A Debt From the Past (20 page)

He chuckled. ‘I am here to help a friend, and also at the request of one other person.’

‘Oh, and who was that?’

‘A man I held in high regard. Your godfather.’

Beth nearly fell off the fence in shock. ‘You knew him?’

‘Very well.’ Dan jumped off the fence and swung her down. ‘Time we got ready for dinner. Did you think your godfather would leave you completely at the mercy of his volatile son, Elizabeth?’

The relief at this unexpected news was so overwhelming that Beth swayed alarmingly, causing Dan to reach out and catch her quickly.

‘Rest easy, Elizabeth. You are not alone.’

‘I have some news!’ Beth rushed into her sitting room, out of breath from running up the stairs. She caught Helen by the arms and danced her around the room. ‘It’s going to be all right!’

‘Whoa!’ Helen made her friend sit down. ‘Tell me, calmly, what has happened to remove that worried frown from your face.’

After taking several deep breaths, she told Helen about her conversation with Dan, unable to stop tears of relief from running down her cheeks. ‘I haven’t only been worried about the estate and the livelihoods of all those who depend upon us,’ she admitted. ‘I loved my godfather very much, and I was hurt that he should place me under the control of someone I didn’t know, even if it was his son. But a son I never knew existed. Over the last few weeks that sense of betrayal has grown. It hurt, Helen. It hurt so much I couldn’t talk about it. But that dear man put safeguards in place to protect me.’

‘Do you think James is aware that Dan and Alex are watching him closely?’

‘I’m sure he is, but he has a mission to complete for his father, and he wants Dan here. James is a very determined man, but I have come to believe that he has been given a task he cannot carry out on his own.’

‘I agree.’ Helen nodded. ‘But I do feel he is also an honourable man, Beth. I have come to know him better over the last few weeks, and I have become increasingly convinced that he will do all he can to see you come to no harm.’

Beth gave a friend a curious look. ‘You like him, don’t you?’

‘Yes, I do. He is passionate about his school to help clever but underprivileged boys. Setting up such an organization is not the action of a selfish man.’

‘It does seem out of character for the man who walked in here giving orders and threatening me with ruin if I didn’t do as he says. What I don’t understand is why he acted like that.’

‘Perhaps because he didn’t want you to get in his way and come to any harm while he sorted out this mess your godfather was in?’

‘Oh, I never thought of that. It makes sense.’

‘I think so, but only time will tell if that assumption is correct. However, the other man I find puzzling is Daniel. Did he give any hint about what he does?’

‘I did ask, but he turned it into a joke and didn’t give me an answer. But he did say that he had known and respected Edward.’

‘Hmm.’ Helen looked thoughtful. ‘I wonder how close they were. Did your godfather ever mention a Daniel Edgemont?’

‘Not that I can recall. He never talked about himself or his life, but now I come to think about it, he used to disappear from time to time on business. He never said what his business was, and I never asked. I can see now that I never really knew him, only that he was my father’s lifelong friend and a man I loved and trusted.’

‘Perhaps he was a spy, like Dan,’ Helen joked.

‘Oh, do you think so?’ Beth looked at her friend and they burst into helpless laughter. ‘We are sounding just like Charlie and Tom. I did ask Dan if he was a spy, but he avoided answering – again.’

‘He seems to be very good at that,’ Helen said.

‘Indeed, but I do trust him, and even more now that I know he knew Edward.’ Beth drew in a deep breath, a look of determination on her face. ‘It is time I took some action against this very unsatisfactory arrangement. I shall take over the running of the estate again, starting tomorrow. I feel on stronger ground now that I have a few answers.’

There was a quiet tap on the door. It opened a few inches, and Tom looked in. ‘Psst!’

‘Come in, Tom.’ Beth fought to control her expression, but she could hear Helen spluttering with suppressed laughter behind her.

Easing the door open just enough to allow him to slide his thin body into the room, he then closed it behind him ever so gently. ‘Mr Jenkins told me to come right up, Miss Langton. Mr Greenway sent me.’

Beth’s amusement fled. ‘You have a message for me?’

‘Er ... yes, miss. He didn’t write it down.’ Tom’s face screwed up in concentration. ‘He said ... something odd is going on. A few of our regular buyers are unwilling to do business with us. They are nervous and edgy. He’s having a job to sell the harvest this year.’

