What saddened Gav was the fact that Mr Speckles had, without a doubt, the consumption. He was now a shocking sight, a hollow-eyed skull over which his filthy and moth-eaten wig tilted loosely to one side; a bundle of long bones over which his coat and breeches sagged and flapped. He was more frightening in appearance than the living skeletons that used to be displayed at the fairs in Glasgow. He coughed up blood all the time now and it was Gav’s opinion that Mr Speckles was dying. He wished that there was something he could do to help the man but knew there was not.
‘Why the sad face?’ Regina asked when she entered the counting house.
His expression immediately brightened.
‘Regina! Come in and sit down. It’s been a long time. I meant to take a trip out to Forest Hall during this past year but things have been difficult at the store. Mr Speckles hasn’t been keeping well and wasn’t able to be left, for one thing. It’s good to see you, Regina. You’re looking as beautiful as ever, of course.’
‘I was over at your house and had a cup of tea with Abigail.’
He looked pleased, but before he could say anything, she passed over her list.
‘Could you have these items sent over from Glasgow, Gav? And could you try your best to deliver them to Forest Hall as soon as they arrive? Most of them are for making clothes for my daughter Charlotte.’
‘You have a daughter? Oh, Regina. I’m delighted for you. I’m sure Mr Harding is a very proud Papa.’
‘Yes, he is very fond of the child.’
‘Where is she just now?’
‘At the tavern with her nurse. I’ve told Abigail that I’ll expect you both tomorrow forenoon. I thought you’d like to see Lottie while we’re here.’
‘Of course. Of course. I’ll look forward to it. Good God, fancy you a mother now. I’m so pleased, Regina. And I’ll attend to your order right away. I’ll make a point of arranging to come with it to Forest Hall. It’ll be a good chance to see you again.’
She rose.
‘I also want a few ribbons and other small items and some material just now. I’d better go downstairs and see what you have.’
‘I’ll come with you and attend to you myself. How is Mr Harding?’ he asked as they made their way down to the store.
‘Very well. All your family is in good health, I hope? I didn’t see the children.’
‘Oh, they would be playing about somewhere nearby. They are very well indeed, thank God.’
In the shop she chose her purchases and Gav promised to see that they were packed into the carriage. They had just completed the arrangement when Harding strode into the shop, dwarfing the place with his size and dominating it with his presence.
‘I’ve just been talking to Annabella and Nancy,’ he said, after a friendly greeting to Gav. ‘I said we’d join them on their boat for some tea. Have you finished your business here?’
She nodded, suddenly beset by anxieties. Following Harding from the store and down to the wharf she was unaware of her surroundings, so completely was she obsessed by worry.
Inside Annabella’s boat there was no one except Annabella and Nancy. The boat was beautifully upholstered in crimson and silver and a table was resplendent with a gold service and delicious looking cakes and biscuits.
She wished again that she had not chosen to wear her dark green silk. It looked dull and dowdy compared with Annabella’s brilliant turquoise hooped gown and silver petticoat. With her padded, powdered hair and patches, too, Annabella looked fashionable as well as striking and vivacious.
Regina kept finding herself trapped into conversation with Nancy but her attention remained riveted on Annabella, even when she was forced to look at the other woman. Surely Annabella was chattering and sparkling and fluttering her fan in a most flirtatious way at Harding? Her stomach dipped and plunged as if the boat she was sitting in had been tossed in a storm.
Suddenly Nancy murmured in a low voice,
‘Regina, don’t worry about Annabella. She’s only teasing.’
‘Indeed?’ Regina said coldly.
The whole afternoon was an agony and she wished that she had never come to the settlement. Then, as if her agony wasn’t painful enough she heard Harding’s deep voice say,
‘You must come and visit Forest Hall while you’re in Virginia, Annabella. You come too, Nancy. We are hoping to do much more entertaining now that we have started a family. Isn’t that so, Regina?’
Dumbly Regina nodded.
‘Ah, yes,’ Annabella said. ‘Children do make a difference, don’t they? You know I have a son, of course. He is my pride and joy, Mr Harding. A sturdy fellow of strong character and spirit who looks after me as well as any gentleman.’
