Alissa Baxter (4 page)

Alexandra looked up from her breakfast plate, where she had focussed her attention once her aunt had begun talking, and said sweetly, “My dear Aunt, if I was so unfortunate as to have blemished skin, as poor Jane has, I can assure you that I would not only put strawberries on my face every evening, but I would walk around with them all day long to hide my face!”

John gave an amused laugh, which he quickly turned into a cough upon encountering a frown from his aunt. Seeing that this worthy lady was about to commence on one of her lengthy monologues on the impropriety of his sister’s remark, he excused himself from the table with an apologetic look at Alexandra before taking himself off to meet with his bailiff. He reflected that he would probably enjoy his morning far more than poor Alexandra would hers.

In this thought, John was correct. An hour later, Alexandra smothered a yawn behind her hand as she listened with increasing boredom to her hostess’s insipid conversation. Her attention was caught and held, however, when Mrs Hadley said in an excited voice to her aunt, “My dear Mrs Grantham, I have discovered who has inherited Sir George Durbridge’s estate. A Mr Robert Chanderly. And what a distinguished looking gentleman he is, to be sure. Indeed, I have heard rumours that he is connected to one of the most influential families in England — the Beaumonts!”

Mrs Grantham’s eyes brightened with interest, but before she could comment on this stranger in their midst, Mrs Hadley continued. “He is only here for a short period of time, however, to set the estate in order as he goes to London for the Season, soon.” She cleared her voice. “I am sure that I can rely on your discretion, and your niece’s of course,” Mrs Hadley said, with a brief nod in Alexandra’s direction, “But my hopes are high in regard to a match in that direction for Jane.”

Alexandra looked at Mrs Hadley in astonishment, then across at Jane, who was seated on the sofa opposite her, and wondered how Mrs Hadley had obtained the idea that Mr Chanderly would propose to her exceedingly plain daughter.

She was not kept long in suspense as Mrs Hadley carried on. “You may look surprised, my dears. Indeed, so was I when Jane and I encountered Mr Chanderly yesterday afternoon. We were on our way to the village when we saw him coming towards us on a most impressive looking stallion. I had met him a few days earlier, when he came across to ask Mr Hadley’s advice on a farming matter, so we stopped to exchange pleasantries and he was the soul of amiability and kindness, and seemed to be most taken with Jane. And I can assure you, my dear, that I am not speaking with the bias of a fond mama! When I commented to Mr Chanderly that Jane was most accomplished at playing the harp, he looked very impressed. And when I further told him, most subtly of course — because naturally one does not wish to boast about these things — that Jane had more beaux than she knows what to do with, he said with a charming smile that she must lead the country gentlemen a rare dance. I admonished him for this piece of playful banter, and assured him that Jane was an extremely modest girl, and that she would never dream of, let alone be capable of enslaving helpless males. And, my dear Mrs Grantham, when I said this Mr Chanderly said most kindly that he was sure that I was right!”

Alexandra smothered a burst of horrified laughter, wondering how Mrs Hadley could have failed to perceive the blatant sarcasm in Mr Chanderly’s remark. Positively exuding self-satisfaction, the older woman smiled condescendingly at Alexandra, and said, “My dear Miss Grantham, you must be aware that Jane and I are exceedingly fond of you. Indeed we quite dote on you, don’t we Jane?”

“Indeed we do, Mama,” Jane said, smiling sweetly at Alexandra.

“Which is why when Mr Chanderly said that although he was not acquainted with anyone in this area, he had heard that you, my dear, are a lady of considerable beauty, Jane and I made haste to tell him what you have said to us on numerous occasions. I informed him that you are far more interested in your books than in marriage. Indeed Jane went so far as to describe you to Mr Chanderly as a bluestocking!”

Mrs Grantham groaned, and Mrs Hadley looked with sympathy at her afflicted guest. “My dear Mrs Grantham — what ever is the matter? Jane, the hartshorn!”

“I am in no need of hartshorn, Mrs Hadley, although I am nearly overcome. Alexandra is to go to London very soon, and if Mr Chanderly allows it to be known that she is interested in book learning, she will be shunned by all the gentlemen!”

Mrs Hadley looked taken aback at this news, and said to Alexandra, “My dear girl, if Jane and I had known that you were to be presented in London for the Season we would never have told Mr Chanderly about your little idiosyncrasies. Indeed had we known, we would not have told him that you are far more interested in fishing and riding your horses than in learning feminine accomplishments like embroidery and playing the pianoforte.”

