Yorkshire (26 page)

Miss Cartwright waved her fan carelessly and Martha gasped, horrified. I didn’t look around, because Richard, Gervase and Lizzie would be doing that.

James’s puzzled expression told me he knew I was dissembling. “I’ve seen it, my dear. I’ve come to the same conclusion. I can’t think who would have done such a thing.” The air positively glittered with reaction. I could leave them to discuss it.

“I’m sure you must be mistaken, Miss Golightly.” Miss Cartwright seemed annoyed that any other female should take centre stage at any table she occupied.

I shook my head. “There’s no mistake.”

Julia Cartwright shrugged and turned back to Steven, but he watched me now, and she petulantly flicked open her fan and waved it before her face.

The elder Miss Cartwright ventured no opinion. James, realising this must be a subterfuge, put his hand over Martha’s to warn her. She looked horrified, but sat silent. Richard watched quietly, turning his wine glass around and around on the table. He never spilled a drop, although I doubt he was aware he was doing it. The air filled with noisy speculation, except for the minister and his daughter. She sat next to him, her head down, gripping her table knife. It was impossible to guess at her thoughts, she sat so still in her place.

“A servant—it must have been a servant,” Miss Cartwright said.

“Not necessarily,” Richard answered. “It could have been anyone.”

I glanced at the footman standing a little behind his chair, but I saw no sign of any emotion on his face. Still, it would be all around the servants’ hall by bedtime, and since we had decided that the knowledge must enter the public domain, it must help us in our quest.

Mr. Pritheroe was the only person who still ate, and he showed no signs of letting up, but he could talk and eat, as he had shown us so graphically before. “Whoever did this thing flouted the will of God. We were within hours of breaking the entail and making this house a house of God.”

Richard turned to him, every sign of interest on his face. I had learned not to trust that look. When he took a real interest in something, he didn’t quirk a brow in quite that way and the gleam of mischief was absent from his eyes. “Is that what you would have done?”

“It was always intended that this house would become a centre for the religion some people called Prithism.” I heard Lizzie giggle. Pritheroe ignored her. “We could have brought more people to the Word, and saved more souls in time for Armageddon.”

And lived in luxury while you did it
, I thought, but I wasn’t bold enough to say it.

“I have always considered this as a temporary setback. I trust in the Lord. I know He will find a way.”

“God helps those who help themselves.”

The preacher stiffened in response to Gervase’s remark. “Are you suggesting I did this dreadful thing, sir?”

“No, of course not,” said Gervase. “There’s no reason on earth why you should want the last two earls dead—is there?”

“Sir.” Pritheroe’s vehement response released some of his dinner back to where it came from—his plate. I looked away in disgust. “They were my benefactors, and God fearing people.”

He addressed himself to his plate again. I hoped the exercise would be beneficial to him.

Martha hastily turned the conversation to other things, but my announcement had its effect. The trap had been set.

Later during the evening when Richard had the chance of a quiet word with me, he murmured, “Now—we watch.”

Chapter Eighteen

We watched. All the next day at least one of us stayed in the sunny room in sight of the little parlour. Lizzie and I spent a lot of time there, with some sewing so Martha couldn’t accuse us of being idle.

My sister took the opportunity to castigate my rashness. “You should have waited, Rose. Who knows what delights await us, with this change in our fortunes? We have new people to meet, much to see. You’ll have saddled yourself with a husband and a scandal.”

“But, Lizzie, you know I was never good in the marriage market,” I protested.

She looked up from her work. “I used to think so, but I’m not so sure now. Steven had a partiality for you, and now you’ve dropped him in favour of someone better. Really, my dear, you could have had much more choice if you had only waited.”

“But I wouldn’t have fallen in love with any of them.”

“Love!” She put as much scorn as she could muster into the word and applied herself to her work with great vigour, while I continued with mine more tranquilly. I felt very tranquil these days. “How long does love last?”

“We are good friends.” I knew better than to argue. Lizzie had a low opinion of love.

“That’s more like it. And,” she continued, pensively, “he is a leader of fashion. Though heaven knows what this affair will do to it.”

