Mr. Rushford's Honor

by Meg Alexander

  Gina was forced to smile. ‘It was very good of you to offer to teach us, sir. Perhaps if you just gave us the general idea…?’

  ‘That’s all you’ll get from Thomas!’ Troubled by the look in Gina’s eyes, Giles made an effort to lighten the atmosphere.

  Gina attempted to follow his example. ‘And you, Giles? Shall you prance round like an elephant?’

  ‘Don’t believe it, ma’am!’ Thomas gave her a solemn look, but his eyes were sparkling. ‘Giles is one of those aggravating creatures who can carry a tune in his head, and then transfer it to his feet. He’d make his fortune on the stage, I shouldn’t wonder.’

  ‘Very droll, Thomas! Will you be my manager?’

  ‘Glad to, old son! Glad to!’ With this promise Thomas turned to greet the girls.

  Their ride that day was more of a leisurely ramble. Mair and Elspeth chattered non-stop, quizzing Thomas about his visits to London, and requesting anecdotes about the literary lions and other celebrities.

  Giles and Gina had fallen a little way behind the others. ‘Mr Newby is very kind,’ she observed as she nodded towards the others. ‘He has endless patience with the girls.’

  ‘He has a heart of gold,’ Giles assured her. ‘Don’t be fooled by his jokes and his pretence of being afraid of Stubbins. In a tight corner I’d be glad to have him by my side.’

  Gina smiled. ‘It isn’t difficult to penetrate below that light-hearted manner. I like him very much.’

  ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Giles said stiffly. Then he gestured ahead. ‘Shall we catch up with them?’

  Gina spurred her horse into a trot. She had no need to look at her companion’s face. She’d heard the note of jealousy in his voice. She had no doubt that he was fond of Thomas, but having found her again so recently, he was in despair at the thought of losing her to a rival.

  For a moment she was tempted to reassure him, but the time was not yet right. Whatever it cost her she must wait. The stakes were too high for her to lose the least advantage. Giles must woo and win her for the second time. She would not make it easy for him.

  Was she setting her sights too high? It had been a gamble to come back to Abbot Quincey in the hope of regaining his love. In time she might persuade him to set aside his scruples, but for that to happen he must want her more than anything in the world.

  Now an uglier problem troubled her. Would she have returned to the village if she’d known that she and the girls would meet Samuel Westcott? She’d thought herself safe from that creature with his vicious tendencies.

  Naturally, she’d made enquiries before leaving Scotland and Anthony had assured her that her uncle was based in London. A successful grain and feed merchant, his visits to his birthplace were said to be infrequent. It was sheer chance which had led him to visit his brother so soon after her return. Hopefully, his stay would be brief.

  As they turned for home Giles studied her face again. He was at a loss as to know what to say to her. It was clear that she had no intention of taking him into her confidence, but he longed to comfort her. It was Thomas who broke the silence. He’d been speaking to the girls about their home in Scotland.

  ‘Shall you miss that country?’ he asked Gina. ‘I hear that it is beautiful.’

  ‘In places it is grand and wild,’ she replied, ‘but the Whitelaw estates are on the west coast. There we escape the savage winters of the north…’

  ‘Gina says that it is because of the warm Gulf Stream,’ Elspeth told him. She was proud to air her knowledge. ‘We have grown peaches out of doors…’

  ‘Good farming country?’ Thomas was hoping to draw Giles into the conversation.

  Gina had recovered her composure. ‘We grow an excellent crop of heather,’ she said drily. ‘The soil is too poor and thin for us to raise good crops, but our beef is the best in the world.’

  ‘And you should see our Highland cattle, Mr Newby,’ Elspeth continued to chatter on. ‘They have enormous horns, not like the cows in England.’

  ‘They sound ferocious,’ Thomas grinned. ‘Did I tell you that I was once chased by a bull?’

  ‘Only because you waved your cloak in front of him.’ Giles turned to the others. ‘Thomas was inspired by tales of the Spanish matadors. He thought that fighting a bull must be easy.’

  ‘I found out that it wasn’t. I must have broken all records to reach the hedge ahead of the beast. I swear I thought he had me. I could feel his breath upon my neck.’

