His Unexpected Heiress: Entangled Inheritances

by Britton, Sally

  “Then you agree with me?” he asked when they paused in the hallway while she closed the music room door.

  “I do.” Her voice was quieter, less certain. “Though I cannot promise to please you with extravagant spending right away.”

  The memory of Mrs. Mayworth wringing her hands came back to him. He understood better why she thought the situation so worrisome. Things were expected of people in Miss Chapple’s position, and she needed to understand that.

  “We shall see about that. Get your bonnet and gloves, Miss Chapple. I am taking you to the village shops.” He did not wait for a protest or agreement but marched off down the hall. “Bring the children, too,” he threw over his shoulder before going down the staircase. Miss Chapple would do anything for the children, given what Mrs. Mayworth had said. Having them along could only help matters.

  Adam was halfway down the steps when he started berating himself. What had spurred him into such foolish arguments? What did it matter to him, how she used his uncle’s money? In truth, he ought to have rejoiced she had no idea how to go about spending it.

  Mrs. Mayworth’s obvious disdain for his family had started Adam down this mental path. He wanted nothing to do with most of them. He certainly had no desire to be considered in the same manner as people thought of Richard, or Mother, or Richard’s horrid wife, or Georgiana. They all would have celebrated Miss Chapple’s ignorance. Yet was Adam any better than they, considering his every friendly action was driven by no more than his desperation to set himself apart from them?

  He found his hat and gloves in a closet off the main entrance and left the house without properly putting them on. Having ridden to the house, he would need to order his uncle’s old phaeton to come around.

  Would not most people who discovered they had a fortune to their names rejoice? He put his hat upon his head, glaring at the path he walked. Had Adam inherited, he would have wasted little time in buying up an entire list of his wants. Everything from horses to new apartments in Town.

  Adam stopped in the middle of tugging on one of his gloves, at the corner of the house, the thought turning him to stone. Perhaps he was a more selfish creature than he had thought.

  Chapter 7

  Nervousness made Elaine’s insides feel all tangled, and she kept twisting and untwisting the strings of her reticule around her thumb. She had asked Polly if she ought to change her dress, but the maid had appeared almost sorrowful when she explained Elaine did not really have anything more suitable for a trip to the village. The dress she already wore would be best.

  The children were clean and dressed in their nicest clothes, too. But what had been the finest of clothing for a tradeswoman and her charges did not suit an heiress and her wards.

  As the open phaeton went down the road, Nancy and William happily enjoyed the novelty of the ride. Adam had gallantly allowed Nancy to sit in the forward-facing seat with Elaine while he took the rear-facing side. Then Adam had encouraged William to sit next to the driver, where he could enjoy the view and the horses better.

  The gentleman’s position gave Elaine ample opportunity to study him, and as he appeared lost in his thoughts she could do so without detection.

  He seemed so thoughtful and kind. Practical, too. Why hadn’t his uncle left the estate to Adam? Keeping money and land in the family was the way things were done. Handing out large inheritances to people like her—it never happened. She could not think of any story featuring such a thing, outside of fairy tales. Even in stories such as that, the poor waif usually turned out to be a long-lost daughter or kidnapped prince.

  Perhaps Adam would inherit from another family member, so his uncle had seen it as superfluous to give more to him. Whatever the situation, at least Adam did not seem to resent her. He never failed to give her a reassuring smile, and—handsome as they were—she counted each one a favor. Fair-haired, blue-eyed, and obviously a sportsman of some sort, everything about him she found most attractive. Not that she should notice such things. It was not her place to pay attention to a gentleman’s looks.

  Reminding herself of that fact, Elaine lowered her eyes to where several of her fingers were now caught in her purse strings. She pursed her lips and untangled the mess. Fidgeting would have earned her a severe reprimand at school. Ladies did not fidget.

  “Miss Nancy,” Adam said, drawing Elaine’s eyes again. He had leaned forward, staring at Nancy with great purpose. “What is one thing you have always wanted? Something of your very own, that you might have seen in a shop.”

