I knew what I wanted, and I knew it for sure. “Oh yes please.”
He let his face relax again, and lost the cold look, took me in his arms once more, and kissed me, long and slow. “You may have caused chaos in my life, but chaos can never have been so welcome before.”
Chapter Thirteen
Martha kept her army of servants, and me, very busy for the next few days. The State Rooms were filled with the sounds of chatter, scrubbing and shouts of “mind your head” as great paintings and chandeliers were lowered for cleaning. We began to unlock the beauty under all that decay.
Richard came to watch, and would occasionally take a hand with the more delicate treasures. From time to time, he caught me looking at him, and the warmth would always be there for me. If Lizzie saw him, she deliberately walked across our line of vision to break the contact. I decided to hold on to what I had and take action to resolve other matters. I would take Richard’s advice and speak to James about Steven.
I found him in the little office he’d set up as his temporary base. While Martha attended to the house, he rode around the estate visiting the tenants and noted what needed doing. When I closed the door firmly behind me he looked up, smiling in welcome.
He picked up a paper. “I want to get the Dower House put in order. I want it for Lady Hareton to use as long as she wishes it. It’s her right, as the dowager countess, and it might give her a sanctuary against her dreadful father.”
“Rich—Lord Strang says he’s trying to blackmail you over the coach.” I hoped he wouldn’t notice the slip.
He didn’t seem to. “Yes, I know. I agree with him—the man’s a worm. Look at the way he’s treating his daughter.” His voice warmed with rising emotion. “He’ll not get a penny from me. I couldn’t trust him, so what’s the point?” He glanced at me. “If I thought this might affect you, or Martha or the others, if I could stop it by paying him, I’d give him everything he wanted.”
I was touched by his concern. “Oh James, I’m sure we’ll come about. What about his servant, that Ellis man?”
James grimaced. “Another worm. I don’t trust him, either. If Strang doesn’t discover the culprit, we must face it. There’ll be rumours, but it should be all right, in the long run.” We exchanged reassuring smiles.
James picked up another of the papers and made a scribbled note in the margin. A small pile of the ones he’d already dealt with lay on the corner of the desk, about the only order in that untidy little room. I sat in the chair on the other side of the large desk, its surface completely covered with more of the papers he was trying to make sense of. “His daughter has her rights, though he has none. I’ll give them to her. She will decide what to do with them. She has a jointure and the use of the Dower House until she dies or remarries. I’m afraid her dreadful father will get it all.”
“Might he move there and convert the villagers?”
James laughed. “He’ll not have much luck there.”
“Martha doesn’t want to turn her out of doors too soon. She’s trying to befriend her. Poor Lady Hareton is terribly upset, and her father is no use at all in comforting her.”
“I wish he would concentrate on comforting her, instead of pestering me,” said James, exasperated. “He came to see me again yesterday, says it’s his moral right to have the entail broken. He said Lord Hareton’s stated intentions on the night before he died amounted to a living will. I reminded him that it would be impossible to break the entail now. There aren’t enough signatories for it, and in any case, I didn’t consider myself bound in any way to follow the ravings of a poor unfortunate madman.”
I burst into laughter at James’s righteous indignation when I imagined the scene, but he had reached the end of his tether with the putative minister. “I’m tired of arguing with him. Every day the man visits me. He wants the riches transferred to him and to his ministry, hints he will go to the authorities if I don’t comply. Do you think I’d let him have a hold over me and my family?”
“No.”
“As if I haven’t enough to do.” He riffled his hand through the layers of papers on his desk.
I felt so sorry for Lady Hareton. Her father would, no doubt, make her give up her jointure to his cause. He might force her to marry another fanatic. I didn’t think her heart was in it any more, if it ever had been in the first place. From the few times I had noticed her glance at him when she thought it had gone unnoticed, I knew for sure she disliked him, maybe even hated him.
I put the thought aside and tried to broach my own problem. “I’m sorry to add to your troubles, my dear, but I must talk to you. Things are becoming a little uncomfortable for me here.”
