Beneath the Major's Scars

by Sarah Mallory

  ‘Your journey back was not too tiring, Nicky did not suffer overmuch?’

  ‘Not at all. The new road is very smooth.’ She waved her hand at the lane. ‘It puts our own track to shame.’

  ‘My engineer used a new method of road-building: smaller stones, tightly packed. It seems very good, but we shall see how well it wears.’ His glance shifted to her skirts and the band of damp around the hem. ‘You have not been keeping to the roads, I think?’

  She laughed. ‘No, I have crossed a couple of very muddy fields. It was such a lovely day I could not bear to remain indoors a moment longer.’

  ‘I suppose Nicky requires a great deal of attention. Your time cannot be your own.’

  She was surprised by his concern.

  ‘You are not to be thinking I begrudge him a moment of it, nor Maria, but sometimes one likes a little time alone—but I have had that now,’ she said quickly, sensing his hesitation. She added shyly, ‘This last stretch is the least interesting, and I am always glad of company for it.’

  The house was in sight. She called to the gardener’s boy to take the major’s horse to the stables and led him in through the front door, sending a footman running to fetch Maria.

  ‘Please come into the morning room, Major. My brother-in-law is out and will be sorry to have missed you, but my sister will be here directly.’

  ‘Must I see her? I would rather you took me directly to see the boy.’

  ‘You know I cannot do that. Besides, my sister will want to give you her thanks in person.’

  He gave a little pout of distaste but the scar at the left side of his mouth distorted it into a full grimace. He muttered irritably that he wanted no thanks. Zelah felt a smile tugging her lips.

  ‘You sound very much like a sulky schoolboy, Major.’ She heard the door open and turned. ‘Ah, Maria, here is Major Coale come to visit Nicky, if you will allow it.’

  Maria hesitated at the door, then smiled and came forward.

  ‘Major Coale, I am so delighted to meet you at last. I have heard so much about you from my son and I have been longing to thank you in person for taking such care of him.’

  Watching him take her outstretched hand and bow over it gracefully, Zelah was aware of a little stab of jealousy that he had never saluted her in that way.

  ‘My husband is in Lesserton at present, Major, and I am sure he will regret that he is not here to greet you. However, he is looking forward to seeing you next week at dinner—you received my note, I hope?’

  ‘I did, ma’am, and I am delighted to accept.’

  ‘Reginald is at a meeting,’ said Zelah. ‘There is a dispute over the boundary between the villagers’ land and that belonging to Lydcombe Park. Have you heard about it?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said indifferently. ‘I recall Netherby telling me something of it when he came to call.’

  ‘Did he not tell you of the meeting?’

  ‘He did, but it’s no business of mine.’

  His tone was final and Maria was quick to change the subject.

  ‘Goodness, how the morning is flying! I am sure Nicky is anxious to see you, sir. Zelah, my love, perhaps you would escort Major Coale upstairs?’

  ‘Oh—but I was about to retire to change my gown. It became sadly muddied during my walk....’

  ‘Well, the major has already seen it and Nicky will not notice.’ Maria laughed aside her objections. ‘I must go and relieve Nurse—little Reginald will be waking up soon and demanding to be fed.’ She turned to smile at the major. ‘I shall say good-day to you now, sir, and look forward to seeing you here for dinner next week.’

  Silently Zelah led the major away. The slight hesitation in his step had returned, but whether it was due to the exercise or the awkwardness of meeting his hostess she did not know and would not ask. Nicky’s face lit up when the major walked in.

  ‘I knew you would come!’ Nicky greeted him enthusiastically.

  ‘Did you doubt it, after you wrote me such a very polite letter?’

  ‘It was Zelah’s idea. She helped me write it.’

  ‘But the sentiments were all Nicky’s,’ she said quickly.

  The major turned towards her, amusement warming his hard eyes.

  ‘Including the invitation to call? I am quite cast down.’

  Zelah flushed scarlet, but she was saved from finding a response by her nephew, who had spotted a packet protruding from the major’s coat pocket.

