by Dilly Court
Angel felt the blood rush to her cheeks and she turned her head, unable to look him in the eyes. ‘That was a mistake, Danny.’
‘I won’t have that. Can’t you see that I’m asking you to marry me, Angel? I’m a clumsy fellow and I’m not good at making romantic speeches, but I really do love you, and I’d do everything in my power to make you happy.’ He reached across to take her cold hand in his. ‘Marry me, Angel. I’ll look after you and do my best to make a good life for us.’
She forced herself to look at him and her heart swelled with sympathy. There was no doubting the sincerity in his gaze and she struggled to find the right words, but there was no easy way to tell him that she was in love with another man. ‘Oh, Danny, I can’t marry you. I wish I could say yes, but …’
He released her hand and took up the reins, jerking at Dash’s head so that the donkey broke into a startled trot. ‘There’s someone else, isn’t there?’
‘Yes, I mean, no. At least he doesn’t know how I feel and I doubt if he’s ever thought of me in that way.’
‘Is it that toff Montgomerie? I’ve only seen him briefly with his sister. His sort doesn’t mix with the likes of me.’
‘Stop it, Danny. Don’t talk about yourself like that, and it isn’t Percy. As a matter of fact it’s possible that Percy is my half-brother.’
‘Your brother?’
‘No, he’s my half-brother, or so it seems. Galloway, the man who left me to rot in the workhouse, was in love with my mother, who was forced into marriage with Percy’s father. She gave birth to Belinda but she was still in love with Galloway, although it’s hard to believe, and she left her husband to be with him. Then she realised that she was expecting another child, which was me. Galloway abandoned her and she committed suicide. He firmly believes that I was the cause of all his misfortunes and that’s why he wants to ruin my life.’
Danny whistled between his teeth. ‘That’s some story. I can’t take it all in.’
‘I’ve always thought of myself as Angel Winter, but I suppose I’m Angel Montgomerie. It sounds very odd.’
‘And it puts you even further above me,’ Danny said gloomily. ‘You really are a lady.’
Angel was about to reply when Dash stumbled and Danny had a struggle to keep the cart steady. He leaped to the ground and went to soothe the frightened animal.
‘Is he all right?’ Angel asked anxiously.
‘I think so, but I’ll lead him until we reach the edge of the marsh, it’s not too far now.’
Angel sat back, breathing a sigh of relief. She was very fond of Danny and that kiss in the greenhouse had stirred up emotions and unnamed desires, but that was not enough. She loved his family, but marriage was out of the question, and it had nothing to do with her birth. She had had little time to think about her relationship with Belinda, but now, wrapped in a moist cloak of mist and apparently detached from the outside world, it dawned on her that having a real flesh-and-blood sister would be the most wonderful gift of all. And then the chill from outside wound its way around her heart – Percy had rejected the idea that they were related, and had walked away. Angel shivered and wrapped her mantle closer around her body. It was all too complicated and she was confused and emotional, but she must put personal problems aside and think of Grantley, her home and Hector’s birthright.
To her intense relief they left the marsh and the sun forced its way between the clouds as they reached the gravelled road. Danny climbed onto the cart and took the reins without saying a word, and they drove on in silence until they were about to pass Grantley Park.
‘I hope you won’t let this come between us,’ Angel said softly. ‘I do care for you, Danny. I’d want us to be friends.’
He shot her a wary glance. ‘Easy to say, but if what you say is true, you’re related to the Montgomeries and surely they’ll want you to live with them. Whatever happens to Grantley, your time there will come to an end.’
‘That’s why I’m doing this, Danny,’ Angel said earnestly. ‘Hector should inherit Grantley and I’m hoping that the document I’m taking to Sir Eugene will help in some way.’
‘He’s the one, isn’t he?’ Danny said suspiciously. ‘You’re in love with Captain Devane.’
‘Don’t be ridiculous. We were brought up as brother and sister. Of course I care what happens to him, and all the family.’ Angel fixed her attention on the road ahead. ‘I don’t want to talk about it, Danny. Just drive, please.’
He flicked the reins and encouraged Dash to move at his usual plodding pace, and they lapsed into silence.
