by Dilly Court
‘He’s just mentioned it, but why come all this way for such a brief stay?’
‘I think it’s very touching,’ Cordelia said cheerfully. ‘To travel halfway round the world to see loved ones must be the ultimate gallant gesture.’
‘You read too many penny dreadfuls, Delia.’ Caroline sank down on the sofa next to her mother.
‘You are unromantic, Carrie.’ Cordelia slipped her hand through the crook of Raven’s arm. ‘Anyway, I have an announcement to make, since you are gathered here under my parents’ roof.’ She waved her left hand under Caroline’s nose. ‘I’m engaged to be married.’
‘Is it the old man you mentioned when I last saw you?’ Caroline said faintly. ‘I didn’t think you liked him.’
‘Bridechurch proposed last evening, and I accepted.’ Cordelia looked up at Raven, her pretty lips making a moue. ‘My parents will be very happy and I will be a titled lady.’
He patted her hand. ‘You are a minx, Cordelia. You remind me of your mother’s younger sister.’
‘Is that a compliment? I don’t quite know how to take you.’ Cordelia withdrew her hand, gazing at him with a puzzled frown.
‘I believe it is,’ Caroline said hastily. ‘You were named after her.’ She turned to her mother. ‘Isn’t that so?’
‘Cordelia was beautiful, but she died at a tragically young age. But enough of that.’ Esther dismissed the subject with a wave of her hand. ‘We were talking about the brevity of your stay in London, Raven.’
‘Aunt Essie!’ Cordelia’s large eyes filled with tears. ‘Don’t you care that I’ve made a good match?’
‘Congratulations, of course, Delia. I’m very happy for you. Now, would you do something for me, please? I want you to find your mama and bring her here. I’m sure she’d like to see my pa and the Captain. They won’t be staying long.’
Cordelia rolled her eyes and flounced out of the room.
‘That was a bit unkind, Mama,’ Caroline said in a whisper. ‘You might have pretended to be pleased for her.’
‘She’s marrying a much older man purely for financial gain and a title. I would never have done that when I was her age.’
Raven’s lips quivered and his eyes twinkled. ‘Does that mean you’re open to offers now, Essie?’
‘If that’s a proposal it’s in very bad taste, Raven. I’m in deep mourning.’ A mischievous twinkle lit Esther’s hazel eyes.
Caroline stared at her mother, startled by the sudden change in her demeanour. It was becoming clear that there was a deeper understanding between her mother and Raven than she had ever suspected.
‘If it were, Essie, I would have chosen my timing better. But I rule nothing out.’ Raven laughed and pulled up a chair. ‘First of all I want to tell you why I returned to England. I wanted to make certain that everything was running smoothly at the Abbey, and to ensure that Freddie has enough funds for the upkeep of our ancestral home. Who knows? Maybe I’ll decide to return for good one day, and face up to my responsibilities at Starcross.’
‘All that aside, why did you return to London?’ Esther eyed him curiously. ‘You never do anything without good reason.’
‘I decided to invest some of my money in the stock market, and, of course, I wanted to see you and your family.’ His gaze rested for a moment on Caroline, and then he turned back to Esther. ‘I didn’t know that your business was in trouble, but it seems I’ve arrived at an opportune moment.’
‘Are you going to buy me out, Raven? If so, make me an offer I can’t refuse.’
Both Esther and Raven seemed to have forgotten that there were others in the room and Caroline was suddenly anxious. ‘Just a minute, Mama. Don’t forget that Phineas has offered to take half-shares in the Esther Manning.’
‘Has he now?’ Raven met Caroline’s defiant gaze with a smile. ‘Would that be because he has a personal interest? After all, you are rivals.’
‘He’s a very astute businessman.’ Caroline found herself defending Phineas, even though she had to agree with Raven. Her recent visit to Pier House and the meeting with Mrs Colville had left her feeling bruised and angry, but Phineas had offered to help them out of an impossible situation.
‘Indeed,’ Raven said slowly. ‘Well, I might consider making a better offer. I intend to invest sufficient money in the shipping industry.’
‘In what way?’ Caroline demanded.
