‘I was wrong,’ Molly said, her eyes trained on the floor. ‘I like Lord Torbay, as it happens, and it is really no business of mine.’
‘This is your first and only warning, Molly. Set one foot out of line again and you will be gone. Do we understand one another?’
Molly, who had never seen Olivia half so angry with her before, nodded. ‘Yes, ma’am. Thank you, ma’am. I won’t forget myself again.’
‘See that you do not. Keep your opinions to yourself and don’t air them, even in the servants’ hall. I shall know if you do.’ Olivia sighed, wondering if she was right to give the girl another chance when she no longer felt she could trust her. She was unsure now if she ever had. But still, what was the worst that Molly could do? Tell the world that Olivia had shared a bed with Jake? That would hardly rock the foundations of society, and if it meant that Olivia was ostracised by the sanctimonious minority, she would survive the experience. ‘Right. The mauve twill, I think, Molly. And the wide netted hat that matches it. That gown gives me confidence and I want to make an impression upon my odious sister-in-law.’
‘Is everything all right?’ Jake asked when she re-joined him and he cast an approving eye over her attire.
‘Perfectly so. Just a small domestic crisis that required my attention. I am sorry if I kept you waiting.’
‘The short wait was well worth it,’ he replied with an engaging smile. ‘Right, shall we away?’
Jake’s carriage was at the door. He helped her into it before embarking himself. Parker put up the steps, closed the door and climbed up on the box seat with the driver. They began the short journey to Surrey.
‘I asked Margaret to prepare a list of Hubert’s engagements, and also the names of his closest friends. I hope she will have that ready for us.’
‘What is it?’ Jake asked, covering her gloved hand with his own. ‘I suppose the thought of visiting your husband’s former home disturbs you. Oh lord, your own family live close by as well. I take it you are not on good terms with your parents and brother.’
‘We have little to do with one another. They did not exactly rush to support me when I was accused of murder, so I have no need of their company now.’ She smiled at him and slipped her hand into his. He interlaced their fingers and gave her palm a gentle squeeze. ‘I want to get to the bottom of this matter, Jake.’ She fixed him with a determined look. ‘And I think you do too.’
Chapter Five
The moment the carriage turned onto the driveway leading to Grantley Hall, the neglected state of the grounds confirmed Jake’s suspicion that Sir Hubert must be in desperate financial straits. A gentleman was judged by outward appearances and to one as self-aware as Grantley, the maintenance of his property was the last area in which economies would have been made. Jake wondered what foolishness his desperation had forced him to contemplate in order to recover his respectability. He suspected there was little Grantley would not consider, no matter how dubious its legality, perhaps accounting for his disappearance.
Jake reined in his mental perambulations, aware that he was getting ahead of himself. He would reserve judgement until he had spoken with Lady Grantley and gained a better picture of the family’s circumstances. But his initial impression did not improve as they approached the house and he noticed that several slates were missing from the roof and the gaping holes had not been patched. A chimney stack had collapsed and he noticed a few cracked panes of glass in upper windows.
Olivia stared blankly towards chimneys in the distance; her family home, presumably. Hopefully her mind was engaged upon pleasant reflections of a carefree childhood spent in this idyllic part of the world. Jake gave her hand a reassuring squeeze as the carriage came to a halt at Grantley Hall’s entrance portico, its roof supported by crumbling pillars, weeds growing around their base. One ragged-looking groom came to take the horses’ heads. Jake paused to see if a butler would appear to greet them, unsurprised when the door did not open.
Parker slipped stealthily from the box seat and sauntered around the side of the house, having already received his orders from Jake. Useful information could be extracted from servants speaking to one of their own, especially if they had grievances to air. In spite of her anxiety for her husband’s wellbeing and her requirement for Jake’s help, Lady Grantley would not find it easy to admit to their straitened circumstances. Olivia had frequently referred to her as being more arrogantly superior than her husband and she would undoubtedly think of a way to explain the dilapidated state of the property in order to save face.
‘Are you ready?’ he asked, helping Olivia from the conveyance.