He put the document down at once, and looked at me in surprise. “You, Rose? This must be serious. You don’t usually complain.”
I folded my hands carefully in my lap. “The truth is that I’ve been pestered too much recently, and it’s getting worse.”
Puzzled, he asked, “Has someone upset you, or is it the situation here? You can always go home to Devonshire, if you like.”
“Oh no.” I managed to curb my passion, afraid James might divine my true meaning. “I enjoy helping Martha here, unwrapping this house, so to speak.” Remembering my duty I added, “If you wish it, of course I’ll go to Devonshire, but I’d like someone else sent away as well.”
“Who is it? One of our visitors? If they’ve upset you, they can leave tomorrow.” My best of brothers.
I took a deep breath. “It’s Steven Drury.”
James sat back in his chair and pursed his lips. “Drury? Well. He’s the one who’s pestering you? I’ll send him home at once.” He didn’t doubt me.
“No, don’t do that,” I amended the facts a little to protect the innocent. “He pulled me into an empty room, wanting to kiss me. He’s always fancied himself in love with me, and this recent turn of fortune has increased his eagerness. Lord Strang and his brother came along at the right moment. They rescued me, but they saw my upset.” I paused. “They called Mr. Drury a fortune hunter, James. Do you think he is?”
“Undoubtedly, now I come to think about it,” James said, promptly. “I should have sent him back as soon as we knew we were to stay here. Well, I’m sorry for your distress, Rose. I’ll deal with it today, and see what can be done.”
I gave him a grateful look, every inch the dutiful sister. “Thank you, James. Lord Strang—and Mr. Kerre told me that they’ve come across a lot of these types. They advised us not to send him home. They said he could be bitter about it, and spread unpleasant gossip.” James raised his eyebrows, nodding thoughtfully. “Lord Strang said we should send him far away, where he knows nobody. Give him a living, promote and exile him.”
James thought, pen to mouth. He sucked the end of the quill. “A capital idea. I’m sure there must be something here.” Waving his hand, he indicated the papers. His expansive gesture wafted several to the floor. “Mr. Fogg might have a more orderly list. I’ll ask when I see him tomorrow. I never did trust Drury. Much too handsome for a cleric.”
“Thank you, James.” I tried to rise, but James waved me back, something else on his mind. “Martha isn’t happy she can’t chaperone you properly, especially with those two young men around. They don’t pester you in any way, do they?”
I assured him they didn’t. In my opinion it couldn’t be called pestering.
“I like them, despite their reputations,” my brother confessed. “But we hardly know them, and you’ve been left to yourselves pretty much. We’ll have them back when we’ve put the place to rights, if they’ll come. Do you think they will?”
Embarrassment heated my face. “I think so.” I hated having secrets from James. We were very close, and he had always been the best of brothers to me.
I excused myself, going to help Martha, feeling guilty. I would tell him, I resolved, as soon as possible.
The following day, Martha and James set off in their new blacks for a short visit to York to see Mr. Fogg. It would also
give Martha an opportunity to shop for the many items the Abbey was crying out for. She could have summoned shopkeepers to us, but this trip would give her a break from the hard work at the Abbey. James confided in me that he wanted her to take it a little easier for a few days. Lizzie and I were to supervise the work in her absence, as Martha didn’t wholly trust Mrs. Peters.
Lizzie ordered the meals, and I kept an eye on the progress of the maids in the State Rooms. I made sure they did the work properly and none of the treasures we were uncovering took a walk. I found it easier to avoid Steven with all the extra servants about, which was a blessing. I noticed Richard and Gervase were careful to locate him, heading him off whenever he came to close to me.
When the gentlemen joined us after dinner, Mr. Kerre, who had bidden us call him Gervase in private, said he had tried very hard to engage the curate in a discussion of his experiences in Rome, but Steven had been uninterested. “He knows I don’t like him,” Gervase complained, “and he won’t be drawn. He won’t bother you again, ma’am.” Steven had excused himself early. He was tired, he said.