Tom drew in a deep breath and nodded, looking relieved he’d managed to remember the message.

‘That’s serious.’ Beth turned to Helen. ‘We’ve supplied local businesses with grain, fruit and vegetables for years. What do you think is going on?’

Helen looked equally puzzled. ‘I don’t know, but at a guess I would say it sounds as if some kind of pressure is being put on the buyers. Perhaps someone is moving in and offering lower prices.’

‘You could be right.’ Beth turned back to the boy. ‘Thank you, Tom. Would you tell Mr Greenway that I’ll find out what is going on?’

‘Yes, miss, I’ll do that. Er ... I got another message for Mr Edgemont from Charlie. Would you please tell him that a couple of strangers are skulking around the pig farm? Mr Edgemont asked us to let him know if that happened.’

‘Tell Charlie I’ll let Mr Edgemont know at once.’ Beth took some coins out of her purse and gave them to Tom. ‘Share that with Charlie, and thank you for being so vigilant. We are grateful.’

He quickly slid the coins into his trouser pocket and bobbed his head. ‘We’ll keep watching.’

He disappeared as quietly as he had arrived, and Beth said, ‘We’ve got to find out what this is all about. The men are bound to be in the study enjoying pre-dinner drinks. So let’s see what they have to say about this.’

They made their way quickly downstairs.

‘Good, you are all here,’ Beth said as soon as they entered the study. ‘James, I have just received some disquieting news. Some of our regular buyers are not willing to take our harvest this year. Do you know why?’

Putting his glass down with a thud, James frowned. ‘No, I don’t. The estate manager was dealing with that. Why didn’t he let me know?’

‘He came to me first because I have known these customers all my life, and the estate and its workers are my responsibility. Your presence here is only temporary.’

James dipped his head slightly in agreement. ‘I will see Greenway in the morning and deal with this.’

‘No, you will not! Mr Greenway had the impression that the buyers are under some kind of pressure. If that is so, it might be connected to you. In that case it would be wiser if you stayed out of this. They could have been made a better offer, of course, though I cannot think from whom. I will talk to them.’

After a pause while he took a deep swallow of the whisky, he nodded again. ‘That might be wise. They will be more likely to open up to you. If someone is interfering, you could let it be known that you are in complete charge, and my role here is just a legal formality until you reach the age of twenty-one.’

Her breath was taken away by this concession from him, and for a moment she was speechless. She had been prepared for a fight, and this was the last thing she expected. Was he handing everything back to her? She cleared her throat quietly and asked, ‘And is that true?’

‘From now on. But I will expect regular reports, and any problems are to be brought to me at once. Is that understood?’

‘I will do as you say.’ Beth could have thrown her arms around him in gratitude, but she held back, knowing that he probably wouldn’t appreciate such a show of emotion. Instead, she said softly, ‘Thank you. I will talk to the buyers tomorrow.’

James gave a tight smile. ‘I believe you have missed running the estate.’

‘I have. It has been my life, and I do dislike being idle.’

‘Dan –’ he turned to his friend – ‘would you accompany Elizabeth tomorrow?’

‘I was going to suggest the same thing.’

‘Oh, that won’t be necessary,’ Beth exclaimed. ‘I am quite capable of dealing with this myself.’

‘I will not interfere, and you will not know I am there,’ Dan told her. ‘But if things should become difficult, I might be able to find out why they are reluctant to buy from you this year.’

‘Oh, yes. I hadn’t thought of that.’ Beth smiled at Daniel, recognizing the wisdom of having him with her.

At that moment the study door opened with a crash, and all heads turned to see who had entered.

‘A man can’t get a damned decent drink in this place. Pour me a whisky, Alex.’

‘Grandfather Beaufort!’ Helen faced the elderly man. ‘I thought the physician told you to stay in bed and rest?’

‘Don’t take any notice of them, girl! They don’t know what they’re talking about. I came here to see my grandsons, but you’re not allowing me near them. I’m not staying in that bloody room.’

‘Watch your language!’ Beth declared, hands on hips. ‘And don’t you dare talk to us like that. You were close to collapse when you arrived, and we have been trying to help you. So you moderate your language, sir!’