  ‘Is that a present for me, Major?’

  ‘It is, sir. It is the travel backgammon set from Rooks Tower. Hannah told me how much you enjoyed using it so I thought you might like to have it. She sends you her best wishes, by the bye.’

  Nicky gave a little crow of delight and immediately challenged the major to a game.

  ‘Oh now, Nicky, I am sure Major Coale is far too busy—’

  ‘Major Coale has a little time to spare,’ Dominic interrupted her. ‘And my honour is at stake here—I cannot refuse a challenge!’ He nodded at her. ‘You may safely leave the boy with me for an hour, Miss Pentewan, if you wish to go and change your gown.’

  * * *

  ‘...and he stayed for a full two hours playing backgammon with Nicky. It was most good-natured of him. It left me free to look after baby and Zelah went off to write her letters.’

  The family were at dinner and Maria was telling her husband about Major Coale’s visit.

  ‘Yes, I must say he struck me as very gentlemanly when I passed him on the road,’ said Reginald. ‘Quite a change from when I first made his acquaintance. Then he was looking very wild, but he is very much altered.’ He cast an amused glance at Zelah. ‘Having you in the house was a civilising influence, my dear.’

  ‘Not that civilising,’ she responded. ‘I told him about your opposition to Sir Oswald’s plans for Prickett Wood and he was not at all interested in supporting you.’

  Maria was inclined to be sympathetic.

  ‘One can hardly blame him, poor man. He is so hideously disfigured it must be a trial for him to go into society at all.’

  Reginald paused, considering.

  ‘Do you really think him so repulsive, my love? I can’t say I really noticed his scar the last time I saw him.’

  This response earned him a warm smile from his sister-in-law.

  ‘Well, of course, it was the first time I had seen him,’ said Maria. ‘But his manners are so polished and he is the son of a viscount. Once he has been to dinner and I have seen him a little more, I am sure I shall grow accustomed.’

  * * *

  A week went by and Zelah waited hopefully each day for a response to her advertisement for a position as governess. She had written it out in her best copperplate and sent it to the newspaper offices in Barnstaple and Taunton, but no replies were forthcoming.

  ‘Oh, my dear, perhaps it is not meant to be,’ said Maria, when Zelah explained this to her. ‘Can you not content yourself with living here? You know we are very happy to keep you with us.’

  ‘Thank you, Maria, and I love being here as a guest, but it was never my intention to become your pensioner.’

  Maria cried out at that, protesting that she would always be a guest, never a burden, but Zelah had seen Reginald poring over his accounts, she had heard him discussing with Maria the possibility of selling off some of their land to pay for Nicky to attend Mr Netherby’s school. Zelah did not mention it, merely saying cheerfully, ‘I do not despair—tomorrow I shall write another notice and send it off to the newspapers in Bristol and Bath. I am sure someone there must require a governess.’

  ‘I am sure they do, love, but for now let us forget this plan of yours and look forward to this evening. Major Coale is coming to dinner, had you forgotten?’

  Zelah had not forgotten, but for some reason she did not want to admit it and she was glad when her sister continued.

  ‘What will you wear, Zelah, the green robe you had made up last summer?’

  ‘I thought I might put on my grey gown.’

/>   ‘What?’ Maria sat up, scandalised. ‘That gown has done service for several years now and is very severe. You should save it to wear when you are interviewed by a prospective employer. No,’ she said decisively, ‘you will wear the green and I shall fetch out my Norwich shawl for you to drape over your arms, should the evening turn chilly.’ Maria sighed loudly. ‘There is certainly no reason for you to save your best silk any longer. If you are set upon finding work, then it is not at all suitable for a governess.’

  Zelah hugged her.

  ‘Pray do not be sad for me, dearest sister. I think it is quite exciting, and if I find the children are just too abominable, I shall give it all up and come running home to you!’

  * * *

  When the dinner hour approached, Zelah ran lightly down to the drawing room, her silk skirts whispering as she moved. She had to admit there was something very uplifting about putting on a pretty dress. Maria had even sent her own maid to put up Zelah’s hair, restraining it by a matching green bandeau and leaving just a few loose curls tumbling artlessly to her shoulders. To complete the picture Zelah threaded a small jade cross on a green ribbon and tied it around her neck.