“He’s still hopeful of bringing it off without scandal.”

“How does he expect to work such a miracle?” Her needle flashed in and out of her work at a great pace.

“He’ll talk to Miss Cartwright’s father when he takes her home next week. He says, apart from idolising his only daughter, the man is sensible. Once he understands the fault lies all on my lord’s side, he’ll see reason. Any other way will hurt Miss Cartwright, you see. He’s giving her the opportunity to cry off which is, after all, a perfectly proper thing for a young lady to do.”

“From what I’ve heard he’s more likely to create a disturbance about it.” Lizzie worked for a few minutes in silence, tight lipped.

“You know Mr. Drury is repeating the most scandalous gossip about your Lord Strang, don’t you?” Lizzie pushed the needle into the cloth, leaning forward conspiratorially.

My heart sank. “What sort of gossip?”

“He’s seduced a maid under this very roof.” Lizzie said with relish.

“I don’t believe a word of it.” Not a maid, but me.

Lizzie, met my gaze frankly “Neither do I. Oh, I don’t know your Lord Strang well enough to judge his character, but Steven was sweet on you. It’s probably some sort of revenge.”

“James is going to send Steven away. Since James became Lord Hareton, Steven’s attentions have become increasingly uncomfortable. He seems to think I made him some promises. I swear to you, Lizzie, I did no such thing. I spoke to James and he’s finding Steven a comfortable living far away from here.”

Lizzie looked up. “Was that your idea?”

“R—Strang’s,” I told her.

“Better than sending him home.”

I put down one cloth and picked up another. I’d been doing plain sewing, but this looked more interesting—a cloth that had come unstitched on one corner. Quite an old one, from the look of the ladies embroidered on it. It would be difficult to match it with the bright modern silks at my disposal. I frowned over my work.

“A charming scene,” came a voice from the door. Gervase bowed to us. “Delightful domesticity. I’ve come to take over from one of you ladies.”

“Not quite the thing, sir,” Lizzie pointed out. “Can you sew?”

“May I perhaps escort one of you in a short walk then? You must be in need of fresh air.”

October grew old now, but since Lizzie had no desire to go out into the cold, I accepted Gervase’s offer with relief. At home in Devonshire I walked out every day, but the lack of proper gardens to walk in, and the multitude of tasks needing to be done indoors had prevented me from taking my usual exercise.

Gervase waited while I fetched a cloak, hat and gloves. He gave me his arm as support, and took me to the little path we’d ridden down that first morning. “There’s very little space to walk or ride. I’ve taken my horse out on some mornings, but I fear we have our task to do, thanks to Strang.”

I smiled up at him. “This is just what I needed. I’ve wanted a breath of fresh air all morning. It’s such a fine day.” Indeed, it was one of those cold, sunny days that remind one of the spring to come, or the summer just passed.

“Yes.” He changed the subject abruptly. “I hope you don’t mind if I ask you a few questions. Do you really wish to marry my brother? No,” he said, as he saw my mouth open to reply, “don’t answer at once. He can be like a whirlwind, once he makes up his mind, scooping up everything and everyone in his path. I’ve seen it before. You should know he is autocratic, generous to a fault and loyal. He’s been the best of brothers to me, but I’ve seen him so bemuse others they’ve done precisely what he wants without consideration of their own wishes. If you have doubts, you may be sure they’ll go no further, unless you wish them to.” He glanced at me as we continued to stroll down the path.

I knew my own mind. “No, sir. He swept me off my feet, as the saying goes, but I’m willing to be swept. I fell in love with him, Gervase. Although I felt completely confused and lost at first, I know I can trust him now.”

