by Anne Herries
Two days had passed since the argument with her mother. Helene had not yet spoken to Amelia about the position as a teacher, but she felt that she could not bear to go on like this for much longer. Mama was still cross with her, but she really could not bear to marry Mr Bradwell.
Perhaps the worst of all was that Mr Bradwell was calling that afternoon at three. Helene had not written to him herself, but she knew that her mama had sent him a note inviting him for tea. He was sure to take it as encouragement. It was too bad of Mama!
Alone in her room, the tears suddenly welled up and began to trickle down her cheeks. How could she marry someone she did not like when her heart belonged to Max Coleridge? Yet if she did not, she must find work and Mama was against it. Helene did not wish to be at odds with her mother, but she could not bend to her will in the matter of this marriage.
A sob broke from her as the door of her bedchamber opened and someone walked in. Helene hurriedly brushed the tears from her eyes as she saw Amelia.
‘Helene, my dearest,’ Amelia said, ‘whatever is the matter?’
‘Oh…nothing…’ Helene said and reached for her kerchief, wiping her face. ‘I am being foolish…please ignore me.’
‘No, I do not believe you would cry for nothing,’ Amelia said and sat down on the bed beside her. ‘Will you not confide in me, Helene? I would help you if I could, you must know that, dearest?’
‘Mama is so cross with me…’
‘What have you done that is so very terrible?’
‘She wants me to marry Mr Bradwell, but I cannot. I really cannot—even though it means we must return to Uncle Edgar or find work.’
‘You know you are welcome to live with me.’
‘I know, but we could not expect more of you, Amelia. You have been so very generous.’ Helene lifted her head. ‘You know that Mama’s father was a tanner—and that the Duke of Annesdale is my grandfather? Oh, it is such a coil! I do not know what to do.’
‘Yes, I know. Your mama told me her story long ago. I do not see why any of this should distress you, Helene.’
‘The duke wanted me to live with him. He offered to leave me a lot of money—but I should not be able to see Mama, at least in public.’
‘That was an outrageous offer. I imagine you refused?’
‘I—quarrelled with him,’ Helene said and sighed. ‘I should not have done, for it has made things worse. He…he threatened me…’
‘What did he say?’
‘You know that he and Lord Coleridge are close?’ Amelia nodded. ‘Well, he says he shall leave Max his estate—but not if I refuse to live with him and give up Mama. He is so proud! He thinks Mama unfit to belong to his family because her father was a tanner.’
‘Ah, I see,’ Amelia said and frowned. ‘Annesdale is a fool! What did you say to him?’
‘I told him that…my shame was in having his blood, not Mama’s.’
Amelia looked shocked. ‘That was a little reckless, Helene. Annesdale is a proud man. I imagine he was angry?’
‘Very angry indeed. It was after that the threat to Max was made.’ Helene looked at her in distress. ‘Mama is reluctant to go back to her brother’s house. I wanted to find myself work, perhaps in an orphanage taking care of the children, but Mama will not permit me. She says that I should accept Mr Bradwell if he asks me—and I am sure he means to do so this afternoon. I do not wish to quarrel with Mama, but I truly cannot marry him.’
‘Now I understand your tears,’ Amelia said and nodded. ‘Marie has been a little unfair to you. I understand how she feels. She has had a hard life and she wants you to have a better one, Helene.’ Amelia’s gaze was thoughtful. ‘It is a pity that Coleridge did not come up to scratch before he went to the country. You might have been happy with him.’
‘He…almost did, but I prevented him,’ Helene said, her cheeks slightly pink. ‘I could not let him speak after what the duke threatened.’
‘No, you could not have done differently in the circumstances.’ Amelia stood up and went over to the window, glancing out into the street. ‘I must think about this, my love. My advice is to go to bed with a headache. I shall tell your mama that you cannot come down for tea this afternoon—and I will tell her something that may make her less eager for you to marry Mr Bradwell.’
‘Do you not like him, Amelia?’
‘I have heard rumours that he is in debt from gambling. How bad his situation is I have no idea, but it may give your mother pause for thought.’
