Mellington Hall

by Meredith Resce

  Alan was greatly relieved to see her safe.

  “What are you doing sleeping with your mother?” Phillip asked confused.

  “That is what we arranged,” Sarah said. “Alan said that you and he would take turns keeping watch, and use my room between you.”

  Phillip realised that once again, Alan had done the sensible and honourable thing, and because he had been outside in the barn, he had not been involved with making the arrangements.

  “It’s all right, dear,” Phillip said as calmly as he could. “I am sorry I woke you.”

  he air of celebration Sarah had always imagined would result from the announcement of her intended marriage did not eventuate. She felt strange attending a church that had only ever been denounced as beyond the pale by her former vicar. And though the folk of this congregation had not sat under the poisonous preaching of the Reverend Mr Snead, they were still members of the community, and they had heard the talk. Just as Sarah had feared, it seemed as if the announcement was merely a confirmation of their guilt.

  To make matters worse, her father refused to attend the service with them. Though he had given his consent to their marriage, he simply could not bring himself to flout the age-old traditions of the Church of England and attend something that most decent people considered a travesty. So Alan was forced to contravene the laws of propriety yet again, and escort Sarah to the service without a chaperone.

  “Are you happy?” Alan asked her tentatively, as they drove away from the church.

  Sarah wished she could indulge in self-pity, but knew it was not possible. She knew she loved Alan, and wanted very much to be married to him, but the lingering effects of the original slander cut her deeply every time she thought of it.

  “Are you sure you want us to be married?” Alan asked quietly, when she didn’t answer.

  “I’m sorry,” Sarah finally spoke. “I know I’m behaving like a spoiled child... ”

  “I understand why you are feeling low, truly I do,” Alan said.

  “Do you?” she asked, almost as if she didn’t believe him.

  “I would have to be blind and senseless not to feel the disapproval shown to us everywhere we go.”

  “It hurts, Alan. I used to be a happy member of this community, involved in all the activities. Now I feel shunned.”

  “Do you want to leave here, and go away from it all?”

  “Not without you,” she answered quickly.

  He allowed himself a slight grin.

  “Does that mean that you might love me, just a little bit?” he asked.

  Sarah smiled wanly, and reached over to thread her arm under his, squeezing it warmly. “Perhaps more than just a little bit!”

  Alan was about to turn and kiss her, but she quickly pulled back and shifted away from him on the seat.

  “Local busy-bodies just ahead!” she whispered.

  Alan looked up, and noticed several people walking through the town. It was bad enough them travelling without a chaperone, without displaying affection in public.

  “Only two more weeks!” Alan whispered back, “and then I could not care less who is watching!”

  Sarah couldn’t help but smile. It did lift her spirits just slightly.

  “I wish you did not have to leave,” Sarah held her fiancé’s arm as they walked toward his horse.

  “I wish so too,” Alan replied, removing his arm, and putting it around her waist instead. Instead of leaning close against him, as he obviously wished, Sarah pulled away. Alan was confused by her action.

  “My parents can see us from the house,” Sarah said to excuse herself.

  Truly, Alan didn’t care. It was only ten more days and he would have every right to be as close as he liked.

  “Is it so important that you have to go right now?” Sarah asked, diverting his attention away from his momentary disappointment.

  “I really do not know,” he answered, “but when someone so highly esteemed summons one on a matter of urgent business, it is usually wise to respond quickly.”

  “Who sent the letter?” Sarah asked, her usual inquisitive nature getting the best of her. “It was from the attorney of one of England’s most famous families. I’m not sure that you would be interested in all that formal protocol, dear. It is often quite tiresome.”

  Sarah could imagine. Her actual knowledge of the peerage was more extensive than even Alan understood, but she didn’t want to fuss on that issue just when he was about to leave her.

  “Don’t stay away too long, will you?” She looked up at him, as they stopped next to his horse.

  “Are you still afraid?” Alan asked, his concern showing on his face.

  “A little,” she admitted, “but I am mostly afraid that you will not return, and that we shall never marry. I do not think I can do without you now.”

  Alan smiled broadly. “Do not be afraid on that count, dear,” he said confidently. “I am counting the days until we wed. I would be completely lost without you.” He sealed this declaration with a warm and loving kiss, though he didn’t linger. He could sense Sarah’s tension, and guessed that she was concerned about her parents watching and making judgements when there were still so many questions hanging over their heads.

  “I shall see you soon,” Alan said, as he swung up into the saddle.

  Alan felt just a little uneasy leaving Sarah on her own, even though she was with her parents. He really wanted to make sure that she was watched over at all times, and that there would be no opportunity for someone to harm her, but he realised that he was going to have to trust others when he couldn’t always be there for her. Alan had spoken to Phillip about the proposed trip, and how he was anxious for their safety, but Phillip had felt almost insulted that his ability to protect his wife and daughter was being called into question. Alan had been forced to accept that Sarah would be safe under the protection of her father.

  He now set off in response to this strange invitation, the sender having indicated that it was urgent, so much so that he felt obliged to respond immediately.

