Lord Clayborne's Fancy (20 page)

“It’s a lovely evening,” Rebecca commented soon after. “Shall we all walk in the topiary before the tea tray is brought in? Mary and Constance have not heard its history, Jason. Perhaps you could tell them.”

Clayborne escorted Mary and Constance, who were inclined to find the topiary’s history amusing, and were good-naturedly chided for their lack of appreciation for so ancient a heritage. While Meg and Miss Turnpeck chatted of music and the merits of the pianoforte versus the harpsichord, Mott and Rebecca brought up the rear.

“You have all been so good to George and he seems to love you all dearly. He is convinced that Mary is an angel, you know,” Mott said laughingly.

“She must seem one to him, for she is beautiful and interested in all the things he is. Jason says she reminds him of his sister Caroline.”

“She is very like Caroline, in temperament as well as looks. I did not meet my wife so young as Mary is, though. When I met Caroline she was twenty and tired of the gaiety of London with its interminable parties. She wanted nothing more than to be in the country.”

“Frankly, I don’t know how my mother will cope with Mary in town next year, for she too does not find it amusing. She would rather be out riding or enthusiastically involved in some prank.”

Clayborne joined them then and Mott wandered off to urge that Constance and Mary tell him how the history of the topiary could be so amusing. Rebecca could think of nothing to say to her husband, but walked calmly beside him a little away from the others.

“Rebecca, I’ve been thinking that we should have a small rout next week. Your sister Meg is anxious to return to Farthington Hall and it would be a nice conclusion to her visit. Perhaps we could invite her young man to spend a few days with us and then escort them back. It would ease Miss Turnpeck’s mind, I’m sure, for she does not relish the idea of the trip with Mary in her sole charge.”

“What a splendid idea, Jason! Are there enough young people in the neighborhood this summer to justify our having musicians for dancing?”

“I believe so. Sir John has two sons and three daughters at home right now, and the Misses Blackwell have a nephew rusticating with them for a few weeks. You may not have met the Smithdons, but Bridge tells me they’re all at home and they also have several sons and daughters. I’ll help you with the guest list, and Mrs. Lambert will be delighted to have such festivity here again. I remember a party my mother gave. She died when I was fifteen, so I must have been even younger. There was a floor put in the courtyard and lanterns hung all about.”

“Could we do that?” Rebecca asked eagerly.

“I imagine we could. Mrs. Lambert was here then and would doubtless remember more of the details. If you should like it, you have only to arrange for it.”

“I think even Mary will enjoy it if it’s out of doors,” Rebecca mused. “I shall write to invite Will tomorrow.”

“Good. I’ll urge Gregory to stay, too.”

The next morning Rebecca broached the project to Mrs. Lambert, who was as enthusiastic as Clayborne had predicted. “I remember the party his lordship was telling you of, my lady. It was the talk of the countryside for months after! I’m sure the painted lanterns were put away carefully in the attic and we have only to look for them. Now the floor for the court, that’s another matter. Probably long since been used for some other purpose, but Bridge shall have some carpenters in and have it ready in a trice. You would have extra plants about as well? No doubt my brother will help you all you want there. You speak to him this afternoon, my lady, and he shall have everything done proper, I promise.”

“Can the kitchen handle the food, Mrs. Lambert, or shall I speak to the caterer in Chichester?”

“We have managed in our own kitchen for every party ever given here and I shan’t see food brought in from outside now. That French cook is forever grousing as there’s no call for his skills with such simple fare, and it will give him a thing or two to do with himself,” Mrs. Lambert grunted.

“Not that we won’t need some help from the village girls, but that’s as soon done as said. You just plan a menu with the cook, my lady, and Griggs and me’ll see to it that everything is fine as ninepence. His lordship will no doubt see to the wines with Griggs. It shall be a happy day for us all to see such doings at Gray Oaks again.”

Rummaging through the attic, the young ladies uncovered not only lanterns but streamers and poles, baskets which could be used to hang plants in and odd items they were sure could be put to use, such as the head from a suit of armor and several Egyptian vases. “From Uncle Henry, no doubt,” Rebecca laughed.