  ‘There,’ she told her reflection, ‘a picture of simple elegance. What does one need with diamonds and emeralds?’

  The approving looks of her sister and brother-in-law raised her spirits even more and when Major Coale arrived she turned towards the door, her eyes sparkling and a smile of genuine welcome parting her lips.

  * * *

  Dominic entered the room ready to bow and say all that duty required, but when his eyes alighted upon Zelah Pentewan he stopped, his brain refusing to function. In a matter of seconds he regained his composure, bowing to his host and greeting Mrs Buckland with the usual polite phrases, but all the time his brain was in turmoil.

  He had not been looking forward to the evening. He remembered his first meeting with his hostess, recalled her hesitation and the way her eyes travelled everywhere save to his face. He hoped she would soon recover from the habit, but it did not surprise him. It was always thus with a new acquaintance.

  Except Zelah, who had never shown any reluctance to look at him, save when he teased her or paid her compliments and made her blush. Gazing at her now, he wanted to shower her with compliments, for she looked quite charming. Her gown, which was the colour of new leaves, brought out the green flecks in those expressive eyes that now met his own and a delicate flush mantled her cheeks. She looked genuinely pleased to see him and for a moment his spirits soared.

  It had been a long time since any young woman had smiled at him in quite such a welcoming way, save those he had paid on rare occasions to spend the evening with him in a vain attempt to relieve his loneliness. Dominic quickly damped down his pleasure. Her smiles were nothing more than natural friendliness. No woman could ever be attracted to him now.

  So he retreated into the safety of his perfect society manners and quelled the impulse to hold her fingers an instant longer than was required, or even—as he really wanted—to kiss her hand.

  * * *

  Dinner should have been a relaxed affair. Maria and Reginald were at pains to put their guest at ease and the major responded with perfect civility. There was very little for Zelah to do other than eat her food and enjoy the sound of his deep, well-modulated voice, yet she could not be easy. Every nerve end ached, her skin was so sensitive she wondered if it was perhaps some kind of fever, but when she touched her own cheek the skin was not unnaturally warm. Zelah wondered at her reaction and finally concluded she had lived retired for too long and had forgotten how to behave amongst strangers.

  At last Maria gave the signal to withdraw and the ladies left the men to their brandy.

  * * *

  ‘I think it is going exceedingly well,’ said Maria, sinking into a chair and disposing her skirts elegantly around her. ‘Major Coale is very well read and Reginald was right, now that we have been in his company for a while I hardly notice his poor face at all. But you have been very quiet, Zelah my love. I would have thought the major’s knowledge of art and literature would have made him an interesting guest for you.’

  ‘He is—that is, the conversation was flowing so well I didn’t like to—I mean, I could find nothing to add.’

  ‘That is most unlike you, little sister.’ Maria patted her cheek. ‘I do believe you are a little shy of the major, but there is no need. Indeed, you should know him better than any of us. You must try to be a little more sociable. I assure you, Zelah, you have nothing to fear. He is perfectly harmless.’

  But Major Coale did not feel perfectly harmless. Zelah could not explain it. Part of her wanted to stay near him, to engage him in conversation and at the same time she wanted to run away. It was most confusing.

  * * *

  When the gentlemen came in she was prepared to make an effort to join in, but they were getting on so well that the conversation flowed quite easily without any contribution from herself and she remained beside her sister, a relieved and silent observer. Maria, however, was determined that she should participate more and when the tea tray was brought in she handed two cups to Zelah, instructing her to carry one to their guest.

  Bracing herself, Zelah moved across the room. Major Coale accepted the cup with a word of thanks, adding, as Reginald lounged away and they were left alone, ‘Buckland tells me Nicky is to go to school.’

  ‘Yes. Mr Netherby teaches a small group of boys for a few hours each day and he has agreed to take him. It is as much for the company as anything.’

