A Suitable Bride

by Fenella J Miller

  ‘How are you progressing with our search for indoor staff, Aunt Sarah?’

  ‘As I am to act as your housekeeper, my dear, we only require a cook and scullery maid and two other girls to take care of everything else. I’ve already appointed the cook and she’s bringing the kitchen maid with her. I don’t think there’ll be any difficulty finding the other servants we need to run this house. Peterson is happy to manage the outside and will employ journeymen when necessary.’

  ‘Good, then I shall leave everything in your capable hands. Have we sufficient funds to tide us over until you receive your money?’

  ‘We have indeed, my dear. There’s no need to pay our staff in advance and Peterson has discovered there is an excellent, if a trifle overgrown, kitchen garden with more than enough to feed our small household. Your dogs will be in their element, I’m certain there will be no rodents in the stables or outbuildings by the end of the week.’

  ‘I thought I heard a cockerel crowing this morning – do we have fowl as well?’

  ‘Yes, there are more than a dozen chickens and several cockerels. They have managed to survive on their own for the past year and the pond also has a plentiful supply of plump ducks. We have fresh eggs and meat already available. Our expenses will be minimal.’

  This conversation had exhausted Grace and she wanted to be alone. ‘Grace, you mustn’t lie about in bed like this. You are made of sterner stuff – I’ve never taken you for a girl who would give up at the first setback.’

  ‘I’m sure I’ll feel more the thing in a day or two. Please leave me to grieve in my own way. I give you my word I’ll get over this before long.’

  ‘Very well, I’ll leave you alone today. However, I’ll expect you to be on your feet and downstairs tomorrow morning.’

  The door closed quietly and Grace closed her eyes hoping that sleep would claim her again. At least if she was asleep she didn’t feel the weight of her misery pressing her into the bed.

  What was Bennet doing at this very moment? Would he be in Essex and have already discovered she hadn’t taken that route? Tears seeped from beneath her lids and she didn’t have the energy to wipe them away.

  She rolled onto her side and drew her knees up so she was curled into a ball. She wanted to howl and scream, to throw things, to let the world know that her heart was breaking but she couldn’t do this. Instead she sobbed quietly into her pillow and prayed that Bennett wasn’t feeling as wretched as she was.

  She awoke a few hours later to see the early evening sun filtering in through the closed shutters and making a pattern on the boards. As requested she’d been left on her own and her stomach rumbled loudly. She also needed to relieve herself urgently.

  Once she was on her feet she felt a little better and decided to wash in the cold water from the jug in her dressing room and get dressed. There were no bells to ring and she’d no idea where Annie was so would have to complete this task without assistance.

  The trunk had been unpacked and her many garments were carefully hung on hooks or folded onto the shelves in the closet. She selected a simple muslin that required no buttons to be done up. Within a quarter of an hour she was dressed, had put her hair up in a coronet of braids around her head, and was ready to go downstairs in search of something to eat.

  The front door stood open and sunlight poured onto the polished floor. There were flowers in a vase and these raised her spirits a little. She’d barely looked in the main reception rooms and hadn’t visited the kitchens and other offices at all.

  The drawing room was modest compared to what she was used to but perfectly adequate and she was delighted to see a harpsichord in the far corner. There was only one dining room and a study-cum-library on the ground floor and then she discovered a flight of stairs that led to the basement where presumably she would find something to eat.

  She was halfway down when Aunt Sarah appeared. ‘Well done, my dear girl, we thought if we left you without sustenance you would eventually come here of your own volition. I’ll take you to the dining room and a delicious repast will be brought up to you right away.’

  ‘No, I prefer to eat in the kitchen without any fuss. I would like to meet the staff you’ve appointed. Do we have the other two maids in residence yet?’

  ‘They are already at work. We shall be a small but select company at Drummond House and none the worse for that.’

  The kitchen was frighteningly old-fashioned without the modern closed grate that she was used to seeing, however, those working there seemed happy with their situation.