‘He sounds a fine young fellow.’
‘Oh, he is, sir, he is. I assure you.’
‘I’d like to meet him. You must bring him along.’
‘Ah, but there is his education to consider and he is most diligent. I’m employing a tutor while I am here. Mr Gillespie and Mungo work together at their books for several hours every day without fail.’
‘Most commendable,’ Harding said. ‘Bring the tutor along too.’
‘You are most hospitable, sir, but I cannot make any promises. There is a prodigious amount of business to attend to while I am here. I am in a mighty bustle from morning till night at the Cunningham plantation.’
It seemed to Regina that she would never escape from Annabella’s light, racy tongue. She longed to get Harding away, not only from Annabella’s fluttering lashes and fan, and creamy breasts bulging up from the turqouise taffeta, but away from the constant unbearable danger of Mungo’s return. When the time eventually did come to leave, she was in such a state of anxiety that she hardly had enough strength to rise from her chair. But at last they were away. They were walking back up to the store to collect their horses. Then they were riding past the cabins along the path through the trees that led to the tavern.
Harding had obviously enjoyed his visit with Annabella and expressed the hope that she could be persuaded to accept his invitation to come to Forest Hall. He hoped, in fact, that Annabella would decide to remain permanently in Virginia.
‘Now there’s a woman who would be a great asset socially,’ he enthused. ‘She could help and advise you as well as Lottie when she gets older.’
According to Harding, Annabella was everything a lady should be. And there was nothing that Annabella had not done or could not do.
Even after they retired to bed that night, he was still talking about her. And it came to Regina like a poisoned arrow, twisting in her heart, that she had to face a new danger, yet one that had always been with her. She had just never recognised it as a threat until now.
15
‘MARRIAGE with Regina, and having a family, has improved Mr Harding,’ Annabella observed to Nancy after they had returned to the Cunningham mansion. ‘He is not nearly so dour and brusque in appearance and manner. I dare swear I even detected a twinkle in those dark eyes of his on several occasions while I was talking to him.’
‘Yes, I noticed he was amused.’
‘What do you mean? You have a most irritating habit of making veiled insinuations, Nancy. In fact your tone of voice was a continuous infuriation to me when you were my maid. It always had that hint of sarcastic impertinence to it.’
Nancy narrowed her violet eyes and gave one of her husky laughs. Then she shrugged.
‘You were flirting with him and he saw that you were flirting with him. That’s what I meant.’
‘Lord’s sake!’ Annabella giggled behind her fan. Then she gave a sudden nonchalant toss of her curls. ‘Pox on him! Why should I feel fluttered? It is my way to be of a gayer turn. I have always indulged in a little light flirtation and teasing. I enjoy it, and gentlemen enjoy it, and there is never any harm done.’
‘I know all that, but does Regina? Did you see her face?’
Annabella laughed and rolled her eyes.
‘Yes, wasn’t it monstrously wicked-looking.
Such black smouldering glances, such rigid intensity of carriage! She will ruin her appearance with such moods, you mark my words. Wasn’t it ridiculous, though, when all that was happening was a little light bantering conversation?’
‘She was always a bit queer, even as a child.’
‘Yes, do you remember how terrified she was of French soldiers. Remember that monstrous hullabaloo in the house when she saw Jean-Paul? I thought she was never going to stop screaming. I thought in fact, she had gone completely demented and there would be no saving of her.’
‘I remember how frustrated I used to get by the way she would follow me around when I was trying to get some work done. She stuck so close on my heels, I kept bumping into her and tripping over her. I boxed her ears a couple of times but it never made any difference. She just refused to be left anywhere near a Frenchman without my protection. A pity you didn’t fling her back out on the streets then instead of taking her with you to the Highlands.’
Annabella shrugged.
‘The poor thing had been raped by a crowd of common soldiers. We didn’t know that then or we would have understood and perhaps been a little more forgiving. That was why she betrayed Jean-Paul, of course.’ Annabella sighed. ‘Although my poor Jean-Paul had nothing to do with her rape.’
