Someone grabbed him by the shoulder and his heart almost stopped but Claude dragged him back in rather than push him to his death.
“The stonework is all wet from the rain. It would be easy to slip and fall.”
“I see that now. You seem to know a lot about mills. So much more complex than the wool trade.”
“Anna was my nurse when I was little so I spent a deal of time here with her and her da. As her father got older and I grew up it seemed the best thing for me to help out here. Kept me out of trouble.”
“I see. Because they did not need to hire someone to maintain it the Herricks were able to stay.”
“I suppose you could say that. Grandfather doesn’t see everything. If you tell him he needs a manager here they would be retired. And what else are they to do?”
“I think your arrangement makes sense and is admirable.” Gerard smiled for the resemblance between Claude and Miss Herrick’s Da was noticeable. Perhaps she took care of him because he was her little brother. It never occurred to Gerard to say anything about his suspicion. After Juliet’s initial recognition of the resemblance he hoped she would be as discreet.
Claude had been accepted by Nash and the family. He was Nash’s son in all ways that mattered. But something about Gerard’s suspicion did not seem quite right. He could not reconcile in his own mind the prudish lady in the portrait with a woman who would commit adultery with the local miller. Aside from the age difference how could they have ever managed it? And then there was Claude’s slight resemblance to Nash about the mouth.
As they went back down the grinding continued with a reverberation that shook the floor but the squeaking had stopped and Claude beamed triumphantly.
“You found it,” Nash said.
“Yes, no problem.”
“Perhaps we do need more help here,” Chandler said as he looked at the grain sacks, then at the feeble old man.
“There’s little enough to keep one miller busy,” Anna said.
“We need a good harvest,” Nash added.
Gerard was glad that Juliet had not said anything though she had realized there was a connection between Claude and the Herricks. If no one else had put it together all was well. Or he could be wrong, Gerard thought. One thing war had taught him was never to assume anything.
On the way back they stopped at the stud farm. The mares and foals were out grazing and the stallion locked up. Gerard saw at least one colt who had the look of Wagram and wondered if the beast had escaped at some point and visited the mares’ field. He also wondered if Tully would be content to work here. The more he thought about Old Stand and Juliet the more he wanted to stay. But he knew the fortunes of war applied to civilian life. A thousand things could go wrong with his plan. He wasn’t even sure he had a workable plan yet.
Before they got back in the carriage the general pointed out the wooded slopes running along the west side of the estate to the upper pastures. “We sold a deal of timber during the war.
“So that’s what Old Stand really means.”
“Yes the old stand of timber planted two hundred years ago. What did you think it meant?”
“In my mind I had given it a military connotation, a place where a stand had been made.”
“You would.”
“Is any of the old stand left?”
“In spite of supplying masts for the navy we have preserved enough oak in case any of the major beams in the house, mill or barns require replacement.”
“I am used to complex plans but they are all executed within a few days or weeks. Here you must plan for generations.”
“You see now why the succession is so important?”
“Yes but it is a job for more than one man. Old Stand must never be divided up.”
“I agree.”
“Perhaps that’s why Father wanted me to study law, to find a way to hold it together.”
His grandfather arched an eyebrow at him. “Or a way to get your hands on it.”
Gerard felt shocked and at a loss for words when he realized General Cochran was not joking this time. “We can never know. But I know my father and he would never have countenanced such a thing.”
His grandfather sent him a measuring look but did not reply.
Juliet realized that a carriage full of woman coping with an expedition in the rain might be peeved whereas the men returning to the house looked to be smiling in good fellowship. One should never underestimate the male comradeship to be got from tramping around in manure of various kinds and poking about a noisy mill.
She had to admit she seldom went inside the mill because the floors all shook and gave her shivers. The building seemed alive, like a giant machine that could swallow her up. That’s why she had never met Anna before. Clearly Gerard saw Claude’s resemblance to the Herricks as well. There could be two explanations for that. And she juggled them back and forth in her mind as they entered the house and shook the rain off their coats.
Gerard and Claude were joking with each other on their way up to change for dinner. Perhaps they had made their peace and Claude would give up the idea of marrying her. Maybe the Cochrans could all run the various business interests of Old Stand together in peace.
Later she saw Helen’s forbidding face and realized that their struggle was far from over. Even if Gerard managed to charm Nash and Claude the latter was too easily manipulated by Helen. She would start something again. Depend on it.
It happened over dinner.
“If you do not plan to marry Claude who will you marry?” Helen asked.
Juliet stared at her a full minute. “I have decided not to marry. It solves everything.”
Melanthe looked alarmed. “But what will you do with your life?”
“Study. I have been neglecting my music. Perhaps I will become a piano virtuoso and play for the opera house in London.”
Gerard chose that moment to choke on a bite of bread and Chandler helpfully pounded him on the back which must have hurt his ribs. Her brother was an idiot.