‘The future will be in freezer ships. The Americans are already doing this using harvested ice, but that doesn’t work for long voyages. Experiments are being carried out and I’m betting that refrigeration will come within the next ten years, which will revolutionise world trade in meat and dairy products. I want to be in at the start.’
‘Is this just a wild idea or do you really think it will come about?’ Esther’s voice quivered with excitement.
‘It will come,’ Raven said seriously. ‘There will be a fortune to be made and we will have the opportunity to get in at the very beginning. I have the capital and the energy and drive to make it happen.’
Esther raised her hand to grasp his. ‘I believe you,’ she breathed.
‘Just a moment,’ Caroline said slowly. ‘Does this mean that you want to take over our business, Lord Dorincourt?’
He turned to her with an amused smile. ‘I told you before that titles mean nothing in the goldfields – money is king.’
‘But it doesn’t buy everything.’
Jacob yawned and stretched. ‘It gets you most things, duck. You should listen to Raven. He knows what he’s talking about, and I’ll bet he could buy your Mr Colville’s company lock, stock and barrel.’
Raven laughed. ‘It won’t come to that, Jacob. But if Essie and Caroline will consider my offer I’ll start by finding them a house of their own.’
Caroline jumped to her feet. ‘Just a minute, sir. Who do you think you are to come here and take over our lives like this?’
‘Sit down and be quiet, Caroline.’ Esther’s face paled and her voice shook with anger. ‘Raven is trying to help us.’
‘Yes, girl. You’re ma’s right,’ Jacob added sternly. ‘You should be grateful.’
‘Grateful?’ Caroline had suffered enough that morning, first of all from Mrs Colville and now a man she barely knew was attempting to order their lives. ‘You are just as bad, Grandpa. Where were you while I and my brothers were growing up? Where were you when our pa died and we lost our home? The same goes for you, Raven Dorincourt. You might be the wealthiest man in the world but you can’t buy us.’
‘Caroline!’ Esther cried passionately. ‘Enough.’
‘No, Mama. You, Papa and Uncle George worked together to build up Manning and Chapman. Are you going to allow this man, whom you haven’t seen for twenty years, to decide our future? I, for one, will not. I say that half-shares in the company are better than giving it away to someone we don’t know.’
Falco cleared his throat noisily. ‘That is a little harsh, mia cara.’
Caroline rounded on him. ‘This has nothing to do with you, Captain.’
‘Surely you want what is best for your mother, Caroline?’ Raven’s voice was icy and his eyes steely blue.
‘Why should I listen to you?’ Caroline demanded angrily.
Esther rose majestically to her feet. ‘Do you really want to learn the truth, Carrie? Are you a woman, or merely a child crying out for attention?’
‘After everything I’ve been through recently, I doubt if there’s anything that you could say or do that would shock me.’ Caroline dashed angry tears from her eyes.
‘What’s all this about, Essie?’ Jacob asked warily. ‘Don’t upset things now.’
‘This doesn’t concern you, Pa.’ Esther drew herself up to her full height, holding up a warning hand as Raven opened his mouth to interrupt. ‘Caroline needs to hear this. You all need to know the truth, and I’m sick to death of keeping it to myself.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
All eyes were on Esther as she clasped and unclasped her
hands in a state of agitation.
‘What is it, Essie?’ Raven demanded anxiously. ‘Are you ill?’
She met his look with a direct gaze. ‘You once said that you loved me, Raven. Do you remember?’
His eyes clouded and he nodded wearily. ‘Yes. I do, but …’
‘But you added that you were still in love with Cordelia, your cousin who died in tragic circumstances.’
‘I did say that.’
‘And I believed you.’
He rose swiftly to his feet and grasped her hands. ‘I lived to regret it, Essie. For twenty years I’ve paid the price for being such a damned fool.’
‘I knew it,’ Falco said triumphantly. ‘I am a true romantic.’
‘You never mentioned this to me, Essie.’ Jacob stroked his beard, scowling. ‘As for you, Raven, I don’t approve of your playing fast and loose with my daughter’s affections – even if you are a toff.’
‘If anything I was too much of a gentleman.’ Raven clasped Esther’s hand to his chest. ‘I should have swept you off your feet there and then, instead of condemning myself to lonely bachelorhood.’
