An Introduction To The Eternal Collection Jubilee Edition (127 page)

Caroline clasped her hands together.

“Oh, sir, would you really? It is too much to ask of you, when you would rest here in comfort!”

“I am delighted to be of service, Miss Fry. Tell me more of this Vicar.”

“I find the Reverend gentleman very unprepossessing,” Caroline said demurely, casting down her. eyes. “But that is not all. He is exceeding unkind to my poor friend, his daughter, Miss Harriet Wantage. She was at school with me and a more charming, gentle soul one would find it hard to meet anywhere. I will tell you in the strictest confidence, sir, that her father is monstrously cruel to her.”

“Cruel? What then does he do?” Mr. Stratton asked curiously.

As they walked across the green lawns and on to the long drive which led to the village, Caroline regaled him with a tale of the Vicar’s cruelties which lasted nearly the whole way to the Vicarage. If she drew somewhat freely upon her imagination, she told her conscience that it was not without justification, for Harriet’s pale, frightened little face haunted her.

They reached the Vicarage and Caroline had a quick glimpse of Maria peeping out of an upstairs window before she opened the gate into the untidy and ill-kept garden.

“Pray heaven the Vicar is not at home, sirs” she said, “for perhaps he will be angered with me for bringing a distinguished visitor such as yourself to the Vicarage without invitation.”

“If he is angry he had better not show it in my presence,” Mr. Stratton said with unexpected vigour, his languid airs seemingly forgotten for the moment.

The front door was opened before they rang the bell and Harriet held out her arms in welcome to Caroline. It was Harriet, but a very changed person indeed, as Caroline saw with satisfaction. As she had anticipated, the simple but well made gown with its fresh white fichu was vastly becoming and Maria had arranged Harriet’s hair in the latest mode so that a dozen tiny, curls framed her thin face giving it an unexpectedly piquant expression. Harriet’s eyes were always her best feature and they were wide now with excitement.

Caroline introduced Mr. Stratton and Harriet led them into the cheerless, threadbare sitting-roam.

“I have an invitation for you, Harriet,” Caroline said. “Her ladyship hopes that you will come to dinner at the Castle this evening. A number of people from the County have been invited and she feels you would enjoy the party.”

“Oh, Caroline, how exciting,” Harriet exclaimed then her face dropped. “But perhaps Papa will, not let me accept.”

“I will try to persuade him,” Caroline said. “Where is he?”

“He is in his study,” Harriet said. “He is writing his sermon for Sunday. It always makes him exceeding ill-tempered.”

“You wait here,” Caroline said, “I will tell him of the invitation!”

“Dare you do so?” Harriet asked breathlessly. “I vow I could not ask him myself, I am sadly in disgrace today for the goose we had for luncheon was over-cooked. Papa was half an hour late, but he swore that was no excuse. Oh Caroline, there was such a to-do, and he threatened to flog me if dinner was not more to his liking. Do not anger him more. Perhaps it would be wiser to make my apologies to her ladyship and not trouble Papa.”

“Leave him to me,” Caroline said.

“Oh Caroline, how brave you are!” Harriet cried and turning to Mr. Stratton she asked, “Is she not, sir?”

“Mr. Stratton won’t think so,” Caroline smiled, “for I assure you, Harriet, that he is never afraid of anything except being bored.”

“I’m sure he isn’t,” Harriet said in simple flattery and Mr. Stratton smiled at her with a most un-
blasé
spontaneity.

Caroline left them alone in the sitting-room and went across the hall to the study. She knocked and found the Vicar not, as might be expected, sitting at his desk but stretched out comfortably in a big leather armchair, a glass of wine at his elbow. He got up slowly when he saw Caroline in the doorway and she swept him a deep curtsey. Tactfully and making full use of the most fulsome flattery which, as she anticipated, he absorbed with the greatest of ease, Caroline informed him of Lady Brecon’s invitation and received his reply that Harriet was a fortunate brat to be asked anywhere, seeing how dumb she was.

“All the same, I have a very good mind to punish the little idiot by making her stay at home this evening,” he ruminated. “She’s plagued me today beyond endurance.”

“Oh, sir you could never be so cruel,” Caroline expostulated, and added archly “Why, I declare, you are but bamming, for I perceive a twinkle in the corner of your eye.”

The Vicar capitulated.

“Very well then, tell the chit she can go, tho’ the lord knows what she will wear, for she looks like a ragbag at all times.”

