A Christmas Courtship

by Jeannie Machin

  A moment later she returned with Jonathan, who was still hastily doing up the front of his uniform. He came to smart attention and saluted Sir Edmund, who nodded at him.

  ‘At ease, lieutenant.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’

  ‘Tell me your story.’

  Jonathan hesitated, looking at Blanche and his father, and then back at Sir Edmund. ‘With all due respect, sir….’

  ‘If you’re about to mention my, er, relationship with Lady Hetherington, let me assure you that it no longer exists. The lady and I have gone our separate ways, so any doubts you may nurture concerning my loyalty may be discounted forthwith.’

  Jonathan colored. ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Sit down, lieutenant, for we may as well all be comfortable while we listen. I wish to hear everything that happened, down to the smallest detail.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Jonathan sat down.

  ‘Proceed.’

  Jonathan told the whole story all over again, and Sir Edmund listened in silence, glancing now and then at Blanche, who was seated on a sofa in the corner of the room.

  When Jonathan finished and the note had been produced for examination, Sir Edmund was silent for a moment, then he got up. ‘Lieutenant, it’s clear to me that you are innocent, and that the guilty parties are Lieutenant Neville and Miss Jennings.’ He looked at Blanche, smiling a little. ‘It appears that we have all three been unfortunate in matters of the heart,’ he murmured.

  Mr Amberley sat forward. ‘Sir Edmund, Jonathan was about to give himself up to his commanding officer.’

  ‘Yes, that must be done without delay, for one thing is uncomfortably clear, and that is that although Lieutenant Amberley is not guilty of theft or of lying about the note, he is nevertheless guilty of desertion.’

  Blanche got up quickly. ‘Sir Edmund, what will they do to him?’

  ‘It is in his commanding officer’s discretion to interpret events as he thinks best, and the circumstances surrounding your brother’s desertion are extenuating to say the least. Colonel Cummings is known to me, and although he is a strict disciplinarian, he is also a just man. Your brother had until these events proved himself to be an excellent officer, and had gained a very coveted promotion, so it is my opinion that the colonel will weigh all this very carefully. If I were he, I would set aside all charges, including that of desertion.’

  At that moment they all heard a carriage outside, and Sir Edmund went quickly to the window, obviously believing that it was Athena returning and that she’d seen his horse at the gate of Orchard Cottage. But the carriage wasn’t Athena’s; instead, it was a rather shabby vehicle drawn by a pair of unmatched horses, a gray and a chestnut, and as it drew up at the cottage gate he saw that its sole occupant was a young lady who was completely unknown to him.

  Jonathan joined him at the window and gave a start of surprise. ‘It’s Deborah!’

  Blanche hurried to his side. It was indeed Deborah Jennings, and she was seated in the carriage with her head bowed, as if she were summoning the courage to alight and come to the door. Blanche glanced quickly at the coachman, but it wasn’t Sam Baxter, who was no doubt well clear of Gloucestershire by now with his Betsy Fry. Looking at Deborah’s motionless figure again, Blanche suddenly realized why she’d come. Somehow she’d found out about the note’s survival, and because she knew it would expose her as a cheating liar, she’d come to try to exonerate herself as much as she could. ‘She knows about the note,’ Blanche said, turning from the window.

  Her father nodded. ‘I fear you may be right, for why else would she come here?’

  Sir Edmund turned. ‘I rather fancy that whatever her purpose is, it would be better if Lieutenant Amberley and I eavesdropped rather than allowed her to know we are here.’ Taking Jonathan’s arm, he steered him from the room before he could protest.

  Mr Amberley got up as well, looking apologetically at Blanche. ‘Forgive me, my dear, but I fear I cannot bring myself to speak to this particular young lady, not after all she’s done.’

  Blanche was appalled to realize she was going to be left alone.

  ‘Oh, Father….’

  ‘I fear that I am so bitterly angry with Miss Jennings that facing her could prove too much for me. So much has happened already, and with my health in so very indifferent a state….’

  ‘I understand, Father,’ she said quickly, going to put a reassuring hand on his arm. ‘You go to the kitchen with Jonathan and Sir Edmund, and I’ll deal with her.’

  As the door closed behind him, she turned to Hannah. ‘Are you going to desert me as well?’

  ‘I’ll stay if you wish, Miss Blanche.’

  ‘But you’d rather not.’

