In My Lady's Chamber

by Laura Matthews

  "It is unlikely that the treasure was left there,” he protested.

  "I'm sure you’re right, but if a secure spot was found, it is just possible that it was. Unlikely, I agree. Every indication is that the family lived in the immediate neighborhood, probably somewhere around Bicknoller or Channock.”

  Edward considered her chart and the map which lay beside it. "The Heythrops have owned or inherited several properties in the neighborhood. Even when Seagrave Manor stood, they had the manor house here. Aren’t there records which show?”

  "No, which leads me to believe they may not have owned the place in which they stayed for those five years. I dare say it’s not important, but it’s a piece of the puzzle I’d like to fill in.” Theodosia moved her finger down the list of earls until she came to the seventh. "Here is where the chain of passing on the secret broke. He was born in 1600 and died after the Battle of Lansdowne Hill in 1643. His son began the search, and his grandson wrote the letter we have with its few clues.”

  Her nearness was doing alarming things to Edward’s emotions. Although he would not even acknowledge it to himself, he had glanced to see whether from the open door they could be seen by the desk, and found they could not. And he doubted very much that there was another soul at Charton Court abroad at this late hour. Not that he contemplated doing anything outrageous. He simply wished to touch the gleaming brown hair, to hold one of those soft, shapely hands. But when she glanced up from the chart, her full lips smiling and her eyes friendly, he had an almost uncontrollable urge to kiss her.

  With the unerring instinct of a woman of her beauty and precarious position, Theodosia did not need the slightest movement on his part to tell her how matters stood. Before he could even decide what to do—pull her into his arms, or set the candle down, or grab her hand with an impassioned speech of his regard for her--she stepped hastily to the door and asked, "Did you hear Lady Eastwick call? I thought I heard something.”

  Poor Edward felt as though he’d suffered a severe blow to the stomach. He didn’t believe for a moment that his mother was awake or calling for anyone but he knew the turn such a suggestion gave him. In a choked voice he murmured, "I didn’t hear anything. I’m sure Mother is asleep, but I’ll check if you wish.”

  “If you would, Lord Heythrop; it would ease my mind. No doubt it was simply one of those creaks or groans for which old buildings are famous, but I would rest better knowing you had checked.” She pointedly noted the time. "Oh, dear, it’s gone midnight. I’ll have to finish this in the morning. Thank you for your help.”

  In no time at all Edward found himself in the dark hall, her door closed behind him. Shame was uppermost in his mind. How could he have even considered approaching Miss Tremere in such a situation? Was he not responsible for the welfare of every resident at Charton Court? The governess was an employee of his family and he had almost made a most improper advance to her. Of course he would not have been so lost to all honor as to have seduced her, but neither was he in a position to offer marriage. She was not as wellborn as he, and he had a very strict sense of what was required of a Heythrop when it came to allying himself to a young lady in marriage.

  There had been moments over the last few days when he had thought of arguments against his being so severely handicapped. Miss Tremere was, after all, quite obviously of gentle birth. His mother liked her extremely well. The children had shaken off their grief and plunged into the search with renewed vitality simply because of the governess’s contagious enthusiasm. What a picture she had made as they arrived home late from Bicknoller, her cheeks glowing and her eyes laughing when she had related to Lady Eastwick the suspense of the wait to see what the old box contained.

  Miss Tremere—Theodosia—could make the most amusing story out of the dullest expedition imaginable!

  Edward admired her, and the calm efficiency with which she dealt with the family and the servants alike. She seemed to find no ambiguity in her position: above the servants and below the family. Always good-humored and sure of herself; others could not help but be drawn to her. And Edward had allowed himself to think of her in quite another way altogether! It never occurred to him that the object of his infatuation would have rejected him. He was, after all, heir to the Earl of Eastwick, one of the most illustrious titles in the land! When one enjoyed a truly remarkable situation, neither age nor inclination was likely to stand the way . . . and Edward was very aware that Miss Tremere was several years older than he.

