Mellington Hall

by Meredith Resce

  Claire was the perfect hostess along with Felicity, and she felt full of pride and joy over the wedding she thought she would never see. Phillip on the other hand felt somewhat intimidated by a world he was not familiar with. He saw his wife and daughter fit in as if they belonged, and felt some moments of regret that he had been the one who had kept his wife from her rightful place for years.

  “Sir,” Alan addressed his father-in-law respectfully. “Thank you for the privilege of having your daughter for my wife.”

  Phillip looked at his former employer, and recognised that Alan was actually lowering himself from the position of Lord of the estate to that of son-in-law, and Phillip appreciated the gesture of respect and humility. He took his hand in a warm handshake.

  “I pray God’s blessing on your union,” he said in return.

  Sarah smiled, and leaned forward to kiss her father on the cheek.

  “Thank you, father,” she said. “Thank you for believing in us.”

  Sarah and Alan were given a beautiful suite of rooms in his cousin’s house.

  “At last you and I can be together in my room alone, and no one has anything to say but congratulations,” Alan spoke in an easy cheerful voice, his wife’s hands clasped in his own.

  “We have no fear of neighbours bursting in through the door, making up all sorts of wild stories.”

  “Indeed not!” Alan agreed with a smile.

  Sarah couldn’t believe how nervous she was, considering she had already seen Alan in various states of undress, but now it seemed so different. He was not bleeding to death, to start with.

  “Look at that!” Her attention was momentarily distracted as she saw the scar exposed on his shoulder. She carefully ran her finger over the distorted flesh. “I did a good job of stitching that up, did I not?” she asked, then she gently kissed the old wound.

  “You did a remarkable job,” Alan said, lifting her face gently to focus on his own face instead of his shoulder.

  “I wonder who it was, Alan... ” Sarah sounded worried as she had a brief moment recalling those days of near death.

  “Let us not talk about it tonight, Sarah,” he said in a low and even tone. “We shall be safe here.”

  “If you are sure,” Sarah said, shyly lifting her face towards his.

  “Quite sure,” Alan replied his voice suddenly husky with emotion. He closed the gap between them and met her lips in a passionate kiss.

  ll the worry and stress of the last few months seemed to fall away easily as Alan and Sarah became lost in their own world of personal joy and fulfilment.

  They left the Lydbury Estate two days after their marriage to take a wedding tour. Alan had considered taking Sarah abroad to Paris, but she had not even so much as travelled to London before, and was quite content to see the cultural wonders of her own country.

  They spent several weeks in London, making a special effort to see things that were familiar to Alan, but that Sarah had only ever heard of: Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, the Art Gallery, and of course they attended a whirlwind of balls and assemblies where Lord and Lady Mellington proved to be a popular couple.

  “So you are Sir Alistair Pennerly’s granddaughter?” an old dowager boldly asked Sarah upon introduction.

  “Yes, ma’am,” she answered politely.

  “I am surprised I have not so much as heard of you before!”

  “I never met my grandfather, ma’am,” Sarah replied quickly.

  “So you are Lady Claire’s daughter then? They cut her off, I heard. Some disgraceful marriage, or some such?”

  “I beg your pardon, ma’am,” annoyed, Sarah spoke confidently, “my father is a respectable man, and my mother has been very happy, despite my grandfather’s treatment of her.”

  “No need to get all hoity-toity with me, my child,” the older woman said disparagingly. “That is the way of the world. You ought to be thankful that Lord Mellington has seen fit to recognise you, despite the scandal of your mother’s marriage!”

  Sarah felt Alan’s light squeeze of her elbow and knew that although she wanted to protest vehemently about the unjust cruelty of aristocratic pride and snobbery, she had better quietly withdraw and not cause a scene.

  “Forgive me, Alan,” she apologised when they were alone. “Comments like that infuriate me. My father is a good man, and... ”

  “He is a good man, my darling, but he is not a perfect man. Remember when he refused to listen to you after Mrs Allyson told her story?”