After the invitations were sent, Meg waited anxiously until an acceptance came from Will which indicated his willingness to both attend the festivities and escort the Farthington Hall party home. Then she could not do enough, and gladly assumed any tasks assigned to Mary, who would rather ride out with George and his father than plan the details of such a function.

The old house again buzzed with activity. Constance and Rebecca devised a scheme for hanging the plants asymetrically around the courtyard, and supervised the carpenters both in the construction of the wooden floor and the placement of the streamer poles. The lanterns, which had been painted with flowers and rectangular designs, had faded somewhat, but Rebecca enjoyed restoring them with vivid watercolors of her own.

There were frequent trips to the village and into Chichester to purchase supplies and arrange for the musicians. Clayborne and Mott kept little George close to them on fishing trips and rides, but George was infected by the excitement and could often be found joyfully hammering on the dance floor or painting a lantern. Exhausted, but unwilling to admit it, he would allow Constance to regale him with tales of adventure until he fell asleep.

The day before the party Rebecca received a message from the estate agent in Chichester in which he informed her that he had found an adequate cottage for her in Chipping Campden which he had let per her instructions. He described it as a cottage of four small rooms on each of two floors, and said that the cost was well within the figure she had suggested. Although it suffered somewhat from deferred maintenance, he admitted, it was structurally sound and charming for a small property. If she would inform him when she intended to occupy it, he would send word ahead so that she would be expected. Rebecca sighed and sent a maid to ask Constance to join her in the small parlor.

“We have a cottage,” Rebecca told her when she arrived. “We can occupy it at any time. Are you still of the same mind, Constance?”

“I... I believe so, Rebecca. Are you sure you wish to go?”

“I must. Don’t feel sad, Constance. We shall have a very comfortable life there and you can join your mother in town when it pleases you. Jason has offered to increase my allowance so that I may stable Firely and we shall share her if you cannot afford a horse of your own.”

“It isn’t that. I can have a horse of my own, I’m sure. But Rebecca, Clayborne has seemed much kinder to you this last week. Do you not think perhaps you could mend matters between you?”

“I’m afraid not. I shall miss him, for even when he is stern and forbidding I... Well, never mind. Have you made any mention to your mother of the move?”

Constance giggled. “I have had the most amazing letter from her, which will be followed directly by all the possessions I had in Brighton. I am told I am a most ungrateful daughter with no respect for my elders and not the slightest regard for my duty to my aging parent. She cannot be above five and forty, Rebecca! She spoke of her lonely old age, as though she had not enjoyed my Aunt Ophelia’s company for the last five years! I should expect a letter from my brother Charles any day now, I expect, but frankly I don’t believe he will mind so very much. He has always felt sorry for me.”

“My dear, you are a love to joke about it, for I am sure it must be a burden to you.”

“Don’t cast me in a martyr’s role, Rebecca; it doesn’t suit me. I’m delighted to be away from her. I feel more the thing just being at Gray Oaks.”

“Then shall we plan to leave for Chipping Campden the day after Mary and Meg leave? I’ll bring Harpert to keep house for us. She’s a willing worker and a quick learner and though she has been a maid at Clayborne House and my abigail here, she assures me that she can cook and manage a cottage as well as the next one.”

“We could manage for ourselves.”

“I’m sure we could, but Jason would not like it, nor would your mother or brother. Besides, I’ve never spent any time in a kitchen, and I daresay you haven’t, so we should probably starve to death.”

“No doubt you’re right, but I have always dearly wished to learn cookery,” Constance retorted.

“No, really? Perhaps Harpert will teach us in exchange for lessons we could give her. I’m teaching her to read, and you could instruct her on the harpsichord or in watercolors if she were interested.”

Constance’s face fell. “My mother did not say she had sent my harpsichord, Rebecca. I am sure she did it on purpose.”

“Oh, that is too bad of her! We shall see what we can contrive,” she promised. “Constance, I do not wish my sisters to know of this as yet. And Jason is not to know where we are going.”

When Constance had consented, Rebecca went off to seek out Clayborne, eventuality finding him in the stables.