  Nancy did not even pause to think upon the question. “A doll in a beautiful dress. Like the dresses Elaine makes.” Nancy had owned a doll once, but it had fallen down the stairs a few months before. The little figure’s wooden head had splintered. When Elaine promised to replace her, Nancy had bravely said she did not need a doll anymore. She did not even cry at the loss. The tragedy happened just after Christmas, when funds were somewhat tighter.

  “Then you shall have a doll.” When Adam spoke, Elaine met his eyes again. He was staring directly at her, his eyebrows lowered thoughtfully. He sat up again and pitched his voice to carry to William. “William, what is something you have caught yourself wishing after?”

  William looked back, his eyes flickering from Elaine to Nancy. He was at an age when toys would have less appeal to him. “A telescope.”

  Adam appeared as surprised as Elaine felt by that declaration when he addressed the boy. “Really? Have you an interest in astronomy?”

  William’s ears turned pink. “I found a book about it in the nursery.”

  “What an odd sort of book for a nursery.” Adam turned to Elaine, his words bemused.

  Nancy giggled. “It isn’t a real nursery.”

  When this seemed to perplex the gentleman further, Elaine hastily explained. “It is a room obviously meant to be a nursery, with places for the children to play and sleep, and a room for a maid to be with them. But your late uncle never furnished it as one. There were a few old books in the shelves, their spines not in the best of condition. A ball and skipping rope. The only other toys and books are what we brought with us.”

  For a moment he stared at her, nonplussed. “We will see to fixing that at once.” Then he turned to William again. “And you, sir, shall have a telescope. We will likely have to send away for one, though. I cannot think that there is much need for telescopes to be kept in stock at any shop in Orford.”

  William nodded his understanding and appeared thoughtful before thinking of something else. “Maybe some new books, then.”

  Elaine did not protest the expense of books, though she had no intention of spoiling the children. Still, when Adam gave her a somewhat triumphant grin, she could not help but smile in return. Perhaps he was right, and it would not be so terrible to make a few purchases.

  A quarter of an hour later, her head was spinning. They had entered a toy shop. It was smaller than the two she had seen in Ipswich, but the selection was more than adequate for the children under her care. Nancy found a doll and a chest of clothing, and Adam added a second doll dressed as a peddler with a basket of wares.

  “Your doll will need a friend,” he had said. Then he pointed to a doll house and asked for it to be delivered. Elaine nearly protested until she saw the look of awe on Nancy’s sweet face.

  William chose simpler things. A ball and scoop, dominoes, a box full of carved and painted soldiers, and playing cards. But Adam could not let that be all. He found Noah’s ark, the boat a quarter of the size of the doll house, filled with carved animals. Then he added a cricket bat, balls, and wickets to the order.

  Before Elaine could protest, William did. “I have no one to play with.”

  “Ah, but if you have all the equipment, other boys will come to you.” Adam stated the matter with such conviction that William actually looked hopeful.

  Adam spoke to the shop owner, the man positively delighted by the large order, and explained who Elaine was and where the bill ought to be sent. The man bo
wed to Elaine and promised delivery before the end of the day.

  “We will take the doll now, but her things may be sent along later,” Adam said, taking the doll from the countertop where Nancy had laid her.

  Nancy’s eyes went round and she hugged the toy tight. “Thank you, Mr. Gillensford.”

  “You must thank Miss Chapple,” Adam said hastily, and Elaine caught his surprised smile. “Thanks to her, you will have the perfect nursery. Next, we go to the book seller.”

  He went to the door and held it open, allowing William and Nancy to pass, appearing rather pleased with himself. As Elaine walked by him, she raised her eyes to his. “Thank you.”

  His expression changed, his deep blue eyes softening somewhat. “For what, Miss Chapple? It is you spending all the money.” He let the door close behind them and offered her his arm.

  It was difficult not to laugh at his cheeky answer. “You know very well what I mean.”

  Adam held the next door open and greeted the shop owner. “Mr. Herbert. I come with a customer for you. Have you any books he can take home with him today?” He put both hands on William’s shoulders.

