Cinders and Ashes (22 page)

Her
protests were ignored, and she was ushered out by the family
butler. The last sight of her father on that fateful evening was
his rigid back turned he towards her as he stared out at the
garden. He simply refused to listen to her, or acknowledge her any
longer.

“
As soon as my mother was in the ground, I was bundled into
the coach and taken to Bath.” Amelia’s voice became monotone as she
recounted events, as though watching from a distance. “I argued
that last morning, but to no avail. My aunts didn’t want me really.
Neither had married or had children, and had no idea how to deal
with me. I wasn’t a child. Someone they could manipulate. So they
saw me as a threat. I had no sooner walked through the door, than
they laid out numerous house rules, and immediately set me to
work.”

Amelia
glanced around the room, reassured somewhat by the sympathy in the
gazes of the people there. It bolstered her courage enough to allow
her to continue.

“
I worked as their servant. You see, they didn’t want me. They
wanted the money my father was paying them to look after me. They
got the better end of the deal because they were being paid to have
me, and used me as a servant they didn’t have to pay.”

She
paused briefly, as Edward swore.

“
I didn’t mind,” she murmured softly, with a grateful smile at
his supportive outburst. “It gave me something to do. It also
provided me with enough grounding to live and cope as Sir Hubert’s
housekeeper.”

“
What happened then?” Dominic murmured, held as transfixed by
her story as everyone else. “You obviously didn’t remain with your
aunts. How did you get to Glendowie? Did you know Sir
Hubert?”

Amelia
shook her head. “No. I had been at my aunts’ for about a year, when
I became aware of a certain male visitor who seemed to appear most
days. At first I didn’t think anything of it, but after a while one
of the staff overheard a conversation between my aunts and this
strange man. They were discussing my dowry, and whether it would be
released before or after my marriage to the man. My aunts were
trying to draw a deal together, whereby they got a cut of my dowry
if they persuaded my father the man was suitable. Which he wasn’t.
But that didn’t matter to my aunts.” Amelia shuddered at the
memories that rose.

“
The staff felt sorry for me, and were shocked that my aunts
would consider selling me. They agreed to help me leave. Bart, the
coachman and butler, had a brother who ran a brewery cart. He
arranged for me to travel on the cart to the nearest post chaise,
where I purchased a ticket out of Bath, and into freedom. I took
some money from my aunt’s room before I left. Enough to buy my way
out of there. I figured they owed me, given the money they had been
paid to look after me, that hadn’t actually been spent on anything
other than themselves.”

“
Quite right,” Peter muttered, with almost fatherly
approval.

“
Damned mercenary witches.” Edward practically bristled with
outrage towards the unseen pair.

“
So you caught the post chaise to Glendowie?” Sebastian
murmured softly, raising her hand to his mouth. Fury and disgust
towards her aunts, and the callous way had treated her, burned in
his stomach. He swayed between admiration and horror as he listened
to her recount events.

“
I was on my way to Edinburgh,” Amelia confirmed. “I caught
post chaise after post chaise out of Bath. Heading north until my
money ran out. Only once I got to Mistlemouth I just had to get off
the post chaise and rest for a while. I was exhausted. I purchased
a pie, and sat beside the stream to rest for a while. It was nice
to be out of the hustle and bustle of the busy coaching inn for a
while. Unfortunately, I fell asleep. When I woke up, the light was
beginning to fade. I rushed back to the inn only to find that the
coach had left, and wasn’t due to visit again for another week. I
could have waited, but didn’t have enough funds to purchase a room
for one night, let alone several. I was panicked and didn’t know
what I was going to do. As I left the inn, I bumped into Sir
Hubert. Literally. I knocked him flying. He appeared very frail as
he stood before me, yet so kind and apologetic for knocking into
me. He was clearly struggling to carry his books and purchases, and
with nothing else to do I offered to carry them home for him. As we
walked, he asked me several questions about who I was, and why I
was there. So I told him. Everything. Including my dire
predicament, and sought his advice on what I should do.”

