‘No, I cannot say I ever remember meeting a Judah Lovell… But it is very kind of him to join his aunt,’ Lily approved warmly, pleased to know that Judah Lovell had arrived in time to be with his aunt on the anniversary of her son’s death. ‘I will take some extra eggs and milk, in that case.’ She nodded decisively; hopefully the presence of Mrs Lovell’s nephew would also help to discourage that lady from asking Lily any personal questions concerning her abrupt departure three days ago and Giles Montague’s pursuit of her only minutes later!
* * *
The rain had stopped falling some time ago. Giles’s gaze narrowed as he sat atop his horse and looked in satisfaction at the men preparing the fields for the winter crop, having found himself drawn into matters about the estate in spite of himself. Indeed, he had been kept very busy about the estate over the past few days, and had also made another visit alone to the family lawyers in Buxton, so that he might further discuss the Montague family’s financial situation with them without his father being present.
The news Giles had received from those gentlemen was every bit as dire as he had initially feared it to be, with his father having made the same mistake as so many other members of the ton the previous year, when news had reached London that Wellington was in retreat in Brussels and may possibly lose the battle completely. Fearing large government expenditure on a continuing war, or possibly even a French invasion of England itself, many—including Giles’s father, it now transpired—had sold off their investments in ‘consols,’ and at a tremendous loss.
It was these very investments which had provided the Montague family with its twice-yearly income, the loss of which had now left the estate almost bankrupt, and also accounted for the money not being available for work to be carried out about the estate as usual.
There was still the considerable inheritance left to Jamie by their mother, as the eldest son, of course, but the same law governed the retrieval of that as it did the inheritance of the title of Marquis of Hatherton; neither one could be claimed until irrefutable proof of Jamie’s death could be produced.
And through all of these worries, Giles also had the added burden of the memory of that last encounter with Lily Seagrove….
Just to think of what he now believed to have been her machinations and manipulations was enough to bring about a return of those feelings of revulsion Giles had experienced upon realising they had not been indulging a shared passion, as he had believed at the time, but that he had been deliberately and shamelessly manoeuvred into a position where Lily Seagrove had believed he would have no choice but to make her an offer of marriage or risk possible exposure as her seducer.
His prompt and cold response to those less than subtle hints had put paid to any such idea of blackmail, he hoped!
Certainly Giles had so far not received a visit from a shocked and distressed Mr Seagrove, with that gentleman demanding Giles make suitable amends—namely by an offer of marriage—for having brought possible disgrace upon his adopted daughter.
Neither, surprisingly, had Giles heard anything further from that young woman herself.
Which he had quite expected to at any moment during the past three days. After all, there were only two of the Montague sons left alive and unmarried, and Harry’s responsibilities in London meant that for the main part he remained well out of range of Miss Seagrove’s reach. Giles could only wish that he had remained so too!
Instead of which he was here and available at Castonbury, and circumstances now dictated he had no choice but to remain here for some time to come. Quite how he and Lily Seagrove were to conduct themselves towards each other for the duration of that time Giles could not even begin to guess, most especially when they were in the presence of the amiable Mr Seagrove. He—
A flash of colour—grey or possibly blue?—to the right of his vision, caught and held his attention, his gaze frosting over, mouth thinning, jaw tightening, as he recognised Lily Seagrove walking along the lane which edged the Castonbury woods.
And looking for all intents and purposes as if, following the rain, she were on a pleasurable stroll and enjoying the beauty of the freshened countryside!
* * *
Lily avoided going through the woods at Castonbury Park and instead took the much longer way along the still-dampened lane to the Romany encampment, carrying in a basket the eggs and pitcher of milk intended for Mrs Lovell and her nephew; Lily had no wish to ever again enter those woods, let alone see or visit the place of her seduction and humiliation.
Just to think of Giles’s coldness when he had insulted her was enough to make Lily shudder and tremble in mortification.
