by Dilly Court
‘Why not wait a day or two, Maria? Get to know the captain a little better.’
‘I know all I want to know.’ Maria’s jawline hardened and her brow creased in a frown. ‘Please don’t say anything that might make Grandmama take against him.’
‘Of course not.’ Caroline glanced over her shoulder as the door opened to admit Mrs Colville and Phineas.
Gilroy hurried forward to pull up a chair and Mrs Colville took her seat at the head of the table. ‘I hope you aren’t going to be fussy about your food this evening, Maria.’
Maria shook her head, subsiding into silence with a hunted look.
‘I signed the contract with the Dutch company today, Grandmama.’ Phineas shook out his napkin and laid it on his lap. ‘It should prove very lucrative.’
Mrs Colville took a small portion, then waved aside the soup tureen that Gilroy proffered. ‘It’s too hot for soup. I thought Cook understood that.’
‘It smells delicious.’ Phineas ladled a generous helping into his bowl.
‘Not for me.’ Maria held her hand over her dish.
‘What did I say about fussy girls?’ Mrs Colville snapped. ‘You’ll go to your room without dinner if you persist in being finicky, Maria.’
Maria’s bottom lip trembled, but she took a small amount from the tureen. Caroline kept a wary eye on Gilroy when it came to her turn – an apparent accident involving hot soup would be both embarrassing and painful. She steadied the serving dish with one hand, making it impossible for Gilroy to snatch it away at the last moment, and helped herself to a generous portion.
Mrs Colville broke a bread roll into tiny pieces and popped one into her mouth. ‘How are things at the office, Phineas? I suppose it must be easier to boost trade without Manning and Chapman competing for every contract?’
Caroline winced as she burned her tongue on the hot soup.
‘What’s the matter, Miss Manley?’ Phineas gave her a searching look.
‘It’s rather hot, but very tasty.’
‘We have an excellent cook,’ Phineas said equably. ‘As to the business, Grandmama, everything is going as it should be, but I take no pleasure in watching another company go to the wall.’
‘You should rejoice in their downfall. Colvilles have always ruled the river.’ Mrs Colville pushed her plate away. ‘The soup is too salty. I’ll have a word with Cook tomorrow.’
Maria cleared her throat nervously. ‘May I say something, Grandmama?’
There was a moment of silence as everyone turned to look at her.
‘This should be interesting,’ Phineas said with a hint of a smile. ‘Speak up then, Maria.’
‘I would like to invite Captain Barnaby to dinner, Grandmama. He was kind enough to show me around the Colville Star this afternoon.’
Caroline closed her eyes. She could feel Mrs Colville’s wrathful glance searing her skin.
‘What?’ The word exploded from Mrs Colville’s lips. ‘You’ve been consorting with a common seafarer? What were you doing, Miss Manley? I entrusted Maria to your care.’
‘I escorted the girls, Grandmama,’ Phineas said calmly. ‘I took them on board ship for a brief visit, but Maria seems to have developed a schoolgirl infatuation with one of my captains.’
‘How did this happen?’ Mrs Colville demanded angrily. ‘Has he taken advantage of her youth and inexperience?’
‘No, Grandmama,’ Maria cried passionately. ‘He was a perfect gentleman, and he called today to return my parasol, which I left on board by mistake.’
‘He’s been to this house?’
‘Yes, Grandmama. I’m sorry. I didn’t know it would upset you.’
‘You’re just like your mother. I can see history repeating itself.’
‘That’s not fair, Mrs Colville,’ Caroline protested angrily. ‘I was there all the time, apart from the few minutes when I went to the kitchen to order tea.’
‘You left them alone? You have a lot to answer for, young lady. I don’t pay you to abandon your charge when it suits you.’
‘No one came when I rang the bell, Grandmama,’ Maria said boldly.
‘There’s no excuse. The servants would have come had you waited.’ Mrs Colville pointed a shaking finger at Caroline. ‘You are to blame for what occurred, Miss Manley.’
‘Nothing happened, Grandmama. The captain and I were just talking. He’s a very nice gentleman and I wanted you to meet him.’
