The Highborn Housekeeper

by Sarah Mallory

  After deciding that the Earl’s old bay mare would suit her best and Davy’s assurance that he would saddle her up at a word, Nancy went back to the house, praying that Gabriel would not fail her. The morning stretched before her and she knew she should pass the time with ladylike pursuits. That way she would be available, should any visitors be announced. She made her way to the drawing room where she spent an hour practising at the pianoforte before taking her embroidery to the morning room, where she set her stitches with impatient fingers and strained every nerve to listen for the sounds of an arrival.

  * * *

  The clock on the mantelpiece was chiming eleven when Gabriel walked in with all the assurance of one confident of his welcome. He was wearing a dark frock coat and buckskin breeches that disappeared into a pair of highly polished top boots, but he looked every bit as elegant in his riding dress as he had in his ball dress the previous evening. Not that Nancy was going to tell him so, she decided as she put aside her embroidery.

  ‘Good morning, my lord.’ She tried not to look or sound too pleased to see him. ‘How good of you to come again so soon.’

  ‘My Lady Ann, I cannot stay away.’ He added, as the door closed upon them, ‘I can see by your look that you have news for me. Quickly, while we are alone, what have you discovered?’

  She told him briefly all she had learned about the death of her old groom.

  ‘Gabriel, he died on his way into Darlton, the self-same night you were attacked. That cannot be mere chance. I am almost sure he was your informant.’

  ‘And you think someone prevented him from getting to Darlton to meet me?’

  ‘He was an old man,’ she said cautiously, ‘but he had never suffered a day’s illness in his life. It was Lady Craster’s people who found him. We only have their word for it that he had collapsed.’ She shook her head, reminding herself not to jump to conclusions. ‘Perhaps I am being too fanciful.’

  ‘And perhaps not.’

  She squeezed her hands together and fixed her eyes upon him. ‘He lived here all his life, Gabriel, it must have been something serious to unsettle him so much. If he thought my father was in trouble, that would do it, I think.’

  He walked over to the fireplace, staring down into the flames for a moment before glancing back at her.

  ‘If the Earl is involved in this smuggling business, it might be safer for you to leave Masserton now.’

  ‘That may be so, but old Peter showed me more kindness than I ever had from my parents. He taught me to ride and I have learned that even after I ran away, he kept my lady’s saddle, hoping I would return. Twelve years—’ She broke off for a moment to collect herself, then lifted her chin and gazed steadily at Gabriel. ‘I am no longer in a tearing hurry to quit Masserton. I want to find out the truth. Hester and I are going to search the house again from top to bottom. If the missing papers are here, we will find them! And if my father is implicated, then so be it.’

  ‘Nancy, be careful. It could be dangerous for you.’

  ‘Perhaps, but I am on my guard now and there are still some of the old servants here. Kindly, honest souls whom I may turn to, if I need help. I am determined to do this, Gabriel.’

  ‘Very well.’ He came closer. ‘But I pray you will not run any risks.’

  Her heart skittered. She had grown accustomed to looking after herself and his concern unnerved her. She felt weak, vulnerable. Afraid for her own safety and that was something new. As if, for the first time in years, she had a reason to live.

  * * *

  ‘I beg your pardon, my lord, I was still at breakfast.’

  Lady Craster’s breathless voice sounded from the doorway and Nancy saw something very like a flicker of regret in Gabriel’s eyes before he turned away from her.

  ‘Then I must apologise, ma’am, for coming so precipitately.’

  He kissed her fingers with practised grace and, observing the way the lady relaxed, Nancy knew he was forgiven. Lady Craster invited him to sit down and flicked a glance at Nancy.

  ‘Lady Ann, have you ordered refreshments for our guest?’

  ‘Not yet, ma’am, no, I was waiting for you.’

  Susan shook her head at her and said with a soft laugh, ‘But why, my dear? You know you need not stand upon ceremony here, this is your home now.’ She walked across to the bell pull and tugged it, smiling at her guest as she did so. ‘I am sure Lord Gabriel must be ready for a warming drink, after riding here on such a cold day, is that not so, my lord?’

