Briar Patch (17 page)

‘Ah, I see.' Madeline inclined her head. ‘Was that the bell for luncheon? Riding always gives me an appetite – and sex makes me ravenous.'

Harry came to say goodnight that evening. He kissed Roz and smiled but then made an excuse about being tired and left her to sleep alone. She thought that perhaps he'd come from Madeline because she could smell a perfume about him that wasn't hers.

As she lay in bed Roz was remembering that the next day was Tom's wedding to Mary Jane Forrest. She would have liked to go the church and see them wed but Harry would be annoyed if she deserted their guests to go riding alone. In a week or two, when Madeline and her odious husband had gone, Roz might take a gift for Mary Jane. Perhaps some lace or a paisley shawl. She wasn't sure if Tom would want his wife to do sewing for other people, but she could ask. A part of her was jealous of the girl who would be Tom's wife, but she knew it was what he needed. If things had been different . . . but that was impossible. It was because she cared for Tom that she hoped his marriage would be good for him.

Roz smiled as she drifted into sleep. She was probably just making an excuse to go to Tom's house in the hope of seeing him. It might be better to send someone with the gift and stay away. Yet what harm could it do to pass the time of day?

She was married to Harry and he was being considerate and courteous – everything she'd expected from her marriage. Roz must do nothing to make him suspect her of having a lover.

She slept and her dream was pleasant. She woke feeling refreshed. During the morning the sound of church bells from the direction of the village made her stop and look out of the window towards the church spire. It was just visible because it was built on a rise and the surrounding land was so flat.

So Tom was married to his Mary Jane. She tried to imagine them with their friends around them, the dancing and laughter. For a moment Roz was overcome with a sense of regret. She wished that she had been marrying Tom Blake that morning, even though she knew it wasn't possible. Neither his family nor hers would have permitted it; the rift was too wide, made deeper by the blood spilled on both sides.

‘You do love me, Tom?' Mary Jane looked at him as they went out to the pony and trap that was waiting to take them to the railway station in Wisbech.

‘You know I care for you, Mary, lass. Why do you ask now?'

‘You've hardly spoken a word since we took our vows in church. You never said you liked my dress or a word about how I looked.'

‘You looked pretty as always, Mary Jane – but that dress wasn't made from the material I brought you from the market.'

‘It was a dress Lady Thornton sent me as a wedding present. The material was so good, Tom, and I turned up the hem and let out the waist and it fitted me a treat. I thought it made me look like a lady.'

‘Yes, it did,' Tom agreed and frowned. ‘I'd rather you looked like yourself, Mary Jane. You've no need to pretend to be Roz Thornton by wearing her old dresses. I prefer you to be you.'

‘Lady Thornton said her daughter never wore it because she didn't like it. I think it had been worn once, but it was like new and it made me feel beautiful. I made a dress with your material and I'll wear that at the hotel. Please don't be cross with me.'

‘I'm not cross.' Tom leaned towards her, giving her a brief kiss on the mouth before handing her up into the trap. He climbed in beside her and took her hand. ‘How could I be cross with you on our wedding day?'

‘I want us to be happy, Tom. Ma and Pa are at each other's throats half the time. I don't want us to be like that, always arguing.'

‘Your ma and pa care about each other; they make up their quarrels. My parents can be bitter over things, Mary Jane. I wouldn't want that for us. If I say things you don't like, you should tell me and not brood.'

‘I'll be all right if you love me,' Mary Jane said. ‘There was someone else I fancied once, Tom – but the only one I want now is you.'

‘Ma thought you were after our Dick. Maybe he would've asked you if things had been different – but that's water under the bridge. You're my wife and I mean to do right by you.'

Tom watched the countryside pass by as the trap was driven at a smart pace towards the railway station. He'd made himself a vow as he was shaving that morning. There would be no more dreams about Roz, no more clandestine meetings at the hay barn.

