Beneath the Major's Scars (19 page)

‘But he knows he can rely upon us for that.’ Sally beamed at
Zelah across the table. ‘So you are to leave us this morning and go back to West
Barton. What shall I do without my little companion?’

‘Any number of things, I should imagine.’ Zelah had lost all
her shyness with Sally and treated her in the same friendly manner as her own
sister. ‘But perhaps before I leave this morning you will write a reference for
me, as we agreed?’

‘By all means, if that is what you wish.’

Zelah nodded, saying firmly. ‘It is, madam.’

‘I have a great deal to do before the hearing next Friday,’
said Reginald. ‘How soon can you be ready to travel, Zelah?’

‘Hannah has already packed for me.’ She pushed her plate away.
‘I can leave as soon as Mrs Hensley has furnished me with my reference.’

‘Then I shall go off and write it now,’ said Sally,
smiling.

‘Well, I need to feed Baby before we can set off,’ put in
Maria. ‘It will be at least another hour.’

A sudden burst of sunlight filled the room, making everything
jewel bright and sending glittering rays bouncing off the breakfast silver.

‘Ah, the sun is making an appearance.’ The viscount put down
his napkin and looked at Zelah. ‘Perhaps Miss Pentewan would care to take a
stroll around the grounds with me until the carriage is called?’

* * *

Zelah assented readily. The viscount was an entertaining
companion and, knowing her heart was in no danger, Zelah could relax and enjoy
his company. She encouraged him to talk about his brother, hoarding each little
nugget of information. Jasper’s revelations only confirmed her impression of
Dominic. Honest, loyal and honourable, a man determined to do his duty.

‘And now he is throwing his energies into Rooks Tower,’ said
Jasper as they reached the orangery. He opened the double doors and stood back
for her to enter. ‘I thought at first he wanted it merely as a retreat, to hide
away from the world, but his holding a ball has made me think again. Perhaps he
is intending this as a family home. What do you think, Miss Pentewan, is my
brother on the look-out for a wife?’

The thought was a body blow to Zelah, robbing her of breath.
She hoped it did not show in her face and she pretended to give her attention to
looking about the summer house, admiring the arrangements of plants and marble
while she considered her response. At last she said carefully, ‘There were
several very eligible young ladies here last night.’

‘I know, I danced with them all,’ he replied promptly.
‘Dominic, on the other hand, danced with none. But perhaps he was just being
cautious. He is not the sort to raise false hopes.’

‘No. He is far too chivalrous for that.’

Jasper did not notice the bleak note in her voice. He merely
nodded, gazing around him in admiration.

‘Now, madam, you are to be congratulated. You have created here
the perfect trysting place. Do you not find it most romantic?’

Zelah summoned up a smile. ‘Not in the daylight, sir, I see
only the empty glasses that the servants failed to clear away because they were
hidden behind the plants.’

He looked pained. ‘You are far too practical, my dear.’

‘My besetting sin,’ she told him cheerfully.

‘You puzzle me, Miss Pentewan. Why do you resist all my
attempts to flirt with you?’

His worried tone amused her and she gave him a mischievous
look.

‘Since you attempt to flirt with every young lady, my lord, it
will do you no harm to be rebuffed occasionally.’ She moved towards the door.
‘Shall we go back to the house?’

Jasper was in no way discomposed by her response and they
strolled back across the lawn in perfect accord. The entrance door was standing
open and as they approached Dominic came out.

‘Good morning, brother,’ Jasper hailed him cheerfully. ‘You
were up and out before I had even shaved this morning!’

‘I went to see Giles Grundy,’ he replied shortly.

‘Ah, yes, how is he?’ asked Zelah.

‘A little bruised, but he will mend. Doctor Pannell has set his
arm—he says it is a clean break and should heal well.’

‘And while you have been busy with your tenant, you have left
me with the very agreeable business of entertaining your guests,’ Jasper
responded, putting his free hand over Zelah’s where it rested on his sleeve.

Dominic shifted his stony gaze to Zelah. ‘I have just ordered
the carriage for your sister.’

