A sudden burst of sunlight filled the room, making everything jewel bright and sending glittering rays bouncing off the breakfast silver.
‘Ah, the sun is making an appearance.’ The viscount put down his napkin and looked at Zelah. ‘Perhaps Miss Pentewan would care to take a stroll around the grounds with me until the carriage is called?’
* * *
Zelah assented readily. The viscount was an entertaining companion and, knowing her heart was in no danger, Zelah could relax and enjoy his company. She encouraged him to talk about his brother, hoarding each little nugget of information. Jasper’s revelations only confirmed her impression of Dominic. Honest, loyal and honourable, a man determined to do his duty.
‘And now he is throwing his energies into Rooks Tower,’ said Jasper as they reached the orangery. He opened the double doors and stood back for her to enter. ‘I thought at first he wanted it merely as a retreat, to hide away from the world, but his holding a ball has made me think again. Perhaps he is intending this as a family home. What do you think, Miss Pentewan, is my brother on the look-out for a wife?’
The thought was a body blow to Zelah, robbing her of breath. She hoped it did not show in her face and she pretended to give her attention to looking about the summer house, admiring the arrangements of plants and marble while she considered her response. At last she said carefully, ‘There were several very eligible young ladies here last night.’
‘I know, I danced with them all,’ he replied promptly. ‘Dominic, on the other hand, danced with none. But perhaps he was just being cautious. He is not the sort to raise false hopes.’
‘No. He is far too chivalrous for that.’
Jasper did not notice the bleak note in her voice. He merely nodded, gazing around him in admiration.
‘Now, madam, you are to be congratulated. You have created here the perfect trysting place. Do you not find it most romantic?’
Zelah summoned up a smile. ‘Not in the daylight, sir, I see only the empty glasses that the servants failed to clear away because they were hidden behind the plants.’
He looked pained. ‘You are far too practical, my dear.’
‘My besetting sin,’ she told him cheerfully.
‘You puzzle me, Miss Pentewan. Why do you resist all my attempts to flirt with you?’
His worried tone amused her and she gave him a mischievous look.
‘Since you attempt to flirt with every young lady, my lord, it will do you no harm to be rebuffed occasionally.’ She moved towards the door. ‘Shall we go back to the house?’
Jasper was in no way discomposed by her response and they strolled back across the lawn in perfect accord. The entrance door was standing open and as they approached Dominic came out.
‘Good morning, brother,’ Jasper hailed him cheerfully. ‘You were up and out before I had even shaved this morning!’
‘I went to see Giles Grundy,’ he replied shortly.
‘Ah, yes, how is he?’ asked Zelah.
‘A little bruised, but he will mend. Doctor Pannell has set his arm—he says it is a clean break and should heal well.’
‘And while you have been busy with your tenant, you have left me with the very agreeable business of entertaining your guests,’ Jasper responded, putting his free hand over Zelah’s where it rested on his sleeve.
Dominic shifted his stony gaze to Zelah. ‘I have just ordered the carriage for your sister.’
She knew him well enough now to know he was angry about something, but she said calmly, ‘Then I shall fetch my wrap.’
She moved past him into the great hall, wondering if he had received bad tidings. Poachers, perhaps, or news that Sir Oswald had destroyed more deer. She had not quite reached the top of the stairs when his gruff, furious words echoed off the walls.
‘By heaven, Jasper, it is bad enough that you flirt with every woman you see. Must you also attempt to charm my librarian?’
Chapter Fourteen
Librarian. Yes, that is all she was to him, thought Zelah as she sat in the tower room the next day, working at her ledgers. She tried to ignore the huge bed that still dominated the room, a constant reminder of her attendance at the summer ball. The weather had broken and the rain had fallen steadily all day. She saw no one save Mrs Graddon, who brought her a tray at noon, along with an invitation from Mrs Hensley to join the other guests in the drawing room later to play charades.
