Yorkshire (30 page)

Richard dropped the sword and reached into his pocket, but Gervase was there instantly. He gripped his brother’s arm. “Richard, no.”

Richard met his brother’s hard look with one of his own, full of fury. No coldness there, none of the controlled anger he had turned on Pritheroe. After a moment he nodded, and pulled his hand back out of his pocket, empty.

He turned, his face white, and came to me. I was surprised to hear a feminine cry of “Steven!” because I certainly didn’t call out.

Richard lifted me, tucked my breasts back into what was left of my bodice, smoothed my skirts back into place, laid me down on the couch and sat next to me. Richard had found my fichu, which Steven had torn off to get to my breasts, and he wrapped it around me to cover my ruined gown.

He never took his gaze away from my face. I was relieved, but ashamed as well. I believed I’d provoked this attack somehow. Perhaps I was a bitch, and a whore, and all the other things Steven had called me. Overwrought, out of breath, confused, I clutched his coat and burst into tears.

He lifted me and held me against his shoulder, making soothing noises. I’m afraid I must have ruined his beautiful blue coat with so many salty tears, but I was unable to stop. I must have grown hysterical, for he pushed me away after a while and gave me a little shake so that I stopped crying. Then he took a linen handkerchief from his pocket, and dried my tears himself as I rested thankfully against his shoulder. All the time he murmured soothingly, as though I was a child hurt by a fall. “Hush, my sweet. He’ll never touch you again, I’ll kill him first. Hush, now. There, there.”

The room seemed full of people, and all of them talked and shouted at once. I looked across to the fireplace, where Steven was still stretched out at full length, but he began to stir now. Miss Cartwright stood next to him, staring from one to the other of us. Gervase was trying to talk to Martha, who had come in on the heels of James, indoors for once, as luck would have it.

I blushed. “I’m so sorry.” His mobile eyebrows went up.

“Sorry? As far as I can see, you’re not the one who’ll make the apology. I shan’t ask how you feel—you must feel wretched. And this room is far too full for my liking—”

There was an almighty row beginning.

Gervase had both hands on James’s shoulders, while James called, “I’ll kill him. How dare he touch my sister!”

“How can you blame Steven for all this? The girl’s a hussy. She must have provoked him somehow.” Julia glared at Richard.

Everyone saw the look of contempt Richard flashed her. “There is never an excuse for this kind of behaviour, madam.” He stood and lifted me off the couch and then kicked the sword he had used on Steven out of the way across the floor. It clattered across the polished wooden floor in the sudden silence, as everyone stared at him.

“My lord, your arm.”

“Perfectly well now, my precious love. I’m going to take you to your room, and I won’t leave you until you feel more yourself again.” He looked down at my face, openly loving, and it reassured me that he, at least, wasn’t disgusted by me.

I was too weak and relieved to protest any more. “You promise?”

“I promise.” He kissed me lightly on the mouth.

Martha and James stared at us, stunned. James stepped forward. “I’ll take over now.”

I clutched Richard’s arm and looked up at his face. He smiled down at me. “It would be a great privilege to look after her. I promise you, no harm will come of it.”

Miss Cartwright stood stock-still in the centre of the room, humiliated and ignored. I felt so sorry for her at that moment, despite her stupid comments shortly before. Still holding me, Richard turned to her. “I’m sorry you should find out in this way, Julia. Believe me, this isn’t the only reason I wish to break our contract.”

“I’ll see you in hell, Richard Kerre.” She said it quietly, but with such malice I feared for her sanity. Richard smiled as though she had made a polite remark, inclined his head to her in a courtly manner and left the room with me. I didn’t see who opened the door for us. I kept my eyes on his face.

Although I protested I was quite able to walk, he didn’t put me down until we reached my room. There he gently put me on my feet so he could open the door, took me inside and laid me on the bed. “Now.” He looked around. “Ah yes—” He fetched my wrapper which lay on a chair near the fire—a poor thing compared to his magnificent item, but serviceable. I blushed when he began to undo my ruined gown and took the fichu away, but he smiled. “Think of me as your lady’s maid, my love.” That made me smile, and I sat up so he could help me slip the gown off my shoulders.

