Felicia (6 page)

Four

When Felicia was informed of the forthcoming
visit, she said nothing, keeping her fears to herself. Dr. Ross sensed her uneasiness but decided not to interfere.

However, her fears diminished as she was caught up in the whirl of activity that ensued. Extra servants were hired from the village, and they descended like a swarm of bees on the house. All the rooms that had been closed for years were opened and aired. The holland covers were removed, and the maids were everywhere with their mops, and brooms.

Lady Louisa’s misgivings about her ability to cope with many guests grew as the day for them to arrive drew nearer. Felicia, who felt a genuine fondness for her, had to calm her several times.

“I don’t think you should worry about the flower arrangements. I will take care of them if you wish. I noticed that James has some beautiful blossoms in the hothouse.”

“Would you, Felicia?” Lady Louisa breathed thankfully. “That would relieve me of a big worry. I was never terribly good with flowers. And, I swear I don’t know how I am going to cope with all these people that Ian will be bringing down. Why, oh, why did I let Paul talk me into this.”

“If the truth were known, Lady Louisa,” Felicia said with a smile, “I do believe you are enjoying yourself, in spite of your protestations. And the difference all these preparations have made in the house is miraculous.”

“This is how it used to be when Ian’s father was alive, Lady Louisa said wistfully. “You are right, Felicia, I am enjoying myself more than I ever dreamed possible. But, however are we going to entertain them all? I am quite out of the habit, you know.”

“I am sure Lord Umber will make all the necessary arrangements,” Felicia assured her. “If the weather holds, they can go for a picnic, and there are some beautiful trails for rides.” A pensive note crept into her voice as she thought of the fun the party would have. “And in the evening, Lord Umber is sure to think up some amusements.”

“You are right, of course, dear child. Ian will take care of everything. And you are to join in as well. I will not have you languishing at my side when there are young people around.”

“But I cannot possibly,” Felicia said crisply. “It is not my place.”

“Nonsense! Both Dr. Ross and I feel you will benefit from spending time in young company. So I will brook no argument.”

Before Felicia could protest further, Miss Sophy was announced, and Felicia forgot her apprehension at Lady Louisa’s suggestion as she tried on her new dresses.

“If only you could be seen in London,” Miss Sophy gushed, much to Felicia’s amusement. “What a credit you would be to me. Think of all the business I would get!”

“I am sorry that Manchester is so far away,” Felicia laughed. “But maybe I can help you anyway, for Lord Umber is bringing a house party down next weekend, and you may be certain that if anyone asks about my gowns, I will refer them to you.” Privately she thought this unlikely, for she had heard all about the sophisticated company Lord Umber kept when away from his mother. It was most improbable that they would ask her advice.

*

The day of Lord Umber’s homecoming finally arrived. When Felicia awoke, she was dismayed to see it was raining. She dressed quickly in her old gown, and ran downstairs to check on the last-minute preparations. Mrs. Keyes, the housekeeper, appeared and had a few questions, which Felicia dealt with before she descended to the kitchens to check on the menu for the first meal. Alphonse, the chef that Lord Umber had sent down from London, was firmly installed in his domain and was not pleased to see Felicia.

“
Mon dieu
,
mam’selle Felicia!” he exclaimed in his broken English, “I beg of you to return again. I am too busy now…later, perhaps.… But I ’ave to prepare zee sauce
spécial
for m’lord.”

Felicia smiled at him. “
Non, je n’ai pas besoin de votre assistance
,”
she said in perfect French. “I was only checking to see whether
I
could help
you.
”
She promptly withdrew, and it was only when she reached the main hall that she realized she had actually spoken another language. Knowing that Dr. Ross would be in the library at this time of the morning, she knocked briefly on the door, but in her excitement entered right away. She could not wait another second to tell him her news.

“Dr. Ross,” she said in a breathless voice, “I have just discovered that I speak French.” Thinking she saw him in the wingback chair near the fireplace, she ran over to him.