Zelah sent back her apologies. She had lost too much time already. She wanted to finish her work at Rooks Tower and be ready to take up the post in Bath, should her application be successful. Dominic had told her that Sally could find her a position with someone of her acquaintance, but Zelah wanted to sever all ties with Major Coale’s family and had already sent off the required references to Bath.
She was relieved when at last she could return to West Barton, but even there the talk was still of the ball. Learning that Maria was in the nursery, she ran upstairs to find Nicky telling Nurse how exciting it had been.
‘Major Coale brought me supper, and by sitting on the edge of the landing I could hear what people said when they came into that little spot beneath the stairs.’
Maria threw up her hands. ‘Lud, my son is an eavesdropper! He now knows all the secrets of the village.’
‘Devil a bit, Mama,’ grinned Nicky. ‘It was only Lord Markham telling one of the ladies that her eyes reminded him of the stars, and then Sir Oswald came over with—’
‘Enough!’ Maria put up her hand. ‘It was very naughty of you to be listening, Nicholas, and you must say no more about it. Eavesdroppers will never hear any good of themselves.’ She turned her attention to her sister. ‘Good evening, Zelah. Did you get very wet walking home? I had hoped Major Coale or his sister would have the goodness to send you home in the carriage.’
‘I slipped away without telling them.’ Zelah recalled the shouts and laughter coming from the drawing room when she had crossed the empty hall. She raised her chin a little. ‘It was never part of the agreement that the major should provide a carriage for me.’
‘It was never part of the agreement that you should catch a chill,’ retorted Maria. ‘But never mind, it is done now and you are here safe. Mr Lerryn has sent word that he is resuming his journey to Bristol so we shall be able to enjoy a quiet family dinner together.’
Zelah uttered up a silent prayer. Dominic had assured her that she was safe from Timothy Lerryn, but it was still a relief to know he had quit Lesserton. It was one less problem to worry her.
* * *
When Zelah arrived at Rooks Tower the next morning her spirits were as leaden as the overcast sky. Two more weeks, three at the most, and she would be finished here. The library was just as she had left it, no sign that the major had been there to check her progress. She had the lowering suspicion that he was avoiding her.
She had not been working long before Sally Hensley burst into the room, saying impetuously, ‘Oh good, you are here! I have come to say goodbye!’
‘G-goodbye?’ Zelah rose from her seat and was immediately enveloped in a scented embrace.
‘Yes! I had planned to stay another two weeks at least, but I have today had a letter from my darling husband! Ben is well, and in England, and on his way to our house at Fellbridge. He may already be there, because his letter went to Markham and they have sent it on to me. I must go home immediately. I only hope this rain does not slow my journey. Oh, I cannot wait to see him again.’
‘Yes, yes, of course. I am very happy for you.’ Zelah barely had time to murmur her words before she was caught up again in another fierce hug.
‘Thank you. I count you very much my friend now and I am very sorry to be leaving, but I shall write to you at West Barton—’
‘I—I doubt I shall be there for much longer. My work here is almost finished. I hope to hear soon about the post in Bath.’
Sally regarded her for a moment, as if she would protest, but in the end she merely nodded. ‘Very well, but if you take it yo
u must let me know where you are. I do not want to lose touch with you now.’
Then, like a whirlwind, Sally was gone, leaving only silence and the faintest hint of perfume behind her.
Zelah resumed her seat and picked up her pen. It was unlikely they would ever meet again. Sally would be preoccupied with her husband for the next few weeks and by the time she was able to think about her new friend, Zelah hoped to be far away from Exmoor.
* * *
The rain persisted well into the afternoon, but about five o’clock there was a break in the weather. The sky was still a thick grey blanket, but Zelah decided she should set off for West Barton before there was another shower. She was just crossing the hall when she heard her name. Dominic was standing in the doorway of his study.
‘Perhaps you will grant me a few minutes of your time before you go?’
‘Yes, of course.’
He stood aside and allowed her to enter. The hearth was empty although the smell of wood smoke lingered in the air. There was a large desk by the window and two glass-fronted cupboards that housed the estate’s papers. Everything was orderly, businesslike, as was the major’s tone when he spoke.