  “That is not the point,” Sarah was annoyed that Alan had brought it up again. “I do not think it is kind that all those rich people should be making pointed comments about my mother and father. It has nothing to do with them!”

  “That is true, but Sarah, you must understand that all people gossip, whether it is in the village square, the church yard or the drawing room of the Manor House. People love to talk about other people’s misfortunes, whether it is truth or not!”

  “Why are you defending them?” she asked, annoyed.

  “I do not, but I believe that there is nothing to be achieved by making a scene in a public place. People will talk, and if you make a scene, then they will talk about that as well. You know what the truth is, so have confidence in that, and ignore the rest of it!”

  “It is very easy for you to say,” she replied unhappily. “I am tired of being the subject of everybody’s discussion!”

  “I very much hate to see you hurt by it. Try to let it go,” Alan said firmly. “We have an opportunity for happiness, so let us take it with both hands. We cannot keep allowing the meanness of other people to intrude on this precious time together!”

  Sarah knew he was talking sense, and reluctantly let go of her ill feelings.

  While they were enjoying the busy social life of London, it seemed easy to dismiss the terrible threat that had been hanging over them both since the time of the first attack on their lives. It was at the back of Sarah’s mind, but she preferred not to mention it again, and give voice to her fears. She wanted simply to love her husband and be loved by him.

  It was not until they left London and began to travel to the North West that Sarah felt she could not ignore it any more.

  “What are we going to do, Alan?” she asked. “Do you think that whoever was trying to hurt you has given up?”

  “I should like to think so, but I think it unlikely, don’t you?”

  “Perhaps it was just Lucinda. Perhaps there was no one else!”

  “I want to believe that with all my heart. I want to believe it, but the doctor is quite certain that Lucinda was murdered, and the interviews with no less than six other prisoners all said the same thing: she was being manipulated. Someone else wanted to see me dead.”

  “Not just you!”

  “No, you as well.”

  “And Simon! Do you think that had to do with getting your inheritance or do you just think that with Lucinda’s unstable state of mind, she just went after Simon because of what he had done to her in the past? Do you think it was Simon who was manipulating her, and he was the one who eventually killed her?”

  “I do not know,” Alan said thoughtfully. “If it were Simon, then he would have had to have an accomplice to help him get into the gaol. With his injuries, I doubt he would have been able to travel there on his own, and I doubt he would have been able to... ”

  “But if not Simon, then who... ”

  “I do not know,” Alan said, frustrated. “If I did, my love, I would have the constable investigate?”

  “Forgive me,” she said penitently. “It is just that I am reluctant to return to the place with all this uncertainty.”

  “We have another two weeks or so,” Alan said.

  Sarah looked at him, a question in her eyes.

  “I have arranged that we shall stay with your aunt, Lady Mainstone, before we return home.”

  Sarah was not sure what to say to this.

  “You do not mind, do you?” Alan asked, seeing her hesita
tion.

  “I hardly know her,” Sarah said weakly. “I am not sure that we would be welcome.”

  Alan laughed.

  “We are welcome, believe me. You met her at the wedding, and I have already stayed there for several days at her invitation, even before I knew who she was, remember? And she was very happy to welcome me into the family.”

  Still Sarah didn’t answer.

  “What is the matter?” Alan asked kindly.

  “But will she welcome me into the family?” she asked sadly.

  “Darling girl, you are her niece. She is your mother’s sister.”

  “And they have ignored us all my life. She has never acknowledged me, not so much as sent a word of congratulations when I was born.”

  “You cannot hold on to that, Sarah. It is in the past.”

  “Only because of you! Only because you are someone, and you have money!”

  “I think you should give your aunt a chance to speak for herself. Do not hold onto this grudge, Sarah.”

  “It’s not a grudge,” she said defensively.

  “You have taken on your mother’s offence!”