  Hannah lowered her eyes.

  ‘Very well, I’ll deal with it on my own.’ Blanche glanced out of the window again, and saw Deborah alight from the carriage. Her face was pale and tear-stained, and she wore the same fur-trimmed rose velvet cloak Blanche had seen before. She hesitated by the gate, looking at Sir Edmund’s horse, which was still tethered nearby, and then she walked slowly up the path.

  ‘Show her in, Hannah, and let us discover what she has to say,’ said Blanche, steeling herself for what could only be a very difficult interview.

  CHAPTER 20

  As Hannah opened the front door, Blanche heard Deborah’s rather shaky voice. ‘Is-is Miss Amberley at home, please?’

  ‘If you will come this way, Miss Jennings.’ Hannah’s tone was cool.

  ‘You know who I am?’ asked Deborah in surprise.

  ‘Oh, yes, miss, I know who you are.’

  Steps sounded in the hall, and then Hannah announced Deborah. ‘Miss Jennings, Miss Blanche.’

  ‘Thank you, Hannah.’ Blanche had positioned herself before the fire, and faced the unwanted caller as she came hesitantly into the room.

  As Hannah withdrew, leaving the door very slightly ajar so that the ensuing conversation could be overheard from the hall, Deborah looked uneasily at Blanche. ‘Th-thank you for receiving me, Miss Amberley.’

  ‘Why have you come, Miss Jennings?’ inquired Blanche, not inviting her to sit down.

  ‘To explain.’

  ‘Indeed?’ Yes, it had to be because she’d found out about the note.

  ‘I’m not wicked, Miss Amberley. I didn’t want to do th-those things to Jonathan…’ Deborah’s voice caught, and tears sprang to her lovely brown eyes. ‘If-if only you knew the truth.’

  ‘The truth? I already do, Miss Jennings, for I know that you and Mr Neville plotted to ruin my brother. That is the truth.’ Blanche was unmoved by the tears.

  ‘I know that that is how it must seem to you, Miss Amberley, but I have been as much a victim as Jonathan. I really have come to tell you everything, because there is no longer any reason not to.’ Deborah closed her eyes, swaying a little. ‘M-may I sit down, Miss Amberley? I fear I’ve had such a distressing time of late that I feel quite faint….’

  ‘By all means sit down, Miss Jennings,’ replied Blanche, indicating a chair. She didn’t want to feel sympathetic, but was a little disturbed by the pallor of Deborah’s face and the hollow look in her eyes. ‘Is there anything I can get you? A glass of water perhaps?’

  ‘No, I’ll be all right if I just sit down. I-I haven’t been sleeping at all well, and my appetite is nonexistent.’ Deborah sat down and took a handkerchief from her reticule, dabbing her eyes. ‘I didn’t do anything out of choice, Miss Amberley, I did it because I was forced to.’

  ‘Forced?’

  ‘By Mr Neville. I despise him, Miss Amberley, and I certainly do not want to be his wife or share his title, for he is the worst monster I ever knew.’

  Blanche studied her. She sounded so plausible and honest, and yet there was the note. If it hadn’t existed, Blanche might have been more prepared to believe a story of force, but as it was, the note served to make her very prejudiced indeed about anything that Miss Deborah Jennings might have to say.

  Deborah looked at her. ‘Miss Amberley
, my father, like yours, has been in financial difficulty for some time now, a fact that came to Mr Neville’s knowledge because it isn’t exactly secret in the county. Please do not think me vain, but I knew that he found me attractive, for he’d been pursuing me for some time, but it was Jonathan that I loved, and so I wouldn’t give Mr Neville a second glance. Then Lord Normanton became very displeased with Mr Neville, and gave him the ultimatum that he had to advance in the army on his own merit or be disinherited. Mr Neville therefore strove to win the promotion to Sir Arthur Wellesley’s staff, but was beaten at the post by Jonathan, for whom he had now formed a deep but secret dislike. While pretending to still be Jonathan’s best friend, Mr Neville conceived his plot, and forced me to aid and abet him in it. His intention was to exclude Jonathan from the promotion, and, as runner-up, be granted it himself as a matter of course, which is indeed what has happened. It was also his intention to possess me.’ Deborah’s lips trembled, and she twisted the handkerchief in her hands. ‘H-Having found out about my father’s debts and discovered that it was to a bank that my father owed the most money, he made it his business to find out all he could about the banker concerned, Mr Clement Mortimer.’