Upon hearing this, Alexandra’s aunt succumbed to the vapours that had been threatening and had to be revived with smelling salts and burnt feathers waved under her nose by her solicitous hostess. When Mrs Grantham had revived sufficiently to regain the use of her voice, she moaned, “Ruined, ruined, Alexandra! All my plans for you have come to naught!”

“My dear Mrs Grantham, do not distress yourself so!” Mrs Hadley said, smiling benignly. “There are sure to be some gentlemen in London who will be so kind as to overlook the fact that your niece is a bookish female. A few may even condescend to paying their addresses to her! And Jane will be perfectly agreeable to taking your niece under her wing once we arrive in London. As the prospective bride of Mr Chanderly she will have some standing in Polite Circles, and will be able to influence social opinion.” Looking across at her daughter, she said, “You will aid Alexandra — won’t you, dear?”

Jane nodded her head. “Of course, Mama.” She smiled at Alexandra. “My mother and I will be careful not to mention your lack of feminine accomplishments when we arrive in London, Alexandra.”

“Yes, and when Mr Chanderly singles us out, I will ask him — in a most delicate fashion, of course — to forget my thoughtless words. Rest assured, my dear, that he will oblige me in this,” Mrs Hadley added brightly.

Alexandra looked with considerable amusement at Mrs Hadley and her daughter. If nothing else, she admired their tactics. She, personally, was completely unaffected by their scheming, but seeing that her aunt was in some affliction, Alexandra decided that it would be wisest to return home. Therefore, rising from her seat, she said coolly, “I think that we will take our leave of you now, ma’am.”

“Yes, indeed, it is probably for the best,” Mrs Hadley said sympathetically. “Your poor aunt looks quite overcome. I recommend that she spend the rest of the day in bed, with her vinaigrette at hand. My dear girl, I do hope that you are not vexed with us! As I said before, Jane and I had no knowledge of the fact that you are about to enter London Society. You should have told us, my dear! I vow that had we known, we would have been far more discreet about your unconventional behaviour.” She cleared her throat, then continued, “I feel that I must issue you a friendly warning, my dear. If you are considering casting your eye in Mr Chanderly’s direction, for he is a most handsome gentleman, I assure you, you are bound to be disappointed. Men with his connections do not marry below themselves, and although you are a most charming girl, you are only the daughter of a baronet. Jane here, on the other hand, is the great granddaughter of a Viscount on her father’s side! She will in all likelihood be married before you and Emily — unless my stepdaughter has somehow managed to secure an offer of marriage in the last few weeks, which I sincerely doubt.”

Alexandra smiled. “Rest assured, Mrs Hadley, that I am not interested in securing an offer of marriage from Mr Chanderly — or any other man for that matter. I wish your daughter joy of him.” She looked inquiringly at the older woman. “Have you had word from Emily, ma’am? I trust that she is enjoying her stay in Bath?”

Mrs Hadley pursed her lips. “Emily is a not a very good correspondent. The child has written but has made no mention of any potential suitors. I am of the opinion that her godmama indulges her far too much. At this rate she will have to accompany Jane to London in order to find a husband!”

Alexandra looked across at Jane, who was scowling, and smiled inwardly. It was obvious that the younger girl resented the idea of sharing her come-out with her far prettier stepsister. Almost as much as Mrs Hadley resented having to chaperone her. She returned her attention to her hostess. “Please send Emily my regards when she returns.” She took her leave of Mrs Hadley and Jane, then walked outside, with her sorely tried aunt leaning heavily on her arm. When they were in the carriage, and safely out of earshot, Alexandra gave way to the mirth bubbling inside her, much to her aunt’s disgust. Chuckling deeply, she said, “Oh Aunt — Thank you for insisting that I come with you this morning! I have never been more royally entertained!”

Mrs Grantham stared at Alexandra in outrage, for once at a loss for words. Finally, with a longsuffering sigh, she settled back against the seat of the carriage and closed her eyes, wondering, not for the first time, if poor Henry’s daughter could be slightly mad.

Chapter Four

“Bless your heart, Miss Grantham.”

Alexandra smiled at Mrs Hind as she placed the basket of food she had brought with her on a table in the small room. Mrs Hind, a widow, was an invalid who was confined to her bed. She lived alone, but a niece, who lived nearby, came in every day to attend to her basic needs. Yet the cottage still had a neglected feel to it, Alexandra thought as she looked around her. Shivering a little as she felt the chill in the room, she resolved to bring a set of blankets and sheets along with her on her next visit to the old woman.

