The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (20 page)

***

In a state of shock, Simon and Anne had not spoken to make arrangements to walk out. But morning came, and they were the first two, of all the servants, to meet for breakfast. They were deemed early enough to carry plates for the kitchen maids, but hardly minded as they chatted cheerfully to the silent irritation of some of the others.

Simon was now required to sit with the footmen again, but took a spot down, but on the opposite side of the butcher block table from her so that he could meet her sparkling eyes with his adoring pair. Her dimples never receded at meals from this time forth, which completely and absolutely enchanted him, and he found her regular spilling of beverages to be endearing.

At the conclusion of breakfast this first morning, he told her that he would signal to her at the nursery window when he was allowed the time to walk. Anne, therefore, made sure all her work was done as early as possible and went to her window more frequently than usual. During an afternoon watch, her darling appeared below, bringing the post, and signaled her with a huge smile to come downstairs. He delivered his letters to the butler, who reminded him somewhat politely that he had just one hour and not a moment more, and that they were to leave through the servant’s door.

He then stood near the stairs, eagerly waiting for Anne. She waited to take his arm until after they had left the house. They strolled in the sunshine toward the gardens of Buckingham Palace, thrilled to be together and legitimately at that, heaven having smiled warmly upon them.

Anne expressed quite some anguish, feeling certain that the Duke had read their writings, for what other girl had ever been so betrayed to the world? She had been most embarrassed and had survived only because she must, as they would soon walk out together. But Simon had learned from the valet that the Duke had read only one, the first written by Simon, which had exposed the details of the first dreadful meal downstairs. The paper had thoughtlessly slipped out from behind the supposedly capable framed ancestor, had been picked up by the valet and handed to the Duke. He had read and replaced the letter and ordered an investigation into the allegations upon it. Simon had retrieved Anne’s envelopes, which were always sealed with Emma’s stamp; none had been compromised. The Duke was, indeed, a gentleman, and the valet had likely laughed it off.

Thus began the first of many happy walks about Belgravia, in the late spring and early summer of the year, for a far less tragic Romeo and Juliet.

***

Exactly one week after her visit by Mr. Hughes, Emma received his first letter. After skimming it privately, she read it aloud to Winnie. It said:

“
'My dear Miss Carrington. It is a delight when I think of you, although I do not allow myself too much of that pleasure for fear that I would begin to pressure you against your will. Indeed, I do not wish to make you unhappy in any way. I do look forward to seeing you again at the next dinner or ball to which we are both kindly invited. I walked throughout a great house just last night looking for you, but you were not there, although I was delighted to encounter Lady Holmeshire. I am grateful that I have much hard work to occupy my mind. Please contact me immediately, should you have any wish that I can fulfill. All my best to yourself and to your dear friends at Belgrave Square. Mr. Gabriel Hughes.”

“
Yes, Emma,” Winnie smiled. “I did see him last night. I thought it better, though, not to bring the matter up and throw you into a romantic delirium.” Both laughed at the phrase so woefully employed by Wills just six months before. Emma’s laugh, though, was full of apprehension.

“
I hope, Milady, that you understand that I do not intend to marry Gabriel. I wonder if perhaps this might not be too difficult for him, corresponding and chancing meetings with me at people’s homes.”

“
I think there may be some danger of that, my dear,” she offered. “I am sure that you realize that I seek your greatest happiness, and his, but I do wish to firmly dissuade you from any possible change of heart in the matter. Perhaps it should be made more clear to the gentleman.”

Emma lay awake all night wondering about her words. What was it about Mr. Hughes that she ought to be certain to refuse him?

~
Chapter 9~

The Onset of Happiness and Quite Some Bewilderment

Wilfred finally had a morning to stay in and rest. He did not hurry to get himself up for feelings of trepidation. It gave him the time to look about the room. The darkness was comforting. The ironed sheets were now crumpled, but it would keep a girl in work and off the streets, he thought. He wondered whether Genny was as shocked as he over Breyton’s decision and whether she was still thinking of the hungry and homeless.