  Grace managed only half a slice of bread and a few mouthfuls of soup before her appetite deserted her again. ‘I’m going to wander about outside for a while. I want to see how my horses have settled and if the dogs are happy.’

  ‘Do you wish me to come with you, my dear?’

  ‘Thank you, Aunt Sarah, I would prefer to be alone.’ She pointed to the back door. ‘I presume this leads to the stables?’

  ‘Indeed it does, my dear, the laundry and vegetable store are on your left, the kitchen garden straight ahead and to the right you will find the coach house and stables.’

  Rufus was in the meadow behind the stables accompanied by the four carriage horses and he too was content with his lot. There was no sign of her little dogs.

  ‘Peterson, where are they? I expected to have them around my feet as soon as I appeared.’

  He scratched his head. ‘I don’t rightly know, miss, we’ve not seen them since yesterday when we arrived.’

  ‘You must send someone out to look for them – I couldn’t bear it if anything had happened to my pets.’

  ‘The lad has been looking all day but not found them. I’ve sent him into the village to ask if they’ve been back to the inn we stayed in.’

  Grace was obliged to turn away as she didn’t wish her groom to see her tears. She no longer wished to explore outside and almost ran back to the house. There must be a side door she could use and avoid going through the kitchen a second time.

  She dashed through the house and stumbled upstairs to her chamber where she flung herself onto the bed. Something terrible had happened to Buster, Ginger and Toby – she just knew it. They hadn’t left her side since she’d rescued them two years ago and they would never willingly stay away from her.

  Her head was full of catastrophic scenarios. They could have been killed by a diligence, poisoned by a neighbour or abducted by villains who wished to use them as ratters. Her pillow was sodden by the time she fell asleep.

  *

  After a fruitless few days Bennett returned to Silchester Court just before dinner on the third day without having found Grace. She hadn’t gone to DuPont Manor or to the farmhouse where the horses were being kept. He was at a loss to know in which direction to search next.

  Beau greeted him with an unexpected embrace. ‘No luck? I guessed you’d gone in search of her and I don’t blame you for trying. You must reconcile yourself to the situation for it cannot be remedied. Miss DuPont left of her own accord knowing that by marrying you she would ruin your life.’

  He shrugged off his brother’s arm. ‘It’s you that has ruined my life, brother. Without your interference we would have been married by now. Do you honestly think I care if I can no longer parade around in fine clothes and mix with the cream of society? I’ve always hated it – why do you think I joined the army at the earliest possible opportunity?’

  His raised voice had attracted attention, but he cared not. ‘I intend to find her, I’ve only returned to collect the special licence and arrange for all my belongings to be transferred to my estate.’

  ‘Please, reconsider your decision. Think what you will be giving up – we are a close family and your leaving will devastate the others.’

  ‘They are welcome to visit me if they wish but I shall never set foot here again.’ He strode off ignoring the shocked expressions of the spectators. As he shouldered his way through he overheard a gentleman speaking to his crony.

  ‘I
don’t understand all the fuss. Sheldon should make the DuPont girl his mistress – nobody would object to that.’

  Bennett’s grief and anger spiralled out of control and he grabbed the man’s shoulder, spun him round and punched him squarely in the face. The unfortunate gentleman collapsed in a heap, blood pouring from his nose.

  ‘If you mention my future wife’s name in such a way again I’ll kill you.’ This was received by everyone in stunned silence. Bennett left the man to be ministered to by his friends and returned to his apartment to organise his immediate departure.

  Abbott made no comment about the split knuckles and began to pack his trunks. Bennett regretted his violence and was ashamed that he’d taken out his frustration and misery on a complete stranger. He didn’t intend to dine in company, but he would spruce himself up a bit and go down and apologise.

  The grand drawing room was empty when he eventually arrived there. He would have to wait until dinner was over before he could find the man he attacked and try and put things right. Now he came to think of it, the man shouldn’t have been a stranger to him as he’d already mingled with all the guests who had arrived two weeks ago.