  Nancy sank back in her chair and resumed her sewing while Susan engaged him in conversation. She was thankful she had told him all she knew, for there would be no further opportunity to talk privately now. Refreshments were brought in and then the Earl joined them, staying until Gabriel took his leave an hour later. He accompanied his guest to the door, leaving the ladies alone in the morning room.

  ‘I think, after all, you are wise not to pin your hopes upon Lord Gabriel,’ remarked Susan, almost as soon as the door closed. ‘He is undoubtedly very attractive, but even on such a short acquaintance it is clear he is a flirt.’

  ‘As you say.’ Nancy rose. ‘If you will excuse me...’

  ‘Oh, pray do not go yet, my dear, there are one or two little things that you might do for me.’

  Nancy listened while Lady Craster outlined numerous menial tasks that could easily have been done by the servants. However, in the main they involved returning the house to order following last night’s ball, and as this gave Nancy another opportunity to talk to the staff and roam freely around the house, she made no demur. She went off to her room, found a linen apron to slip over her muslin day gown and set to work.

  * * *

  Hester was searching the servants’ rooms at the top of the house and Nancy concentrated on the main bedchambers, armed with a pile of linen which she might use as an excuse if she was discovered. There was nothing in her father’s rooms to excite her suspicions, but she knew that any papers were more likely to be in his study, which she dared not search until the Earl was out of the house.

  Lady Craster’s bedchamber and dressing area were both tidy and after a swift and unproductive search Nancy decided her time would be better spent talking to the servants. She slipped out and was heading for the main staircase when she saw Lady Susan and the Earl disappearing into the Blue Bedroom. She stopped just out of sight of the open door to listen.

  Lady Craster’s voice floated out to her: ‘This is the pattern I have chosen for this room, my lord. What do you think of it? The blue will be perfect with the existing bed hangings and curtains, so that will be a saving, will it not?’

  ‘But I’d swear that is the first paper you showed me.’

  ‘My dear Hugh, I assure you it is very different. If you are happy, I mean to order it.’

  ‘Do as you please, Susan, I haven’t time for such matters. I want to take the dogs out for some sport while the daylight lasts.’

  ‘Oh, do say you like it, my love. I have spent so many hours debating which would be best, but I would dearly love your approval before I order the paper. You do like it, do you not, Hugh, dear?’

  Nancy’s lip curled at the wheedling tone, but her father was clearly won over. She heard him chuckle.

  ‘Bless you, you must do as you think fit, my dear. After all, you are paying for it. And if you think it is worth it...’

  ‘Of course it is, dear sir. Only think how grand these rooms will look when we have guests to stay.’ Susan’s voice grew softer, almost a purr as she added, ‘After our honeymoon.’

  Nancy moved on, there was nothing to be learned there, but at least if her father was going out she could search the offices with little fear of being discovered.

  * * *

  The rest of the day proved equally fruitless. She found an excuse to look in her father’s study as well as talking to staff, but she learned little of inter
est, apart from confirming the night of old Peter’s death. No one could tell her anything more about the groom’s death and enquiries about Lady Craster were met with a blank stare. The only servants who might be relied upon to know something of the lady’s past were her maid, Lucas the groom and her coachman, all of whom had been with her for years, but since they viewed Nancy with suspicion, she dared not approach them.

  She was feeling quite dispirited by the time she returned to her room to change for dinner, where Hester was waiting for her and was clearly big with news.

  ‘You have found something hidden in the servants’ quarters?’

  ‘No, Miss Nancy, nothing like that, although I searched them thoroughly, I promise you. But I was collecting the clean shifts from the drying rooms when one of the grooms stopped me. A grey-haired man, with a chipped front tooth.’

  ‘Davy?’

  ‘Aye, that’s the one. He said your gentleman visitor had a message for you. I presume he means Master Gabriel?’

