The Lady's Maid

by Dilly Court

  ‘Is he very angry?’

  ‘He was scared to death. We all was, Kate. We’ve been out most of the night scouring the countryside looking for you. And Lady Damerell’s had all the men on the estate out too.’

  ‘We had an accident. There was nothing we could do until morning.’

  Sam’s face paled beneath his tan. ‘Are you hurt? You look all right.’

  ‘I’m fine, but Josie’s suffered a mild concussion and now she’s down with a fever. The doctor says she mustn’t be moved.’

  ‘Well, serves her right if you ask me. I daresay it was her idea for you two to go gallivanting off like that.’

  ‘I know, it was a mad venture, but Josie wanted to see Copperstone Castle. We would have been home last night but for meeting a farm cart in the lane outside.’

  ‘And her driving like the devil was after you, I suppose.’

  ‘We were going too fast, and it was a sharp bend.’

  ‘Then it’s just as well that I’ve come to take you home, Kate. The squire lent me his dog cart, which is faster than the old farm wagon.’ He caught her by the hand. ‘Come on.’

  She shook her head. ‘I can’t leave without saying goodbye to Josie. It wouldn’t be right.’

  Sam’s dark brows knotted together over the bridge of his nose in an ominous scowl. ‘I doubt she would give you so much consideration, but all right then, if you insist. Just tell her that you’ve got a home to go to and a father who’s been worried to death and all because of her wayward behaviour.’

  She realised that Sam’s anger had been caused by fear both for her and also for Josie and she withdrew her hand gently. ‘Give me five minutes, Sam,’ she said with an apologetic smile. ‘Wait for me on the cart and I’ll be out as soon as I’ve said my piece.’

  Muttering, he went outside and strode down the path towards the lane. Kate sighed. She was not looking forward to facing her father when she arrived home. She had only seen him lose his temper on a few occasions when he had been very drunk, but now his anger would have been fuelled by concern for her safety as well as her lack of consideration. She would just have to face up to it, admit her guilt and take the consequences. She ran up the stairs to break the news to Josie.

  ‘You can’t leave me here all on my own.’ Josie’s eyes were bright with fever and her fingers plucked at the sheet. ‘I won’t let you go. You are a bad friend. I hate you, Kate Coggins.’

  ‘Hush, now.’ Kate laid her hand on Josie’s forehead and she was shocked to feel the heat radiating from her body. ‘You must keep calm. You’ll only make yourself worse.’

  ‘I am worse. I’m very, very sick. And you want to run off home and leave me here with strangers.’ Josie began to wail and thrash about on the pillows.

  Kate perched on the edge of the bed and caught her flailing hands. ‘Stop this at once, Josie. Stop it, I say.’

  ‘Not unless you promise to stay here with me until I get better.’

  Kate could hear footsteps on the stairs, and she knew that Josie was quite capable of making herself physically sick if she did not get her way. ‘I’ll promise, but only if you stop this hysterical nonsense.’

  Josie gave her a beatific smile. ‘Cross your heart?’

  ‘And hope to die, you wretch.’

  The door opened and Dr Drage hurried into the room followed by John and Mrs Trevett. ‘As I feared,’ he said, shaking his head. ‘She is delirious. She must on no account leave this room, John. That is my professional opinion.’

  ‘Of course, David. But her parents might insist on having Miss Damerell brought home.’

  Mrs Trevett edged past them and stood with arms akimbo, eyeing Josie with a set look on her face. ‘Miss Damerell will do as the doctor orders, won’t you, miss?’

  Josie opened her mouth, but Kate frowned at her, shaking her head. ‘You will be good now, won’t you, Josie?’

  ‘Only if you promise to remain here.’ Josie’s bottom lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears.

  ‘I’ll let your man know that you’ll be staying here to nurse your friend, Miss Coggins.’ Mrs Trevett eyed her severely, as if daring her to disagree. ‘You will be in charge of the sickroom, and I’ll see that your orders are obeyed.’

  Caught between two very different but equally determined females, Kate knew that she had no choice. ‘All right. I’ll remain here until Josie is fit to travel.’ She waited until they were alone before turning on Josie, and this time she was not amused. ‘You little madam. You may be a bit poorly, but you’re not that sick.’