  This story was greeted by shouts of laughter, and Gina’s good humour was quite restored.

  ‘Giles, you are the expert on good farming methods,’ she said quietly. ‘I wonder if you would advise me. The Scottish estate is in poor case. My husband, as you know, was never strong. He was unable to oversee the place as he would have wished. Would you think it possible to bring it round? It is a part of the girls inheritance, so it is a matter of some concern to me.’

  Giles was interested in spite of his determination to distance himself from Gina.

  ‘I know nothing of conditions in Scotland,’ he admitted. ‘Mostly what is needed is an injection of capital. One must not throw good money after bad, of course. It’s important to decide on the priorities.’

  ‘I understand.’ Gina skirted carefully around the question of capital. With the means at her disposal it would not be a problem, but with Giles the mention of money would always be a touchy subject. ‘How would I decide on my priorities?’

  He gave her a suspicious look. Was she about to offer him some help? That he could not bear.

  ‘Your bailiff will advise you,’ he told her abruptly.

  ‘You haven’t seen him, Giles. The old man is well on in his seventies, and much opposed to change.’

  He smiled then. ‘I know the problem. I have the same thing here. Over the years my suggestions have either been agreed to and then ignored, or greeted with dire predictions as to what will happen when one flies in the face of nature.’

  ‘But you have made changes, haven’t you? Anthony tells me that you have insisted on the use of your new ploughs and seed drills, as well as fertilizers and the correct rotation of crops.’

  ‘You are very well informed,’ he said drily.

  ‘I was interested.’

  ‘Really?’ Clearly he did not believe her.

  ‘Oh come!’ she replied. ‘I think that you have forgot that I am country-bred. Anthony lent me a book on Coke of Norfolk. You’ll have heard of him, of course?’

  ‘I met him, Gina.’ Giles gave up all pretence of indifference. ‘The man is a genius. If every farmer could be persuaded to follow his example we could be almost self-sufficient in the matter of food.’

  ‘I can see that that would be important, especially in time of war…’

  ‘It’s true. Of course we have the weather to contend with in this country, but there are now new strains of seed which are resistant to both wet ground, and a lack of sunshine, and disease.’

  ‘Is that why you designed your latest seed drill?’

  Giles looked his surprise. ‘You’ve heard of that?’

  ‘Of course. Anthony intends to make good use of it. How did you come to invent it?’

  ‘Out of necessity,’ he told her briefly. ‘The Rushford estate had been run down for years. I couldn’t afford to employ much labour. Hand-sowing was out of the question. The drill does the work of several men, but it won’t be popular, I fear.’

  ‘You think you may have the same problems as the factory-owners? I mean, won’t the local people feel that you are taking the bread out of their mouths, by adding to the unemployment?’

  ‘I couldn’t afford to employ them anyway,’ he told her. ‘With better crops prosperity may return and bread will be cheaper.’

  ‘Prosperity will return in time,’ she said warmly. ‘Oh, Giles, if only this war were to end…Will Wellington take Badajoz, do you suppose? He is thought to be pushing back the French in Spain.’

  ‘He has done well to date.’ Her companion’s face gre
w sombre. ‘What a task he had, with his allies fighting among themselves, breaking their promises of men and supplies, and letting him down upon all sides.’

  Thomas had ridden on ahead with the girls, but now he came back to them.

  ‘You look as if you are putting the world to rights,’ he commented cheerfully. ‘Giles, I wonder if we should go into the village before the ladies.’ He gestured ahead. ‘There seems to be some bustle in the High Street, with people milling about and a lot of shouting.’

  ‘A riot?’ Giles asked quickly. ‘That’s strange…the Luddites operate at night for the most part.’

  ‘I don’t know. It don’t sound ill-humoured. There’s a lot of hallooing and hazzas, and some are waving flags. Still, it might be best to take no chances…’

  ‘Could it be that there is news of a victory?’ Without waiting for the others, Gina spurred her horse ahead.

  She was right. English tongues had difficulty with pronunciation of the Spanish town of Badajoz, but cheers for Wellington soon convinced her of his victory. She turned to the others with a glowing face.