  “My mother has never held a grudge either!”

  “Then why have you?”

  “Because it has been so unfair. Not about the money. We have been happy without money, but to know that you have family, and that they refused to even acknowledge that I or my sister were born, and then when she died as a child, there was no word of condolence or comfort from them. It was as if they cared nothing for us. It hurts, Alan!”

  “I do not try to discount all that you and your family have suffered, but truly... well, I think there is a wonderful opportunity for Lady Elizabeth to make up for the past. I think we should give her the chance.”

  Sarah thought about it all quietly. Had she taken on the offence of her mother? Had it affected her more than she had realised?

  “I know what the Reverend Mr Edwards would say!” Alan said with a smile.

  Sarah did not respond. She knew what he would say too. He would speak passionately of forgiveness and reconciliation. It was the very hallmark of his ministry, as opposed to that of the Reverend Mr Snead. But that didn’t bear thinking about.

  By the time they arrived at Mainstone Manor, Sarah had told herself she must let go the offence that had in fact surprised her. It had been dormant for so many years, that she had not expected it to surface with such force. She had not realised that the rejection by her mother’s family had hurt so much. But as Alan said, it was time to put the past behind and allow reconciliation.

  “Lord Mellington!” Lady Elizabeth Mainstone stood to welcome them, smiling and holding out her hand to the visitors. “May I offer again my heartfelt congratulations to you on your marriage! I was so pleased to be able to attend. I am only sorry I did not have more opportunity to get to know your precious wife better.”

  Sarah had still hesitated, and even yet was struggling with uncertainty.

  “Then it is time for a proper introduction,” Alan said. “Lady Mainstone, your niece, Sarah.” He stood to one side and waved her forward.

  “My dear child, you are so like your father!” Lady Elizabeth said, thoroughly studying Sarah’s face.

  “You knew my father?” Sarah asked, surprised.

  “Of course! Your mother was not the only young woman on the estate who noticed the handsome young gamekeeper.” Lady Elizabeth smiled.

  “So why did everybody object to him so much?” Sarah couldn’t help but ask.

  “Not everybody, dear,” her aunt said. “Personally, I would have run away with him myself, if your mother had not caught his eye first!”

  Sarah was aghast.

  “Please, do not make fun of me, ma’am,” she begged, not amused.

  “I am sorry, my dear,” she said reassuringly. “I know that your grandfather turned his back on you all, and he managed to convince me that it would serve me better if I had nothing to do with your mother, but the truth is, Claire and I talked about Phillip a great deal, and while I could have tried to convince her to give him up, I did not, and that was because I felt he was a wonderful young man, despite his lack of title and wealth, and I was sure the gentleman my father had chosen for Claire would have destroyed her. Your father was the better choice by far!”

  “But you have ignored us all these years,” Sarah couldn’t help but show how it had grieved her.

  “I have not the strength of character your mother possesses,” Lady Elizabeth admitted. “When she made her choice, I was happy for her, but our father’s reaction was such that I knew I would have to obey his word, or be cut off as she was. I hadn’t the courage to defy him, Sarah. I have always regretted it, but there was little I felt I could do.”

  Sarah wanted to continue more, but Alan stepped in at that point.

  “Indeed, ma’am, we are very pleased to be welcomed into your home as part of the family now, are we not, Sarah?” He looked pointedly at Sarah and she understood. He had given her a few moments to speak of her grievances, but that was enough. It was time to let it go.

  Following Alan’s lead, Sarah eventually began to relax, and as she did she observed her aunt. She was surprised to find that she was very like her mother, not so much to look at, but more the way she spoke, and her general outlook on life. Lady Elizabeth took plenty of opportunity to tell the young couple many stories of her childhood; stories that included the young Claire and Phillip. Sarah began to realise that she was indeed part of the family.