Nancy hesitated and twisted a lock of her black hair and avoided Annabella’s eyes in embarrassment. Eventually she managed,
‘You forgave Regina long before you knew what had caused her to act in the terrible way she did. You are a kind and generous-hearted woman, for all your faults, Annabella. I would like to believe Regina appreciates that but I fear she does no such thing. I wouldn’t go anywhere near Forest Hall, if I were you.’
Annabella’s eyes widened.
‘Gracious heavens! What are you saying now? That I should be afraid of the little red-haired tramp? For I am not and never will be.’ Suddenly she erupted into giggles again. ‘Did I tell you about the beating I gave her the first time I saw her after that time in the Highlands? It was at a wondrously magnificent ball in Williamsburg. I don’t know what came over me, Nancy. I was stepping the minuet quite happily when all of a sudden her name was announced. I looked round and there she was, practically at my elbow and as cold and stiff and aloof as she had been that day when she’d betrayed Jean-Paul. As I say, I don’t know what came over me. I suddenly saw her as that filthy, repulsive, little urchin that she was and I just set upon her and gave her a good beating. I felt much the better of it, I can tell you, Nancy, and I’ve never regretted it. Damn it all, she deserved it, didn’t she? But, oh, can you imagine how the genteel society of Williamsburg viewed the shocking disruption of their elegant and dignified assembly?’
Nancy threw back her head and enjoyed a burst of laughter.
‘Of course I knew about it. Who didn’t? I wish I’d been there at the ball to actually witness the event. I would have enjoyed it.’
‘Yes, you would, wouldn’t you, you sly bitch,’ Annabella laughed.
‘It’s her that’s the sly bitch, not me. Don’t trust her, Annabella.’
‘You sound like a prophet of doom. I forbid you to talk in such a morbid fashion.’
Nancy raised an eyebrow.
‘Forbid me?’
Annabella’s laughter danced in her eyes.
‘Oh, sister, forgive me, do! It will take some considerable time to accustom myself to the idea that you are now a lady and on equal terms with me!’
Just then Ramsay entered the room accompanied by Nancy’s husband, Morgan West. They were both tall men but Ramsay’s age showed in his slightly stooping posture, the deeply etched lines on his face and the dark crêpy skin under his eyes. The younger man had a loose rangy frame, a tanned skin, quizzical brown eyes and brown hair tied back.
Ramsay collapsed into an easy chair with a sigh.
‘Well, I’m glad that’s settled.’
‘What’s settled?’ Annabella inquired.
‘The running o’ the plantation.’
‘Oh? You mean my plantation, Papa?’
‘We’ll have less o’ your snash for a start,’ her father growled. ‘You know very well that you are neither capable nor willing to manage the business of this place. I’ve had to settle it.’
‘Yes, Papa.’
‘Morgan and Nancy are going to stay on here and manage it.’
Nancy raised a sarcastic brow,
‘Are we indeed?’
Her husband shot her a warning look.
‘Now don’t pretend that you’re not pleased. You’ll live in more luxury here than you could ever have dreamed of. It’s a chance in a million for both of us.’
Ramsay said,
‘The tobacco crop will be shipped over to me, of course.’
‘Huh!’ Annabella turned to Nancy. ‘Aren’t men wondrously clever at arranging things?’ Then she returned her attention to her father. ‘You may have the tobacco crop, Papa, but I must have a regular income from it, or from the estate in some way.’
‘You’ve never needed to worry about money before,’ her father suddenly bawled, ‘and you’ve no need to concern yourself with it now.’
‘I fear I must insist, Papa, and you know very well how insistent I can be when I put my mind to it.’
Ramsay struggled to control his temper.
‘Annabella, you have always been and still are a wild and wayward lassie and no’ the type at all to be trusted with serious responsibilities.’
‘Oh, I don’t want responsibilities, Papa. Just money! And flattery will do nothing to persuade me otherwise.’
‘Flattery?’ her father roared. ‘I’m no’ a man to flatter anybody and fine you know it.’
