Would Diana, compelled by extreme circumstance to rely upon him, continue to reveal herself after this episode was successfully concluded? Or would she close back in upon herself, refusing to admit him any further? So manipulated and constrained had she been, he knew he couldn’t force or even cajole her to warm towards him.
Ah, but how he ached to help her further along the road to recapturing the joy, optimism and confidence she’d once possessed in such abundance.
Even if it meant, in the end, she took her revitalised spirit into a new life without him.
* * *
Initially too shy to speak, James soon overcame his reserve and proved an amazingly resilient traveller, eagerly watching the countryside and peppering Alastair and his mother with questions about the towns and vehicles they passed, the fields and workers observed out the windows. He’d also been delighted with the novelty of dining at public houses and spending the night at a busy coaching inn.
Forced to concede the necessity for it, Alastair had ordered two rooms, one for himself and a second for Diana, Minnie and James—and lain awake for hours each night, acutely conscious that Diana slept close by. Knowing that a period of enforced abstinence lay before them at Barton Abbey, its duration impossible to predict, he was sorely tempted to urge Diana to slip into his room after the others fell asleep.
But it wouldn’t be wise. James’s maid Minnie, Diana told him, had been informed they were travelling to visit an old family friend, who had sent her son to escort them. Alastair didn’t know whether Diana’s staff knew where—or with whom—she had spent her evening ‘entertainments’. If the boy’s nurse was aware that he was a more intimate acquaintance, she’d given no indication of it, and Alastair wished it to stay that way.
Who knew whether Graveston might summon the maid to testify against her mistress? Alastair meant to ensure the girl would have as little to say as possible.
* * *
After several long days on the road, even the curious six-year-old was tired of being cooped up in a coach, begging Alastair, who hired a horse to ride each day, to take him up in the saddle. Denied that treat, he and the rest of the party were increasingly impatient to reach their destination.
* * *
Finally, the longed-for moment arrived. Eschewing a mount for this last phase of the journey, familiar with every hill and turning from the last posting inn to his front door, Alastair joined the company in the coach. Eagerness, anticipation—and a touch of unease over the reaction of his mother to the guests he was about to foist on her—kept him on the edge of his seat.
‘The entry gate’s just ahead,’ Alastair told James, who immediately thrust his small shoulders out of the window, impatient to get a look.
‘It’s not so big as the gatehouse at Graveston Court,’ he pronounced as the carriage bowled through.
‘Probably just as old, though, and full of nooks for boys to explore, as my cousins and I did when we were your age.’
The boy’s eyes brightened. ‘Could you take me exploring, too?’
Alastair smiled at the boy’s artless assumption that he would still consider that a treat. ‘When we have a chance.’
Diana, however, did not lean towards the window to get a glimpse of the estate of which she’d once expected to become mistress. Displaying none of James’s excitement, she remained quietly in her seat, her impassive expression impossible to read.
Once, he’d anticipated bringing her here as his bride, envisaging her delight at seeing her new home for the first time. A sharp pain pierced his chest at the contrast between that old dream and the prosaic present.
They could never go back, he reminded himself. For now, it was enough that he’d persuaded her to come here, where he could keep her and her son safe. He’d content himself with that—and despite finally sheltering her under his roof, resist the deceptive illusion that the dreams he’d once cherished might still come true.
Despite that sober reminder, he couldn’t seem to make himself stop watching her. Though her serene exterior gave no hint that she harboured any anxiety about what awaited them, he could read the small signs—the hands tightly gripping the seat, the rigid set of her shoulders—that said she was not as calm as she appeared.
He’d carefully refrained from any gesture of affection during their enforced closeness in the coach, with her son and his nursemaid always watching, but now, he leaned over to squeeze her hand. ‘It will be all right. Trust me,’ he murmured.
A short time later, the driver pulled the team up before the front entrance. As always, Alastair felt a surge of gladness at returning to the manor that had been his home since birth. Not even the uncertainty of his mother’s reaction could dim that delight.
Then a footman was trotting over to let down the stairs. ‘Mr Ransleigh!’ he exclaimed, stopping short in the act of handing Diana from the coach. ‘Welcome home, sir! But we weren’t expecting you.’
‘Nor any company,’ he agreed with a smile. ‘My mother shall certainly take me to task for that. Would you see that the baggage is carried upstairs?’
‘Certainly, sir.’
Firmly taking Diana’s elbow, he escorted the party up the stairs and into the hall, where the butler was hurrying to meet them. ‘Wendell, you’re looking well.’
Like the footman, the butler stopped short for a moment before giving him a bow. ‘Master Alastair! What a pleasure to have you home, and your guests.’
‘Would you have refreshment sent to the blue parlour, and let my mother know we’re here?’
‘Certainly.’
Once within the cosy blue chamber, Diana was invited to have a seat, while Minnie took James to the window to inspect the vista of the distant hills.
‘Better not have the footman carry our bags too far,’ Diana murmured when the maid was out of earshot.
‘Nonsense. Mother would never be so discourteous as to ask someone I invited to my home to leave.’