“That, my dear Miss Richards, was something I never doubted from the beginning,” the disturbing voice of Lord Umber drawled.

“You!” Felicia exclaimed. “Whatever are you doing here?” In her dismay, her tone was sharp.

“I live here,” he replied slowly, an amused look in his eyes.

“Where is Dr. Ross?” Felicia demanded. Her heart was pounding and her knees seemed about to give way. She took a deep breath to steady herself. “I am sorry to have intruded, but Dr. Ross is usually here at this time, and anyway,” she continued as her spirit returned, “we are not expecting you until this afternoon.”

“I am sorry to overset your arrangements then, Miss Richards,” he teased. “I decided to ride down early. Perhaps I should have informed you of my change in plans?”

“No, not at all,” Felicia replied. “It was just that you took me by surprise.”

“Not for the first time, my dear,” Lord Umber laughed. “I apologize.”

“Oh! …you…you despicable trifler. How can you call yourself a gentleman, and then recall that incident. I knew it was a mistake to stay here.” She moved to the door hastily, but her exit was halted by Lord Umber’s voice.

“Now, wait a minute,” he said, his voice no longer teasing. “I apologized for that. I admit I made a mistake, which I regret. But if you think that I am going to let you leave my mother when your presence has brought about such a miraculous change in her, you are mistaken.”

“You cannot hold me here against my will,” Felicia snapped. “And your mother knows that I intend to leave as soon as I have word from Mrs. Barton. So to leave a few days earlier will not matter.”

“Mrs. Barton? Who is she?”

“The lady in Manchester,” Felicia said in exasperation.

“Oh! Yes. I had forgotten. But you promised to remain until you heard from her, is that right?”

“It is what I promised Dr. Ross, yes. But now, I think it best if I leave immediately.”

“Pray do not let my presence cut short your stay,” Lord Umber replied, his sense of humor overcoming his annoyance at Felicia’s hostility. “If I give you my word, as a gentleman, to behave with utmost propriety, will you agree to do as you originally planned?” His tone was compelling and friendly.

Felicia hesitated and before she could answer, the door was flung open, grazing her shoulder slightly.

“Ian, are you coming?” the voice of a young man called impatiently; “I have been waiting an age for you.”

“Pray come in a moment, David, and meet my mother’s companion.”

Felicia looked down at her drab dress in dismay. Whatever would Lord Umber’s friend think of such a dowd.

“Miss Richards,” Lord Umber said languidly, “allow me to present a good friend, Mr. Burton. Mr. David Burton.”

“Beg pardon, ma’am, didn’t mean to startle you,” Mr. Burton said as he stepped into the library. “Pleased to meet you.” His eyes took in her attire and he wondered silently what such a drab thing was doing as Lady Louisa’s companion. Then, he looked at her face, and realized how very beautiful she was.

“How do you do, Mr. Burton,” Felicia was saying, her voice unsteady as she stared at his pleasant, open countenance. He shifted his stance uneasily at such close scrutiny, by a young woman.

“I say, Miss Richard,” he said at last, “is something the matter? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

Felicia shook her head. “Pray forgive my manners, Mr. Burton. And, no, you didn’t hurt me.” She brushed her shoulder absent-mindedly. “I thought, for a moment, that I had met you before and I was trying to place the connection.” She shook her head, as though trying to clear it.

“Never seen you before,” Mr. Burton said hurriedly. “Hardly likely to forget such a face, what, Ian?”

“No, David,” Lord Umber agreed lightly, aware that his friend was wondering whether he had indeed met Felicia in some house of ill repute. “But it is interesting to hear Miss Richards say your face is familiar, because this is the young lady I was telling you about. The one who has lost her memory.”

A look of relief spread across Mr. Burton’s face. “Ah! Yes. Well, I am sorry, Miss Richards. I wish I could help you, but as far as I know, I have never met you before.”

A puzzled look still clouded her eyes as she took her leave. “Perhaps it was a long time ago,” she said thoughtfully, the disappointment obvious in her voice. “I am sorry I cannot remember more.”