  Those three must have arrived in his absence. He would ask the butler who they were and if the injured man had recovered. Peebles would be busy in the dining room for the next couple of hours so he might as well check that his carriage would be ready for him to leave first thing in the morning.

  A slight noise behind him made him turn. His eyes widened in shock. The man he’d knocked to the floor was pointing a pistol at his chest.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  Bennett had seconds to live. The man’s finger was tightening on the trigger. He flung himself to his knees and the bullet whistled over his head. He catapulted forward crashing into his attacker. The man had had a second loaded weapon and this fired as Bennett landed on top of him.

  The pain in his shoulder was excruciating. The world faded and for a few moments he was unable to function. The sound of gunfire had attracted men from the stable and from a distance he could hear voices above him.

  Then Beau’s anguished face swam into his vision. ‘Lie still, the physician’s on his way. I’m going to press against the wound and try and stem the bleeding.’ His brother dropped to his knees and snatched off his neckcloth to use as a bandage.

  For some reason Bennett was unable to respond. His mouth seemed to be full of wool and his vision blurred. He tried to smile but it was a poor attempt. Then the rest of his family were at his side and his brothers carefully lifted him onto a trestle.

  He wanted to tell them to leave this to the staff, but he couldn’t find his voice. Every jolt and jar as he was transported inside was agony and it took all his control to stop himself from yelling. The thought of being carried up the long staircase to his own apartment filled him with dread.

  The next thing he knew he was comfortably ensconced in a bedchamber he didn’t recognise and his clothes had been removed. The quack was hovering above him.

  ‘The bullet is still in your shoulder, my lord, I have to get it out.’

  Bennett managed a small nod and then someone pushed a leather strip between his teeth. A horrendous five minutes later the job was done and he drifted in and out of consciousness whilst the doctor did his business and sewed up the wound.

  When he opened his eyes again he found Beau sitting beside him, his face gaunt and looking years older than his age.

  ‘Don’t look so worried, I’m not going to kick the bucket. I’ll be up and about in an hour or two.’

  His brother smiled. ‘Over my dead body – although that’s perhaps not the best phrase to use in the circumstances. The man who attacked you is dead.’

  This news cleared Bennett’s head. ‘How did that happen? I know the bastard tried to kill me, but he was in his cups…’

  ‘He was perfectly sober. If he’d not resisted he would be alive still. Whilst you were being seen to he was ignored and had time to reload. The man was insane and determined to finish the job. Abbott shot him.’

  ‘Who the hell was he? How did someone like that come to be here?’

  ‘God knows! He came for the races and somehow infiltrated himself into the company. In the confusion after Miss DuPont and you left nobody realised he had joined the house party.’ Beau rubbed his eyes. ‘This is all my fault, if I’d not interfered none of this would have happened. I’ve sent a dozen men to search in other directions, I’ll find her and bring her back to you. I don’t give a damn what anyone else says about the matter. Grace will be my dearest sister as soon as it can be arranged.’

  Bennett pushed himself up the bed not quite believing what he’d just heard. ‘What about the disgrace that will be brought to the family name? You never stop preaching to us about that.’

  ‘I was parroting what our father used to say to me. I’m my own man, in future I’ll make my own decisions. Why should the woman you love be tainted by association with her criminal father? Once you’re married she will be Lady Sheldon, part of the Silchester family and I defy anyone to cavil at that.’

  ‘It’s a great shame you didn’t think of this before you sent her away.’ He wasn’t quite ready to forget and forgive.

  ‘I cannot apologise enough for my part in this disaster. I’ll not rest until Grace is restored to you.’ He pushed himself upright. ‘I shall leave you to rest, I’ve told the others not to come in until later.’

  ‘Dinner must have been ruined by this fracas. I am sharp set – can you have a tray sent here – wherever here is?’