Diana raised an eyebrow and made no reply. But her fingers twisted together even tighter, Alastair noted.
He truly did not worry that his mother would turn her away. To be sure, she would cloak her initial reaction to Diana’s presence in politeness, and probably give him a furious earful once the guests were sent off to settle into their rooms. But he was convinced, once apprised of the truth of Diana’s past actions and present circumstances, she would never turn away a woman and child in need.
If he were wrong, and she remained as opposed to his championship of Diana as Jane, she would simply have to take herself off to visit his sister. Barton Abbey belonged to him, and he would house there whomever he chose.
He hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He would soon find out.
A few moments later, he heard his mother’s quick step outside, and went to intercept her at the door.
In a graceful sway of skirts and a hint of rose perfume, she walked in, a delighted smile on her face. ‘My darling Alastair! How wonderful to have you home again—even if unannounced, you naughty boy! And you’ve brought guests. How lovely!’
After hugging him, as she turned to greet those guests, her eyes widened and the smile fled from her face. ‘Miss Northcot?’
‘The Dowager Duchess of Graveston now, just recently widowed,’ Alastair interposed smoothly. ‘This is her son, Lord James Mannington, and his nurse, Minnie.’
The ladies curtsied. ‘An unexpected honour, Duchess,’ his mother said, an edge of irony in her voice. ‘You and your son must be fatigued after your journey. I’ll have Wendell show you to your rooms at once, so you may rest yourselves before dinner.’
At that moment, the butler returned, bearing a tray. ‘Wendell, our guests are worn out from their travels. We should allow them to retire to their rooms at once. Escort them upstairs, please, and have John carry some refreshments to their chambers. I’m sure they
will enjoy it much more after they are able to wash off the dust of the road.’
‘As you wish, ma’am,’ Wendell said, bowing. ‘Ladies and young gent, if you would follow me?’
* * *
His mother waited only until the door had shut behind the visitors before rounding on him, incredulous fury on her face. ‘Alastair, have you taken leave of your senses? How could you expect me to play hostess to the woman who put you and everyone who loved you through such agony? Jane wrote me that you were seeing her again! I’ve been praying ever since that if you didn’t have the good sense to avoid her, you’d at least get your fill of her quickly and be done with it. How dare you bring her here?’
Not at all deterred by her reaction, he said, ‘I dare, Mama, because it was the right thing to do. Please, calm yourself and hear me out! Once I’ve acquainted you with the facts, I believe you will agree with my decision.’
‘That’s highly doubtful,’ his mother said with a sniff.
‘But you are fair-minded enough to listen before making a judgement.’
‘Wretch!’ His mother gave him an exasperated look. ‘When you put it that way, what can I do but listen?’
He waved her to a chair and pointed to the tray Wendell had left. ‘Shall we have tea?’
‘Probably wise. I’ve a feeling I’m going to need something to steady my nerves.’
She poured them each a cup and seated herself beside him on the sofa. ‘So, tell me the whole.’
He took his time, and his mother did not interrupt, sipping her tea thoughtfully while he related the circumstances leading to Diana’s marriage, gave an account of her life after, and concluded with the present difficulties with the heir and the need to protect her son. After he finished, she remained silent for some time, while he held his breath.
‘You believe the boy to be in danger?’ she said at last.
‘Diana certainly does. After my conversation with the Duke, I do believe he would mistreat him, exacting revenge upon the poor boy for an alienation of his father’s affection that he blames upon Diana. He wants the boy to “suffer as he did”, I believe he put it.’
‘He actually said that?’ His mother gasped. When he nodded, she grimaced. ‘Peer or no, he seems thoroughly reprehensible.’
‘So you understand why I felt it necessary to intervene, even though the child in question is Diana’s.’
‘I do, much as I wish the mother were anyone but Diana! Now, what else are you not telling me?’
A little startled, Alastair hedged. ‘What makes you think there is more?’
‘My dear son, you may be a man grown, and harder to read than you were as a child, but I have known you since the cradle. There’s something else going on, isn’t there?’
Alastair gave a rueful smile. ‘I never could hide anything from you, could I?’
She smiled. ‘As you got older, you didn’t always confide in me, but I could still tell when there was something wrong. What is it this time?’
‘I intended to tell you the whole, once I had your agreement to shelter the boy. Bringing him here may mitigate the accusations somewhat, but I’m afraid it’s quite possible that by helping Diana, I shall be dragged into a rather ugly scandal. If, once I’ve related the circumstances, you’d prefer to take refuge with Jane until the storm blows over, I’ll understand.’
With a sigh, she rose and poured them each another cup. ‘I’m not likely to abandon either a helpless child or my son, but perhaps you’d best lay it all out.’
‘Jane was correct when she told you that I’d...become involved with Diana again. I thought if I...could claim her for a time,’ he said, his ears reddening at the thought of confessing this to his mother, ‘I might finally rid myself of the lingering attachment that, try to deny it as I might, I never truly succeeded in stamping out.’
‘But once she poured out to you the reasons for breaking your engagement, described how shabbily she was treated during her marriage, and threw herself upon your compassion, you felt you must become her champion?’
