.

  "I think you shall be able to help me. I know my great-aunt had the greatest respect for your judgement."

  Mr. Grable smiled, showing even white teeth. "She was one of my favorites, a very great lady. I have missed her immensely."

  Lord Humphrey nodded. "I fear she may have been in a declining mental state in the last months of her life. She had told me she intended to amend her will." The lie rolled easily off his tongue.

  Mr. Grable frowned. "She mentioned nothing to me."


  "I believe her health prevented her from making the changes that she desired. Lady Aberly is not suitably caring for the estate and I fear it will fall into disrepair."

  "Lady Aberly?"

  "Lady Eleanor's niece, I believe."

  "Lady Aberly did not inherit Castlegate Manor."

  The Viscount sat forward in surprise. "You will have to excuse me. I was not able to attend the reading of her will. However, I was informed by Lady Aberly that she had become heiress."

  "I am afraid she was mistaken. I can show you quite plainly that it is not true." Mr. Grable called for his clerk.

  "Fetch Lady Eleanor's will. I shall read it to this gentleman."

  Lord Humphrey sat in silent astonishment as Mr. Grable read the contents of the will. He had no interest in the London estate which was rightfully left to a son and his wife. The country estate, named a grand-nephew, Geoffrey Stewart of India as heir.

  He sat in silence as the reading was concluded.

  "And Mr. Stewart? Has he come forward to claim his estate?"

  Mr. Grable shook his head. "He has not. It is quite a mystery as he had written saying he planned to come over from India. He has surely had time to arrive by now."

  "Did ever hear Lady Eleanor make mention of her grand-niece from India, a Miss Caroline Stewart?"

  "I cannot say that I have."

  "I see."

  Suspicion formed in the Viscount's mind. Had Caroline accompanied her brother from India, then kept his identity hidden? If so, someone must have overheard the plans the Viscount had made to dispose of anyone who stood in his way.

  Caroline had called the groom Geoffrey. He had arrived suddenly at the stable. Suspicion turned to understanding. The young man Benson had reported going on unchaperoned rides with Caroline was, no doubt, her brother. That explained so many things.

  He rose from the over-stuffed chair. "You have been a great help in clearing up my understanding of the will. If this gentleman from London does not appear, I will return to stake my claim upon the estate, as I am also a grand-nephew."