She was still unsure as to why he should believe she had seduced Edward, but his disparaging reference to her supposed Romany heritage had been unmistakable. And how she hated him for it! Indeed, Lily now wondered what demon could possibly have taken possession of her for her ever to have behaved in such a shameless fashion in Giles’s arms three days ago. She—
‘And what’s a pretty maid like you doing wandering about the countryside all on yer lonesome?’
Lily’s expression was curious rather than alarmed as she turned to face the owner of that cheerfully teasing voice, finding herself looking at a young man dressed in a shabby brown jacket, a collarless white shirt and thick black trousers over heavy, worn boots. His overlong hair glinted in the sunshine that had appeared after the rain and his dark eyes twinkled merrily in his boyishly handsome face as he stepped out of the woods directly in front of her.
The fact that Lily did not recognise him, or he her, would seem to imply he was a stranger to these parts. Mrs Lovell’s nephew, perhaps? ‘Good day to you, sir,’ she returned politely. ‘Do I have the pleasure of addressing Mrs Lovell’s nephew?’
‘Ye do, indeed,’ he confirmed lightly, the slightest hint of an Irish accent in his tone. ‘Judah Lovell’s the name. And who might you be, my lovely?’
Such familiarity would certainly not be acceptable in a gentleman, but Lily took no offence, used as she was to Mrs Lovell’s often less than respectful manner. ‘Miss Lily Seagrove, daughter of the Reverend Mr Seagrove, whom I believe you met yesterday,’ she supplied softly. ‘And I am on my way to visit with your aunt.’
‘Then it’s fortuitous that the two of us chanced to meet, so it is,’ Judah Lovell came back cheerfully. ‘Would ye care to take my arm so that I might ensure you don’t trip over any tree roots on the way there?’ The sleeve of his shabby jacket looked less than clean as he offered her his arm.
It placed Lily in something of a quandary. It was not really seemly for her to be alone with this handsome young Romany, but Mr Seagrove had mentioned meeting Mr Lovell yesterday, and had seemed to find him acceptable. And as they were both on their way to Mrs Lovell’s camp it would surely be rude of Lily to refuse to accompany him…. ‘That is very kind of you, Mr Lovell, thank you.’ She maintained a suitable distance as she tucked her hand lightly into the crook of his arm.
* * *
Giles instinctively urged Genghis forward as he saw a brawny man step out of the woods in front of Lily Seagrove, only to then check his restless mount as he belatedly recognised the young man as Mrs Lovell’s nephew Judah, who Giles had encountered yesterday when that young man came to enquire about work on the estate, employment the young Romany should be about at the present moment.
Giles continued to watch as the two appeared to converse pleasantly together for a minute or two, before Lily took that young gentleman’s arm and happily accompanied him into the darkness of the woods.
Indicating, perhaps, that the meeting between the handsome young Romany and Lily Seagrove was an arranged one?
A case of like calling to like?
Certainly, if Lily Seagrove’s true heritage was indeed that of the Romany, then the young and roguishly handsome Judah Lovell was far more suited to being her lover than Giles could ever be.
A realisation which left a surprisingly sour taste in Giles’s mouth.
* *
*
Lily was disappointed to find Mrs Lovell was not in her usual place beside the fire when she and Judah entered the encampment a short time later. Disappointed, and not a little uncomfortable. Walking alone through the woods with Judah would no doubt be considered improper by some, but remaining alone with him here, when his aunt was not present, was entirely unacceptable.
‘Aunt Rosa has no doubt gone to gather some herbs for her medicines and potions while the stew cooks,’ Judah said. ‘Would you care for some tea while we wait for her return?’
The stew bubbling in a pot over the fire seemed to suggest that Judah’s assertion was correct, but even so… ‘I—’
‘What are you doing back here so soon?’
Lily’s relief at Mrs Lovell’s return, which spared her from the embarrassment of explaining to Judah that she could not stay, was tempered somewhat by the harshness she detected in the old lady’s tone. She had always welcomed Lily’s visits in the past.
Did she know something of what had transpired between Giles and Lily following her last visit?
Her cheeks were ablaze with those memories as she turned to face the elderly Romany, her guilty expression turning to one of puzzlement as she saw that Mrs Lovell was looking accusingly at her nephew rather than at Lily.