“Did you wish to speak with me, Rebecca?” he asked, coming out of the harness room.

“If you have a moment, Jason. It’s a private matter.”

He took her arm and led her from the stables, down an oak-shaded lane away from the house. “Is everything going forward to your satisfaction on the party?” he asked.

“Oh, yes. Everyone has done a wonderful job and all should be ready in good time. It is not that of which I wished to speak.” She leaned over to pick up a stick from the path and twirl it back and forth in her hand. “I have let a cottage, Jason.”

He had known it was coming but he felt as though he had been kicked in the stomach. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “Are you sure you wish to go away, Rebecca?”

It took a supreme effort to meet his steady gaze. No, of course she didn’t want to leave him. Who could leave a man whose hair was forever falling onto his forehead that way, making you ache to smooth it back into place? But he doesn’t want me to help him, she reminded herself sternly.

“I must, Jason. Meg and Mary leave on Monday; Constance and I will go the next day. I will arrange with Mr. Darcy, the solicitor in Chichester, to direct my allowance and any correspondence of importance on to me... I have a favor to ask of you, Jason.”

“Anything in my power.”

“Constance’s mother has sent all her things—and they should arrive any day—except her harpsichord, and Constance is sure she retained it from spite and will not be persuaded to part with it. Until the matter is straightened out, could we take your mother’s? Constance will be blue-deviled without one, I fear.”

“I’ve never heard anyone play as Constance does. Of course she may take it. Is that all you would ask?”

“I should like to take my abigail, Harpert. I brought her down from Clayborne House, you will remember, and she is agreeable to going with us.”

“That is entirely for her to decide. Will you have no other help there?”

“No, I understand it is a small cottage.”

“You haven’t seen it?” Clayborne asked incredulously.

“It is some distance away. I have every faith in the estate agent. We have let it furnished and I imagine it is in need of some decorating, but we will enjoy that.” She allowed the stick to drop from her hands onto the path. “I must ask that you say nothing to my sisters. I shall write them and my parents once I’m settled, for I’m sure it will be better to present them with an accomplished fact.”

“I don’t like it that I shall not know where you are, Rebecca. What if some emergency should arise?”

“You need only contact Mr. Darcy. I don’t intend to inform my parents where I am, either, Jason, for I don’t wish to have my father come charging in to try to transport me back to Farthington Hall. Of course I shall send you word of our safe arrival.”

Torn by conflicting emotions, he simply gazed silently at her. It was foolish to pretend that it didn’t matter to him that she was leaving. Nothing had ever mattered as much. But how could he keep her when he was destroying her happiness? Why would she not confess to him and be done with it?

“Oh, Lord, Rebecca, couldn’t you just go to Brighton for a spell?”

“That would solve nothing and would merely prolong the eventual departure. I’m sorry to cause you distress, Jason, but you will soon settle into a far more comfortable life and will not have to be forever leaving Gray Oaks to avoid me. I want to thank you for being so considerate to my sisters and Constance while they’ve been with us.”

“I’ve enjoyed their visit, and it’s made you happier. Perhaps we could have Mary live with us…” he began, but Rebecca was shaking her head. “No, I don’t suppose we could. Will you allow me to send you to the cottage in the traveling carriage?”

“And have your coachman tell you and the whole county where we are? No, I thank you. We shall go post chaise and Mr. Darcy has agreed to hire a carter for our trunks, and now the harpsichord. Jason, if you knew where we were, you would be honor-bound to tell my parents when they asked you, and I cannot have that.”

“I would not tell them.”

“You would be in a very awkward situation.”

“And do you not think I will be in an awkward situation as you are arranging it?” he asked, an edge to his voice.

Rebecca smiled sadly. “Now that is more like you, Jason. It’s easier for me to go when you’re angry with me.”

“If you will stay, I will endeavor not to be angry with you.”

A spot of color appeared on each of her cheeks and her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “Nonsense! It is eating away at you and you know it. I cannot convince you of the truth. We are making each other miserable and I am weary of this stupid life of pretenses. What you do with your life now is your business. I intend to make mine as pleasant as I am able in the circumstances!” Biting back a sob, she swung away from him and fled.