“I took the liberty, sir, of bringing her a dress of my own,” Caroline said quickly. “It belonged to Lady Caroline Faye and I know her ladyship would be only too delighted for Harriet to wear it this evening.”

“If the girl were not so daft, she would make herself a decent gown,” the Vicar grumbled “but settle it amongst yourselves.”

“Thank you, sir, you are indeed generous,” Caroline said, then she hesitated and added in, a tone of nervous fluster, “I think I ought to mention, sir, that – that a gentleman accompanied me here.”

She hesitated, cast down her eyes, then raised them again and twisted her fingers together with every appearance of helpless agitation.

“I know I ought not to have brought him, sir – but I could not help myself. He was very insistent, and though he has had these few moments alone with Harriet, I feel sure it will have done her no harm.”

“Harm” the Vicar growled. “What do you mean by harm?”

“Oh, nothing, sir nothing,” Caroline fluttered. “To be fair, he speaks most pleasantly and I know little of him save that he is a sixth son and his father impoverished....”

“I want no paupers and hangers-on in my Vicarage,” the Vicar said sharply. “They bode no good to anyone. He has no business to force his way in.”

“Oh, sir, I fear it was my fault,” Caroline wilted.

“I can well believe that you could not prevent him pushing himself forward, Miss Fry. It would be difficult for someone in your position to say nay to one of his lordship’s guests, but here I am my own master. Where is this penniless jackanapes?”

The Vicar picked up his glass of wine, swilled it down his throat, wiped his mouth and strode, red-faced and pompous, into the drawing-room.

Harriet and Mr. Stratton were laughing as he entered, and Caroline, following behind the Vicar, had time to note that Harriet was looking amazingly pretty with flushed cheeks and shining eyes.

“Harriet,” the Vicar boomed in a voice of thunder, “the fire in my study is half out, and there is no wood and no coal available. Find one of the maids and have it attended to immediately. How often have I told you to see that my fire is kept replenished? I might as well talk to a deaf-mute for all the response I get.”

Like an animal who has been constantly ill-treated Harriet cringed before her father.

“Yes, Papa-– of course, Papa – I’m sorry, Papa –’she said and crept hastily from the room.

“As for you, sir,” the Vicar said furiously, glaring at the surprised Mr. Stratton, “I would bid you good-day. Neither I – nor my daughter have the time nor the inclination for visitors of your sort.”

He turned abruptly on his heel, nodded coolly to Caroline and went back into his study, slamming the door behind him.

Caroline looked at Mt. Stratton.

“We had better go,” she whispered. “It will only be the worse for Harriet if we linger.”

As they got outside the front door, Caroline saw that Mr. Stratton’s mouth was tightened into an ominous straight line and his jaw was set determinedly. There was no sign of boredom about him now.

“The man is an inexpressible brute,” he said fiercely “and to think that unhappy, child has to endure him day after day. Such cruelty should be prevented, Miss Fry.”

“It should indeed,” Caroline said sadly, “but what can anyone do? As for Harriet, I am afraid there is no hope for her, for she has not the strength, poor sweet, to rebel and if she did, I believe her father would in very truth half kill her. No, she will live under the yoke of his cruelty until she wastes away in a decline, for she has no possible chance of escape.”

“Do not despair, we will find one,” Mr. Stratton said firmly and Caroline turned her head aside so that he should not see her smile.

8

When Caroline and Mr. Stratton entered the Castle, they found Lady Augusta and Lord Brecon standing in the great hall. They were talking together and Caroline had the impression that Lady Augusta was pleading with Lord Brecon, for her bony, be-ringed fingers were clutching at his arm and her painted lips wore an ingratiating smile.

Lord Brecon looked stern but aloof, and Caroline thought that his face lightened at her approach. He was about to greet her but before he could speak Lady Augusta cried out
,

“And where have you two young people been? I saw you sneaking off together unchaperoned. Fie on you, Miss Fry, you will be getting a reputation if you do not take care.”

Caroline dropped Lady Augusta a curtsey.

“I was on an errand for her ladyship,” she said stiffly.

Lady Augusta laughed and the hoarse, cackling sound seemed to echo round the dark walls.

“Hoity-toity! I declare the chit is piqued by me. Do not deny it, Miss Fry but you must forgive the wagging of an old woman’s tongue! ‘Tis the penalty you pay for being passing fair to look on. And there Mr. Stratton will agree with me, eh, sir?”

