Seasons of Love

by Anna Jacobs

  Helen bit her lip and shook with repressed laughter as Daniel's eyes twinkled at her across the room. She couldn't help smiling back. They might have been alone in the room for a moment or two, because no one else spoke.

  Celia threw her son a hostile glance. Was he taking her warning so lightly? Was he daring to laugh at his own mother? Well, he should learn! He should indeed.

  ‘This is Lord Northby, a connection of mine,’ said Helen, keeping her voice steady only with the greatest difficulty. ‘Lord Northby, Mr Daniel Carnforth.’

  The two men approached one another and shook hands. Lord Northby studied Daniel for a moment, then nodded, as if he approved of what he saw.

  Daniel didn’t notice. He had eyes only for Helen.

  ‘And,’ she continued, still having trouble suppressing her desire to laugh, ‘I'm afraid I don't know this other gentleman's name. He came with your mother.’ Though he looked familiar, somehow.

  ‘This,’ declared Celia addressing only her son, ‘is that woman's brother!’

  ‘Edward!’ Helen stared at his doughy face, so unlike her father's lean features. ‘Good heavens!

  And I didn't even recognise you!’

  ‘ You have not changed!’ he replied, shaking his head and eyeing her with disapproval. ‘I would have recognised you anywhere.’

  ‘Mother, you mustn’t continue this . . . ’ began Daniel, but broke off in bewilderment as Celia darted forward to place herself protectively between him and Helen.

  ‘I am here to save you from the machinations of this evil adventuress!’ she announced in a shrill voice.

  ‘Said she was mad!’ repeated Lord Northby, satisfied that his analysis of the situation was correct. ‘No manners, either. Not the way to talk about your hostess! If she's your mother, Carnforth, you'd better do something about her.’

  ‘I intend to.’ Daniel had lost all desire to laugh when his mother insulted the woman he loved.

  He seized Celia’s arm and pulled her to one side, his grip like iron. As he glanced for a moment at Helen, his eyes were warm and tender and he had no need to say what he was feeling, for it showed clearly on his face.

  He turned reluctantly back to his mother, wishing for the hundredth time that she would leave him to get on with his life in his own way. He decided that only bluntness could serve, and if that didn’t work, he’d carry her out bodily if he had to. ‘I don't need saving from anything or anyone, thank you, Mother. I love Helen and intend to make her my wife as soon as possible after the baby is born.’

  The look in his eyes made Helen's heart beat faster, but she shook her head at him. ‘Oh, Daniel, you mustn't! My reputation - ’

  Forgetting the roomful of people, he let go of his mother and moved across to take Helen's hand.

  ‘You could never make me believe that you meant what you said in that nonsensical letter, my dear.’ He raised her hand to his lips, not as a romantic gesture, which he would have scorned, but because it seemed the natural, the only thing to do. ‘Nothing you do can shake my love for you.

  And my mother will tell you how stubborn I can be.’

  She couldn't help raising her hand to touch his face. ‘Oh, Daniel! You mustn’t.’

  ‘Say that you don't love me, and I'll leave you alone.’

  Helen blushed furiously as he caught hold of her other hand and pulled her towards him. They might have been alone in the room.

  Celia gasped in outrage, but couldn’t pull herself together enough to launch another attack.

  Lord Northby watched the exchange between Helen and Daniel with great interest. So it wasn't her trying to rush Carnforth to the altar, after all, but the other way round. That put a slightly different face on the matter, though it was still too soon. But it'd be a good match and he had no objection to it. In fact, he'd wish her well. About time she was properly settled and by the looks of him, Carnforth was a sensible chap, though Lord Northby didn’t like the looks of that mother of his. Mad as a hatter, she was!

  Helen tried desperately to be sensible. ‘You can't marry a woman with my reputation,’ she insisted, though it cost her a lot to say such a thing. ‘You'll be grateful to me one day for refusing you.’

  ‘Will I? You still haven't said you don't love me.’

  Celia tugged at his coat. ‘You’ve taken leave of your senses, Daniel Carnforth! Daniel! Are you listening to your own mother?’

  He wasn't even aware that she’d spoken.

  Helen took a deep breath and raised her eyes to his. ‘I - I don't . . . Oh, Daniel, I can't say it!

  You know I love you. But you also know it won’t do for me to marry you!’

  ‘Let me be the judge of that, if you please. I care nothing for idle gossip.’

  ‘You ought to care a bit,’ Lord Northby joined in the conversation unexpectedly. ‘People are already talkin' about you both. Sayin’ some dashed insulting things. That's why I came over to see my cousin here. Mud clings, y’know!’

  Daniel shrugged. ‘Sir, I don't care in the slightest what people say or what mud is flung.’ He turned back to Helen and smiled at her again, his voice softening. ‘My dearest, most precious love, you will marry me, if I have to drag you to the altar in chains!’ He reached out for her hands again.

