by Janet Woods
What concerns could James Pelham have about two old sea-stained trunks containing grubby clothing – clothing without any great significance or value, but James would not have bothered sending it on had there not been anything of value in it. Why should he have bothered, unless – and a cold sort of dread sent goosebumps skittering up her spine – unless he suspected the worst?
When Sarah sent her a glance of enquiry, Adele handed her the letter. She had a right to know. Seconds later the girl said a little thoughtfully, ‘My grandfather didn’t mention me.’
‘Perhaps he doesn’t know about you.’ Something that was hardly likely. Adele only hoped it was only going to be that simple.
Twelve
Ryder smelled the smoke before he reached the cottage. He left Henry munching contentedly on the long grass at the edge of the pond and leaped over the gate, making his way to the walled kitchen garden. It was early summer and he felt wonderfully alive. For the first time since he’d been home, he truly appreciated the beauty of his heritage. The clement weather was lingering, and the farmers of the district were hoping for a good harvest to celebrate. Ryder had his kitchen garden, the produce of which they would need all of this year for the house. This year the corn crop had failed, due to the seed being of inferior quality. Ashurn had shrugged it off. ‘We ordered it too late.’
Next year things would be different, he told himself. He would personally order the seed.
He came across Adele and Sarah, their arms around each other’s waists, as women stood when they were close emotionally, and of one mind. They were watching an old travelling trunk go up in flames – one of the pair that had been lost for all that time, he imagined.
They turned when they heard his footfalls. Adele’s smile was spontaneous and wide, and the note of welcome in her voice pleased him when she said, ‘Ryder … what a pleasant surprise. We weren’t expecting you.’ It was as if she hadn’t seen him for a month of Sundays instead of just the day before, when he’d accepted the invite to dine with the aunts and had taken the opportunity to kiss her luscious mouth when he said goodbye.
‘You sound as though you missed me. Are those the trunks that went astray?’
It was Sarah who answered. ‘One of them … it belonged to my father,’ and she waved a singed sheet of paper under his nose. ‘Look, my lord. The man who delivered it placed this note inside but we can make neither head nor tail of it.’
He took the paper from Sarah, gave it a quick glance and gazed at Adele. ‘The note is addressed to you. Do I have your permission?’
She hesitated for a few moments, reluctance in her every movement and expression now, as though he’d spoiled her mood just by asking. Then she shrugged. ‘As you already know, the trunks have been missing for several weeks. The lock has been forced and he has indicated that some of the contents are missing. It appears that he intends to accuse me of stealing them.’
Does he by God! His glance absorbed the contents of the note. ‘He didn’t state what was missing. Very little of value, if the stained clothing was anything to go by.’
‘From what I can remember, there were silver buttons and buckles and a watch with his name on it. But then, as Sarah pointed out, he might have been wearing those items when he … drowned.’ She drew in a deep breath. ‘His body was never found.’ She moved on quickly. ‘Oh yes, and there was a leather purse with some coins in, and a small satchel containing banknotes.’
He flicked his eyes up to hers. ‘A large sum?’
‘I don’t know. I never saw inside it, and Edgar always kept it with him. Apart from my own, he never discussed finances with me, and he was frugal. But surely the trunk and the contents belong to Sarah now, so how can this man have the authority to question me over the contents?’
Smoothly, he cut in, ‘It’s a pity you burned the trunks, since it might have been useful evidence. Don’t look so worried. With your permission we’ll sort this out between us. To start with he won’t want the expense of taking you before a magistrate over a couple of mouldy travelling trunks. That was just added to intimidate you. Apart from that, he has no idea of what might have been in the trunks to start with, so how can he prove that something is missing?’
‘What will you do?’
‘Because of my position, and as is my right, I’ll dictate the place of meeting. That will put him at a disadvantage to start with. I’ll then demand written statements from any witnesses he might have. Now, I have some news of my own, which no doubt you’ll welcome. Hal Stover is returning in a fortnight or so.’
Sarah clapped her hands. ‘What fun. May I go and tell the aunts? They will probably invite you for breakfast.’
