‘You can’t do that, Spence,’ Marc said. ‘They won’t talk to you.’
‘No, but I expect they’ll be forthcoming with Carson,’ Spence replied, referring to his valet.
‘I don’t want to put you to any inconvenience,’ Mr Tyrell said.
Susie knew he was being polite. If he did not wish to involve her family he wouldn’t have called.
‘Not a bit of it,’ Mama replied. ‘We are glad to help. Your father does not deserve to have his charity thrown back in his face in such a deplorable manner.’
‘He is sometimes too trusting of others,’ Mr Tyrell conceded with a wry smile. ‘If nothing else, this example of ingratitude might persuade him to be more cautious.’
‘I don’t see how that would help,’ Spence said. ‘I know little about art, but I do know that a talented forger need not necessarily sit at a master’s side in order to copy his style.’
‘Implying that the forger in question may not have been one of Father’s students?’ Mr Tyrell nodded. ‘I agree that may not be the case. I am trying to have some of the better imitators tracked down, but I do agree we should also widen the search.’
‘I don’t suppose Mr Tyrell minds about someone making money out of him,’ Susie remarked pensively, ‘as much as he minds the damage to his reputation.’
‘Very astute, Miss Darcy.’ Mr Tyrell turned in her direction and inclined his head, a modicum of respect in his expression. Susie felt ridiculously pleased to have said something that impressed him. ‘That is precisely the way he does feel about it.’
‘I shall send out invitations for two nights’ time, in that case,’ Mama said. ‘In the meantime, Mr Tyrell, if you have no other engagements, perhaps you will sit down to a family dinner with us this evening. Then we shall be at leisure to discuss the matter. By then, we might have thought of other ways to help.’
‘You are very kind. Thank you, I shall be delighted.’
‘Good, that’s settled then.’
Mama rang the bell, Simpson appeared to show Mr Tyrell out and before Susie had properly had time to recover her composure, he was gone.
Chapter Three
After luncheon, Spence rang for Carson and explained their problem. Carson was only a few years older than Spence, had been with him for two years and the pair enjoyed an informal relationship.
‘Sir Robert lives in Denton,’ Spence said, ‘so I would imagine you’ll find someone to chat with in the Sheep and Whistle.’
‘I know Sir Robert’s man to pass the time of day with. Our paths have crossed a time or two. Not sure he frequents the Sheep though.’
‘I doubt he’d tell you anything anyway, not if his master’s in dun territory.’ Spence spread-eagled himself into a chair as he thought the matter through. ‘Besides, if he’s going to such risky extremes to rectify the situation, I doubt if his man is aware of his problems.’
‘Shame we can’t ask the local tradesmen if his accounts are overdue.’
Spence shrugged. ‘It wouldn’t tell us much even if we could. Gentlemen routinely push tradesmen’s accounts to the bottom of the pile.’
‘How do you want me to broach the subject, supposing I happen to fall into conversation with someone from Sir Robert’s household?’
‘Mention in passing that you know of a capable girl looking for a position as an upstairs maid…something along those lines. She’s been recommended to my mother who would like to take her on but we have no vacancies. You don’t need to be too specific.’
‘That will open up the subject of service in Sir Robert’s household generally, I dare say.’ Carson continued to brush one of Spence’s coats as he spoke. ‘Right, leave it to me. I’ll take myself off over there later, if you don’t need me to help you dress for dinner.’
‘I dare say I shall manage.’
Satisfied he had done all he could to get matters started, Spence made his way downstairs, trying to think of other ways to help Tyrell. He had taken to the man and didn’t like to think of his father being exploited. Besides, pitting his wits against the audacious fraudster was just the type of conundrum that would allay Spence’s boredom.
He looked for Marc and his father but could find no sign of either of them. Instead he came upon Susie, curled up in a chair in their father’s library. She was engrossed in a book and oblivious to his presence.
‘Your eyes will go squinty if you read too much,’ he told her.
‘If you are looking for Marc and Papa,’ she said, not dragging her attention from her book, ‘they have gone out somewhere.’