‘I’ve heard excuses like that from your mother, and she burdened me with you. Go to your room, Maria. I can’t bear the sight of you.’
‘That is so unfair.’ Maria scrambled to her feet and ran from the room, sobbing.
‘That was cruel, even for you, ma’am.’ Caroline threw down her napkin and stood up. ‘How can you treat your own flesh and blood in such a way?’
‘Sit down, Miss Manley. I won’t be spoken to like that.’
‘Perhaps it’s time someone stood up to you, Mrs Colville. You are a cold-hearted bully. I’ve only been in this house for a couple of days, but I’ve seen enough.’
‘Phineas, are you going to allow this young woman to insult me like this?’
‘I think you owe my grandmother an apology,’ Phineas said sternly.
Caroline faced him, controlling her temper with difficulty. ‘I won’t apologise for telling the truth. I can’t imagine what that poor girl has suffered during her lifetime, but I am not going to stand by and condone such cruelty.’
‘You won’t have to. You’re dismissed.’ Mrs Colville’s eyes narrowed to slits and she bared her teeth in a snarl. ‘Don’t expect to get a reference from me.’
‘Is that really necessary, Grandmama?’ Phineas pushed his plate away. ‘This has got completely out of hand. Barnaby is a decent enough fellow, and the girls were in my care on board the ship. In fact, Maria showed a great deal of interest in the running of the company as a whole, which might not be such a bad thing as she will understand better why you have arranged such an advantageous match for her.’
‘Be quiet, Phineas. Pas devant les domestiques. Anyway, Maria knows nothing of it at the moment.’
‘I know what you’re saying, ma’am. I speak French quite fluently.’ Caroline looked from one to the other. ‘What have you arranged for Maria?’
‘It’s none of your business.’ Mrs Colville pointed to the door. ‘You are dismissed as from this moment.’
Phineas yawned, as if bored by the argument. ‘At least allow her to finish her meal, Grandmama.’
‘I want her out of here, Phineas. I cannot allow anyone to flaunt my wishes.’
‘Miss Manley is the one person who might be able to persuade Maria to look favourably on Featherstone’s offer of marriage.’
‘You’re talking about me as if I weren’t here,’ Caroline protested. ‘And if you think I would do anything to upset Maria, you’re very much mistaken. I don’t know who this person is, but your plans are obviously based on what is best for Colville Shipping, regardless of Maria’s wishes.’
‘You fool, Phineas.’ Mrs Colville’s face contorted with rage and a bubble of saliva trickled down her chin. ‘You’ve ruined everything. She’ll tell Maria and my whole plan will be as nothing.’
‘Just listen to what I have to say, Caroline,’ Phineas said quietly. ‘We are not monsters, and I do care about Maria’s feelings even more than I care about the business, but this union would cement relations between ourselves and Featherstone Blandish, the largest shipping company in the whole country. Together we will literally rule the waves.’
The change in his attitude did not convince Caroline of his sincerity. It seemed to her that both Phineas and his grandmother were obsessed with business and motivated entirely by selfish ambition and greed.
‘I’m not interested in your excuses. All I can see is a young woman who has been browbeaten and bullied all her life and made to feel inferior because of an accident of birth. You are using her and I won’t allow that to happen.’
‘Get out,’ Mrs
Colville’s voice rose to a shriek. ‘It’s no use reasoning with her, Phineas. I blame you for this. I wouldn’t have taken this creature into my house had you not persuaded me that it would be good for Maria.’
‘I have my suspicions, Grandmother. I think Miss Manley has been duping us.’ Phineas fixed Caroline with an uncompromising stare. ‘Who are you, Miss Manley? I don’t believe the story you told me. I want the truth.’
‘Do you? Well, I don’t have to explain myself because your grandmother has dismissed me, and I’m leaving. I won’t stay another minute in this miserable house where money is the only god you worship. You ruin other people’s lives without a twinge of conscience. Shame on you both.’
Caroline marched out of the room, intending to pack her bags and return home, but Phineas caught up with her before she had reached the stairs.
