Where Love Takes You (8 page)

I
left the seashore behind me and stepped into the small town. Its main street was dominated on one side by the brook which ran on its merry way, with small paths spanning it here and there leading to various establishments. I passed a Silversmiths, its gleaming window displaying it’s sparkling wares of watches and tankards. The next shop was a large Drapers which took up at least three premises and next door to it was the Millinery and Clothing shop which was the place I had been heading for. As I pressed down the brass handle and stepped through the door, a bell jangled shrilly through the large interior. It appeared I was the only customer. The shop held a certain pleasant aroma of bee’s wax and I could see why as I saw the gleaming wooden counter behind which stood a short middle aged woman in a dove grey dress, the bodice buttoned to the high neckline which was adorned with a black collar.

“Can
I help you, Miss?” the assistant uttered, her blue eyes appraising me as she spoke. Her grey hair was pulled back into a knot at the back of her head, tendrils of white escaping each side of her plump cheery face.

“Indeed,
I hope you can,” I replied, casting my eyes around the goods for sale, when my eyes came to rest on what I was seeking. “I would like to purchase some fans for a ball please, and I see you have a splendid assortment on the shelf.”

“We
have all colours, Miss, if you would like to take a closer look.” As she spoke, the assistant moved over to a shelf further along behind the counter and I followed.

“What
colour have you in mind, Miss?” I was asked whilst being shown a beautiful pale blue fan decorated with tiny blue flowers.

“It
is lovely,” I enthused, “but not a suitable colour. I have my eye on the pink one which will suit a young lady and her gown admirably.” As I spoke, I was handed the said fan. It was very delicate, made of pink silk and decorated at the edges with light beige intricately stitched lace. I could imagine Lina fanning herself with it at the ball, while peeping over the top of it secretly, at a suitable young man.

“Can
I show you another, Miss…?” This time the woman’s voice held a querying tone.

“Miss
Trent,” I accommodated her. “I shall purchase this one, please, but I would like to see another.” As I spoke, I cast my eye over the remaining selection of fans. My eyes caught a cream coloured one, totally made of fine lace and on indicating it, the assistant handed it to me. I placed the pink one for Lina on the counter and held the cream lace one offered to me in my gloved hand. It was exquisite in its simplicity and I had never owned such a beautiful object before. My mind was made up and on telling the woman this, she took two long boxes from under the counter, expertly placing both fans in them and deftly wrapping them in brown paper tied with string. While she did this I looked through the glass front of the counter at what the deep wooden drawers held on display. There were pantaloons, chemises and nightgowns and then my eyes rested on a drawer full of lovely handkerchiefs in pretty pastel colours edged with lace.

“Is
there something else I can help you with, Miss Trent?” the woman asked in a respectful tone, something else I was unaccustomed to.

“Yes
please, I will take two of those pretty pink hankies and I think that will be all, thank you,” I said in a satisfied manner, for I was sure Lina would be delighted with my gifts to her and I was very happy with my own purchase. Having paid the woman with coins from my reticule, I left the shop with my two small parcels and bumped headlong into a gentleman. My parcels scattered themselves across the road and as I bent to pick them up at the same time as the young man, our eyes met and I realised with some pleasure it was Jonathon.

“Miss
Trent, I am so sorry,” he apologised gathering up my parcels in his strong hands and handing them to me.

“It
is nothing I assure you, in fact it was my fault for not looking where I was going.” I smiled at him wishing to break into laughter but he looked so contrite.

“Please
say you will come with me to the Tea Rooms across the street and take a cup of afternoon tea with me and maybe a pastry,” he implored earnestly, and how could I resist such a request.

“I
would be happy to,” I agreed taking his arm as he led me across the street and we stepped over the tiny bridge which spanned the brook to the Tea Rooms. It was quite a small interior with tables for three scattered around which were covered with pristine white tablecloths. About half a dozen people were enjoying their fare and, for a ghostly second or two, it went very quiet as we walked in and seated ourselves by the window. Jonathon pulling the black varnished chair out for me, the conversation resumed. Almost immediately, a waitress placed a cake stand on the table which boasted various small cakes decorated in icing sugar and marzipan of different colours.

“Would
you like to order tea, Sir?” the woman asked. I was fascinated by her white lace mop cap which covered her curly, ginger-coloured hair, matched by a starched white apron which reached nearly to the bottom of her black dress.

“Would
you care for tea?” Jonathon asked of me.

“That
would be very enjoyable, thank you,” I said looking at him and then at the young woman who had taken our order. While we waited for our tea to be brought, Jonathon and I engaged in a pleasant conversation about the forthcoming ball.