‘What did you make of Tyrell?’ Spence asked, sitting next to her.
‘Very unusual.’ Susie marked her page and put her book aside. ‘He’s the first handsome man I have met who doesn’t seem to have an inflated opinion of his own self-worth.’
‘He seemed very down to earth, I agree with you.’
‘And perhaps a little too good to be true,’ Susie added reflectively. ‘I found all that charm rather daunting and would feel more comfortable in his company if I could identify the odd flaw.’
Spence laughed. ‘Look beneath the surface, little sister. We are none of us that perfect. In fact, in my experience, the more polished the exterior, the creakier the foundations.’
‘Very profound.’ Susie rolled her eyes. ‘You intend to try and help him?’
‘If I can.’
‘Then I shall be your assistant.’
‘Thank you, but there is little you can do.’
‘Because I am weak and female,’ Susie permitted her disappointment to show. ‘I expected a more enlightened view from you.’
‘I am the most enlightened chap I know, and I’m certainly far too sensible to underestimate the value of an intelligent female’s capabilities.’
‘You consider me intelligent?’ Susie raised a brow. ‘Well, I suppose that’s something.’
‘What I meant to imply is that there’s little either of us can actually do, for the time being at any rate. I’ve set Carson to beard Sir Robert’s servants but even that task is delicate.’
‘Because if Sir Robert is involved there is every possibility that his senior servants are acting as go-betweens?’
‘Possibly, but whether they are or not, I hope their first loyalty will be to Sir Robert.’ Spence threw back his head and sighed. ‘And they will want to protect their positions because they will be aware how difficult it would be to find another. If they even suspect that all is not well in Sir Robert’s household, it is in their best interests to keep silent on the point.’
Susie nodded. ‘Even so, servants can’t seem to help gossiping. Someone might have let something drop.’
‘Which is why we need to give Carson an opportunity to do a little snooping and see what he comes up with.’
‘I would be very happy to sit here and let you men get on with matters.’ Susie drummed her fingers on the cover of the book still resting in her lap. ‘You are so much more capable than us delicate—’
‘Susie.’ Spence sighed. ‘You are becoming trying.’
‘And you seem to have overlooked the fact that I am acquainted with Sir Robert’s daughter.’
‘Good God, so I had!’
‘I could chat to her and see what…Ah, but that won’t serve. She’s only fifteen, not yet out, so I don’t suppose she attends dinners at Gaunt Hall when there are guests.’ Susie brightened. ‘Even so, she might remember who has dined there over the last year and know something about their circumstances. I know Bella and I used to take an avid interest in Mama and Papa’s guests when we were too young to sit at table with them.’
‘I do believe you’ve had a good idea.’
‘Don’t look so shocked. It does happen occasionally.’ Susie put her book aside and got to her feet. ‘I am going to find Mama to suggest that we go over to Denton this afternoon and call upon Aunt Jane. I am sure Mama will want to invite her to the dinner she is planning to introduce Mr Tyrell to our neighbours. And while we are in the distri
ct we can call upon Lady Gaunt and deliver her invitation in person as well.’ Susie grinned. ‘Perhaps I will search Fanny out while the ladies are talking, and who knows what she will be able to tell me.’
Spence shook his head as his whirlwind of a sister left the room. She seemed determined to involve herself in this business and nothing he said was likely to prevent her. Quite the contrary, in fact. He couldn’t help wondering if her determination was also a result of boredom or whether her cooperation was inspired by a certain handsome artist’s son.
‘Damn it, Susie, wait for me,’ he called, running after her. ‘I’ll escort you to Denton. It’s beyond time I paid our cousin Simon a visit.’
ᴥᴥᴥ
Susie found her mother in the small parlour and she readily agreed to the expedition to Denton. Spence rode alongside their curricle on Shafiq, the lively chestnut Anglo-Arab gelding he took such pride in.
‘What did you make of Mr Tyrell?’ Mama asked, repeating Spence’s earlier question.
‘Rather intimidating.’