She knew him well enough now to know he was angry about
something, but she said calmly, ‘Then I shall fetch my wrap.’

She moved past him into the great hall, wondering if he had
received bad tidings. Poachers, perhaps, or news that Sir Oswald had destroyed
more deer. She had not quite reached the top of the stairs when his gruff,
furious words echoed off the walls.

‘By heaven, Jasper, it is bad enough that you flirt with every
woman you see. Must you also attempt to charm my librarian?’

Chapter Fourteen

L
ibrarian. Yes, that is all she was to him,
thought Zelah as she sat in the tower room the next day, working at her ledgers.
She tried to ignore the huge bed that still dominated the room, a constant
reminder of her attendance at the summer ball. The weather had broken and the
rain had fallen steadily all day. She saw no one save Mrs Graddon, who brought
her a tray at noon, along with an invitation from Mrs Hensley to join the other
guests in the drawing room later to play charades.

Zelah sent back her apologies. She had lost too much time
already. She wanted to finish her work at Rooks Tower and be ready to take up
the post in Bath, should her application be successful. Dominic had told her
that Sally could find her a position with someone of her acquaintance, but Zelah
wanted to sever all ties with Major Coale’s family and had already sent off the
required references to Bath.

She was relieved when at last she could return to West Barton,
but even there the talk was still of the ball. Learning that Maria was in the
nursery, she ran upstairs to find Nicky telling Nurse how exciting it had
been.

‘Major Coale brought me supper, and by sitting on the edge of
the landing I could hear what people said when they came into that little spot
beneath the stairs.’

Maria threw up her hands. ‘Lud, my son is an eavesdropper! He
now knows all the secrets of the village.’

‘Devil a bit, Mama,’ grinned Nicky. ‘It was only Lord Markham
telling one of the ladies that her eyes reminded him of the stars, and then Sir
Oswald came over with—’

‘Enough!’ Maria put up her hand. ‘It was very naughty of you to
be listening, Nicholas, and you must say no more about it. Eavesdroppers will
never hear any good of themselves.’ She turned her attention to her sister.
‘Good evening, Zelah. Did you get very wet walking home? I had hoped Major Coale
or his sister would have the goodness to send you home in the carriage.’

‘I slipped away without telling them.’ Zelah recalled the
shouts and laughter coming from the drawing room when she had crossed the empty
hall. She raised her chin a little. ‘It was never part of the agreement that the
major should provide a carriage for me.’

‘It was never part of the agreement that you should catch a
chill,’ retorted Maria. ‘But never mind, it is done now and you are here safe.
Mr Lerryn has sent word that he is resuming his journey to Bristol so we shall
be able to enjoy a quiet family dinner together.’

Zelah uttered up a silent prayer. Dominic had assured her that
she was safe from Timothy Lerryn, but it was still a relief to know he had quit
Lesserton. It was one less problem to worry her.

* * *

When Zelah arrived at Rooks Tower the next morning her
spirits were as leaden as the overcast sky. Two more weeks, three at the most,
and she would be finished here. The library was just as she had left it, no sign
that the major had been there to check her progress. She had the lowering
suspicion that he was avoiding her.

She had not been working long before Sally Hensley burst into
the room, saying impetuously, ‘Oh good, you are here! I have come to say
goodbye!’

‘G-goodbye?’ Zelah rose from her seat and was immediately
enveloped in a scented embrace.

‘Yes! I had planned to stay another two weeks at least, but I
have today had a letter from my darling husband! Ben is well, and in England,
and on his way to our house at Fellbridge. He may already be there, because his
letter went to Markham and they have sent it on to me. I must go home
immediately. I only hope this rain does not slow my journey. Oh, I cannot
wait
to see him again.’

‘Yes, yes, of course. I am very happy for you.’ Zelah barely
had time to murmur her words before she was caught up again in another fierce
hug.

‘Thank you. I count you very much my friend now and I am very
sorry to be leaving, but I shall write to you at West Barton—’

‘I—I doubt I shall be there for much longer. My work here is
almost finished. I hope to hear soon about the post in Bath.’

