by Dilly Court
The reception at Westwood Hall was a grand affair although Angel knew hardly any of the hundred or more guests. She had hoped to have a few quiet words with Sir Eugene, but he was fully occupied introducing his new bride to those who had not yet had the pleasure of her acquaintance. It was all very formal and well-mannered, and the servants kept everyone supplied with champagne, moving amongst the elegantly dressed notables and their ladies and melting away like well-trained ghosts when their services were not required. The scent of hothouse lilies and jasmine mingled with the expensive French perfumes worn by the ladies, and the equally expensive pomade and cologne used by the gentlemen. Strains of music from an orchestra in the ballroom created a gentle background to the chatter and laughter of the guests.
Angel spent most of the time with Belinda, who was shy in company, a complete opposite to her brother, who seemed to be enjoying himself hugely.
‘Percy gets on well with everyone,’ Belinda said, sighing. ‘I wish I was as much at ease with people.’
‘He’s a good few years your senior, isn’t he, Belle?’
Belinda nodded. ‘Yes, he’s thirty-one, ten years older than me. His mother died when he was born and Percy was eight when father remarried.’
‘I’m sorry. I had no idea. That must have been very difficult for Percy.’
‘I think so, but he never speaks of his early childhood, although I believe he had a series of nannies and then a governess, who was very strict. I think he was fond of my mother, but I don’t remember her.’
Angel looked up as a waiter hovered in front of them with a tray of champagne. She took a glass for herself and one for Belinda. It was hot in the orangery where they had escaped from the crush in the ballroom, and the air was humid. They found somewhere to sit and Angel flicked open her fan, wafting it to and fro. ‘Did your mama die, too?’
Belinda did not answer immediately. She gulped down a mouthful of champagne. ‘It’s a family scandal,’ she said in a whisper. ‘No one speaks of it.’
‘Then I won’t ask questions.’ Angel leaned back in the rattan chair, closing her eyes as she listened to the melodious strains of a Viennese waltz.
‘I want to tell you,’ Belinda insisted. ‘You’re my friend, Angel, and I have very few of those. Percy takes care of me, but sometimes I wish he wouldn’t be so protective. I’m not made of glass.’
Angel turned her head to give Belinda a searching look. ‘Whatever it is, I’m not in a position to judge anyone for their past.’
‘My mama was just a girl when she married our father. She was seventeen, barely out of the schoolroom, and Papa was in his fifties. I think it must have been an arranged marriage because Percy told me that Mama was very unhappy. After I was born she tried to run away, taking me with her, but she was forced to return. Then she fell in love with someone else.’
‘My goodness! What happened then?’
‘They were discovered and there was a terrible scene. Percy saw it all.’
‘Poor boy, it must have been awful for him.’
‘Papa threw her out.’
‘Did her lover stand by her?’
Belinda’s blue eyes filled with tears and she drained the glass of champagne in one swallow. ‘I don’t know; I wish I did.’
Angel’s hand flew to the ring that lay close to her heart. ‘What happened to her and her baby?’
‘A lighterman found her body floating in the Thames on Christmas Day nineteen years ago. I knew nothing of that until Percy told me. He waited until he thought I was old enough to understand, but since then I’ve never felt the same about Christmas. If I ever marry and have a daughter I’m going to call her Jane Elizabeth, in memory of my mama.’
‘Her name was Jane Elizabeth Montgomerie?’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
Angel unclipped the chain and slid the ring onto her cupped hand. ‘This belonged to my mother,’ she said softly. ‘It has initials engraved on it.’
‘Where did you get that ring?’ Percy’s voice had a sharp note that made both Angel and Belinda look up, startled.
‘You made me jump,’ Belinda complained, sniffing.
‘May I see?’ Percy’s expression was grave as he held out his hand to take the ring. He held it up to the light. ‘I’ve only seen one other exactly like this.’
‘You recognise it, don’t you?’ Angel sprang to her feet. Her heart was thudding against her ribs and she could hardly breathe. ‘You know who owned it.’
‘It’s probably a coincidence.’
