Claudia blushed. “Oh, Jenny…”
Jenny and Claudia went down the stairs to the front door when they heard the bell ringing. It had to be either Jeremiah or Evan. It was Jeremiah with a large bouquet of flowers.
“Hello, Miss Claudia,” he said with a nervous break in his voice. “These are from our garden.” He handed the flowers to Claudia, as Jenny stood aside to let Claudia escort her beau up the stairs to the sitting room.
Jenny was just about to follow when the bell rang again, and she opened the door.
“Evan. So happy you could come to dinner,” Jenny welcomed.
“Thank you for inviting me. It means a lot to me,” he said coming inside. “I hope you like red wine. I did not know what else to bring. You do take wine from time to time, do you not?”
“I do. We do. And thank you.”
They went upstairs, and Mother and Father were peering from the dining room door to see the new arrivals.
“How lovely you look,” Jeremiah was saying to Claudia. “What a beautiful dress. Now I feel shabby in my grey coat and black breeches.”
“You look just fine, Jeremiah Wisdom. Just like a vicar’s son.”
He laughed. “Oh, faint praise, indeed.”
“Hello, I am Evan Drake,” he said going over to Mother and Father and presenting them with the bottle of wine, followed by Jenny.
“Mother, Father, this is the young man I told you about. His family provides the very best berries for our pies.”
“Very nice to meet you, young Evan,” Mama said, shaking his hand, as Father took the bottle and looked at the label.
“Thank you, lad,” Father said, I usually drink ale, but a spot of vino now and then is always welcomed.”
Evan nodded to the parents, and then Jenny introduced the two young men to each other and the rest of the family who were all gathered together now.
Jenny and Claudia were excused from serving the dinner because they needed to entertain their guests. And the two younger children brought in the serving dishes, although Sally almost dropped the bowl of roasted potatoes.
As Jenny watched her family engaging in conversation, she felt such pride. Her family members were good people. Not sophisticated—although her parents had insisted on a good education for all of the children. But they were kind, hardworking and, though they could be rough around the edges, they were the very essence of the solid British working class.
Jenny’s attention was caught by Claudia who looked so lovely dressed up. And for the first time she was starting to look like a woman—losing some of her girlishness as she carried on a conversation with Jeremiah.
Evan interrupted her thoughts by asking, “Have you ever traveled outside of Gloucestershire?”
Jenny sighed before answering, “I have not, although I long to. I have always wanted to at least visit London one day.”
“Then perhaps you shall.”
“Do you like living in Bristol?” Jenny asked.
“It is a fair city. But I do not have a lot of time for leisure as I am working and learning almost every day.”
“And where do you live. Is it nice?”
Evan laughed. “I live in a room behind the print shop. It is about as basic as one can imagine. I have a view of an alleyway and I take my meals with the printer and his family. I have to say, I am looking forward to having my own shop one day soon.”
“And how will you accomplish that? Is it not expensive to set up a print shop?” Jenny asked as she offered Evan another serving of lamb from the platter.
“I and my parents have been putting some money aside. And one day…” He cast her a quick glance, “...might you be at my side?”
She did not answer but thought about her own hopes and dreams. Would she ever break free of her life in this small village? She could not help but think of the fine house she hoped to someday work in—fashioning her delicious cakes, pies, and pastries. A house like Pemberton, she could not help thinking, remembering her visit with the Duke. She could just imagine making her pastries in a fine house like that.
Evan was still waiting for an answer from her.
“How much longer is your apprenticeship?” she asked.
“I should finish by the end of the year,” he said. “Then I would like to work for a year or so as a typesetter before I think about setting up my own shop.”
She smiled. “You are an ambitious young man. I wish you well.”
“Oh, do play your lute for us Jenny,” Mama asked, as the dinner had ended, and the guests departed the dining room.
“I have not practiced in ages, Mama,” Jenny said shyly.
“Something simple, daughter,” her father urged. “It is so nice to have a happy tune after a fine dinner.”
Jenny caught Claudia’s encouraging smile as Jeremiah took her arm and escorted her to a sofa.
“Very well. But please forgive my mistakes.”
Jenny brought out her lute and sat on a chair as the guests and family settled into chairs, and Mother brought in a tray with freshly made coffee.
Stumbling through her first song she regretted not having more time for practice. But no one seemed to mind, and she received hearty applause when she was done, relieved to be able to take a cup of coffee and relax in after-dinner conversation.
After the evening was over and the two young men left, Claudia came over to Jenny and asked, “How did you enjoy yourself?”
“It was a pleasant evening,” she answered.
“Only just pleasant?”
