A Place Called Home (12 page)

‘Well, as she's been dead for ten years it's not going to upset her now. I should have pensioned you off ages ago, but I kept you on out of the goodness of my heart.'

‘You kept me on because I'm useful to you. I work for almost nothing, and do my best to look after Meg and the babies. It's a pity you don't do more for them.'

Lucy held her breath. She had seen Linus in a temper and she waited for him to erupt in anger. Meg seemed to share her concern and she stepped in between Linus and the irate Hester. ‘That's enough, Hester. Don't let's spoil the short time that my husband is with us, my dear.' She set Vicky down on the floor and the little girl toddled over to her brother, waving her doll in triumph.

‘Common-law, not legally wed,' Hester muttered, hobbling over to the range and opening the oven door. She closed it again. ‘Another five minutes or so and the bread will be ready. I suppose you will want to eat in the dining room now that he's home?'

‘Thank you, Hester. The master and I will take our meal together, but I think perhaps Lucy would be more comfortable if she ate in the kitchen with you and the children.' Meg turned to Lucy with a gentle smile. ‘Bram will be in soon for his midday meal. He's a bit older than you, but I'm sure you'll be friends.'

‘I'm Sir William's granddaughter,' Lucy said with dignity. ‘And I've been brought here against my will.' She pointed at Linus. ‘He told me that he was taking me to my granny, and he lied.'

Meg's blue eyes widened and her pretty mouth drooped at the corners. ‘Is this true, Linus?'

He seized her by the arm. ‘I think we need to talk in private.' He propelled her towards a door at the back of the room. ‘Bring me a bottle of my good claret; better still, the child can make herself useful. She can wait on us, Nanny. Don't say that I never think of your aged bones.' His laughter echoed round the kitchen as he left, taking Meg with him.

‘Well now. Here's a pretty kettle of fish.' Hester looked Lucy up and down as if calculating the cost of her outfit. ‘I think I can guess the reason why you're here, Lucy Pocket. I didn't know Sir William had a granddaughter.'

‘Well, he does, and it's me,' Lucy said angrily. ‘I don't want to be here any more than I wanted to live in that big house in Mayfair. I've run away once and I can do it again.'

At the sound of her raised voice both children started to bawl and Hester rushed over to them. ‘Now look what you've done. You've upset my little darlings.'

Lucy ran to the door and wrenched it open. She raced outside and found herself caught in a heavy shower. Blinded by the rain she cannoned into someone with such force that they were both knocked off their feet.

LUCY FOUND HERSELF
lying in a puddle winded and gasping for breath, with Peckham licking her face.

‘Look where you're going, nipper.' A boy scrambled to his feet and stood looking down at her with a puzzled expression on his freckled face. ‘Who are you?' He held out his hand and helped her up, ignoring the dog's threatening growls. ‘Good dog,' he said firmly. ‘I mean her no harm.'

‘It was your fault,' Lucy gasped. ‘I was just walking out of the door.'

‘You were racing as if the devil himself was on your heels.' He pulled her into the porch. ‘I'm soaked to the skin and now you are too. What's your name?'

She shook free from his grasp. ‘Let me pass. You can't keep me here.'

‘Go on then,' he said with a wave of his hand. ‘Run if you must, but you won't find your way through the forest. You'll be lost and you'll never find your way out.'

Lucy glanced at the coachman, who had taken shelter in the log store, but he was staring into space, smoking his pipe, oblivious to anything that was going on around him. ‘I ain't afraid of nothing,' she said crossly. ‘Tell me which path to take and I'll be off.'

He ran his hand through his wet hair, brushing it back from his forehead. His eyes sparkled as if he was about to burst out laughing at any moment, and his generous lips curved in a grin. ‘You're a spunky little thing, but you still haven't told me your name, or what you're doing here.'

Lucy shivered. Her clothes were wet and she was close to tears, but she was not going to let herself down in front of a stranger. ‘I'm Lucy Pocket.'

‘Bramwell Southwood, commonly known as Bram,' he said, shaking her hand. ‘I'm Meg's brother, but you're a bit of a puzzle. I suppose he brought you here, because we don't get visitors in the normal run of things.' He jerked his head in the direction of the carriage. ‘It was a bad day when Meg took up with Daubenay. I hope you're not his kid.'