“Lord Strang told you, then?” I asked, wondering just how much the unnerving Gervase Kerre knew.
“Lord, yes,” he replied, cheerfully. “We were never able to keep secrets from each other. Worse, when we’re together.” I looked into his startling blue eyes, so much like Richard’s. “He’s very fond of you, ma’am.”
Lizzie had taken Richard to the harpsichord that stood in a corner. They amused themselves trying to see which notes were off and by how much.
Miss Cartwright stood by, trying to make herself agreeable to her betrothed. The elder Miss Cartwright sat by the fire, engaged in some stitchery. She had been of signal help around the house. She showed a practical turn of mind, entirely absent in her niece, and we were quite in charity with her. She looked up from her work. Her stern face relaxed into a small smile as she saw me look in her direction. That might have been me, I thought, overlooked and only asked to parties for convenience. I smiled back.
“I’m very fond of him,” I confessed to Gervase. “But I should like to know him better.”
“He’s made up his mind.” Gervase gazed at his brother. “He wants, and damn the scandal. I don’t know how he’s to do it without uproar and gossip, but who am I to comment on that?” He grinned disarmingly. I sighed, and he leaned forward and patted my hand, making the elder Miss Cartwright, the good duenna, glare at us sharply. Gervase raised an amused eyebrow and leaned back.
“I don’t know him, you see.”
Gervase smiled reassuringly. “He’s much better than anyone knows. And his attachment to you is most sincere. Do you know, when he felt that first jolt, I felt it too? That’s how I guessed, though I thought he was drawn to your charming sister.”
His face became more serious, and he lowered his voice. “Miss Golightly, I’ve never seen Richard like this before. He’s consumed with a violent desire to care for you. It’s even difficult for him to think about the problem of the coach, and usually these matters fascinate him beyond everything.”
I was so happy to hear this, but I didn’t want to show too much outwardly, for fear I might give myself away. “Has he come to any conclusions about the coach?”
“Ask him yourself.” I looked up to see Richard walking toward us, Miss Cartwright leaning on his arm and Lizzie behind them. “One more thing,” added Gervase. “I wouldn’t mention anything about the coach in front of Julia. She’s one of the biggest gossips in London.” I nodded, and they were upon us.
“Miss Cartwright finds herself fatigued,” said Richard in a bored drawl. “She wishes to retire.”
The aunt immediately stood, and put down her sewing. “Come, my dear.” She led away her charge. She frowned over her shoulder at Richard as they left. His blatant indifference to her niece was clear now, and Julia had probably told her aunt about Richard’s efforts to break the marriage contract. A man should pay more attention to his affianced bride than Richard was doing, although he couldn’t be said to be discourteous.
I turned back to look at Richard. He looked at me with an expression I couldn’t quite fathom, serious, studying. I wished I knew him better.
“Have you found anything out about the cut strap?” I asked.
“Nothing too important. However some interesting snippets have come my way, thanks to Carier and Bennett.” He sat opposite me, while Lizzie sat by his side on the couch. They made a handsome couple, I reflected, wondering why he hadn’t taken to my sister.
“Carier has been making himself pleasant downstairs,” said Richard. “And there is some gossip about the late Lord Hareton’s private servant.”
“Ellis?”
He smiled in acknowledgement. “The man was a libertine, a very unskilled and unscrupulous one. Not only did he get a village girl in the family way, he denied it afterwards. Someone saw him.” He took out his snuffbox. Lizzie and I watched in fascination took snuff, then Richard shut the box with a sharp snap and restored it to his pocket. “Now another girl claims his fatherhood for her coming child. And from her description it seems there’s some truth in it.”
“James thought he would send him away with Mr. Pritheroe,” I said.
“After he has fulfilled his obligations. It seems he goes in for some unpleasant and unusual practices. The two girls described almost identical experiences.”
“Oh, what were they, pray?” Lizzie eyes shone.
