by Finch, Fanny
“That is unfortunate,” Hestia said in a hushed voice. “I was acting out of self-preservation. I did not mean to tarnish the family name.”
Lady Eugenia shook her head. “It was not you who caused it. You know very well it was your father who did that. But I suspect it may be something they will discuss.”
“My family’s money woes… Father will not own up to being responsible for it.”
Lady Eugenia looked thoughtful. “I do not know about that, little Hestia. He was cordial when he came to pick you up.”
Hestia raised her eyebrows, gazing at her friend. “I would say he was less than cordial, Eugenia. I do not believe he would have spoken a word if not for the events that followed.”
“Do you think he and my father will work it out?”
“I do not know. They do not seem to have a good friendship. Perhaps it is best they stay away from each other.” She gave Eugenia a smile. “It is not as though we are little girls who need permission to see each other.”
“That is true. I am glad. When we are married and have children, we will go to the park and have picnics and let the children play together.”
Hestia’s mind was whirling with possibilities. She wanted those things so much. For so long she thought she would never have it. But now, it was on the horizon. She could sense the changes coming in the air.
Her only worry was how to deal with the Earl and Countess of Coventry. She knew Leander would not back down and felt that his will was strong enough to withstand their pressure.
But she would have to deal with them as her parents-in-law. Would they be receptive to her in any way? Would they make her life miserable?
She hoped not. She was a kind and loving young woman and did not want to fight with anyone. Nor did she want to be disrespected. Above all, she would stand her ground and do things the way she thought was best.
The Countess of Coventry would not rule over her son or her grandchildren. If she had an ounce of grace in her body, she would bend to the will of her son and accept Hestia as the wife he chose.
“I cannot wait for such glorious times,” Hestia said breathlessly.
She could see her house in the distance, at the top of a small hill. Her heart began to pound and she wondered just what was going on in the carriage in front of them. And what the atmosphere would be like when they got to Stalwood Manor.
Chapter 38
The gas lamps were being lit all around the estate as Leander and the Earl of Nottingham pulled up in front of the house.
Leander was feeling nervous all the way to his core. The Earl of Nottingham had made only small talk as they rode, making Leander wonder why he was asked to ride with him.
He had not brought up the matter of Hestia, the family’s financial problems, the Earl and Countess of Coventry… it had all been placed on the backburner. The Earl of Nottingham literally stopped him when he began to speak about it.
“I do not wish to ride to the house discussing the topic. I wish to be in my parlor in front of my fireplace. We shall have just this pleasant ride to the house and enjoy it together, shall we?”
“Surely, Lord Stalwood,” Leander replied. From then on, he did not bring up the situation with Hestia, though the Earl of Nottingham touched on the subject when he spoke of the Viscount of Culross.
“Highly disappointed in the man,” the Earl of Nottingham said, shaking his head. “I had expected him to treat my daughter with the respect she deserves. I was told she would be welcomed as a member of the family, that it would be said she was visiting the Lady Eugenia as a friend. It was not my intention that anyone should know she was being paid for her services.”
“It sounds as though you may have been duped into something, Lord Stalwood,” Leander replied. When the Earl of Nottingham slid his eyes to him, he realized the older man was merely talking aloud. Did he not expect Leander to listen when he was sitting only a few feet away?
Leander tried smiling at the man. He desperately wanted to talk about Hestia and the future he wanted to have with her.
He pictured her in the maze, a bright smile on her face, laughter escaping her as she dashed around looking for Lady Eugenia. It gave him a pleasant chill through his body. He could not wait to have her near him again.
The two men stepped down from the carriage on opposing sides. Leander was on the side of the house. The Earl of Nottingham walked around the carriage and met him at the bottom of the stairs.
“Shall we wait for the ladies to arrive, Lord Stalwood?” Leander asked, trying not to sound too anxious. He desperately wanted to wait so that he could see Hestia smile at him before he had the talk with the Earl of Nottingham.
“I suppose we could. I would like to have tea and biscuits while we talk. I am sure you are not opposed to that?”
Leander grinned. “I am never opposed to tea and biscuits. Thank you.” He stood awkwardly for a moment, realizing the Earl of Nottingham had not really given him a straight answer. The older man was not about to let him wait for the ladies by himself.
He did not have to wait long. When the sound of the approaching carriage reached his ears, it ratcheted up his heartbeat and he held his breath for a moment. He let it out slowly, trying to get himself under control. He did not want to be shaky and clammy when she arrived.
He had to laugh at himself on the inside. He had always kept his composure with her in the past. He had kept his composure with every fine young lady he danced with or saw on the street. It was because he was asking to marry Hestia that he was so nervous. It could be no other thing.
He watched the carriage approach and instinctively took a step toward it. He wanted to open the door for her. He wanted to offer his hand to help her down. Just touching her would make his day.
The carriage came to a halt and he saw Hestia sit forward to smile at him through the window.
He smiled back, excitement rushing through him. He went to the door and pulled it open, holding out his hand to her.