“I enjoyed myself. And I noticed that you and Jeremiah were deep in conversation. You barely said a word to the rest of the family the entire evening,” Jenny teased. “Are you two becoming serious?”
Claudia did a dancing twirl down the hallway as they headed to their bedrooms. “Oh, Jenny, he is the most wonderful man I have ever met. I believe I am quite falling for him.” Then she twirled back to Jenny and took her arm. “And your Evan? Does he make you tingle?”
“He is very sweet, and I like him a lot. But I am not as exuberant as you are and am not all that anxious to enter into any serious romance just yet.”
“But why? You are two-and-twenty and should be thinking of marriage quite soon. Evan seems to be a very decent fellow. I would think you would be happy to have found such a fine young man.”
Jenny patted her sister’s hand as she stood at her room ready to go inside. “Not yet, dear Sister. I cannot tell you why, but I just know my life is not yet set on any course I can see. Life can be filled with surprises and I mean to take advantage of all of them.”
Chapter 11
Thomas’s trip back in the carriage from London was fraught with concern. His uncle’s actions, his grandmother’s loss, and his need for rescuing the estate all occupied his mind.
The sun was just setting as the carriage pulled up in front of Pemberton Hall, and he stepped down to Willoughby’s greeting.
“Your Grace, I hope you had a successful and pleasant trip.”
Thomas frowned. “Thank you, Willoughby, but I am afraid it was not.”
“I am sorry to hear that. Might I fetch you something strong to refresh you? Perhaps a generous glass of spirits?”
“Not just now.” He started climbing the steps, and then said with an ironic laugh, “Yes, perhaps I shall. I must face Grandmamma with some unpleasant news, and I could use some fortification.”
“Very good, Your Grace.”
Fortifying himself with a large brandy, Thomas paced the library. He needed to see his grandmother, but he could not escape the need to figure out what to do to rescue the estate. He needed to find a new source of income. His father and grandfather had not actively utilized the lands of Pemberton Estate. There were no tenant farmers, no grazing livestock, no agricultural development of the land—a great deal of it consisted of woodlands. Instead, they had relied on investments for their income. And that is where the current trouble lay.
Thomas believed that with careful management, he wou
ld eventually be able to rebuild the investment base. But that would take time, and he needed to find a new source of income soon.
His first thought was to somehow develop the potential of his estate’s lands. How might he find a way to utilize what he already had? It encouraged him to think that there might be a solution at hand. But he would need to give it further thought.
But for now, he must deliver the sad news to his beloved Grandmamma. And, as it was dinner time, he thought it best to have this conversation at dinner rather than in her sitting room.
These days, their dinners were rather subdued. There were no children, guests, or other family members to enliven the meals at Pemberton Hall. The large ducal dining room was too vast, cold, and uninviting for their intimate dinners for two. So, Thomas and his grandmother had gotten into the habit of having dinner in the smaller breakfast room.
“How happy I was to hear that you had returned. It has been lonely dining by myself while you were gone,” Grandmamma said, as she started the soup course. “I hope your trip was agreeable.”
Thomas did not immediately answer as he was dreading delivering the unfortunate news. But he looked up at her briefly before he started eating.
“Did you attend any social functions while you were in London?” she asked.
“No, Grandmamma. I was too preoccupied to make any social visits—except for Uncle Wilcox.”
“Ah… and how is my son?”
Thomas could not put the unpleasant moment off any longer. “I am afraid I must be the bearer of some rather unfortunate news.”
“Oh?” she asked, somewhat startled.
Thomas carefully and soberly laid out the entire story of his discoveries. Grandmamma listened quietly until he was finished. Only then did she resume eating her soup.
Thomas was surprised she did not respond to what he had told her and finally asked, “Grandmamma? Would you like to say something in reply?”
“I am trying to assimilate the immensity of what you have just told me. And I hardly know where to begin,” she said weakly.
“It is terrible, I know. And I have been struggling with how to respond ever since I learned about this.”
“I care not so much for myself,” she said, “But I cannot say how disappointed I am in Wilcox. I guess I should have had an inkling about his troubles when he asked me for money recently. I am afraid I was rather harsh with him and did not extensively enquire as to his needs. I knew it was for some gambling debts, but I had no idea he was so heavily in debt to so many different sources.”
“But he has taken nearly all of your money, Grandmamma. He stole it from you. And I cannot forgive him for that,” Thomas said.
“I understand. But he is my child. If he had explained his situation to me, I might have been able to help.”
“But his needs far exceeded what you could have offered.”
Grandmamma looked at him with the most sorrowful expression. “And as a result, he has also injured you, Thomas. What are you going to do? Are you going to pursue legal action against him?”
