Reunited with the Major

by Anne Herries

  Brock accompanied Samantha to the top of the stairs and then they parted, whispering for a moment and snatching one more lingering kiss before going to their own rooms.

  Closing the door behind her, Samantha saw that the oil lamps had been lit and sitting in the armchair fast asleep was the maid who had dressed her earlier. The poor girl had waited up and at last fallen asleep in the chair.

  Samantha struggled to unfasten her gown herself, not wanting to wake the girl, but she woke as Samantha was struggling with the hooks she couldn’t reach midway down her back, apologising for falling asleep.

  ‘It is very late,’ Samantha said. ‘Can you unfasten these last hooks, please? I’ve managed the rest.’

  ‘Oh, ma’am, you won’t tell Mrs Wicklow that you were half-undressed when I woke, will you?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Samantha said with a little smile. ‘That shall be our secret.’

  Chapter Nineteen

  Samantha’s new maid, whose name was Lily, delivered the note from Brock with her tray of chocolate, soft rolls and honey. She scanned the few lines and saw that he was feeling much better and had decided to visit one of the outlying farms with his father.

  Father says we shall drive in the curricle, so I can manage that very well, dearest. I wanted you to know that I feel so much better today—hardly any pain at all—and that is because of you, Sam, because of last night. I am the luckiest and happiest man alive, my darling.

  Stay in bed and rest for a couple of hours and I shall be home for luncheon.

  Your own, Brock

  Samantha smiled and placed the note in her leather writing case. She glanced at the little gilt clock on the dressing table and saw that it was already ten o’clock. Since she was normally up soon after eight, she felt shocked to think that she had overslept until she recalled that it had been very late when she got to bed—and the reason for her lateness made her smile contentedly.

  ‘What would you like to wear, ma’am?’ Lily asked, looking at the gowns in the armoire.

  ‘Oh, the green walking dress, please,’ Samantha said. ‘I think I shall walk as far as the lake this morning.’

  ‘It is lovely up there,’ Lily said. ‘I sometimes go round to the other side when I have my day off, take a picnic and...’ She stopped and blushed guiltily.

  ‘Do you have an admirer, Lily?’

  The girl hesitated and nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am, but you won’t tell, will you? Mrs Wicklow doesn’t allow us to have callers.’

  ‘Oh, what a shame,’ Samantha said. ‘When the major and I are married we are to go abroad and I shall need a maid and manservant to go with us. I would not mind a married couple.’ She heard Lily’s squeak of pleasure. ‘What does your young man do, Lily?’

  ‘He is a footman in Sir Gerald Swinnerton’s house, ma’am, but he has always wanted to be a gentleman’s valet.’

  ‘Well, I could not promise that the major would take him on as a valet, but we shall certainly need a manservant to do all kinds of things, but it would mean living in India and being prepared to live wherever the major is sent.’

  ‘Oh, ma’am, if you would give us the chance. May I speak to Alfred and tell you what he thinks? He will come to the lake on Sunday.’

  ‘That is tomorrow,’ Samantha said, and nodded. ‘There is plenty of time to think over my suggestion, Lily. We shall not leave England before the end of the year.’

  Lily blushed and thanked her, helping her into the green walking gown. It was as Samantha was setting her very fetching hat on her head that she thought of something, turning to Lily with a lift of her fine brows.

  ‘I shall walk to the lake after I have been to enquire how Lady Brockley is this morning. I ought to have an escort. Would you accompany me? You must ask Mrs Wicklow’s permission, of course.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am, I’d love to come, if Mrs Wicklow can spare me.’

  ‘Very well, leave tidying this room until you return. Run down and speak to her now. I shall be in the hall in fifteen minutes.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am. I’ll be as quick as I can.’

  Leaving her, Samantha walked along the hall to the rooms she knew her hostess occupied and knocked. She was invited to enter and saw that Lady Brockley was sitting in an armchair by the window, gazing out at the view, a book on her lap. Her smile was polite but cool as Samantha approached her.

