A Dream Come True (8 page)

“I shall look forward to you coming to work at Longfield Manor,” he said in his deep rich voice that seemed to strike a chord with something inside her.

Lucia felt herself blushing and hurried out of the room.

‘What a perfect fool you are!' she said to herself crossly.

“Miss Lucia, this has just arrived for you.”

Moston was coming towards her with a massive bouquet of exotic flowers in his arms. She knew who it was from before she even pulled out the card from between the heavy fragrant blooms.

“Thank you, Moston,” she mumbled moving into the drawing room.

“Wishing your mother a speedy recovery and that we see each other again soon, regards, Edward,' she read. ‘Perhaps I should telephone him to thank him for them? expect he meant them for Mama really.'

She rang for Moston and asked for the flowers to be taken up to her mother's room as soon as they had been arranged.

‘Mama will be sorry that she has missed the opportunity to arrange them herself,' she thought, as she reclined on the sofa.

Lucia did not wish to appear too keen, so she waited until it late afternoon before she telephoned Edward.

“Thank you so much for the flowers. They will brighten Mama's room no end.”

“I hope we can meet again soon,” Edward insisted.

“As Mama is more stable, why don't you come over for a hack tomorrow?”

“I would love to and I shall bring Lightning so that you can ride him.”

Lucia was thrilled.

“I should like that very much,” she enthused with undisguised joy. “I have longed to ride him since the first day you brought him to Bingham Hall.”

“Then it is settled, I shall see you tomorrow at say, ten o'clock?”

As Lucia replaced the receiver, she heard a noise behind her. Turning around, she came face-to-face with Lord Winterton.

“Oh, I had thought you had already left,” she said colouring.

“I found that my discussion with your stepfather continued longer than I anticipated. I am glad to have the opportunity to say goodbye to you properly – you left so suddenly.”

He smiled at her with a mischievous look on his face and once again, she felt quite uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

He stood towering over her. His broad shoulders filling out the lines of his overcoat to perfection and giving the impression of someone at once both in charge of himself and protective.

As he leaned in slightly towards her, Lucia found herself involuntarily taking a step backwards.

Lord Winterton silently acknowledged her retreat and straightened himself.

“I have made arrangements with your stepfather and will see you presently at Longfield Manor. He will discuss the details with you and I am afraid I have stayed far longer than I intended. Thank you for a charming afternoon. I found the company – most pleasing.”

He bowed his head and took his hat from Moston.

“Good afternoon, Miss Mountford. I look forward to seeing you at Longfield Manor!”

He placed his hat on his head and then with one last lingering look walked out through the front door.

‘Really!' said Lucia fanning herself. ‘I can see that I shall have to watch him carefully when working for him. I would not put it past him to make unwelcome advances!'

While she had found it simple to rebuff the advances of flirtatious young Frenchmen, Lord Winterton was a fully grown man of considerable personal magnetism and not a gauche but charming boy.

‘I do hope there will not be any unnecessary unpleasantness,' she thought, feeling a little afraid, as she watched Moston close the front door.

*

 Lucia silently mounted the stairs to her mother's room. She pushed the door open just a crack and looked inside. The room was in semi-darkness and both Mrs. Darrowby and her mother were fast asleep.

She smiled and closed the door softly.

‘Perhaps Mama will be right as rain in a few days,' she mused returning back downstairs.

As she reached the foot of the stairs, her stepfather intercepted her.

“Lucia, come to the study, would you?”

She followed him into the room and was surprised to find that there lingered on the air an odour that reminded her of Lord Winterton. Was it cologne, she wondered, or cigars mingled with leather? She could not make up her mind.

In any event it unnerved her and made her feel as if he was still in the room.

“I am pleased that Lord Winterton found you to his liking,” he began, refusing to meet her gaze. “He has indicated that he wishes you to start at once.”