  Celia made a final desperate effort and jostled her way to stand between them once more.

  ‘Unhand my son, you - you brazen hussy!’

  Helen put her hand to her mouth to hide a smile and the laughter welled up again. It might have been full summer and the sun shining in at every window, so full of light did the world suddenly seem.

  When Daniel struck a pose and declared, ‘I shall never let her go, Mother!’ a chuckle escaped Helen.

  This inspired Celia to leave her son unguarded again, dart over to the shrinking Edward Merling, who was edging towards the door, and demand that he step forward and tell all. When he did nothing, she poked him in the ribs and hissed, ‘Go on! Tell them.’

  Daniel drew Helen into his arms and waited. ‘She's very hard to stop once she gets going,’ he murmured apologetically. ‘I usually let her run on for a bit. But if this farce is upsetting you, my dear . . . ?’

  Helen gave up the attempt to convince him that he should be sensible and allowed herself the luxury of leaning against him. He gave her shoulders a squeeze.

  Edward, dragged into the centre of the stage much against his will, cast another panic-stricken look at the door. He could see that his sister still had no shame and he wished desperately that he hadn’t allowed this hysterical woman to drag him on such a wild goose-chase. Why, Helen was smiling at that Carnforth fellow and positively nestling against him! In her condition! And -

  another terrible thought struck him - she wasn’t even in mourning! This heinous crime was the final straw which inspired him to speak out. ‘Very well, then.’

  Celia beamed at him. ‘Go on!’

  He drew a deep breath and addressed Daniel. ‘It is my sad duty to inform you, sir, that my sister

  - for I cannot deny the relationship, much as I would like to - has no sense of morality. Her husband,’ he tried to lower his voice confidentially, but as it was rather a high-pitched one, his shocking revelation came out more like a squeak, ‘her first husband, that is, was a common actor!

  He shuddered at the mere thought. ‘And she had carnal knowledge of him before they entered into wedlock. Lord Northby will be able to confirm that the fellow had to be forced to marry her.’

  ‘I expect he was quite good-looking, if he was anything like his son,’ said Daniel calmly.

  ‘He was!’ Lord Northby gave a sudden crack of laughter at the expression of outrage on Celia's face and tried unsuccessfully to turn it into a cough. Damme if he didn't like this Carnforth fellow!

  ‘And Helen was only seventeen and as green as they come,’ he added, out of a scrupulous sense of fairness. ‘I was at the weddin', paid for it myself, in fact. Fellow didn't have a penny of his own. As for my cousin here, well, she didn't even know
she was with child until they guessed and confronted her with it. They’d kept her very ignorant.’

  ‘My poor love,’ Daniel said warmly in Helen's ear.

  ‘Silly, naïve child,’ she whispered back.

  ‘And her father beat her senseless, too,’ Lord Northby added. ‘With his belt, the coward.’

  The smile left Daniel’s face. ‘If he were still alive, I’d make him pay for that.’

  ‘People didn't think much of that sort of behaviour from a man of God, I can tell you. Not in the dark ages now, are we? We never had much to do with the fellow after that. Couldn’t stomach his hypocrisy. He was a brute.’

  Daniel bent to brush Helen's cheek lightly in a kiss, but his expression was grim still. He found the thought of someone beating Helen senseless almost too painful to bear. His arms tightened around her. Well, no one should ever beat her, or even treat her unkindly again. He would make personally sure of that.

  Celia, who had been listening in rapture, for such revelations delighted her, cried, ‘Oh, shameless!’ wringing her hands. Then she squinted short-sightedly across the room and realised how close the two of them were standing. ‘Let go of him at once, you wanton Jezebel!’ she shrieked.

  ‘Felt sorry for the poor little thing, actually,’ interrupted his lordship, scowling at Celia.

  ‘Could hardly stand as she walked into church.’

  ‘Please!’ Helen begged, feeling embarrassed by this public parading of her shame.

  ‘Tremblin' like a leaf, she was, too’ Lord Northby continued, determined to get the full truth aired now. ‘Not that I approved of the actor fellow! Weak chin. Bright blue coat, too!

  Shockingly vulgar colour. Knew he wasn't a gentleman the minute I set eyes on him. Daresay he led her a merry dance.’

  Celia clamped her fingers around her son's wrist. ‘Daniel, now that you know her shameful past, surely you must realise how unsuitable she is?’

  ‘I love her and I intend to marry her, Mother. Make up your mind to that.’

  ‘But you know how she preyed on your Cousin Charles, got him to leave her all his money!

  She took advantage of an old man! She is a - a man-trap!’

  ‘She is indeed, and I am well and truly trapped by her.’ He shook off his mother’s hand and his grip tightened round Helen's shoulders. Now that he knew she loved him, he didn't care what anyone else said. It wouldn’t even change his mind if the baby were a boy.