“Are you feeling any better since that attack of influenza, Mrs Hind?”

Mrs Hind nodded her head weakly. “That I am, Miss Grantham. That gruel you brought set me to rights. It warmed me insides, that it did.”

And no wonder it did, Alexandra reflected as she shivered again. She noticed a hole in the roof where the rain was leaking in, and anger rose inside her. The state of the accommodation for the tenants on the Durbridge estate was truly a disgrace. The estate, she knew, had been ailing for many years because of poor management on Sir George’s part. Their neighbour had also had no head for business and a few years back had invested most of his fortune in a few risky ventures that had not paid off. He had lost most of his money, and the shortness of funds meant that the estate had deteriorated at a rapid rate over the last few years. Upon his death six months previously, the news had spread that a wealthy cousin of Sir George’s had inherited the estate, and the tenants and farm workers had dared to hope that their living and working conditions would soon improve, but their hopes had been short-lived. The custodian who had been sent to take charge of the estate in its owner’s absence had allowed things to deteriorate even more, and many of the cottagers were now in a desperate way.

Alexandra sighed wearily as she prepared to take her leave of Mrs Hind. Although she tried her best to make the lives of the Durbridge tenants more bearable, there was only a limited amount that she could do to really help them, and she often came away from her charitable expeditions feeling as if the burdens of the world were on her shoulders. However, she smiled determinedly as she bid Mrs Hind farewell, and pressed some coins into her fragile hands. The look of delight on the old woman’s face remained imprinted on Alexandra’s mind as she left the cottage, and re-ignited the burning desire inside her to help the peasantry, who of late years had been dealt such an unkind hand by fate.

Alexandra knew that several factors had led to widespread poverty in England. The process of enclosure of common land had enabled great advances to be made in agricultural practice, but it also meant that lesser landowners had been forced to sell their small strips of land to wealthier landowners, and give up the right to graze their animals on the common. Her father had told her that, bereft of their traditional employment, many of the cottagers and petty yeomen of England were now forced to seek work in the cities or as labourers for the remaining landowners. And indeed, in past years, her father had hired many of these men, and looked after them well. The problem however, Alexandra knew, was that not all landowners were as generous as her father had been, and many of the peasantry found themselves wholly at the mercy of employers from whom they could not always wring a living wage. They were also liable to be laid off in bad weather or slack times. And being landless, they were no longer able to save for sickness and old age. Mrs Hind, Alexandra reflected grimly, was just one of the many victims.

Alexandra turned back to look at the tumbledown cottage and shook her head, wondering if Mr Chanderly would in fact make any noticeable changes to better the living conditions of his tenants. Mrs Hadley had said that he had come down to set the estate in order, but Alexandra was inclined to be sceptical about the truth of this statement, being of the opinion that if he had indeed been serious about making improvements, he would have sent a more capable custodian to take charge of the estate, in the first place.

As Alexandra made her way along the deserted country lane, the groom, Thomas, who had helped her carry the baskets of food to the cottages on Durbridge estate following a few feet behind, she decided to put her troubled thoughts aside, and concentrate instead on the beauty of the day.

“Is it not a beautiful day, Thomas?” she said.

“Tis indeed, Miss Alexandra,” Thomas agreed, smiling at his young mistress. Not for her the airs and graces of so many spoilt, young ladies, he thought. She treated all people, no matter what their station in life, with the same degree of respect and consideration. A rare lady was Miss Alex, he reflected thoughtfully. Rare indeed.

Breathing in the pungent scent of wood smoke and newly turned earth, Alexandra looked around at the green hedgerows lining the road and the first tiny snowdrops peeping through the soil below them, and felt her tensions begin to drain away from her. Walking in the countryside never failed to act as a balm to her spirit. Rounding a bend in the road, she spotted a grey squirrel crouched under an oak tree, holding an acorn between his furry little paws, and she stopped abruptly, indicating that Thomas should do the same, and observed the little creature before her with wonder in her eyes. He had not seen them, and Alexandra stood very still so as not to scare him away. She was justifiably annoyed therefore, when the telltale clip clop of an approaching horse alerted the squirrel to the fact that he was not alone, and he dashed away into the undergrowth.