Clarendon Estate (The Sinclair Society Series, #3)

by Swafford, Bethany

  Clarendon Estate

  The Sinclair Society Series, Volume 3

  Bethany Swafford

  Published by Lilac Petal Press, 2021.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  CLARENDON ESTATE

  First edition. May 27, 2021.

  Copyright © 2021 Bethany Swafford.

  Written by Bethany Swafford.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Coming Soon

  Also Available By Bethany Swafford

  About the Author

  For my parents who taught me to love reading

  Chapter One

  When the heat of summer became unbearable, many removed themselves to where activities out of doors were possible. With servants in tow, those who were fortunate enough to have a country estate, or have a friend with such a dwelling, made their way from the city.

  For a guest on a country estate, there was entertainment and relaxation. For a servant, however, things were quite different. Even for a lady’s maid.

  The breeze carried the scent of flowers on it, and I breathed it in when I opened the window of the dressing room. In five years, the freshness of country air was something I’d dearly missed in London. No perfume could compare to the natural scent of the country.

  As the fresh air swept through the room chasing out the staleness, I set about my daily duty of putting the room in order. It was not a task that would take long, and I was soon sorting out the delicate items of Lady Leith’s wardrobe to launder.

  Behind me, I heard the slight squeak of the door swinging open. “Miss Nelson, the flowers for my lady’s dressing room.”

  Of all the tasks they expected me to do each day, arranging flowers was by far the easiest and most enjoyable. I would have preferred to select the flowers myself, but Lady Leith chose to do so herself. She would arrange flowers for the main areas of the house and send what was left for her dressing room.

  I filled a vase with water and set the flowers in the liquid. Taking a step back, I studied the blossoms, working out the best way to position them. The pale sweet peas seemed a little homely for the house of a baronet, but Lady Leith favoured them.

  “Nelson, I intend on a walk this afternoon.”

  Startled by the sudden statement, I glanced over my shoulder at my mistress, Lady Leith, who had just entered the dressing room. “Of course, my lady,” I said, obediently. I left the flowers to go to the wardrobe. I pulled out a pale blue walking dress.

  “No, no,” she said, waving her hand in a dismissive way. “I doubt we will come across anyone who will remark upon my attire. The gown I am wearing will suffice. All I will need is my pelisse and bonnet.”

  Without comment, for I had done much the same when I’d gone walking about my father’s estate, I collected the requested items. In a matter of minutes, Lady Leith was ready to set off. She had a strange expression of determination on her face.

  “Now, you must make yourself ready, Nelson,” she said, barely glancing in my direction.

  Astonished, I stared at her. “You wish for me to go with you?”

  While lady Leith had often gone for walks since we had arrived at Clarendon, she had done so alone. Why did she wish for my company this time?

  She faced me, an amused smile on her rosebud lips. “Is that so surprising? Do you really wish to remain inside on a day like this? Shall I meet you in the hall in ten minutes? Will that be enough time for you to ready yourself?”

  It was more than enough time. All I had to do was collect my spencer jacket and a suitable bonnet. To be honest, no matter why she wished for my company, the idea of a walk appealed to me. I’d had little opportunity to step outside of the four walls that made up Clarendon.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  In the hallway, Lady Leith went one way and I went the other. I kept my steps quick as I made my way up to my room. It was the same size as the one I’d used in the Burnham house in London, but the view from the small window was infinitely better. The tiny space felt more like home than any place I’d been in since I left Faircroft house.

  I took my spencer jacket from my wardrobe and slipped it on. Hopefully, with the sun shining, it would not become too hot on the walk. For the chance to have some fresh air, I’d take the risk.

  Before I left my room, I ran my fingers over my father’s pocket watch. It was a reminder of the time that continued to march on. Although I knew I had to find some way to get to the bottom of my family’s death or accept defeat, I was so tired.

  Tired of confusion, lies, and danger.

  One would not expect peace and rest would be found as a lady’s maid, but such had been the case. At least, it did when one was not employed by a selfish woman who loved to abuse those around her, with a brother who thought a maid should accept his attention without protest.

  Shaking my head to clear away those troubling thoughts, I made my way down the servants staircase and took the long way around to the hall. Even though the corridors used by servants were not as elegant as the main areas of the house, they were clean, neat, and well cared for.

  Lady Leith was already in the hall, and she smiled as I approached. “Ah, there you are,” she said. She bent down, picked up a basket, and held it out to me. “Let’s be off. We don’t have a long distance to go.”

  Since we’d left Bath, my newest employer’s spirits had lifted more and more each day. A sparkle had come to her eyes and her cheeks flushed with the enjoyment of life. I suspected the cause to be the distance between herself and her mother-in-law.

  Of course, there was one other matter that might have added to her delight with life.

  “Are you sure a long walk is wise, my lady?” I asked as I followed Lady Leith past the stables. In fact, the more I thought about it, I ought to have queried her before we stepped foot out of the manor. “You wouldn’t want to tire yourself.”