  Elaine looked around in some alarm. This was not a second-hand bookstore, though why she had thought it would be she did not know. No, this was a little shop for ordering matched volumes for large libraries. She had been in the library at Tertium briefly, the leather-bound books appeared far too beautiful to even touch.

  “We do have several, the pages still uncut.” Mr. Herbert beamed at all of them, but his focus fell on William almost immediately. “What is it you are hoping for, young man? Adventure novels?”

  The boy practically vibrated with his excitement. “Anything,” he said, voice as reverent as if he was in church. “I like anything.”

  Elaine stepped up beside him and she placed a hand on his shoulder. He was growing tall, she realized, and would likely overtake her in just a matter of a few years. “William enjoys science, as well as novels.”

  Mr. Herbert regarded William with a sort of knowing before he spoke again. “A lover of the written word is always welcome in my shop, young man. Here is a list of titles I have now.” He pulled a sheet of paper from under the counter, only a few titles marked through. “And here is the catalog for any orders you wish to make.” He put a pamphlet with the name of a printer upon its front. “And if you have any questions, please ask. I can tell you about most of these books.”

  Nancy whispered loudly to Adam, standing behind them, “William will take forever to decide.”

  Adam chuckled. “I will stay while William makes his selection. Miss Chapple, there is a shop across the street where you can find fabric and inquire about a dressmaker. I am certain you and Miss Nancy can enjoy yourselves there for a time.” He approached the counter, nothing in his tone or manner suggesting he found the task inconvenient.

  A strange flutter in Elaine’s stomach surprised her, enough that she nearly stuttered upon her answer. “That might be wise. I have no desire to rush William.” She took Nancy’s hand. “Where shall we meet after?”

  When he pursed his lips in thought, the fluttering began again. “I think,” he said slowly, “we ought to pay a visit to the bakery, and then take the children to see the castle.”

  “Castle?” Nancy gasped, but William did not even look up from his lists. “The kind where a king lives?”

  Adam chuckled, the pleasant sound bringing a blush to Elaine’s cheeks. What was wrong with her? Then he bent to Nancy’s level. “I am afraid no kings have lived in this one. It is small, for a castle. But a king built it, and now the Marquess of Hertford is its guardian.”

  “We are most proud of the castle,” Mr. Herbert said, a twinkle in his eye. “If you are to be an Orford miss, you will be too.”

  “Go on with Miss Chapple,” Adam instructed Nancy. “I will show it to you when we meet again.” He rose back to his full, impressive height.

  Trying not to look at Adam, Elaine hastily took her leave of the men and the shop. Nancy came along with her, nearly skipping, and chirping all her thoughts about kings and castles. Elaine could hardly pay attention to the child, trying as she was to reason with herself.

  Adam Gillensford was handsome. She had arrived at that point already. He also seemed to be a kind gentleman. She had met many a nice man and yet never had her head turned by them. The manner in which he spoke to the children, treating them with respect and good humor, only served to emphasize the first two compliments she had to pay him.

  An attraction might be perfectly natural, she assured herself. So long as she remembered her place, his family’s nobility, everything ought to be fine. A woman could admire a fine painting, after all, without having to purchase it for her own.

  That decided, she entered the shop filled with bolts of beautiful fabric. She took in a deep breath, the familiar scents of wool, satin, and silk immediately calming her thoughts. She went directly to the counter, where a woman in fine clothing was already being waited upon.

  Nancy looked about with interest and pointed to a particular bolt of blue with white flowered print. “That one looks familiar. Didn’t you make a dress for Miss Martin with that one?”

  Peering at the fabric, Elaine started to nod. “It does look similar. I would not be surprised if it was the very same. Which color do you think would suit you best?”

  The two stood close, quietly discussing colors and fabrics, with Nancy happily sharing everything she knew about the business of dress design.

  The woman who had been shopping stepped closer to them. She was perhaps only a few years older than Elaine. “Good afternoon,” she said. “Might I introduce myself? I am Mrs. Bartleby. I live north of Orford, at Beechwood Place.”

