Mellington Hall

by Meredith Resce

  Just for a moment, Sarah detected a flash of fear in Rupert’s face. Was he afraid that he had been discovered, or was he afraid that he had unwittingly fed his master poison?

  “Are you willing to drink some of that soup before you give any to him?” Sarah asked.

  “Certainly not!” Rupert was struggling to maintain his position of superiority. But he was stubborn, and did not want to yield any authority to this upstart of a girl.

  “Are you quite confident to feed it to him, then, knowing that it could quite possibly be poisoned?”

  There was a long pause as Rupert apparently considered what might be the best move to make.

  “If you are so certain, Miss Montgomery, then I advise you go to the kitchen yourself, and make something for Lord Mellington to eat. Then if he continues to deteriorate, I can blame you for it!”

  “Right at this moment, Rupert, I am not willing to leave Lord Mellington’s side. I have no confidence in any member of this household. Someone has tried to kill him, not once, but twice, and I am going to stay here, until Lord Mellington gains strength, and is able to fend off danger for himself.”

  When Rupert left with the untouched tray, Sarah felt as if she might collapse. While her father had taught her to be confident and to take the initiative, he had also taught her respect, so to stand and openly challenge two figures of authority in their own home made her tremble at the very memory. But it was fear for Alan that made her do it. She was truly afraid that if she left him, the would-be murderer would return and finish the job. The fact that neither Simon nor Rupert had physically removed her seemed to prove that they were also afraid of the implications if the head of the house were to die.

  “So you are determined to reinforce the rumours of illicit relations with my brother, then, are you?” Simon Mellington had walked into the sick room, and accused her directly.

  “Have you no care that someone is trying to kill your brother?” Sarah asked, truly hoping that Simon would show some glimpse of decency.

  “I have sent for the physician. You have got poor old Rupert in a fine flap. He thinks you are accusing him of trying to do my brother in!”

  “He is as good a suspect as any!”

  “So you believe it is Rupert?”

  “It could be you!” Sarah said pointedly. “You would stand to gain quite an amount if your brother were to die, wouldn’t you?”

  “And since when did you become an authority on the Mellington family fortune?”

  “Your brother spent a week alone with me, remember, and for at least some of that time, we had nothing to occupy us but to talk about our families. You and your brother have not been the best of friends in recent months. A married woman has been the cause of some strife. Lady Eloise? Is that how you see the situation?”

  “I expect that once our family doctor has looked Alan over, and dismissed this fanciful notion of yours, that I might have had just enough of your coming into this house and taking over like some... ”

  “Some what?” Sarah was not amused. “I am here because you lied to my father. You knew that Alan had been shot, and yet you let my father believe that... ”

  “Alan deserved it!”

  “But I did not!”

  “Well, you are having your revenge now, are you not? You seem to have taken control of the whole house!”

  Sarah was half afraid that the doctor was going to laugh at the suggestion, and that she was then going to look like a silly over-imaginative female. She didn’t know what to feel when he turned a very grave face upon the three of them, and announced that if Lord Mellington had been left another day, they could quite possibly have lost him. She had been right. Alan had been right, and she’d done it again, foregone decency, and saved his life. The doctor administered some herbal medicine that very quickly caused Alan to vomit. Sarah stood alongside Rupert and Simon, half wishing that she could run away but not daring to.

  By the time the physician had finished, he spoke sternly to the three of them.

  “Very obviously, someone in this house means to do Lord Mellington harm. I would advise that no less than three people watch all food preparation, and that each of them must sample the food and drink before it is given to him. In the meantime, I suggest you inform the local constabulary. There will need to be an investigation!”

  Simon came into his brother’s room, once he’d seen the physician off, and sat in the chair on the opposite side of the bed from Sarah.

  “Did you try to poison your brother?” Sarah asked quietly.

  Simon chose not to answer.

  “He has to have some nourishment,” Sarah pursued. “Who in this house do you trust?”

  “I do not know!”

  Sarah tried to discern whether Simon was putting on a very convincing act of a brother shocked or if he was genuine in his apparent bewilderment.

  Eventually, Rupert entered the room with a new tray. Sarah looked at him with a half-accusing expression.

  “Mrs Evans is threatening resignation. She thinks we are blaming her!” Rupert sounded genuinely worried.

  “Who oversaw the preparation of this food?” Sarah asked.

  “Lucinda and I both watched as cook prepared it from the beginning. She was furious. And then all three of us tasted it.”

  “I’d just as soon see you taste it again right here,” Sarah said.

  Rupert looked ready to explode, but Simon nodded, as if he also wanted to make sure. He put the tray down, and took the spoon, and ladled not one, but two spoonfuls down his throat.

  “Satisfied?” he asked, glaring at Sarah. “Now if you will kindly remove yourself from this room, I will see that the master receives some nourishment.”

  If he thought that Sarah was going to meekly comply, he was very much mistaken and was surprised when she refused to move from her position.

  “Just put the tray on the table, Rupert. I will make sure that he receives the food, and that it is not tampered with.”

  “Now see here, Miss Montgomery... ” Simon began to object.