“Are
you looking forward to it?” he asked of me.

“I
am indeed, sir. It will be a new experience for me,” I told him, “For I have never attended such an occasion before.”

“Dare
I ask that you would do me the honour of dancing with me?”

Jonathon
was serious as he spoke, his lovely eyes looking into mine and for a second I was spellbound by his good looks, his gentle voice and his question.

“Yes,
Mr Moore,” I said finding my voice, “I promise I will dance with you.”

“Your
promise is sweet to my ears, Miss Trent, and I thank you for it.” The waitress arrived at our table with a large tray laden with cups, saucers, plates, a milk jug, a sugar basin and a large tea pot, all matching in beautifully decorated porcelain of green with tiny pink rosebuds. I removed my gloves and poured the tea for both of us, thinking of Jonathon’s request for a dance and the sweet words he had spoken.

“Would
you care for a cake?” This lovely young man’s words cut across my thoughts of him and I picked a tiny square sponge cake decorated with pink fondant. As I bit delicately into it, I noticed Jonathon was looking into his cup of amber liquid, twiddling the teaspoon in his saucer and as I watched him he suddenly looked at me and said quietly, “It is a delicate subject, Miss Trent, but I wish to know if Richard Roseby has apologised for his ungallant behaviour of yesterday evening.” He spoke more passionately than normal and I could see anger in his eyes.

“He
has, indeed,” I began laying the remains of my cake on the tiny plate in front of me, “but whether I could accept that apology is another matter, Mr Moore.”

“You
must know I did not condone the man’s behaviour, Miss Trent and I certainly would not look upon you as a challenge or a prize to be bandied around between two men.” As he spoke the words, Jonathon covered my hand gently with his and took it away just as quickly. “I am sorry, Miss Trent, but I am angry.”

“Then
please be angry no longer and know that I believe what you say,” I murmured. “Now please join me in partaking of one of these delicious little cakes.” We both laughed and the serious moment was gone. We sat sipping our tea in happy companionship.

As
the bell jingled, we both looked up and I saw, to my amazement, that it was Miss Curtis, Lina’s nurse, who had stepped into the Tea Room. She came across to us.

“How
nice to see you, Miss Trent and you, Mr Moore. It is getting chilly outside and I thought to warm myself with a hot drink,” said Miss Curtis with gusto.

“Please
join us, Miss Curtis, if that pleases Miss Trent.” As Jonathon spoke, he looked enquiringly at me.

“Yes,
please do,” I agreed. “Far better to sit with us than on your own.” Lina’s nurse pulled up a chair and joined us for afternoon tea, the three of us chatting quietly. I arrived at the conclusion that Miss Curtis was in fact a very pleasant woman.

Some
time later, as the three of us stepped outside onto the street, Jonathon turned to pass the time of day with a gentleman who was passing by and Miss Curtis took hold of my arm gently and said quietly, “I need to speak with you alone, Miss Trent.” As she spoke, she glanced at Jonathon and continued. “It is important, but please tell no one.”

“Very
well, Miss Curtis, for you have intrigued me, but where and when?” I asked of her quickly for Jonathon was already saying his farewell to the gentleman.

“I
live at Holly Cottage. Anyone will tell you where it is,” the nurse said just as Jonathon turned back to us.

“Well
ladies, can I escort you home?” he asked of us, a pleasant smile on his handsome face.

“As
for me, I have a couple of things to purchase, but thank you for your kind offer,” said Miss Curtis and turning to me she said, “I hope to see you before too long, Miss Trent. Now I’ll bid you both good day and thank you for the tea and enjoyable company,” at which words, she headed off across the street leaving me quite perplexed. I took the arm Jonathon offered and accepted his company for the walk home, my brown paper parcels clutched in my hand. The watery sun was dropping in the sky and left little reflection now on the sea which looked murky and grey. The children were gone as was the mariner they had been talking to, but lobster pots were still strewn here and there, waiting no doubt for tomorrow’s fishing trip.

“You’ve
never told me anything of your life, Miss Trent,” said Jonathon so suddenly it made me jump.

“There
is little to tell, except I was born in Topsham and both of my parents are dead,” I said rather woefully.

“I
am sorry to hear about your parents, ours died long ago too. Georgina has looked after me for as long as I can remember, although I do have memories of my mother at Redcliffe, but let us not dwell on the past, it is the future which is important, and Miss Trent...” Jonathon stopped walking and turned me towards him, “…lovely Miss Trent, I confess I would like you to be part of my future.” At his words I turned away from him and he misconstrued my action. “I apologise, Miss Trent, I have upset you, I shouldn’t have spoken such words,” he apologised.