He grabbed her by the arm. ‘Wait a moment. I won’t allow you to upset my cousin.’
‘I think you and your grandmother have done that already.’ She met his steely gaze with an angry toss of her head.
‘You have an answer for everything, don’t you?’
‘No, but I think I have your measure, Mr Colville.’
‘You know nothing of me, or my business.’
‘I know that you use people and walk all over them. You leave families to go bankrupt because of your greed.’
He released her, dropping his hand to his side. ‘Who are you, Miss Manley? You failed to answer my question.’
‘What is it to you? Do you really care that you were party to my father’s sudden death? Or that my mother is broken-hearted and has lost everything, including her home and the possessions for which she and my father worked hard all their lives?’
‘Manning,’ he said slowly. ‘You’re Jack Manning’s daughter?’
‘Yes. I am.’
‘But why all the pretence? Why didn’t you come to me for help? I wouldn’t have pursued the loan had I realised the difficulties in which Jack found himself.’
‘What loan? I don’t understand.’
‘I loaned him a substantial sum to help him over the difficult time after the loss of his ship, the Mary Louise. It was a legal agreement and when the repayments ceased I had no choice but to pursue the matter through the courts.’ Phineas eyed her curiously. ‘You knew nothing of this?’
‘No. I didn’t.’
‘Your father overstretched himself financially. He had been very successful in the past, but had failed to modernise his fleet. We were competitors, but I was also his friend.’
‘I don’t care what you say, you are partly to blame for his early demise. I don’t call that the action of a friend. In fact, I don’t believe you know the meaning of the word.’
‘You’ve said enough.’
‘I haven’t even begun to tell you what I think of you and all this.’ Caroline encompassed the cold splendour of the entrance hall with a sweep of her hands. ‘You live in an ice palace with the ice queen herself, and that in itself is odd.’
‘Enlighten me, Miss Manning. You seem very free with your opinions.’
‘All right, I will. A wealthy man of a certain age, tied to his grandmother’s apron strings, is someone to be pitied. Maybe, if you found the courage to stand up to Mrs Colville and tell her that you have your own house you would not have to pander to her as you do, and I call it very shabby to conspire against Maria and coerce her into a marriage of convenience.’ Caroline paused for breath. She knew she had said too much, but all the pent-up anger and frustration of the past few weeks had come bubbling to the surface.
Phineas stared at her as if shocked into silence. Caroline expected an angry tirade, but he turned on his heel and walked away. She took the stairs slowly, her mind racing. There was no way she could remain in this house now, and the hardest part would be saying goodbye to Maria.
Chapter Eight
‘I’m coming with you,’ Maria said tearfully. ‘You can’t leave me here, Caroline. You’re the first real friend I’ve had.’
‘That’s so sad, and I am your friend, but I can’t take you away from your home.’
Maria had been lying on her bed, but she snapped into a sitting position. ‘This is a house but it isn’t my home. I’ve lived here all my life, but it hasn’t been a happy time.’
‘I’ve told you my situation.’ Caroline sat on the edge of the bed, reaching out to clutch Maria’s hand. ‘I have no real home either. I’ll go to the Captain’s House, but it belongs to Sadie, and I’ll have to find somewhere more permanent.’
‘You and I are in the same boat, so to speak.’ A faint smile lit Maria’s eyes, but tears sparkled on the tips of her lashes. ‘At least you have a loving mother, and you know where to find her.’
‘That’s true, but I can’t impose on Lady Alice. I call her Aunt Alice, but she’s no relation, and I’m afraid I forged the letter from Bearwood House. Your cousin would probably have me arrested and thrown in prison if he knew the extent of my deception.’
‘Phin can be nice, but he’s so bound up with business that I see very little of him.’
‘I’m afraid I was very rude to him, Maria. He’ll be glad to see the back of me, as will your grandmother, but I really do have to leave now. I just came to say goodbye.’
Maria leaped off the bed. ‘I am coming with you. I don’t care if I have to sleep in the kitchen at the Captain’s House.’
‘When all is said and done I’m sure your grandmother must care for you, even if she doesn’t show it.’
