The Secret of Castlegate Manor

Karen Cogan

THE SECRET OF CASTLEGATE MANOR

CHAPTER ONE

June 1806

Caroline stared past the velvet curtain of the hackney window, trying to calm the panic that grew with each passing mile. How had she let Lady Eleanor talk her into this mad deception? Her memory played back the last details of their conversation as Lady Eleanor lay ill and pale, having barely the strength to hold onto Caroline's hand.

Lady Eleanor's lips barely moved as she whispered, "You are nearly nineteen, are you not?"

Caroline nodded.

"This may be your only chance, my dear."

Caroline sighed. Perhaps her elderly employer had been right. The covetous relatives had arrived just before the dear lady died. They would not have abided having any of the estate bequeathed upon a young abigail in gratitude for the years she had cared for her mistress.

A cough racked the lady's frail body. Caroline waited, kneeling patiently beside the bed until her mistress was able to continue.

"If only I could leave you something... But of course Adela would attain a solicitor to prove you had taken advantage of my frail faculties." Her eyebrows puckered in disapproval at the thought of her daughter-in-law.

Her frown deepened. "Perhaps they would even have you arrested."

Caroline shuddered. The thought was appalling. She patted Lady Eleanor's hand. "You have been generous to me, my lady. Another mistress might have turned me out after my parents were killed."

Lady Eleanor eyes lit with determination as she whispered her conspiracy to Caroline. "You know, dear, after your parents died, you became much more than a maid to me. You have become a dear companion. I want more for you than becoming a servant to Adela. I have written a letter of introduction to my niece, Lady Aberly, who lives at the country estate. Upon my death you are to go there and present yourself as my great-niece. You will take along the carriage money that I have set aside for you. You must choose some dresses from my wardrobe that would be suitable attire. Then, secret yourself in your chamber to alter them."

Lady Eleanor coughed. "A young lady traveling alone will raise questions. So you must say that I had planned to come with you. Then you may explain that my death made it impossible for Adela to spare an abigail to travel with you."

Caroline bit her lip. "My Lady, such deceit. If I should ever be found out...

"It is not deceit. You are a more fitting relative than those who are truly my kin. You must go to the country and find a young squire. Marry well, Caroline. I want this for you."

Lady Eleanor had closed her eyes. The tired lines on her face told Caroline that arguing would exact a tremendous toll on the frail old woman. As Caroline rose to slip from the room, Lady Eleanor whispered, "Promise me, Caroline. Promise me you will do this."

Caroline hesitated at the door. What real choice did she have? Perhaps Adela would keep her on, though it would be tedious employment with the over-strung, shrewish woman. If she did not keep her on, Caroline would be forced to seek another serving position.

Lady Eleanor had lived only another week. Caroline had used the time when she was not sitting with her or attending to Adela's numerous demands to alter the wardrobe suitable for a woman of rank. She stayed on anther week after the funeral. But a week of Lady Adela was enough to convince Caroline she would have nothing but misery in the only home she had ever known.

She gave her notice and packed up to leave London. She shared the hired coach with two elderly matrons who, fortunately, preferred sleeping to talking.

They stopped overnight at a comfortable little inn in Reading where Caroline had parted with a few shilling for room and board. Though she had always been frugal, she knew her earnings would not go far should she be found out and cast on her own.

Now, as the coach rocked down the well-traveled road outside Bath, Caroline stared across the verdant grasses and riotous flowers, trying to catch a first glimpse of the estate.

As they rounded a bend, she gasped at the sight of Castlegate Manor. Though Lady Eleanor had described the Georgian structure in detail, she was not prepared for the size of the gray stone house which loomed before her. It seemed to stretch a London city block. Its windows looked out upon her like a hundred curious eyes.

The coach drew to a halt before the massive polished door. The coachman helped her down the steps while the footman collected the impedimenta of her travel.

Caroline clutched her reticule tightly as a servant in proper white-starched shirt opened the door. He inclined his head slightly in courtesy and waited for her to speak.

"I am Miss Caroline Stewart, great niece of Lady Eleanor Stewart. I believe a letter was sent regarding my arrival."

Caroline had rehearsed to herself a hundred times during her journey, fearing she would not remember her new surname was now Stewart and not Greene. She licked her dry lips and wished she had stayed in London.

The butler moved aside. "If you will come this way, Miss, I will alert Lady Aberly of your arrival."

Caroline followed the butler from the wide entryway into the great room. Pulled to let in the afternoon sun, heavy damask draperies of verdant green hung at the windows. The doors opened to a rose garden with trimmed hedges that wound into such a maze that Caroline was sure she would become lost if she should ever venture into them.

She surveyed the portraits which hung about the walls. One young woman bore such a striking similarity to Lady Eleanor that she was sure it must have been painted in her youth. Other portraits bore family resemblances, most of men in military uniforms or stiff riding clothes and dark-haired women with brown eyes.

Perhaps, at least with her chestnut curls and dark eyes, Caroline would not be immediately spotted as an impostor. She bit her lip, wishing she had not agreed to this scheme.

She had waited only a moment when a rustle of skirts alerted her of the arrival of her hostess. Caroline turned to meet her, forcing a smile, though she feared the pounding of her heart would drown out any words of greeting.

Lady Aberly paused, her smile lingering on her lips as she glanced about the room. "You must be Miss Stewart. But where, dear, is your great-aunt?"