“No,
no, you misunderstand, Mr Moore, I am flattered by your words, but at this moment in time, have no ready answer for them. Please do not be apologetic. Come now, let us walk on and I will think of what you have said,” I assured him and I took his arm once more, smiling at him. He smiled in return which warmed my heart. Little more was said as we walked until we reached the gates of Middlepark.

“I
shall not see you now until the ball no doubt,” Jonathon said turning me towards him. “It was fortuitous that I bumped into you in town, for I have enjoyed our afternoon together.”

“I
have enjoyed it as much,” I told him honestly, for I had, but I was unsure of my feelings for him or my employer. As I looked across to the door of Middlepark, I could see that the door was open and Richard Roseby stood on the step watching us.

“I
shall have to go, Jonathon. Thank you for your company and I will see you at the ball,” I said not wishing Jonathon to see my employer standing there. Thankfully, he did not. Jonathon raised my hand to his lips and looking into my eyes said, “Farewell pretty maiden and please do not forget your promise to me.” With which words he walked away, not looking back for which I was thankful. As I walked up the path, Richard had disappeared through the front door leaving it ajar for me, but as I stepped into the small hallway he was waiting for me. My heart skipped a beat for I was sure that in some way he was going to admonish me but he said curtly, “I shall be away for a couple of days, Miss Trent. I have hired a large carriage to take us to Kilkenny Hall. I will be grateful if you and Lina could be ready and waiting at six o’clock, please. I bid you goodnight, Miss Trent.” So saying he made his way to the drawing room without waiting for an answer. To say I was a trifle upset by this interlude was an understatement. As I made my way up to my room I could feel a hot tear stinging at my eyes, but as I entered my room it was forgotten because across my mirror, scrawled in red rouge, was the word ANNA. I was as perplexed at this as much as Miss Curtis’ words earlier and I lay awake for some time in bed that night mulling everything over in my mind: Miss Curtis, Anna, Jonathon, Richard Roseby and Madeline. I really didn’t know who or what mattered most.

Chapter Eight

Thursday arrived. I had been awoken in the early hours by a thunderstorm and by seven o’clock was washed and dressed in my new blue gown, ready with anticipation for our visit to Mrs Rivers’ establishment in town. Richard was indeed absent from Middlepark and I had not seen any sight of Verity Hawksworth either. I set to wondering if they were at some place unknown together. I was also still mulling over the name which had been etched on my dressing table mirror two evenings ago.

While
I was waiting for Lina to go down to breakfast with her, I went to my drawer and uncovered the small bundle of letters which had been written to Madeline. Taking them from the drawer and looking down at the red ribbon, which bound them together, I walked over to the window and drawing back the curtains looked down at the oak tree. Its branches were still laden with leaves which were slowly starting to change colour. Raindrops glistened on the branches and although it had been raining earlier on, I could see that hopefully, we were to enjoy some pleasant weather today, for which I was thankful. Looking at the letters once more, clutched in my hand, I thought of the words “
Trust
no
one
but
Anna
”, but who was Anna? Did she still live, or had she died long ago taking Madeline’s secret with her to the grave? And what of Madeline and the child? These were questions which may never be answered. Someone within these walls was keeping the story alive, but who? My employer? Lina? No, she was far too young to know of this story of Madeline. And what of the sister, Joanna, who was mentioned? At this thought, I felt quite elated for it would be a start if I could find out about Joanna. Maybe there was a family Bible. I decided that after the ball I would make it my quest to find out more about the Roseby family. I knew that I must hand the letters over to Richard, for after all it was his home, but it was also my mystery now and I intended to pursue it. With this thought in mind, I placed the bundle of missives back in the drawer and vowed to hand them over to him the day after the ball.

“Charlotte!”
Lina greeted me with excitement in her voice. “It is today we go to see your gown.”

“It
is indeed, Lina and I am as full of expectancy as you, but I have encountered a problem,” I told her.

“What
problem could there possibly be?” asked Lina solemnly.

“With
your father not here,” I began, “we will have no way of bringing the gown back with us, that is of course, if Mrs Rivers has had time to make it.”

“I
am sure that knowing the circumstances, Mrs Rivers will deliver the gown,” said Lina, quite sure of herself. “And if there is no gown, what will you wear, Charlotte?” This question was one I had been asking myself while the thunder rumbled earlier.

“That
I will decide on after we have visited Mrs Rivers,” I told her, with more conviction than I actually felt.

Over breakfast, Lina and I talked of the coming ball for it was uppermost in both our minds.