  He had kept in contact with Rupert over the two weeks that he had been staying at the Montgomery farm, and when Rupert gave him this letter, he let his valet know that he would be gone from the district for at least a week. He had said nothing about Sarah, but knew that Rupert had guessed where they had been staying.

  When Alan was finally admitted into the drawing room of Mainstone Manor, he was welcomed by an older woman of whom he had heard by reputation, but never before met.

  “Lady Elizabeth.” He bowed formally.

  “Sir Alan,” she smiled warmly. “I am so pleased to welcome you to my home.”

  Alan dipped his head in acknowledgement. Lady Elizabeth was dressed in the expensive fashion of London and Paris. It was elegant, but not overstated, as he had often seen with other ladies making very obvious and somewhat desperate attempts to be accepted by high society. Lady Elizabeth, in contrast, dressed tastefully but simply. Though past her youth, the whole effect of her gracious demeanour and confident presentation was quite beautiful and Alan instantly warmed to her. But he was still puzzled as to why he had been summoned so urgently to this place.

  “Please be seated, Lord Mellington,” she invited, waving her hand toward a winged leather chair. “Michaels please pour tea for our guest,” she ordered the butler standing nearby.

  Alan would like to have forgone the formality of small-talk and tea, and established exactly why he had been invited to meet with her, but he obeyed protocol and waited patiently.

  “Michaels, be sure to let me know the moment Mr Daniels arrives. He should be here at any moment,” she informed Alan.

  “I beg your pardon, Lady Elizabeth, but I am not familiar with Mr Daniels’ position,” Alan said, trying to draw the information from his hostess without asking the question directly.

  “Mr Daniels is my attorney! He sent the letter to you.” Lady Elizabeth didn’t offer any more information, but sipped her tea delicately.

&nb
sp; Alan was frustrated, trying to guess what this was all about. As he observed Lady Elizabeth indirectly, he felt certain that he had seen her somewhere before. Her face seemed very familiar, but he could not recall from all the balls and assemblies he had attended when he had met Lady Elizabeth Mainstone.

  Eventually, Michaels announced the arrival of Mr Daniels.

  “I hope you don’t find it offensive, ma’am, but I am completely in the dark as to why you have invited me here.” Alan spoke quickly before the attorney stepped into the room.

  Lady Elizabeth smiled. “That is very modest and circumspect of you, young man, and only does you credit.”

  But before he could enquire further, Mr Daniels was ushered into the room. Alan stood up to be introduced and shook hands firmly with the man, who was about the same height as himself.

  “Now, sir,” Lady Elizabeth seemed ready to get down to business. “We need to make arrangements as to how best the property is to be transferred into your name.”

  “Property?” Alan asked, still confused.

  “But of course you would not have known that there was property attached to the dowry,” she smiled. “I daresay you expected only a cash settlement.”

  “Dowry?” Alan was becoming alarmed.

  “Of course!” Lady Elizabeth seemed to be taking great delight in his discomfiture. “I had heard you had a reputation for being an honest and upright young man, but I daresay even you would not expect to be taking on a wife without a dowry.”

  Alan was utterly astonished and momentarily speechless.

  “Well, Daniels. What have you to say about the transfer?”

  “I am very sorry to interrupt proceedings, ma’am, but I am completely at a loss.” Alan stood up again to lend strength to his words. “I really cannot be accepting any marriage alliance with your relative, whoever she may be, as I am to be married already. The wedding is set for ten days time.”

  Far from being put out, Lady Elizabeth smiled. “You do not know who I am?” she asked.

  “I have heard of you by reputation, but I am ashamed to say, ma’am, that I am not familiar with you or your family.”

  “Claire has not spoken to you about me?”

  Claire? The only Claire Alan knew was Sarah’s mother.

  “Mrs Montgomery?” he asked cautiously.

  “My sister,” Elizabeth said happily.

  Alan was silent. He did not know what to think. The only thing that made sense was the fact that now he knew why this lady’s face seemed so familiar.

  “You are engaged to my niece, as I understand it. Sarah Montgomery.”

  “She has not told me that she has any relatives apart from her parents.”

  Alan was in fact very upset by this revelation, but said nothing.

  “She has never met us,” Elizabeth said. “Our father, Sir Alistair Pennerly, disinherited Claire when she chose to marry beneath herself.”

  Still Alan said nothing.

  “Just recently, Claire was able to visit him, and though he stubbornly held to his position, he decided to recognise her daughter, should she marry a gentleman.”

  “So if Sarah had chosen to marry someone from the village, she would receive nothing?”

  “I believe those were the conditions of the will.”

  Alan was truly disturbed by what he had just learned. Suddenly he wondered if he had been used. Had Sarah placed herself in his household, trying to get his attention, just so that she could inherit her share of her grandfather’s estate? He really didn’t know. She hadn’t shown any great amount of affection. She had only hinted at loving him. Was he being a great fool believing himself to be in love, and making himself the focus of such gossip, and all the while, Sarah didn’t really care about him, only the inheritance.