  ‘Lord Gabriel has been our only visitor today.’ Nancy spoke calmly enough, but she could do nothing about the blush stealing into her cheeks.

  ‘Aye, well. Davy said to tell you that his lordship will be riding out on Garmore Hill early tomorrow morning, if you was free to join him. First light, he said. He impressed upon me that it is a great secret and no one else is to know.’ One of Hester’s rare smiles dawned. ‘I think he scents a romance.’

  ‘It is what Lord Gabriel wants him to think.’

  ‘I know that, ma’am, but anyone seeing you together as I have done these past weeks—’

  Nancy stopped her. ‘It was a pleasant interlude, Hester, but I assure you it is nothing more than that.’ She turned to the mirror. She looked more like a scullery maid than a lady, with her hair escaping from its pins and a smudge of dirt on her cheek. She was no consort for a lord, especially not for the son of a marquess. ‘It could never be more than that.’

  Even the gown that Hester had put out for her to wear that evening, a lilac-coloured sarsenet trimmed with quilled ribbon, did not make her feel more like a lady. It was expensive, but far too dashy for her present low spirits, for which sackcloth and ashes seemed preferable.

  She had forfeited her good name and her reputation and there was no way to regain either. Society would always look askance at a woman who had run away from home and lived for more than a decade without the protection of a husband or a father. She straightened her shoulders. When this was over, she would return to Prospect House, to her work and the friends who valued her, but for now she had a role to play and she was determined to do it well. Nancy left her bedchamber with her head held high and went downstairs to join the others for dinner.

  When she entered the drawing room her father’s resentful glance only made her lift her chin a little higher.

  ‘What, another gown? That husband of yours was surely a warm man to trick you out so finely.’

  ‘If not in the first style of elegance,’ remarked Susan with a soft laugh. ‘But he was in trade, was he not? Money can never make up for good breeding. My own family can trace its line back centuries. We came over with the Conqueror.’

  ‘Camp followers, perhaps,’ murmured Nancy sweetly.

  ‘Mind your manners, girl!’

  ‘Why should she, my lord, now you have acknowledged her and she can claim her inheritance?’ Nancy looked up, surprised, and Susan’s eyes snapped angrily. ‘Your father has this morning informed me of your grandmother’s legacy. Thirty thousand pounds!’ Her lip curled. ‘Pray do not tell me you did not know of it.’

  Oh, yes, Nancy knew of it. Mary had written to her two years ago with the news of her grandmother’s death. Nancy had written back, begging her sister not to mention it again. Later, there had been notices in the newspapers, requesting that Lady Ann Chartell should contact the London solicitors to learn something to her advantage and she guessed the old lady had mentioned her in her will, but Nancy had kept her silence. She had seen very little of Lady Elmstone during her childhood and had no strong affection for her. She had no desire to take anything from the family she had abandoned.

  She said calmly, ‘I knew Lady Elmstone was dead, that is all.’

  ‘That is all?’ the Earl mimicked her. ‘Confound it, madam, she left a fortune to you, as long as you came forward within seven years of her death. Called you her neglected granddaughter. Pshaw! I could make good use of such a sum!’

  Nancy was about to declare that he could have it, with her goodwill, but she stopped herself. Two years ago, she had been settled at Prospect House and wanted nothing more than the modest living she had there. But now she felt a certain restlessness. She might yet decide to live in the world a little more, and thirty thousand pounds would allow her to do that.

  ‘If my grandmother had wanted you to have the money, Father, she would have left it to you.’

  ‘Under the terms of the will, another five years and I could have claimed the money for myself.’ He glared at her. ‘I should never have acknowledged you!’

  Lady Craster put a hand on his sleeve. ‘Hush, my dear, how could you have done otherwise? Lady Ann might have sought refuge with friends or neighbours in the area. Just think how that would have looked, to cut your own daughter. Imagine what people would think of you. Of us.’

  ‘Aye, you are right,’ he conceded. ‘But ’tis damned galling that the ungrateful chit should inherit such a sum.’