“I
am told by my dancing tutor that we are to curtsey as our partner bows before each dance,” said Lina, nibbling at her bread and butter. “Did you know this, Charlotte?”

“Yes
I have read about it, but never actually curtseyed before,” I answered.

“Then
we shall practice this morning after breakfast, for I have mastered it to perfection, or so Mrs Knowles, my dance instructor told me only yesterday afternoon.” As she was speaking, I looked at Lina. She wore one of her new day gowns of a pale blue heavy cotton, the long sleeves tapering to her wrists edged with white lace. She looked beautiful in a gentle way and with her lovely blond hair shining in the daylight, which filtered through the large dining room window, she also looked very serene.

“Yes
of course, Lina, I would dearly love some tuition in the niceties of dancing,” I told her as I sipped my coffee.

“It
will be great fun,” Lina continued, “and did you know that all the gentlemen will wear white gloves so as to not cause their sweaty palms to touch ours and a gentleman can only ask us to bestow on him one dance. Oh I am so looking forward it.” Lina sighed, a dreamy expression on her face.

After
breakfast we made our way to my room.

“I
have something for you, Lina, a present from me to mark your coming out ball,” I told her as we entered the room.

“I
adore surprises. Whatever it is, I know I shall love it.” Lina clapped her hands as she spoke while I went to a drawer and retrieved the box which held the fan. I passed it to her and she took the long box from me and sat upon my bed to open it. As she removed the lid, and peeled back the tissue paper, a cry of delight escaped her lips as she looked at me.

“My
dear Charlotte, a fan and a truly lovely one which will match my gown. Oh thank you so much, but... I have no knowledge of how to use one. What shall I do?”

“We
will learn together for I have bought myself one and have little idea either.” At my words, we both laughed and sped to Lina’s room to practice with the fans and curtseying. We both got the idea of using the fans very easily. It was a question of opening them and closing them with one hand, which we practiced over and over. It required a certain flourish of the wrist and eventually, we both mastered the art at the same time. Then Lina went across to the large wardrobe to look at her gown and squealed with delight as the colour matched her gown perfectly, for which I was thankful.

“Now
,” said Lina, “I have to give you some instruction in the art of the curtsey.” Lina’s curtsey flowed with her, but it was harder to accomplish than I had anticipated and, on more than one occasion, I nearly fell over amongst shrieks of laughter. By the time lunchtime came, my curtsey was passable and we went down to lunch in a very happy, companionable frame of mind. It was then I realised that Lina would not need me much longer and would no doubt be a married woman within the year. This realisation troubled me for what would I do when I left Middlepark, but as it happened, my future was already planned out and it was only I who knew nothing about it yet.

I
did not let this thought trouble me as Lina and I set off for the town and Mrs Rivers’ dressmaking establishment. We walked in silence, side by side, until we stepped onto the path which ran alongside the sea.

“Lina,
I hope you don’t mind me asking,” I ventured, “but is there a family Bible belonging to the Roseby family?” I had been wanting to ask this all day and had at last nplucked up the courage, hoping that Lina would not think my question strange and ask me why I had asked it. I need not have worried.

“Yes,
there is one, it is quite large and very heavy, so it is kept in the large church in the next village of East Budleigh,” she told me and thankfully, her voice held no suspicion.

“Has
Miss Hawksworth gone away as well, Lina?” I asked her, “only I haven’t seen her since your father left on Tuesday.”

“Yes,
she has gone to stay with a friend who lives near Exeter as she needed to collect her new gown,” Lina told me quite readily, “and I think father said she would meet us at Kilkenny Hall and then come home with us. Did you know, Charlotte, that the ball doesn’t start until nine pm and does not end until the early hours of the morning?” I had a vague idea from booklets I have read.

“If
this is the case,” I told her, “we must rest all day tomorrow.” She agreed and shortly after we arrived at the dressmakers.

The
premises was a small house at the other end of the main street with a door to one side of a large window which gleamed, the net curtains white as snow. This was only to be expected of Mrs Rivers, I thought, as we waited for an answer to our knock. We were ushered, by a young maid with shiny black hair beneath her white mop cap, into the front parlour, which was seemingly quite small due to the small tables against two walls which held an abundance of various trinkets. A large picture of a stern looking man hung over the black leaded grate which looked bleak and forlorn. I guessed that once a fire was lit in its depth the whole room would look far more warm and cosy than now, for it was very dismal. Lina and I sat on high backed chairs awaiting Mrs Rivers. When she walked into the room, Mrs Rivers looked, as always, calm and collected and stern, like the man in the picture I thought.

