‘You must be Elizabeth.’
Beth felt as if she had been thoroughly assessed in one brief, penetrating glance.
‘You are right, James,’ Lady Trenchard said to the man standing beside her. ‘She is indeed very beautiful.’
Beth gave him a startled, disbelieving look, but his expression was well schooled, except for a slight movement at the corners of his mouth.
‘Now, Elizabeth –’ she paused – ‘or do you prefer to be called Beth?’
‘Beth, please.’ She was quite overcome with the lady’s strong personality and would not normally have given a stranger such liberty – lady or not!
‘Beth. That suits you.’ She took her arm. ‘You may call me Alice. Now, show me to my room, for I am feeling quite fatigued after that dreary journey.’
She did not look at all weary, Beth thought as she led her into the house. The lady was alive with energy.
When they reached the stairs, Beth stopped. ‘Oh, your lordship, where is your man you said was travelling with Lady Trenchard?’
‘Jenkins took him to the back entrance and into the servants’ wing.’
She did not miss the look of amusement that passed between Lady Trenchard and his lordship. They were clearly finding it very difficult not to burst into laughter. What was so amusing about a hired hand being taken to the servants’ entrance? She could not fathom it.
After seeing her guest comfortably installed, Beth left her to rest and went to the kitchen. Jenkins and her estate manager, Greenway, were waiting for her.
‘Have you settled his lordship’s man?’ she asked.
‘Er ... yes.’ Greenway looked rather bewildered.
‘What is it?’ she demanded, sensing an atmosphere. ‘What is wrong with him?’
‘Well, he is no more than a boy,’ Greenway told her.
‘Oh, no,’ Jenkins interrupted, ‘he must be around twenty-five, but certainly no more than that.’
Beth was puzzled. ‘That is rather a tender age to be an expert pig farmer, is it not?’
‘That’s what I thought.’ Her manager held a chair for her to sit down. ‘But I’ve had a talk with him and there’s no doubt he knows the animals.’
‘Well, that is something, I suppose. As long as he is competent, his age matters little.’ She sampled one of cook’s tarts and nodded approval.
‘There’s something else odd.’ Jenkins tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.
‘What is it?’ she prompted.
‘I might be wrong, but I would swear that he is a gentleman wearing a working man’s clothes.’
‘What is his name?’
‘George Riley,’ Jenkins informed her, ‘but I don’t think that’s his real name. I haven’t any proof of that,’ he added hastily, ‘but something about him doesn’t seem right.’
‘Oh, not another mystery man!’ she exclaimed, shaking her head in dismay. ‘Well, keep an eye on him, and let me know if you think he is not up to the job.’
It was half an hour before dinner, and Beth decided to meet this pig man.
He was in the kitchen when she entered. He leapt to his feet and bowed, keeping his eyes lowered.
‘You must be Riley?’
He nodded, still keeping his eyes hooded, which she found annoying. She liked people to look her straight in the eyes.
‘Look at me!’ she demanded. Her estate manager had been right; this tall, elegant young man was no farm worker.
He lifted his head and she gasped when she saw the pale grey eyes looking at her. She turned and stormed out of the kitchen and into the drawing room.
‘Do you consider me lacking in wits?’ Beth demanded, hands on hips in fury.
His lordship put his glass down on the drinks table. ‘No.’
‘I am pleased to hear it.’ She turned on Lady Trenchard. ‘Madam, I do not take kindly to being deceived in my own home.’
‘What is it, Beth?’ She reached out, but dropped her hand when Beth moved back.
‘Do not pretend innocence! Dishonesty is the one thing I will not tolerate.’
‘We are quite at a loss to know what you are talking about.’ James frowned. ‘What has sent you into such a fury?’
‘Shall we invite your relative to join us for dinner?’ she demanded, nearly shedding tears of rage.
‘Ah.’
‘Is that all you have to say for yourself? I demand to know what is going on!’
‘I’m sorry, James.’ A quiet voice spoke from the doorway. ‘She recognized me at once. We are too alike.’
