Instead he wrote a note to Percy, asking him to visit at his convenience and had it hand delivered and requested a reply.
In the meantime, his mother, Aunt Agatha, and Mr. Oakley were to depart for London. Fortunately, the hot weather had broken and there was a relatively cool breeze this morning. Aunt Agatha’s horse had mended, the carriage was loaded with luggage, and the three travelers were prepared to depart. Maria embraced her mother. Two footmen lifted Leah into the carriage, while her chair was attached to the back with the rest of the luggage.
“My dears, it has been a great delight seeing you all. Thank you for being such charming hosts,” Aunt Agatha said, as she waved her handkerchief from the carriage window. “We shall take good care of your mother and will send her back safe and sound.”
“We enjoyed your stories and look forward to more after your next adventure,” Maria said.
“If you ever get to London, you are always welcome to stay with me.”
“Mr. Oakley, thank you again for your assistance last evening,” Harry said shaking his hand through his window.
Chilton smiled, for he was rarely thanked for anything. He had become used to being Agatha’s appendage and beamed at the attention.
The carriage started up and everyone waved at everyone else until it disappeared around the bend of the road.
As Harry and Maria climbed the entryway steps, she asked, “How many cattle were lost?”
“Mercifully, only five. Of course, that is a blow, but it could have been much worse.”
“What now?”
“I have asked Percy to call and I will discuss the situation with him.”
“Are you going to prosecute the Duke?”
“Not certain. I would like to avoid that if at all possible, but we shall see.”
Maria did not respond and seemed to be a little troubled.
“What?” Harry asked her.
“I am so horribly conflicted about Percy. I have no idea where I am with him.”
“Do you want to see him if he comes?”
“Maybe… maybe not. I do not know. Let me know when he arrives, and I will decide then.”
Harry stopped at the top of the steps. Maria turned to him.
“I must see to burying the dead cattle. You must excuse me,” he said and started walking back down the steps.
“All that lovely roast beef going to waste,” Maria said, attempting a joke, but Harry just looked at her not finding it funny.
Chapter 27
Harry could not bring himself to watch the disposal of his dead animals. He let Evans take care of the matter, and he headed back to his study.
He worked for an hour and a half before Percy arrived in response to his note.
Percy came into the study and greeted, “Harry, old chap, did you want to go fishing? I am up for it, but I forgot to bring my rod. Have you got an extra one?”
Harry stood up from his desk. “No, Percy… no fishing today. Something has happened that is much more serious.”
“Oh?” Percy said, and hooked his thumbs in his waistcoat pockets. “Is it about Maria, perhaps? I fear you are going to scold me for neglecting her.”
“That is a matter for you to take up with her. No, it is something else, and it concerns your father.”
“Oh, dear, what now?” he asked, as he collapsed into a chair and threw his hands in the air.
Harry sat opposite him and narrated the events of last evening, then asked, “Do you know anything about this?”
Percy hung his head and shook it. “Oh, Harry, I had no idea he would follow through on his threat. He so often spews forth threats, rants, and invective, I did not always take it seriously.”
“What threat?”
Percy explained how his father was angry that Harry had told Anna about his father’s plans to have Percy marry Anna for her inheritance. “He threatened to do you harm but I did not think he would act upon it.” Percy was agitated. “What do you plan to do?”
Harry stood up and said, “My first thought was to take Mr. Polder to the constable and have him witness to your father’s crime. Then have your father arrested.”
“Oh, Harry…”
“Now wait. But I have reconsidered.”
“What then?”
“I believe it would be wrong of me to accuse a fellow peer. So here is what I propose. If your father will pay me what it will cost me to replace the cattle that were killed, I will let the rest go.” Percy was silent. “You have nothing to say?”
He sighed. “Harry, what kind of money are you talking about? For I fear he will not be able to pay you. He is so far in debt we can barely pay for our provisions. The household staff has not been paid for months and they only stay on because we can, at least, feed them. I think it is entirely unrealistic to expect him to pay you any time soon.” Percy bowed his head. “And that is why I am courting Miss Anna. It is currently our only hope.”
“Then you have abandoned my sister?”
“Sadly, I have. I have no other choice. Maria does not have the sort of dowry my father needs to be made whole.” Harry turned from his friend and paced. “What will you do about my father? Will you bring suit against him for the cattle?”
“He has no other assets?”
“None. He has sold or mortgaged everything we own. I am so sorry, Harry. I truly feel horrible.”
