by Anne Herries
‘Yes, of course,’ Marianne said, her mouth curving, for his kiss had made her happy, despite her uncertainty about his feelings towards her—and indeed her own for him. She thought that she might have very strong feelings for this man, who was still so much of a mystery to her—but without marriage she could not allow herself to give way to them. Or could she? No, no, it was impossible! She must concentrate on the matter in mind. ‘When I discovered Mr Hambleton creeping about the house the last time I allowed him to think that I believed him. I shall say nothing to antagonise him, for my aunt’s sake as much as my own.’
‘She will not allow him to drive her from her home?’
‘I think he might have succeeded had I not been here,’ Marianne said. ‘But if they need to use the cellars he will no doubt try to make sure that we hear nothing.’
‘Yes.’ Drew frowned. ‘I wonder if it would not be better if your aunt were to take a little holiday in Bath?’
‘Perhaps…and yet, if he gains his own way, she might never be able to return.’
‘At least tell her to be careful how she refuses his request,’ Drew said. ‘If you feel that either of you is in any danger, you must send word to me at once.’
‘We both lock our doors at night,’ Marianne told him. She heard the church clock strike the hour, its bell ringing out on the still air. ‘I must go in. Will you stay and take tea with us?’
‘Not this time,’ Drew said. ‘I mean to go down to the caves this evening when the tide begins to turn. I found one tunnel, but I think there must be another—one that leads to the cellars here.’
Marianne nodded. ‘It has perhaps been blocked from this side, and that may have been what I heard that night. Do you not think that you might find it more easily from the cellars here?’
‘Yes, I might,’ Drew agreed. ‘But I want to discover if I can find the entrance that leads from the caves first. I may come again soon. In the meantime, take care, my sweet lady.’
‘Drew…’ Marianne stood staring after him as he walked away. She smiled to herself as she turned and went into the house. She knew that he cared about her in his way, even if she did not know what his intentions might be for the future—at this moment, the fact that he felt something for her was enough to make her heart sing.
The next two days were damp and cool, though it did not rain hard. Marianne would have braved the walk to the cliffs, but her aunt had felt unwell for a couple of days and she had not wanted to leave her.
Jane was still with them, of course, though the banns were to be called in church the next Sunday.
‘There is no reason for us to wait any longer,’ Jane said to Marianne. ‘Lady Edgeworthy will allow me to leave as soon as the banns are called, and we shall have time to do all the things we need by then. We do not intend to go away for our honeymoon, because neither of us particularly wants that and Dr Thompson is so busy. It will be wonderful to have a house of my own.’ She blushed. ‘Not that I have been unhappy here…’
‘Nothing can compare with having your own home,’ Marianne told her. ‘It must be so exciting for you.’
‘I am very happy,’ Jane told her. ‘I never expected to marry and I have all that I could want.’
Marianne could not doubt Jane’s happiness, for she had a new spring in her step. Lady Edgeworthy was content that her companion should leave, and said that she would advertise for a new one soon.
‘I shall give Jane five hundred pounds as a wedding gift,’ she told Marianne. ‘I had left her that amount in my will, but she may as well have it now—and I am intending to change my will anyway.’
‘I am sure Jane will be delighted to have the money, Aunt.’
‘Yes, I expect so. She deserves it—she has been a good friend to me for some years and may continue to be so, for she will not be living far away and I dare say she will call to see me now and then.’ Lady Edgeworthy frowned. ‘I have sent for my lawyer, Marianne. I have decided that Joshua should not be my main heir after all.’
‘That is your decision, Aunt,’ Marianne said. ‘Did he know that you were intending to leave the estate to him?’
‘I am not sure. I said nothing—but a copy of the will is in the bureau in the small parlour and I believe someone looked at it some weeks ago, before you came here.’
‘Was it before the laudanum went missing?’