Beth spun round and glared at the young man. ‘Come in, Mr Sharland – or whatever your name is.’
‘Alex Beaufort,’ he told her in that same quiet tone. ‘I am James’s cousin.’
‘I don’t doubt that you are related to each other, for I could not mistake the unusual colour of your eyes, but I think you are both masquerading under false identities, and I am deeply hurt at being used in this manner.’
‘We mean you no harm,’ the young man assured her.
‘Don’t try to talk with her, Alex.’ James came and stood beside his cousin. ‘She is too angry to listen.’
‘And is that surprising?’ Her foot was tapping with impatience on the carpet. ‘I demand an explanation for this ridiculous subterfuge.’
‘My dear –’ Lady Trenchard stepped forward – ‘please don’t upset yourself. It can all be explained.’
‘We will tell her nothing!’ James snapped.
Beth was now beyond all reasoning. ‘You will all leave my house this instant, or I shall have you removed by force.’
‘You will do no such thing.’ His lordship came menacingly to within a few inches of her. ‘I am still your legal guardian.’
‘Please, Miss Langton—’
She did not allow the young man to say anything else. ‘Take your cousin and this lady, and leave now!’
‘We cannot do that.’ James was clearly at the end of his patience.
‘We shall see about that!’ She turned towards the door, but he caught her arm in a fierce grip.
‘I have almost a year and can do a lot of damage in that time,’ he warned. ‘If you reveal this to anyone outside of this room, then I shall cast you into penury.’
‘Oh, James!’ Lady Trenchard whispered in distress.
The threat terrified Beth, for she knew he meant it. No matter how angry she was, she mustn’t do anything to jeopardize the estate. ‘I see I have little choice in the matter. I do not indulge in tittle-tattle, sir, and you can be assured that I shall not utter one word of this to anyone, and neither will Helen.’
Beth shook her arm free of his grip and turned to her friend. ‘Come, Helen, we shall dine in my room and leave these people to their devious intrigues.’
Eleven
There was a knock on Beth’s door, and Helen opened it.
‘Would you ask Elizabeth if she would allow me to talk with her?’
‘Let Lady Trenchard in,’ Beth told her friend. She had slept little during the night, for her mind would not cease racing as she tried to make some sense of what was happening – but to no avail. The fact that he was filling her house with his family and friends was alarming. She felt under siege in her own home.
She rose when the lady entered and indicated a chair for her to sit in.
‘Thank you. It is gracious of you to see me.’
Beth said nothing, noting that Lady Trenchard did not appear to have slept soundly, either.
‘I have come to beg your forgiveness for our deception. I was not in agreement with this course of action, but my ... James would not be swayed, and I could not allow Alex to make the long journey from Scotland on his own.’
Beth still said nothing. She was deeply hurt by their conduct.
‘Ah, this is very difficult.’ Lady Trenchard was clearly distressed.
‘It can all be cleared up,’ Beth said. ‘All you have to do is tell me why this subterfuge has been necessary.’
‘
I cannot!’
‘There does appear to be a rather tangled family history. Can you at least explain that to us?’
When the lady shook her head, Beth stood up and said briskly, ‘Then there is nothing further to discuss.’
‘Oh, please, my dear, don’t dismiss me.’
‘What else can I do, Lady Trenchard?’ She sat down again, disturbed to see this normally composed woman so overset.
‘I am pleading with you to trust James.’
‘How can I do that? He has done nothing but lie to me from the moment he arrived. And I have grave doubts that he is really my guardian.’ Beth gave a weary sigh. ‘But how do I prove it?’
Lady Trenchard shook her head. ‘He told you the truth about that. He is Edward Sharland’s legal heir.’
‘So everyone believes. And that is why I feel so helpless. He is a hard man and will, no doubt, carry out his threat to ruin me if I disobey him. I am at a loss to understand why I have been dragged into his devious scheme. I cannot believe this is what my godfather intended. He would never have placed me in this dreadful position. He wouldn’t ...’ Beth’s voice broke slightly with distress.