‘I’m sure I can manage to eat a second one.’ Would that the sight and mention of his own name evoked such a favourable exchange of cooing noises and smiles, especially from Adele, he thought, as he watched Sarah scurry off.
Immediately, awkwardness descended on them. Odd to think he’d kissed her senseless the evening before. Now she was as shy as the daisies decorating her hat.
He chuckled. So was he.
She gave him a startled glance, and then blushed, as if her mind was running along the same lines. She stared down at her hands, plucking at a seam in her glove. A mustard-hued smock covered the pink gown she wore, which was patched and a trifle worse for wear. A straw hat kept the sun from her face. Every time he set eyes on her she appeared lovelier. Flawless skin. Body nicely rounded, so he wanted to smooth his hands over the warm skin under her apparel. One day soon he’d take the wrappings from her and he’d taste her flesh and bury himself inside her warmth.
‘Look at me,’ he said and her eyelashes quivered, and he found himself suspended in the cool greenish shade of morning eyes. It was a little game they’d once played to see who could hold the gaze longest. He imagined her head on the pillow, her foxy hair spread in glorious array, her eyes gazing an invitation, and him kissing her like there was no tomorrow …
Her laughter dripped into his ears like pearls when he blinked. ‘Stop it at once, you look like a trout coming up for air with your mouth all puckered,’ she said, and a deliciously soft giggle tore from her mouth, one that said he could kiss her as soon as he’d manoeuvred her into the shadows where they couldn’t be seen. He moved a little to the left, and laughed. ‘You’re flirting with me.’
‘And you’re being obvious.’ She took a step to the right, towards a patch of shade, and dropped her handkerchief. He played the game, and when he stooped to retrieve it she pushed him over and took flight towards the house.
So, his lady was in a playful mood. He caught her by the waist, picked her up and twirled her round in a flurry of laughter.
‘Put me down, Ryder. My aunts are watching from the kitchen window and they will not approve of such hoydenish behaviour. It will create a wrong impression.’
‘More likely it will create a correct one. They didn’t object to me romancing you last night.’
‘That’s because they didn’t see you in the dark … they just guessed. Besides, they are hopelessly romantic. They still have their dreams, if not for themselves then for me. Although they will never come to fruition, please have some respect for them. We’re no longer children, so put me down.’
The barriers that kept her previous spontaneity under control still existed, but only when she remembered them.
He set her on her feet, put some space between them and nodded. She was out of breath and even more dishevelled. He had no claims to her and the innocence of their childhood should be put behind them. Her father had placed her trust in him and he’d abused it. He’d taken advantage of her innocence and ruined her life … his own – all their lives in fact. He was ashamed, yet angry with her for pointing it out. It hurt that she would have preferred the company of Edgar Pelham.
‘You’re right, it’s too early in the morning to romance a lady, unless one happens to wake up by her side or she’s rolling in a haystack with him. Perhaps you’d prefer a rougher approach.�
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Her smile faded and she walked away from him.
‘Del, please wait,’ he murmured.
She turned, her body upright, and her voice was thick with tears when she said, ‘Why? Do you have another insult to add to the last two then, my fine lord?’
‘Please accept my apology … forgive me,’ he said, all the while knowing he’d never forgive himself.
The eyes that scrutinized him from head to foot were as bleak as stone. Her lip curled. ‘You are no longer welcome in my home, my lord.’ Turning her back on him she hurried away, leaving him there.
‘Del! You don’t mean it.’
Not by the twitch of an ear did she indicate that she’d heard him. It was as if he no longer existed for her.
Her footsteps quickened and then she began to run. He couldn’t leave the matter like this so he ran after her. ‘Del, wait.’
She reached the door first and slipped through. Closing it in his face she turned the key in the lock.
Inside, Sarah and the aunts stood, their mouths open in astonishment. Adele gazed from one to the other. ‘That man is not allowed over the threshold again.’
Looking shocked, Patience indicated the plate of food in her hands. ‘What shall I do with his breakfast?’