Amelia
was aware of the amount of time she had been rambling on with her
wayward thoughts, and wondered if everyone was bored yet. When she
paused, she was met with an expectant silence as everyone waited
for her to continue.

“
When we got to his house, he apologised for the shabby state
of the place and offered me the job as his housekeeper.
Unfortunately, his funds were low. Even with his advanced age, it
wasn’t really suitable for me to live in the house with him. We did
a deal where he paid me lower wages, and in lieu of payment let me
live in the small cottage through the woods. I got a job that paid
some money, and had a roof over my head. He agreed not to inform
anyone of my real name.”

“
There you lived in relative solitude, until I landed on your
doorstep,” Sebastian added into the stunned silence that had fallen
over the group.

“
Until you arrived,” Amelia confirmed ruefully, but without
regret.

“
If it is not too impertinent, how old are you?” Peter asked,
frowning at her in consideration.

“
Three and twenty,” Amelia murmured, with candour. “I am far
beyond needing a guardian, so my father is not able to turn up and
demand I go anywhere. I am my own person now.”

“
Excellent,” Sebastian added, moving to stand. “That certainly
makes life easier.”

“
Does it?” Amelia moved to stand also, wary at his last
comment. It sounded suspiciously like he had plans.
“How?”

Sebastian merely smiled and wisely remained quiet. Having had
her confirm her ancestry and imminent suitability to be his wife,
there was really no reason why they couldn’t marry whenever they
chose.

“
You can now tell us why this man looks so familiar to you. In
particular what his connections with Eastleigh are,” Sebastian
said, handing her a brandy with a smile. “Thank you, Amelia, for
taking us into your confidence. We all appreciate how painful it
must be to recount such a difficult time.”

“
I don’t really know much about Hawksworth,” Amelia replied,
glancing at the Penny Dreadful and the horrible picture of the
murderer. “I saw him on several occasions entering and leaving
Eastleigh Hall. Only from a distance, you understand. I just
assumed he was a business associate of Eastleigh’s.”

“
I think someone needs to go to Eastleigh to see if they can
find out what the connection was,” Dominic announced, glancing at
Amelia when she instinctively made to protest. “If there is a
business connection there, Eastleigh may be able to tell us a bit
more about Hawksworth’s lifestyle. He may also be able to identify
the man on the Penny Dreadful.”

“
We can’t take the Penny Dreadful to the Hawksworth family and
ask them,” Sebastian replied. “If it is him-.” He shook his
head.

“
But do we have to include Eastleigh?” Amelia felt panic begin
to build. Had she done the right thing in confiding in
them?

“
You are perfectly safe here, darling, I promise you. Nobody
can insist you leave. Not even your father.” Sebastian’s voice was
hard and challenging. “As nobody else can remember anything about
Hawksworth, it has to be Eastleigh for now.”

“
I can go to visit the Hawksworth family and see if they have
heard anything from, or about, Hawksworth since he left,” Edward
offered.

“
I will go to Derby Gaol and ask if anyone can remember
anything about Hawksworth’s imprisonment, and if anyone visited him
while he was there,” Peter offered, thinking of his own personal
quest to locate the elusive Jemima. “I can also take a look at the
death mask and see if it resembles the man on the
picture.”

“
See if you are able to convince the magistrate if we can have
loan of it for the time being,” Sebastian asked, thinking aloud.
“It might help to get a magistrate on board if our thoughts are
confirmed.”

“
I will have to tell him what has happened so far. Do I have
your permission?” Peter queried, glancing at both Sebastian and
Amelia.

“
You have mine,” Sebastian replied, nudging Amelia who jerked,
clearly startled. “Does he have your permission to mention your
involvement in my rescue, and your connection to Eastleigh?”
Sebastian asked softly.

“
Oh, yes, if there really is no other way,” Amelia replied
hesitantly, surprised at being asked. She glanced curiously at
Sebastian, who had turned his attention back towards
Dominic.