‘As I ever will be,’ she replied, suppressing a shudder, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin.
‘You look adorable in that hat,’ he said softly.
‘There is nothing like a new hat to give a lady confidence.’
‘I cannot compete with the confidence-enhancing qualities of your milliner,’ he replied in a teasing tone. ‘But I hope my presence goes some small way to calming your nerves.’
‘Whatever makes you think I am nervous?’ Jake chuckled but did not articulate the long list of tell-tale signs. ‘Well yes, you are right, of course. This whole wretched business has got me in a taking. I had hoped never to come here again and would like to get it over with. I would also prefer not to run into my mother since I doubt whether I would be able to keep a polite tongue in my head if I did.’
‘You have had no contact with her?’
‘All of my family have tried to ingratiate themselves—now that I am not being branded a murderess and have more money than they do.’
Jake permitted his disgust to evidence itself in his expression. ‘That does not surprise me.’
‘Hubert and my family almost came to blows, I understand, about who would have custody of Tom, and thereby Marcus’s money.’
Jake shook his head, determined that Olivia would not be troubled by a parent who had turned her back on her daughter in her most desperate hour of need. Jake had often wondered how any mother could be so hard-hearted. Then he recalled his own mother’s cold, calculating behaviour and reminded himself that prejudice easily overcame any remnants of maternal instinct in her particular case.
‘Come,’ he said softly, offering Olivia his arm.
They ascended the steps and the door was opened just as they reached it by a maid wearing a pinafore that was not clean. She gaped when she saw Olivia, took Jake’s card and asked them to wait in the hall while she enquired whether her mistress was at home.
‘She had better be,’ Olivia muttered, abstractedly wandering about. Jake noticed gaps on the walls revealing cleaner areas on the faded wallpaper where paintings had once hung. Presumably they had been sold. ‘I wonder what has happened to Jute, Hubert’s butler. He never permitted anyone else to answer the door.’
‘I suspect he has been dismissed. That maid’s uniform was not clean, this floor hasn’t been washed for several days and…well, butlers cost more to employ than maids.’
‘Yes, I imagine that must be it.’
‘If you would be kind enough to step this way, my lord, madam. My mistress is in the drawing room.’
Jake placed a reassuring hand on the small of Olivia’s back as they followed in the maid’s wake. Jake observed further signs of neglect about the house as they did so; dusty window ledges, frayed curtains and a distinct smell of damp wainscoting being the most obvious. The downturn in Grantley’s circumstances had not happened overnight. Jake suspected that they pre-dated Olivia’s husband’s death, accounting for Grantley’s unwillingness to support Olivia’s cause when she was accused of his murder. God help Grantley if it transpired that he was guilty of fratricide and Jake had been duped into coming here to help the man who caused her so much anguish!
‘Oh no!’ Olivia muttered as they walked into a shabby drawing room and saw that Lady Grantley was not alone.
‘Your mother?’ Jake asked in an undertone, nodding towards a lady of late mid
dle-age whose features so closely resembled Olivia’s that there could be little doubt they were related. A man a few years older than Olivia was also there.
‘And my brother Rupert,’ she replied. ‘Just when I thought the day could not get any worse.’
‘Olivia, how lovely!’ the lady fluttered her fingers at Olivia and stood with arms wide. ‘I declare you are lovelier than ever.’
‘Hello Mother,’ Olivia replied, deftly avoiding her outstretched arms. ‘I did not expect to see you today.’
‘I wish the circumstances were more joyful. But, if nothing else, at least it has brought the two of us back together.’
Don’t count on it, Jake thought.
‘Lord Torbay, may I present Lady Grantley, my mother, Mrs Maynard and my brother Rupert.’
Jake said and did all the right things, sizing up Olivia’s family as he did so. Mrs Maynard looked as though she lived in a state of perpetual strain, probably now regretting distancing herself from Olivia—but then hindsight was a wonderful thing. Jake disliked her on principal. Rupert Maynard sported the florid complexion of an imbiber. He was probably of a similar age to Jake and still handsome, but his body was running to fat. He smiled at Olivia and also tried to embrace her, but Olivia’s lack of response left him foolishly holding onto fresh air.