  ‘I thought I would enquire how you were this morning before I go for a walk. I should like to take a look at the lake, as it is such a lovely morning.’

  ‘Yes, it is very beautiful up there. As a young bride I walked there often on a nice day.’ A slight frown touched her forehead. ‘Brock seems to think there is some danger of that fellow harming you, Samantha. You should not go alone.’

  ‘I have asked Lily to walk with me. I am sure I shall be safe here on your estate, ma’am.’

  ‘Yes, that is what I told my husband, but you must be careful. Perhaps one of the footmen ought to go with you.’

  ‘I do not believe it necessary,’ Samantha said. ‘Are there any little tasks I might do for you?’

  ‘No, no, I have servants enough,’ Lady Brockley said. ‘You are my son’s guest. You must just enjoy yourself.’

  ‘Then I shall see you at luncheon.’

  Samantha left her and went downstairs to the hall, where she discovered Lily was already waiting for her with her parasol and gloves.

  ‘Mrs Wicklow said I am to do whatever you wish, ma’am, and forget my other duties, so here I am.’

  ‘That is kind of her,’ Samantha replied, her voice quivering slightly. Lady Brockley thought of her as her son’s guest, but the rest of the household had obviously begun to think of her as a future mistress and to treat her accordingly. ‘Shall we go? The lake is a fair walk, I dare say?’

  ‘Yes, ma’am. It takes me more than an hour to reach the other side, but not half as much if you stay this side. There’s no bridge, you see, and you have to walk through those trees on your right to get to the other side, because the other route is too steep and dangerous, and you might tumble into the lake. It is terribly deep, even near the edge there, and you could drown before anyone could get you out.’

  ‘I wasn’t thinking of going to the other side today,’ Samantha reassured her, ‘but I shall remember what you’ve told me.’ She wondered briefly why Lady Brockley hadn’t warned her, but then dismissed the thought. It would be foolish to think Brock’s mother her enemy. ‘It is such a lovely day I thought we might sit and watch the water.’

  ‘And the swans, ma’am. Sometimes I bring a few crusts to feed them, though I think his lordship’s groom brings them special food when they need it in winter.’

  ‘Yes, I’m not sure bread would be good for them, though they take it eagerly enough.’

  Brock’s family estate was very beautiful on a pleasant summer day. Ancient trees had stood untouched for hundreds of years, their branches heavy and sometimes sweeping the ground where the weight of ages had borne them down. Birds fluttered in the trees and a thrush sang its sweet song, while a shy brown bird ran hurriedly into the long grasses to hide. In the distance men were working, cutting the long grass in a meadow, the sound of their voices muted as they sang a traditional song.

  Lily chattered at her side, but although Samantha smiled and nodded, her thoughts were elsewhere as she welcomed the warmth of the sun and the sweet scents of the countryside. How peaceful it was here and how idyllic. Graceful willows bowed down to the water’s edge, their bright green fronds dipping into the dark water. A flash of colour caught Samantha’s eye and she touched Lily’s arm as the kingfisher swooped, disappeared briefly and then appeared once more, a tiny silver fish wriggling in his beak for an instant before it was swallowed.

  ‘Oh, yes, ma’am, I think...’

  What Lily was about to say was lost as Samanth
a heard a muffled shout to her right and looked at the trees, which clustered to one side of the lake, right down its steep bank. She caught a flash of blue...a man’s coat...and saw its owner raise his arm. The sunlight glinted on metal and then just as the shot rang out, she felt a push in the middle of her back and stumbled, falling to the ground, feeling the rush of air as the ball passed harmlessly by.

  Lily had started to scream at the top of her voice and now there was shouting and the sound of men’s voices calling instructions to capture the fugitive. Samantha had pushed herself up and looked back at Lily, whose quick action had saved her life. The girl was staring at the woods and as Samantha followed the direction of her gaze she saw a man burst from the cover of the trees and run headlong down the bank. He was trying to escape and, as they watched, they saw one of the pursuers stop and fire a shotgun at the fleeing man. Clearly afraid for his life, he rushed down the steep incline towards the lake and then, quite without warning, he seemed to lose his footing or the bank gave way and he tumbled into the water.