Maybe it was imagination but he'd smelled Roz's perfume clinging to Mary Jane's dress and it had haunted him as he took his wedding vows. Even as he spoke the words and kissed Mary Jane, he had seen Roz standing there at his side and he'd known he loved her. Mary Jane was a good lass and she'd be a good wife to him, but he couldn't give her what belonged to someone else.

Eleven

‘I don't know how you can bear to have that woman staying in your home,' Julia said as she kissed Roz goodbye after dinner at Rushden Towers the following week. ‘The way she looks at your husband is disgraceful. Forgive me for saying it, but it is the truth.'

‘Yes, I know. She threw herself at Harry when we met them in Paris. I don't really mind, Julia. She and Raymond will be leaving in a few days and I think Harry will not invite them again in a hurry.'

‘What makes you say that?' Julia smoothed on her gloves and glanced back to where Philip was standing with Harry and Madeline.

‘Harry won Raymond's money in Paris and thought he ought to give him a chance to recuperate, but I think he lost heavily to him the other evening. He didn't exactly say but he seemed to imply that he thought . . . well, he was annoyed over it.'

‘It is best not to say these things in company, unless they can be proved. I hope that Philip has the sense to stay away from them. He cannot afford to gamble if he wishes to improve the estate.'

‘Perhaps you should not have invited them to dine next week?'

‘Philip invited Sir Raymond. I could hardly refuse to entertain them, though I do not particularly like either of them. Ah, Philip is coming at last. I must go, Roz. Please visit me when you can.'

‘Yes, of course. I shall as soon as I'm free.'

Roz watched as her sister-in-law went out to the carriage. She saw a look pass between Madeline and Philip and wondered if Julia had also noticed that a subtle flirtation had been going on between them during the evening. It seemed that Madeline had turned her attention to Philip. Perhaps she had not yet realized that Julia held the purse strings.

Rebuking herself for being spiteful, Roz went back to her guest. ‘Did you enjoy your evening, Madeline?'

‘Yes, very much. Your brother is an interesting man, Roz – even though his wife tries to keep him on a leash.'

‘Philip is grateful to her for enabling him to improve the estate. Money was tight after my father died.'

‘Philip told me the story,' Madeline said. ‘Dick Blake killed your father because he blamed him for raping his idiot sister.'

‘Carrie isn't an idiot,' Roz snapped, ‘just a little dreamy and slow at times.'

‘You defend her? Do I sense that you are sympathetic to the whole family, Roz?'

‘Dick Blake was wrong to murder my father, but he paid for his mistake with his life. The rest of his family are no more to blame than I am for what happened to Carrie.'

‘Still pretending to be holier than thou?' Madeline smirked. ‘I liked your brother, Roz. At least he is honest enough to admit what he wants.'

‘Please don't hurt Julia,' Roz said. ‘I should have thought one lover at a time was sufficient – even for you, Madeline.'

Madeline's green eyes narrowed.

‘Don't forget that I know about you and the farmer's son. If I were to drop a word into Harry's ear, it would wipe that superior look from your face.'

‘You know nothing, because there is nothing to know,' Roz replied. ‘I think Harry has seen through both you and your husband. He wouldn't believe your lies.'

‘He might not like what I am but he loves what I do to him,' Madeline said, a smile of triumph on her full red lips. ‘Don't underestimate me, Roz. I can break the string or jerk it and bring him running whenever I like.'

‘Then do your worst. Excuse me, I must say goodnight to my brother.' She walked to catch Philip before he got into the carriage. ‘Goodnight, Philip.'

‘I still want that talk,' Philip said. ‘I'll call tomorrow morning – you will be at home?'

‘Yes, of course. Do not keep Julia waiting.'

She returned to the hall to find Harry standing with Sir Raymond. He glanced at Roz but said nothing. Her rebuff of his advances in the garden had made him treat her with scornful disdain, barely speaking more than a word to her these past several days.

‘I'm going up now, Harry,' she said. ‘Come when you're ready.'

‘I shan't be late,' he promised and kissed her cheek. ‘Madeline has already gone up and Philip was the last to leave.'

Roz passed the two men and walked up the stairs. Her maid was waiting to unhook her gown at the back. As soon as that was done, Roz dismissed her.