  Since taking on the position of her personal maid, I’d come to know more about the young woman, who was not much older than myself. She appreciated plain speaking, though I may have overstepped my boundaries with this particular question.

  “I am more than capable of a walk, Nelson,” Lady Leith said, glancing over her shoulder. To my relief, her tone was not irritated but amused. “Besides, it is far too beautiful a day to remain inside. Why should we not enjoy it?”

  As I wasn’t about to argue with her, I decided to allow the matter to drop. I would simply remain as close as I could so if she did become unsteady, I would be able to catch and support her. For a moment, I wondered what was in the basket she’d handed to me. It wasn’t exactly heavy, but it wasn’t empty either. Who was the intended recipient?

  Lady Leith led the way past the massive maze that took up most of the grounds. On my next half day, I hoped to explore and solve it. At least it would be a puzzle that did not have some importance attached to it.

 
Although my family’s estate hadn’t been as large as Clarendon, I couldn’t help but see the similarities between them. Both were built of stone with many windows. The grounds were well-tended, though there had been no maze at my childhood home. There had been countless times I’d made a walk such as the one I was on with Lady Leith, with the sun shining overhead and the scent of growing things on the wind.

  “You seem happy.” Lady Leith’s statement brought me back to the task at hand. “I think that is the first time I’ve seen you smile.”

  “I’ve smiled before,” I said in protest.

  The lady laughed softly, her dark brown eyes sparkling. “Perhaps, but not with your eyes, Nelson. Right now, you look happy. I assume you’ve spent time in the country before?”

  “Most of my life.” It was difficult to make the admission. I had never spoken of my background with any of my other employers. Mrs. Burnham and Rose Dunbar were too self-centred to be granted such confidence, and Eugenia Burnham, as sweet as her temperament was, had been occupied with untangling her emotions and hopes for the future.

  “Just how did you end up in Bath then?”

  Surprised, I stared at her for a moment. The expression of curiosity on her face was sincere, and she’d slowed her steps so that she was by my side instead of ahead of me, which would have been more proper. “I...answered an ad,” I said, choosing my words with care. “I thought to see some of the world while I could.”

  “Of course. I suppose that is one benefit to being in a position such as you have,” Lady Leith said with a nod. “Though I don’t imagine you expected to endure someone such as Rose Dunbar.”

  “True.” I appreciated that Lady Leith had never questioned me about what I had been subjected to when I was in the Dunbar house. She must have heard about Daniel Dunbar’s ‘injuries’ and the rumours that the maid—me—had inflicted on the man, but she never questioned me for the details.

  Perhaps she knew the kind of man he was and believed, as few did, that I had acted in the only way I could.

  “So, before you were in Bath, where did you live?”

  These were the questions I’d thought to get before she hired me. I suppose I should have expected them to come at some point. “London, your ladyship. I was in the employ of a lady by name of Burnham.”

  “Burnham? I believe my husband and I know the family, at least in passing.”

  That, of course, did not surprise me. All the families of society knew each other somehow, with many connected through marriage.

  “I do remember hearing that Miss Eugenia Burnham was engaged to be married,” Lady Leith continued, her tone thoughtful. “In fact, if I remember correctly, I believe her wedding day was last month and she is now Mrs. Gerard Landon.”

  Happiness swelled in my heart. Eugenia Burnham had been newly engaged when I left her father’s house. I hadn’t known when she would be married, but I knew she was happy with her choice. She was away from her domineering mother and had begun a new chapter in life.

  “I’m glad to hear it. Miss Burnham was a sweet girl.”

  Lady Leith glanced at me with a raised eyebrow. “She underwent an incredible transformation this past season from what I have heard. One day she is known as pretty enough, and the next she is declared an incarnation of Aphrodite. However did she manage it, I wonder.”

  Aphrodite? Now that particular rumour hadn’t reached my ears and really was an exaggeration. “It’s astonishing what a new hairstyle and a change in one’s garments can do for a young lady’s confidence,” I said with a smile, remembering the lengths I had gone to help Eugenia.

  “I’d wondered if you’d had a hand in it.” Lady Leith laughed softly. “I remember how overshadowed Miss Burnham always seemed to be with as many ribbons and adornments that were on her gowns. I take it those were not her choice?”

  Did she expect me to tell tales about the Burnhams? Perhaps it was everything I’d gone through as a lady’s maid, but questioning always set me on edge. “An unskilled seamstress with no eye for what flatters a lady can be a trial,” I said in as vague a way as I could manage.

  “Too true.” Her tone had a cool note to it, but before I had time to work out why, Lady Leith’s steps quickened. “Come along, Nelson.”

  Had something I said unsettled her? Why had her mood changed so quickly? Puzzled, I hurried after her. It would seem I would have to be a little careful when it came to getting to know my newest employer.

  TO MY SURPRISE, LADY Leith’s destination was a small cottage hidden among some trees. We’d passed three other tenant homes to get to this one. There was no farm nearby to support those who lived there, and I knew the cottage was lived in from the clean laundry that hung between two of the lines.