  He was still muttering when Mickling came in to announce dinner. They moved to the dining room where Nancy, determined not to spend the evening exchanging reproaches or recriminations, did her best to turn the conversation to more cheerful subjects. She succeeded well enough, introducing such innocuous subjects as the weather and the numerous calling cards that had been received from neighbours since the ball.

  The Earl soon lost interest and turned his attention to his dinner while Lady Craster’s waspish mood was replaced with her usual façade of honeyed sweetness. She deigned to ask Nancy which of the local families she thought would expect a morning call.

  ‘All very tiresome,’ she concluded with a sigh, ‘but I suppose it must be done. But not tomorrow. I have things to do tomorrow. And Dr Scotton is calling.’ She turned to the Earl. ‘I hope you have not forgotten, my lord, that the good doctor is coming to examine you?’

  ‘Scotton?’ Nancy looked up. ‘What has happened to Dr Gough? He was always our family doctor.’

  The Earl snorted. ‘A country physician and out of touch with modern methods. Scotton has an established practice in Lincoln and more to the point he understands my gout. I hope he comes early, I mean to take the dogs out in the morning.’

  ‘I am very anxious that you remain in good health, my dear.’ Lady Craster reached out and covered the Earl’s hand with her own. She gave a falsely tender smile that made Nancy’s skin itch. ‘My lord’s well-being is very important to me, as I am sure it is to you, Lady Ann. I would be obliged, my dear, if you could look out for Dr Scotton tomorrow and have him shown directly up to your father’s room.’

  ‘Of course, Susan.’

  ‘You are very good. Now, another thing. With the weather as it is, we cannot expect the poor man to come all this way for a few hours, so I have decided he should have the rose bedchamber. It is a little small, perhaps, but I am sure it will suffice for one night. In the morning, Lady Ann, I would like you to make sure the bed is aired and that he has everything he needs for his comfort.’ She sighed. ‘I would have liked to replace the floral wall hangings before anyone slept there again, it is so terribly faded.’

  ‘All in good time my dear,’ replied the Earl, helping himself to another slice of beef. ‘We can’t have all the rooms out of service at once, you know. And the fellow is only a physician, after all. But perhaps, to save time, you should choose a paper from that sample book before Hewitt takes it away.’

  ‘Oh, no, my l
ord, that room requires a very different treatment.’ Susan pursed her lips and continued, her tone disapproving, ‘I had instructed Hewitt to call in the morning and receive my order in person, but I have just had word that he will not be coming. He will not venture from Lincoln until he can do so in a carriage! Most infuriating. As if it would hurt him to come on horseback. I am tempted to send Lucas to him with my instructions—’

  The Earl put down his knife and fork.

  ‘What! Why should we put a servant to the time and trouble of going all the way to Lincoln when the rascally fellow promised to call here?’ he exclaimed. ‘I’m damned if I will allow it.’

  ‘But, my lord—’

  ‘My dear Susan, a day or two won’t make any difference. Why fly into such a pelter over a trifle?’

  Nancy felt a very ignoble glow of pleasure at her father’s irritation with his lady love. Under the pretence of deciding between the stewed apple or the lemon curd, she watched Lady Craster fight down her anger at not getting her own way. It was almost a disappointment when at last she regained her calm and said, with a little laugh,

  ‘You are very right, sir, another day is not important. In fact,’ she added brightly, ‘it will be all for the best, because now we have Dr Scotton staying in the rose room, Hewitt would not be able to see it tomorrow. And he will need to do so, you know, to measure up before he can send over suitable papers.’

  ‘I don’t see that room needs to be changed at all,’ grumbled his lordship. ‘All this shilly-shallying over patterns and wallcoverings. Damned nuisance!’

  Nancy concentrated on her food while her father and Lady Craster continued to bicker gently. As soon as the meal was ended Nancy excused herself, pleading fatigue from the previous night’s dancing, and took herself off to bed, praying that even if the snow was too bad to allow the wallpaper supplier to drive from Lincoln, the weather would be fine enough for her to ride out and meet Gabriel.