Helene hesitated, then said, ‘You once seemed as if you did not quite approve of Lord Coleridge.’
‘Did I? If I gave you that impression, I am sorry, Helene. Max is a good friend. Something happened years ago, but I know he was not involved. I did think he might be interested in someone else, but then he began to pay attention to you.’ She smiled. ‘I should have liked to see you wed to a decent man. You have behaved in an honourable manner, my love—but I rather think something may be rescued from this mess. For the moment I believe you should plead a headache and let things rest.’
‘You are so kind,’ Helene told her. ‘I thought you might be angry because I have wasted my chances.’
‘I brought you to town because I like to have my friends about me. You owe me nothing, Helene—as for returning to a house where you are not welcome, I think there will be no need. I am sure I can find a home for you in one of my properties.’
‘For Mama,’ Helene said. ‘If I cannot marry where I choose, I would rather work for my living in a children’s home, where I might do some good for others.’
‘That would be an easy solution to both your problem and mine,’ Amelia said, ‘but I do not give up so easily.’
‘I am not sure I understand?’
‘Do not bother your head, my love. Go to bed and rest—and then I am sure things will seem better.’
Helene undressed and crept into bed as Amelia left her. Her crying bout had given her an unpleasant headache so Amelia would not be telling Mama a lie.
The letter from the Duke of Annesdale lay forgotten with the gloves she had taken off when she came in.
Chapter Eight
It was late in the evening and dark when Max and Toby arrived at the Coleridge estate. Max frowned as he saw there were no lights in the windows of the house. He rapped sharply on the door, but it was a minute or two before someone came to open it. The sleepy footman stared at them in dismay, his mouth falling in dismay, his candle flame wavering in the breeze from the open door.
‘Forgive me, my lord,’ he apologised as he realised who it was. ‘Mr Hale did not tell us that you were expected, sir.’ He stood back to allow them to enter. ‘The letter announcing your arrival could not have reached him.’
‘I did not send one,’ Max replied. ‘My orders were that this house should be kept ready at all times. I did not expect to arrive and find it in darkness at this hour, even though I know it to be past ten.’
‘Mr Hale took to his bed a few days ago, for he had a chill, and Mrs Hale has been busy running after him, sir.’
‘Do I employ no other servants?’ Max said angrily. ‘You will inform Mrs Hale that I have arrived. I shall expect her to wait on me in the morning. I trust the bedchambers have been aired recently?’
‘Yes, my lord—at least, that is Mrs Hale’s department. I shall ask her.’
‘Please do so, and light some candles. Let’s have a little life in this house. We shall want something to eat and drink before we retire. If the chambers are not ready, rouse some of the maids and have them made ready immediately. We shall want to retire in an hour.’
The footman sprang to life at once, lighting a branch of candles from his own and then another. As the light began to brighten the gloom a little, Max picked up one branch of candles, leading the way into a small parlour to the left of the door.
‘We shall manage here for the moment,’ he said and began to light more candles. ‘Damn Hale! Even if he is unwell, he should have made certain that the house
was running as it ought.’
‘I dare say it would have been better prepared if they had known of your imminent arrival,’ Toby observed with a wry smile. ‘Mama says servants will get away with doing as little as they can, unless you have a good butler and housekeeper.’
‘I thought Mr and Mrs Hale were reliable,’ Max said with a frown. ‘Even when I came back after the war the house was as clean as a new pin. I do not understand it. Forgive me. I think this is poor hospitality and I shall want an explanation in the morning.’
‘It does not bother me,’ Toby said, though his mother always had the family home running like clockwork.
Mrs Hale came bustling into the parlour a few minutes later. She was all apologies for the welcome they had been given.
‘I am sorry, sir. Hale has been ill and I gave the servants permission to go to bed early. Mrs Heronsdale gave orders that candles were not to be wasted so I thought it best to close the house at nine. Of course, if we’d known you were coming…’
‘Since when has Mrs Heronsdale been the mistress here?’ Max glared at her. ‘I gave Hale my orders. The house was always to be kept in a state of readiness for visitors.’