‘We are so glad you are here, Lord Torbay,’ Mrs Maynard said. ‘Poor Margaret is at her wits end and we have no idea what to do to help her. You were so very clever proving that my dear Olivia had nothing to do Marcus’s death. Naturally, we knew she was incapable of harming a fly but that horrible policeman would insist that she did it.’
And you did nothing to prove him wrong.
‘It was a wretched business,’ Rupert said, sniffing. ‘Most unpleasant. I came to assure Margaret that I would go up to London myself and look for Hubert, saving her that unpleasantness, at least.’
Olivia didn’t respond and chose to sit beside Lady Grantley rather than taking the only other chair beside her mother. Jake was annoyed about the presence of her family members, and not just because seeing them clearly upset Olivia. He would like to speak to Lady Grantley alone but that would require him to leave Olivia at the mercy of her opportunistic relations. He didn’t doubt that Rupert was using Grantley’s disappearance as an excuse to re-establish contact with Olivia. Perhaps it was he who had suggested to Lady Grantley that she request Olivia’s help. Jake suspected that he was as deep into dun territory as Sir Hubert was but if he intended to try and charm, persuade or pressure Olivia into generosity then he would be wasting his time. Olivia’s experience of the wrong side of the law had changed her from the trusting individual she had once been, and Rupert could expect no help from that quarter.
The same maid served insipid tea and tasteless cake. Olivia and Jake took little of either. Rupert made up for their reticence but continually looked at the clock, as though trying to decide if he could reasonably ask for something stronger.
‘I hope you will spare a moment to call and see your papa while you are in the area, my dear,’ Mrs Maynard said. ‘He has not been at all well of late but I know that seeing you will revive his spirits.’
‘Not today, Mother,’ Olivia replied, barely civil.
Her mother appeared taken aback. Rupert grunted something unintelligible. Lady Grantley stared into the empty fireplace and didn’t appear to hear Mrs Maynard’s increasingly desperate attempts to inveigle her way back into her daughter’s good graces.
‘Lady Grantley,’ Jake said when Mrs Maynard ran out of inane chatter. ‘I assume you have heard nothing about your husband’s whereabouts since speaking with Olivia yesterday.’
‘No, my lord, not a single word.’ She pursed her thin lips. ‘Really, I don’t know what to think; indeed I do not.’
‘Since you requested my help, I am afraid I must ask a few intrusive questions regarding his affairs. I cannot know where to start looking unless I know what business took him from home.’
Mrs Maynard moved to sit beside Lady Grantley, who sniffled into her handkerchief. Jake noticed Olivia raise a brow, presumably because Lady Grantley was not the sniffling type. The Lady Grantleys of this world did not approve of sniffling as a general rule. But her distress on this occasion didn’t seem contrived. Whether that was because she held her husband in genuine affection or because she was worried about society’s opinion if it transpired that he had deserted her and his debts, Jake had yet to decide.
‘All I know is that he had an engagement to keep,’ Lady Grantley said, recovering her poise. ‘He never discussed his business affairs with me, and I never asked for particulars of them. Besides, he would not have told me even if I had asked. He said I need not concern myself with the affairs of gentlemen.’
I am perfectly sure he did. ‘You do not even know whom he was engaged to meet?’
‘No, but Olivia asked me to compile a list of all his friends. There are a great many of them. Hubert is very popular. The list is on the table over there.’ She flapped a hand in the vague direction of a small table, upon which rested some papers and a journal. ‘That is his engagement book. I looked through it this morning and there is nothing in it to lend any clues.’
Jake walked across the room, aware of every eye in it following his progress. He collected up the papers and flipped through the journal. Like his brother, he used initials and was sparing on detail.
‘I understand that Sir Hubert helped Olivia’s late husband to run his theatrical agency.’
‘Yes, and a damned fine team they made.’ It was Rupert who answered. He stood in front of the fireplace, clutching the lapels of a coat that had seen better days. ‘All the best actors clamoured to be represented by the Grantleys.’
