by Jenna Brandt
There were a couple of giggles around the table from the younger three women mixed with reproachful looks from the older two.
What had she said to cause such a reaction? She glanced over at her husband who had a smirk on his face. He didn’t seem to be bothered by whatever she had done. Instead, he added, “I do indeed enjoy observing you in the delectable dress, my love.” William lifted Debbey’s gloved hand and kissed the top. “I am glad you chose to wear it again tonight.”
This time, Lady Stenal made a disapproving sound in her throat before she narrowed her eyes and spat out, “Need I remind you both that this is not a private dinner. There are other people present witnessing your exchange.”
Lord Stenal interrupted, “Oh, wife, let them be. They are newly wedded. Do you not remember how it was to be such?”
Giving a withering look to her husband, she argued, “It does not excuse away such behavior. He knows better, and he should have taught her to know better as well.”
Debbey forced herself not to react to the woman’s obvious disapproval of her. She wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing her words stung. Debbey was doing her best to adapt to her new title and the challenges that came with it. She was also aware she wasn’t learning quickly enough to satisfy the nobles on the ship.
“Excuse me ladies and gentlemen, I need to take my leave. I still haven’t grown accustomed to being on the ship it seems.”
All of the women nodded and said their goodnights before Debbey stood and made her way towards the exit. Before she could reach her cabin, she felt a wave of nausea descend upon her. The room began to spin, and she felt like she was going to faint. With a quick glance around the room, Debbey noticed there was a sitting area in the back corner of the great saloon. She made her way over to one of the cushioned settees. She positioned one of the pillows behind her, wanting to rest until she felt herself gain her composure.
From the side, she heard Lady Annabelle Stenal inquire, “Where is your maid? Why is no one waiting on you?”
Debbey jerked forward, her eyes rounding with shock upon noticing the elderly woman looking at her with admonishment. She hadn’t expected to have anyone find her in the corner of the saloon since the women had made their way to the parlor, and the men were having cigars in the study.
“I don’t have a maid,” Debbey stated with embarrassment.
“Why ever not? Every lady should have one, and with your husband’s considerable influence and wealth, I find it unfathomable you are without one.”
Squirming from the chastisement, Debbey defended, “We’ve only been married a month and had to travel with little notice. I’m sure my husband would have taken care of the matter if there had been time.” Debbey didn’t want to admit she never considered herself a lady or thought about hiring help while they planned their future in West Linn.
With a resigned sigh, the other woman made an offer, which came across more as a command. “I have three maids. I will lend you Susan until we reach England. I suggest as soon as you arrive at Hinwick Manor, you place an advertisement for a personal maid. The Viscountess Braybridge will not be pleased to find out you have been without one all this time.”
Debbey was unaware that Lady Annabelle knew her mother-in-law. It made her uneasy. She wondered if the woman would report her behavior back to her mother-in-law once they were in Brighton.
“Thank you, Lady Stenal. I much appreciate your offer.”
“Do not think for a moment I do any of this for you. The viscountess is a good friend of mine and I refuse to let someone like you make a fool of her.”
She should have figured Lady Stenal’s help had nothing to do with her. Even if she was doing it out of obligation to William’s mother, Debbey wasn’t going to make the tenuous relationship worse by rejecting the offer out of pride.
“Lady Almonbury, I should warn you,” Lady Stenal said as she pulled out her fan and waved it across her face, “you are going to need all the help you can get. The Viscountess Braybridge is a formidable woman.”
Chapter 1
Late January 1871
Brighton, England
As they approached the English shoreline, Debbey sucked in a deep breath and held it. Her anxiety over meeting William’s family was thick. Would they like her? More importantly, would they accept her as William’s wife? She had heard that the English didn’t like for their nobility to marry outside their class. Debbey was as far from a noblewoman as one could get. Irish peasant by ancestry and American working class since birth, Debbey knew it was going to be difficult to win over William’s family.
At the edge of the docks, a carriage waited for them. “Good afternoon, Lord Almonbury,” the carriage driver stated.
“Good afternoon, Baxter. Thank you for being prompt in fetching us.”
“Certainly, sir. Do you need me to stop off anywhere, or do you want me to take you straight to Hinwick Manor?”
William shook his head. “I think it best if we arrive at the manor promptly. Mother, will be expecting us.”
Debbey watched her husband with curiosity. In all the time she knew him, he never struck her as the formal type. She knew of course, he was titled and came from a formal environment; but it was odd to see him behaving in such a manner. It was almost as if he had slipped back into the behavior out of default.
The footman helped Debbey up into the carriage, after which William joined her, allowing the footman to close the carriage door behind them and take his position at the back.
William reached across the carriage and patted Debbey on the knee. “You seem tense, my love. What is the matter?”
“What if they don’t like me?”
“What is there not to like?”
‘Stop it.”
“Stop what?”
“Stop deflecting.” Her eyes met his as she whispered, “Admit it, you’re worried what they are going to think of me too.”