  Josie’s lips curved in a triumphant smile. ‘You’ll find a way to get me home, Kate. I simply couldn’t manage if you left me here to the mercy of that old harridan. I do love you, you know. We may not be related by blood, but we were born on the same day, so that makes us sisters.’

  Kate plumped up the pillows and smoothed a lock of dark hair back from Josie’s brow. ‘Yes, you minx. We do share the same birthday, but you were born to the gentry and I’m a stableman’s daughter. Of course that makes us twins.’

  Josie closed her eyes. ‘Now you are laughing at me. I want to sleep now, so go away, Kate. But not too far.’

  Downstairs in the entrance hall, Kate could hear raised voices, and one of them was Sam’s. She ran down the stairs, coming to a halt at the bottom as she saw Sam and Mrs Trevett in the middle of what appeared to be a fierce argument.

  ‘And I’m telling you to go about your business, my good man.’ Mrs Trevett squared up to him. ‘If you don’t leave this house now I shall send for the constable.’

  ‘I’m not going nowhere until I’ve spoken to Miss Coggins.’ Sam looked up and saw her. He pushed past Mrs Trevett. ‘This woman tells me that you’re not coming home after all. Is it true?’

  She laid her hand on his arm. ‘Stop shouting, Sam. It is true. I was going to come with you, but Josie has a fever and I’ve promised to stay with her until she is well enough to travel.’

  Sam’s eyes widened with concern. ‘You said it was just a bump on the head.’

  ‘I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me, miss. And you, young man, had best leave now and take the message to Damerell Manor.’ Mrs Trevett stalked off, bristling with affront.

  ‘The old battleaxe!’ Sam said, eyeing her retreating figure with a hostile look. ‘I couldn’t stand a day in the company of that woman.’

  Kate smiled wearily. She felt wrung out and drained of all emotion. ‘She’s not so bad really. She just likes things to be done properly.’

  ‘And you’re really going to stay here? Tell me the truth now, Kate. Is it serious with Josie, or are you afraid to go home to face your pa? If you are, don’t be. I’ll stand by you.’

  ‘I know you would, Sam. I’m not afraid of Pa. As to Josie, I think it’s just a feverish chill, but you know what she’s like. She was working herself up into a tantrum so I promised her that I’d stay. I can’t break my word.’

  ‘What am I to tell them at the big house then? And what do I say to the gaffer?’

  ‘For a start you can ask them to send a change of clothes for Josie, some fresh undergarments and some slippers. And then tell them whatever it was that Mrs Trevett told you to say. As for Pa, please try and explain to him why I have to remain here. Tell him that I’m sorry that I caused so much upset. And you might ask Molly to pack a bag for me too. The Damerells’ groom could collect it on his way here.’

  ‘I’ll do all that gladly, but I blame Josie for this mess. She may be a lady, but she’s a wild thing at heart. It would be easier to tame the wind than to keep her in order.’

  Kate squeezed his hand. ‘Go home, Sam. Tell Pa I’m very, very sorry, and I’ll come as soon as I can. Will you do that for me – and for Josie?’

  ‘I’ll go, but only because you say so.’

  She reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘I’m relying on you, Sam. And don’t let Pa put too many of my chores on to Molly. He can always hire a dairymaid from the village for the short while I’m away.’


  A dark flush stained Sam’s weathered cheeks and he stared down at his boots, shuffling his feet. ‘There’s something else, Kate. Something I think you ought to know.’

  ‘What is it?’

  He shook his head. ‘It may be nothing, but I seen it coming for weeks.’

  ‘You’re frightening me, Sam. Tell me now.’

  Chapter Nine

  ‘IT’S PROBABLY JUST gossip, Kate,’ Josie said impatiently. ‘Why can’t you forget what Sam said and stop worrying?’

  Kate stared out of the drawing room window, her whole body rigid and visibly trembling. She sighed, shaking her head. ‘Because Sam wouldn’t have told me that Pa was engaged to Miss Stamp if it hadn’t been true. I can’t believe that my father would do something so foolish. It’s obvious what sort of woman she is.’