‘And yet Barber did not require your husband’s services when he took over the agency,’ Jake said in a casual tone.
‘I still cannot understand why you did not let Hubert take it over, Olivia,’ Rupert said, sounding affronted. ‘He would have provided a safe pair of hands and you would have been assured a steady income.’
‘Thank you, Rupert,’ Olivia replied with asperity. ‘But I preferred to sell, and do not need a steady income, as you put it. And if you need to ask why I preferred to sell, then you are even more insensitive than I supposed.’
Jake wanted to applaud. His Olivia could always be relied upon to rise to a challenge and the put down she had given her brother, whose face was now stained scarlet with indignation, was far kinder than he deserved.
‘Did Sir Hubert set up in opposition to Barber?’ Jake asked into the ensuing silence.
‘That must be it!’ Rupert cried. ‘I should have thought of it sooner. Barber was jealous of Hubert, couldn’t stand the idea of competition and…and…’
Lady Grantley’s anguished wail finally stopped the idiot from articulating his thoughts. Jake shot him a castigating look and returned his attention to Lady Grantley.
‘There is no need to suppose that anything untoward has happened to your husband,’ he said calmly.
‘Thank you for trying to spare my feelings, Lord Torbay, but I fear there is every need. Hubert has many faults, I would be the first to admit that. Indeed, I have no alternative but to speak candidly if I require your help.’
‘You may depend upon my discretion, ma’am.’
‘Again, I thank you, but I must also find a way to convince you that Hubert would not leave me without an explanation. If he had been delayed, or if business required him to travel to another part of the country, he would have sent a telegram.’
‘There is no delicate way to ask this question,’ Jake said gently, ‘and I would not do so if it were not essential.’ He cleared his throat. ‘Is there any particular lady, an actress perhaps if he is intent upon pursuing a career as a theatrical agent, with whom he might have become intimately acquainted?’
‘Torbay, is that question really necessary or do you take delight in oversetting the lady?’ Rupert asked pompously.
‘Be quiet, Rupert!’ Olivia
said crisply. ‘Or leave the room.’
‘I will not be spoken to thus by my own sister!’
Jake turned to glower at the fool. He grunted something unintelligible and fell silent.
‘I am not aware of any such liaison,’ Lady Grantley said, elevating her chin. ‘Besides, he does not have the…the wherewithal to support such a person.’
‘Hubert relies upon charm and his title to make an impression,’ Olivia said. ‘I have seen him do so on more than one occasion. He and Marcus were similar in that regard.’
‘Since you refer to your financial situation,’ Jake said, his glance taking in the neglected state of what had once obviously been a handsome drawing room, ‘are you aware what your husband planned to do to resolve that situation? Did he take loans? Had he asked his bankers to extend further credit?’
‘I think the bank refused to…oh dear, this is very hard for me.’ Lady Grantley sucked in a shuddering breath. ‘It must be obvious that we are on the point of ruin. I have two sons at Eton and their fees have not been paid for two terms. My daughter ought to be presented next year but there is not the least likelihood of that happening, not as things stand. If only…but it does no good to repine. Facts must be faced, Lord Torbay,’ she said with surprising dignity, tears sparkling like diamonds on her lashes. ‘Marcus was the younger brother but he had a better head for business. Hubert was able to make ends meet whilst working with Marcus, but now…’
‘What about Sir Hubert’s involvement with your import business, Maynard?’ Jake asked Rupert. ‘Olivia tells me the two of you were in partnership at one time.’
‘We were. Marcus and I worked together but when Marcus took his money out, Hubert invested in his place, knowing a good deal when he saw one. However, we lost a few customers shortly thereafter through no fault of our own and…well, Hubert decided to concentrate upon working with Marcus in the theatrical business after that.’
Which explained a lot, Jake thought. Marcus really was the one with the business brain, explaining why he kept Hubert on such a tight leash within his agency and did not permit him to become a partner. ‘Are you still in business alone?’ he asked Rupert.
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