‘I thought you said as His Lordship had given you work in the fields today,’ the elderly woman added sharply.
‘I came back for some of yer stew for me lunch.’ Judah shrugged unconcernedly. ‘And ‘ad the good fortune to meet the beautiful Miss Seagrove on the way,’ he added flirtatiously, that merry twinkle once again in his dark eyes as he looked at her admiringly.
Mrs Lovell’s gaze narrowed disapprovingly. ‘See about your lunch, lad, and leave Miss Seagrove to me,’ she instructed gruffly.
Her nephew gave a shrug. ‘The fields’ll still be there whether I return in ten minutes or an hour.’
‘Lord Giles may not see it in quite the same way,’ his aunt said drily.
Judah Lovell grinned unabashedly. ‘What Lord Giles don’t know ain’t gonna hurt him!’
‘It’s that attitude that gets us a bad name!’ Mrs Lovell gave an exasperated shake of her head as she moved to ladle some of the delicious-smelling stew into a wooden bowl. ‘Take that with you and get along back to work!’ She thrust the bowl into her nephew’s work-roughened hands.
‘Da always said ye were a terrible slave-driver!’ Judah grinned unrepentantly as he easily ducked the swipe his aunt took at him with the ladle from the stew. ‘No doubt I’ll be seeing ye again soon, Miss Seagrove,’ he added cheekily, before turning to whistle a merry tune as he went on his way.
Lily had not known what to think as she listened to the exchange between aunt and nephew, never having heard Mrs Lovell speak quite that harshly to anyone before, although Judah had not seemed at all abashed by it.
She turned to look curiously at Mrs Lovell, who muttered to herself as she banged and clashed pots together for what seemed no apparent reason. ‘You seem somewhat…agitated today, Mrs Lovell,’ Lily prompted after several minutes of this pointless exercise.
‘I seems agitated because it’s what I am!’ Piercing eyes, which appeared more brown today than blue or green, glared across the fire at Lily. ‘What do you think the Reverend Seagrove would have to say to me if’n he was to learn I returned to me fireside to find his daughter alone here with me nephew?’
Lily could not even pretend not to be taken aback by the force of the elderly lady’s accusing tone. She gave a pained frown as she answered calmly. ‘My father knows and trusts me well enough to realise that the circumstances of our being together were perfectly innocent.’
‘Your father, mebbe.’ Mrs Lovell nodded impatiently. ‘But what of others in the village? What sort of scandal do ye think there’d be if’n it became known you’ve been alone here with my young rogue of a nephew?’ She gave an exasperated shake of her head.
Lily blinked. ‘I assure you that nothing untoward happened—’
‘It’s not me as needs reassuring.’ Mrs Lovell gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Gossip is gossip, and it’s been known in the past to bring disgrace upon a lovely lass such as yourself.’
Lily sat down abruptly on one of the logs placed about the fireside. They were much as they had been three days ago when Giles had sat down beside her, before the two of them had indulged in exactly the sort of scandalous behaviour Mrs Lovell was now saying that people might suspect had occurred between her nephew and Lily, if their time here alone together were ever to become known!
‘Now there’s no need to look so downhearted.’ Mrs Lovell obviously regretted her earlier sharpness as she reached over to pat Lily’s clenched hands together upon her knees. ‘It’s yourself as I’m thinking of, and no one else. Judah has been across the sea in Ireland with his da since he was a boy, and I has no doubts as there’s a bairn or two over there with his yellow hair and wicked black eyes!’
‘Mrs Lovell!’ Lily felt the warmth of colour enter her cheeks.
‘Just promise me you’ll stay well away from the likes of him,’ the older woman pressured firmly.
‘As Mr Lovell has already stated, the two of us only met today by chance,’ Lily assured huskily.
Mrs Lovell nodded. ‘Promise me it won’t happen again.’
Lily grimaced. ‘Good manners would prevent me from being rude to Mr Lovell if we were to meet again by chance.’
‘Hmmph!’ The elderly Romany gave a dismissive snort. ‘With Black Jack Lovell as a father Judah’s got no more idea of what’s mannerly than the cows in the fields!’