Sally regarded her for a moment, as if she would protest, but
in the end she merely nodded. ‘Very well, but if you take it you must let me
know where you are. I do not want to lose touch with you now.’

Then, like a whirlwind, Sally was gone, leaving only silence
and the faintest hint of perfume behind her.

Zelah resumed her seat and picked up her pen. It was unlikely
they would ever meet again. Sally would be preoccupied with her husband for the
next few weeks and by the time she was able to think about her new friend, Zelah
hoped to be far away from Exmoor.

* * *

The rain persisted well into the afternoon, but about
five o’clock there was a break in the weather. The sky was still a thick grey
blanket, but Zelah decided she should set off for West Barton before there was
another shower. She was just crossing the hall when she heard her name. Dominic
was standing in the doorway of his study.

‘Perhaps you will grant me a few minutes of your time before
you go?’

‘Yes, of course.’

He stood aside and allowed her to enter. The hearth was empty
although the smell of wood smoke lingered in the air. There was a large desk by
the window and two glass-fronted cupboards that housed the estate’s papers.
Everything was orderly, businesslike, as was the major’s tone when he spoke.

‘You have done an excellent job, organising my library. You are
to be congratulated.’

‘Thank you, sir. The catalogue of titles is almost complete, I
shall begin the final section tomorrow—’

‘That will not be necessary.’

She frowned. ‘I do not understand you.’

He turned on his heel and walked across to the window. ‘You
have done enough, thank you. I will arrange for your final payment to be made.
It will be brought to West Barton tomorrow.’

She blinked. ‘You do not wish me to return to Rooks Tower?’

‘That is correct.’

‘But I have not finished!’

‘You have done enough.’

She clutched her hands together. ‘Are you—are you dissatisfied
with me, with my work?’

‘I have already said that is not the case.’

‘But that does not make sense. It will take only a few more
weeks—’

‘No!’ He swung back. ‘Don’t you understand? I am trying to
protect your reputation. While my sister was here, there was a modicum of
propriety, but now—’

‘You never worried about that before.’

‘That was an error. I should never have allowed you to work
here.’

‘You
invited
me to come here,’ she
retorted, anger beginning to mount.

‘I know. It was wrong of me. I admit it.’

Beneath Zelah’s annoyance was another emotion. Panic. He was
sending her away. She would never see him again.

‘Please,’ she said quietly. ‘Let me finish what I have started.
If you are anxious for my reputation, I could have a maid in the library at all
times—let Hannah attend me!’

‘No. My mind is made up. This will be the last time you come to
Rooks Tower.’

Her eyes searched his face, but his eyes were shuttered,
withdrawn. He would not be moved.

The rumble of voices filtered through the door, but she barely
noticed.

‘Then will you not shake hands with me?’ He looked as if her
outstretched hand was a poisoned chalice and a strangled cry was wrenched from
her. ‘I thought we were friends!’

The stony look fled. ‘Friends. We could never be that.’ He
reached for her. ‘Zelah—’ He broke off as the door opened and Reginald burst
in.

‘Coale—and Zelah. Thank God. Have you seen Nicky?’

Chapter Fifteen

D
ominic’s hands fell. He stared
uncomprehending at Reginald Buckland, who had stormed into his study without so
much as a knock. Then he saw the look of strain in the other man’s face and he
said sharply, ‘What is it?’

‘My son. He has gone missing. Because of the rain I sent my man
to collect him from Netherby’s house today, but the boy had already gone. The
other boys said he had set off for home, but my man did not pass him on the
road. I thought he might have come here.’

‘I have not seen him, but he could have gone straight to the
kitchens.’ Dominic strode out of the room and barked an order, sending a footman
scurrying away. A few minutes later he returned and Dominic went back to the
study, frowning.

‘No one has seen him. Could he have stopped off with
friends?’

Reginald shook his head. ‘I have checked that. I beg your
pardon, if he is not here then I must get back...’

‘Yes, let us get home with all speed,’ said Zelah quickly.