‘Because he is handsome? It ought not to be so but we all tend to judge a book by its cover, so to speak, and treat aesthetically pleasing people with more consideration.’
‘Well, yes.’ Susie put up her parasol to protect her complexion from the bright spring sunshine. ‘He doesn’t seem to be aware of the impression he creates, which is unusual enough to arouse my suspicions.’
‘Good heavens! Why?’
‘Spence says that no one’s that perfect, and he probably has all sorts of unpalatable secrets hidden beneath that charming façade.’ Susie grinned. ‘One cannot help speculating. A life-threatening illness perhaps, or a propensity to throw things at his servants if they give dissatisfaction.’
Mama laughed. ‘You are allowing your imagination to run away with you. He looked perfectly healthy to me and I am sure he never throws things.’
‘What a pity. I so want to find an aspect of his character that I can disapprove of.’
‘Marc remembers him from Eton. He was a senior when Marc first went up, which makes him four years older than your brother.’
‘I’m surprised he isn’t married then.’ Susie shrugged. ‘Still, I would imagine he’s spoiled for choice in that regard.’
‘And in a position to please himself. His father must have amassed a small fortune since his paintings became so popular. Which means there is no pressing need for him to marry, other than to produce an heir, I suppose.’
‘I don’t suppose artistic types put the same emphasis on that necessity as the rest of us do.’
‘Very likely not.’
Susie waved to an old lady she recognised from the village who trudged along at a snail’s pace with a heavy basket over her arm. ‘Looks, charm, talent and a fortune.’ Susie wrinkled her nose. ‘It hardly seems fair that one man should be so comprehensively blessed.’
‘You are in a similar position, as are your brothers.’
‘My brothers are certainly a handsome bunch. Not that I would ever tell them so, of course, but I have seen how young ladies fawn over them. And they have charm in abundance, all three of them. Obviously they…we all were born into positions of privilege and need never worry about going hungry, but I’m not sure that any of us can lay claim to any particular talents.’
‘Nonsense, you are all of you very clever.’
‘It’s only natural that you would think so, Mama, but Spence is the clever one. The rest of us are merely mortal. And as for being handsome, Bella and I aren’t as fortunate as our brothers in that regard. I am very well aware that I’m no raving beauty—’
‘But neither are you ugly or ill-tempered.’
‘Be that as it may, my unremarkable looks are what has decided me against a season. If I put myself through that torture I will be pursued for my money and connections alone and I would find that situation intolerable. I would question the motives of any gentleman who singled me out, I know I would. Living in a permanent state of suspicion would rob the experience of any pleasure I might otherwise derive from it.’ Susie shook her head emphatically. ‘London seasons are an opportunity for beautiful girls to show themselves off and enjoy being feted, or for less handsome heiresses to find husbands willing to overlook their plainness because they are desperate for their money.’ She folded her gloved hands in her lap. ‘Thank you, but I can easily resist that humiliating experience.’
‘I was in a similar situation to you, my dear. Jane eclipsed all of us when it came to beauty and sweetness of nature. But at least we didn’t have to agonise about having a season. There was never any question of that.’ Mama gazed off into the distance as the carriage bowled along, probably not seeing the vibrant colours of the heather dotting the moorland or the doe and her fawn, off in the distance, drinking from a stream. ‘Then Mr Bingley and your father came to Hertfordshire.’
‘And fell madly in love the moment they set eyes upon you and Aunt Jane,’ Susie said, grinning. ‘How very sensible of them.’
‘Mr Bingley certainly fell in love with your aunt, but your father found me merely tolerable.’
‘No!’ Susie had heard her mother say the same thing before but still didn’t believe it. ‘Well, even if he did, he came to his senses quickly enough and it is obvious to me that he still adores you, even after all these years and five bothersome children to cause you endless headaches.’
‘Oh yes, our marriage survived the disruption caused by the arrival of you all.’ Mother and daughter shared a smile. ‘But my point is, your father was relentlessly pursued by ambitious ladies with far greater beauty and fortunes than me.’
‘And yet he chose you.’