‘Yes, before that…’ Lady Edgeworthy shook her head. ‘I think that perhaps I have been foolish, Marianne. I was very lonely after my cousin’s death—and your mother was in mourning. I did not wish to intrude into her grief or yours. I believed that Joshua was genuinely my friend, but…now I am not so sure.’
‘Had you ever met him before he came here after your cousin’s tragic fall?’
‘No…’ Lady Edgeworthy looked at her. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Are you sure that he is your husband’s cousin?’
‘I had no reason to question…’ Lady Edgeworthy looked puzzled. ‘Surely he must be Joshua? He knew things about the family…though there were some things he did not know. He said that he had been in Spain with the army and that he would have come years ago, but his father and my husband had quarrelled. I believed him.’ She looked at Marianne. ‘Have I been a fool?’
‘No, I do not think so,’ Marianne told her. ‘You were lonely and perhaps you felt the need of someone after your cousin died. If he has taken advantage of your good nature, he is at fault, not you—but I cannot say for sure that he is not truly Joshua Hambleton.’
‘My husband had a cousin, and Joshua is the right age, but we never spoke of him.’ Lady Edgeworthy sighed. ‘I think that perhaps we may take a trip to Bath after Jane’s wedding, my dear—but I shall not lease the estate to Joshua. I might consider selling it one day, but not until I am sure that I would be happy living in Bath.’
‘You must do just as you please,’ Marianne said. ‘I shall be happy to accompany you wherever you decide.’
‘You are a good girl,’ Lady Edgeworthy said. ‘I am feeling a little tired. I think I shall lie down for a while before dinner.’
‘You are not truly ill?’
‘No, my dear, of course not.’ Lady Edgeworthy smiled at her and patted her hand. ‘I have had some restless nights thinking things through, but my mind is made up and I believe I shall sleep sounder now.’
Marianne was reassured. After her aunt had gone upstairs, she had a few words with Jane, who had been helping the housekeeper to sort through some linen for the seamstress to mend, and then went out into the garden. She walked as far as the small ornamental pond and then turned back. As she returned to the house, she saw that Joshua was getting down from his carriage. His arrival was bound to cause her aunt unease in the circumstances, and Marianne was angry that he should simply invite himself to stay without a by your leave. However, she knew that there was nothing much she could do about it for the moment. And then he turned and saw her, waiting for her to come up to him.
‘You are back,’ Marianne said, for it would not do to let him suspect that she knew he had not come from London. ‘Did you finish your business in town?’
‘Yes, it is done, and this visit I shall be able to stay longer with you and Lady Edgeworthy,’ he said smiling at her. ‘You have no idea how much I have looked forward to seeing you again, my dear Miss Marianne. How is Lady Edgeworthy feeling now?’
‘Quite well, I think,’ Marianne replied. How could he behave as if he were genuinely concerned for Aunt Bertha’s health? It was difficult to keep her composure, for she would have liked to vent her opinion of his behaviour, but she knew that she must be careful and answered him calmly. ‘She went up to rest and change for dinner. I have been taking the air.’
‘I shall look forward to getting to know you much better this time,’ he said, and the look in his eyes made her shudder inwardly. ‘I did not forget you while I was away, Miss Marianne. I have brought you a gift.’
‘I do not know you well enough to accept gifts, sir,’ Marianne said. Her nerv
es were screaming and she wished that he would not look at her that way. Did he imagine that she cared for his regard? It took all her strength of character not to fly at him and box his ears. ‘Excuse me, I must go in.’
She walked away from him, her back straight and her head high. Drew had told her to be careful of showing her dislike, and indeed she must, but it was hard—his manner set her teeth on edge. The more she saw of him, the more she believed that he had crept into her aunt’s room intending to do her harm—to make her ill at least, if not to kill her.
If he had known that Lady Edgeworthy had left her estate to him, he might have seized any opportunity to gain it sooner, especially if he needed it for his nefarious activities.
She must be vigilant for her great-aunt’s sake and her own. Once the will was changed, he might consider it was no longer in his interest to visit here.