The stunned silence was relieved by Nash’s chuckle. “Our dear cousin is having you on, Mother. She has no intention of playing at the opera in London.” His smile twisted uncertainly. “You don’t, do you?”
“Not at present. But who knows what exigencies I might be pushed to by demands to know my immediate plans?”
The general gave an uncertain laugh. “Yes I think we all agreed not to discuss such matters at table.”
* * * * *
To Gerard’s surprise the agenda that evening included dancing. Of course Juliet would have to play unless they wanted no more accompaniment than his flute. When Claude danced with Melanthe or even his Aunt Emma he had a grace that Gerard had not expected in a big man. Perhaps he lost his self-consciousness then as he had at the mill, climbing sure-footedly up the ladder to grease the gear.
Gerard had made the mistake of thinking him a slow top just because he was sturdy and not much like any of the Cochrans. But it took some thinking to remember the steps of the country dances and he was far from perfect himself.
As they finally sat down to tea they were all smiling for once. When Claude smiled he resembled Nash, at least about the mouth. Gerard sighed. All that business of thinking Claude illegitimate was nonsense. He did look like a Cochran, a little. Then Gerard choked on a sip for he thought of another explanation for Claude’s resemblance to old Herrick. He did not know how they had managed it but Claude must be Anna Herrick’s son and Nash’s. In some ways that possibility seemed even more unlikely than what he had thought before. As he coughed on his tea he decided it was a good thing he had not spoken of his suspicions though he had no such intention even now. Certainly what he was thinking would get him tossed out the door. Somehow he had managed to salve Nash’s ire up to a point. He would just have to win Claude over. How was the puzzle.
His mission had changed in his own mind since he had thrown himself between Chandler and a ball of lead. First it had been to save his cousin’s life, not so m
uch to get anything out of it but because he liked him and would have hated for Juliet to be bereft. Then it had been to stay close to Juliet to fathom his attraction for her. He was in love with her, probably had been since he had first seen her. But romantic love was a new emotion for him so he had not recognized it at first.
Ingratiating himself with his odd family had been for fun and he had to admit to spite Nash and Claude. Now he was determined to keep them in the fold. The only member of the family he could not imagine making peace with was Helen but that might not be necessary. If Chandler continued to handle the wool trade Claude could be the one who kept the mill running. And Nash? Perhaps Nash could be the one to write letters for the general.
They were all looking at him in concern and he realized he’d been staring into space. It was premature of him to be planning anyone’s fate. He was not in charge and never would be if Helen had anything to say in the matter. How much hold she had on his grandfather, he did not know.
A commotion sounded in the hall and Gerard realized Jack was drumming the charge. What’s more so did the general whose hawklike glare turned toward him. That would put paid to any rapport he had built with his grandfather. He glanced at Juliet and she sent him a speaking look, accusing him of putting Jack up to this. Gerard shook his head. General Cochran strode to the doors and flung them open. Jack seemed delighted. He marched in with the drumming steady as a watch and entertained them with several more orders while his grandfather scowled at him. Gerard could not but be proud of the lad’s courage though his initiative was sadly misapplied.
Jack’s mother Emma was glaring at Gerard by the time the drill finally ended and then General Cochran did something strange for a man who was disenchanted with the military life. Instead of blasting the boy he walked back and forth in front of him as though Jack were on review. Finally he spoke. “Your drumming is not so ill but you look like a scrubby schoolboy out of uniform. And if you tell me learning this skill has convinced you to join up I will lock you in the dungeon from which you unearthed this instrument until you are too old.”
“Oh, no. This was just for fun. Besides, the war is over.”
The general bent over and spoke into Jack’s face. “And just what was this display in aid of?”
“Everyone is always saying how stupid I am or that I’m too young to ride a horse or do anything exciting. I just wanted you to see that I could learn something all on my own. Well, I had a bit of help.”
“An effective demonstration if ill timed.” The general stood up straight and smiled indulgently. “What do you want to become? I hope not a traveling player.”
“Oh, no. I want to become a surgeon like Cousin Gerard.”
General Cochran’s gaze drilled through Gerard as neatly as a bullet. “I see. Dismissed,” he almost shouted. Jack marched out and so too did the rest of the family, not quite as smartly but willingly to escape the storm that would break over Gerard.
Gerard tossed off the rest of his tea and stood up. He exited last and asked, “Your office?”
He could hear the breath the general expelled. “Yes, I want to discuss your penchant for meddling and your future, probably at more length than you would like.”
Gerard was standing more or less at attention in front of the desk when General Cochran finally came in the door and closed it.
“Oh, sit down. This is not a court marshal. Though if I thought you had put Jack up to this performance I would throw you out of the house tonight.”
“It was him playing with the drum that led me to the basement. When he asked how you drummed the signals I showed him and one thing led to another.”
“I see.” Once again Gerard had the feeling that his grandfather saw more than he said or even more than Gerard did.
“I have no right to interfere with the boy but it worries me that someone told him he was too stupid to do anything.”