“But Mama – ”

“She would not wish to stand in the way. She would understand that such matters are not her business and now you will make ready to leave the Hall early on Monday morning. Lord Winterton will require you to stay at Longfield Manor during the week and you will be allowed home at weekends.”

‘Live in,' thought Lucia shocked, ‘but that is something servants do.'

“But it is not so far that I could not travel each day and Mama needs me. She is far from well and I would never forgive myself should anything happen to her.”

Sir Arthur whirled around from his position by the window with his eyes bulging with fury.

“Lucia, this is not the first time I have had to tell you that what I say goes. You will do as you are told and without complaint. Heavens! How many times must I say this? You will start on Monday. Please arrange for your bags to be packed and Briggs will take you straight after breakfast. Now let that be the last of this nonsense. Your Mama will be perfectly cared for by Mrs. Darrowby.”

Lucia ran from the room to hide the fact that she was starting to cry.

‘I must not show him how upset I am,' she determined, as she returned upstairs. ‘But I am just a pawn in my stepfather's game of chess.'

She was just about to make for her room when she saw Mrs. Darrowby coming towards her with an anxious look on her face.

“Oh, Miss Lucia. There you are. I've been looking for you.”

“Mama – she is not worse?”

“No, she is still sleeping, but I would speak with you in private.”

Lucia led her into her room and closed the door.

“What is it, Mrs. Darrowby?”

“If I may speak plainly, miss. It's Doctor Maybury. I don't think he is very good. He barely examined the Mistress this morning and then proclaimed that she was suffering from a slight chest infection.”

“Mama has had this trouble before.”

“No, miss. I knows chest infections. She was bringing up blood before the doctor came and I did not like to alarm you. He did not seem interested when I told him, but who am I to argue with such a man?”

Lucia thought for a while before replying.

Her stepfather would not countenance her sending for Doctor Glossop and she had no money to speak of herself. His fees were far too dear to be hidden amongst the household expenses.

“Mrs. Darrowby, we must do our best with what resources we have. Watch Mama like a hawk and if there is any change, you must send for me.”

“Send for you? Why, are you going away?”

“From Monday, I will be away from the house during the week, but I shall return home at weekends. You will have to manage.”

Mrs. Darrowby's face crumpled.

“Oh!” she cried. “I don't know how the Mistress will take this news. Is this your stepfather's doing?”

“Hush. There is nothing to be gained by apportioning blame. I do not wish to alarm you, Mrs. Darrowby, but we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. I would ask you to bear whatever hardship comes along until such time as things improve.”

“Of course, miss,” she sniffled in response. “I'll go and make some tea.”

Mrs. Darrowby left the room and Lucia dissolved into tears.

‘She is right. How will Mama bear the news that I am to be sent away all week? It should be my stepfather who breaks it to her – not me or a servant.'

She hit the pillows in anguish.

‘I would never forgive myself if this contributed to Mama's demise,' she sobbed. ‘And I would never, never speak to my stepfather again either.'

But she knew that her fate was sealed and that her future lay some ten miles away at Longfield Manor.

Lucia wandered over to her mother's room.

Quietly she opened the door and put her head inside. Her mother was asleep and her mouth had fallen slightly open. Her skin was grey and her breathing laboured.

It brought tears to Lucia's eyes to see her.

‘Mama ' she cried under her breath.

Tiptoeing quietly towards the bed, Lucia smoothed down the coverlet and sank down in the chair close by.

She sat there for a while gazing at her mother while her heart contracted with sorrow.

‘What will I do if we lose her? She looks so ill.'

Lucia looked at the cluster of bottles on the bedside cabinet and picked up each one in turn.

Taking up the brown bottle at the back with a cork stopper, she furrowed her brow at the dried trickle of fluid that had collected around the rim.

‘I shall speak with Mrs. Darrowby about ensuring better hygiene in the sick room,' she muttered to herself.

It was then that she noticed the printed label.

‘Laudanum!' she gasped in horror.

At the same moment, Mrs. Darrowby came into the room with the tea tray.