“
I don’t want you travelling to see Eastleigh alone,
Sebastian,” Dominic added, with a frown at his younger
brother.

“
I’ll be fine,” Sebastian replied, eyeing the determination in
his brother’s stance warily.

“
Given that we have yet to ascertain why Ballantyne tried to
kill you rather than any of us, we can only assume the risk is
still very real. You cannot in all conscience expect me to remain
here and wait for your return. I’m coming with you.”

“
We cannot leave the ladies here all by themselves,” Sebastian
replied with a frown.

“
Why not?” Amelia murmured, glaring indignantly at Sebastian.
“We are perfectly capable of taking care of ourselves, are we not,
Isobel?”

“
Of course we are, Amelia,” Isobel replied as she rose to her
feet. “We are not helpless ninnies; we will be perfectly fine here
by ourselves. We can chat about all sorts of things without you men
around to disturb us.”

A silent
look of masculine communication shot between the men, who wisely
remained silent. Amelia wasn’t oblivious to the looks, although
couldn’t fathom their meaning.

“
We will leave in the morning,” Sebastian announced quietly,
settling back in his chair to sip his brandy.

“
I’m going to say goodnight,” Amelia announced. “Might I have
a few minutes with you, Sebastian, please?” she murmured, before
bidding everyone goodnight and quietly leaving the room.

Out in
the hallway, she paused and waited for Sebastian to join
her.

“
I take it you are going to leave for Eastleigh early in the
morning?” Her suspicions were confirmed by the guilty look that
stole over his face so quickly that she wondered if she had
imagined it.

“
The quicker I set out, the quicker we can resolve the mystery
around Ballantyne and get on with our lives, Amelia.” Sebastian
fought the urge to shuffle his feet like a ten year old caught
scrumping apples.

“
Promise me you won’t tell Eastleigh where I am. You are to
keep your meeting with Eastleigh about Hawksworth and Ballantyne
only.” Amelia’s eyes met and held his in dire threat.

“
I won’t do anything that will bring you unhappiness, Amelia,”
Sebastian replied evasively, moving closer to cup her chin in his
palm and tilt her head upwards for a kiss.

Not so
easily distracted, Amelia tugged back at the last moment, her eyes
hardening briefly. “If you return with Eastleigh, or you break my
trust, Sebastian, I shall leave here and never return.” The words
dropped between them like pebbles on a calm pond. Sebastian
frowned, knowing that she meant every word.

“
Amelia,” he protested softly.

“
I mean it, Sebastian. I won’t have your interference in this,
however good you think your intentions are.” Amelia pulled away
from the tempting curve of his firm lips and climbed the stairs.
She knew he stood and watched her until she disappeared. She could
feel his eyes on her back, and was glad when he didn’t follow
her.

Once out
of sight, she leant a steady hand on the wall, her fingers
trembling with a mixture of worry and anger. If he ran true to
form, Sebastian would feel it incumbent upon himself to inform
Eastleigh of her whereabouts, and use the opportunity of dragging
the man back to Tingdale to push for marriage. She could only be
glad she had sent the request for a reference off to Sir
Hubert.

When
Amelia awoke during the night, she didn’t need to turn over to know
Sebastian wasn’t filling the empty space beside her. She lay on her
back staring at the canopy above for several moments. She could
remain in bed and toss and turn for the remainder of the night, or
she could take the opportunity to try to persuade Sebastian to keep
her secret, and in doing so, keep her.

She
didn’t need to think too long before she threw the covers back and
climbed out of bed. Moments later she eased the door to his rooms
quietly open.

Sebastian was lying fast asleep in the middle of the huge
four poster bed. One well-muscled arm was lying over his head; the
other lay on the white sheet covering his slim hips. The broad
expanse of his well-muscled chest was liberally smattered with dark
hair, tapering down to disappear beneath the sheet covering his
lean hips. Amelia didn’t need to draw the sheet down to know what
was beneath.