  His brother grinned looking more himself again. ‘You’re in the downstairs apartment that was once used by our grandfather. Fortunately the housekeeper had kept the rooms aired. Now, brother, rest until your food arrives.’

  The next morning Bennett felt perfectly well, apart from a sore shoulder. His injury hadn’t gone putrid and he had no fever. He swung his feet to the floor and reached out for the brass bell on the side table and rang it loudly.

  His valet arrived at his side so speedily he must have slept in the dressing room. ‘You’re to stay where you are until the doctor has seen you, my lord. You lost a prodigious amount of blood yesterday.’

  ‘And I’ve drunk a prodigious amount of watered wine to replace it. By the by, thank you, for disposing of the man who tried to assassinate me yesterday.’ There was no need to say anything else, they understood each other perfectly.

  His left arm was in a sling which meant appearing correctly dressed would be impossible. Abbott dropped a loose shirt over his shoulders, added a waistcoat and helped him put his good arm through one sleeve of his jacket. With his stock neatly tied he didn’t look too ramshackle.

  ‘I’m going to eat in the breakfast room – no doubt there’ll be plenty of young ladies desperate to cut up my food for me.’

  ‘There won’t, my lord, his grace has sent everyone packing. They all left first thing – it was chaos for an hour or two but everything’s quiet now.’

  ‘It must be later than I think.’ Bennett didn’t have his pocket watch. Presumably it was still attached to yesterday’s garment.

  ‘It’s a little after ten o’clock, my lord.’

  ‘Then I’d better get a move on or there’ll be no breakfast left.’

  He made his way, slightly less briskly than usual, through the house enjoying the peace. Beau’s actions would have offended the cream of society – his brother was obviously determined to upset as many people as possible, which was quite unlike him.

  ‘Bennett, you shouldn’t be up, you were told to remain where you were for another day at least.’ Madeline ran to his side and embraced him.

  ‘As you can see, sweetheart, I’m perfectly fine. It’s a relief to have the place to ourselves again. I’m sorry you went to so much trouble…’

  ‘Please don’t say another word about it. All the work was worth it as we have a new sister about to join the family. However, there’s so much extra food Beau has agreed that the ga
rden party next week will go ahead to celebrate your nuptials. The villagers, our tenants and staff should be sufficient to use it up before it spoils.’

  ‘Then let’s hope we find her soon. I’m sure Cook will have stored the perishable items in the ice house.’ This was a strange topic of conversation for a gentleman but everything these past two weeks had been out of the ordinary.

  They strolled to the small dining room and he was surprised to find his siblings there to greet him.

  ‘Bennett, you shouldn’t be up – but we’re glad you feel well enough to join us,’ Beau said as he put down his fork and prepared to get to his feet.

  ‘No, remain where you are, Beau. Good morning, everyone, might I enquire why you’re all breakfasting so late today?’ He sat down and Madeline began to load a plate for him.

  Perry answered. ‘We had to wait until the kitchen could cook again – they were obliged to feed our departing guests first.’

  ‘Well, I’m glad on all accounts for it. Is there any news from the men about Grace’s whereabouts?’

  ‘I’ve not had anything encouraging so far, but don’t despair, brother, the search will continue until we locate her.’

  ‘It’s all very well finding her, Beau, but how can you be sure she will agree to return? She’s going to need a deal of convincing that marrying Bennett won’t still ruin his life.’ Aubrey was about to shovel another forkful of food into his mouth, unaware that his thoughtless comment had not been well received.

  ‘For God’s sake, think before you speak.’ Beau’s sharp reprimand caused Aubrey to drop his food onto his immaculate breeches.

  His youngest brother glared at Beau. ‘Look what you’ve made me do. I’ll have to change.’ Then he became aware of the universal opprobrium. ‘What did I do to upset you all?’ He frowned and then enlightenment dawned and he looked appalled. ‘Surely you didn’t think...? I meant that Grace gave up Bennett because she loved him too much to risk damaging his reputation and might not accept that this has changed.’