He gave a negative shake of the head. ‘She made no such appeal. Oh, she told me why she had jilted me, of course, but that was all. The rest—what her life was like after her marriage, the threats against her son—I discovered only gradually, after inadvertent comments prompted me to make more pointed enquiries. She never could tell a lie, you know.’
‘Nor even a convincing evasion,’ his mother agreed, looking troubled. ‘I do remember.’
‘I know the story must seem fantastical to you. At first, I didn’t believe her account either. But as I spent time with her, dredging out the facts bit by bit, I gradually came to accept it was true. Oh, Mama, can you imagine—Diana without paints, without books, without music? It makes my heart ache to envisage it. And so isolated. Alone, with no one to call upon for sympathy or protection.’
‘So how does this lead to that great scandal you mentioned?’
‘I told you that, wanting to get a sense of whether there was in fact a danger to the boy or not, I decided to call upon the Duke. At the conclusion of a rather unpleasant conversation, during which he refused to acknowledge that Diana, as his father’s widow, was entitled to support from the estate and expressed his desire to punish her son, he boasted that he intends to accuse Diana of hastening his father’s death. If I persist in championing her, he threatened to allege that I encouraged Diana to do away with her husband, in revenge for his father stealing her away from me years ago.’
‘What?’ His mother gasped again. ‘But that’s outrageous!’
‘True. But since she did come to Bath immediately after his death, and we did...establish a relationship, the bare facts make such an accusation plausible.’
‘But it’s absurd! No one who knows you would believe such a calumny. I may hold Diana responsible for many sins, but murder? Surely Graveston isn’t seriously going to try to implicate her in his father’s death!’
‘Diana seems to think he will at least make the attempt. Pointing the finger of suspicion upon her, as she well understands, would do enough damage to her reputation that she will have more difficulty accessing the funds due her from the estate, and would almost certainly induce the Court of Chancery to take away her son.’
‘Being implicated as a widow’s lover who persuaded her to murder won’t do much for your reputation either,’ his mother noted tartly.
‘Which is why you might want to decamp to Jane’s.’
‘Surely you don’t intend to let the wretch get away with this!’ she said indignantly.
Alastair’s face hardened. ‘When it comes to Diana, I think the Dukes of Graveston have got away with quite enough already. The enmity between her and her late husband might have been well known, but so was the break between the former Duke and his heir. Fortunately, Will is back from Paris. I’m going to ask him to slink around Graveston Court and see what he can dig up. I’m betting he can gather enough counter-testimony that I can persuade Blankford to refrain from making any accusations, honour the estate’s responsibilities to Diana and leave the boy where he is.’
His mother chuckled. ‘If anyone can do so, Will can, the rascal. And love it, I’ll wager. Last time he and Elodie visited, he admitted that all that respectability, as a trader and Crown representative, was getting a bit dull.’
‘So he told me as well,’ Alastair agreed, smiling. ‘In the meantime, I want Diana and James here, where the Duke cannot bully or intimidate them. Frankly, it would be helpful to our cause if you would remain, so we can put it about that you invited Diana, an old family friend, to spend some time at Barton Abbey during her mourning period. Society would never believe you would countenance a murder plot, nor that I would dare to install a mistress under your roof.’
His mother raised an eyebrow. ‘Are you trying to install a mistress under my roof?’
&nbs
p; Alastair felt his face flush again. ‘Whatever our relations might have been elsewhere, I would never insult you by attempting such a thing here.’
‘Good,’ his mother said, then surprised him by adding, ‘Whatever my opinion of Diana, she deserves better.’
‘Still, I have to warn you that though I am hopeful of resolving this without scandal, it might come to that. If you’d rather distance yourself, I’ll understand. As long as you understand that, regardless of what happens, I will not desert Diana.’
‘What, let my son oppose a child-threatening autocrat alone? I’m not such a pudding-heart!’
Love and gratitude warmed Alastair like the blaze of a welcoming fire after a long winter journey. He leaned over to give his mother a fierce hug, rattling her teacup in the process.
‘Thank you, Mama. I knew I could count on you.’
‘I should hope so. Heavens, if you can’t trust in your mother’s support, who can you trust? Just promise me, Alastair, you’ll be...careful. I cannot bear to think of you suffering again as you suffered before.’
‘Almost Jane’s words,’ he said ruefully. ‘I’ve no desire to suffer either, so I’ll do my best.’
His mother had paused, watching him. When he remained silent, she said, ‘Very well. I’ll put it about to my friends that I’ve...reconciled with Diana and offered her my support. I shall even do my best to be civil to her. As for the child, it’s not been all that long since you and your cousins ran wild here. I think I can remember how to entertain a little boy.’
‘Bless you, Mama. What would I do without you?’
She smiled and tapped him on the nose. ‘You’d be desolate. Now, off with you. I must confer with Cook and the housekeeper and make sure we have something to tempt a child’s sweet tooth.’
Giving her another hug, Alastair rose and walked out. He knew she’d hoped to have him confess what his intentions were towards Diana after the battle with Graveston was over. Fortunately, she didn’t press him, because he wasn’t sure himself.
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