‘Indeed I'm not,' Lucy said indignantly. ‘He kidnapped me and he's going to leave me here.' The words tumbled from her lips. She had not meant to tell this strange boy so much and she watched him closely, trying to judge his reaction. Would he help her? Or would he think she was lying?

He opened his mouth to reply, but was cut short by the sudden appearance of Hester. She caught Lucy by the scruff of the neck. ‘I can see you're going to be a pest,' she said, sighing. ‘Haven't I got enough on my hands without having a runaway child to look after?' She propelled Lucy into the kitchen, followed by Bram and the dog.

‘I'm not a runaway,' Lucy protested. ‘I've been kidnapped. I just told this boy so but I don't think he believed me.'

Hester let her go, shaking her head. ‘You're wet through.' She turned to Bram. ‘And you're leaving muddy footprints on my clean floor. I don't know what the world is coming to.'

Bram shrugged his shoulders, looking down at Hester from his superior height. Despite everything Lucy was impressed. At a guess she put his age at fourteen, or maybe fifteen, but he was tall and broad-shouldered, making him seem much older. Despite her reservations she found herself drawn to him. He looked like someone she might be able to trust, and she liked the way his hazel eyes twinkled. He bent down to drop a kiss on Hester's lined cheek. ‘Don't blame me, Hester my darling.' His expression darkened. ‘Linus is the one to blame for us being stuck in the middle of nowhere, and it seems he brought the kid here against her will.'

Hester gave Lucy a searching look. ‘Is this true, child?' She frowned thoughtfully. ‘It would account for the fact that she doesn't seem to have any luggage.'

‘I was trying to find my granny. Sir William paid her to give me up, but I know she didn't want to lose me. We was always close.'

‘Who is Sir William?' Bram asked curiously. ‘None of this makes sense.'

‘Sir William Marriott says he's my grandfather.'

Hester stared at her, frowning. ‘Then you must be Julius's daughter. That would make Linus your second cousin, or something like that. How come I've never heard of you until this day?'

Lucy shrugged her shoulders. ‘Don't ask me. I didn't know who my pa was until a short while ago. Ma ran off when I was two and I've always lived with my nan. That is until Sir William turned up and spoiled things. He wants me to grow up to be a lady.'

‘And you're in line to inherit his fortune,' Hester mused. ‘No wonder Linus wants to get rid of you.'

‘You understand.' Lucy's voice broke on a sob. ‘I think he wants to kill me.'

‘What nonsense is this?'

The sound of Meg's voice made them turn with a guilty start. Hester moved swiftly to the range and lifted the lid from the bubbling pot. ‘I'll serve up now, shall I?'

‘Where is the claret? The child was supposed to bring it.' Meg fixed her gaze on Lucy. ‘You're wet.' She glanced at her brother. ‘And so are you, Bram. What's going on? Can't I have a quiet meal with my husband without all this fuss?'

‘Common-law,' Hester muttered beneath her breath. She lifted the pan from the hob. ‘Sit the little ones in their seats, Meg,' she added, jerking her head in the direction of Bertie and Vicky, who had found a common interest in trying to catch Peckham, who so far had managed to dodge their clutching fingers. ‘Bram will fetch the wine and I'll serve the stew. Let's hope it's good enough for Master Linus. He was always a fussy eater.'

Lucy's first reaction was to save Peckham from being mauled by two lively little children, but it was obvious that he could take care of himself, and she helped Hester by slicing the bread and spreading it with butter. She would eat first, she decided, and make her getaway when Linus had gone. There must be a well-trodden path leading out of the forest and she intended to find it.

Darkness had fallen with surprising speed considering the fact that it was early summer, but the foliage of the ancient oaks, beeches, silver birch and hornbeam formed a dense canopy, excluding all but the smallest glimpses of sky. Lucy had been walking for hours: she was exhausted and even Peckham, despite his usual boundless energy, was exhibiting signs of fatigue. The dried leaves crunched underfoot and twigs snapped, sending eerie echoes resonating through the forest. There were other sounds that made the hairs on the back of Lucy's neck stand on end, sounds that were unfamiliar to a city child. Slithering noises in the undergrowth were followed by snorts and snuffles which were chillingly human. Wings flapped in the branches overhead, and nocturnal animals were beginning to wake up and move about. This was their territory and not hers. She sank down against the thick bole of a pollarded oak, with Peckham snuggling up at her side. The thundering of hooves on the hard-packed forest floor was too close for comfort. Visions of a headless horseman galloping through the trees flashed before her eyes, and she screamed in terror, covering her face with her hands.