‘What’s the matter, Percy?’ Belinda demanded anxiously. ‘What do you know about the ring?’ She shot a curious glance at Angel. ‘How did you come by it?’
‘I was abandoned as a baby,’ Angel said breathlessly. ‘This ring was left with me, and I’ve always assumed that it belonged to my mother. It’s inscribed with the initials J E M.’
Belinda’s voice shook and she grasped Angel’s hands in hers. ‘Are you thinking what I’m thinking?’
Percy stared at the ring as it nestled in the palm of his hand. ‘My stepmother was wearing a ring exactly like this the last time I saw her. The claw setting and the entwined ruby hearts are unmistakable.’
‘Are you sure, Percy?’ Angel said urgently.
‘It’s not something I would forget easily. I’d been sent to bed early – I suppose to get me out of the way because I’d witnessed the scene between Papa and my stepmother. It was a hot and sultry evening and the sky was the sort of yellow you get before a thunderstorm. The air was thick and smelled of sulphur. I knew something terrible was about to happen and I was scared. Then the door opened and Mama rushed in and flung her arms around me. I remember that she smelled of violets and her eyes were reddened from crying. She told me that she had to leave and I begged her not to go, but even as I clung to her I knew it was no use. As she raised her hand to stroke my cheek a flash of lightning made the rubies in her ring gleam like drops of blood against her white skin. Her last words to me were, “Look after your little sister, Percy. I know I can rely on you.” Then Father burst into the room and dragged her out, calling her names I can’t repeat. I never saw her again.’
‘What became of her?’ Angel asked urgently.
‘On the day I was due to leave for boarding school, Papa called me into his study and told me that my stepmother had run off with her lover and that he had abandoned her. She had thrown herself in the river and drowned.’
‘Are you really my sister?’ Belinda asked eagerly.
Angel was desperate to believe that she had found her family at last, but it seemed too good to be true. ‘I don’t know, Belle. All I do know is that the ring was found in the blanket that had saved me from dying from cold. It was Christmas Eve and the snow was falling. I might have died or ended up in the Foundling Hospital, but for the kindness of the Wildings. The rest you know.’
‘You are my sister,’ Belinda cried, flinging her arms around Angel. ‘It was fate that led us to meet on the highway. I knew I had a reason to love you, and now I know why.’ She held her hand out to her brother. ‘We have a sister, Percy.’
A scowl darkened his handsome features and he backed away. ‘It’s supposition – a coincidence. Perhaps the woman who abandoned Angel was a thief who had stolen the ring. Just because it was found with you doesn’t prove anything.’
‘But she could be our sister,’ Belinda insisted urgently. ‘She has blue eyes and fair hair. We even have the same sort of nose, if you look closely.’
‘Many people are blond and blue-eyed; it doesn’t mean that they are related. You’ve read too many romantic novels, Belle. It’s a coincidence, plain and simple.’ Percy turned to face Angel. ‘I’m sorry, but it’s a complete taradiddle.’
‘Why are you being like this, Percy?’ Angel demanded angrily. ‘Would it be so terrible if we were brother and sister? I thought we were friends.’
‘Yes, we’re good friends, but not brother and sister. It’s too much of a coincidence.’ He turned on his heel and
strode into the ballroom.
Angel was shaken by his reaction, but Belinda burst into tears, clinging to Angel and sobbing against her shoulder. ‘H-how c-could he be so hateful? You are my sister, I know it’s true.’
‘Perhaps he’s right, Belle,’ Angel said gently. ‘It isn’t proof and the ring could have been stolen.’
Belinda released her and sank back onto the chair. ‘You’re as bad as he is. And, anyway, if whoever abandoned her baby was a thief she wouldn’t have left a valuable ruby ring with the baby she didn’t want. Answer that if you can.’
‘I can’t,’ Angel said tiredly. ‘You know it’s impossible to prove it one way or the other. I still don’t know who I am, or where I belong.’ She kissed Belinda’s damp cheek. ‘Never mind, Belle. We can still be friends, but now there’s something I have to do – a promise I have to fulfil.’