By the time they reached Westwood Hall what had begun as light drizzle had turned into a downpour, blotting out the landscape and soaking Angel to the skin. Her teeth were chattering and she was shivering as Danny reined Dash in and the cart ground to a halt. The front door opened and a liveried footman ran down the steps to help Angel alight, but he looked askance at the conveyance and its driver.
‘Shall I pay the fellow, Miss Winter?’
Angel found herself blushing despite the cold. ‘Mr Wicks is a friend, James. He was doing me a kindness and I’ll be leaving again as soon as I’ve seen Sir Eugene.’
‘Take the cart to the coach house and you’ll be looked after until Miss Winter is ready to leave,’ James said frostily.
Angel shook her head. ‘Send for a stable boy to take care of the animal, James. Mr Wicks is with me.’
‘It’s all right, I’ll wait in the coach house,’ Danny said hastily. ‘I want to make sure that Dash is rubbed down.’ Without waiting for a response he urged the tired animal to move on.
Reluctantly, Angel allowed James to usher her into the hall. ‘I need to see Sir Eugene urgently.’ She shed her sodden mantle and took off her ruined bonnet, handing them to a maidservant.
‘I’ll see if the master is at home, Miss Winter.’ James bowed and walked off with a measured gait, reminding her of a well-trained circus horse she had seen as a child at Astley’s Amphitheatre. She paced the black-and-white marble-tiled floor as she waited for him to return. The elegant entrance hall with its Corinthian columns and sweeping staircase adorned with family portraits and paintings of chubby-cheeked cherubs seemed suddenly cold and uninviting. On previous visits she had been a welcome member of the Devane family, but now she felt very much an outsider. She turned at the sound of someone calling her name and saw Belinda hurrying towards her, arms outstretched.
‘Angel, I thought it was you. I happened to be looking out of the library window and I saw you climb down from such a comical contraption. Where have you been since the wedding? We’ve missed you.’ She gave Angel a warm hug. ‘Come into the library, there’s a roaring fire and it’s nice and private. We can have a talk without fear of interruption. Blanche never enters that particular room. I don’t think she’s ever read a book in her whole life, and Susannah is too busy flirting with Percy to think about anything else.’
Breathless from all the information that Belinda had flung at her, Angel shook her head. ‘I’d love to, Belle, but I am here to see Sir Eugene.’ She paused, taking in Belinda’s flushed appearance. ‘Why are you here, anyway? I thought you’d returned to London after the wedding.’
‘We did, but Percy made an excuse to come here.’ Belinda lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘I think he rather fancies his chances with Susannah, but don’t say I told you so. She flirted outrageously with him at the wedding.’
‘I still don’t understand why he was so upset when he discovered that we’re related. I know it was a shock to all of us, but he seemed quite angry.’
Belinda put her head on one side. ‘Are you so naïve, Angel? He had taken quite a fancy to you, and he was ashamed. Do you understand now?’
‘I didn’t know, Belle. I really had no idea, but it’s natural for brothers and sisters to care for each other.’
‘Don’t worry about our brother, he’s recovering nicely and looking elsewhere for romance. I think Blanche has always had a soft spot for Percy and he seems qu
ite taken with her. As for myself, I couldn’t be happier to find I have you as my sister.’ A frown creased Belinda’s smooth forehead. ‘But why are you here? And what made you travel in this awful weather?’
‘I’ve found the deeds to Grantley. I think there might be a way to prevent the developers from building on the estate, so I must see Sir Eugene. I certainly can’t trust Galloway.’ Angel turned her head at the sound of footsteps and saw James striding towards them. She patted Belinda’s hand. ‘I’ll tell you everything later, but first I must speak to Sir Eugene.’
‘In that case I’m coming, too,’ Belinda said, taking Angel by the arm. ‘They’re in the drawing room.’
Angel had hoped to speak to Sir Eugene in private, but Eloise, Susannah and Blanche were seated by the fire in the drawing room with their silk skirts spread out around them, flowerlike and in delicate pastels.
Sir Eugene rose from his chair. ‘Come and join us, Angel,’ he said, smiling. ‘You know you’re always welcome at Westwood.’
Belinda gave Angel a gentle push in his direction and sat down, folding her hands primly in her lap.