Lily smiled ruefully. ‘But Mr and Mrs Seagrove have ensured that I do.’
‘Now just ye take heed of me, young lady!’ Mrs Lovell gave a firm shake of her head. ‘Good manners or no, ye must stay away from him, or I has no doubts as you’ll live to regret it, the same as a lot of other beautiful young women have likely had reason to!’
Lily gave a surprised laugh. ‘That is not a particularly…familial warning, Mrs Lovell.’
‘Familial, be dem—!’ The elderly Romany’s mouth tightened as she broke off abruptly. ‘If’n ye won’t give me your promise, then I’ll have to insist ye don’t come visiting me no more.’
‘Mrs Lovell!’ Lily straightened in shock at the other woman’s obvious vehemence of purpose. ‘If it bothers you so much, then yes, of course I must give you my promise, my dear Mrs Lovell.’
Those shrewd eyes brightened. ‘As you’ll stay away from Judah.’
She gave a gracious inclination of her head. ‘I promise I will do everything I may to avoid finding myself alone in the company of your nephew, yes.’
The older woman visibly relaxed. ‘I don’t mean to be—’ She gave a shake of her head. ‘It’s just—he’s a young rogue, and too much like his father to be trusted alone with any pretty maid, you understand?’
‘I believe so…’ Lily nodded slowly.
Just thinking of the intimacies she had shared in the woods three days ago with Giles Montague was more than enough reason for Lily to understand the dangers Mrs Lovell alluded to.
If that occurrence was anything to go by, Lily could not be trusted at all. She would do well to mind Mrs Lovell’s advice with respect to all men, whether gentleman or not!
Chapter Nine
‘Would you care to explain exactly what it is you are doing here alone and so late at night?’
Lily halted as if frozen. Which it felt as if she truly might be, in blood as well as in body and spirit, as she easily recognised Giles Montague’s voice speaking to her in the darkness.
Her meeting with Mrs Stratton having passed satisfactorily, it had indeed been Lily’s intention to now walk back to the vicarage alone, just as she had walked here earlier, Mr Seagrove having required their ancient carriage this evening to take him to Sir Nathan’s home for dinner.
But Lily had not realised quite how late it was, or how dark it had become, whilst she and Mrs Stratton talked so amiably together. She w
ould certainly have hoped, as she left quietly and unobtrusively through the servants’ entrance at the back of Castonbury Park, before hurrying in the direction of the path and gate opening out to the lane, not to find herself face to face with Giles Montague, of all people!
Although ‘face to face’ was not an accurate description as yet, when Lily had still to turn in order to look at that gentleman!
‘Well?’ Giles prompted harshly as Lily Seagrove kept her back firmly turned towards him, her shoulders appearing stiff beneath the darkness of her cloak, with a pale bonnet covering her dark curls.
He had decided to take a stroll towards the stables as he smoked his cigar after enjoying an early dinner with his father, lingering there to chat with head groom Tom Anderson before walking back to the house, only to come to an abrupt halt in the shadows as he had spied Lily Seagrove leaving by the back of the house, her movements appearing almost furtive as she looked first one way and then the other, before dashing across the yard towards the pathway leading down to the lane. A lane which was so dark and shadowed it was impossible to distinguish from the surrounding trees!
Giles’s mouth tightened ominously. ‘I swear, Lily, if you do not soon answer me—’
‘I have every intention of answering you, my lord.’ She turned abruptly, her face appearing very pale in the moonlight, lashes downcast rather than turned up at him, although her chin was raised at its usual stubborn angle. ‘I am here because I have called on Mrs Stratton and now intend to walk back to the vicarage.’
‘In the dark and alone?’
She shrugged dismissively. ‘My father had need of the carriage this evening, and it is no hardship at all for me to walk down a lane I have known for the whole of my life.’
‘A lane which at this moment is very dark and deserted,’ Giles bit out impatiently. ‘But perhaps it will not remain the latter for long if you have arranged to meet someone along the way…’ he added scornfully.
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