  ‘Come!’ she cried. ‘This is a cause for celebration!’ She hurried indoors, instructing Hanson to bring up a couple of bottles of her finest burgundy.

  As they toasted the Duke’s success they shared in the general feeling of elation. Even the girls were allowed a half-glass each, diluted, though it grieved her, with a little water.

  Mair twirled about the room, her usual shyness forgotten. ‘Oh, I have never felt more like dancing!’ she cried. ‘Gina, will you play for us?’

  Gina laughed. ‘A waltz? I don’t believe I know a single tune. I’ve played only for country dancing.’

  ‘It ain’t difficult, ma’am. They call it three-four time.’ Without the least trace of affectation Thomas began to sing in a pleasant baritone and Gina was quick to follow his lead.

  In spite of his claims of clumsiness Thomas was light on his feet and a born teacher. Gina complimented him upon his skill in explaining the steps.

  ‘No trick to it, Lady Whitelaw. I just remember my own difficulties…Now, Giles, if you will take Mair, I shall partner Elspeth.’

  Within a half-hour he had them performing very creditably.

  ‘There now,’ he assured the girls. ‘You’ll be more skilled than half the dancers in the room.’

  ‘But what of Gina?’ Elspeth protested. ‘She has been playing for us and she hasn’t had her lesson.’

  ‘Let me play,’ said Mair as she moved over to the spinet.

  Gina gave up her place with a laughing protest and turned to Thomas Newby. ‘I’ve been watching carefully,’ she said. ‘I promise not to tread upon your toes.’

  Thomas took her in his arms, his hand upon her waist and holding her at a careful distance. In their innocence the girls thought nothing of this close and unusual proximity of their partners, but Gina found it strange.

  Thomas smiled at her. ‘Relax!’ he said. ‘You must not hold yourself so stiffly, ma’am. Give yourself to the music.’

  Gina tried to obey him, but it was several minutes before she felt at ease. Then suddenly the rhythm became familiar and she almost forgot her partner in the sensation of spinning about the room in a dizzying whirl.

  ‘It feels like flying,’ she admitted as the music stopped. ‘Mr Newby, you have introduced us to a delightful pastime.’

  ‘Glad you enjoyed it, ma’am, but you must dance with Giles to enjoy it to the full.’ He took her hand and led her over to his friend.

  This was something that Gina had intended to avoid at all costs, but she could think of no way to refuse. Looking at Giles, she could see that he was equally unwilling, but when Mair began to play he took her in his arms.

  Gina felt that her feet were made of lead, and she stumbled over the first few steps, quite unable to follow his lead. She caught her breath. She must not make a fool of herself, but it had been so long, so very long, since he had held her close to his heart.

  Everything about him was familiar—the touch of his hand, the faint scent of soap and the outdoors, the power of the arm which encircled her and the knowledge that his lips were a mere few inches from her own.

  At length she stole a glance at him, but the handsome face was a mask. It didn’t fool her for a moment. To outward appearances Giles was in full control of his emotions, but she was close enough to sense the rapid beating of his heart.

  Chapter Six

  Gina resumed her seat at the spinet. She would play for the others, but no amount of entreaty could persuade her to dance again.

  Thomas remarked on it as he rode back to the Grange with Giles.

  ‘You know Lady Whitelaw better than I,’ he said. ‘Do you suppose I have offended her?’

  ‘Great heavens, why should you think that?’

  ‘Oh, I don’t know. I thought she seemed a little distrait when we arrived today…not quite herself, if you know what I mean.’

  ‘I do, but I can’t tell you the reason for it. Perhaps her uncle brought bad news…’

  ‘Possibly. I wondered if she had had second thoughts about my offering to show her the waltz. She did not seem to wish…I mean, she may have found it unpleasant to find herself in the arms of a stranger. I wouldn’t upset her for the world.’

  ‘I’m sure that isn’t true.’ Giles cast a quick look at his companion. ‘Don’t allow it to worry you…She holds you in high regard. She told me so herself.’

  Thomas brightened. ‘Do you say so? I am glad of it.’ He rode on in silence for several minutes. Then he returned to the subject.