  If he had thought the suggestion would have received even the least attention from his mother, he would have broached the possibility of replacing Miss Tremere. It would be a good thing to remove temptation from his sight. Of course, he would have helped to find her a new position, preferably in Yorkshire or somewhere in that vicinity. Anywhere that he had no chance of falling under her spell again. But he knew his mother and he knew precisely what her reaction would be: "You can’t be serious! Replace Miss Tremere? Have your wits gone begging, Edward? Even in my fondest dreams I have never imagined a more perfect governess for the girls. And have you forgotten that she has earned the respect of your brothers as well? I think you must be suffering from the onset of a fever, my dear. I'll have Dr. Horner come around.”

  No, there was no chance that she would leave. He would have to keep a very strict guard on himself in future. Wrapped in his thoughts, he entirely forgot to pause at his mother’s door, but stomped disconsolately to his own chamber, setting the candle on his bedside table and calling for his valet. And with Amy only seven, it might be another ten years before the Heythrops pensioned her off!

  * * * *

  At the breakfast table Theodosia found Edward polite but distant. He refused to join in any discussion of the children’s activities, making a point of studying a newspaper, though it couldn’t have been current, for none had arrived for two days. Lady Eastwick offered to show Steyne her gardens and Theodosia proposed a jaunt into the Quantocks to the children for an overview of the area. The Honorable James Heythrop had not, of course, arisen as yet.

  The Quantocks are not a lengthy range, running only ten or twelve miles from the area of Taunton to the northwest. On the eastern side are woodland dells and heathy moorlands, while on the west side, from which the Charton Court party ascended, there are steeper, barer slopes covered with bracken, heather, scrub oak and whortleberries, which ripen just in time for the released schoolchildren to go “whorting.” The range is narrow with only a few noticeable peaks, but the red deer roam them and Theodosia was not averse to allowing her charges to explore.

  They wandered as far as Will’s Neck, the tallest summit, to survey the various combes which stretched down from the hills and into the flatter land beyond, identifying villages and locating the estates which housed their neighbors. Theodosia pointed out the sites which were marked on the old map of the treasure-seekers but their locations brought no fresh ideas and the party sat down to their picnic lunch. After discussing Bicknoller Hill, Trendle Ring, Quantock Moor, Thorncombe Hill, Black Hill and the various ancient barrows and tumuli, Theodosia turned to Charlotte.

  “Have you heard from Christina Winchmore, Charlotte? Are they back from London?”

  “We expect them any day now. I can hardly wait to hear what she has to say of the season.” Charlotte knew a moment’s hesitation at showing so much interest in the frivolities of a London season, when she remembered that they were still mourning poor Katey, but Miss Tremere smiled encouragingly. "I'm sure she’ll send a note as soon as they reach Basing Close. We can go to visit her, can’t we? It’s been months since I saw her.”

  "As Basing Close is one of the estates we wish to visit, I should certainly think so. Remember what we saw from the hill, the four estates clustered about Charton Court: Old Lodge, Lovelands, The Beeches and Basing Close. On the old map they are each marked, and I can see no reason why, so I think we had best investigate, as we did at The Beeches. Are there any ties with the Heythrop family? Are there any mysterious carvings on the
mantels? That sort of thing.”

  "But we’ve all been to each of them dozens of times,” Thomas protested.

  "Ah, but we weren’t looking for the treasure then. That is a significant difference.” Theodosia made an airy gesture with her hand. "We must see everything with new eyes. The ninth earl said they had searched the windmill, but I for one intend to do so again. Unless we cover every bit of the ground again, we may miss some clue, if not the treasure itself.”