Eloise nodded graciously, but Susannah did not look pleased, and Angel was instantly aware of the reason when she turned her head and saw Percy standing by one of the tall windows that overlooked the parterre garden. He acknowledged her with a smile, and she took that as a good sign.
‘What brings you here today?’ Eloise demanded. ‘You looked like a drowned rat. Did you walk all the way from Ludgate?’
‘Come and sit by the fire,’ Blanche said graciously. ‘Move up, Susannah. You’re taking all the room on the sofa.’
Angel shook her head. ‘Thank you, but I haven’t come to stay. I need to ask Sir Eugene’s advice on a legal matter.’
‘Perhaps a change of clothing might be in order,’ Percy suggested, eyeing Angel with some concern. ‘You look as though you’re soaked to the skin.’
‘I’m sure my maid has something that would fit her,’ Susannah said spitefully.
Percy turned on her, frowning. ‘That was ungenerous, Susannah. Angel will be treated with the respect that is due to a Montgomerie.’
‘What are you talking about, Percy?’ Susannah’s pretty mouth drooped at the corners. ‘That’s not funny.’
‘No, indeed,’ Eloise added acidly. ‘It’s a poor joke.’
‘It’s no joke, Lady Westwood.’ Percy placed his arm around Angel’s shoulders. ‘We’ve only recently discovered the truth, but Angel is Belinda’s sister and my half-sister.’
‘What nonsense is this?’ Eloise demanded angrily. ‘If spoken in jest, it’s in very poor taste. I don’t believe a word of it.’
Chapter Nineteen
Belinda leaped to her feet and moved swiftly to stand beside Angel. ‘It is true, Lady Westwood, and we can prove it. Show them your ring, Angel.’
‘This is nonsense.’ Eloise rose to her feet. ‘It’s a clumsy attempt to rise above your station in life, Angel Winter. You had your cap set at my eldest son from the moment you set foot in my home.’
‘That is simply not true,’ Angel protested. ‘How can you say such a thing, Aunt Eloise?’
‘I am not your aunt. You were foisted upon me by my soft-hearted brother, who was also a simpleton when it came to women’s wiles. I know nothing about your ring, but it cannot possibly prove anything other than the fact you were a foundling, and your mother was probably a common thief. You will pack your bags and you will return to the streets where you belong. I want you out of my house now.’
‘That is both cruel and unfair,’ Percy said angrily. ‘I admit I was sceptical at first, but when I looked at the facts I realised that I was wrong.’
‘We believe that Angel is our sister and she will always have a home with us,’ Belinda said, blushing furiously. She shot an anxious glance at her brother before averting her gaze and staring down at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap.
Susannah tugged at her mother’s sleeve. ‘Mama, perhaps you ought to apologise. If Percy and Belinda are taken in by the story it’s their business.’
‘I think Angel and Belinda look like sisters,’ Blanche added shyly. ‘All three of you could easily be related. I agree with Belinda and Percy.’
Susannah tossed her head. ‘You would agree, Blanche Westwood. You’d do anything to curry favour with Percy.’
‘That’s unfair, Susannah.’ Percy moved to Blanche’s side, taking her hand in a firm grasp. ‘Blanche is the kindest, nicest lady I have ever known, and she deserves better from you.’
Susannah’s eyes widened in surprise. ‘Is there something going on between you two? If there is it’s been conducted in a very underhand manner.’
‘This has gone far enough,’ Sir Eugene snapped. ‘That remark was uncalled for and you will apologise to my daughter, Susannah.’
‘Why am I always the one in the wrong?’ Susannah leaped to her feet. ‘I have a headache, Mama. I’m going to my room.’
‘Really, Eugene,’ Eloise said plaintively. ‘Did you have to be so hard on her?’
‘Susannah needs to curb her tongue,’ Sir Eugene said angrily. He turned to Angel and his expression softened. ‘Why did you come here today? It doesn’t matter to me if you are a foundling or if you are a Montgomerie; as far as I’m concerned you have always been a part of the Devane household and you seem to have held the whole family together since Sir Adolphus passed away.’
Percy nodded in agreement. ‘Well said, sir.’