“I do not give two figs what they are going to think of you. You are the woman I chose to spend my life with and that is all that matters.”
“It’s kind of you to say that, but we both know what they think does matter.”
As they pulled into the long pathway leading down to Hinwick Manor, Debbey couldn’t believe her eyes. She knew William came from money, but nothing had prepared her for the magnificent estate before her eyes.
The manor—which appeared to be more a regal castle—glistened white with two towers, one on each end, sandwiching several wings between them. The white facade contrasted against the immaculately manicured green garden that surrounded the estate.
“You’ve grown pale. Is everything alright?” William asked with concern.
“I never knew you had this kind of money, William. This estate is expansive. It makes the Moore estate from back home look like a hovel.”
William shrugged. “I never thought about it. Besides, I never considered it mine since my brother stood to inherit everything besides my sister’s dowry and my allowance.”
As the carriage came to rest outside the manor, the doors opened to the home and two women gracefully descended the stairs. The younger one looked similar to William with her fair features. The older one had brown hair with grey streaks running through and creased skin at her brown eyes.
“Mother and Clara must have heard the approaching carriage and came out to greet us.” He appeared anxious. “Are you ready for this?” he inquired.
Taking in a deep sigh, she replied, “As I’ll ever be.”
The footman hopped down and made his way around to the carriage door. He opened it and stretched up to help Debbey exit. William followed behind, coming to stand next to Debbey. He took her hand and placed it in the crook of his arm before turning his attention to his family. He escorted Debbey over to stand in front of them.
“Mother, Clara, may I introduce, my wife, Debbey, to both of you.”
“Debbey?” his mother asked with incredulousness. “Is that your full name?”
“Please
d to meet you ma’am,” she said as she tried to curtsy, but teetered as she came up from the gesture. “To answer your question, no, my full name is Deborah.”
“We will call you Lady Deborah then. Debbey will not do at all.” Turning on her heels, she commanded as she made her way back into the manor, “Follow me, please.”
Obediently, everyone followed the lady of the manor inside. The entry hall of the house was pristine and Debbey could hardly believe her eyes. The inside of the home was even more impressive than the outside. The walls were covered in plush tapestries and large paintings. There were several pieces of rich walnut furnishings, and a crystal chandelier hung from the center of the foyer.
The Viscountess Braybridge guided them to a room on the left side. As the double doors opened, Debbey viewed the most breathtaking parlor she had ever seen. The room was dripping in golden opulence. Plush silk fabrics covered every inch of the seating and walls.
“Where is Father? Andrew?” William asked.
“We need to discuss the matter,” his mother replied.
Debbey finally had a moment to look at William’s sister, Clara, in detail. She was gorgeous, with long blonde hair, blue eyes and fair skin; but she noticed there were dark circles under the girl’s eyes. They also seemed to be puffy and red, as if she had been crying recently, and without relent. Debbey could sense something was wrong and her stomach dropped to her feet. What wasn’t William’s mother telling them?
“Both of you should sit, now,” Lady Almonbury ordered. William and Debbey obliged and waited patiently for her to continue. She rang a small bell, and one of the servants entered the room with a tray of tea and biscuits. The servant placed the tray down on the buffet on one side of the room and began pouring cups of tea. She handed them out to each of them.
“Thank you,” Debbey said as the girl handed her a cup. The girl averted her eyes and didn’t respond. As Debbey took a sip, she was shocked to find the tea was exactly how she took it. How did they know to prepare it in such a fashion?
“You have arrived too late, William. I must inform you your brother and father have passed away.”
Debbey’s cup clattered as it came crashing down on the saucer, her eyes growing wide with dismay.
“When?” William whispered in a barely audible voice.
“Three weeks since your brother and two weeks since your father.”
“Why did you not send a telegraph to inform me when they passed?” William asked in a tone laced with accusation. “While I was in New York making arrangements for the voyage, I sent an inquiry as to what was happening here. You never made mention.”
“It was a delicate matter. I thought it best to wait until you arrived. Besides, there was nothing to do by then.” She gave a disgusted look at Debbey. “If you had not insisted on staying to marry this one, you would have arrived home in time to say goodbye to both of them.”
The guilt started to take hold of Debbey’s heart. His mother was right. If he hadn’t stayed because of her, he would have had made it home in time to see them before the end. How would they ever forgive her for getting in the way?
“What needs to be done?” William inquired.
“The funerals have already taken place. You need to meet with the lawyers to finalize the details of taking over your responsibilities.”
“What responsibilities?” Debbey caught herself asking before she could refrain.
With a narrowed glance, Lady Almonbury stated coldly, “Your husband is now the Viscount Braybridge.”
Debbey’s head jerked to the side as she tried to make eye contact with William. He seemed to be rooted to his spot in the plush upholstered chair, unable to look at anyone present.
“Which makes you the Viscountess Braybridge,” Clara added.
Lady Almonbury gave a foul look to her daughter. “Clara, what have I told you about speaking without being addressed?”
Clara’s head dropped down at the admonishment as she whispered, “Yes, Mother.”