  Her confidence in their eventual success, or at least in the possibility that they would be successful, never failed to inspire them. Homeward bound once more, they did not consider the day’s journey wasted, but the beginning of a new direction. Theodosia herself had different cause to rejoice, and it had nothing to do with their treasure hunt. Christina Winchmore was the answer to her most recent dilemma, she felt sure, if the girl had not attached someone in London. When Christina had left with her family in the spring, Theodosia was aware that the girl had a decided tendre for Edward, and she would make a perfectly suitable match, if that stuffy young man’s eyes could be opened to her attractions. Despite his obvious resolve, displayed at the breakfast table, to ignore her in future, Theodosia knew she would be a great deal more comfortable in her role as governess at Charton Court if Edward’s attention were directed elsewhere.

  Charlotte was handed the awaited note the moment they entered the house, and she gave a delighted cry. “At last! Oh, she doesn’t say anything at all but that she is happy to be back. And that she wishes me to visit her as soon as may be. May I go this afternoon, Miss Tremere?"

  “They’ll just be settling in, my dear. You must ask your mother and see what she thinks.”

  As Lady Eastwick was frequently to be found in the Gold Parlor at this time of day, Charlotte skipped excitedly to the room, threw open the door and sang, “Mama, Christina is home! May I go to see her today?”

  Only at the end of her impulsive speech did she become aware of a visitor in the parlor. For just a fraction of a second she thought (or perhaps hoped) it was Mr. Winstanley, but the gentleman rose and turned to face her while the others poured into the room.

  “I beg your pardon, Mr. Oldbury. I had no idea Mama had a guest,” she apologized, and then, realizing the significance of his visit, “Have you found something among those old papers?”

  Lady Eastwick forbore with patience the excited inquiries of her offspring before saying firmly, “You forget your manners, children. Mr. Oldbury cannot answer all of you at once. Eleanor, if you will ring for the tea tray, the rest of you may be seated.”

  There was an expectant hush as Mr. Oldbury cleared his throat and addressed his opening remarks to Miss Tremere. “I never meant to create such excitement. Would that my parishioners hung on my words with such interest,” he said ruefully. “Knowing that you were all eager to learn anything about the Heythrop family, I have brought what references there were. I confess I do not find them very significant myself, but perhaps they will lend some small new fact to your inquiries."

  Beside his chair he had placed a satchel from which he withdrew a stack of the old papers. Though he offered them to Lady Eastwick, she indicated that Theodosia was to have them, saying, “Take them to the escritoire, my dear. Nothing is worse than sitting on a chair and being expected to juggle a lot of dusty, crumbling papers.”

  Theodosia smiled appreciatively and found herself surrounded by all the children as she spread the old records out before her. Mr. Oldbury pointed out the first reference, which was the confirmation of a child, William Heythrop, in the year 1482. The second was no more auspicious, the churching of a Madeleine Heythrop in 1491.

  “What years do the parish records cover?” Theodosia asked curiously.

  “Apparently 1480 until 1520, though many of the registers for those years were with the church documents we already had.”

  “Was there any indication why these records were hidden?”

  “I can’t be positive. At first sight, none, but on closer examination each of the pages had at least one reference to the Gregory family, and for the years in question there was not a solitary entry concerning them in the church books we had. I’m not from this part of the country, myself, and am not familiar with the family. No one by that name resides in the parish now.”

  Theodosia looked questioningly at Lady Eastwick. “Are you familiar with the family, ma’am?”

  Her employer’s face wore its charming puzzled expression. Though she cast her mind in a multitude of directions, she could not capture even the glimmer of a memory. “I don’t believe so. Certainly not here in Somerset. It’s not an uncommon name in some parts of the country, I suppose. Eastwick would probably be of more help.”

  “Perhaps the Winchmores would know,” Charlotte suggested hopefully.

  “Now, dear, you must give them a chance to rest after their journey,” Lady Eastwick insisted. “Send Christina a welcoming note, and I will add a line to her mother. Tomorrow morning is the very earliest we should go, I think.”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  Theodosia turned her attention again to the papers in front of her. “Now here is something that could be of interest. The Madeleine Heythrop who was churched in 1491 is stated to be 'of Whortle Hall.’ If she is a member of the second earl’s family, that may prove to be where they lived during the building of Charton.” A frown puckered her brow. “Whortle Hall? I’m afraid that serves no memory with me."