‘No, she doesn’t. I’m a constant reminder of my mother’s disgrace.’
‘Even so, I have no money of my own and I’ll have to find myself another position very soon. What would you do then?’
‘If I stay they’ll force me to marry that hateful old man. They think I don’t know about Mr Featherstone, but I overheard them talking about it, and I’d sooner go into service than give myself to someone like him.’
‘How did you discover their plans to marry you off?’
‘I’m afraid I’ve become an eavesdropper. It’s the only way I learn anything in this house, and the man they want me to marry is very wealthy, but he’s more than twice my age and he’s already buried one wife.’
‘Is he so awful? I mean, you would have money and a big house with lots of servants, and your own carriage. You’d have a position in society, and, more importantly, you would get away from your grandmother.’
‘I met him once a year ago, Caroline. He’s fat and middle-aged, and he’s losing his hair, although he combs what’s left over his bald pate, which makes him look ridiculous. He eats like a pig and he takes snuff. Need I say more?’
‘I must admit that he doesn’t sound like the ideal husband.’
‘And he brays like an ass when he laughs. I’d sooner throw myself into the river than marry a man like him.’
Caroline sensed that this was no idle threat. Maria was desperate and it seemed that she had good reason for refusing to consider her grandmother’s choice of husband. ‘You would have to work if you came with me,’ Caroline said thoughtfully. ‘I suppose you could try for a position as a governess or a lady’s companion.’
‘I might, but what I would dearly love to do is to find my mother.’
‘Do you know where she is?’
Maria shook her head. ‘No, not exactly.’
‘What do you mean by that?’
‘Nanny Robbins had been my mother’s nanny and she used to tell me stories about Mama when she was growing up. I’ve never met my mother and yet I feel I know her. I think Nanny Robbins might know where to find her.’
‘So where is your nanny now?’
‘I don’t know exactly, but she used to live in Bow.’
‘Do you remember the name of the street?’
Maria closed her eyes. ‘I visited her there once, and I can see the cottage, but that’s all.’
‘It’s a start. Now I must go, but—’
‘No.’ Maria grasped Caroline’s hand. ‘
I have to come with you. Don’t leave me here on my own.’
‘Are you sure about this?’ Caroline glanced round the elegantly furnished room. Everything gleamed as if brand new and she would not have been surprised to see price labels attached to the expensive furniture, but she realised with a pang of sympathy that there was nothing in the room that represented Maria’s personal tastes. There were no mementoes of childhood or knick-knacks that Maria might have collected over the years.
‘I’ve never been more certain of anything. Help me to find my mother and I’ll love you for ever. I know they married her off to a rich old man, but that’s all.’
‘All right. Pack a bag quickly and we’ll wait until the house is quiet.’
‘Phin usually goes to his club in the evenings, and Grandmama retires to bed early. We could get away when the servants are having their evening meal, and no one would miss us until morning.’
‘Wait here for me. I’ll get my things together, which won’t take long, and then we’ll leave.’ Caroline rose to her feet and went to open the door, but she paused, turning to Maria with a worried frown. ‘You must be very sure that this is what you want. If you go like this your grandmother might refuse to have anything more to do with you.’
‘That’s a risk I’m more than willing to take. I’ll be ready and waiting.’
The long summer evening was not on their side as far as concealment went, but it was dusk when they left Pier House and they hurried across the forecourt into the relative safety of the trees. Maria had crammed a valise with clothes as well as a portmanteau, and when Caroline suggested that the weight of the baggage was going to prove a problem Maria insisted that each item she had packed was an absolute necessity. They managed to reach the High Street, but two well-dressed young ladies hefting heavy luggage were bound to cause comment. They were not short of offers of help from drunken seamen and dock workers, which they refused as politely as possible. In the end, Caroline hailed a cab and they travelled to the Captain’s House in relative comfort, but they still had to manage the walk along the wharf. Caroline took turns carrying Maria’s portmanteau and was finding it increasingly difficult when she spotted Max strolling towards them. She called out to him and waved. He came to a sudden halt and then broke into a run.