‘I am so sorry it has come to this.’ The lady studied Beth intently. ‘But you are wise to be cautious, for he will carry through his plan, regardless of whom he has to hurt along the way.’
‘And what is his plan?’ Beth prompted, hoping she could still tempt her to reveal something.
‘I am not privy to that information. Only he can tell you that,’ she replied.
Beth gave an impatient wave of her hand. ‘But he will not.’
‘No.’
‘Then we are at an impasse. It seems I have no choice but to await my twenty-first birthday and hope this fiend leaves me something to inherit.’
Lady Trenchard visibly flinched at the word ‘fiend’. ‘He has good reason for his conduct. My boys’ lives have been blighted—’
‘They are your sons?’ Beth was astounded, for they looked nothing like her.
‘I did not bear them, but I consider them my sons.’ She stopped and tried to compose herself. ‘May I have a glass of wine?’
Helen poured one after a nod from Beth and handed it to Lady Trenchard, then returned to her seat in the corner of the room.
‘James was ten and Alex but a babe of two years when they came to me.’ The hand holding the glass shook. ‘Alex was too young to understand or miss the parents he had lost, but James knew, and the anger has been simmering in him until he has grown into a hard man.’ She gave Beth a pleading look. ‘He is not a bad man, but he will have justice done or die in the attempt. Nothing else matters to him. Alex is a gentle, loving boy, and I’m sure that, somewhere inside, James is the same, but I fear it is too deeply buried now.’
This was not the story Beth had expected to hear. It sounded as if he had suffered a terrible wrong. Doubts began to assail her – until she remembered the way he was treating her. Whatever he had come here to do, it was not right of him to threaten her. That could not be excused!
‘They both have vast personal fortunes, but James refuses to marry until this has been cleared up, and Alex will do anything he can to help James. They are more like brothers, you see; in fact, that is how they think of each other.’
Lady Trenchard stood up with an exclamation of distress. ‘I have said more than is prudent, but I do so want you to make allowances for his conduct.’
‘Don’t distress yourself.’ Beth stood up, suddenly feeling very sorry for this woman who was so desperate to defend her boys, as she called them. What dark secret did their background hold? Even more perplexing was the obvious fact that her godfather was involved. ‘Nothing will go beyond this room, but, in truth, you have not told us anything of import.’
The lady gave a weak smile. ‘Will you make your peace with James?’
‘I doubt that will be possible with his threat hanging over me, but I shall talk with him.’
James was in the study with Alex when she entered. The two men rose to their feet.
Beth did not waste any time. ‘Lady Trenchard has begged me to make my peace with you, but I fear that will not be possible. However, she has tried to ease my fears.’
‘And has she succeeded?’ he asked, studying her through narrowed eyes.
‘No. I cannot trust you. For some reason you are using your guardianship and this house for a purpose of your own, but I would ask you to remember that I am an innocent pawn caught up in your intrigue.’
Alex stepped forward. ‘My brother means you no harm, Miss Langton.’
She gazed at the presentable boy as he referred to James as his brother, for it was clear that was how he considered their relationship. Alex’s mouth turned up at the corners as if he was used to smiling, and the eyes, although the same colour as his cousin’s, held warmth that was sadly lacking in the other man’s grim expression.
‘I fear he does.’ Beth turned her attention back to James. ‘It would ease my mind if you would explain what you are doing.’
‘You do not need to know,’ he snapped.
‘In that you are wrong. If you carry out your threat to ruin me, then it is very much my concern, and the concern of everyone who depends upon the Langton estate for a living.’
‘Miss Langton!’ Alex exclaimed, stepping towards her again. ‘My brother would not do such a heartless thing.’
‘Yes, I would,’ James snapped. ‘I will crush anyone who stands in my way.’
‘Oh, James,’ Lady Trenchard sighed as she entered the room, ‘there is no need for this. Elizabeth can be trusted, I am sure of it.’