‘Wait.’ Dominic caught Reginald’s sleeve. ‘You are on
horseback?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then we will follow in my curricle.’ He glanced at Zelah’s
pale face. ‘I know it is a greater distance, but it will be almost as quick as
walking and will leave you in a better state to support Mrs Buckland.’

His heart lurched. She looked utterly bewildered, and little
wonder. A few moments’ earlier he had been telling her he wanted nothing more to
do with her.

He sent Reginald on his way and ordered his curricle to be
brought round. When he returned to the study Zelah was still standing in the
middle of the floor, clasping and unclasping her hands. He pushed her gently
into a chair.

‘Try not to worry, Nicky might well be home by now.’

‘Yes, yes, of course.’

* * *

The curricle was soon at the door and Dominic drove his
horses hard, praying that they would not meet anything in the narrow lanes. He
stopped only once, to drop his groom off in Lesserton, with instructions to make
enquiries at the local inns. Then it was off again at a breakneck pace. A swift
glance showed him that Zelah was hanging on to the side of the carriage with one
hand, the other clamped firmly over her bonnet. ‘My apologies for the bumpy
ride, ma’am.’

‘Do not slow down on my account,’ she told him. ‘I, too, want
to get to West Barton as soon as possible.’

* * *

When they reached West Barton a servant ran out to grab
the horses’ heads. Zelah jumped down before Dominic could run round to help. He
followed her into the house, where the butler’s careworn expression told them
that the boy had not come home.

They were shown into the drawing room. Reginald was pacing up
and down and Maria sat on a sofa with her head in her hands. When the door
opened she flew out of her seat and threw herself into Zelah’s arms, sobbing
wildly.

Dominic looked at Reginald, who shook his head.

‘No one has seen him. I have sent my people into the village to
ask questions, but the answer is always the same. He was seen leaving the
vicarage and walking out of the village in this direction, but then he
disappeared.’

‘I left orders for my woods to be searched,’ said Dominic.
‘Everyone at Rooks Tower is fond of the boy, they will make every effort to find
him.’

‘Oh, my poor child,’ cried Maria. ‘Where can he be?’

They sat in silence, until Maria pushed herself out of Zelah’s
arms.

‘I am forgetting my duty,’ she sniffed, taking out her
handkerchief and wiping her eyes. ‘You would like some refreshment, Major Coale.
Tea, perhaps?’

‘I think brandy might be preferable,’ suggested Reginald.

When Dominic assented he rang the bell.

‘I would like tea,’ said Zelah, hoping her sister would find
some comfort in the well-rehearsed ritual.

* * *

Conversation had been stilted as they waited for news.
Every knock on the door heralded the return of another search party, but each
time they had to report failure. The dinner hour had come and a place was laid
for Dominic, but no one had much appetite. The hours passed. Maria dragged
herself up, saying she must feed the baby and Dominic announced he would go.

‘No, please, Major, stay,’ Maria beseeched him. ‘Stay at least
until I return.’

He could not refuse, but the inaction irked him. By the time
Maria came back to the drawing room it was growing dark. He rose.

‘I must get back, my groom is waiting for me in Lesserton. I
will come over again in the morning, and if there is still no news we will work
out a plan...’

There was a scratching at the door and the butler entered. He
crossed the room, holding out a folded piece of paper to his master.

‘Someone slipped this under the door, sir. I looked outside,
but I could see no one.’

‘Then go out and search the grounds,’ barked Reginald, taking
the note.

‘Too late,’ muttered Dominic, peering out of the window.
‘They’ll have gone away immediately.’ He returned to the hearth and waited.
Reginald’s usually cheerful countenance became increasingly grim. ‘Well?’

‘What is it?’ demanded Maria, her hands clasped to her breast.
‘Tell us!’

Silently Reginald handed Dominic the note. ‘Read it out, Coale,
if you please.’

‘If the Parents of a certain Young Man
want to see him Alive again, then they will not be presenting any new
evidence at the White Hart on Friday next. Neither will they make any effort
to find him. If they comply with these instructions, the Young Man in
question will be delivered to them, unharmed, on Sunday next.’

‘Oh!’ Maria’s hands flew to her mouth.