  “I’ll take the basket now,” Lady Leith said, lifting her right hand and waving. Though I didn’t see anyone in sight, someone must have been watching from a window, for the front door swung open. A young man, his clothing of a much better quality than I would have expected, came rushing out.

  He couldn’t have been much younger than me. His brown hair was a bit longer than was currently fashionable. When he reached Lady Leith, I could see that he was a head taller than her, and she was above average in height.

  With enthusiasm, he embraced Lady Leith, nearly lifting her off her feet. The movement knocked her bonnet back, revealing her fair hair. Then, once the young man set her down, he took a step back and offered a formal bow. His brown eyes were bright with delight, though there was a flash of curiosity when he glanced at me. On closer inspection, I would have put him at about twenty years, if that.

  Lady Leith let out a laugh and held her hand out to take the basket from me. She then passed it to the young man. Immediately, he pulled the cloth that had covered the contents and his grin widened as he saw what was inside.

  “Simon has an insatiable thirst for books,” Lady Leith said, without glancing at me. She reached over and put her hand on the young man’s arm. “Allow me to introduce you to my brother-in-law, Simon Leith.”

  Mr. Simon Leith lifted his gaze and then glanced from his sister-in-law to me. “Pleased to meet you, sir,” I said, wondering why he lived so far from the estate house and in such a small cottage. Why hadn’t I heard about him before this point?

  To my surprise, he gave a nod and then returned his focus to Lady Leith. He made a gesture in my direction. “Your friend?” he asked. His voice was a strange monotone which I would not have expected for a young man.

  “My maid,” Lady Leith said, keeping her gaze on Mr. Leith. “Nelson.”

  The young man raised an eyebrow and then dropped his gaze back to the basket. He pulled a book out and began to examine it. His grin widened, which made him look even younger than before.

  “My lady?” I asked, confused about what was happening.

  “Simon cannot hear, Nelson,” Lady Leith said, her voice quiet. “He does not intend to be rude.”

  “The thought never crossed my mind.” In fact, I was once again reminded of home. Although I hadn’t had a sibling who was deaf, there was a family on the estate who had. However they had kept their child with them, not sent him away as though he were something to be ashamed of.

  I watched as the pair communicated in an elaborate game of charades and miming. They seemed to know each other well and, if I’d been a passer-by, I would have taken them for siblings. Which, of course, they were by marriage, but such closeness did not always happen when a woman married into a family.

  Still, it made my heart ache with sadness. Seeing them together and happy made me remember the times I’d been with my brother. I missed Jonathan more than ever. He may have kept secrets from me and after my adventure in Bath, I felt maybe I hadn’t known him as well as I once thought I did. Jonathan had been my best friend, though, whatever the secrets he’d kept.

  Blinking rapidly, I forced back the tears that threatened to fall. At least, I had the comfort of knowing Jonathan’s killer couldn’t hurt anyone again. Mr. Ingram’s death
had given me that small comfort.

  The cottage door squeaked as it opened. Startled by the sound, I shifted my gaze to the small structure. “Would you be wanting some tea, my lady?” an older woman, her hair a greying brown, asked as she dried her hands on a towel. She frowned as though she disapproved of what she was seeing.

  “Not today, Miss Webber,” Lady Leith said, true regret in her voice. “Perhaps when I return.”

  Miss Webber gave a nod, and then her gaze shifted back to me. Suspicion crossed her face as her eyes narrowed. I resisted the urge to take a step back. Spinning on her heel, the woman entered the house and closed the door.

  Clasping Mr. Leith’s hands in hers, Lady Leith went up on her toes and kissed his cheek. He returned the affectionate gesture, leaning down to do so, and then opened up the book in his hand. With a laugh, my employer turned and walked away.

  “Come along, Nelson,” she said. “He will be occupied with his book for some time.”

  My mind still on the mistrust Miss Webber had shown, I followed without even thinking about it. Once more, I had so many questions to join ones that had gone unanswered.

  “Sir Horace told me Simon came down with a fever when he was only six years old and when the fever passed, his brother couldn’t hear anymore.”

  Surprised by the random statement, I glanced over at Lady Leith. “I’ve heard of it happening before,” I said, since she seemed to be waiting for a response from me. “Mr. Leith seems to be doing well despite it?”

  A slight smile flickered on her face. “I believe so. He would be better if he were at Clarendon House.”

  “How long has he been with Miss Webber?”

  “Since he was seven.” A frown creased Lady Leith’s forehead. “The dowager felt it would be best for her other children if he were elsewhere. Miss Webber was their nurse, and she took on the responsibility in exchange for the cottage. It is hers for the duration of her life.”

  It wasn’t hard to believe that of the dowager. Any deviation from what she considered proper would not be tolerated. I had only to look at how she treated her own daughter-in-law, who was a sweet lady and had never done anything improper, to know she would put her poor son as far from her as possible. No doubt she would prefer that everyone forget Mr. Leith ever existed.