  The men chasing him were following more cautiously, obviously familiar with the banks of the lake and knowing how treacherous it could be. The man in the blue coat was floundering in the water, trying to swim, but soon disappeared under the surface again, reappearing to splutter and thrash uselessly with his arms before going down again.

  On the edge of the bank, the estate men had formed a chain and someone had a rope, which he attached to a tree and then threw towards the drowning man. He reappeared once more and they shouted to him to take the rope and save himself, but he did not hear or did not understand and made no attempt to reach out for it, disappearing once more. Although the men watched for him, and one tied the rope about his waist and then went into the water to look, they could not find him.

  ‘What an awful way to die,’ Samantha said, and shuddered. ‘If he could not swim, why did he run towards the lake?’

  ‘The water be terrible cold,’ Lily said. ‘He wasn’t the first to drown here, ma’am, it’s the shock of the cold, see. Strangers don’t know but there’s only one place to swim in safety, where it’s shallow enough to touch bottom until you get used to the cold. Where he went in there’s reed beds what catch your legs and hamper you, and once you go under the water gets in your lungs and you start to drown—unless someone gets you out fast. They’ll need the boats if they’re to recover his body.’

  ‘We must go back to the house,’ Samantha said, because she felt shaken and a little sick. ‘That was all rather unpleasant.’

  ‘You shouldn’t worry about him, ma’am,’ Lily said stoutly. ‘The master warned us that you might be attacked and that’s why he had the keepers armed and ready.’

  ‘Oh, I didn’t know,’ Samantha said, and stood up. Discovering she felt a little faint, she put a hand to her head and Lily came immediately to her side, putting an arm about her.

  ‘Are you hurt, ma’am? I thought you wasn’t hit.’

  ‘I wasn’t. It was just the shock. I shall be all right in a moment.’

  ‘Lean on me,’ Lily offered. ‘I’m strong and—’ She broke off as they saw the curricle approaching, and she gave a glad cry. ‘It’s the major and his groom, ma’am. You’ll be all right now.’

  The horses had been brought to a halt and Brock jumped down, hurrying towards her. ‘We heard some shots and one of the men told us an intruder had been spotted. He said you had been fired at.’ He looked anxious as he reached her. ‘Were you hurt?’

  ‘No, of course not, Brock,’ Samantha said. ‘Lily pushed me out of the way and the shot passed harmlessly by—though had she not been so quick I might have been hurt.’

  ‘Mrs Wicklow told me to keep my eyes peeled,’ Lily said proudly. ‘I thought if he were hiding them trees would be the place and I saw him raise that pistol so I pushed my lady out of the way.’

  ‘Then you have my deep gratitude,’ Brock told her, and put his arms about Samantha, holding her tenderly. ‘You look pale, my love. I dare say it is the shock. Let me take you home in the curricle.’

  ‘Yes, perhaps that would be best,’ Samantha said. ‘Whoever it was slipped in the lake. He...he must have drowned.’

  ‘I dare say they will find his body caught in the reed beds. The lake is dangerous, Samantha. It looks beautiful, but is best viewed from a safe distance. We always warn guests not to walk too close to the edge.’

  ‘Yes, Lily was telling me that the water is very cold and the reed beds treacherous. I shall be sure not to get too close.’

  ‘It is safe if you know where to stand for the water is shallow there and the bottom sandy, but the sides are very steep and we always use the landing area when we want to feed the swans.’

  Samantha shivered and he looked at her in concern, but she smiled and tipped her head to smile up at him reassuringly. ‘I shall be very careful in future, you may be sure, Brock. If it was Barchester—and I can think of no one else who could wish to kill me—I do not fear another attempt on my life, but I must admit the lake no longer seems so enticing.’

  ‘No, I dare say it does not just now,’ he agreed. ‘I swam safely as a boy here, but I knew the dangers. We shall not live here for years, Samantha, and by then this will be a vague memory. Besides, the man came here to kill you or both of us. I cannot regret that he fell to his death.’