“Lady Hestia. Allow me to escort you to your home.”
Hestia climbed out, holding onto his hand for support, looking up at the large house looming in front of her.
“I have not yet been inside.” He lowered his voice to continue. “But I do believe you have a fine house.” Leander was not lying. The house was large and the outside was run down but clean and tended to. With some work and renovations, it would be a fine home. .
He could not read the look on Hestia’s face when she looked at him. It was such a mixture of raw emotions, he could only give her a nervous grin.
When she smiled back, he knew she had not taken his words the wrong way. He helped Lady Eugenia down quickly before catching up with Lady Hestia and walking beside her.
“Your father has offered tea and biscuits. I do believe he would like to have a conversation with me in private. I am sure you are aware of what I will be asking him.”
Hestia’s cheeks colored slightly. She fluttered her eyelashes, keeping them trained on the ground in front of her.
“Lady Hestia, do I have your permission to speak openly with your father?”
Hestia chuckled softly. “I do believe you will find that he will speak openly with you. It is the best way.”
“That has also been my impression,” Leander said. “I find it abhorrent when the truth is not spoken. And I have heard some terrible rumors and lies recently. It makes me disappointed in…” He stopped short of saying “my mother”.
He did not know if Hestia was aware that the Countess of Coventry said Lord Stalwood had taken a bribe to keep Leander and Hestia apart. He still did not know if it was true or not. He did not want to believe it was.
“If I have done anything to harm your reputation, Lady Hestia, allow me to apologize.”
Hestia shook her head. Her father was waiting at the top of the stairs. As if he was attached to her, he came up beside her. Lady Eugenia hung behind, giving them both a wide grin.
Once they were inside, Leander was thrown back t
o earlier in the day, when he had seen his mother and Drusilla there. He wanted to turn to Hestia and tell her about the whole thing but held in the urge, though it was strong.
He would tell her about it later. He would fill her in on everything he had been experiencing in order to be with her. He wanted to tell her he had never had feelings so strong for a woman before. No other woman had invaded his mind and taken over. He thought of Hestia every moment of every day.
“Lord Price, if you will follow me. Hestia, you and Eugenia may go on to the library. Inform Cook I would like tea and biscuits served in the parlor and of course, if you and Eugenia would like some, let them know to bring you some.”
Hestia nodded. “Yes, thank you, Father.”
* * *
She was surprised by his calm demeanor. When she had left a year ago, there was often tension and arguments going on in the parlor or her father’s study. Sometimes they were between the Earl of Nottingham and a business partner. Sometimes it was between the Earl and Countess of Nottingham.
She did not want to see her parents fight, as no child would. She often hid in other parts of the mansion where the arguing could not be heard.
But at that moment, her father seemed serene, even peaceful.
Her instinct was to wonder what scheme he was going to pull on Leander. She wished she had time to warn the young man. She did not want her father taking any of Leander’s money. It was his responsibility to provide a dowry, no matter how little. It was not his place to request money from a future son-in-law.
But the Earl of Nottingham had not hesitated to ask his own daughter for money. For another daughter, no less.
Hestia tried not to think any more about it. She was souring herself against her father when it appeared he was making an effort to make things right. He was being amiable with Leander. He was showing her and Lady Eugenia respect.
She wondered what had happened to make him change his behavior so drastically.
Perhaps he had been changing over the year she was gone and the request for money was just a fluke.
Hestia nodded at her father and walked away from the two men with Lady Eugenia by her side.
“Your father is not unfriendly,” Lady Eugenia whispered. “I had no idea he could be so cooperative. From what I have been told, what I have heard, I expected him to at least be scolding Lord Price. But Lord Price does not look any worse for wear. I do not believe your father said anything to him on the way here.”
“It is like my father to want to be in his own home when he is discussing something so personal that will also affect the family in such a big way.”
Lady Eugenia nodded. “That does make sense, Hestia. Come, show me your library. I want to have some of your cook’s tea and biscuits. I want to see your room. We must distract ourselves while the men have their serious discussion.”
Lady Eugenia’s refreshing spirit filled Hestia with happy excitement once again. She smiled at her friend and took her hand. “Come, let us go see Cook first. I know Father will be expecting the tea and biscuits shortly. Then I will show you my room and then we will go to the library. My father has some decent titles. I believe you will be impressed.”
“I do not know if I will be,” Lady Eugenia’s voice was teasing. “My father has so many.”
“That is true,” Hestia had to give it to her friend. “Your father has shelves of books everywhere.”
“It is a matter of pride for him.”
Hestia led Lady Eugenia down the hallway and pushed open a door to her left. She went down one flight of stairs into a damp but clean downstairs kitchen. The cook, a short, plump woman with a large smile that pushed up her cheeks like two ripe apples, turned to look at them.
She was holding a peach in one hand and a skinning knife in the other.