  Blanche sat down slowly. ‘Mr Mortimer?’ she repeated quietly.

  ‘Yes. Mr Neville didn’t find it difficult to learn about him, for everyone in Gloucester knows that Mr Mortimer aspires to become a member of parliament in the Duke of Norfolk’s patronage. Lord Normanton is a very close friend of the duke’s, and once Mr Neville had regained his father’s favor, he knew he would be able to offer Mr Mortimer the necessary introduction. In return for this favor, Mr Neville wished Mr Mortimer, when requested, to put every pressure on my father for the settlement of his debts. Mr Mortimer agreed without question.’

  Blanche looked sadly at the Christmas leaves adorning the mantelpiece. So much was now explained, and she was beginning to see the truth, not only about Deborah herself, but about Antony.

  Deborah drew a long, tremulous breath. ‘Mr Neville’s next move was to come to me to say that unless I did as he wished, he would see to it that Mr Mortimer definitely called all my father’s debts in. By then, I knew that his threats weren’t empty, for Mr Mortimer, as instructed, had sent a very unpleasant warning letter to my father. I love my parents very much, Miss Amberley, and I knew that my father would be ruined at a stroke unless I bowed to Mr Neville’s vile wishes. My mother is in very poor health, and the shock and disgrace of ruin would surely have killed her, and that was something else I had to consider, and so, to my deep shame and wretchedness, I gave in and did his bidding.’ Deborah looked tearfully at Blanche. ‘My heart wasn’t in it, though, and Mr Neville knew it, so he made absolutely certain I wouldn’t waver by having Mr Mortimer’s son call at the house to press home the bank’s threats. That was last Friday, the day before you came to see me.’

  Last Friday. Blanche closed her eyes, calling to mind her meeting with Antony at the Saracen’s Head. His words echoed in her head. Oh, lord, is that the time? I shall have to go, for I have some exceeding important, if somewhat disagreeable, bank business to attend to. A customer has to be reminded of his obligations. That unfortunate customer had been Mr Jennings of Eastington House.

  Blanche looked into the fire. Something else Antony had said returned to her now, about his father already having found someone who’d approach the Duke of Norfolk on his behalf. That someone was Roderick Neville! How much were the Mortimers involved? Did they know Roderick intended to ruin Jonathan?

  She looked at Deborah. ‘Miss Jennings, did Mr Mortimer and his son know everything that Mr Neville planned?’

  ‘No, they knew nothing, just that he promised his father’s assistance with the Duke of Norfolk if they put pressure on my father. That was all.’ Deborah wiped her eyes again, and then looked at her. ‘Miss Amberley, do I take it from your question that you begin to believe what I’m saying?’

  Blanche was silent for a moment. ‘I have no reason to disbelieve what you’ve said so far, Miss Jennings, but I’m curious to know why you’ve suddenly decided to tell me. What has changed? Are your father’s finances suddenly and miraculously restored? Is your mother the picture of health and vigor? Or is it something else?’ Such as the realization that your incriminating note has fallen into our hands? This last question remained unspoken.

  Deborah twisted the handkerchief again. ‘Yes, Miss Amberley, something else has happened. You see, I was so upset by everything that at last I confided in my father, and while we were talking, my mother overheard. Both my parents were appalled to think I’d been forced to do such things, and they wouldn’t hear of its continuing. They insisted that I was to come here to tell you everything, and that afterward I must drive to Cheltenham to tell Colonel Cummings the real story. We’re going to defy Mr Neville, Miss Amberley, and I hope with all my heart that I will be able to undo all the harm I’ve done to poor Jonathan.’

  Blanche didn’t know what to think. Was it the truth? Or was

  it still because of the note?

  ‘Miss Amberley?’ Deborah looked imploringly at her. ‘Please believe me, for I haven’t been lying to you. I love Jonathan with all my heart, and although I know that he will never think kindly of me again, at least I will have done the right thing in the end, albeit far too belatedly.’

  Blanche found herself wanting to believe, but the nagging doubt remained. ‘Miss Jennings, why isn’t Sam Baxter driving your carriage today?’

  Deborah looked blankly at her. ‘Sam Baxter? How on earth do you know the name of our coachman?’

  ‘Where is he?’ repeated Blanche, watching her closely.