  “I left your brother to your care once before, and I do not believe that either of you really cares whether he dies or not. Even if neither of you poisoned or shot him, I do not believe you really care!”

  “Right at this moment, Miss Montgomery, you are being very high-handed in your dealing with this situation. If it were not for the fact that I am yet afraid that I could be arrested as a result of the investigation, I would have you thrown from the house!”

  “But you need me to make sure your brother recovers fully, don’t you, as you would be the prime suspect if he dies. You need him to recover as much as I do. And you too, Rupert! You are not above suspicion either!”

  The tension in the room was palpable. The only thing Sarah knew was that she was definitely not a suspect, and by that fact, she had a degree of control in the situation.

  “Help me sit your brother up,” she directed Simon. Simon put his arms under Alan while Sarah placed extra pillows behind him. As they manoeuvred him into position, Alan began to stir.

  “Sarah?”

  Simon looked at her, surprised that she was the first person he acknowledged.

  “It will be all right, Lord Mellington!”

  “They are trying to poison me,” he said again.

  “I know,” she said sympathetically, “but you need not worry any more, as we have made sure it will not be happening again. The doctor has been, and the police constable will be here soon to investigate.”

  “Do not leave me alone with them.”

  Sarah was disturbed by the helplessness in his voice.

  “I am here, Alan,” Simon said, as if he didn’t like the inference.

  But Alan would not look at his brother, only at Sarah, and shook his head.

  Sarah could tell that Alan trusted neither his brother nor his valet. Right at the moment, she didn’t really trust them either, but with the doctor and constable notified, she felt it unlikely that anyone would make another attempt
on his life for the time being.

  By the time the sun had set, and the household was being closed down for the evening, Lucinda, came into the master suite and spoke to Sarah.

  “Lucinda!” Sarah was surprised to see her, considering what they had spoken about before.

  “The housekeeper thinks it would be better if you retired to your own room in the servants’ quarters.”

  Sarah didn’t respond.

  “The staff are talking,” Lucinda informed her.

  “I am quite sure they are,” Sarah replied eventually. “Thank you for delivering the message.” She turned away from Lucinda to look at her patient, to see if he had woken with the talking.

  “Well, are you coming?” Lucinda remained in the room.

  “You don’t need to wait for me,” Sarah said. “I am quite capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I can sit with the master, if you are so worried about him.”

  Suddenly, Sarah felt Alan squeeze her hand. She had been holding it lightly. She looked to him, and once again, his expression told her she was not to go.

  “I will discuss it with Lord Mellington, Lucinda. I will ring for you if I need you.”

  Lucinda’s expression made it clear that she did not want to leave.

  “You do not need to stay anymore,” Sarah said. “I cannot help what the others are saying below stairs. Even the doctor said it is best if I stay as nurse to Lord Mellington. It appears to ease his mind.”

  She was not sure, but she thought she glimpsed a shadow of anger pass over the young housemaid’s face, but she dismissed the idea as soon as Lucinda had gone.

  “I do want you to stay here with me,” Alan said, his voice still very weak.

  “It does not look good,” Sarah said candidly, despite the fact that she had been the one to insist.

  “It is too late for appearances now,” he said, finally running out of breath to speak.

  It’s all right for you to say, Sarah thought. It’s not you who has been thrown out of the church and home.

  But despite this, she didn’t leave. She still couldn’t discern who was to be trusted and who not.

  t was just over a week before Alan’s health began to improve. During this time, Sarah watched over him like a hawk, going so far as to sleep in the adjoining dressing room on a portable bed. Rupert was thoroughly put out, but on the other hand, he knew the responsibility and possibly blame that would be apportioned him should something happen to his master, for obviously he would be first in line for questioning. So in the end, he was willing to allow the burden be on Sarah’s shoulders.

  And it was a burden. At first Sarah had fought to stay as his nurse because she was afraid Alan would die, and she needed him to vindicate her. Then, as Alan began gradually to think more clearly, he had insisted she stay. While he had drifted in and out of wakefulness, his mind had seemed confused about a lot of things, but he remained adamant that it was Sarah who must nurse him. Whether that was because she was the only one he trusted, or for some other reason was not a question that was discussed between them at first. But it was the possibility of its being for some other reason that became the greatest burden. Every day that Sarah remained in his room was another day that Mrs Evans, particularly, piously reported that there were scandalous goings on between the master and the disgraced gamekeeper’s daughter. That the only real scandal was that someone had made two attempts on Lord Mellington’s life seemed to go unnoticed. Mrs Evans seemed so intent on exposing this shameful behaviour she completely missed the importance of the attempted murder.

  Thankfully, Sarah was not fully aware of just how much more damage was being done in the village concerning her reputation, but she was an excellent nurse, and Alan’s health improved dramatically.

  “Things cannot continue like this,” Sarah said to Alan as she watched him eat his breakfast several days later.

  “Your sleeping in my room?” It was as if Alan knew the dilemma she was in, but had thought nothing of it.

  “Do you have any idea what has happened to me as a result of my trying to protect you?” she asked, angered by his flippant attitude.

  “I suppose you are here in my home because tongues were wagging, thanks to your neighbours, and you wanted a written statement to exonerate you.”