“Your
gown is ready, Miss Trent, if you would like to follow me please,” and as she spoke, Lina and I rose from our seats and followed Mrs Rivers through the door and along a long dark hallway to the back of the house, where we stepped into a light airy room so much in contrast to the parlour we had left, I almost gasped with surprise. There was a curtained area on one side of the spacious room and before me, on a tailor’s dummy, was my gown. Tears sprung to my eyes, for I had expected a lovely gown, but not one so perfect and beautiful as the one I looked at now. Mrs Rivers had followed the sketch I had drawn with accuracy, but it was the material she had used to make this creation which took my breath away. The close fitting off the shoulder bodice and full skirt had been fashioned in a cream silk georgette with pale green flowers embroidered at the neckline which matched perfectly the yards of pale green muslin which fell apart at the front to reveal the cream silk skirt. I went over to look at it more closely.

“You
are pleased, Miss Trent?” Mrs Rivers asked.

“I
am more than pleased, Mrs Rivers,” I said looking in her direction. “It is a work as such that I had not imagined.”

“Try
it on please, Charlotte,” Lina urged and until I heard her voice, I realised I had quite forgotten she was there.

“Yes,
Miss Trent, please let us fit it for I need to know if the hemline is the correct length,” said Mrs Rivers in her controlled voice, so I was helped out of my blue gown by one of Mrs Rivers’ seamstresses, Daisy, and an excited Lina. I stepped into the dress which had small cream silk buttons fastened all the way down the back with loops to secure them. It took Daisy and Lina several minutes to secure. It was a perfect fit except for the length by a couple of inches. My heart sank.

“Do
not be alarmed, Miss Trent, for my girls will adjust the length and I can bring it to you tomorrow afternoon,” said Mrs Rivers kindly and I breathed a sigh of relief while I looked down on the skirts of cream and pale green, marvelling at my good fortune.

“You
look beautiful, Charlotte,” said Lina honestly. “The colour green becomes you. Oh, this has made me long even more for tomorrow for we will both look like princesses.” And I believed that her words were true and longed for tomorrow myself, but the question burned in my mind, did I wish to look captivating and adorable for Richard Roseby or Jonathon Moore?

Dressed
back in the clothes that I had arrived in and ready to leave, thanking Mrs Rivers from the bottom of my heart, the dressmaker took hold of my arm gently and took me back into the dressing room.

“Miss
Trent,” she began quietly, “I have a proposition for you.”

“And
what would that be, Mrs Rivers for I am certainly not a seamstress,” I told her, quite bemused by her words,

“No,
Miss Trent, it has nothing to do with stitching, but drawing,” she enlightened me.

“In
what way?” I asked of her, quite perplexed now.

“Your
sketch, Miss Trent of this beautiful gown I have made you was quite outstanding and I was hoping you may like to sketch styles for me, as fashion decrees, of course, for which I will pay you.” Mrs Rivers told me.

“You
wish to employ me is what you are saying?” I asked, quite taken aback at this turn of events.

“That
is exactly what I am proposing, Miss Trent, yes,” Mrs Rivers ascertained and I was quite dumbfounded for a moment and unable to answer her. It was true that I loved sketching, but would I wish to do it for a living, and what of Middlepark and Lina?

“Please
let me think about it for a few days,” I said, “for this has come as a shock as you can imagine and there is a lot to take into account.”

“I
quite understand, Miss Trent, and shall look forward to hearing your decision, in shall we say, a couple of weeks?” Mrs Rivers suggested.

“Why,
yes thank you. That is a reasonable amount of time to mull something over. I look forward to receiving my gown tomorrow, thank you.” With these words, I turned to join Lina, my mind in turmoil.

The day of the ball had finally arrived. After breakfast, Lina and I rested in our rooms, even though Lina was feverish with excitement, which after luncheon could not be contained.

“Oh,
Charlotte!” she said bursting into my room while I was resting on my bed, with thoughts of recent events whirling in my mind. Everything was intriguing from Madeline to Miss Curtis’ words. I arose from the bed, rest over for the day.

“What
time will we need to get ready, Charlotte and shall we get everything together that we need: gloves, slippers, reticule and our gowns,” shrieked Lina all in one sentence that I was glad when four o’clock arrived and we were to start getting ready. Mrs Rivers had delivered my gown an hour before and all was well now. Ruby and I helped Lina into her gown and slippers and while Ruby fashioned Lina’s hair, I went to my room to get myself attired for the all-important ball. My hands trembled as I stepped into my beautiful gown, knowing that I would need help to do the buttons up, I went bare footed along to Lina’s room when I was startled by my employer’s voice.