What About Cecelia? (11 page)

“No, I shall stay here and converse.”

As they walked to the stables, Cecelia told
George about Flower. “You'll have to tell that groom off. He should
never have let Jane ride that horse. He should have offered to
drive her if there wasn't a horse she could ride. And he spends too
much time at the local pubs.”

“If you say so. Why don't you tell him?”

She stopped, and with a catch in her breath
explained, “Penyclawdd is yours now. That's why.”

“You love that place, don't you?”

“Yes.”

“And you don't want to leave it.”

“No.” The thought of leaving it brought tears to
her eyes. “I really don't want to go. Even though Miss Arnold says
that Bath and London are such wonderful places. This is where I
belong.”

George stopped and searched her expression. It
was evident she was upset about something besides leaving
Penyclawdd. He asked her, “You're scared of visiting Bath, aren't
you?”

Cecelia whispered, “Yes.”

He took her hand and gave it a squeeze, in what
he thought was a brotherly gesture. “Don't be. You're a beautiful
young woman, and with the touch of town bronze the Somerset's will
give you, why, you'll have multitudes of heart-struck swains
falling at your feet.”

She laughed, “I don't want too many swains
falling at my feet. It would make it hard to walk.”

“Just one is all you need. Anyway, let's find
Heulwen and release her before the other wonder if we've ridden off
together.”

“Yes, lets.” For a mad moment, she wanted to add
“ride off together”, but she repressed the thought and added,
“Let’s find poor Heulwen.”

Dinner, which was largely roast pigeon with a
few side dishes, went very well. The Landor's table wasn't as
formal as the Somerset's but it was more formal than usual for
Penyclawdd. With her recent practice at the Somerset's, Cecelia
negotiated the settings with ease. Jane was in a good mood and so
her conversation flowed without the occasional snipe at the
country, country people or country manners. Mary was delighted with
the relaxed atmosphere. She was also pleased that she could be
called 'Georgie' without her mother reminding them that she was to
be called 'Mary'. Most miraculously of all, Captain Wood had been
able to shoot pigeons without a return of his worries about the
French. His 'Spanish disease'
^v
seemed to be abating.

Early the next morning, back in Penyclawdd,
Cecelia roused Mary and dragged her out to the stables. “Time to
check on our horses.”

“Do we have to?”

“Well, yes. If we find something wrong, it may
take all day to treat it. Besides, we rode them much longer than I
had planned yesterday and they might need extra care before we try
riding up Hatterrall hill.”

“Wouldn't my groom check these things?”

“He should, but grooms are lazy.” She paused and
then shouted, “Did you hear that John?” In her normal voice she
continued, “They don't always check everything and you don't want
to end up miles from anywhere with a lame horse.”

“I see. It is different from riding in the
village, isn't it?”

Cecelia showed her friend how to check the
horses for stiffness and sore muscles. She asked, “Georgie, what do
you think?”

“They do seem sore, don't they?”

“I agree, what should we do?”

“You're the expert.”

“Perhaps, but I want to hear what you
think.”

“I suppose they need to rest.”

“Good start, what else?”

“I don't know. Wait, when my older brother would
get sore after a game, the next day he'd often do something gentle
to work his muscles out. Could we do that?”

“That's what I'd do. We'll trot them around the
yard on a line this afternoon. Warm up their muscles, but not
overdo it. We can always do the hill tomorrow.”

As they returned to the house, Mary asked her,
“What else are we going to do today?”

“I don't know. I thought I'd try to practice on
the spinet. Maybe you could help me?”

“I can try, have you ever had it tuned?”

“Tuned?”

“It might be hard for me to help you if it's too
far out of tune. It hurts my ears to play one that is too far out
of tune.”

“I hadn't thought of that. Anyway I'm always
busy here, you can tag along and help me with my chores.”

“Your chores?”

“Visiting the tenant farmers, keeping an eye on
them. There are several who think that just because we're
'
Saeson
' they can rob us blind.”

“Saeson?”

“Welsh slang for the English. There's one of the
farmers who wants to cut the local wood down, and sell the lumber.
Our wood, his profit.”