“Before we discuss matters further, there is a stack of correspondence on your father’s desk in the study. As the new viscount, you must deal with your duties immediately.”
William looked pale, as if the life had been sucked out of him. He stood and moved towards the door without hesitation. A few moments after William’s departure, Lady Almonbury turned her attention to Debbey. The older woman scanned her with disdain. “We will need to do something about that wardrobe, immediately.”
Debbey glanced down at her attire; a simple traveling dress in navy blue. She had wanted to be comfortable while traveling, but regretted her choice. The judgment in her mother-in-law’s eyes made it clear she was not making a good first impression.
With a flick of Lady Almonbury’s wrist, one of the servants materialized from the shadows. “Summon the dressmaker.” She arched an eyebrow critically. “Tell her it is urgent.”
Lady Almonbury stood and smoothed out her skirt. “Come ladies, we have our own duties to which we must attend.” She walked over to the exit and turned to them, impatience evident in her eyes. “I do not have all day. Make haste at once.”
Both girls quickly scrambled to their feet and rushed over to Lady Almonbury’s side. With precision, she pulled open the door and the three women filed out of the room.
“In anticipation of your arrival, I had the suites in the west wing readied.” Her hand snapped up for a second time and a man in a suit arrived. He faintly reminded her of the Moores’ butler meaning he was most likely the butler of Hinwick Manor. “Escort Lady Deborah to her adjoining rooms to the new Viscount Braybridge’s suite.”
Debbey noted the fact they were indeed using her full name. She also observed how conveniently they had left out her newly acquired title; not that she wanted them to use it in the first place.
“Yes, my lady. I will do as you ask.”
With veiled contempt, the butler turned to Debbey. “Follow me, Lady Deborah.” When he said her name, it was like it was a dirty word he was forced to say. From the frown on his face, she could tell he would rather be doing anything other than what Lady Almonbury had tasked him to do.
As they made their way up the staircase, she heard Lady Almonbury speak to Clara. “We need to confirm the details for the evening meal. I want you to watch how I handle the cook and servants. You are to inform them what is required, and never allow them to make excuses for not meeting your expectations.”
Lady Stenal’s words came floating back into Debbey’s mind. Lady Almonbury was a formidable woman indeed.
Chapter 2
The stack of correspondence and bills were shockingly large. Had his mother neglected to take care of all of them while his father and brother were sick? Several were significantly past due. He suspected debt collectors would have been paying visits to Hinwick Manor if he had not arrived when he did.
He heard a rapping at the door. “Enter,” he commanded. As the door opened, he glanced up from his leather seat behind his father’s desk to find his mother marching into the room.
“Have you put the family affairs in order, William?”
With a shake of the head, he stated, “It will take more than an afternoon to right what has been neglected in father’s absence.”
His mother’s eyes narrowed to slits. “I hope you are not implying the state of affairs is my fault. I informed you in ample time to return to England. It was your rash and imprudent decision to stay for your farce of a wedding which allowed this deterioration. Honestly, William, you have dalliances with women like Debbey. You do not marry them.” She leaned forward across the desk and whispered, “There is still time to rectify your mistake.”
“Mother, she is my wife and I would advise you to never speak about her in such a way again. She is not going anywhere so you should resign yourself to the situation.”
He could tell his mother was fighting the urge to argue with him further. She perched herself on the edge of a chair and placed her hand on the corner of the desk. Contempla
tion played across her face as she tapped her fingers. “Since Deborah is to remain a permanent fixture in the family, I think she would benefit from etiquette training to learn how to engage in our society. I am assuming she never attended finishing school?”
“You know very well there are no finishing schools in the American frontier, Mother.”
“As the new Viscountess Braybridge, your wife needs to know how to interact properly with nobility,” Lady Almonbury chastised.
A smirk formed on William’s face. “Should I have a refresher course then, Mother? I never was trained to be a viscount. I was the spare heir after all.”
“Your father’s and brother’s untimely deaths are not a jesting matter, William,” she admonished.
He sobered immediately as a solemn look settled on his face. “You are right, Mother. I am sorry.”
“However, since you brought up the matter of your behavior, you will need to refrain from your previous conduct prior to leaving for America.”
William feigned innocence. “Whatever are you referring to?”
“You know perfectly well I am referring to your frequent visits to the local taverns and gambling halls. We will have no more repeats of such antics.”
With a nod, William agreed. “I have quite changed since last I was home. I am married now and would never dishonor my wife in such a way. Additionally, I started regularly attending church while in West Linn. I want to honor my commitment to God.”
An arched eyebrow showed Lady Almonbury’s disapproval. “You became religious while in America? Or does your newfound faith have anything to do with the fact you married a reverend’s daughter?”
“I am not sure I like what you are implying. Let me be clear, my relationship with God is my own, and not influenced by anyone else.” With a shrug, he questioned, “Why are you upset with my choice? We went to church all my life.”
“We went because it was expected in proper society. We were never zealots, William.”