  “How do you do,” Elaine said, dipping a small curtsy. Nancy hastily copied her. “I am Miss Chapple. This is Nancy. We have just come to live at Tertium Park.”

  With a little gasp, the woman covered her heart with one hand. “Oh, you are the woman who inherited Mr. Gillensford’s estate.” She appeared uncertain for a moment, then said with some hesitation. “Please accept my condolences on his loss.”

  Though Elaine barely knew him, she answered with sincerity. “Thank you. That is most kind of you.”

  Mrs. Bartleby’s expression lightened somewhat. “No one has said much about you, Miss Chapple. Where did you live before?”

  “In Ipswich.” Elaine’s insides clenched. This was why she had told Mrs. Mayworth she had no wish to make visits to her neighbors. Once people knew of her background, it was unlikely she would be viewed favorably. The upper classes did not mix with tradespeople. She knew well enough that her new status did nothing to erase her origins.

  “Not too far from here, then. I have a daughter, she is seven years old. Is that close to your age, Miss Nancy?” Mrs. Bartleby’s smile turned more maternal with her address.

  “I turned six in January,” Nancy said, somewhat shyly. She kept her new doll wrapped securely in her arms.

  “Wonderful. When is your at home day, Miss Chapple? I can bring my Caroline on a visit. Perhaps the girls will get along.”

  Nancy lifted her face, her expression hopeful. “We can play with the new dollhouse,” she not-quite-whispered.

  If Mrs. Bartleby learned the truth of Nancy’s background, of Elaine’s, would she still want to come? People would find out about them eventually. Elaine harbored no illusions about keeping anything so big a secret.

  “I have not chosen a specific day yet. But perhaps you might like to call on Tuesday next?” That would give Elaine enough time to sew a new dress for Nancy.

  “Excellent. We shall look forward to the occasion.” Mrs. Bartleby took her leave, and Elaine tried to ignore the feeling of a rock resting in the bottom of her stomach.

  The store clerk came at last to attend them. Elaine was distracted enough that she quite forgot to be nervous about having the bills directed to Tertium Park, as well as the fabric. The clerk inquired if she needed the name and direction of
a reliable seamstress.

  Elaine almost said no. However, she and Nancy both needed an entirely new wardrobe. William would need clothes as well. Even if she worked night and day, it would take her weeks to make everything. It simply would not do.

  “Yes, a seamstress. And a tailor. I have a boy of eleven who needs clothing, too.”

  She was given cards for both.

  Purchases of cloth, buttons, and thread complete, Elaine and Nancy went on their way to meet Adam—who she really must stop thinking of in such a familiar way—and William. The pair were standing before the bakery, a book tucked under William’s arm, while Adam conversed with another gentleman.

  Adam—Mr. Gillensford—caught sight of her approaching. He immediately raised his hand and smiled in a way that made her repeat his proper address to herself several times. Mr. Gillensford, Mr. Gillensford, Mr. Gillensford.

  When she came to stand on the walk next to the men, they both bowed.

  “Miss Chapple, allow me to present a friend. This is Mr. Mallet. He is a near neighbor to you.”

  “How do you do, sir?” Elaine took in the cut of his suit and relaxed somewhat. A gentleman, but not one of great fashion or great means, and he was at least forty years old. Likely married.

  “I understand you are in want of a governess, Miss Chapple,” the gentleman said, his eyes wrinkling at the corners in a way that made him seem kind. “I was just recommending my sister for the job.”

  Elaine reflexively looked to Mr. Gillensford to see what he made of the idea. He gave a small nod. “Would it be possible to meet your sister?” she asked. “Has she been a governess before?”

  “Indeed, and it is something she loves. Her name is Miss Phoebe Mallet. She advertised her services in the papers. Her last round of charges are all off to school from this point onward.” The cheerful gentleman offered Elaine his card. “If you will send word of when you wish to meet her, I will be certain she comes for an interview.”