Mr. Stratton murmured his acquiescence in polite, but lightly embarrassed tones.

“Ha-ha, you rogue,” Lady Augusta cackled. “Me-thought you were immune from the wiles of my sex but I perceive I was mistaken. You have deceived us most skilfully. Has he not, Vane?”

She turned to appeal to her nephew, and Caroline, glancing at Lord Brecon, was surprised at the sudden anger on his face. For a moment she wondered what could have upset him and then she understood. He was jealous! With a little smile she turned to Mr. Stratton.

“My grateful thanks for your company, sir. You have been vastly obliging.” She curtsied to Lady Augusta, asked leave to withdraw, and without looking again at Lord Brecon moved gracefully up the Grand Staircase well aware that she had left a sudden silence behind her - a silence which she was not surprised to hear broken by yet another cackling laugh from Lady Augusta.

So Lord Brecon was jealous. She was too well versed in the jealousy of the
beaux
who had courted her in London not to recognise the symptoms. The fact that Lord Brecon was vulnerable on this point was peculiarly satisfying, for, Caroline argued to herself, it might break down his obstinate silence and undermine his determination that she should leave the Castle.

Caroline smiled when, on reaching her bedroom she removed her bonnet, for the moment her own problems seemed less formidable and she was well pleased with what she had accomplished so far on Harriet’s behalf. It was obvious that Mr. Stratton already saw himself in the role of knight-errant, which was just what she had intended.

He was a nice young man, Caroline thought, though a trifle dull with his prosing and posturing. But Harriet would find him entrancing, and if he should offer for her it would be the most splendid thing that could possibly happen.

Caroline thought of Harriet and was optimistic enough to be sure that she would find happiness eventually, but inevitably she could not help comparing Harriet’s chances with her own and the smile vanished from her lips. All the fears and anxieties of the night before came rushing over her once again now that she was alone with nothing else to occupy her thoughts. And although resolutely Caroline told herself that she would not be afraid, that somehow she would discover Lord Brecon’s secret and save him both from himself and from the danger which beset him, she felt for the first time in her life weak and ineffectual.

As the clock on the mantelshelf struck four, Caroline went down the passage and knocked on the door of Lady Brecon’s bedroom. Dorcas opened it.

“I was wondering if you had come back, Miss Fry,” she said in her gruff voice, but her eyes were kindly and Caroline had the impression that Dorcas not only approved of her, but liked her.

She was well aware that to get into Dorcas’ bad books would make things very difficult for any companion to her ladyship. Dorcas had what amounted almost to an adoration of her mistress. Nothing was too much trouble, nothing was too small, nothing too great where it concerned Lady Brecon’s well-being. Dorcas fussed over her as if she were a babe in arms and Caroline could see that Lady Brecon had grown used to relying absolutely on Dorcas not only in things that concerned her physical comfort, but in everything else which touched her narrow, isolated existence.

It was really Dorcas who decided who should visit Lady Brecon or who should be kept outside with excuses that her ladyship was not so well or that her ladyship was asleep. It was Dorcas, too, who brought her news of what was happening in the household, choosing only those items which she wished to pass on and deliberately keeping back others if she felt they might disturb or worry her mistress. Yes, Dorcas’ power was absolute and Caroline could not help but be glad that she had, as Maria would have said, ‘got on the right side of her’.

“Oh, here you are, Miss Fry,” Lady Brecon exclaimed with a smile as she approached the bedside. “How is little Harriet, and will she be permitted to visit us tonight?”

“Yes, indeed, Ma’am, and she was thrilled at the invitation.”

“You managed to contrive a gown for her?”

“Yes, Ma’am, it was one of Lady Caroline Faye’s and should prove vastly becoming to Harriet.”

“You are a kind girl, Miss Fry, Lady Brecon said softly, and Caroline flushed suddenly, half ashamed to receive praise for something which she knew in her heart of hearts had cost her very little.

It was then the thought came to her that very soon it might be possible to end this subterfuge. She would tell Lord Brecon of her real identity and, then his mother. Perhaps when he learnt the truth, he would realise how deep and strong was her love for him and be gratified that she had dared so much on his behalf. But before she gave away her secret, Caroline wanted to be certain there was some chance of learning his, and at least she would wait until after the visit of Mr. Gervase Warlingham, for she was extremely curious to see the man who had in reality been instrumental in bringing her hot-foot to the Castle after she had learnt of Lord Melbourne’s suspicions regarding him.