  ‘He’s a man,’ Josie said, thumping her hands down on the piano keys. ‘They don’t think. He wants someone to run round after him and warm his bed.’

  ‘Don’t.’ Kate turned to her with a worried frown. ‘She’ll do anything to trap him into marriage and then she’ll make his life a misery.’

  ‘You don’t know that. Do stop going on about it.’

  Kate snatched up her shawl. ‘I’m going out for a walk. I can’t talk to you when you’re in this mood.’ She opened one of the French doors and stepped out into the garden, shutting it again with unnecessary force. A gust of cool air turned the page of sheet music in front of Josie. She slammed the piano lid with an exasperated sigh.

  ‘My poor piano must have offended you today.’

  She turned her head to see John standing in the doorway, and she was instantly ashamed of her fit of pique. ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to take it out on the instrument. My playing was diabolical today.’

  ‘It was no such thing. I’ve been sitting in my study listening to Mozart, when I should have been writing my sermon. Perhaps your head injury is causing you more pain?’

  His smile was sympathetic but that only served to make things worse. She would have felt better had he scolded her for her bad behaviour, and she was not in a mood to be forgiven. ‘No, in fact my head is much better and the bruises are fading, but I ache all over and it makes me hobble about like an old woman. I can’t say that I enjoy looking and feeling like an old hag of ninety.’

  ‘I hear that convalescent invalids are often bad-tempered.’

  ‘Now you are laughing at me, and I think it is very mean of you, vicar.’

  ‘You only call me that when I’ve upset you.’ He held up his hands in a gesture of submission, but there was laughter in his eyes. ‘No, don’t worry. I won’t apologise, Josie. I know that annoys you more than anything. You see, I have grown to know you well during your brief stay in this house.’

  ‘Too well, John. You’ve seen through me. I’m spoilt, shallow and wayward – in fact, not a very nice person at all.’ It amused her to tease him, and this dull house did not offer much in the way of entertainment. If she were to tell the truth, she was bored to death, and could not wait to go home.

  His smile faded and he crossed the floor to sit on the chair nearest to her. ‘That’s not what I meant at all. I see someone quite different beneath the façade that you present to the world.’

  ‘Do you, vicar? I wonder if that knowledge is divine, or if in fact it comes from the other place?’ She leaned forward, smiling into his eyes and lowering her voice. ‘You know where I mean, of course.’

  ‘You love to tease me, I know that. I also know that you are loyal to your friends and can command their deep affection, as evidenced by Kate. Now, if you were the bad person who you claim to be, I don’t think a charming young lady like Miss Coggins would be so fond of you.’

  His earnest expression and the heartfelt tone of his voice were oddly disturbing. Even though she had not had an official coming out season, Josie had attended private parties both at her parents’ London home and in the country. She was well versed in the art of flirting, but she could also recognise the signs when it had gone too far and a young man was in danger of falling in love with her. At that point in the past, when things were getting serious, she had always put a stop to the game, even if it meant breaking a few hearts along the way. In her experience, her would-be suitors recovered extremely quickly and lived to flirt another day – but she was not so sure about John Hardy. She sensed that his feelings ran deep and his love, once given, would never be withdrawn. She did not want him to fall in love with her; such deep devotion was frightening in its intensity, and she still had plans for Harry Challenor. His apparent indifference made him all the more of a challenge.

  She managed a tight little laugh, which sounded false even to her own ears. ‘Oh, heavens, vicar. You’ll have me in tears in a moment.’ She peered out of the window, hoping that Kate would return and put an end to this tête-à-tête, but she was nowhere in sight. She stood up a little too quickly and a spell of dizziness almost caused her to lose her balance. She clutched at the piano for support.

  John leapt to his feet, slipping his arm around her waist in order to steady her. ‘You must take things slowly, my dear. Allow me to help you to a more comfortable seat.’

  She could feel his breath warm against her cheek and the touch of his hand on hers was not unpleasant. She had a ridiculous impulse to lay her head against his shoulder, which only went to prove that she had been away from the real world for far too long. It was definitely time to go home.

  ‘Josie. Oh, my goodness, are you all right?’ Kate stood in the doorway, gazing at them in consternation. ‘Are you ill?’