  They had only been there four days when Sarah was invited into the business meeting with the attorney, Mr. Daniels. She was fascinated by the way her aunt and husband spoke to the attorney using legal and financial terms. They asked her to witness the transactions, and even asked for her approval, but she hardly understood a word of it.

  “What did all that mean?” she asked Alan later.

  “It means, my dear, that you are now the legal owner of half the Pennerly Estate, including Pennerly Hall, the home where your mother grew up.”

  “But what am I to do with it? I know nothing about property or tenants, or employees.”

  “Do you trust me to administer the estate for you?” he asked.

  “Of course I do,” Sarah cried. “This is your business. This is what you know.”

  “Well, I have in mind a very good man to manage the estate, and I believe his wife will be able to manage the staff at the hall very well, so that it will be quite ready for when you want to visit.”

  “Do you know these people very well?” she asked.

  “Not as well as you do, dear. I am thinking of your father and mother.”

  Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. She had not actually considered it herself, but to think that her mother could return to her home, and could take on the responsibility that should have been hers was such a wonderful idea, that Sarah felt overcome with emotion.

  “Don’t you think that will be a good idea?” Alan asked, seeing that she hadn’t responded.

  “I can hardly wait to get home to tell them,” Sarah said with a watery smile, throwing her arms around his neck and kissing him on the cheek. “Thank you, Alan. You are so good to me.”

  “It really isn’t any great thing,” Alan tried to appear merely pragmatic. “Your father has been a very capable employee. I should trust him with the running of either estate.”

  “Oh, let us go home as soon as we can!” Sarah said, totally forgetting the troubles they had left behind in the excitement of bringing this wonderful news to her parents.

  ut despite her eagerness to go back to the Mellington Estate, they were unable to leave, as Sarah fell ill the next day, and it seemed that she was struggling to get over it.

  Immediately Alan was concerned, as he recalled how he had been slowly poisoned, and weakened day by day until he was on the point of death. After the fourth day, when Sarah failed to rally, they sent for the doctor who came and carefully examined the patient.

  Alan had been sent from th
e room, which raised his anxiety even more.

  “What is it, Doctor?” he asked, the moment the physician came downstairs.

  “Nothing that you need be overly concerned about, my lord,” he said, calmly. “With proper care and rest, she will present you with a healthy heir in about eight months.”

  As he delivered the news, he smiled cheekily, and more so as he noted the stunned look that Alan wore.

  “It is good news, sir. Breathe a little, and smoke a cigar!” He shook Alan’s hand firmly and took his leave.

  Alan was left standing trying to process what he had heard. If he had understood correctly, he was to be a father, and within a year after the wedding. It was not quite what he had expected, but then, that was the way of it, after all.

  Sarah had not been quite expecting that their coming together would yield a pregnancy so soon, but then she didn’t really know much about that blessed state. The news might have been more welcome if she did not feel so awful, but as it was, she was amused by her husband as he came to her after the doctor left.

  “Well, this is a happy turn of events, is it not, my love?” Alan said as he greeted her with a warm kiss.

  “I must admit that it is relief to have a reason for feeling so ill.”

  “I am sorry you are not feeling the best, but I feel very pleased to know why. As soon as you feel well enough, we shall go back to your mother so that she can look after you, or if necessary, I shall send for her to come here.”

  Sarah smiled at him.

  “Now that I know what is ailing me, I think I shall be all right to travel. It is all normal, so the doctor says, and sitting in a carriage is not very different to sitting in a chair.”

  “Then we shall make arrangements to leave in a day or two. Will that suit you?”

  “I want very much to tell my parents all the good news.”

  Alan grinned.

  The twenty-mile journey proved to be a lot more strenuous than Sarah thought it would be, and she was quite done for by the time they had reached the Lydbury Estate. She had wanted to go to her parents’ small home, a further five miles on, but they both realised that there really was not enough room for them there, and they still were not prepared to return to Mellington Hall. So they stopped at Sir Leighton and Lady Felicity’s home, as the previous invitation had been extended for as long as was needed.