“I guess you really do keep busy.”

“There's a lot to do when you're running an
estate.”

“What are you going to do when Miss Arnold
becomes Mrs. Wood?”

“I don't know. Somehow I doubt they'll want me
to stay here and manage Penyclawdd. I expect my aunt in Swansea
will look after me, at least until I'm married.”

“If you say so. I think my mother would be
willing to put you up.”

“That would be very nice of her, but I'm not
sure I could accept.”

“I don't know why not. I'd certainly like your
company and now young Master Charles wants riding lessons too.”

Cecelia laughed, “I suppose I could support
myself as a riding instructor and horse coper to the gentry. But
that's not very ladylike.”

When they finished breakfast, Cecelia suggested
that they harness one of the carriage horses to the gig and ride to
the farms. “After that, fate no doubt will provide a
distraction.”

Fate didn't, but Miss Arnold did. She met them
in the yard when they returned, and demanded, “Where were you?”

“Just riding around, looking in at the
tenants.”

“Didn't you think I might want to come?”

“I'm sorry, I thought you hadn't awoken
yet.”

“I hadn't. That doesn't matter, I sat here all
morning, bored and alone.”

“Jane.”

“Miss Arnold!”

“Miss Arnold, I'm truly sorry. Neither of us
thought that you would be interested.”

Jane snapped, “The trouble is you didn't
think.”

“We still have to warm up our horses so they are
ready for tomorrow. Would you like to help?”

“Tomorrow? What are you doing tomorrow?”

Mary answered, “We thought we'd ride up
Hatterrall hill or one of the other ones. We were going to do it
today but our horses are too sore from yesterday.”

“I don't know.”

“Miss Arnold, you are welcome to come with us.
If you want we can bring Captain Wood too. Otherwise, we'll just go
ourselves. It's your choice.”

“I think I shall not. I'm finding all of this
horse business tedious in the extreme. When we move back to the
city, after the Captain and I wed, I hope never to have to deal
with horses again.”

“I think Miss Somerset is in need of some
refreshment, I certainly am. If you'll excuse us, we'll see what we
can find for a nuncheon.”

Miss Arnold made dinner interesting. She snipped
at Cecelia for much of the meal, criticizing her manners,
deportment, and even the color of her hair. Part way through the
meal, she announced, “George, I have decided that you should plan
on selling this forsaken place once we're married. In fact, its
sale should fund my portion.”

George said, “You can't be serious? I've found
the company pleasant. It's a profitable estate, and the calm is
good for my nerves.”

“I am. Once we set a date, I expect you to put
this place on the market. I certainly cannot live here. Miss Wood,
I presume you have made arrangements for yourself. It might be time
to look into them.”

Cecelia found she could not speak, and left the
table. She could barely hold back her tears. The Captain asked her
friend to see what she could do. “Miss Somerset, would you look for
her.”

Mary found Cecelia in the stables, weeping as
she saddled her horse. “What are you going to do?”

“I'm leaving. Now.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don't know. Yes I do. Swansea. My aunt. I
can't stay here and watch my home destroyed by that woman.”

“I can't let you do that. If nothing else
there's no moon and it's too dark.”

“Georgie, what am I to do?”

“I think Miss Arnold is showing her ugly side.
Putting the knife in you. It was bound to come out sooner or
later.”

“Yes, you're right. Still, I can't stay here. I
must go now.”

“You can stay here tonight. In fact you will
stay here tonight. I'll take you directly to your room and you
don't have to meet her again. We'll ride for Raglan tomorrow. I
know my mother would love to see you again.”

Cecelia fought back a sob, “Georgie, you're a
true friend. Thank you.”

The next morning, while the sun was struggling
to break free of the ground, two horsewomen left Penyclawdd. They
headed down the Hereford road to Abergavenny and then out the
Monmouth road to Raglan. One of them had to restrain her urge to
gallop. The other one struggled to keep up.

It was the fashionable mid-morning hour for
breakfast when Sir Charles and Lady Elizabeth descended from their
room. They were met by the noise from a loud hubbub in the parlor.
Mary and Cecelia had returned before breakfast and were now seated
with the rest of the family at the breakfast table.