‘This is what I think of his breakfast,’ and she pushed the window further ajar, snatched up the plate and its contents and threw it at him. Gypsy caught a straying sausage in mid-air and ran off with it, while Ryder deftly caught the plate and the rest of its contents.
He went to sit on the garden seat, and, using his fingers he began to eat. Gypsy joined him there in begging mode. The dog had no pride.
Patience looked scandalized. ‘You can’t treat Lord Madigan like that. He’s an earl.’
‘I just have, and I don’t care if he’s King George, King Neptune, King Canute and the mutton-headed House of Lords rolled into one.’
A snort came from Ryder, and then he began to laugh.
She burst into tears and stamped her foot – not that it would make much of an impact on the rug. Raising her voice she said, ‘Just at this moment I think I hate you, Ryder Madigan.’
Outside, the laughter was replaced by an abrupt silence.
She realized she’d gone too far when the gate creaked.
‘Goodness, what have I said? It’s not true.’ She gazed out of the window. Gypsy was attacking the breakfast plate, his tongue lapping up the remaining eggs and ham, swallowing without chewing so to get every scrap as he licked the plate around the lawn.
Ryder whistled for his horse.
A song thrush answered him, a melody pouring from its throat.
Ryder whistled again, inviting an answering neigh from Henry, to whom he addressed his next remarks. ‘First she leaves me at the altar, now she shames me in front of her family. It seems the lady no longer has any respect, or use for her faithful swain.’
‘Ryder …’ she implored.
‘Good day, Mrs Pelham.’ The creak of leathers was followed by the click of a tongue and the horse carried him away.
Prudence placed an arm around her shoulders but Adele slid from the embrace. She felt detached from the day, which had begun with such promise.
Patience offered her a sharp rejoinder. ‘Such a childish tantrum is unbecoming of you, Adele, especially when the earl has been so good to us. He has never been one to hold a grudge and it’s time you observed the niceties society expects. You must make your apology to him and he will accept it. Then it will be forgotten.’
A childish tantrum – was that what it had seemed to them? She admitted it. That’s exactly what it had been, yet … and she shrugged. ‘You don’t understand.’
Unexpectedly, Sarah challenged that notion. ‘How do you expect anyone to understand when you haven’t told the truth? Lord Madigan is not the liar, cheat or bully that my father was.’
‘Don’t go on, Sarah, please,’ Adele begged. ‘I tried to tell him … some of it, anyway.’
The girl sighed. ‘My father treated you badly and you’ve convinced yourself all men are to be avoided.’
It was a simple truth from a girl who’d observed, but had yet to experience the capricious nature of love.
Patience patted her on the shoulder. ‘Your mother and father would be ashamed of you, Adele.’
‘My father was ashamed. He preferred to listen to gossip and lies. If he’d listened to me – if he’d truly loved me, he would not have thrown me out to fend for myself, but would have defended me. Edgar Pelham tricked me with a note, supposedly from Ryder, and asking me to meet him.’
‘Alone, and at night?’ Patience said, scandalized.
Adele inclined her head. ‘It’s not what you think and it was all very innocent.’ Perhaps not all, but she’d been in love with Ryder, and he with her, and some things were private and not for her aunts’ ears. ‘I arrived there to discover Edgar waiting. He told me that Ryder had a mistress and he was with her. He contacted my father, saying we were lovers, and told him if he wanted me back he’d exchange me for a sum of money. My father preferred to keep the money in his pocket, so I had no choice.’
‘Oh, my dear, we never knew … Did you have a very bad time? Why did you marry the scoundrel? You could have come to us and we could have moved to another town where nobody knew us and nobody was the wiser. I must admit I’m surprised to learn that the earl broke your father’s trust.’
‘I doubt if he did. I shouldn’t have listened to Edgar Pelham. I was given to understand that I was not married legally to him since we were married on board the ship. Then there was Sarah. I’d grown to love her and couldn’t bear to leave her. She’d already lost one mother and was such a tiny little thing with nobody to love her.’
Moving to her side, Sarah took her hand.