  ‘And when does he start?’

  ‘As soon as he is walking again, which should not be long now, he is making good progress.’

  She sipped at her tea, trying to think of something to say. She wanted to tell him how handsome he looked, but that would be most improper, and unfortunately, everything else that came to mind was connected to their having dined together, a fact that must remain secret.

  ‘You are very quiet this evening, Miss Pentewan. Why is that? I know you are not afraid of me.’

  The glinting smile in his eyes drew an answering gleam from her.

  ‘Not when I was on your land, certainly. But here...’ she glanced around ‘...I fear I am less at ease with you in these more formal surroundings.’

  ‘That is singular—if anything you should feel safer here, with your family.’

  She smiled. ‘You must think me very foolish.’

  ‘Not at all. Have you found a suitable post yet, as a governess?’

  ‘No, and it is very lowering. Maria ascribes it to my lack of experience.’

  ‘She may well be right.’

  ‘But I am very well qualified! Papa himself took charge of my education. He taught me French and mathematics and the use of globes—and he allowed me free access to his extensive library.’ She sighed. ‘But of course, apart from my nephew I have little experience of children.’ She turned her eyes upon him as a thought occurred to her. ‘I wonder perhaps if you have a young relative in need of a governess?’

  He threw back his head and laughed at that. Zelah smiled, surprised at the little curl of pleasure it gave her, to have amused him so.

  ‘No, Miss Pentewan, I do not. I have only one sister, you saw her portrait. She is now married, but when she was younger she was such a minx that I have the greatest sympathy with every one of the poor ladies employed to instruct her.’

  ‘Oh dear, was she so bad?’

  ‘A perfect hoyden. She ran through at least a dozen governesses. Do not look so dismayed, ma’am, the Coales are renowned for being wild to a fault. Not all families will be as bad.’

  ‘No-o.’ Zelah was not convinced. She gave herself a little shake. ‘I have not given up hope, Major. I have already sent off more advertisements. I am sure something will turn up.’

  ‘Of course it will.’ He put down his cup. ‘It is growing late and I must get back.’

  He rose and crossed the room to take his leave of his hostess. Zelah felt
a deep sense of disappointment that he was going so soon, which was irrational, since she had avoided his company most of the evening.

  * * *

  Nicky was making good progress. By the end of the week he was hobbling around the garden, showing off his heavily bandaged leg to all the servants.

  Zelah watched him from her bedroom window. He was in the garden, talking to the aged retainer employed to cut the lawn. She was too far away to hear what was being said, but she could imagine him recounting the tale of how he hurt his leg. The old man was leaning on his scythe and giving the boy his full attention, even though she was sure he would have heard the story several times over. She put her chin on her hands, smiling. Nicky had such a natural charm, no wonder everyone loved him. Reginald was taking him to join the vicar’s little school next week and she hoped the other boys would take to him.

  There was a knock at the door.

  ‘If you please, miss, Major Coale is here to see you.’

  ‘Is my sister not available?’

  The maid bobbed another curtsy. ‘He asked to speak to you, ma’am.’

  ‘Oh.’

  She turned to the mirror and picked up her brush, then put it down again. Without removing all the pins, brushing out her curls and pinning it all back up again, which would take far too long, there was not really much improvement she could make, save to tuck an escaping tendril behind her ear.

  Zelah pulled the neckline of her gown a little straighter, smoothed out her skirts and, after a final look in the mirror, made her way downstairs to the morning room.

  The major was standing by the window, his back to the room and his hands clasped behind him.

  ‘Good morning, Major Coale.’ He turned to face her, but with his back to the light Zelah could not read his expression. She said quickly, ‘Nicky is in the garden, sir, if you wish to see—’

  ‘No, it is you I came to see,’ he interrupted her, his tone more clipped and curt than ever.

  She sank on to a chair. He ignored her invitation to sit down and took a turn about the room. Zelah waited in silence, watching him. His right leg was dragging and he was frowning, the crease of his brow making the scar running down his face even more noticeable. Zelah clasped her hands tightly together and waited.