Drew stood looking up at the windows of Sawlebridge House. He made it his habit to walk this way in the late evening, though he had so far refrained from making his presence known. As yet he had seen nothing suspicious, but if there was an underground tunnel leading here it was unlikely that he would, of course.
The last candle had been extinguished, and the house was now in darkness. He waited for a few minutes longer, unsure of why he lingered, and then he saw a figure slip from the house and walk swiftly away into the shadows. His instincts told him who it was and he frowned. He had hoped that Hambleton would stay away from the house, but it seemed he had returned.
It was time that he brought in more help. If he was right, it could not be long before Hambleton made his move and he needed to be ready…
Marianne left the house early the next morning. She would walk to the rhododendron valley and see if perchance Drew happened to come that way. She wanted to tell him that Joshua had returned to the house and hear his opinion on the matter.
However, she was walking through the thick shrubbery when she heard someone speaking, and, recognising Joshua’s voice, she froze, drawing back into the shelter of some very dense bushes as the voices came towards her.
‘You said that you had the old woman eating out of your hand,’ a harsh voice said as the men paused only a few feet away from where she was hidden. ‘Yet she let the house to him—and I know he isn’t what he claims to be. He has been everywhere on the estate, and he found the barrels you had us plant in the mine…’
‘Well, that must have made him happy,’ Joshua said in a sneering tone. ‘As long as he and that man of his keep watching the old mine, we are in the clear.’
‘Using the house as a store is dangerous. The tunnel hasn’t been used for more than a hundred years and the roof looks as if it might collapse in places. I’ve done what I can to make it safe, but I don’t like it—and there will be noise. Supposing someone comes to investigate?’
‘I shall be there to deal with it,’ Joshua said. ‘The mine was the obvious place. He would have found it sooner or later. You don’t know Beck; he can be a devil! Better to lead him to the mine and change our drop.’
‘We’ve got a lot riding on this,’ the other man said. ‘Get them out of the house or this may be the last run I do for you.’
‘I’ve done my best, damn it! The old woman won’t budge, and the girl is more stubborn than her aunt. I need this run to be successful. Don’t let me down, Bartlet, or you will be sorry…’
The two men had walked on and Marianne could no longer hear what they were saying. She dare not move from where she was standing until they had disappeared from sight. She was feeling angry and sick inside. All their speculation had been right. Joshua Hambleton was planning to use Lady Edgeworthy’s cellars to store contraband—and he would stop at nothing to protect his investment.
Marianne knew that she must visit the house on the cliffs. She had to tell Drew about this as soon as possible!
Robbie answered the door to her. He frowned as he saw her, recognising that she was upset about something.
‘Come in, miss,’ he said. ‘The captain has gone out to meet a friend of his in Truro, but I can take a message for you if you’ve something to say.’
‘Will you please tell him that I overheard something this morning? It was early and I hid so that they did not see me—but it was the man who calls himself Joshua Hambleton and another, who looked as if he might be a fisherman. He was angry because they had been forced to change their drop for a cargo that is coming in soon—and Captain Beck was right. The mine was just a decoy and they are intending to use the cellars under Sawlebridge House.’
‘He will not be best pleased to hear that, miss, for it places you in danger and the old lady.’
‘Yes, I think it does, but there is nothing much I can do about it, except stay alert to the possibility.’
‘Well, I’ll tell him when he gets back, miss. You don’t want to come in and wait for him?’ Robbie narrowed his gaze. ‘You didn’t happen to hear when the drop is due to take place?’
‘No, I am afraid I did not. Thank you for asking me in, but I must get back. I do not like to leave my aunt for long,’ Marianne said. ‘Captain Beck has gone to Truro to meet a friend?’
‘Aye, he sent and asked him to come down. Their friendship goes back a long way, miss, and we may need an extra pair of hands.’
‘Yes…’ Marianne frowned. ‘You should tell Captain Beck to be careful, for they suspect him of searching for something—they may think he is working for the Revenue.’