Then, in the distance she heard someone calling her name. She held her breath, thinking that once again it was her active imagination playing tricks on her.

‘Lucy? Where are you?' Bram's voice was loud and clear.

‘Here,' Lucy shouted. ‘I'm here.'

Peckham joined in, yapping joyfully as if he realised that help was at hand.

Moments later Lucy could see the beam of a lantern bobbing about between the trees, and then Bram emerged from the darkness. He knelt at her side. ‘Are you hurt?'

‘No. I was tired and I couldn't find the path.'

‘What did I tell you?' he said triumphantly. He lifted her to her feet. ‘Next time perhaps you'll listen to what I tell you.'

‘Yes, Bram. Is it far to walk from here?'

He chuckled. ‘Not far, kid. You must have been going round in circles all this time.'

‘I think a headless horseman gallops through this forest. I heard hoofbeats.'

‘Deer,' Bram said, taking her by the hand. ‘It'll be deer. The forest is full of them.'

‘Has Linus gone back to London?'

‘Yes. He never stays long, unless he's being dunned for money, and then we can't get rid of him. Meg never complains, but she's besotted with him. God alone knows why. I hate the bloke.'

‘Did he know I'd run away? Was he cross?'

Bram squeezed her fingers. ‘I think he was pleased. Meg wanted him to look for you, but he said you'd run away so you had to take your chances. Then he upped and left. I daresay he's headed back to London and the gaming tables. He thinks I don't know what he gets up to, but I got a good idea, and he's a wrong 'un.'

‘He said he'd do for me.' Lucy stifled a yawn. ‘I think he meant it.'

‘If that's what he wants he made a mistake bringing you to the forest. You've got Meg, Hester and me to look after you, nipper.'

‘And Peckham,' Lucy said tiredly.

‘We'll all look after both of you, so don't worry.'

‘Maybe you could help me find my granny.'

‘That too.' Bram slowed down, pointing to a thin stream of light just visible through the trees. ‘There's the cottage. You see how close to home you were?'

‘It's not my home, but I'm glad you found me. Ta, Bram.'

Lucy dragged her feet as she walked and was overwhelmed by the reception she received in the cottage kitchen. Meg embraced her with tears in her eyes, and Hester fussed over her like a mother hen. She sent Bram outside to lock up the animals while she helped Lucy to undress. ‘But this is all I got,' Lucy protested. ‘I left everything in Grandfather's house.'

‘Sir William will be worried.' Meg pulled up a chair and sank down on the hard wooden seat, her face pale with fatigue. ‘I told Linus he had to tell his uncle that you are safe.'

‘And pigs might fly,' Hester said sharply. ‘You know he won't do that, Meg. Why do you choose to think the best of him?'

‘You wouldn't understand. You still see him as a small child, but I love the man he has become, faults and all.'

Lucy shivered despite the fact that it was a warm summer evening and the fire in the range made it even warmer. ‘He's a bad man, miss. He wants me dead so that he can inherit.'

Meg's eyes flashed angrily. ‘That's a wicked thing to say, Lucy. Linus brought you here so that we could look after you while he searches for your grandmother. He said that Sir William was wrong to take you away from her.'

‘He's lying,' Lucy said stubbornly.

‘You're completely and utterly wrong.' Meg rose slowly to her feet. ‘I'll make allowances for you because you're very young and you're tired out, but I won't let you say nasty things about the man who's done his best to make you happy.'

Lucy looked to Hester for support, but she shrugged her shoulders. ‘I'm just a servant,' she muttered. ‘Although servants get a wage and I don't, so I'm little more than a slave.' She bundled up Lucy's soiled dress. ‘You'd best put her to bed, Meg. The child is falling asleep on her feet.'

Meg held out her hand. ‘Come with me, Lucy. You can sleep in the children's room, but I've only just got them off, so please don't make a noise.' She led the way through the kitchen, along a narrow passage and up a steep flight of stairs to the first floor. The children's room was at the back of the building, beneath the eaves. Lying top to tail in a narrow cot, their rosy cheeks and tumbled baby curls gave them the appearance of sleeping angels, but Peckham gave them a wide berth and leapt onto the bed nearest the wall.