Upon rising, he took his time lounging about the spacious room. He wished he could stay in his quiet suite for the day with the navy and red, vertically striped drapes closed, and take tea alone. Perhaps he could read a good book, with the drapes pulled open just a bit; nothing weighty, or perhaps some poetry.

Yes, he told his valet, poetry! Ah, tea and poetry. Coffee! Coffee and poetry. That would be perfect! No, wait. Mother. He had not spent any time with Mama in ages, he sighed to the valet. Perhaps he should dress and see what Mama had on her diary for the day. So, he thought, he must put on those stiff old clothes. She may be waiting at breakfast for him. He would go down. His mind was heavy with concerns, though, and Mama was the least of them. There was the question of Genny, the matter of Emma…and now there was Mr. Hughes playing on his mind.

He spent some time confiding in his valet about his troubles. He dressed absent mindedly, going over his thoughts again and again without resolution. At last he left his room and headed down the augustly dressed halls that he had not yet
taken the time to admire. The smell of bacon began to reach him, and his Mama was, indeed, waiting for him in the airy breakfast room when he arrived.

“
Good morning, darling! How nice that you stayed in and got some extra sleep. You have been dragging yourself about so lately! I told them to leave the food here for a little longer.”

“
Yes, Mama, it was the slowest start to the day I’ve enjoyed since we arrived here! I truly needed a morning in very much. Now I must decide what I am going to do with an entire day off! I did not plan anything, so that I would not be forced to fulfill any obligation. What is on your diary? I could spend the morning in with you. Or I could drive the curricle recklessly about in the park with you hanging on to your hat! We must, and I shall chain you down, so that you do not fly off into the roses.” He shook his hand in the air and then sucked on the side of it as if he had been pierced by a thorn.

He looked down through the window at the manicured grounds, with their stone walkways, gallant statues and morning shadows. “Maybe I will take Emma out for an afternoon walk in these gardens,” he tossed out, expecting an adverse reaction. “But only should you be able to carry on with her missing from the Sitting Room for a spell. I require her assistance to look about down there.”

The news about Gabriel’s proposal had distressed Wills greatly, though he had not intended to allow himself to be so affected when a gentleman would appear on the scene. He had presupposed that someone would. He desperately wished to speak to Emma and fortify her in her decision to refuse Mr. Hughes, but it was not his place, as an engaged man…or what now? Was he even that? In his mind, everything was now in a state of disastrous discord. He went back and forth, from Emma to Genny to Gabriel Hughes, from possibilities to probabilities and back, his once aligned and promising life ripped into shreds. Through it all he was very aware, as disconcerting as it was to him, that he did not like Emma’s receiving the attentions of another man.

At the sideboard, he habitually dished up a large plate full of muffins, poached eggs and deviled kidneys, all atop several pieces of bacon. But soon realizing that he could not possibly eat anything, he set the plate down on the table and pushed it away. He seated himself on a chair across from Winnie.

“
You should not walk with Emma, dear son, you well know that. Perhaps with Master Nicholas?”

“
I understand that Emma intends to insist that His Grace position a statue of me underneath a cherry tree. She says that it must be done, for I am the most handsome man on the face of the earth. Humble as I am, I simply wished to dissuade her before she proposes it.”

But Wills was not hard to deter. He knew that circumstances were determinedly against him in the domain of romance. Mr. Hughes had spoken to Emma already, and Wills was happy to have heard of her refusal, but he had doubts that she would remain unwilling, at long last, to accept the attentions of a handsome and wealthy man. Nevertheless, Wills determined that he would behave as a gentleman in this situation, staying uninvolved until it was fully resolved. Could he? He must stave his heart off.