‘You have done an excellent job, organising my library. You are to be congratulated.’
‘Thank you, sir. The catalogue of titles is almost complete, I shall begin the final section tomorrow—’
‘That will not be necessary.’
She frowned. ‘I do not understand you.’
He turned on his heel and walked across to the window. ‘You have done enough, thank you. I will arrange for your final payment to be made. It will be brought to West Barton tomorrow.’
She blinked. ‘You do not wish me to return to Rooks Tower?’
‘That is correct.’
‘But I have not finished!’
‘You have done enough.’
She clutched her hands together. ‘Are you—are you dissatisfied with me, with my work?’
‘I have already said that is not the case.’
‘But that does not make sense. It will take only a few more weeks—’
‘No!’ He swung back. ‘Don’t you understand? I am trying to protect your reputation. While my sister was here, there was a modicum of propriety, but now—’
‘You never worried about that before.’
‘That was an error. I should never have allowed you to work here.’
‘You invited me to come here,’ she retorted, anger beginning to mount.
‘I know. It was wrong of me. I admit it.’
Beneath Zelah’s annoyance was another emotion. Panic. He was sending her away. She would never see him again.
‘Please,’ she said quietly. ‘Let me finish what I have started. If you are anxious for my reputation, I could have a maid in the library at all times—let Hannah attend me!’
‘No. My mind is made up. This will be the last time you come to Rooks Tower.’
Her eyes searched his face, but his eyes were shuttered, withdrawn. He would not be moved.
The rumble of voices filtered through the door, but she barely noticed.
‘Then will you not shake hands with me?’ He looked as if her outstretched hand was a poisoned chalice and a strangled cry was wrenched from her. ‘I thought we were friends!’
The stony look fled. ‘Friends. We could never be that.’ He reached for her. ‘Zelah—’ He broke off as the door opened and Reginald burst in.
‘Coale—and Zelah. Thank God. Have you seen Nicky?’
Chapter Fifteen
Dominic’s hands fell. He stared uncomprehending at Reginald Buckland, who had stormed into his study without so much as a knock. Then he saw the look of strain in the other man’s face and he said sharply, ‘What is it?’
‘My son. He has gone missing. Because of the rain I sent my man to collect him from Netherby’s house today, but the boy had already gone. The other boys said he had set off for home, but my man did not pass him on the road. I thought he might have come here.’
‘I have not seen him, but he could have gone straight to the kitchens.’ Dominic strode out of the room and barked an order, sending a footman scurrying away. A few minutes later he returned and Dominic went back to the study, frowning.
‘No one has seen him. Could he have stopped off with friends?’
Reginald shook his head. ‘I have checked that. I beg your pardon, if he is not here then I must get back...’
‘Yes, let us get home with all speed,’ said Zelah quickly.
‘Wait.’ Dominic caught Reginald’s sleeve. ‘You are on horseback?’
‘Yes.’
‘Then we will follow in my curricle.’ He glanced at Zelah’s pale face. ‘I know it is a greater distance, but it will be almost as quick as walking and will leave you in a better state to support Mrs Buckland.’
His heart lurched. She looked utterly bewildered, and little wonder. A few moments’ earlier he had been telling her he wanted nothing more to do with her.
He sent Reginald on his way and ordered his curricle to be brought round. When he returned to the study Zelah was still standing in the middle of the floor, clasping and unclasping her hands. He pushed her gently into a chair.
‘Try not to worry, Nicky might well be home by now.’
‘Yes, yes, of course.’
* * *
The curricle was soon at the door and Dominic drove his horses hard, praying that they would not meet anything in the narrow lanes. He stopped only once, to drop his groom off in Lesserton, with instructions to make enquiries at the local inns. Then it was off again at a breakneck pace. A swift glance showed him that Zelah was hanging on to the side of the carriage with one hand, the other clamped firmly over her bonnet. ‘My apologies for the bumpy ride, ma’am.’