  ‘No.’ She lifted her head and smiled. ‘Do not worry, my dearest. I shall simply forget about it and look forward to the wedding.’

  Samantha allowed him to help her into the curricle, Lily beside her. She kept her smile in place and talked of other things during the short drive back to the house, but she thought privately that her walks would be confined to the park or the formal gardens in future.

  * * *

  Lady Brockley greeted the news of the incident calmly.

  ‘Well, that was most unpleasant for you, Samantha. Perhaps I ought to have sent a groom with you. However, I was sure you would be all right for I knew my husband had armed men patrolling the grounds.’

  ‘I was quite safe, ma’am,’ Samantha said, and caught a glimpse of regret in the lady’s eyes. ‘Lily was so quick and sensible—and I have asked Lord Brockley if I may steal her when we leave here for she wishes to marry and I should like to employ both her and her sweetheart, if they are willing to come with me.’

  ‘Yes, I dare say such an action would make one attached to the girl,’ Lady Brockley said. ‘I am sure she may be spared for she is merely one of the housemaids.’

  It seemed that Brock’s mother showed little emotion, other than for her husband and son, and Samantha realised that although she did not particularly welcome her son’s choice she was not her enemy. She had spoken her opinion and seemed to consider the matter closed.

  Indeed, after the incident at the lake, and the eventual discovery that the would-be assassin was indeed the Marquis of Barchester, she seemed to unbend a little towards Samantha, and said more than once that she was shocked the man had been allowed to get close enough to her son’s fiancée to fire a shot at her.

  ‘I was quite sure you would be perfectly safe and it was all a fuss over nothing,’ she told Samantha more than once. ‘I always walked to the lake safely when I was your age.’

  ‘No one could have guessed that he was here and waiting for his chance to kill either Brock or myself. Fortunately, I was unharmed and can now look forward to the wedding.’

  ‘Yes, we must think of the future,’ Lady Brockley said. ‘I can see that my son is very fond of you, dear Samantha, and I hope—I do hope that you will both of you be happy and give us grandchildren.’

  Samantha smiled and thanked her. She was growing accustomed to her future mother-in-law’s ways and thought that provided she was only expected to stay for visits of a few weeks’ duration she could manage to be content here. The walks in other directions had sufficient charms to please her, and
now that Brock was stronger every day they went driving together. Soon he would be able to ride again and then she knew they would spend several happy hours exploring the countryside.

  The wedding was set for the end of September and that was fast approaching.

  * * *

  ‘Oh, you do look lovely, Samantha,’ Rosemarie said as Lily finished arranging the veil and tiara. ‘Such a beautiful gown. Who made it for you? I should like her to make mine for me.’

  ‘Well, perhaps she will, if you ask her nicely,’ Samantha said, and smiled at Lily. ‘I had no idea of Lily’s talents when I asked her to be my maid. She is leaving here and coming with us, first to London to my house until Brock has settled his affairs, and then out to India. She will be married in town and her husband is to be our manservant and travel with us.’

  ‘Lily made this gown?’ Rosemarie looked at the beautiful ivory satin-and-lace gown in awe. ‘I thought it had come from Paris. You are lucky to have her, Samantha.’

  ‘Yes, I know.’ Samantha smiled, remembering that Lady Brockley had dismissed the girl as being just a housemaid. She little knew what she had lost, but she was a rather cold person, except where her family was concerned, and had no idea that Lily could do such work.

  ‘I suppose Lily is too busy to make me a gown?’ Rosemarie said enviously.

  ‘She may find time in London, for I shall give her leave to do it if she wishes,’ Samantha said, and nodded encouragingly at Lily.

  ‘I should like to, miss—providing it doesn’t interfere with my duties for my lady,’ Lily said shyly.

  ‘Your duties will not be too arduous,’ Samantha said, and glanced at herself in the long mirror. ‘Now, I think we should go down. Go and join the others downstairs, Lily. When we return I shall want you to help me, so you must sit in the back of the church and slip out when we go to sign the register.’