“There you are, miss. I went to your room and found the door wide open. I thought I'd find you here.”

“Mrs. Darrowby, are you aware that Doctor Maybury had prescribed laudanum to Mama?”

She cast down her eyes and looked uneasy.

“I told the doctor that you would not be happy, but he told me to mind my own business and be sure not to give her any of my, what he called, witches potions.”

“I would rather you had given her something of your own making, Mrs. Darrowby. You should have brought this to my attention.”

“I am sorry, miss. I was going to and then I became distracted.”

Lucia sighed and handed the bottle to Mrs. Darrowby.

“Please put this concoction down the sink at once. I do not mean to chastise you, but I will not have my Mama taking that filthy stuff!”

Mrs. Darrowby went into the bathroom and threw the liquid down the plug. Upon returning, she quickly poured some tea and handed a cup to Lucia.

“Shall I mix up one of my herbals, miss? She needs something to help her sleep and to dull the pain.”

“By all means and I'm sorry that I snapped at you. It was just such a shock to see the laudanum on her bedside cabinet. He attempted to give it to her last time he called, before we engaged Doctor – ”

“Run along and make her something more suitable,” exhorted Lucia, as the housekeeper bobbed a curtsy and left the room.

“Lucia, is that you?”

Her mother opened her eyes and seemed distressed.

“Mama, I am here,” said Lucia soothingly. “Now you must rest and not exert yourself.”

“Where is your stepfather?” she asked. “He has not been in to see me today.”

“He is occupied with business matters, Mama. How are you feeling?”

“A little woozy. The medicine that doctor gave me has such a bitter flavour.”

“Mama, I need to speak with you.”

“Is something wrong, darling?” asked her mother looking dismayed.

“Nothing to alarm yourself about. It is just that I shall not be at the Hall during the week for the foreseeable future. Stepfather has found me employment.”

“Employment!” she cried, trying to sit up in bed. “What nonsense is this?”

“Mama, I have no choice. Lord Winterton has kindly offered to help us out of our current financial plight and in return, I will work for him as a secretary.”

A low moan came from her mother.

“Oh, is this what we are reduced to? My daughter forced to take work as a mere secretary.”

“But I shall not be just a secretary, Mama. Besides, I cannot withdraw as my working for him is a condition of the loan. Lord Winterton is an important man in the County and from what he says, he needs help in running his many businesses.”

“He means he needs help escaping from his paramours. Oh, Lucia! He is not the kind of man you should be working for. The man is a rake!”

Lucia was shocked at her mother's vehemence. Her eyes were staring and she seemed to be very distressed.

“He has led a life of looseness and has dubious morals,” she continued. “No woman is safe in his presence. I hope he has arranged a chaperone for you? If not, you must insist.

You cannot have your reputation ruined and you know I have long desired that you make a good match when the time comes for you to be married.”

A lump rose in Lucia's throat.

‘How can I tell Mama that I am part of the bargain?' she thought as she watched her mother begin to cry.

“I am certain that he is not as black as he is painted, Mama – ” she began.

“You do not know him. You are young and innocent and not familiar with the ways of men such as he. He is a marriage wrecker and thinks nothing of compromising the virtue of ladies. Why, only last year, some poor wretch had to be sent away to the coast.”

Lucia grasped her mother's meaning at once. There was only reason why young ladies from good families were sent away.

Her mother continued her diatribe without pausing,

“And then, there was that Lady Shelley. Such a shocking affair!”

“Lady Shelley?” asked Lucia, not following the thread of the conversation.

“Yes. I know I should not listen to gossip, but then I saw them together with my own eyes, making a spectacle of themselves at Ascot. Your father forbade me to speak to either of them after that. Poor Lord Shelley, the old fool did not realise what was going on right under his nose. Of course, he has now passed away.”

“Mama. You must not upset yourself. I am quite capable of taking care of myself. Look, here is Mrs. Darrowby.”