  ‘I really don’t know, for he’s vanished from Eastington House. As a matter of fact, my maid has gone with him. They’ve both just vanished, and taken all their belongings with them. No one knows where they’ve gone, although the gardener insists that they left in a post-chaise hired from the Saracen’s Head. It’s preposterous, of course, for how could a coachman and a maid possibly afford a post-chaise?’

  Deborah’s bewilderment was too genuine to be an act. ‘Miss Jennings, what happened to the note you wrote to my brother, the one asking him to meet you in the silver room?’

  ‘The note? Why, Sam Baxter destroyed it…’ Deborah looked at her suddenly. ‘Is that how you know about him? Did Jonathan recognize him when he knocked into him on the parade ground?’

  ‘No, Miss Jennings, Jonathan didn’t recognize him.’

  ‘Then how…? Miss Amberley, what is all this about? Why do you ask about Sam Baxter and the note?’

  ‘Because Sam didn’t destroy the note, Miss Jennings; he kept it and approached us with a demand for a considerable sum of money. Eight hundred and fifty guineas, to be precise.’

  Deborah stared at her, and in that moment Blanche knew beyond all doubt that the note’s existence had come as a complete shock. Deborah hesitated. ‘Is that why you thought I’d come here today? Because I knew you had the note, and I was afraid for my reputation?’

  ‘Yes,’ replied Blanche frankly.

  ‘I didn’t know about it, you must believe me.’

  ‘I do believe you, Miss Jennings.’ Blanche got up. ‘So you see, Colonel Cummings was going to receive a visit from Jonathan himself this morning, with the note.’

  ‘I still intend to go to the barracks myself, Miss Amberley, for I must do all I can to right the considerable wrongs I’ve done.’

  ‘Been forced to do,’ corrected Blanche, smiling suddenly. ‘I’m very glad you came here before he left, Miss Jennings, for all may not be entirely lost.’

  Deborah rose slowly to her feet. ‘When I saw the army saddle on the horse at the gate, I-I thought maybe he was here….’

  ‘The horse isn’t his, Miss Jennings, it belongs to Sir Edmund Brandon.’

  Deborah drew back a little. ‘Sir Edmund! But he is to marry Mr Neville’s sister, Lady Hetherington!’

  ‘I understand that the betrothal is at an end, Miss Jennings.’
/>   ‘It is?’ Deborah turned away in some confusion. ‘I’m supposed to be a guest at Amberley Court this evening. Mr Neville and I….’

  ‘I don’t think the dinner party will take place now, Miss Jennings. Do you?’ asked Blanche quietly.

  ‘No, I don’t suppose it will.’

  Blanche glanced toward the parlor door, which still stood slightly ajar as Hannah had left it. She couldn’t see anyone listening in the hall, but she knew they were there. What were Jonathan’s feelings now? Was his heart still hardened against Deborah? Blanche hoped not, for against all the odds she herself had come full circle, and instead of distrusting Deborah, she not only believed her, but liked her too. Perhaps it was time to bring at least one pair of star-crossed lovers together again.

  She smiled at Deborah. ‘As I said, Miss Jennings, I’m glad you came here before Jonathan left for Cheltenham.’

  ‘He doesn’t wish to speak to me, Miss Amberley; if he did, he’d have been in here with you,’ replied Deborah heavily. ‘I know I don’t deserve any kindness from him, for I’ve done too much to hurt him, but I still love him with all my heart. I-I think I’d better leave for Cheltenham now, but one thing I beg of you. Will you tell him everything I’ve said to you, so that at least he knows I’m not quite as bad as he believes me to be?’

  Blanche looked toward the door. Surely Jonathan couldn’t remain immune to such wretchedness?

  She was right, he couldn’t. The door was pushed open and he came in. ‘Deborah, there’s no need for Blanche to tell me anything, for I’ve heard every word.’

  Deborah whirled about, her lips trembling. ‘Jonathan?’ she whispered, her brown eyes appealing for a gentle, forgiving word.

  Any lingering resistance melted away, and in a stride he’d taken her into his arms. ‘Oh, Deborah, my darling love….’

  She clung to him, tears wet on her cheeks as she raised her lips to meet his.

  Blanche withdrew discreetly from the room, and was in time to see her father and Hannah going back into the kitchen. Sir Edmund waited in the hall.