He deftly unlaced my stays for me, pulled them away and put my wrapper around my shoulders so I could thrust my arms into the sleeves. He pushed gently on my shoulders, made me lie down again, and talked calmly all the time to soothe me, fastening the garment for me at the front. Then he fetched a damp cloth from the washstand and wiped my face.

I caught his hand and kissed it. “You’re too kind.”

“You’re too foolish if you think that.” He put down the cloth and sat on the bed next to me. “Did he hurt you?”

“Not much.” Now I was out of danger, I was unwilling to admit I might have hurt my foot in some way in my backwards fall. He considered me calmly. “You
are
hurt, aren’t you? I’ll kill him.”

“No, no more dramatics today.” I laid my hand on his sleeve. “But would you look at my foot, please? He pushed me back, and I think I caught it somehow.”

Pushing my skirt back, he examined my ankle. He flexed the foot as I winced. “Did that hurt? I’m sorry, my sweet.” He replaced my skirt, turning to face me. “No bones broken, I think, but it’s a trifle swollen. I’ll send Carier to you. I’d set him over any doctor. I think you should stay here for the rest of the day. I’ll make sure you’re left alone, but I’ll send someone to you with a hot drink. And you might like a bath, later.”

“Oh, Richard.” I cried a little again, relief taking control of my wayward emotions. He seemed to have taken over my welfare. Normally I would have cavilled at such treatment, but at this time, it came as a relief, although I did wonder how he would deal with Martha.

He didn’t go until he was sure he had properly comforted me, but when he had gone I indulged in the hearty bout of tears I’d been holding back, and then I promptly fell asleep.

Chapter Twenty-Two

I woke later in the day to the sound of pouring water. Richard had been as good as his word, and ordered me a bath. The maid helped me as I lay against the warm towels in hot water and dreamed. I didn’t allow myself to dwell on recent events. I felt too tired, drowsy, but he was right. After the bath, I felt much better, cleansed in more than body.

I relaxed in a chair by the fire while the maid brought a hot drink. Martha and Carier came in to me, Martha seeming to have regained her rightful place as my chaperone. Carier propped my swollen foot on a stool, probing the leg gently for injuries. He bound it and stood. “Only a sprain, ma’am. You’ll recover in a few days. Don’t put your weight on it more than you have to.” He bowed and turned to go, but Martha stopped him.

“How long have you served Lord Strang, Carier?”

“Since he went on the Grand Tour at eighteen, my lady.”

“Is he a good master?”

“The best, my lady.” He waited until Martha nodded, dismissing him. He took the cup that had held the posset I’d drunk away with him.

Martha poured tea, then sat in a chair by the fire, her face serious. “You have been playing a dangerous game, haven’t you?”

I looked at her over the rim of my tea dish. I’d known her all my life, but recently she had taken on a new sheen with her responsibilities. In a few years, she would become entirely the great lady.

“I didn’t see it coming. Neither did Lord Strang. It’s taken us both by surprise.”

“No.” Her gaze never left my face. “He explained things to us.” She paused, frowning. “He’s a difficult man, Rose. Are you sure he’s what you want?”

Sincerely concerned, she thought I’d be unable to cope with such a difficult person in the longer term. After all, up until now I’d been the quiet, disregarded member of the family. I had no hidden depths anyone had noticed before, not even a private life of my own.

“Yes, Martha. I’m very sure.”

Martha looked at me in silence, and then she nodded in her brisk way. “You’re determined to have each other. There’s not much I can say is there? Though I don’t know what we’re going to do about his betrothed. He says he’ll go and talk to her father, and then speak to his.”

“He wants us to marry quietly, then go to Venice. He owns a property there.”

Martha frowned. “That’s akin to elopement. You might find it very difficult, when you return.”

“I can’t say I don’t care, because I know what it will do to you. But if that’s the only way, then I’ll do it.”