‘I can manage now,' she said. ‘Go to bed, May. I'm sure you're tired.'

‘No, ma'am. I don't mind sitting up for you but I shouldn't want to work for that other one.'

‘Do you mean Lady Jenson?'

‘Yes, Mrs Rushden. I took some hot water up for her earlier and she threw a hairbrush at me because it wasn't the right temperature.'

‘I'm sorry she was so appallingly rude to you, May. I apologize on her behalf.'

‘You're a proper lady, ma'am. She and that husband of hers are . . . well, it ain't for me to say.'

‘It isn't necessary, May. I know more than you may imagine. She and Sir Raymond will be leaving soon and I very much hope they will not be invited again.'

‘Yes, ma'am. So do us all. I should count the silver before they leave if I were you.'

‘Now that is too much,' Roz said but smiled inwardly. It was ridiculous to be so pleased that her servants had such a low opinion of Madeline and Sir Raymond. ‘Run along now, May.'

Feeling a little restless after the girl left her, Roz brushed her long hair then stood up and went to the window to look out. Less than five miles separated her from the house where Tom Blake lived. She splayed her fingers on the window, as if she could somehow breach the cavern between them and bring him closer.

‘Roz . . . is something wrong?'

She turned and saw Harry watching her. He was wearing a striped velvet dressing robe and his feet were bare. She knew why he had come and his reason for seeking her out. Madeline had been a little too obvious in flirting with Philip that evening.

‘No, nothing is wrong,' she said and smiled at him. ‘Do you want to stay with me tonight, Harry? I mean, stay all night?'

‘I've been a fool,' he said huskily as he moved towards her. ‘Nothing has happened since Paris except a few kisses, though it wasn't for lack of trying on her part. I got involved with them in Paris and it was difficult to say no when he asked if they could come and stay. They are leaving tomorrow.'

‘Sooner than they planned?'

‘He has seen a house he likes in Wisbech. They are going to lease it for the winter – at least that is what he told me.'

‘I wish they had chosen London instead.'

‘Don't worry, Roz. The madness has passed. I think he cheated at cards the other night. I lost ten thousand pounds to him.'

‘Harry!' Roz was shocked. ‘That is so much money – as much as Julia brought to Philip when they married. If they get their claws in him . . .'

‘I shall warn him,' Harry promised. ‘I can weather it, though it means I shan't be able to top your brother's offer for Blake's farm.'

‘Why would you wish to?' Roz gazed up at him as he untied the belt of his robe.

‘Just because it's good land and there's access to the stream in the dry weather. Your father wanted that land, Roz, and now Philip is after it. Blake won't sell to him, of course, but I thought he might to me. I sold him some oats the other year when they were short.'

‘I doubt if the Blakes would sell to anyone. They are a proud family.'

‘What do you know of them?'

‘I met Ellen Blake when I took some things for Carrie – and I know Tom Blake's wife. Mary Jane does sewing for Mama and me sometimes.'

Harry nodded. He was naked beneath his robe and Roz smiled as she saw he was fully aroused. She went to his arms, lifting her face for his kiss.

‘I don't care what happened between you and Madeline,' she said. ‘I hurt you in Paris and you wanted to hurt me back. Promise me it is all over now and we'll forget any of it happened.'

‘You're so lovely,' Harry breathed and kissed her, sweeping her up in his arms. ‘From now on it's just you and me. I promise.'

‘Make love to me, Harry,' she whispered. ‘We can be happy together if we try.'

Roz responded to his touch and found she felt so much better this time. She wasn't in love with him but perhaps they could like and respect each other again.

Mary Jane straightened and put a hand to the small of her back. She had just finished milking the herd of ten cows single-handed, because Tom was busy helping a neighbour to thresh his corn. The neighbour had helped him thresh their crop three days earlier and now he was repaying the favour. Sighing, she took her bucket, which was three-quarters full, and tipped it into the churn. She'd already put some by for the kitchen and she'd skimmed some of the milk for making butter in the churn.