The hubbub quieted when Sir Charles opened the
door. “Mary, what are you doing back so early?”

“Miss Wood and I rode back this morning.”

“That's fourteen miles. How long did it take
you?”

“An hour and a half. We made good time.”

“While I am displeased that you would show such
hoydenish behavior Mary, it does sound like your seat is much
improved. I'm not sure whether to be proud of you or upset with
you.”

“I'm sorry father, it was that Arnold woman. She
was most unpleasant to Miss Wood.”

Cecelia spat out, “She insists that Captain Wood
sell Penyclawdd. Just to spite me.”

“You know that was always a possibility.”

“I know, but Ge- Captain Wood likes Penyclawdd,
and its quiet is good for him.”

It was Lady Elizabeth who explained things,
“Miss Wood, it is your friend the Captain who will have to live
with Miss Arnold. Let him learn to handle her.” She kept her
thoughts of “or not” to herself.

Lady Elizabeth drew Mary aside at the end of
breakfast. “If you will excuse us, there are some private matters
that I need to discuss with my daughter. Charles, would you look
after Miss Wood for me?”

“With pleasure.”

Mary dutifully followed her mother upstairs to
her room, where she closed the door behind them. “Mary, what
happened at Penyclawdd? We were expecting you this afternoon or
tomorrow. Not now and not without your luggage or a suitable
escort.”

“It was that Arnold woman. She decided to put
the knife into Cecelia last night. The only way I could stop Miss
Wood from immediately riding to Swansea last night was to promise
to bring her here in the morning.”

“What did she say?”

“That she would insist Captain Wood sell
Penyclawdd to pay for her settlement when they were married. This
was after she spent a good hour at dinner criticizing nearly
everything else about her.”

“I can see why that would upset your friend. Why
now, surely she would have discussed this before?”

“I don't know. She may have been upset that we
didn't wait for her when Miss Wood drove to visit a few of her
tenants.”

“Is that all?”

“It's such a change. The day before she was all
sweetness. We rode together to Llanthony and chatted the whole
time. I was beginning to think her reputation was ill-deserved. We
all, Miss Arnold, Miss Wood, Captain Wood and I had a grand time
visiting the Landors.”

“I suppose she had to assert herself. I never
understood why some people like to be so nasty.”

Mary asked, “What are we going to do now? Could
we bring Cecelia to Bath with us?”

“I'll have to consider that and discuss it with
Sir Charles. Mary, I'm proud of how you handled yourself. Thank
you.”

For someone who received a major shock, Cecelia
seemed surprisingly happy. As she chatted with Sir Charles, she
explained, “It was a decision I would have to make sooner or later.
Miss Arnold's conduct made it for me. It's best if I leave a house
where I am a cause of contention.”

“I can see your point.”

“If you and Lady Elizabeth can put up with me
for a few days, while my clothing arrives from Penylawdd, then I
can be off to stay with my aunt and uncle.”

“That is the least we can do. I'm not sure what
my wife is planning, but certainly we can do better by you than
that.”

“You don't need to. I'll be happy in Swansea.
That was always my plan.”

“We'll see. In the meantime why don't you
entertain yourself with what you can find in the study. I think
you've done enough riding for today.”

“If you insist.”

“I do, and it would do you good to practice on
our pianoforte. Most likely it's a better instrument than any at
Penyclawdd.”

“It can't be worse. Mary told me my spinnet was
ill-tuned and painful to play.”

“She shouldn't have said that.”

“It was true. She could barely stand to play it
and she's a much better musician than I am.”

“Still it was rude of her.”

Cecelia laughed, “It might have been, but I'm
one for plain speaking. The other thing I'll need is a nap. I
didn't sleep well last night for some reason.”

Mary did her best to keep her friend busy with
the things that a distinguished young lady of refinement did for
entertainment. While Cecelia did not seem to mind the stables and
indeed seemed to relish visiting them, Mary had had enough of
stables and horses for today. Instead, she showed Cecelia to the
pianoforte and found some relatively simple music for her to
play.