“He might bring them around.” We knew it was unlikely. “James seems reconciled to it. I like him. If he can persuade James to give you up to him, the rest should be easy.”

We smiled, and sipped our tea.

“Lord Strang is very concerned for you, dear,” Martha went on. “When you have rested, perhaps you may see him.”

“Tell him I’m well. Please, Martha, may I see him soon?”

“Not until you’ve had a good night’s sleep.” I had to accept her advice, though I’d rather have seen him before I slept, but I was tired and conscious of not looking my best. My newfound vanity speaking to me again.

“What did he tell you?”

“Enough.” Martha sipped her tea, then put the dish down. “He’s determined to make you his wife, and you have accepted him. Rose, that was a foolish thing to do. You know he’s not in a position to propose to you.”

“He hasn’t formally proposed.”

Concern stamped her homely features. “Rose, are you sure? You don’t have to, not now. You don’t have to marry at all if you don’t wish to. James can provide you with everything you want. You used to talk about living independently, with your own household. In a few years, you can do so, if you wish. It’s not desperation, is it?”

“No. I love him, Martha. I’m sure of it. I don’t think life with him will be easy, but I want to try. I’ll take him, Martha, under any circumstances.”

She looked at me hard. “No, you won’t. You’ll take him when he’s free to ask. He says he will be in a few weeks, but we must wait and see.”

I couldn’t argue with her. Martha had always been very aware of the proprieties. She’d have been appalled, had she known what we’d done. She might even refuse to let him come near me again and so drive us to a true elopement. I had every confidence Richard would conclude his contract with Miss Cartwright, whatever the cost. I remembered the look he’d given her when she’d tried to excuse Steven’s behaviour. She’d be lucky if he consented to share a coach with her on the journey home now.

Martha sighed, looking at the small comforts we’d brought to the room. “I don’t like this house.”

“Will you stay here?”

“I don’t think so, dear. The place is rotting around us. We’ve had a builder looking at the house and the timbers are rotting and the structure was thrown up with little regard to quality. It would take too much to restore it, almost a complete rebuild. We’ve been discussing it, James and I. We always wanted to extend the manor at home, and now we may do so. I miss my family and friends, too. We don’t belong here.”

“But the people who rely on the estate?”

Martha sighed. “We will do our best to help them. We’re not abandoning the estate, just the house.”

“Things will never be the same again. You have a title, a new way to make in the world.”

“No, things won’t be the same, but at least I can face it in the comfort of my own home, with my people about me. Exeter Assembly Rooms will be agog with it.” Her eyes gleamed at the thought. The old tabbies who sat by the wall and gossiped would have a field day. Her real triumph would be when she confronted them. Any London success paled into insignificance compared to that.

I felt relaxed, quiet. The day’s events receded as I remembered someone else in distress in this house.

“How is Lady Hareton?” I put down my empty cup and sat up.

Martha looked grave. “She’s not at all well. Mrs. Peters is devoted to her. I don’t want to upset you, dear, but she’s had such a bad time of it. Her back is lined with scars you would only expect to see on a sailor from the beatings she received from her husband and father. We’ve kept her in her room. Mrs. Peters is attending to her. She’s keeping her well dosed with laudanum.”

I was appalled.

“She’ll stay here, then move to the Dower House. Mrs. Peters said that with my authority, she’ll do well with her ladyship. I believe she will.” She smiled to reassure me. I was thinking of poor Lady Hareton. What despair she must have gone through with no one to turn to. I hadn’t thought such cruelty existed, but despite knowing what she did was wrong, I was glad she’d enough spirit to do it.

My eyes were caught by something outside. It was dark now, but I saw a glow at the corner of the window. “What’s that?”

Martha went over to close the curtains on the early winter night. “Just the old coach, my dear. James says it’s beyond repair, so he ordered it burned. I’m glad because it was a melancholy thing.” She turned back to me. “I don’t know what the cut strap thing at dinner was, but you must have been mistaken. It probably gave way with old age, rotten for years like the rest of this place.” I could swear that she winked at me.