‘You know I trust no one in this matter, Alice, not even you. I will clear this up, no matter what the cost to anyone.’
‘I believe you are a heartless man,’ Beth told him, ‘but we must try to behave in a polite manner towards each other, else it will soon be commented upon.’
‘I agree. I don’t want any gossip to bring attention to this house.’ He gave her a studied look. ‘Is that understood?’
‘Perfectly.’ She started to walk out of the room but stopped. The man was a beast and she did not see why she should dissemble any longer: she would speak her mind.
‘In future, if you wish to creep out in the middle of the night, it would be more convenient for you to keep my father’s pistols in your room, and then you will not have to sneak about like a thief.’ She took a steadying breath and, with a flourish, turned and swept out of the room.
Waiting patiently outside the door and having heard the conversation, Helen gave a smile of approval to her friend. Beth’s mouth was set in a straight line. ‘I do declare that I enjoyed giving him that set-down. He is not going to have everything his own way, and he will soon learn that I am not some empty-headed female who will crumble before his forceful presence.’
Helen fell in beside her friend as she headed for the kitchen at full speed. ‘I am sure he knows that already, for you have always shown a strong will, Beth.’
‘Indeed I have.’ She stopped so suddenly that Helen collided with her.
‘Oh, I do beg your pardon ...’
She caught Helen to steady her, a deep frown furrowing her brow. ‘Father always said I was more like a son to him than a daughter. Do you consider me mannish?’
Helen gave a gurgle of laughter. ‘No, you are beautiful and, with your delicate colouring, you are very feminine, but there is great strength within you. That is what your father meant, and that is why he was content to leave the estate in your hands.’
‘I do hope you are right, but I pray that I have the same inner strength and courageous character to weather this storm as you did when your life collapsed around you. I am very frightened, Helen.’
‘Of course you are.’ Helen slipped her hand through Beth’s arm, giving it an encouraging squeeze. ‘We shall face this together. I do feel more at ease now Lady Trenchard is here, though, and I have the impression that she will try to curb his lordship from harming the estate. And she is
very elegant. It could be fun choosing clothes with her guiding hand. We do both need a new wardrobe, and his lordship said he is going to pay.’
‘Hmm.’ Beth became thoughtful. ‘Do you think his lordship was right about me wearing pastel shades?’
‘Yes, you would look most fetching in them, though you have never cared much for fashion.’
‘That is true.’ Beth continued down the passage, a puzzled frown on her face. Why was she fussing about which colours would suit her best? It had never been a thing of importance to her, and it was all due to this foolish talk about her having a season. She would not give it another thought!
When they reached the kitchen, they found Jenkins, Greenway and the footman sampling some of Cook’s tarts.
‘Ah, good, you are all here.’
The men scrambled to their feet.
‘Stanley, when you have been acting as valet to his lordship, does he talk to you?’
‘No, Miss Langton, never says a word.’
‘As I expected.’
‘We haven’t been able to find the smallest piece of gossip about him, or Mr Edgemont,’ Jenkins informed her, with obvious regret.
‘Well, I have managed to glean one piece of information. His lordship is from Scotland, and that is why no one has seen him before.’
‘Ah.’ Greenway nodded. ‘Then we are wasting our time.’
‘Exactly, and I now want you to forget our plan to unearth his identity.’ She picked up two tarts, handed one to Helen and proceeded to eat the other.
The men waited patiently for her to finish.
‘The only thing we can do now is see that he does not harm the estate.’ She smiled, hoping she appeared relaxed and at ease. ‘In less than a year I shall have reached my twenty-first birthday, and then we shall be rid of him.’
‘We will be vigilant until then, Miss Langton,’ Greenway assured her.
‘Thank you.’ She went to walk out but stopped and looked at everyone in turn, making sure she had their full attention. ‘I don’t want his lordship to be discussed outside of this house. If anyone asks questions, you are to tell them that he is a fine man and is taking his duties as my guardian seriously. We will deal with this crisis ourselves, and as quietly as possible.’
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