“Lord Mellington?” This information didn’t make Phillip feel any better at all. Of the two, it was known that Simon was a rake, and it was not hard to believe that he was the culprit. “How do you know?” Phillip asked, still upset.
“I know my brother, and apart from the fact that he looked very pleased with himself, he told his valet that he had spent several days with one of the farmers recently.”
“Which farmer?” Phillip pursued.
“Well, he didn’t say.” Simon smiled as he spoke. “And now I know why. I mean, what other reason would he have for such a visit? He is not the saint he would have people believe, trust me on that score.”
Phillip clenched his fists again.
“I am sorry you are offended, Montgomery, but it is not within my power to do anything about it, and even if my brother were here, I doubt he would either. After all, I understand your daughter invited him in.”
“I would like to speak with Lord Mellington,” Phillip said, pulling himself together, and making one last effort to right this terrible wrong.
“I’m afraid my brother is not available. He is not with us at present.”
“When do you expect him back?” Phillip pursued.
“I’m afraid I cannot say,” Simon straightened his waistcoat and coat. “Now if you will excuse me.” He walked out of the library, leaving Phillip to stare after him, frustrated and angry.
He left the Manor and returned to his horse and cart. He was so full of anger and hurt at having been betrayed by his beloved daughter that he didn’t even know if he wanted to return home.
Sarah and her mother had had to walk the full six miles home from the village. After her father had left them there, the rest of the people had gone in to the church service. Sarah was totally angered to hear them singing full voice, after having humiliated and shamed her and her family. She knew it would not be any use waiting for the Allysons to offer them a lift home. She was only glad they hadn’t stopped to pick up rocks to throw at her.
“It’s a lie, mother,” she eventually said to Claire as they walked slowly back home.
“But he was with you alone in our house?” Claire asked, less angry than her husband, but no less shocked.
“I found him unconscious and half dead in the bushes,” Sarah said, a little tersely, because she was sick of being misunderstood.
“And you brought him into the house? Why did you not go to the Allysons to get help?”
“He was bleeding, and unconscious, so I paused long enough to stop the bleeding, and make sure he was not going to die. I set up your mattress in front of the fire. The poor man had hypothermia.”
“Well, why didn’t you go then?”
“The storm! Was there not a great snowstorm at Grandfather’s?”
“No,” said her mother simply.
“Well, we were snowed in, and then Lord Mellington’s fever got out of hand, and I had no wood to warm the place. The only thing I could do to stop the violent shivering was lie next to him. Body heat!”
“It was not very wise, Sarah,” her mother said.
“Do you think I should have just let him die?”
Claire didn’t answer. She knew that she would have probably done the same thing in the circumstances, but then they would have had Phillip in the house, and he would have made sure Lord Mellington was cared for decently and with no cause for scandal.
“Can you explain to father about it? I tried to explain to Lucas Allyson the day they came to clear the snow away, but he simply would not stop to listen!”
“The trouble is, you had a man alone in our house for several days, and you cannot prove that nothing went on.”
“Isn’t my word good enough?” Sarah asked, upset by the idea.
“For me, it is, but the church people are going to need something else to convince them.”
“Well, Father can go up to Mellington Hall and ask Lord Mellington himself. He will vouch for me, and make it clear what actually happened.”
“I dare say you are right. I’m sorry this happened, Sarah. A reputation is an important and precious thing.”
“And I have not done anything wrong!”
“But it looks as if you have.”
“Looks cannot account for everything, mother!” Sarah said sternly.
“That is not what I was told!” Phillip shouted at his wife, once Claire had repeated Sarah’s story.
“What do you mean?” Claire asked, suddenly frightened.
“He has led everyone to believe he had not only been here, but he had taken full advantage, and that Sarah had invited him to do it!”
“You don’t believe that, do you?” Claire asked, shocked.
“I don’t know what to believe! The Vicar has sent word to me for a meeting, and I know how it will go!”
“What do you mean?”
“He will expect that I put Sarah out.”
“Out?”
“She needs to be cast out of the church and out of this home if we are to stay within the church!”
“Phillip, she is your daughter! You cannot take the word of other people over her word.”
“I have no choice, Claire. She should not have allowed him to come into this house. She should have alerted Lucas, and had him come and deal with it.”
“There was not time. He would have died if she had left him!”
“And that would not have been a loss, I can assure you. He proudly flaunts the fact that he was with her, but refuses to take responsibility. What sort of man does that to an innocent girl, and then casually leaves the district without so much as an apology.”
“Let us just leave it, Phillip. It will all die down later, surely. I cannot put her out of the house. I simply cannot!”
Phillip reluctantly agreed, but he refused to talk to his daughter.
Seven days! He thought to himself, seething inside. She kept him here for seven days, and didn’t once think to go out and get help.