  ‘There’s nothing wrong with me,’ Josie said irritably. ‘I stood up too quickly, that’s all. Thank you, John. I’m fine now, really.’

  He released her and moved away to stand by the fireplace. ‘Good. I mean, I’m glad you are all right.’

  ‘And I’ve got some splendid news for you,’ Kate said, smiling. ‘I’ve just seen Ethan and he told me that the axle has been repaired. If you feel up to it I could drive us home this afternoon.’

  ‘So soon?’ John’s brow creased into a frown. ‘Shouldn’t Josie consult the doctor before undertaking such a journey?’

  ‘That man is dying to bleed me and I won’t have any of it.’ Josie tempered her words with a smile. ‘Kate, go upstairs and pack our bags. And John, be a dear and ring for Mrs Trevett. We need to give her the good news. I’m sure she will be delighted to have her household back to normal.’

  He tugged at the bell pull. ‘I can’t speak for Mary, but I shall miss your company. The old house won’t seem the same without you and Kate.’

  Josie met Kate’s disapproving glance with a toss of her dark curls. ‘I daresay you’ll find plenty to keep you occupied in the parish, vicar. I’m afraid we’ve kept you from some of your duties during the past week.’ She regretted the words the moment they left her lips. His pained expression only made things worse. ‘But I’m truly grateful for all your kindness.’ She turned her head away. Guilt was not an emotion she felt very often and it was as unwelcome as it was unusual. Why did people have to be so sensitive? For the first time, she almost welcomed Mrs Trevett’s arrival on the scene.

  An hour later, Josie was perched on the driving seat wrapped in a travelling rug borrowed from the vicarage. Kate held the reins while Button moved restlessly in the shafts, as if eager to be off after a week of enforced idleness. John stood by the garden gate with Mrs Trevett at his side. Despite his smiles, Josie sensed his genuine sadness at their departure. It flattered her vanity, but it was also disturbing – she had not deliberately set out to charm the Reverend John Hardy, he had just taken a harmless bit of flirting much too seriously. Smiling, she waved. ‘Goodbye John, and thank you once again for everything.’ At least old Ma Trevett was not bothering to hide her relief that they were leaving. She would, no doubt, be delighted to rule her small empire once again.

  John raised his hand, acknowledging her thanks with a faint smile. ‘You will be most welcome to come and visit us at any t
ime, won’t they, Mary?’

  ‘Yes, sir. Of course.’ Mrs Trevett’s tone was meek but Josie was quick to note the look of satisfaction in her steely eyes.

  ‘Perhaps one day you might venture as far as Kingston Damerell,’ Kate said softly. ‘I’m sure my pa would be glad of the opportunity to thank you for taking care of us.’

  ‘I’ll do that, Kate. I know my good friend, Harry Challenor, speaks very highly of your part of the county.’

  Josie stared at him in disbelief. ‘You know Harry?’

  ‘Copperstone is within my parish, Josie. I visit the castle at least once a month and take a service in the chapel. Had you been able to stay longer you would have been able to accompany me there next Sunday. It’s certainly worth a visit.’

  At a loss for words, Josie nudged Kate in the ribs. ‘Drive on.’ She bared her teeth in a smile, waving automatically as Button obeyed a single command and surged forward. ‘Why didn’t the silly man tell us that in the first place,’ she said angrily. ‘A whole week wasted. If I’d known he was Harry’s friend I would have stayed on longer and might have met Harry in his home surroundings. I would have had a chance to charm him and show myself off to my best advantage.’

  ‘Then it’s just as well you didn’t find out until too late.’ Kate flicked the reins and Button obligingly broke into a trot. ‘I’ve got eyes, Josie. You were flirting outrageously with poor John. You had him quite bemused and I’m sure that he is head over heels in love with you.’

  ‘Poppycock! He is a crusty old bachelor who isn’t the slightest bit interested in women except to save their souls.’

  ‘If you say so, Miss Delilah Damerell.’

  ‘I do say so, and you were extremely accommodating yourself. I think you have a soft spot for our clerical gentleman.’

  ‘I admit that I like him immensely. I think John is one of the nicest men I have ever met – too nice for you, Josie. You would tear his poor heart to shreds.’