  Though Alan sat through the meeting with Lady Elizabeth and her attorney, he hardly spoke a word. All the while he was trying to decide whether he should sign the papers or not. In the end, it was decided for him. Not until he had presented the legal marriage certificate would the property be released to him. This was a great relief, because at that point, he didn’t know if there was ever going to be a marriage certificate. All at once he felt as if he had been deceived.

  espite everything else, Sarah was missing Alan very much. She hadn’t realised just how much the two of them had grown close together during the harrowing ordeal. She acknowledged that she had been reticent in expressing her feelings and showing affection. Having faced so much trouble and fear had taken a lot of emotional energy, and prior to this, she had felt unable to be very open with Alan. But having been restored to her family, and now having the opportunity to speak with her mother, not just as a girl, but as a young woman about to be married, made Sarah feel more confident about the relationship. She began to look for the opportunity to express her feelings more openly

  Alan hadn’t told her exactly where he had to go, and so all she knew was that he was expected back just three days before their wedding.

  Nothing much had changed in the atmosphere of the village, but Sarah was beginning to harden herself to it. With Alan away she found her thoughts constantly turned towards him and when he might return. She was longing for it, and more so after the wedding, when they could safely and decently be together all the time, and express their love for one another just how they liked, without censure or criticism. She had been labelled as a wanton but now she almost felt like one for she had begun to desire him so much.

  So when he did return, and he was cold and distant, she was disappointed and hurt.

  “I have decided to return to Mellington Hall,” he announced to her parents, shortly after his arrival. “That is, if you feel secure enough without me.”

  “Of course,” Phillip replied. “I have seen no sign of trouble in the last week.”

  Sarah had the impression that he was going to leave without so much as a word with her, but just as he stood, he spoke to her father again.

  “May I have your permission to speak with Sarah for a little while, sir?” he asked. “We shall not go far from the house. You will be able to see us at all times.”

  Phillip nodded his consent.

  But Sarah was puzzled by the stern and formal way he had asked her father. He had not even asked her, but seemed to expect her to follow him outside. She went of course. She had imagined throwing herself into his arms, and perhaps at last, yielding happily to his kiss. But Alan was standing stiff and aloof.

  “Did you have a good journey?” Sarah was desperate to lighten the atmosphere between them.

  “You know where I went, of course,” he said, stony-faced.

  “I do not!” she said honestly. “I have not the slightest idea. Was it for business?”

  “Sarah, I do not want to play games. I want you to tell me the truth.” Alan’s harshly abrupt statement surprised her.

  “I do not understand what you mean?” she replied.

  “Do you not? You have never lied to me? You have always told me the truth about everything?”

  “What have you heard that has made you doubt me?”

  “I will give you one last chance to be honest with me, Sarah, and if you will not, then I cannot say how this travesty of a relationship can survive!”

  “What is it, Alan? What is it that you want me to tell you?”

  “Is that it? You are going to pretend you know nothing about it?”

  “About what?” Sarah was becoming angry with him.

  “I suppose you are going to tell me you have never heard of Sir Alistair Pennerly.”

  “Of course not. He was my grandfather!”

  “Why did you keep it from me?” Alan asked, sounding grieved.

  “He is a man whom I never met, and with whom I have never had any contact, and who, until only a few weeks ago, did not even know I existed.”

  “And you expect me to believe that?”

  “Why should you not? It is the truth.”

  “Your aunt seemed to believe that you and your mother w
ould have shared everything about your family connections and the inheritance that you are due!”

  “I have no idea what inheritance you are talking about!” Sarah said.

  “Do you not? You’ve not been told that you would receive what would have been your mother’s if you married properly?”

  “My mother told me that my grandfather had chosen to recognise me, should I marry to please him. She told me that about two days before I was thrown out of my home. She has not discussed it with me since!”

  “And you expect me to believe that?”

  “Again, why should you not?”

  “Because it seems very much to me that you conveniently placed yourself in my household, and worked your way into my room and my heart, just so you could inherit.”

  “I saved your life!”

  “What about the night when you threw yourself at me, claiming to have been smothered!”

  “If you cannot believe me, that someone tried to kill me, and you think I have connived to win you, then you can leave. I do not need you, and I do not need any inheritance.”

  Alan was silenced by this. He had expected her to protest her innocence, and try desperately to win him back. But he could see her withdraw from him. She was angry with him. Worse, she wanted him gone.

  “Get out of my sight Alan. I do not want to speak with you again!”

  Alan had enough pride and just enough distrust to cause him to turn and mount his horse.

  “Besides, if I had wanted you, I would have told you who my grandfather was, and you would have married me just because of the title and the money. Do not think you are so pure in your motives, my Lord Mellington!”

  Alan heard it and recognised the truth of what she said, but didn’t stop. He was agitated and utterly confused, and needed to get away and think.

  Sarah couldn’t believe that she was almost right back where she started. The only difference was that her parents had both accepted that she was innocent of the charges made against her, so she had her family home. But the village still held her in contempt, and now she had no hope of a respectable marriage.