Adele felt drained as she looked into the shocked eyes of her aunts. ‘I’m sorry. It’s not something I wanted to become general knowledge.’
‘Did that Pelham scoundrel know the marriage wasn’t legal?’
‘No … but neither did I for a long time. I found out quite by accident in conversation with the wife of a ship’s captain, and I kept the knowledge to myself in case I could use it when the time arose. I was going to ask the advice of Reverend Bryson. He’d always listened to my problems and advised me.’
‘A mistake since it was the reverend’s sneaky way of finding out your family business, and that of the earl – and it would be a bigger mistake if that wife of his was lurking nearby, like a malevolent wasp waiting for a spider to come along, so it could paralyse it and lay its eggs inside it. Don’t you think so Prudence?’
Prudence nodded. ‘They don’t lay eggs, but larvae. We went to a talk given by Harold Dutsworth once. It was so exciting!’
‘Only because he was showing an interest to you.’
‘Nonsense. He had his eye on Annie James, who had just come into a fortune.’
Patience sniffed. ‘I thought it was disgusting, The point I was trying to make was that Mary Bryson snoops. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was hanging under the eaves this minute, her ears flapping like bat’s wings.’
Sarah giggled, then squeezed her hand and hiccupped, ‘Sorry, Adele.’
Adele almost giggled herself. ‘Let’s hope she isn’t listening, then.’
‘If Mary places a foot on our land I’ll pull her tongue out by the roots and feed it to the ducks … that I will. Now, stop trying to divert me from the business at hand. I’m determined to hear the truth. How did that horrid Pelham creature manage to fall overboard?’
‘Have some thought for Sarah, Aunts. He is her father, after all.’
‘The girl is adult enough to be aware of the truth, and she probably noticed more than you think she did.’
‘Yes … I suppose she did.’
How had he fallen overboard? She couldn’t really remember. ‘We … that is, he and I had an argument … on the ship … about my legacy and this cottage. He said he’d heard that my father had died and he was going
to take control of my trust. I told him then that we were not legally married and he wasn’t entitled to claim it. He lost his temper and he punched me and I fell and banged my head. When I recovered consciousness I was soaked through and a seaman was pumping water from me. He saved my life. He told me Edgar had … gone.’
There was a sharp intake of breath from Prudence and a soft, ‘Oh … my goodness, how sad that not even his father could mourn him. Edgar Pelham appeared to be such a gentleman on the occasion I met him … on the surface, at least.’
‘He didn’t take me in,’ Patience said fiercely.
‘I told him I was leaving him when we reached England.’ Her head ached when she tried to remember. ‘There was somebody else there … standing in the shadows looking on. I thought it was an angel.’
Patience said, ‘Perhaps it was your guardian angel; they say we all have one.’
Sarah’s grip on her hand tightened a fraction. The girl was trembling as she said, ‘We were going to leave together, remember?’
‘Of course I remember. I wouldn’t have left without you. I thought there were people I trusted here and could have asked for advice. Apart from you, there was Stephen Tessler and the Brysons. But those people I’d once considered to be my friends had become enemies in my absence.’
A snort came from Patience. ‘They turned out to be leeches!’
‘I thought Ryder had died in India, and the Reverend Bryson would be living in Madigan House. I also thought that the scandal would have died with him. It turned out to be the opposite.’
It was late in the evening, nearly dusk. The air was still, the water calm, but cold. Above them the ship’s sails gave an occasional languid flap, as if trying to capture a wind to take them home. She could see Edgar’s face under the surface, his mouth open and panic in his eyes as his mouth reached for air.
Kneeling, she held out her shawl for him to take hold of. Instead, his hand closed around her wrist and he pulled. Her mouth filled with a torrent of water.
He scrambled over her body – the body that had never drawn a response from him except cruelty, for women repulsed him. His weight pulled her down. His hands clawed into her stomach like burrowing crabs, dug into her breasts and scratched deep into her thighs as he sank. Hands, feet and teeth, he fought for his life at the expense of hers, fingers hooked painfully into her shoulders.