Angel opened her reticule and took out the parchment, which was creased but otherwise undamaged. ‘This is why I came. I walked all the way from Ludgate Hill to Hackney, and I might have been lost on the marsh if a friend hadn’t taken pity on me and given me a lift on his cart. I don’t want anything from the Devane family, but I love Grantley and I want to help save it for future generations. This deed might be the key, but it needs an honest solicitor to handle the case and that excludes Galloway.’ She handed it to Sir Eugene, who studied the document in silence.
‘I stand by what I said.’ Eloise rose from the sofa. ‘You are a sly minx, Angel Winter, and I want nothing more to do with you.’ She tossed her head and left the room, following in her daughter’s wake.
Blanche was the first to react. ‘She’s upset. Someone should go with her.’
‘She’s always like that,’ Angel said, shaking her head. ‘She’ll join Susannah and they’ll comfort each other.’
Sir Eugene folded the document and raised his head. ‘Yes, Blanche, don’t let them upset you. I’ll have a word with my wife later.’
‘May I see the deed, Sir Eugene?’ Percy asked eagerly. ‘I studied law at Cambridge, although I never took up the profession as I decided to devote my time to running the family business.’
Sir Eugene handed it to him. ‘A second opinion is always useful, but it does appear that part of the estate is common land, and the deeds clearly state that it should be held for the commoners in perpetuity. Whether that would be enough to stop the developers building new roads and houses is another matter, but if true, they might be willing to negotiate a settlement and look for land elsewhere.’
‘I know I can speak for Hector and the boys,’ Angel said slowly. ‘They can’t keep up the repayments, and they most definitely wouldn’t be able to raise sufficient funds to pay off the mortgage, even if they sold all their valuables.’
‘You’ve worked so hard to keep the family together, Angel.’ Percy patted her on the shoulder. ‘I’m proud to call you my sister.’
‘And so am I,’ Belinda added, speaking up for the first time.
Percy rewarded her with a smile. ‘Angel has had a hard time and she’s come through it bravely. Lady Westwood should be more considerate towards her.’
‘Be careful, Percy.’ Sir Eugene sent him a warning glance. ‘You’re speaking about my wife, but I do think she has undervalued Angel, and I’ll seek to remedy that. In the meantime I’ll go into town tomorrow and give this to my solicitor. That man Gallowa
y should be exposed as the charlatan he is.’
‘Thank you, Sir Eugene. I knew I could rely on you,’ Angel said, breathing a sigh of relief. ‘I’ll leave the deeds with you, but now I really must go. Danny will be waiting for me and we don’t want to be out on the marsh after dark.’
‘Nonsense,’ Sir Eugene said sternly. ‘You must stay for a day or two, while I try to sort out this matter.’
‘Thank you, sir, but I have to return to Ludgate Hill or they’ll wonder what’s happened to me.’
‘Surely we can send a messenger?’ Percy said, frowning. ‘Belinda and I are returning to London in the morning, Angel. You could come with us. Besides which, we need to talk about the future. You’re a Montgomerie and you deserve to be treated as such.’
Angel had no doubt that Percy and Sir Eugene meant well, but they were trying to run her life, and it was not what she had planned or wanted. She must find her own way and that did not include marriage to Danny or living on her half-brother’s charity. She made a move towards the door. ‘I must leave now. Danny is waiting for me.’
‘I won’t allow you to wander across the marsh at dusk.’ Sir Eugene reached for the bell pull. ‘My coachman will take you back to London tonight, if that’s what you wish, and I’m sure your friend can find his own way home.’
No matter how much Angel argued the point, both Sir Eugene and Percy were adamant that she must not be allowed to risk travelling across the marsh, let alone undertake the walk from Hackney to Ludgate Hill after dark. In the end she had to agree and Danny was sent on his way without giving her a chance to say goodbye or to thank him. After taking her leave of everyone, Angel was ensconced in the Westwoods’ barouche with a foot warmer filled with hot ashes to keep her warm, and a woollen blanket to cover her knees. Such luxury was a treat in itself, but she could not help worrying about Danny. The last thing she had wanted was to hurt his feelings: it was bad enough having had to reject his offer of marriage, let alone sending him home, no doubt thinking the worst.