‘Because he got to know me over a period of time. He realised that I spoke as I found and had not the slightest intention of flattering him. He was unaccustomed to being treated in such a manner.’ Mama pursed her lips in a contemplative fashion. ‘I think at first he took offence, then he was unsure what to make of it, or me. Eventually he found it refreshing.’
‘Did you behave that way in the hope of drawing his attention to you?’
‘Not in the least. I actively disliked him and recall accusing him of behaving with abominable pride.’
‘Goodness!’ Susie stifled a giggle. ‘Now I know where Bella and I inherited our outspokenness from. Even so, Mama, I’m surprised Papa permitted such an accusation to go unchallenged. He is a great man, the master of a great estate, but I have never noticed an ounce of pride about him.’
‘People change over the years, my dear.’
‘And your influence brought about the changes in Papa?’
‘And his in me. He countered my accusations by accusing me of being prejudiced. As it transpires, we were both right.’ Mama’s expression became less distant. ‘Anyway, my advice to you is to be true to yourself. When you meet a gentleman who inspires your passions, you will know it, just as your sister did before you.’
‘Hmm, I don’t hold out much hope of that ever happening.’
‘Not even the delicious Mr Tyrell?’
They both laughed. ‘Oh, I can admire him, just as I can admire one of the magnificent works of art created by his father, but I am not foolish enough to suppose he would ever show an interest in me, even if I follow your example and speak as I find. Besides, I expect he tires of females going out of their way to impress him. However, he will soon come to appreciate that I have no ulterior motives, other than a fierce love of art, for trying to help him.’
Mama fixed Susie with a penetrating look and appeared on the verge of contradicting her. In the end she refrained from so doing and a short time later the carriage turned through the gates leading to Aunt Jane’s estate, Campton Park.
‘Lizzy!’ Aunt Jane’s face lit up as she greeted them in the entrance vestibule, giving Susie a glimpse of the beautiful young girl who had swept Mr Bingley off his feet all those years ago. ‘What an unexpected pleasure. Charles is not at home and I have been alone all day so your arrival is especially welcom
e.’
‘Is Simon not here, Aunt?’ Spence asked.
Aunt Jane grimaced. ‘He’s in a bit of a taking, I’m afraid, and has locked himself away in the estate office.’
‘I’ll go and see if I can cheer him up, if you will excuse me.’
‘I would be grateful if you could manage it. I really cannot imagine what is afflicting the foolish boy. Now come, Lizzy, Susie. It is such a lovely day that we shall take tea on the terrace and enjoy the garden.’
‘You realise, I suppose,’ Mama said as they took their seats and admired the lovely spring flowers waving their heads in the packed borders, ‘that Simon is still making calves eyes at Miss Stoughton.’
‘Yes, we have noticed.’ Aunt Jane sighed. ‘Charles says it’s as well that the young lady doesn’t encourage him. Simon is still young in so many ways and doesn’t know his own mind. Anyway, we are pretending not to notice and hope that matters will run their course.’
‘Very wise.’ Mama turned to Aunt Jane. ‘Anyway, we have come for a specific reason, which is to deliver an invitation.’
‘How iniquitous!’ Aunt Jane cried when Mama told her the particulars of Mr Tyrell’s visit. ‘But I cannot believe that Sir Robert would knowingly involving himself in such a business,’ she added, wrinkling her brow. ‘Indeed, I cannot see why he would take the risk. We dined there only last week and everything seemed normal. If he is suffering hardships it certainly didn’t show in the quality of his hospitality.’
‘If he does have problems, he would still keep up appearances,’ Susie said, helping herself to a cake. ‘Pride does have its place, Mama.’
‘Indeed, and while you have never seen anything but good in everyone you meet, Jane,’ Mama replied, ‘on this occasion I agree with you. I certainly hope Sir Robert is not involved, in any event.’
‘What is Mr Tyrell like?’ Aunt Jane asked, flapping a hand in front of her face to discourage a bee from sharing her cake.
‘Oh, Susie and I are in agreement that he is quite the most handsome and charming gentleman of our acquaintance.’
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