The Secret of Castlegate Manor (2 page)

Caroline shook her head. Relief washed over her as Maggie left the room, closing the door softly behind her.

Caroline placed her bonnet and gloves on the table beside the bed and opened the armoire. Her clothes had been unpacked and carefully hung. How many times had she done this task for guests who visited Lady Eleanor?

She strode to the window, opened to air the room with the admittance of the gentle summer breeze. The land rolled in a graceful carpet of green. Harebells mingled their blue tops among the verdant lawn. The scent of meadowsweet hung in the air.

She had been very young in the days when Lady Eleanor made trips to this estate. Caroline had not been invited along. And in the last few years, the dear lady had been too frail to travel.

Caroline's childhood had been confined to the streets of London. She would have loved, as a child, to walk the distant woods that joined these green fields, to have run among the flowers. Though her servant status would have prohibited such frivolity, she might have accompanied the lady on walks.

She shook off her silly attachment to the country. Previous visits would have made her current pretense impossible. She would have been known to Lady Aberly. Her only chance of living as one of the country gentry would be to keep up this masquerade.

And yet, the deception bothered her conscience. She had been raised by parents who placed high regard for the truth. Only her desire for a better life and Lady Eleanor's dying order could have caused her to chance this impersonation. Still, something in the back of her mind warned her that her deception would come with a price.

She stretched across the high bed and felt her aching muscles, jostled by long miles in the coach, begin to relax. She closed her eyes, intending only to rest, and awoke with a start at a soft knock at the door.

Maggie peeked in. "Will you be requiring help in dressing for the evening meal, Miss?"

Caroline shook her head. "No thank you, Maggie. I shall be able to manage."

She washed at the lovely china basin with painted pink roses and dried on the spotless white towel. Feeling refreshed, she slipped out of her rumpled traveling dress and into a soft aqua gown of jaconet. Working quickly, she piled her dark hair onto her head and pinned it neatly in place. After pinching her cheeks and dusting her freshly washed face with rice powder, she stepped resolutely into the hall.

She paused, hand on the stair rail, feeling paralyzed by the sudden worry of who else might join them for dinner. Was there a Lord of Castlegate Manor? Would he see though her pretense and send her packing?

With these questions causing her heart to flutter, she forced herself to descend the winding staircase. Edwards, the butler, met her at the bottom. He escorted her to the dining room where Lady Aberly and Lavenia sat at the far end of the massive table.

Seated to Lady Aberly's right, she was across from Lavenia. Since Lady Aberly presided at the end of the table, Caroline could only assume there either was no lord of the manor or that he was away at the moment.

"I trust you are somewhat refreshed from your trip?" Lady Aberly asked.

Caroline nodded. "Quite rested." She hoped the ladies did not notice the way her hands shook as she attempted to remember all her table manners.

The meal was sumptuous, several meats, a choice of breads and fruit for desert. Still, Caroline found it difficult to taste what was put before her as she responded to the polite conversation.

"I hear there is to be an intimate gathering at Madam Ruyter's house after the concert next week," Lavenia reported.

"And we have been invited to attend," added Lady Aberly.

She turned to Caroline. "We procured the tickets to the concert before you arrived, but we would like nothing better than to have you join us. I understand the soprano is of some renown in London. I wonder if you have heard of her."

Caroline shook her head quickly. "I doubt that, my lady. I was in London such a short time before Lady...my great aunt died. I spent most of my time attending to her." That part, at least, was not a lie.

"A pity you arrived to find Lady Eleanor ill. I know her. She would have enjoyed introducing you to London society," Lady Aberly stated.

Caroline, despite her discomfiture, had to choke down the urge to laugh. The vision of Lady Eleanor introducing her servant to the socials of London made too comical a picture to entertain.

She brought her attention back to the young lady across the table. "Perhaps the eligible young men who will attend Madam Ruyter's gathering will be of interest to you." Lavenia's eyes danced as she goaded Caroline. Yet, Caroline detected no malice in her tone.

"I shall be glad to meet whomever your friend has invited," Caroline answered properly, though her feelings differed greatly from her polite words. Such a gathering and the ensuing prospect of meeting a suitable man was exactly what she had come here to achieve. However, the actual prospect filled her with trepidation.

Lady Aberly nodded politely. "We shall see that a ticket is acquired for you."

Was there distrust in Lady Aberly's expression? Caroline decided she must be imagining it. She had not made a fatal error that she knew of as yet.

Still, she could not let down her guard. One revealing mistake could expose her. She must proceed with extreme caution as she advanced the charade.

CHAPTER TWO

Caroline woke the next morning, glad for a day of rest. For the first time in her life, she took breakfast in her room, then allowed Maggie to help her into a fresh muslin dress.

She considered the question that had been on her mind. Deciding to put it to Maggie, she asked offhandedly, "Is the master of the estate away at the present? I haven not met him yet."

Maggie paused in her ministrations. "The master, Miss?" She seemed to be considering.

"Yes. There is a Lord Aberly, is there not?" She could not politely inquire this of Lady Aberly, but she could ask her servant.

"No, Miss. I understand Lord Aberly died before the Lady and Miss Lavenia came to live here. I never met him, Miss."

Caroline nodded. So Lady Aberly was a widow. She wondered if she was of independent means or a poor relative of Lady Eleanor. No acceptable means existed to phrase that question, yet it did not keep her from wondering.

Edwards greeted her politely as she passed through the great room on her way to the rose garden. The sunshine glinted on dewy petals as she closed her eyes and bent to inhale the heavenly scent. She would be happy to spend her life ensconced in this garden.