‘Well, I’m sure I’m sorry, sir—but she seemed so sure…’ The housekeeper paused and looked bothered. ‘Mrs Heronsdale comes to the house most days and she gives us orders, sir. We were told not to clean the guest chambers every week, because they were not needed—and she let two of the footmen and the upper parlourmaid go, my lord.’
‘Indeed?’ Max was angry, a little nerve flicking at his temple. ‘You will bring the staff up to its original level as soon as possible, Mrs Hale—and in future you will refer Mrs Heronsdale to me.’
‘Yes, sir,’ the housekeeper said, a little smile of satisfaction on her lips. ‘I did tell Hale to write to you, but he didn’t want to bother you, my lord.’
‘If you should have a similar problem in the future, I want to know—but I dare say it will not happen, for I shall speak to my aunt. She may do as she pleases at the dower house naturally, but this house will run as I see fit. I should like some wine, and something to eat—if you have anything in the house?’
‘Oh, yes, sir. There is a cold ham in the pantry, bread cooked this day and a bit of mutton, if that will do you with some relish this evening? Tomorrow I’ll draw up some menus for you to approve. May I ask how long you will be staying this time, sir?’
‘A few days. I must be back in London by the end of next week, but certainly three days, ma’am.’
‘Hale will be pleased, sir. It always seems better when you’re down, my lord.’
‘Yes, well, I dare say I may bring a party of friends down later in the summer,’ Max said, his anger fading. He had purposely not sent word of his visit, but he had not expected to find his orders countermanded. ‘I shall let you know in good time.’
‘Why did you not let them know this time?’ Toby inquired as the still-anxious lady went away to see to their supper. ‘I am sure they would have had everything just as you like it.’
‘I had a reason for not doing so,’ Max told him with an odd look. ‘I am sorry we came to a closed house, but I was hoping to take my aunt by surprise. It seems she has taken the role of chatelaine on in my absence. It will be interesting to discover what else has been going on.’
Toby nodded. ‘You need not apologise to me, my dear fellow,’ he said. ‘I shall be quite comfortable. As you say, perhaps it was for the best, otherwise you might not have known what was going on down here.’
‘Precisely,’ Max told him. ‘After that incident at Richmond, I believe it is time that I made some changes here.’
‘Coleridge.’ Mrs Heronsdale came rushing into the parlour where Max was having breakfast with Toby the following morning. She was a large lady, heavy boned but thin, her face all angles and planes, her skin sallow against the black of her mourning gown. ‘Why did you not let me know you were coming down? I could have made sure that everything was in order.’
‘Aunt Tilda,’ Max said as he and Toby both rose to their feet. ‘May I introduce you to a friend of mine, Mr Sinclair—Toby, my aunt, Mrs Heronsdale.’
Toby murmured something and bowed his head. The lady looked a little surprised to see him, a flicker of what might be annoyance in her eyes.
‘Forgive me for disturbing your breakfast, sir. Please carry on.’
‘Will you not join us, Aunt?’ Max asked. ‘At least sit down so that we may also sit. May I give you some coffee?’ He signalled to a footman, who set a chair for her, and another poured some of the fragrant liquid into a cup and set it before her. ‘I am sorry if it disturbs you that I arrived unannounced, but I do not make it a habit to inform others of my movements. I expect my servants to obey my wishes and have my house ready at all times.’
A faint flush appeared in Mrs Heronsdale’s cheeks. She glanced down at her delicate porcelain coffee can, her hands moving nervously in her lap. ‘I may have spoken out of turn, Coleridge. I have been used to practising economy and I hate to see waste.’
‘You may order the dower house as you please, of course, but I prefer to make my own arrangements here,’ Max said smoothly. ‘However, no harm was done. And we shall forget it. Did my cousin not accompany you this morning? I have come down on purpose to see him.’
‘Then you have had a wasted journey,’ Mrs Heronsdale told him. ‘Robert has been ordered to his bed. He has been very ill, Coleridge. We truly thought we might lose him this time.’