Lady Aberly's gaze flitted about the room as though Caroline might be hiding the elderly lady.

Caroline rested a gloved hand upon the Queen Anne chair to steady herself, hoping her knees would not buckle as she tested her new role. "My great-aunt has just died this last week. Her last wish was that I proceed without her."

The stout lady hastened to offer Caroline a chair. "No wonder you have gone so pale. I had not heard of our loss. Lady Eleanor was my aunt, you know."

Caroline nodded. "I grew very fond of her in the time I knew her."

Lady Aberly fixed Caroline with her small dark eyes. Did Caroline detect suspicion in her gaze? "Your aunt's letter stated you had recently arrived from India. I knew her youngest brother resided there, but I quite lost track of the names of his grandchildren. How is your grandfather, dear? It must have been hard to leave your family. Still, I cannot think how you ever stood that wretched climate."

Caroline swallowed hard. She knew very little about India, including the climate. "Grandfather is fine and India is very warm." She smoothed the folds of her muslin skirt and avoided Lady Aberly's eyes.

"But I am forgetting my manners. You must be famished, my dear. I shall ring for tea."

Caroline settled gratefully into silence while the same straight-backed butler who had answered the door brought in the tea.

Lady Aberly dismissed the butler and, with acquired skill, poured the tea.

A rustling in the doorway announced a feminine arrival.

Caroline glanced up to see a young woman of about her age hesitate at the sight of a guest.

Lady Aberly smiled at the girl. Speaking to Caroline she said, "Miss Stewart, I would like to acquaint you with my daughter Miss Lavenia. Lavenia, Miss Caroline has arrived from London. She is the great-niece of my newly departed Aunt Eleanor. She is here to stay with us."

Lavenia curtsied gracefully. Caroline titled her head in shy acknowledgment. Though she had delivered tea to ladies, and been privy to overhearing polite conversation, she had never had occasion to practice such skill.

Lavenia's day dress of soft rose mull swished as she slid into her chair. "I suppose that makes us cousins. I have never had a female cousin reside with us."

Lady Aberly clucked in disapproval. "That sounded somehow improper, my dear."

Lavenia's face, comely despite her angular jaw, pulled to a pout. "I only meant, my cousin, Steffen Humphrey, was little enough company while he was here."

Lady Aberly's face flushed. "We shall not speak of that, but rather of our guest. Did you have a difficult journey? I am afraid I would have succumbed to lingering vapors had I to deal with fear of highwaymen."

Caroline's eyes met those of her hostess as she answered honestly, "The road was well-traveled, my lady. I think there was little enough danger."

Lavenia wiped her lips delicately after taking a bite of her small cake. "I have not been to London in ages, but I do remember it was unbearably hot in the summer." Her voice held a hint of complaint.

Caroline nodded. "That has not changed, I assure you."

Lavenia leaned forward, an eager light in her dark eyes. "You must tell us about the fashion. I know only what I have seen on the streets of Bath."

Caroline knew enough about fashion from attending Lady Eleanor on her numerous shopping expeditions to satisfy the curiosity of her two companions.

Lavenia cast her mother a longing look. "I shall have to have a trip into Bath soon. My favorite bonnet is becoming frayed and I shall not be able to wear it again."

Lady Aberly looked thoughtful. "Perhaps it is good Miss Stewart has arrived. You could, perhaps, be proper companions to one another, since it is not seemly for a young woman to be out alone."

Lady Aberly fixed Caroline with what Caroline feared to be a look of reproof for her lack of attendant upon arrival. Caroline decided to pretend ignorance of the remark. "I would be happy to peruse the local shops. I have need of very little at the moment but I should be happy to help your daughter in her search for a new bonnet."

Caroline hoped she would not be required to spend her savings in order to keep up appearances.

"Oh, this is lovely," said Lavenia, her eyes alight. "Would Wednesday be too early to travel again? I know you have had a long journey."

Caroline shook her head. "A day of rest will be enough. I look forward to the outing."

Lady Aberly studied the two young women. Caroline could not help thinking a comparison was taking place. She wished she had an inkling as to the thoughts forming behind the thick-lashed dark eyes.

The lady smiled. "Then it is all settled. "I shall tell Edwards to advise John Coachman to be available. Now, I know you must be very tired. I shall ring for a maid to show you to your room."

An upstairs maid appeared. Lady Aberly spoke firmly. "Maggie, see to Miss Stewart's comfort. She will be staying with us for awhile."

Maggie curtsied smartly. "Yes, mi lady."

She smiled shyly at Caroline. "This way, if you please, Miss."

Caroline followed Maggie up the wide formal staircase that wound to the second floor. They passed down a long hall, then turned a corner. Maggie opened the first door.

Caroline caught her breath. The formal sitting room held a small settee and two Queen Anne chairs with exquisitely embroidered seats, and a small writing desk.

The massive bed and matching wardrobe sat on a fine rug of red and gold. A starched muslin skirt of pale blue adorned the dressing table. Never had Caroline imagined herself quartered in such a room. Compared to the attic servant quarters in Lady Eleanor's London house which had been adequate, if somewhat drafty, this room was palatial.

She felt her panic surface, sure she could never keep up the charade. She was trained to attend, not be attended. She would surely slip up.

Maggie waited beside the door. "Will you be requiring anything at the moment, Miss?"