  Seeing him so much improved, Sarah decided it was time to paint the full picture for him, not leaving out any detail. She launched into an animated description, leaving him in no doubt about her feelings.

  When she had finished, Alan stared at her in a way she found difficult to interpret.

  “I’ll be needing more than a written statement, Lord Mellington,” she finished firmly.

  “My brother lied to your father?” he asked in disbelief.

  “Unless it was you who spoke to him, yes!”

  “I haven’t seen your father since before the shooting incident!”

  Sarah continued to stare steadily at him, daring him to make little of her plight.

  “You cannot think I should marry you?” he suddenly said.

  Sarah’s face remained expressionless, and she said nothing.

  “We spoke about that before. My family name and obligations.”

  “And what of your obligations to the truth?” Sarah asked. “I saved your life, and yet you are quite happy to sit in your ivory tower and allow the whole world to condemn me to exile and poverty, while you preserve a family tradition.”

  “I’ll see that you are looked after. If they will not accept my testimony, I will set you up in a home.”

  “What? Like a mistress?”

  Alan had the good grace to blush.

  “It wouldn’t be anything like that. I wouldn’t expect anything of you!”

  “No, but I shall be forced to live as your kept woman, alone, with no hopes of any man coming to court, no hope of family, and no respectable person in the district will so much as look at me! That does not sound like a very attractive offer, Lord Mellington!”

  “Do not keep using the formal title, if you please. We are friends enough for you to call me Alan.”

  “Yes, we have slept in the same room for how many nights?” She asked sarcastically. “Do you not think your pious servants have reported it all to our diligent Reverend Snead?”

  “I do not know why you are so vexed with me?” Alan shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve not done anything dishonourable!”

  “Neither have I! However, it would appear otherwise. If I had done what was necessary to protect my reputation, then you would be dead, if not the first time, then most certainly the second!”

  Alan looked away from her, unable to meet the blazing fury in her eyes.

  “And despite the local constable interviewing the whole house,” Sarah continued, “he is no closer to offering any idea as to whom it is that has tried to kill you on two different occasions. I have also to ask the question, if I set out to walk to some strange village where my reputation is unknown, who is going to look after you? Who is going to save your life next time?”

  Alan laughed at this. “You have taken that responsibility too seriously, Miss Montgomery!”

  “Miss Montgomery?” she repeated, raising her eyebrows. “Now who is being formal?”

  “Now that the doctor and the constable are aware that there is a threat, everyone is going to be watching each other, and they will be far more careful about making any more attempts.”

  “Do you think so, sir?” Sarah sounded sceptical. “Well, if you believe you are capable of fending off all assailants now, perhaps I will pack my small bag of worldly goods, and get an early start on the twelve miles to the next village.”

  “I cannot marry you,” Alan said through clenched teeth. “I appreciate all that you have sacrificed for me, but what you ask is impossible!”

  “I did not ask you to marry me,” she replied quickly. “All I ask is that you use your power to find a way to restore to me my reputation and my family.”

  Alan paused for a while, as they con
tinued to hold each other’s gaze, neither willing to yield.

  “I shall need more time,” he said eventually. “I am not well enough just yet to get out and speak to people. You may stay in my employ until I have resolved the problem.”

  “You are too gracious!” Sarah’s reply was heavy with sarcasm. She was annoyed at the casual way he made light of her situation. Nothing seemed to affect him, while her whole world had been destroyed.

  Alan could tell she was angry but he was not as uninterested as she thought. He hated the fact that he was responsible for having thoroughly ruined her reputation. He struggled with this and other feelings for the entire night.

  Sarah no longer slept in his dressing room, and he supposed she had returned to the servants’ quarters. He felt her absence keenly, for he hadn’t realised just how much he had come to rely on her being close by. And it wasn’t just as a nurse, either. She had become a friend. A true friend who had shown by her actions that she would do whatever was necessary for him.

  “Lord Mellington!” The Reverend Mr Edwards was ushered into the sickroom, and shown to a chair facing the bed.

  “Edwards, my friend!” Alan acknowledged his friend, the minister from the controversial New Church. He was propped up in his bed, though he had made several failed attempts to rise earlier that day.

  “When does the doctor feel you will be up and about again, my lord?” the middle-aged minister asked.

  Alan gave a sniff of annoyance. “If it were up to him, it might be months. I detest being cooped up here like this!”

  “You have had a bad time of it, though, so I hear, sir,” Edwards continued.

  “Yes, well... ” There was no denying it.

  “Thank God you are alive, sir. This parish would feel your loss terribly if you were taken from us.”

  “Do you think so?” Alan asked. He sounded sceptical because he was. He had continued to support the village Church of England financially as his forefathers had done before him, despite the fact that he had stopped attending. But he was not insensible of the vicious things that the vicar, Mr Snead had said about him. Still, his new spiritual advisor had counselled him to forgive everything, and Alan knew that he always would. That seemed to be Mr Edwards’ particular focus in his ministry at the new church. Forgiveness. Alan wondered just how far that would go when he heard about the scandal about him and Miss Montgomery.