‘A very wealthy one,’ Falco said softly. ‘You made a lot of money, my friend.’
‘As I said, I intend to do some good with it now.’ Raven gazed into Esther’s eyes, seemingly oblivious to those watching. ‘Will you allow me to help you? I know that you loved your husband, and I can never take his place, but …’
Esther slipped her free arm around his neck and kissed him.
‘I think we should leave.’ Embarrassed by this outward display of affection, and touched by Raven’s obvious devotion to her mother, Caroline jumped to her feet. ‘You don’t need us here.’
‘Wait.’ Esther freed herself from Raven’s embrace, blushing rosily. ‘I didn’t mean to give way to my emotions, but I had to know what it felt like to kiss the man who was my first love. He’ll be gone again soon …’ She shot a wary glance in Caroline’s direction. ‘I’m sorry, my dear. I know this must look strange, and I really did love your father.’
Caroline could feel the tension in the air as everyone waited for her to respond. She was shocked and yet somehow she was not surprised. Deep down, even as a child, she had sensed that her mother was not entirely happy. Perhaps it was the odd wistful look, or the way in which Mama had thrown herself into the business that had made her suspicious, but now it was as if the curtains in a theatre had been drawn back and she was seeing her mother and Raven in their younger days – two star-crossed lovers, kept apart by the ghost of a dead girl.
‘I know you did, Mama,’ Caroline said softly.
Jacob cleared his throat noisily. ‘This is all very well, but what does this mean? You’re in mourning, Essie. Why have you spoken out now?’
Falco nudged him in the ribs. ‘She thinks he will go away and she will never see him again, you old fool. You English have no romance in your souls.’
‘I think Essie and I deserve some privacy,’ Raven said sternly. ‘We need to talk.’
‘Come with me, Jacob.’ Falco grabbed him by the arm. ‘I should be back on board, anyway. We’ll take a cab back to Wapping.’
‘Sort yourself out, Essie,’ Jacob said as he was propelled towards the doorway by a determined Falco. ‘No need to push, Falco. I’m coming. Anyway, I suggest we stop by the pub on the way. I need a stiff drink after this.’ His voice faded away as Falco opened the door and shoved him unceremoniously into the hallway.
Caroline was about to follow them when her mother barred her way. ‘You do understand, don’t you, Carrie? I had to speak out now, before it was too late. I couldn’t live another twenty years without knowing how Raven felt.’
‘Yes, Mama. I know exactly how you feel.’
‘You do?’ Esther took a step backwards. ‘I thought you would hate me for being disloyal to your father’s memory.’
‘I could never hate you, Mama. I love you and I know you loved Pa, but nothing will bring him back, and I think he would want you to be happy. I can’t tell you what to do, but whatever it is, I’m with you.’
Esther enveloped her in a warm hug. The scent of roses, jasmine, tuberose and vetiver was a fragrance that Caroline remembered from childhood. Every evening, her mother had come to her bedroom to kiss her good night, and the delicate perfume had lingered in the darkness as Caroline had succumbed to sleep.
‘Thank you, Carrie,’ Esther whispered. ‘I love you and your brothers above everything.’
‘I know you do, Mama.’ Caroline kissed her mother’s scented cheek and hurried from the room, closing the door behind her.
‘What’s going on?’
Caroline found herself face to face with Lady Alice, who seemed intent on entering the drawing room.
‘I know this is your house, Aunt Alice, but please don’t go in there for a while.’
‘Why ever not?’ Alice pushed past her and opened the door, but she closed it hastily.
‘I see what you mean.’
‘You don’t seem surprised. Did you know how my mother felt about Raven?’
Alice shrugged. ‘I knew that they had feelings for each other, but it was none of my business. Life is very hard in the goldfields, as I expect your mother has told you, and emotions ran high.’
‘He said he was in love with your sister.’
‘It’s true and he was genuinely heartbroken when Cordelia died. I think he was afraid to let himself love again, and that’s why he let Essie go. I’ve always thought he was an idiot, but now, it seems, he’s going to stake his claim.’
‘You make it sound as if my mother were a piece of lost property.’