  ‘There’s something I want to ask you,’ he said in a low voice. ‘Don’t take it amiss, old friend, or think that I am prying, but have you a tendre for the lady?’

  Giles stared at him, and Thomas flushed to the roots of his hair.

  ‘I have a reason for asking,’ he explained uncomfortably. ‘I mean, I would not wish to offer for her if it should clash with your own intentions towards her.’

  ‘I have no plans to marry,’ Giles said in a harsh tone. ‘I thought you felt the same.’

  ‘I did…that is, until I met her. She’s everything a man could wish for. I hadn’t thought to meet any woman with her qualities. She’s so full of courage and intelligence. Surely everyone must love her. That smile turns a man’s knees to water.’

  Privately Giles agreed with him, but he was filled with feelings of despair. Gina might be wealthy, but Newby’s family could match that wealth. Thomas could not be considered a fortune-hunter. His father had always made it clear that he wished for nothing more than to see his son safely settled with a suitable bride. Handsome settlements would follow.

  ‘This is a quick decision on your part,’ Giles said carefully. ‘Are you sure of your feelings for Gina? You’ve been in love before, or so you tell me.’

  ‘Mere infatuations!’ Thomas dismissed his previous liaisons with a wave of his hand. ‘Up to now I had not thought of marriage. Of course, I may not stand a chance with her. She may already have plans in that direction. Do you know if that is so?’

  ‘She hasn’t mentioned anyone,’ Giles said stiffly. ‘Though I doubt if she would discuss such matters with me.’

  ‘But you are her close friend, are you not? You always seem to have so much to say to each other.’

  ‘Our conversation has been mostly about farming practice.’ Even as Giles spoke he saw the look of surprise on his companion’s face. Truly, it must seem odd to be discussing agriculture with such a warm and loving woman.

  ‘Gina is something of a diplomat,’ he continued. ‘It’s part of the secret of her charm. She is accustomed to speak of others’ interests rather than her own.’

  ‘I see. It doesn’t surprise me. I think her the most agreeable person in the world. How her face lit up when we heard the news of the victory of Badajoz.’

  ‘Isham will be able to tell us more. He’ll have the news by now, I make no doubt.’

  Giles was right. When they reached the Gran
ge they found Lord Isham in his study, reading a lengthy missive which had been delivered by special messenger.

  ‘Good news at last!’ Isham laid aside the papers. ‘Have you heard already?’

  ‘We have…the village is en fête. What can you tell us about the engagement? Was the victory complete?’

  ‘It was. There is a darker side, of course. The Duke was delighted by the bravery of his troops, but then they let him down. Serious looting followed, and the men got out of hand. He wasted no time in restoring order. He was forced to resort to floggings and two men were hanged.’

  ‘For looting?’ Thomas was incredulous. ‘I thought that it was common in time of war.’

  ‘Not in Wellington’s army. He has always insisted that goods requisitioned from the Spaniards should be paid for, which is why we are more popular than the French, who leave the populace with nothing.’

  ‘Even so, it does seem hard when the men have fought so well…’

  ‘His Lordship understands his troops. His army is not made up of gentlemen, you know. On occasion he has referred to them as the “scum of the earth”. On another he mentioned that he hoped that they would terrify the French, because they certainly terrified him.’

  ‘Yet they follow him without question,’ Thomas said in wonder. ‘Why is that, my lord?’

  ‘He cares about them in his own way. At times he has turfed his officers out of comfortable billets when they’ve left their men unfed and without shelter. The troops know him as a hard man, but he is just, and he won’t waste lives.’ Isham looked at his brother-in-law. ‘You are very quiet, Giles. Do you disapprove of Wellington’s draconian measures?’

  ‘No! I must suppose he had no choice. It must be difficult to control a drunken rabble.’

  ‘It was. Once they found the stores of wine they drank themselves into oblivion, after raping half the womenfolk. That was one reason for the hangings.’ He looked up with a smile as India entered the room. ‘Come in, my love. We are just discussing this famous victory.’

  ‘It seems to be a day for news,’ she told him. ‘The servants have heard that there may be trouble at the Abbey. Yardley has been to see the Marquis. He’s thought to believe that Sywell may have killed his wife…’