‘Best they do, perhaps,’ Robbie said with a dour look. ‘Wouldn’t do for the truth to be known. You get off then, miss. I’ll tell him.’
Marianne nodded and left. It was only as she walked back to the house that she wondered what Drew’s man had meant by saying that it would not do for the truth to be known.
Marianne met Jane as she entered the house. The companion was carrying a parcel wrapped in brown paper tied with string, and looked excited.
‘Doctor Thompson ordered this for me in Truro,’ she told Marianne. ‘It is a gown he thought I might like to be married in. I came to ask if you would help me try it on. I think it may need some alteration, and I hoped you might pin it for me?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Marianne agreed at once. She thrust her worries concerning the smugglers and Joshua Hambleton to the back of her mind. She had done all she could for the moment and must leave it to Drew now. ‘I should be very pleased to help you, Jane. Let us go into the small back parlour. My sewing box is there and so are my pins.’
‘You are so neat with your work,’ Jane said. ‘I think you might have done well as a seamstress had you not been the daughter of gentry.’
‘Yes, perhaps,’ Marianne agreed with a smile. ‘What colour is your dress, Jane?’
‘I think it must be blue, because Dr Thompson says that I look well in blue. Shall we open it and see?’
They walked into the parlour together. Jane untied the strings and carefully unwrapped the gown. Her face was a picture to see as she lifted out the stylish, pale blue dress. Made of silk, it had short, puffed sleeves and a high waist with a slender skirt, which was embroidered at the hem with little crystals.
‘Oh, how beautiful,’ Jane cried, her eyes bright. She looked as though she might be on the verge of crying.
‘Try it on, Jane,’ Marianne urged. ‘I will lock the door so that no one can walk in on you.’
‘I have never had a gown like this before,’ Jane said as Marianne turned the key in the door and then went over to the octagonal sewing table, which stood near the window. She took her pincushion from the silk-covered box at the bottom and brought it back to Jane. ‘It is too stylish for me.’
‘Nonsense!’ Marianne laughed. ‘It shows that Dr Thompson thinks the world of you, as he ought. You will look beautiful on your wedding day.’
‘I am so lucky,’ Jane said, her eyes suspiciously moist. ‘Both you and Lady Edgeworthy have been so kind. Some employers would have been angry or at least annoyed that they must find a new companion, but she was nothing bu
t generous.’
‘We are both very happy for you.’
Jane had slipped the gown on. Marianne fastened the little buttons at the back. ‘I do not think it will need much alteration,’ she said. She pinched in a small fold of material and pinned it. ‘There, it is done. Now look at yourself in the mirror over the mantel.’
Jane did as she was bidden. She stared for a moment, as though she hardly knew herself.
‘Is that really me?’
‘Yes, of course it is,’ Marianne said. ‘I told you that you were lovely, but you would not believe me. Now you can see for yourself.’
‘Simon has said—’ Jane blushed and suddenly turned to hug Marianne. ‘I am so happy!’
‘You deserve your happiness. Now go upstairs and change into your own clothes again. If you bring the dress to me this afternoon, I will do the alterations—if you would like me to?’
‘Would you really? I could do them myself, but you are so clever with your needle…’
‘I shall enjoy working on such a lovely gown,’ Marianne assured her. ‘Now we must both hurry—my aunt will come downstairs in ten minutes.’
Jane nodded, gathering up the clothes she had discarded earlier. Marianne followed her up to the landing above and then turned in the direction of her own room. She was thoughtful as she washed her hands and tidied her hair. In another three weeks Jane would be married.
She was a little wistful as she went downstairs for nuncheon. She did not know when it would be possible for her to marry, even if Drew asked her. She did not even know when she would see him again.
‘It was good of you to come this evening,’ Major Barr said as he welcomed Drew to his house. ‘We dine alone. I hope you will not be bored with the company of an old soldier?’