Phillip couldn’t help but wonder if what Simon Mellington had said was true. Did Sarah invite Lord Mellington in, and allow him full liberties? One moment he would declare to himself that it was impossible, and the next all he could imagine was the picture of Sarah lying on the floor with the man. Truly, he didn’t know what to believe.
he Reverend Mr Snead was a very self-righteous man. He prided himself on his stand against immorality. Perhaps more strict than other vicars, he had preached quite vehemently against the sin of fornication from his pulpit on more than one occasion. And he had no scruples in seeing that persons caught in such an act were publicly shamed and put out of the church. Only two years ago he had brought one of the young girls who had worked up at Mellington Hall before the congregation, had exposed her as a wanton, and had the elders physically remove her from the church. The girl was pregnant. She would not say who the father was, but Mr Snead was satisfied that he had made enough of an example of her to discourage such behaviour in his parish.
He had heard that the girl had given birth but that the child had died soon after, and he even took the opportunity to remind the congregation that God would have his revenge on immoral behaviour. He had never seen the girl since, and frankly did not consider that she deserved any notice whatsoever.
Now Sarah Montgomery, daughter of one of his elder’s, had been caught, and he determined that he would have to see that she was dealt with in a very public way. He simply would not tolerate sexual promiscuity. He was very confident in his decision, and felt very proud of himself that he had the courage to take this drastic action for the good of his parish.
Phillip Montgomery knew the vicar’s stand on these matters. He had been a part of the eldership during the punishment of the other girl, and while he had personally nursed some feelings of compassion for the girl and her family, he dared not voice it aloud. To do so would have been to almost admit that he condoned sin. Of course he did not, but he had wondered if such public humiliation and such harsh treatment were the best way to show the love of C
hrist. He had sat by and watched it all done without saying a word. And now, he knew exactly what Mr Snead would say in the forthcoming meeting.
“I expect you will bring your daughter to service next Sunday for a public denunciation, and then she will be cast out of the church forever.”
“What about Lord Mellington?” Phillip asked the vicar, trying to see if he could somehow lessen the shame and harsh treatment of his daughter.
“That immoral young man is not a member of this parish, as you well know,” the vicar answered. “His estate is the major benefactor of this living, of course, but as I understand it, he attends that new church that has dared to set itself up within our Parish.”
Phillip knew about the ‘new church’. It was a liberal protestant congregation with no accountability to the Archbishop, and was rumoured to be nothing but a group of rabble-rousers. He doubted that they would bring Lord Mellington before a group of judgemental elders and throw him out. Besides, Lord Mellington had money and he had power. He would be well taken care of. Sarah was a different matter. Where would she go? Phillip hated the very idea that he would be forced to cast her out of her home, and so he had to decide whether he would stand up to the Reverend Snead, or humbly submit to his sanctimonious ways.
“Could we not wait a while,” Phillip asked tentatively. “Perhaps there is another way we can address this situation.”
“The situation needs swift and decisive action,” the vicar said without pause. “We must root out wickedness from amongst us.”
“But this is my daughter. Who will look after her?” Phillip cried.
“The moment is past for such questions,” Snead answered. “Her sin is evident. She must be cast out!”
“But I cannot... ”
“You will do this, Montgomery, or you will, yourself, be cast out. You cannot harbour unrighteousness. If you really believe in God and the church, you will do as I command.”
Sarah couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Tears were running down her father’s face as he poured out the details of the situation to his wife.
“But we can’t throw her out!” Claire cried, distressed at what she was hearing.
“There is no choice! It is the word of God. We cannot tolerate sin in our midst!”
“Phillip! You know that all Sarah did was nurse the man!”
“I do not know that! Sir Simon Mellington was quite adamant that his brother was pleased with what had gone on here, and that it was more than mere nursing. He said that Sarah had welcomed his brother’s attentions!”
“Father... ” Sarah tried to break into the conversation.
“Do not speak to me!” Phillip snapped, without looking at her.
“I do not want to drag her before the congregation, to be publicly humiliated,” he said evenly. “Pack her some food, and help her pack her clothes. She will leave this house tonight!”
“You’re not trying to protect me at all!” Sarah cried out angrily. “It’s you who cannot face the public disgrace, is it not?”
But Phillip didn’t respond. He merely got up from the chair, and walked out of the house, closing the door firmly behind him.
“Mother?” Sarah almost pleaded with her. “I haven’t done anything wrong. What they are doing is unjust!”
“Darling child!” Claire sobbed, tears running down her cheeks. “You know Mr Snead’s reputation. He will not rest until the whole village has witnessed your humiliation and punishment.”
“Punishment for saving a man’s life!” Sarah said, her anger taking turns with her distress.
“Lord Mellington told his brother differently,” Claire said, trying to sound sympathetic. “Sir Simon said... ”
“Then Sir Simon lied!” Sarah returned quickly. “They both have lied!”
“Go to him, then,” Claire said suddenly. “Go to him and demand he stand up for you, for your reputation, for your welfare. If you saved his life, then he will return the favour.”
“Already, he has lied. I find it so hard to believe he would do such a thing. Why would he be so cruel when he would have been dead if it had not been for me?”