  “It would have had to be in the Bicknoller parish,” Mr. Oldbury mused, “but there is no such place now. It could have been abandoned, or destroyed by fire, of course.”

  “Or its name could have been changed,” Thomas suggested.

  Theodosia regarded him admiringly. “Very good! That’s quite possible, you know. Perhaps we should have a look at the rest of Mr. Oldbury’s parish records, if there’s no help here.” A minute examination of the papers, however, gave no hint, and after 1492, when the Heythrop family presumably moved to Charton Court, there were few mentions of the name. One Jane Heythrop was married to Charles Datchet there in 1502, and George Heythrop Datchet was baptized there in 1505. Theodosia made careful notes of each of the Heythrop entries and checked to see that Whortle Hall was not mentioned again before she handed the papers back to Mr. Oldbury. “We’re grateful for your assistance, sir. You were kind to be so thorough in your search.”

  “I'm grateful to Master John for finding the records, and only wish they might have proved more useful to you.”

  Her eyes danced. “But you have given us a new mystery to untangle! We can only be thankful, I promise you.”

  “Would you allow me to see what I can find about Whortle Hall—from the rest of the parish records, and from my parishioners? I’d enjoy doing it.”

  Theodosia took a silent survey of her charges, who nodded agreement. “We accept your generous offer. Of course, in our own area we’ll make inquiries as well; one can never be sure where the most useful information is to be found.”

  “Very true. I’ve agreed to stand in for Dr. Trainer while he’s in Scotland. He was so pleased he’s decided to leave earlier than planned.” His eyes plainly showed his amusement at this turn of events. “I’ll be taking the service this Sunday.”

  Charlotte was watching with fascination the exchange between them, the spoken as well as unspoken messages. Well, on his part, in any case. Miss Tremere was her usual calm, cheerful self, but Mr. Oldbury most decidedly had an interest in Miss Tremere, Charlotte decided, and heaved a satisfied sigh. She was so pleased to discover this that she had one of her rare inspirations, and hastened to whisper in her mother’s ear while Mr. Oldbury took leave of the children.

  Surprised, but willing, Lady Eastwick extended her hand as he approached and said, “As you are to be in Channock for the service, I do hope you will join us for dinner, Mr. Oldbury.”

  His acceptance, Charlotte noted ecstatically, was with quite evident delight. She threw Eleanor a conspiratorial wink, though her dear sister hadn’t t
he least idea why.

  Chapter Nine

  Steyne, perhaps in an effort to prove to James his intention of exploring the area, had spent most of the day riding about on Clover, stopping at an inn in West Bagborough for a midday meal. On returning to Charton Court he passed a gentleman in clerical garb leaving and lifted his hat in salute, though just prior to meeting him he had been meditating once again on Mr. Tremere’s many grievous faults. The fellow looked harmless enough, however, was in fact a rather fine-looking figure of a man with a suitably warm smile as he said, "Good afternoon, sir!” Probably the local vicar, Steyne decided, and a frequent visitor at the Court. He dismissed him immediately from his mind.

  Strangely enough, as Steyne left the stables his eye happened to fall on the windmill on the hill and he, too, was reminded, as Theodosia had been earlier in the day, of the first time he had kissed her. That silly little windmill-shaped birdhouse had been spinning feverishly as he presented her with the flowers and leaned down to embrace her. He had wanted to do that practically since he met her but he had been terrified of frightening her away. She hadn’t darted off like a startled doe, but her eyes had widened before she dropped them to avoid his gaze. From that moment he had always thought of her as Doe, though it was some time before he actually called her by the pet name. The compulsory visit to his aunt, which he had intended to last no longer than two weeks, had stretched into as many months.

  Thomas and John came racing out a side entrance of the house and, spying him, begged for another lesson in driving Edward’s curricle. "Obtain your brother’s permission and I will be happy to oblige,” he assured them, firmly thrusting his thoughts of Miss Tremere from him.