She followed the cobbled path of high hedges rising behind a variety of roses until she reached a stone bench. She settled on the bench, letting her bonnet shade her face. Alone in this quiet place, she closed her eyes and invented a fictional past that pleased her. She envisioned herself as a child, taking walks in the woods, as a young girl with a governess, learning French and deportment.

No doubt Lavenia had known these privileges while maids, such as Caroline, had fetched water for baths and mended pretty clothes.

She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet scent of the garden. Her fantasy of a childhood fled with the reminder that, had Lady Aberly known the truth, Caroline would never have been allowed to sit at table discussing theatre and intimate parties. She harbored no bitterness for her past. Her parents had been kind and good. Yet, now that she had come here, she knew this was where she longed to stay. Like Cinderella, it was the dream of her childhood

A shadow blocked the sun. Caroline opened her eyes, startled to see a young man paused in the path, staring down at her. His face held a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.

He swept off his hat and bowed in response to her startled gaze. "I held my breath lest I interrupt such rapt reflection on so fair a face. I am Steffen Humphrey, Viscount of Crestwood. Whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"

Caroline searched her memory for when she had heard the name. Then she remembered. Lavenia had said he was the cousin who had visited the estate.

She smiled. "I am Miss Caroline Stewart, great-niece of Lady Eleanor."

She watched the expression in his dark eyes flicker. Was there something calculating in their depths?

He rubbed his finely chiseled chin. "I was not aware that Lady Eleanor had another great-niece."

Caroline felt her composure flicker. She swallowed down her discomfort. "I have been abroad, sir."

A gracious smile formed on his thin lips. "I see. I just heard of the dear lady's passing. My man and I have come to see to the condition of the estate. He nodded to the servant who waited behind him. "Without the firm hand of a master, I feared to find it in disrepair."

Caroline shook her head. "No, indeed, my lord. The house is in grand form and the gardens are a delight."

Caroline took in his impeccable clothes, his fine silken waistcoat, his finely woven coat.

He nodded. "I am glad to hear it. My business interests have occupied me and it has been quite some time since my last visit."

He extended his hand. "Pray lend me your company. Edwards has informed Lady Aberly of my presence and I was just going in for tea."

Caroline extended her gloved hand and allowed him to assist her in rising. They strolled the cobblestone path back to the great room.

The tea and biscuits had been laid out upon the polished table. Lady Aberly and Lavenia were already seated.

Lady Aberly smiled, her dark eyes taking in the arrival of the viscount with Caroline. "An unexpected pleasure, my lord. I see you have met our cousin."

"Indeed, and found her most charming."

Caroline felt her cheeks flush with the unaccustomed attention. "I was admiring the roses when Mr. Humphrey happened into the garden."

Lady Aberly poured tea. "How did you find the garden, sir?"

Mr. Steffen Humphrey accepted his cup. "Most ably kept."

Caroline thought she detected a note of disappointment in his voice.

He continued. "My housing in the Royal Crescent is not without comfort. Yet, I have always harbored a fondness for this estate."

Caroline noticed how Lavenia's hand shook as she sipped her tea. His words seemed to cause her discomfit. Caroline, however, could understand his sentiments. Though she had been here a short time, she also held a fondness for this fine old house, its forest and green expanse of lawn.

Lady Aberly chatted into the momentary silence. "You are most welcome here any time. Lavenia made mention of you only yesterday."

Lavenia's eyes went wide before she regained her composure.

Steffen eyed her appraisingly. "I am honored, for you must know with what high regard I hold my cousin."

He let his gaze drift to Caroline. "And now I find I have another comely cousin. A choice, now I see."

Caroline felt keenly the competition in which she was being thrown with Lavenia. In all her days of serving, she had never felt the sting of being a thoroughbred led through the ring for bidding. She disliked the feeling. And she was beginning to dislike the viscount.

She tossed her head. "I assure you, sir, my position as a temporary guest will not disturb any choices you may have made."

Steffen dabbed his mouth with the edge of the pale linen napkin. "We shall see. Now, as I have business back in Bath, I shall thank you ladies for your fine company."

He bowed over Lady Aberly's hand and nodded his good-byes. "So nice to meet you, Miss Stewart. I am sure we shall meet again soon."

Caroline extended her good wishes, feeling a tangible relief sweep over the room at his departure.

She puzzled over the possible understanding between Lavenia and the Viscount as she took her afternoon rest, finally falling asleep longer than she intended. On the way to late tea, she paused at the drawing room. Without endeavoring to eavesdrop, she could clearly hear Lady Aberly addressing her daughter.

"You really must consider the advantages of marriage to the viscount. Do you want us to end up upon the street without a shilling? Do be realistic."

"I believe I have the interest of the Mr. Ruyter. He will soon be a Baron, Mama. I far prefer him to that dandy of a cousin."

Caroline heard Lady Aberly sigh. "As you wish, dear. I hope your headstrong notion does not lead us into despair."

Caroline gave a small cough before she entered. She had no desire to have her hostess guess that she had been listening. Still, she had every intention of trying to encourage Lavenia to add to her understanding of the strange relationship to Mr. Humphrey when they went to town on the morrow.

Lady Aberly pasted a smile over her previous look of angst. "Do join us, my dear. Lavenia and I were just speaking of how fatigued you must be to have slept so long."

Caroline nodded agreeably. "Traveling has taken more out of me than I realized."

Lavenia's expression clouded. "I trust you will be up to a trip to town tomorrow?"

Caroline nodded. "I would not miss the lovely temptation of Bath for any amount of rest."

"I fear you will not find Bath as exotic as India, though it does have its charm. I do not mean to make you homesick, but I have wondered how long your family has lived in India?" Lady Aberly said.