Her eyes twinkled.
‘A wild and wayward lassie, Papa? Why, I’ll never see thirty again. I am a poor old widow woman.’
‘This is no time for levity, mistress. I’m talking serious business.’
‘So am I, Papa. And I’ll fly into a pretty passion if you do not arrange that I get a regular income. I will sign no papers and agree to nothing until that is settled first.’
‘Oh, very well,’ her father growled. ‘I suppose I might as well indulge you in this.’
Annabella fluttered her eyelashes and her fan.
‘Why, thank you, Papa! You have always been most generous and kind. I am wondrously obliged to you.’
It was Nancy’s turn to address Ramsay.
‘Does that mean you’ll be returning to Glasgow soon?’
‘Aye.’
‘How soon, Papa?’ Annabella asked.
Her father shrugged.
‘As long as we’re away before the winter. It’s bad enough making that journey in the summer months.’
Annabella sighed.
‘Oh, it will be nice to see dear old Glasgow again and my beautiful new mansion. You must visit us, Nancy. Of course, it’s not nearly as big as this place. Heavens above, this is far too big. I’m always getting lost in it and like all the mansions in the colony it’s so terribly isolated. Mungo House is just perfect. It is elegant and commodious and in such a salubrious and convenient situation. Oh, I do miss it. Don’t you ever miss Glasgow?’
‘No, never,’ Nancy said. ‘But I’m curious to see your mansion and to see all the other changes that have taken place in the town.’
‘And you shall see everything. Oh, we shall have such a wondrously gay time when you visit us. I shall entertain and …’
Her father interrupted impatiently.
‘Will you be quiet, Annabella. Let them get settled in here first. This is a big place to run. They’ll have plenty to occupy their time for a year or two without gallivanting over to Glasgow. You’ve always been the same. There’s never anything in your head but wicked enjoyment.’
Annabella quickly stifled a splutter of laughter behind her fan and when her father glared at her, she covered her eyes demurely.
In point of fact, she had done nothing really wicked for an age, if she had ever done anything wicked at
all, because she could never convince herself that taking a lover was wicked. As for all the many Sabbath-breaking sins like combing one’s hair, or humming a merry tune, or strolling outside, or looking in a pier glass, or doing anything at all on the Sabbath except attend church, say prayers and chant hymns, she did not care a fig. Taking a lover was far more exciting and interesting. Such a delightful game. Surely it was time she had another whirl at it.
She had been so taken up with inspecting and organising and thinking of what was to be done about the vast Cunningham plantation, she had not had any time at all for socialising and meeting potential lovers. The only gentleman she’d had any social contact with since arriving in the colony had been Robert Harding. She thought of him in this context and was surprised to find herself feeling both thrilled and frightened. ‘Damn him,’ she thought, immediately quelling the ripples of fear. ‘No man is going to frighten me!’ Yet, after all the years that had passed since that night on the Green in Glasgow when he had ravaged her, the fear she had experienced then was still there. It had been such a blow to her pride and dignity, apart from anything else. Had he forced his way into her bedroom and taken her there, it might not have been such a dreadful humiliation. But when they had emerged from the dancing assembly that night, instead of calling for a sedan to take her safely home he had swept her off her feet and carried her to the Green. There he had taken her on the filthy grass and earth as if she was a common serving wench. She had eventually escaped from him and raced home in such a state of alarm and distress as she’d never experienced before or since.
The trouble was, Mr Harding did not play the game to the normal and accepted rules.
She wondered if he had changed very much. As she had remarked to Nancy, he had improved to some degree. His manners and general deportment seemed slightly more polished and restrained and they had engaged in quite an affable and amusing conversation. There could be no denying, too, and she had never denied this inescapable fact, that Harding had an aura about him, a magnetism that was definitely sexual.
Strangely enough, she had an idea that this was what frightened her more than anything. Yet, at the same time, he was a challenge and she liked challenges. She had thrived on challenge all her life. As a young child, her Papa had first introduced her to school and said to the dominie,
The Tobacco Lords Trilogy Page 79