Genny remained. He would not abandon Genny and must find out what she was feeling. He had considered at great length how all of this might affect her. Would she feel torn, loving her parents, obeying her father, even marrying another, but in anguish over the ended engagement? Or would she now simply turn away from him and focus her attentions again on balls and a social life? She was, after all, finally free to accept attentions, consider proposals and perhaps even choose her own husband! Would she demand to be allowed to marry Wills himself? If so, what would become of that demand? Lord Holmeshire, being the absolute gentleman, would support her decisions, whatever they would be. But for him, life seemed for the first time to be agonizing and formidable. And they call this sort of thing, he moaned inwardly, love?

“
I have some disturbing news for you, Mama,” he declared, regarding the matter best brought to light anon, “I met with Lord Breyton yesterday at the hotel.”

“
And I had the pleasure of meeting with his poor, dear wife over tea. Well, we nearly had tea. I was made quite aware by my troubled friend of his decision regarding Genevieve.
That man vexes me so!
”

Wills was surprised at her sharp hostility toward the Marquess! These sentiments had never surfaced before in his presence. But he was grateful to know that the matter was already out in the open, that his mother had survived the initial shock and that she apparently did not blame
him
.

“
I do not know what do to now, Mama,” he worried aloud. “I can hardly just drop out of her life after causing her entire future to be dashed to bits. She could be in great distress!”

Winnie consoled him. “I do not know if this will make it easier for you or more difficult, but she was at tea, too. She looked well and content. She told me to tell you, right in front of her mother, that she intended to go forward with charity plans, and that should you wish to elope she would be watching out her window for you! Now, of course…”

So many possibilities had tormented his mind, but this was a new notion, and his training failed him. “Oh my! That never occurred to me. Elopement!” He nearly shouted, “I never dreamed she would think of such a thing. What a disaster this has become! Elope?”

He gained some command over his reactions, but looked at his Mummy for help. “I cannot do that! I would marry her against her parent’s wishes, but not in that way. She must persuade them; they must be at our wedding! I wish that day would never have happened. Why did I not see what would come of it? I just thought that it might bring her and me closer, or at least make her aware of what our life would be. I don’t know. What a foolish decision! I thought I was doing something wise and virtuous.”

“
I know, dear. But this sort of upset in life sometimes throws things up into the air, and they fall into place better afterward than before. Give it some time to settle. And she seems to appreciate having seen the situation in the streets of London. It made her think, and surely that is good! Going into marriage before examining what that life will be like is never wise. She appeared to be settled for herself, now, having had a chance to see in what battle you are contending. And she seemed to be content with whatever decisions you would make. I think it will turn out well in the end.”

“
So she wants
me
to decide? I just do not know what to do now! I
must
know her wishes. I’ll write her a letter asking for her thoughts.”

“
That is a brilliant idea, son. Send her off a note, and put your mind at rest while we go for a ride. Perhaps she will reply later today.”

The butler entered the room with a letter on a silver tray for Wilfred. His mother’s words and Grantham’s presence enabled him to brighten his frame of mind and recover his cheery ways. “Ah! Now how did you find me in this huge house?” he jokingly questioned the man.

“
I knew where the food would be, Sir,” was the straight-faced reply, as Grantham glanced at the hefty helping on his plate. The Holmeshires felt relief and laughed. Wills took the letter off the tray and broke the seal.

“
It is from Gen!” He skimmed through it and sighed with gladness. “Oh Mama! This is perfect! All is well!” he rejoiced.

“
What does it say, tell me!” she begged impatiently.

“
Listen:

“‘
Dear Lord Holmeshire, I have heard that you are aware by now that my father has banned me from our planned marriage. I hope this does not cause you any great grief. Of course, a huge change in one’s life is unsettling, and one has to use all one’s power to look ahead and find something new. Should you feel as I do, it will not be overwhelmingly distressing for you. Our arranged marriage was somewhat different from one in which two persons fall hopelessly in love. We were marrying out of obedience to our parents, as so many people do. Should you wish to pursue our marriage, I will support you in that. Should you, however, be content to let it be as my father wishes, I am happy enough with that as well.