“How much does your father need to be made whole again?”
Percy spoke barely loud enough to be heard. “At least twenty thousand… and more every day this drags on. Now if you were to sue him and demand payment for the cattle… it is just horrible to calculate the damage.”
Harry turned to his friend. “Percy, I do not know what is to be done. I need to think about it. But tell your father that I will not go to the constable for now if he agrees not to cause me any greater harm. Do you think you can get him to agree to that?”
Percy stood. “I think that might be possible. I will do my very best and let you know his answer as soon as possible.”
“Very well then. Maria was asking about you and requested you visit with her when we are done here.”
Percy nodded in agreement. “Are we done for now?”
“Yes. We are.”
Percy stood and said, “Now, out of the frying pan and into the fire. Maria is not going to be happy with what I must admit to her.”
Percy found Maria in the music room where she was overseeing the cleaning of the chimney. “Harry said you wanted to see me?”
“Watch the soot,” she said to the sweep.
“Doin’ the best I can, Miss Buxton.”
Maria turned, “Oh, Percy. Give me just a moment and I will be with you. Did Harry offer you refreshment?”
“Not today,” he said a little bitterly after he’d swallowed a dose of Harry’s harsh reality.
“Please go to the conservatory and I shall be with you presently.”
Percy walked amongst the tropical plants as he waited for Maria. His father did not care for plants. He found them fickle. But Percy greatly appreciated the fine specimens the Buxton’s had in their greenhouse.
Maria soon arrived with Daniels carrying a tea tray which he placed on a wicker table.
Maria she sat in one of the wicker chairs at the table. “Come, dear Percy. After a sooty couple of hours, I am parched and ready for tea.”
Percy joined her and sat opposite as she poured the tea and handed him his cup—she knew how he liked it—with lemon.
“I am sorry I have not been to visit you recently,” he said shyly.
Maria did not respond right away but finally said, “Yes, I understand someone else has been attracting your attention.”
This was not a good day for Percy. It seemed the whole world was ganging up against him.
“My father has been directing my time, lately. He is on a mission and I am his tool.”
Maria looked askance at him. “Not certain I know what you mean but I should like an explanation.”
&nbs
p; Percy shifted in his chair as he thought about how to respond.
“My dearest, you know where my heart resides, but I am not at liberty to follow my heart, I am afraid.”
“So, it is true. You are after Anna’s fortune?”
“My father is, not me.”
“And you have no independence from him?”
“I must consider the welfare of my family, Maria. I am so sorry.”
Maria did not hesitate and said, “Then you must expect me to look elsewhere for a husband. It pains me to say this, but we are finished, Percy.”
He hung his head. “I am so very sorry, my dearest Maria. It pains me more than I can say.” She did not respond to him, and he looked up and added, “Then you must excuse me. I will keep you no longer. I must now perform another distasteful task. Harry has asked me to talk to my father about the possibility of compensating him for the loss of his cattle. I have told him it is nearly impossible, but I must try.”
“How could he have done that to us, Percy?”
“He is a broken man, Maria. That is the only way I can explain it—not excuse it.”
Maria appeared to have a welling up of emotion as she said, “It is not easy for you, Percy, is it?”
He shook his head, unable to speak as her sympathy brought tears to his eyes.
She stood, went over to where he was seated, and put her arms around him. She held him as he wept. Then he wiped his eyes with the back of his hands and stood.
“I am so very sorry. Thank you for your compassion. Until we meet again.” Then he left.
Percy found his father in the stable where he was selling two of his favorite horses to a neighbor.
“Father, I have been to see the Earl. I need to speak with you when your business is concluded.”
“Very well,” his father said and returned to conclude the deal he was making.
Percy was beyond despair. The world as he knew it was gone. Maria had been its center, despite his cavalier behavior toward her. His family was devastated and falling ever deeper into ruin and he had just witnessed his father selling whatever he could to keep the family going. But it would bring little relief and be short lived. On top of that, his father had just extracted this terrible revenge against his best—and perhaps only—friend.
“What?” the Duke asked, as he came into Percy’s room. He stood leaning on his cane and glared. “I suppose His Lordship was commiserating with you over the loss of his cattle?” He appeared to be gleeful at this event.
“Oh, Father… I hardly know where to begin…”
“How many did he lose?” his father asked eagerly.
“Not too many. Apparently, the deed was discovered early, and the assassin was apprehended.”
This seemed to surprise the Duke. “What?” He looked panic-stricken. “They caught Polder?”