“If you are asking who that was I don’t know and it worries me as well. First I had Nash to deal with. Now he seems to have pulled himself together. But Claude is the current problem in the household. If Jack goes in the same direction, I don’t know what I will do. And it took a newcomer to point this out to me.”
“Jack simply wants attention and companionship. I find it a mite odd that he would turn to a complete stranger for that.”
“Nevertheless, if you encourage him in this ambition to become a doctor or hold to it yourself you can depart. Only the original holding of Old Stand is entailed to the heir. I can leave the rest of it as I please.”
“I am happy to hear that. But you speak as though proving my identity is a mere formality.”
The general gave a bark of laughter. “You are too much like your father in every way to be anyone else, including your misapplied sense of wit. What will it be?”
“My inheritance or my freedom? I would regret having to choose.”
“You would live to regret it when you are living in poverty.”
“I would regret it because I would miss all of you, well perhaps not all of you. But even Nash has proved an interesting acquaintance and I do not despair of coming to terms with Claude given time.”
His grandfather stared at him in disbelief. “Now you are boasting. Even your father could not stomach Nash and Helen has made Claude impossible.”
“People can choose to change their lives.”
“But not their natures. You would give up everything, including Juliet?”
“Juliet has vowed to marry me but I would let her out of that promise.”
“You do work fast and covertly. Rest assured that proving yourself will mean nothing to me after tonight.”
Gerard’s sudden smile seemed to confuse his grandfather. “But at least we understand one another.”
“No, Gerard, I do not understand you at all. You’re far too sensible for someone your age.”
“Must have been the war.” He was tuning to go when a rap came on the door. He hoped it was not Chandler coming to rescue him again.
When Gerard opened the door a footman came in. “An express rider, sir.” He carried the old man a message. General Cochran said nothing, just took it and Gerard left the room closing the doors carefully behind him. When he got to the landing he discovered Juliet sitting on the striped settee, looking out the window into the dark. He stopped a few steps up and stared at her. How could he not choose Juliet? Suddenly his future burst upon him like a branching tree not a crossroads. He could wait to fulfill his destiny later. Juliet needed him here and now.
She looked at him and made an effort to still the trembling of her hands. “You are in the suds now,” she said. “The general thinks you have been corrupting Jack.”
He came and sat down upon the bench beside her. “Yes, the boy’s timing could not have been worse. General Cochran informs me that the study of medicine, especially surgery, is not a gentlemanly pursuit and if I insist upon it I can take myself off.”
“Would you throw all this away to prove a point?”
“To be my own person? Eventually I may have to. You see I have always taken orders. Now I know what I want to do.”
“Always? You were not taking orders when you followed your father into battle.”
Gerard smiled tiredly. “I always tried to take orders. Perhaps I should go back to Soutine. This was supposed to be just a visit.”
Juliet felt herself on the point of tears. “Is that why Soutine has such a hold on you? You were used to taking orders?”
“I am as puzzled as anyone else by my reaction to Soutine. He’s old, alone and in pain. It was while staying with him that I finally decided to go into medicine.”
“If you turn your back on your family you may end up the same as him.”
Gerard reached for her hands and took them between his own. “I love you, Juliet but it would kill me to stay here as a mere dependant. I must have some employment. I wanted to study medicine even if the only way I could afford to do it was on a battlefield.”
“How ironi
c,” she said, looking up at him. “In keeping you from following your dream your grandfather may drive you into the army just as he did your father.”
“No, he will never be able to make me do anything I don’t want. I just hope the price for staying does not become more than I can afford to pay.”
“No matter.” She held her chin up. “I am coming with you.”
“What? I do not ask that of you.”
“No, I’m coming with you whenever you leave here whether it be years from now or tonight.”
“I knew you were a woman of rare courage but it’s not fair for me to ask you to give up everything because of my goal, a goal I can easily put off for a few years.”
She leaned toward him and kissed him, her eyes almost crossing in her effort to take in all of his face.
He looked puzzled. “I wonder if this is much like the choice my mother made.”
“Of course not. There is no war now.”
“For the moment. We are all safe for now.” He helped her to her feet and released her hands.
As they walked up the remaining stairs to the second floor she asked, “What was all that choking about?”
“I thought you meant to announce I would support you in London with my blacksmithing skills.”
She laughed. “No, I mean later during tea.”
“Oh nothing.”
“You never do anything for nothing.”
He stopped at the door to her room. “I cannot tell you just yet but I have to venture out tomorrow. What would be the closest village in the parish beyond Sudborough and Brigstock but a place the family would not frequent?”
“Grafton Underwood is the next closest but there is no direct road. The fast way to get there is to go to Brigstock and backtrack.”
“I mean to go by back lanes and find it. Do you want to go?”
“I should not.”
“We can take Jack and Tully for propriety.”
“Or my maid,” she whispered.
He chuckled. “Let’s say we mean to take her and then forget.”
“I know. She turns queasy at the very mention of a carriage ride.”
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