‘I didn’t mean it like that,’ Alice said, laughing. ‘More importantly, would you mind if they got together at last? I know you worshipped your pa.’
‘I did, and I do still, but I want Ma to be happy. She should live her life as she wishes and I’ll be happy for her whatever she chooses.’
‘You’re a good daughter, Carrie. But what about you? I can see that you’re worried, so if it isn’t your mother’s startling revelation, what is it? You can tell me, you know. I can be serious and sensible when I put my mind to it.’
‘I’m worried about my mother. She was very upset when she learned about Maria. I suppose she’s told you.’
Alice nodded. ‘Yes, she has, and I told her to put it out of her mind. Jack was a good and faithful husband. What happened before they were married had nothing to do with Essie.’
‘That’s what I think, and I know that she was not quite herself, but she said she wanted nothing more to do with the business.’
Alice slipped her hand through the crook of Caroline’s arm. ‘Come to the Chinese Parlour. We’ll have a glass of Madeira wine and you can tell me instead. We’ll decide what to do together. After all, I am one of your mother’s oldest friends.’
The wine sent a fuzzy glow throughout Caroline’s tense body and she began to relax.
‘Maybe it will all work out for the best,’ Alice said, dabbing her lips on an embroidered napkin. She laid it back on the tray, and picked up her glass, taking a sip with a thoughtful frown. ‘Maybe the knowledge that Jack fathered an illegitimate child will help her to come to a decision.’
‘What do you mean, Aunt Alice?’
‘Raven has made a life for himself in Bendigo, and I’m quite sure he’ll want your mother to go with him when he returns.’
‘It’s all been so sudden. I’m not sure she’s in a fit state to make such a decision.’
‘Essie will do what she wants, no matter what anyone says. You ought to know that by now.’ Alice put her head on one side, eyeing Caroline like an inquisitive robin. ‘But what about you, Carrie? What’s your position in all this? Your mother tells me that Phineas Colville wants to buy half-shares in the business.’
‘He does, and Raven made a half-hearted counter offer.’
‘What will you do?’ Alice asked gently. ‘Assuming that your mother allows you to choose.’
&nb
sp; ‘I don’t know, and that’s the honest truth. But if I allow Raven to take over I think he would expect me to do exactly as he tells me.’
‘And Phineas? Wouldn’t he do the same?’
‘That would be between him and me.’
Alice sat back in her chair, twirling her glass between her fingers. ‘It seems to me that you’ve already decided.’
‘What makes you say that?’
‘Just a feeling, Carrie. If you want my advice I think you should speak to Phineas. Tell him about Raven, and see what he says.’ Alice looked her up and down, shaking her head.
‘What’s the matter?’ Caroline demanded. ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’
‘To be perfectly frank, you look a mess. It’s quite obvious that you haven’t got a lady’s maid to care for your clothes, and that dress doesn’t suit you at all.’
‘This is my best dress – you gave it to me, Aunt.’
‘Dear me. What was I thinking of? That shade of mauve does nothing for you, my dear. Come upstairs with me and we’ll sort out something much more suitable.’
‘I’ll be meeting Phineas to discuss business, Aunt Alice,’ Caroline said, smiling. ‘I doubt if he’ll notice what I’m wearing.’
Alice stood up, shaking crumbs from her silk skirts. ‘Nonsense. He’s a man, isn’t he? You must look the part of a successful businesswoman.’
‘But Phineas knows my circumstances.’
‘Don’t argue, Carrie. I have a dressing room filled with gowns that I will probably never wear again. You must allow me to know best.’ Alice headed for the door, paused and beckoned. ‘Come along, don’t dawdle. You’re worse than Cordelia.’
Caroline knew when she was beaten and she rose to her feet. ‘Coming, Aunt Alice.’
Phineas looked up from his desk and his eyes widened. He smiled, rising to his feet. ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you today, Caroline.’
She could tell by his expression that her new outfit in pale grey tussore, trimmed with black fringing and draped over a fashionable bustle, had had the desired effect. Aunt Alice had been right, but then she nearly always was. Caroline sat down. ‘I’m afraid I was rather abrupt when I saw you in your grandmother’s house.’