‘Evanshaw,’ ground out Reginald. ‘It has to be.’ He drove his
fist into his palm. ‘But how did he know? He came up to me at the ball and
mentioned the hearing. He was bragging that he could not lose, crowing so hard
that I cannot believe he knew about the new document.’

‘You told no one about it?’ asked Dominic, pacing the room.

‘No, of course not. I told you I wanted to keep it from that
rascally lawyer Evanshaw has engaged.’

‘And I mentioned it to no one at Rooks Tower,’ muttered
Dominic. ‘No one outside this room knew of it.’

‘Mr Lerryn.’ Zelah put her hands to her white cheeks. ‘Timothy
Lerryn was here when we brought over the manuscript.’

‘By heaven, you are right,’ declared Reginald, horror dawning
in his eyes. ‘He asked me about the case, while we took brandy together after
dinner.’

‘And I pointed out Sir Oswald to him at the ball,’ whispered
Zelah. ‘He must have warned him.’ She turned her eyes, dark with horror, towards
Dominic. ‘It is all my fault. This is his revenge upon me...’

Dominic saw the bewildered looks bent on Zelah and he said
abruptly, ‘Lerryn tried to impose upon Zelah. I sent him packing. If it is
anyone’s fault, it is mine for allowing him into my house in the first
place!’

Reginald shook his head. ‘Never mind that now, what are we
going to do?’

Maria jumped up and gripped his arm. ‘You must go to Sir Arthur
now, Reginald. He is the magistrate, he can get a party together and go to
Lydcombe Park—’

‘That will not work,’ put in Dominic. ‘Sir Oswald will deny
everything.’

‘But it
must
be his doing,’
protested Zelah. ‘We could search Lydcombe—’

Dominic shook his head. ‘You may be sure the boy will not be
hidden anywhere on Evanshaw’s land.’

Maria looked at each of them in turn, her eyes wide with
apprehension. ‘Will he keep his word, do you think? Will he return Nicky to us
if we do as he says?’

Reginald rubbed a hand across his brow. ‘Why should he not?
Once the hearing is concluded it will be too late to change anything.’

‘But we cannot just sit here,’ declared Zelah.

Reginald snatched the note from Dominic’s hand and waved it at
her, his eyes bleak with despair. ‘It says if we try to find him—’ He broke off,
swallowing. ‘I dare not do anything.’

The sound of voices in the hall caught their attention. Maria
leapt up as the door opened, only to slump back again when she saw Jasper. He
was dressed for riding, his spurs jingling cheerfully as he walked in.

‘Lord Markham!’ Reginald sounded more hopeful.

Jasper nodded to the assembled company as he began to strip off
his gloves.

‘I was out looking for your boy when I came across Sawley.’ He
glanced round as the groom followed him into the room, having stopped to wipe
his boots thoroughly before entering the house. Jasper fixed his eyes on
Dominic. ‘He was rushing here on foot, so I thought it might be important and
took him up behind me.’

Jem dragged his hat off and twisted it between his hands.

‘I thought to see you on the road, sir, seein’ as you hadn’t
got to the White Hart an’ I wanted to tell you as soon as maybe.’ No one spoke,
no one even moved while he paused to wipe his face with a red handkerchief. ‘I
did what you said, sir, and took myself off to the Three Tuns for some
home-brewed.’ He grimaced. ‘Rough place, it is, but I pulled me cap down over me
face and settled in a corner of the taproom. Anyway, one or two of Sir Oswald’s
people was in there, drinking, when a man comes in looking for Miller, the
bailiff. Said he had some gaming cocks for him. “He’s gone off to see ’is
brother,” says one, only to have ’is foot stamped on by his mate, which shut him
up. “Well, that’s odd,” says the man. “When I saw ’im the night afore last he
said he’d be ’ere to take these birds off me hands.” Well, there was some
mutterings and shifty looks, and it struck me as a pretty rum do.’ Jem rubbed
his nose, his brow wrinkled in concentration. ‘They all left soon after, so I
took meself off to the High Street to see old Mother Tawton, the washerwoman.
Regular gossip, she is, and knows everything about everyone around Lesserton. It
being a warm evening I found her sitting in her doorway, smoking her pipe. She
told me that Miller’s brother runs a tavern down at Beston Quay. And according
to Mother Tawton, that’s who supplies Sir Oswald with his brandy and tea.’