‘Go on then. Leave me if you must, but if you see Percy tell him I want to go home, and I don’t mean Grantley. It’s high time we returned to London.’
‘I’ll tell him.’ Angel sighed heavily. Her moment of elation had ended in dejection and disappointment. She went in search of Sir Eugene.
It was the early hours of the morning by the time the carriage deposited Angel, Susannah and Humphrey on the steps of Grantley. Percy and Belinda had opted to stay at Westwood Hall overnight, and that saved Angel from making polite conversation. She was hurt and baffled by Percy’s sudden change in attitude. He had ignored her for the rest of the evening and Belinda had been too upset to join in the dancing after supper. Humphrey had partnered Angel, but she was glad when at long last Susannah could be persuaded to return home. The only good thing to come out of the evening was the fact that Angel had managed to snatch a quiet moment with Sir Eugene, who was in a benevolent mood and quite happy to grant the Wicks family permission to rent some land. They were to contact his estate manager and make the necessary arrangements. It seemed as though their luck had changed.
The Devanes were not so fortunate. Sir Eugene’s solicitor had advised the family to leave Grantley as soon as they had packed their belongings, and that left Angel with a decision to make.
Humphrey was up early next morning, his trunk packed and ready to be taken to the station.
‘I don’t know how you can look so fresh, Angel. I feel terrible,’ he said, rising from the breakfast table, his food left untouched.
She smiled as she reached for the marmalade. ‘I only drank a couple of glasses of champagne, maybe that’s why.’
‘You’re right, I shouldn’t have drunk so much, but I’ll sleep it off on the train.’ He leaned over to kiss her on the cheek. ‘I wish I could stay and help you to move everything to London. I could easily put off my return to Rugby.’
‘Yes, I know that, but your mama wants you to continue your studies and that’s more important than moving house. I’ve got plenty of help and the stable boys will load everything into the carriage. Russell is going to make several journeys, taking us last so that we can make certain that nothing is left behind. I wouldn’t want any of the family heirlooms to fall into the wrong hands.’
‘Hector would be so proud of you if he could see the way you’re handling such a difficult situation, but I feel useless.’
She rose to her feet and gave him a hug. ‘Don’t be silly, Humpty Dumpty. You’ve given me all the encouragement I need and you’ve always been on my side. Now I’m able to do something for you, so let’s not hear any more talk like that.’
He dashed his hand across his eyes, looking suddenly very young and defenceless. ‘I must go.’
‘I’ll come and see you off.’
‘No. Please, stay and finish your meal. I don’t want to blub in front of Russell. He’ll think I’m a big baby.’
Angel resumed her seat. ‘You’re the man of the house, so don’t let anyone treat you differently. Take care of yourself, Humpty, and we’ll see you in London at Christmas.’
He murmured something inaudible and hurried from the room.
Angel sighed and pushed her plate away. The full impact of leaving the home she loved hit her like a slap in the face. They were being forced out and there was no going back. She turned her head at the sound of approaching footsteps, thinking that Humphrey must have forgotten something, but it was Lil who appeared in the doorway carrying the silver coffeepot.
‘What’s going to happen to us?’ She filled Angel’s cup and added a dash of milk. ‘Are we to lose our jobs?’
‘No, definitely not while I have a breath in my body.’ Angel took a sip of coffee and reached for the sugar, adding a small lump and stirring. ‘I spoke to Sir Eugene last evening. Aunt Eloise has left everything to him, so until Hector returns you might say he’s the head of both households. He agreed with me when I suggested that we remove as many of the valuables from Grantley as possible and take them to the town house. If things go badly the Devanes could lose everything, including the paintings and the silver and all the things that mean so much to them.’
‘Some of us has got on well enough in our lives without owning such things.’
‘I know that, Lil, but we’ve been treated well here at Grantley. Sir Adolphus didn’t have to take us in, but he did, and I’ll be forever grateful to him. Now it’s time to repay some of his kindness.’
‘Well, the lady of the house wasn’t so generous. She’s treated you more like a servant than a member of the family. I’ve not been able to do anything other than watch how she’s used you to keep house and wait on the young madam, Miss Susannah. I suppose she came back with you last night?’