It had stopped raining when Felicia finally found Dr. Ross in the rose garden. She excitedly told him all that had happened. A pleased expression lit up his face as he listened. “We must probe this area further in our next session. It may be only a false trail, but it is worth exploring.”

“Who is this Mr. Burton, anyway?” Felicia asked. “It is uncanny how familiar he seems to be.”

“A friend of Lord Umber’s. A barrister of some repute. The youngest man ever to be admitted to the bar. Very well regarded by his peers.”

Felicia looked unimpressed. “But that doesn’t help me,” she cried, stamping her foot. “Oh, why, why do I think I know him?”

“He could have been the bearer of news at some point in the past.” Dr. Ross took her arm reassuringly as he continued gravely. “You must face the fact, Felicia, that you may well be an orphan. Quite frankly, that is the only solution I can think of to explain why you are having to earn your own living. There is no doubt in my mind that you are well born. It could be that Mr. Burton, in his capacity of barrister, had to break the news of your parents’ death. So possibly he spoke to a relative of yours—a brother perhaps, if you have one—and you may have caught a glimpse of him. I am sure if he had met with you directly, he would have remembered. I wish I could be more specific, but at the moment I can only conjecture.”

“I understand, Dr. Ross, really I do,” Felicia said, smiling. “I think I have prepared myself for the worst—about not having a family, I mean.”

They paused by the sundial and Felicia gasped as she saw the time. “Thank goodness the sun has come out to remind me of the hour. I must hurry back and change, for the guests will be arriving shortly.”

Dr. Ross let go of her arm. “Off with you, then, and don’t be so busy that you forget to enjoy yourself.”

“No, doctor,” she answered with an air of exaggerated decorum. “I will obey your instructions implicitly.”

He was on his way to the stables thinking to find his host there when the butler approached him. “If you are not too busy, Dr. Ross, Lord Umber would like a word with you. He is in the library.”

“The very thing,” Dr. Ross muttered to himself, as he followed the retreating figure of the servant.

Dr. Ross was surprised to find Lady Louisa ensconced on the sofa in the library, with Lord Umber standing at the window. “Good afternoon, ma’am, Ian. You wanted to see me?”

Lord Umber walked forward with his hand outstretched. “Paul, good to see you. A drink?” He indicated a tray filled with gleaming crystal

“Not yet awhile, Ian. Think I will save myself for the festivities tonight. I hear Alphonse has been let loose in the kitchens.”

“Sorry to drag you away from the roses, Paul,” Lord Umber said, “but I wanted to hear your prognosis on Miss Richards. My mother tells me that the bits and pieces she has remembered have not been too helpful.”

“In essence that is correct, Ian. However, I am beginning to make some headway. I need time though, especially now when she thinks she knows David. This is the first real breakthrough I have had in the case. Maybe another piece of the puzzle will fall into place when we hear from Manchester. No word yet, I suppose, Lady Louisa?”

“No, thank goodness,” Lady Louisa replied quickly. “And frankly, I don’t wish ever to hear.”

Dr. Ross shook his head in a sympathetic gesture. “My real problem is time,” he continued, turning to Lord Umber. “I have just received word from my associate that I am needed in London.” He fingered the letter he had received that morning that still lay in a pocket. “And frankly, I have no alternative but to take my leave on Sunday.”

“But what will happen to Felicia?” Lady Louisa cried. “Oh, dear, is there nothing we can do?”

Lord Umber glanced at Dr. Ross with raised eyebrows. “As a doctor you have a remedy, I am sure. What do you propose?”

“It really depends on Lady Louisa. If she will agree to the scheme I suggest, I think everyone will benefit.”

Both men turned to Lady Louisa, who was now sitting up alertly. “Pray continue, Paul,” she ordered. “You have me in a positive lather of curiosity.”

His reply, after a moment’s hesitation, was blunt. “Go to London on an extended visit.”

A stunned silence followed. All three were aware that Lady Louisa has refused to leave Alverston since her husband’s death six years ago.