‘I am very sorry to hear that,’ Max said and looked grave. ‘I know you trust your own physician, but I really think you should let Dr Clarke advise you, ma’am. My cousin is a young man. He should not suffer from such frequent bouts of illness. I shall ask Dr Clarke to call later today.’
‘No! You must not,’ Mrs Heronsdale said and looked agitated. She jumped to her feet, obliging the gentlemen to rise, too. ‘Oh, do sit down! I am going. My son is too ill to be troubled by a new physician. Excuse me, I must return to him at once. I left him only because I thought it my duty to welcome you home.’
The gentlemen remained standing until she had left the room. Toby threw Max a look of enquiry. ‘Is she usually so agitated?’
‘Whenever I suggest that Robert should see a different doctor she makes the same excuse. Robert is too ill to see anyone. I accepted it at first, for it might be true—but you saw the letter I had. I think I must make an effort to meet my cousin this time. I do not believe that a visit from me would endanger his life—do you?’
‘I cannot think it,’ Toby said and frowned. ‘It seems an odd situation, Max. When shall you go?’
‘Almost immediately, I think,’ Max said. ‘If you have finished your breakfast, Toby, perhaps you would care to walk down with me? I have tried to visit my cousin with my aunt’s permission several times, but been refused. This time I thought I might use a little subterfuge and you may assist me, if you will.’
‘Naturally—please explain, dear fellow.’
‘Ask Mrs Heronsdale to show you the garden,’ Max said as they walked through the gardens towards the dower house. ‘It is the one thing she seems to have a passion for other than her son. I shall make an excuse to leave after we have been there for a few minutes—but you must keep her talking for long enough for me to slip up the back stairs to my cousin’s room.’
‘Do you think you ought?’ Toby said and looked uncomfortable. ‘It is a little deceitful. Could you not just demand to see Robert?’
‘I have tried it before,’ Max said. ‘If this makes you uneasy, I’ll find another way—but I am determined to see him for myself.’
‘I’ll do it, of course,’ Toby said at once. ‘I imagine she will be very angry when she discovers what you’ve done. It may be unpleasant for you.’
‘I do not mind her anger,’ Max said, looking concerned. ‘Something is being hidden from me, Toby. I have to discover what it is and this is the only way I can do it. She defends her son like a dragon and there has to be a reason
for it.’
‘Yes, I do see that,’ Toby agreed. ‘Besides, you have to know if it was your cousin that took a pot shot at you in Richmond park.’
‘That, too,’ Max agreed. ‘It points that way, of course, but I am not certain. I need to talk to Robert myself. So you’ll keep her busy while I slip upstairs to Robert’s room?’
‘I will do my best,’ Toby said. ‘What excuse will you give for coming like this, so soon after her visit?’
‘I shall apologise for my abruptness earlier, beg her to forgive me—and then you will show interest in her garden. She has been asking me if she can change some things in the main gardens, so I have no doubt that she will try to influence you if she can, because so far I have resisted her plans.’
Toby looked thoughtful, then inclined his head. ‘I am interested in gardens so it will not be too hard. If she has some unusual plants, we could be talking for hours.’
Max smiled. ‘Half an hour should be sufficient. Well, here we are. Leave the talking to me for a start. I think that there are a few repairs needed to the house. I had set them in hand, but I shall enquire about the roof and a damp patch at the back of the house.’
‘I was intrigued by what you are doing with the gardens here,’ Toby said after they had been talking for some ten minutes or so. ‘Would it be too much trouble to ask if I could see your gardens, ma’am? If I am not mistaken, I believe you have a new variety of magnolias, one I have been wanting to purchase.’
‘Are you interested in gardening?’ Mrs Heronsdale turned her sharp gaze on Toby. ‘I have been trying to persuade Coleridge that he should have a magnolia walk.’
‘Do you know, I have that very thing in mind at my own estate,’ Toby said quite truthfully. ‘Of course, my estate is quite small, nothing like this place, but I think it could be improved and I should like to plant a walk. I should like to talk to whoever has been planning your garden, ma’am.’