‘Susannah is going to live at Westwood Hall. She came home last night to make sure that Meg packed everything she needs and the rest of Mrs Devane’s belongings – I mean, Lady Westwood’s belongings.’
‘I thank the Lord that my lady has moved house. Mrs Devane was bad enough, but Lady Westwood will be unbearable.’
‘Now you’re being prejudiced,’ Angel said, laughing. ‘I’ll come to the kitchen when I’ve finished breakfast and I’ll speak to Cook, Meg and Flossie. They can all come to London with us, but Sir Eugene isn’t prepared to pay their wages. We’ll all have to find work if we’re to keep body and soul together, at least until Hector returns home.’
Lil eyed the gleaming array of silver on the sideboard. ‘I suppose I could start packing this lot up if I can find a tea chest or two in the attic.’
‘Anybody would think you were eager to see London again.’
Lil tossed her head. ‘I was born and raised in Whitechapel. I’ve got Thames water in me veins instead of blood, so of course I want to go home, but you’re my girl, Angel, and that’s more important to me than anything. Where you go, I goes too. It’s as simple as that.’
Angel jumped to her feet and threw her arms around Lil. ‘I love you, Lil. You’ve been more than a mother to me.’
Lil’s sallow cheeks were tinted with pink, but she pushed Angel away. ‘Get on with you. Don’t talk soft.’ She hurried from the room, wiping her eyes on her apron.
Left to herself, Angel glanced at the empty chairs set about a table that could seat twenty-four. Memories of happier times flashed before her eyes. Christmas dinners with Uncle Dolph taking his rightful place at the head of the table, the aroma of roast goose and plum pudding and the giving and receiving of gifts. There had been birthday parties and celebratory dinners when the boys came home from school or university, and then Hector’s last meal before he left to rejoin his regiment. It seemed as though a long shadow passed through the room as she remembered his hasty departure. She had missed him more than she was prepared to admit, even to herself, and she wished with all her heart that he were here to save Grantley from the grasping hands of the developers. It would give her much satisfaction to see the look on Galloway’s face if the matter could be resolved in a manner that prevented him making money from the family’s misfortune. She was just about to sit down again when a flurry of activity in the entrance hall made her rise hastily from the table. Sh
e opened the door and for a moment it felt as though, by thinking of him, she had summoned up the devil.
Galloway strode towards her, his beetle brows drawn together over the bridge of his bulbous nose. ‘What’s going on here?’ he demanded, indicating the tea chests.
‘What does it look like?’ Angel countered angrily. ‘Who gave you the right to barge into my home uninvited?’
‘This is no longer your home, Angel Winter. It belongs to your late uncle’s creditors, and that means the contents as well.’ Galloway swaggered into the dining room. ‘The silver is worth a pretty penny, and that will go towards paying me for my part in the deal.’
‘You can’t take the silver or the paintings. They’re family heirlooms.’
‘And they remain in the house.’ Galloway turned to face her, eyes narrowed. ‘Don’t try to be clever, Angel Winter, because you won’t win. Sir Eugene’s solicitor may have bought you some time, but don’t imagine that will save Grantley. You will leave the house today and take nothing other than your personal effects. Do I make myself clear?’
Angel drew herself up to her full height, meeting his arrogant gaze with a steady stare. ‘Perfectly clear, but one thing I don’t understand is your reasons for behaving in this manner. You could be struck off for what you’re doing.’
He shrugged. ‘I’m looking after my own interests as well as those of Grantley. The creditors could have taken possession of the estate without giving you the chance to repay what you owe.’
‘You speak as though this is personal to me. I own nothing, largely thanks to you. I believe that you played a part in Uncle Joseph’s downfall, and you hoped that Aunt Cordelia would marry you, but she had more sense.’
‘You were just a child. You don’t know what you’re talking about, and anyway, I don’t have to listen to you. I am in charge now and you will do as I tell you.’
She held her ground as he made a move towards her. ‘Why do you hate me? What did I ever do to you?’