“Good evening, Lady Hestia!” the cook said. After a moment, her eyes widened and her jaw fell open. She set the peach and the knife aside and came toward Hestia. “Good evening! Lady Hestia, you have returned? You have come home? My lady, I have missed you and your quirky tastes. My lady, how can I ever express how fond of you I am. I did not know until you were gone!”
Hestia laughed. She hugged the short, round woman. “It is good to see you, Thelma. I have missed your cooking. Father would like tea and biscuits in the parlor for himself and Lord Price, who is our guest this evening.”
“Lord Price?” Thelma smiled. “Is he here to inquire about Marianne or Virginia?”
Hestia tried not to be disappointed that Thelma did not think Leander could be there for her. When the cook saw the look on her face, she blinked rapidly and a new look of delight took over.
“Is he… here for you…?” Thelma sounded less surprised than gleeful. She lifted her hands and clapped them together in front of her. “Oh, Hestia! I am so happy for you!”
Hestia’s disappointment was taken over by happiness. She giggled and hugged Thelma again when the woman threw her short arms around her.
“I will have the tea and biscuits to your gentleman and your father as soon as I can!”
“And if you would bring some to myself and Lady Eugenia in the library. Leave them if we are not in there. It is where we will be at the end of the evening.”
“Yes, my lady.” She turned to Lady Eugenia. “You will be staying for dinner, my lady?”
“This is Lady Eugenia Callow, Thelma. She will be staying for dinner.”
Chapter 39
Leander followed the Earl of Nottingham into the parlor, glancing once over his shoulder at Hestia, who was taking Lady Eugenia by the hand down the hallway. Her body swayed back and forth as she moved. He could tell she was happy just by the way she moved.
He was looking forward to learning a lot more about her as time went on.
“Please have a seat. I must check my study for any new reports. I will return shortly. You may look around the room if you like.”
“Thank you, Lord Stalwood. I will.”
Leander took a seat, watching the Earl of Nottingham leave the room. He glanced around and then stood back up. There was one bookshelf in the room, on the other side near the windows. He strolled to it, noting the room was much larger than he had expected it to be.
Looking around as he walked, he noticed the reason the room looked so big.
It needed more furniture.
Leander suspected there had once been lavish furnishings in the home. What was left was stylish and did not look ancient or decrepit. It was obvious, however, that the family had very little money for extras.
Tabletops went uncovered, lacking the decorations that people would normally adorn them with. There were spaces in the bookshelf where more books had once been stored. Artwork that had once graced the walls around the room had left impressions from where they had once hung.
Leander scanned the titles of the books, noticing many were familiar to him. He did not believe there was one that he had not seen at Baron Wake’s home. The Viscount of Culross also had an impressive collection.
The Earl of Nottingham’s was left wanting.
Leander did not choose any of the books and instead returned to his seat, surveying the rest of the room as he did so.
The silence in the room was nearly deafening. The entire house seemed to carry a weight with it. Though he did not feel a great deal of tension or anger in the house, he sensed that where there had once been laughter and happiness, there was now sadness and bitterness.
Four portraits lined up on the left wall caught his attention. He went to study them. One was a portrait of Hestia. Leander assumed the other three girls were her sisters. One looked to be about ten years old. Hestia looked the same, if a few years older. The other two were older than her and only slightly resembled Hestia.
They all had the same narrow eyes with long eyelashes. That could easily be seen.
Leander made a promise to himself that he would ask about the portrait artist. He had captured Hestia’s essence well. Leander wanted a portrait of himself and his wife
after they were married.
And another when they had their first child.
His lips lifted in a smile. He was making plans for his family.
It was a wonderful feeling.
His thoughts wandered as he waited for the Earl of Nottingham to return. When the older man did, he was carrying several pieces of paper, which he set down on the table next to him when he sat.
“I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lord Price,” he said, huffing and puffing as he settled into the chair. “I would like to show you some papers that might interest you.”
Leander looked curiously at the documents as the Earl of Nottingham handed them to him. He fingered through them. They looked like pages from a log book.
“What are these, Lord Stalwood?”
“These are a representation of the state of my finances at this time. I want you to see them so you know the situation before you get into it. I take it you are interested in courting Hestia. That is why you wished to speak to me?”
“Yes, that is correct, sir.”
The Earl of Nottingham nodded, flicking one finger at the papers. “You will need to know about these. Your father will want to know.”
“My father is not involved in this decision, Lord Stalwood. It is I who will be marrying your daughter, should you give your permission and blessing. My father holds no authority in this matter.”
The Earl of Nottingham looked closely at him. “I have asked a few trusted people about you and your family, Lord Price. I was told you are an obedient and loyal son. That you care deeply about your family and will stop at nothing to defend their honor.”
“These are true statements, my lord,” Leander replied, sitting forward. “However, I must also think about my future and how to best represent my family not now, but then. I have made my choice. There could be no other.”
The door opened and Thelma came in holding a tray. She looked directly at Leander. He felt a little uncomfortable under her scrutiny for a moment. But the feeling disappeared when she smiled at him.