“I cannot think of anything else for you to do, child. If he will not come to your rescue now, then you will have to go to another parish and seek work.”
“Mother, I cannot!”
“I will send you with food and money. Your aunt, Lady Elizabeth Mainstone, has sent a gift for you. It was meant for your next birthday, but I will give it to you now. It is worth a lot of money. You will need it until you can find yourself a position.”
“So you will just abandon me too?” Sarah sounded bitter.
“What can I do, Sarah? Your father is convinced that the greater good is served by exposing sin. He believes he is doing the right thing.”
“And you?”
“It doesn’t matter what I believe.”
“But do you believe I am innocent?”
“I don’t know, child. Appearances would suggest otherwise.”
The look on Sarah’s face told of her hurt and disappointment.
“I do not believe you willingly indulged in a relationship with this man. I believe you were trapped.”
“Why do those self-righteous elders not drag Lord Mellington before the congregation and denounce him as a sinner. He is the one who admits to the deed, not I!”
But Claire had no answers to her daughter’s questions. She merely turned from her and began to prepare some food for her to take.
Sarah had slept in her father’s barn. She didn’t have the energy to try to go somewhere to find work. It was too late in the day by the time she left her home. So she walked into the woods and waited until it was dark, then returned to the barn, and made a bed for herself in the straw, using one of the smelly horse blankets to keep the worst of the cold out in the freezing temperatures.
The next day, she had to decide what to do. There was little point going to the closest village, where Mr Snead and Mrs Allyson had made it very clear that she was the devil’s child, and she must be spurned. The next village on would be at least another six miles again, and it would take her possibly the whole day to walk there. She eventually decided that she would take the other option first. It had been brewing in her mind the whole night, as she struggled to stay warm in the barn. Lord Mellington had done wrong by her in every way, and she was very angry with him. There had been no call for him to lie to his brother in that way, and she felt that she was angry enough to face him and demand that at the very least he give her a job and lodging, to make up for what she had just lost. So she decided that she would walk the relatively easy distance of two miles, across the hills, and through the woods, to Mellington Hall and face the man. He might be a high and mighty gentleman, but at the moment, all of her own noble blood was boiling near the surface, and she felt she could take him on and win!
Simon Mellington could hear a ruckus in the main entrance hall, and because it went on and increased in volume and intensity, his curiosity was roused, so he went to see for himself what the nonsense was about.
“Lucinda, what is this fuss about?” Simon spoke sternly to the young housemaid who was watching the display.
Lucinda curtsied, and backed away from the fracas. Lord Mellington’s valet, Rupert, was trying to remove politely a very emotional young woman from the house.
“Excuse me, sir,” Rupert addressed Simon. “This young woman is insisting that she must see you.”
“I do not speak with local riff-raff, Rupert. You know that!”
Simon turned to go back to the library.
“I don’t want to see him,” Sarah spat. “I want to see Lord Mellington!”
“I beg your pardon, Miss,” Rupert said in a tone that was anything but kind. “Lord Mellington is not available to be seen at this time.”
“But I must see him!” Sarah was adamant.
“I repeat: Lord Mellington is unable to see anyone at the moment, much less a caterwauling peasant.”
“He will see
me.” Sarah spoke with all the authority she could put into her tone. “I am the granddaughter of Sir Alastair Pennerly, and Sir Alan has some unfinished business with me.”
Simon couldn’t help but overhear the conversation, and he turned back to observe the situation.
“What is your name, girl?” he asked in his arrogant manner.
“Miss Montgomery. Miss Sarah Montgomery!” Sarah held her chin up high, as if to dare him to turn her away.
“Send her in to the drawing room, Rupert. I would like a word with Miss Montgomery.”
Sarah was instantly silenced by the sudden compliance. She looked at the valet who calmly stepped aside and waved his hand towards the doorway into which Simon Mellington had just disappeared.
Suddenly conscious of her appearance, Sarah took a hasty look in the huge gilded mirror in the hallway, and tried to tame her unruly hair. She knew she must look an absolute wreck from her very uncomfortable night sleeping with the cows.
“Your father was here several days ago,” Simon said without preamble. “Apparently my brother has done wrong by you.”
Sarah looked hard to try and find sincerity in this stranger’s eyes.
“Well, is it true?” Simon persisted. “Did he take advantage of you, or was it more a mutual liaison?”
“Your brother was very nearly killed!” Sarah was angered by his insinuations. “That is why I cannot understand why he told anyone that something immoral had occurred. I worked day and night to save his life, and now he substantiates a vicious rumour with his lie, and as a consequence, I have been thrown out of the church and my home!”
“I’m so sorry,” Simon appeared to be almost sympathetic. “My brother is not the most honourable man I’ve ever known.”
“I need to speak with him, sir,” Sarah demanded. “He will correct this testimony he has given. My reputation is thoroughly destroyed, and I am now destitute as a result.”
“As his man has told you, my brother is not here at present. I do not know when we can expect his return.”
Mellington Hall Page 6