‘Smugglers,’ declared Reginald.

‘Most likely they wouldn’t be above aiding a kidnap, too,’
muttered Dominic.

Reginald rubbed his chin. ‘But that is what, thirty...forty
miles away. Would they take the boy that far?’

‘If Evanshaw is involved, he wouldn’t risk hiding the boy
locally,’ said Jasper. ‘We should take a look.’

‘Yes, yes!’ cried Maria. ‘You must go there this minute,
Reginald.’

‘Yes, we—’ Reginald stopped, his animated look replaced by one
of wretchedness. ‘But it won’t work. You saw the note, Coale. He threatens the
boy if we try to find him. Our hands are tied.’

Dominic handed the paper to Jasper.

‘Yours
may be,’ he said slowly,
‘but mine are not. No one will be any the wiser if I am gone from Rooks Tower
for a day or two, and you can make sure you are seen in Lesserton, to allay
suspicion.’

Jasper immediately spoke up. ‘I shall come with you,
Brother.’

Reginald shook his head. ‘No, no, I cannot let you do it. If
Evanshaw finds out—’

Zelah put her hand on his arm. ‘What is the alternative?’

His shoulders drooped. ‘We let Evanshaw redraw the boundary.
The villagers lose their land. And I will have spent a great deal of money I
could not afford bringing the lawyer down from London for nothing.’

‘But we will have our son back.’ Maria’s voice broke and she
dropped her face in her hands again.

‘But if he is at Beston,’ said Dominic, ‘and we can bring him
back safe before the hearing?’

‘I think it is worth an attempt.’ Jasper nodded.

‘But it is not your son’s life at stake,’ retorted Reginald,
strain beginning to take its toll of his nerves.

‘True,’ said Dominic, ‘but what guarantee do you have that
Evanshaw will keep his word and return the boy?’ The awful reality of his words
hung in the silence. He continued urgently, ‘Let us try this, Buckland. If Nicky
is not there, we have lost nothing. If he is...’

‘Oh, yes,’ sobbed Maria. ‘Yes, Major, please try. I only wish I
could go with you. My poor little boy will be so frightened.’

‘I will go, if you will provide me with a horse.’

Zelah’s words were quietly spoken and Dominic thought he had
misheard until Jasper protested.

‘No, Miss Pentewan, there is no call for that.’

‘Nicky may need me,’ she said simply. ‘He is a little boy,
snatched away from his home and everything he knows. He will be very
frightened.’

Dominic shook his head. ‘Out of the question,’ he said curtly.
‘It is far too dangerous.’

He found Zelah’s agonised gaze fixed upon him.

‘Please,’ she whispered, ‘let me do this. Nicky is like my own
son. To lose him...’

He read the anguish in her eyes and suddenly he understood: she
was racked with guilt. About Lerryn, Nicky’s disappearance—about her own
stillborn child. His judgement said she should not go, but he could not deny
her.

‘We will be riding hard,’ he warned.

She returned his look, her own hazel eyes now steady and
unafraid. ‘I am used to that, and thanks to your sister I have had some practice
these past weeks.’

She looked pale but resolute and Dominic’s heart swelled. Her
spirit was indomitable.

‘Sal has left Portia at Rooks Tower,’ put in Jasper. ‘I will
have her saddled up for you. And we will need to leave at dawn.’

Zelah nodded.

‘My habit is still at Rooks Tower, I will come back with you
now.’ She went to her sister. ‘You and Reginald must convince Sir Oswald that
you are complying with his demands, Maria. Do not worry, if Nicky is at Beston
Quay we will find him.’

Maria hugged her tightly. ‘Bring him back safely, Zelah.’

Dominic felt better now that they had a plan. He turned to
Reginald. ‘Can you trust your servants, Buckland?’

‘Aye, they’ve all been with me for years.’