“I do not know his name, but he told Harry everything and he knows it was you who hired the poor man to do your dirty work.”
Arnold sought a chair and sat. He looked devastated.
“Why, Father? Why would you do such a thing? How could Harry not find out it was you?”
He answered bitterly, “I did not think the man would be discovered. It was to happen at night when no one would know. I had hoped to wipe the Earl out—the bastard.” Then Arnold realized he might be in jeopardy. “What is he going to do about it?” he asked fearfully.
“He wants you to pay for the dead cattle to avoid his going to the constable. But I told him about our financial situation and he said he would not prosecute if you promise not to try anything so stupid again.”
Arnold rose. “Well, done, boy. Of course, I too would say anything to avoid paying and being prosecuted. That is easy enough.”
Percy sighed. His father did not get the implications at all. He was taking no responsibility for his actions and was only glad he was avoiding any consequences.
“But you have to mean it, Father. No further attacks of any kind on Harry. Will you promise me that? If not, then he will prosecute and completely ruin us, and I know you do not want that.”
Arnold grumbled, “Very well.” Then he smiled. “But we do not have to pay. Now that is good news.”
“No, Father. I am going to tell Harry, that when I marry Anna, I will pay him back for the loss of his cattle. We are not to be absolved of our responsibility.”
“Who cares? If you marry Anna all of our troubles will be over anyway. What will a handful of guineas for his damn cattle be to us then? Nothing.”
Chapter 28
Harry knew what had happened between Maria and Percy the morning Percy had come to see him after the incident with the cattle. Maria had not told Harry about their meeting, but he could tell by the way she was listless, quiet, and not her usual energetic self.
The Winchester cattle fair was coming up next week and, even after the loss of their five cattle, Harry was determined to attend. He might also consider purchasing two or three more cows if they were of good quality and the price was right.
Maria had previously expressed interest in going to the fair this year, so one morning at breakfast, when she appeared to be a little more chipper, he asked, “How difficult would it be for you to get away for a few days?”
Maria set her fork on her plate and reached for the toast and the pot of strawberry and rhubarb jam. “Get away to where?”
“Winchester. The cattle fair. You said you might like to go with me this year.”
“Oh…” This seemed to surprise her. “When is it?”
“We would leave next Wednesday. I am not showing any animals this year, so it would be an easy journey. Would you like to come? We would be gone about four days—unless I decide to buy a few animals to replace some of our losses. Then it might be a day or two longer while I arranged transportation for them.”
“Hmm. Let me think about it. We currently have no guests since Aunt Agatha left. If I can make certain all is well with the staff, I might enjoy a break. I will let you know later today.”
Harry hesitated to bring it up but finally said, “You have seemed to be rather despondent recently. I would like to cheer you up—if I can.”
She smiled rather sadly. “I have had a lot on my mind.”
“Percy?” he asked as delicately as he could.
She nodded but did not respond. Best to leave it alone, he thought.
The cattle fair was being held on the outskirts of Winchester in a large field that had been fenced into pens for use by the various exhibitors. Harry, always far thinking, had made a hotel reservation last year for this year. Harry and Maria would need to share the room, but they had shared before when they had traveled, so it was not a problem for them.
They arrived the afternoon before the event was to begin. As they spent the early evening wandering around the town, Maria seemed much brighter and enjoyed popping into various shops and purchasing a few items for the house or for herself.
They decided to dine at the hotel, as it had a pleasant looking dining room and the menu seemed promising.
“Beer or wine?” Harry asked Maria as they finished ordering.
“We are in a nice restaurant. Let us share a bottle of wine.”
Harry selected a French Burgundy and they relaxed until the waiter brought the glasses and poured the first serving.
Maria asked, “Do you know any of the exhibitors?”
“Quite a few. We have met here over the years, and I have purchased our cattle from a number of the breeders here. Of course, my goal is to enlarge our herd enough that I will be selling here in the next year or two.”
“Do you still enjoy your work with the cattle?”
“Very much so. Aside from a few setbacks now and then,” he said with a knowing smile.
“Your Lordship,” a gentleman said, as he approached their table.
Harry looked up and said, “Roger… Here we are again. Another year gone by.” Harry stood and took Roger’s hand to shake. He turned to Maria and said, “Maria, this is my fr
iend, Roger Dillon. He is also a breeder of Kerry cattle. Roger, this is my sister, Maria.”
The Scandalous Saga of the White Lady: A Historical Regency Romance Novel Page 19