  He felt gloriously happy. For so long he’d wanted to speak to her, declare his love, ask if she loved him as much as he loved her. But he’d tried to do the proper thing and wait until after the baby was born. Now that he knew Helen loved him, however, even his foolish mother had no power to hurt him.

  He turned to Lord Northby. ‘Sir, I intend to marry Helen as soon as possible after the child is born. With your support, I think we can scotch some of the worst rumours. But I’ll marry her with or without it.’

  ‘You're damned sure of yourself, Carnforth!’

  ‘I am, sir. Now that I know she loves me.’

  Basil Northby, a sentimental man under that gruff exterior, allowed himself to smile encouragingly at them. This fellow wasn't like that damned actor. This one was a gentleman, even though he did let his sense of humour get the better of him at times. ‘Do my best to help,’

  he promised gruffly. ‘Deuced awkward situation, though.’

  ‘It is. And I must admit that I'd still prefer the baby to be a girl - I can't lie to you about that, my darling - but I am going to marry you, whatever the outcome, so you had better get used to the idea!’

  ‘Oh, Daniel! Daniel, my love!’ She didn't know whether to weep for joy, or to laugh.

  Celia chose this moment to stage a theatrical faint, which fooled only Mr Merling, who ran across to her and began to bleat, ‘Oh, I say! Someone help her!’

  A pain shot through Helen and she gasped, clutching Daniel's arm. No one but he noticed, however, for Harry came into the house at that moment, whistling merrily, and people’s attention was drawn from Celia's recumbent, twitching body to the bright-eyed lad. He stood in the doorway of the parlour, blinking in surprise at the number of people he saw there.

  However, as soon as he noticed that Mr Carnforth's arms were around his mother, he ignored the strangers, remembering a previous occasion when he had found his mother being cuddled by a gentleman.

  ‘I say, sir! Are you going to marry my mother like your Cousin Charles did?’

  ‘Should you mind?’

  ‘Oh, no, sir, I'd like it above all things. I'd like to have another step-father. And you're the next best thing to Charles. As long as I can bring my pony and my dog with me to the Manor.’

  ‘Of course!’

  ‘What a lark!’ Because of the visitors, Harry refrained from turning a somersault in his mother's parlour, but he did clap his hands together and shout, ‘Hurrah!’ at the top of his voice.

  Daniel turned back to Helen. ‘Can you really deny your son a lark like that and a second-best stepfather to boot?’

  She stiffened. ‘Oh!’

  He began to guide her towards the doorway, for she had clutched her stomach again and was looking pale. His years as a farmer made him guess at once what was happening. ‘Well, can you deny Harry that treat?’ he asked, to take her mind off the pains.

  She began to breathe more easily. ‘No, Daniel, I can't.’

  He turned her round to face him, his hands on either side of her face. ‘And you won't let anyone make you change your mind while you're away from me? For they'll try, you know.’

  Behind them, Celia, still lying unattended on the floor, began to wail loudly and drum her feet, but no one paid any attention to her. Basil Northby was watching Helen and Daniel, a fond smile on his face. Who could fail to be moved by such love?

  Edward Merling began edging towards the door, ready to make his escape to the carriage outside. He grimaced in disgust as he heard what his sister was saying. She had no shame whatsoever. If he never saw her again, he’d be very happy.

  ‘No, Daniel,’ Helen said softly. ‘I won't let anyone persuade me not to marry you. I can see that you're a very stubborn man and that it's impossible for me to escape from you. But I must leave you for a little while now. You’ll stay until it’s over, won’t you?’

  ‘Of course.’ He swept her into his arms and kissed her quickly. ‘Ah, there you are, Becky. I think your mistress needs you.’

  ‘I've got everything ready. I knew what was in the wind as soon as she started cleaning out them dratted cupboards.’

  Helen couldn’t resist turning back to clasp his hand again and whisper urgently, ‘Daniel, I haven't said it properly before, but - I do love you.’

  ‘My darling Helen, I shall love you for ever and make it my mission in life to keep you happy.’ He pressed a final kiss on to her hand and watched her climb slowly up the stairs, leaning heavily upon Becky.

  Miss Victoria Emily Carnforth was born exactly three hours later, after an easy birth, and Harry was the only person to be disappointed that the baby was a girl. But he nobly hid that disappointment from his mother because he didn’t want to make her cry again when she seemed so happy about everything. In fact, everyone in the house seemed rather happy today.

  ‘What a lark!’ he told his dog. ‘Mother's going to marry Daniel. We're going to live at the big house soon. And I've got a little sister. What could be better than that?’ And this time, he did do a somersault or two, before rushing off to find Alfred and make sure he was going to come to the Manor with them, too.

  Anna Jacobs

  Find out about other books by Anna Jacobs at annajacobs.com

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter
12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20