‘Do not slow down on my account,’ she told him. ‘I, too, want to get to West Barton as soon as possible.’
* * *
When they reached West Barton a servant ran out to grab the horses’ heads. Zelah jumped down before Dominic could run round to help. He followed her into the house, where the butler’s careworn expression told them that the boy had not come home.
They were shown into the drawing room. Reginald was pacing up and down and Maria sat on a sofa with her head in her hands. When the door opened she flew out of her seat and threw herself into Zelah’s arms, sobbing wildly.
Dominic looked at Reginald, who shook his head.
‘No one has seen him. I have sent my people into the village to ask questions, but the answer is always the same. He was seen leaving the vicarage and walking out of the village in this direction, but then he disappeared.’
‘I left orders for my woods to be searched,’ said Dominic. ‘Everyone at Rooks Tower is fond of the boy, they will make every effort to find him.’
‘Oh, my poor child,’ cried Maria. ‘Where can he be?’
They sat in silence, until Maria pushed herself out of Zelah’s arms.
‘I am forgetting my duty,’ she sniffed, taking out her handkerchief and wiping her eyes. ‘You would like some refreshment, Major Coale. Tea, perhaps?’
‘I think brandy might be preferable,’ suggested Reginald.
When Dominic assented he rang the bell.
‘I would like tea,’ said Zelah, hoping her sister would find some comfort in the well-rehearsed ritual.
* * *
Conversation had been stilted as they waited for news. Every knock on the door heralded the return of another search party, but each time they had to report failure. The dinner hour had come and a place was laid for Dominic, but no one had much appetite. The hours passed. Maria dragged herself up, saying she must feed the baby and Dominic announced he would go.
‘No, please, Major, stay,’ Maria beseeched him. ‘Stay at least until I return.’
He could not refuse, but the inaction irked him. By the time Maria came back to the drawing room it was growing dark. He rose.
‘I must get back, my groom is waiting for me in Lesser
ton. I will come over again in the morning, and if there is still no news we will work out a plan...’
There was a scratching at the door and the butler entered. He crossed the room, holding out a folded piece of paper to his master.
‘Someone slipped this under the door, sir. I looked outside, but I could see no one.’
‘Then go out and search the grounds,’ barked Reginald, taking the note.
‘Too late,’ muttered Dominic, peering out of the window. ‘They’ll have gone away immediately.’ He returned to the hearth and waited. Reginald’s usually cheerful countenance became increasingly grim. ‘Well?’
‘What is it?’ demanded Maria, her hands clasped to her breast. ‘Tell us!’
Silently Reginald handed Dominic the note. ‘Read it out, Coale, if you please.’
‘If the Parents of a certain Young Man want to see him Alive again, then they will not be presenting any new evidence at the White Hart on Friday next. Neither will they make any effort to find him. If they comply with these instructions, the Young Man in question will be delivered to them, unharmed, on Sunday next.’
‘Oh!’ Maria’s hands flew to her mouth.
‘Evanshaw,’ ground out Reginald. ‘It has to be.’ He drove his fist into his palm. ‘But how did he know? He came up to me at the ball and mentioned the hearing. He was bragging that he could not lose, crowing so hard that I cannot believe he knew about the new document.’
‘You told no one about it?’ asked Dominic, pacing the room.
‘No, of course not. I told you I wanted to keep it from that rascally lawyer Evanshaw has engaged.’
‘And I mentioned it to no one at Rooks Tower,’ muttered Dominic. ‘No one outside this room knew of it.’
‘Mr Lerryn.’ Zelah put her hands to her white cheeks. ‘Timothy Lerryn was here when we brought over the manuscript.’
‘By heaven, you are right,’ declared Reginald, horror dawning in his eyes. ‘He asked me about the case, while we took brandy together after dinner.’
‘And I pointed out Sir Oswald to him at the ball,’ whispered Zelah. ‘He must have warned him.’ She turned her eyes, dark with horror, towards Dominic. ‘It is all my fault. This is his revenge upon me...’
Beneath the Major's Scars Page 20