He turned to her, frowning, but not altogether serious in his tone. “Dear, ma’am, I couldn’t possibly assail the ears of a gently nurtured lady with such scandalous gossip.”
“Oh, please, sir.” He flinched when she touched his sleeve. His arm must still be sore. Lizzie didn’t notice, but leaned forward and spread her fan coaxingly. “Just between us two?” She held up her fan to hide their faces.
I heard his throaty laugh. “Madam, I predict you will be a sensation in your first season.” He put one hand on her fan, lowering it. “Since you are so insistent, I must find a way to convey indelicate information without offence. So.” He looked around at us all. “It seems the man likes to recall the sin when he indulges in the pastime itself. He reprimands the other party in the most lurid language, using physical force. Both girls suffered this no more than—three or four times?”
We laughed at the inference, but the reference to something I’d thought about a great deal recently made me blush. I hoped they hadn’t noticed. “There was an argument, the day before we arrived, though the servants didn’t hear what they discussed.”
“It must have been about this matter,” Richard said. “Perhaps Lord Hareton tried to persuade Ellis to do the right thing by one of the girls. There’s something else, however. Did Mrs. Peters tell you about the argument?”
“Yes,” I said.
“Did she tell you what was said?”
“No, she said she couldn’t hear, and she couldn’t find out.”
“Then she lied to you. She knew all about the pregnancies, because one of the girls is her cousin.”
There was a short pause. “She may have been trying to protect the girl,” I said.
“Possibly. Or she may have her own reasons.” He crossed one elegant leg over the other. “Say she cut the traces. She had the opportunity, she had many reasons to do it. Lord Hareton’s servant used her cousin badly, the village had been depleted and impoverished by Lord Hareton’s refusal to use it as he should have done.” He leaned back again, his face serious.
“One more thing,” Lizzie added. “There’s a girl who helps us to dress in the mornings. This morning I found her in tears and she confessed she was upset about Lord Hareton’s death. Not the fourth earl,” she added, “but the fifth.”
We were suitably surprised, as she had intended, and Richard raised his brows. “We have been busy.”
“She was having an affair with him.” Lizzie’s eyes gleamed with triumph when she saw the impact this had on us. Gervase forgot himself so far as to whistle.
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“This business is more complicated than I’d supposed,” said Richard. “But if the girl was upset, I don’t think she wanted him dead.”
“It could have been guilt,” I said. “Or perhaps she meant to kill the elder, while keeping the younger.”
He frowned, nodding. “I’ll ask her. What’s her name?”
“Grey,” Lizzie replied.
“Thank you,” Richard said. “I haven’t found a witness yet. Carier has done his best in the servants’ hall, making friends with both factions, but he’s sure nobody there saw anything, or knows who did this. I’m very much afraid this affair may remain a mystery, though now that wretched Pritheroe knows, not a private one.”
Lizzie looked afraid, her eyes wide, her mouth turned down at the corners.
“Face them down,” he told her. “Only the undeserving will give the rumours any credit.”
Strangers, new faces, with a place to make. When I thought about it I felt quite sick.
“I must make myself busy,” Richard said. “I promised your brother I would look into this, but my own affairs are becoming urgent too. I fear I must take my leave soon.”
His statement hit me with the power of a fallen oak tree, although I knew he would have to go eventually. In a daze, thoughts passed through my mind, that Lizzie was right about him all along, that he had only amused himself with me. I would become an anecdote at dinner parties, no more.
All this shot through my head in my panic, as he continued to speak, but his next information mitigated his previous statement. “I do not scruple to say in present company I have found my betrothal to Miss Cartwright unsupportable.” I nearly sighed with relief, catching it back just in time. “I have to extricate myself from the contract before I pursue anything else. I’ll escort the two ladies to their home, then speak to Miss Cartwright’s father. Then I must face our own father.” Gervase grimaced. “I’ll burn the damned papers. Then I hope to return here. It may be some time,” he said addressing me directly, “but we will come about.” When he looked at me like that I believed him. Doubts assaulted me when I wasn’t in his presence.
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