Thomas said nothing for a moment then answered, “It would cause a great family scandal if I did. So, I have decided to focus my efforts instead on rebuilding the estate. I still have some viable investments and I am going to try and figure out how I might put the estate to greater use. If I can find some new revenue, I feel I can recover eventually.”
“I feel just terrible, Thomas. I feel partially responsible.”
“Why ever would you say that? This is no fault of yours.”
“I do not know how Wilcox could have gone so astray. If I…” she drifted off into her inner thoughts.
“A man’s character is only partially formed by upbringing. I know from the way you raised me after mother died, that you gave the very best of yourself. I can only surmise that there is an inherent flaw in Uncle’s native character. It is not of your doing.”
“And have you decided on a course of action?” she asked.
But she was interrupted by the serving of the next course—which neither wanted, having lost their appetites.
After Willoughby left, they just sat looking at their empty plates.
“I am not certain what I shall do next,” Thomas said. “I need to find something that interests me and that I can believe will enrich the estate.”
“If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know,” she said.
He laughed. “If you had any money I might ask you for a loan, but, of course, that is not a possibility.”
“I have friends who might be able to help…”
“Thank you, but no. This is something I must deal with first on my own. But after I find what I want to do… who knows?”
Grandmamma thought for a moment and then said, “I must go to London. I need to meet with Wilcox. I do not believe this matter to be completely over yet. He must be made accountable for his actions, whether you take legal action or not.” She smiled. “Sometimes a mother’s chastisement can be a lot more effective than legal action.”
Aunt Rosemary and George had arrived separately and were greeted by Lord Ralph Comerford and his wife, Sara, as they entered the drawing room at Springford Manor.
“Happy Birthday, Sister,” his Lordship said, leaning in to give her a kiss on the cheek.
Rosemary waved her hand. “Too many birthdays to count anymore, Ralph. At five-and-forty I am too old to pay any attention, and too young to admit to anything over five-and-thirty.”
Ralph laughed. “My darling, sister. You passed five-and-forty more years ago than I care to remember.”
She gave her brother several pats on the cheek. “Be kind, dear Brother. Remember I am only your slightly older sister and I know all your dirty little secrets.”
As Rosemary was greeting Sara, Helena pulled George hurriedly aside and asked, “How are you holding up, dearest? I have missed seeing you so very much.”
“As I have you. Have you told your father yet about Thomas marrying?”
“Tonight at dinner. I thought it best to tell him when others were present. I think he is less likely to throw a fit if there are guests.”
Just then Helena’s younger brother, Timothy, came over and slapped George on the shoulder. “I say, Georgie, old chap, are you Aunt Rosemary’s new beau?”
George laughed nervously. “Not likely. We arrived at the same time but separately. And when are you going back up to Oxford for the next term?”
“Oh, do not remind me. I have been blocking it out all summer. Too much fun you know.”
“What are you studying?”
“Fly fishing.”
“At university?”
Timothy laughed. “No, dolt, in the Gloucestershire streams. I am blocking out uni entirely. Refuse to think of it until I absolutely must.”
Helena’s mother came over and took Timothy by the arm. “Dearest, you have neglected me terribly this evening. I should so like it if you would escort me to dinner when it is called.”
“Of course, Mummy.”
Ralph Comerford was what one might call a plain, solid sort of chap. He had made his fortune and his title by being one of the most successful shipping magnates on the western coast. He operated two dozen ships that plied the globe taking English goods abroad and returning with the prized goods from foreign climes.
The children took after their petite and lovely mother, Sara. However, she had a frail constitution and did not exert a strong influence in their lives. She was what some might call a ghostly, fading beauty. It was almost as though one could see through her when she spoke or glided across a room, barely parting the air she walked through.
Presently dinner was called, and his Lordship led the way with Aunt Rosemary on his arm. Sara and Timothy followed them, and lastly, George and Helena, who exchanged a few fervent words unheard by the others as they lagged behind to express their longing for each other.
As the second course was being served, Ralph turned to George and asked, “Mr. Edgerton, how is yo
ur father these days? I have not seen him since we met up in town at the bank.”
“He is fine, Your Lordship. When he knew I was to be present this evening, he especially bade me send you his personal greetings and well wishes.”
“Ah. Very good.” Ralph turned to his son. “You see, a gentleman with manners. Unlike some that are insolent, rude, and unruly.”
Timothy shrugged and set upon eating his fish.
Aunt Rosemary had tucked her napkin, most unladylike, in the neck of her gown. Ralph turned to her and said pointedly, “We were not raised that way, Sister. Napkins belong in our laps.”
A Pure Lady for the Broken Duke_A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 8