Gervase smiled in relief. “I’m glad. I’ve not heard him laugh the way he does with you for a very long time. My mother said after I went away that she never heard him laugh again. For what my opinion’s worth, I’m sure he’s truly attached to you.” This confirmation from his brother, who knew him best, meant a great deal to me. “When I came back from India, he had hardened, lost the gentleness he had as a boy. I knew much of it was my fault. My dreadful scandal marked him so much he’d taken the guilt on himself. He tried to wreak his revenge on the society that rejected me by seducing and gambling his way through it, making his mark, making them pay.” He sighed. “I heard of his behaviour and I believe I was the only one who guessed its true significance. And of course, we missed each other. We’d never been apart for such a significant length of time before. Our parents never forbade communication, so we wrote a great deal but apart from a brief meeting in Rome at the beginning of my exile, we didn’t see each other until I came home last year. When I first saw him in all his society glory, I hardly recognised him. It nearly broke my heart. If it hadn’t been broken already. I thought I’d lost him until we arrived here at the Abbey.”

I didn’t know what to reply to this, but no answer seemed to be required. We paused. A bird sang in the silence “I’ve something to say to you, ma’am. I beg you’ll hear it through and think hard about it.” He stopped walking, turning to face me. I looked up at him. “I’d like to offer you my hand in marriage.”

I gaped, something I hadn’t done since I was a small girl. Would these brothers never fail to astonish? I couldn’t speak for the thoughts racing through my head. Was Gervase in love with me, too? He’d never shown any sign, but some men don’t.

“Let me explain. I’ll tell you the whole, if I may.” I nodded, still beyond speech. “Ten years ago, I created such a scandal it will probably never be forgotten, although it seems to have been forgiven. I fell in love with someone so unsuitable, and did it so openly people still talk about it when they see me. I eventually left the country for the Continent, as you have no doubt heard.

“We grew up with the Boughtons. Their land marched with ours. Until they sold their property afterwards, they were our best friends. I slowly came to realise my feelings were more than affection. When they were reciprocated, my joy was, unfortunately, unconfined. We barely lived through the scandal. Scandal isn’t just a social affair, it causes business relationships to falter, alliances with other families to fall and my father had to work hard to restore our reputation.” I nodded. The effects in our local society could be as devastating, and scandals from a generation or so back were still remembered. “Believe me, ma’am, when our father gets wind of Richard’s plans, he’ll be incandescent with rage. You’ll be able to hear his wrath over five counties. I think that’s why Miss Cartwright is so stubborn. She believes Richard will give way under that rage, but I’m afraid she doesn’t know Richard. He won’t.”

I felt apprehensive. I hated shouting and upsets. Not timidly, I would face what I had to but they made me physically unwell. “Also, our sister must be hurt by this. She’s just had her come-out. Myself, I don’t think the scandal will be as great as all that. Richard may succeed in persuading Mr. Cartwright to do the proper thing, but you should know it could cause great hurt to someone I think you love. But the scandal I caused will add to the one Richard will cause if he refuses to marry Julia Cartwright while the contract between them is still in force.” A light breeze disturbed the fallen leaves, causing them to rattle against the dry earth and the path we stood on. Gervase came to the point, the real point, of his story. “You see, Miss Golightly, I didn’t elope with Lady Mary.” He swallowed. “I ran away with her husband, the boy I’d grown up with, Edward. I still love him, but we can never see each other again. They made him promise. He wasn’t strong enough to bear it.”

My hand flew to my mouth involuntarily, but he spared me the necessity of speaking by carrying on with his story. He watched me as he spoke, his eyes wary. “They hushed it up, saying that I had run off with Lady Mary. She went into hiding at one of my father’s remoter estates where nobody knew her and they said Edward had pursued us abroad. Then they persuaded him to come back.” His voice broke and he looked away. I pressed his sleeve in sympathy and listened, but I said nothing to break his flow. He looked so distraught that my heart went out to him.

Gervase cleared his throat. He must have gone over this tragedy over and over in his mind and he might be able to control it more readily, but he still faltered. I hadn’t realised, hadn’t even suspected, but it explained so much when I thought about it.
That
was why the old scandal was still so potent. It also explained why Richard wore that hard carapace over his sensitive nature. He must have grown it very quickly. Even his heavy maquillage would have served to hide his true feelings, making it easier for him to face people after Gervase had inadvertently done such a terrible thing to his brother.