‘Show some respect, Grandfather, or they will certainly turn you out. In fact, we are all in danger of being thrown out.’ There was amusement in James’s voice and a slight smile on his face.

‘Elizabeth won’t do that,’ the grandfather declared with confidence. ‘She won’t turn a duke away.’

There was a stunned silence, and then the three men burst into laughter, even Daniel.

‘Did he tell you to call him Your Grace?’

They nodded, and Helen said, ‘But we ignored him.’

‘Good for you.’ James nodded in approval. ‘He’s a terrible liar.’

The grandfather snorted, but his mouth twitched in amusement as he studied his eldest grandson. ‘I thought it might impress the girls, but it didn’t. They still locked me in my room.’

That caused a ripple of amusement in the room.

‘So, will you tell us why you are really here?’ Alex asked.

‘I came all this way to take you both back home, where you belong, of course.’

James sighed. ‘I’ve already told you I’m opening a school here. I am not coming back!’

‘Damned fool idea,’ the old man muttered before fixing his gaze on Alex. ‘You’re not involved in this crazy scheme, I hope.’

‘No, Grandfather. I will be coming home, but not yet.’

‘How long?’

Alex shrugged. ‘When James doesn’t need me any more. But I’ve promised Jeannie I won’t stay away for more than six months.’

‘Oh, you’ve promised her, have you? I had hoped that this trip would knock all thought of that girl out of your head.’

‘Of course not. We are going to get married a year from now.’

‘Over my dead body!’

‘That can be arranged,’ James muttered under his breath.

The old man spun round to face James. ‘There’s nothing wrong with my hearing, young man, so watch your tongue. And keep out of this.’

‘It’s no good you shouting at us,’ Alex told him. ‘You ruined James’s mother’s life and deprived him of his true father. You are not going to rule our lives. James is opening his school, and I’m going to marry Jeannie. So, as soon as you are well enough, you can return to Scotland and leave us alone.’

Beth and Helen were still in the room, watching with great interest as the two grandsons struggled with this difficult man.

James glanced over at them. ‘Would you please lock him in his room again and keep him out of our way? We’ve got work to do, and if he interferes, as he always does, then he will ruin everything we’ve managed to achieve so far.’

‘They can’t!’ the grandfather declared triumphantly. ‘I’ve hidden the bloody keys.’

‘There’s a spare one in the butler’s pantry,’ Beth said, highly amused.

‘Not any more. I’ve hidden that one as well.’ The grandfather grinned at them. ‘You’ve been watching me – but not closely enough.’

This was too much for the girls and they broke into helpless laughter.

‘You’re a crafty gentleman,’ Helen said, wiping away tears of amusement.

‘Of course I am.’

‘You’ll tell us where you’ve hidden the keys before you leave, won’t you?’ Beth was still smiling. Suddenly, this family she had been so frightened of appeared to be very human.

‘I might.’ He tipped his head to one side, studying them carefully. ‘It depends how well you treat me while I’m here.’

‘You’ll be treated like every other
uninvited
guest in my house, so don’t expect any special favours.’

He gave a deep throaty chuckle and turned back to his grandsons. ‘Why don’t you two marry these girls? There’s a real spark to them.’

Expressions of utter disbelief were on the young men’s faces, and James was the first to find his voice. ‘I can’t believe you just said that! They don’t like or trust us, and we had the impression that nothing lower than a duchess would be acceptable to you.’

‘I can change my mind, can’t I?’

‘Heaven preserve us!’ James raised his eyes to the ceiling. When he looked down again, he bowed to the girls. ‘Please accept our apologies for our grandfather’s behaviour. He must be going soft in the head.’

‘Don’t you be so sure, my boy. I can still outwit you any day.’

‘You could be right,’ James conceded dryly.

Helen nudged Beth and whispered in her ear. ‘They might fight fiercely, but they’re obviously fond of each other.’

Beth nodded as the elderly man spun round to face them. ‘If you’ve got something to say, then say it out loud. I don’t tolerate whispering.’

‘I said that although you all fight and shout, you are clearly fond of each other.’

‘Of course we are, girl. Why the hell do you think I’m here? These two boys mean the world to me. That’s why they get away with so much. I’m not as firm as I should be with them.’

‘Now we’ve heard it all!’ Alex declared as both brothers burst into helpless laughter. ‘We have to fight you every step of the way, or we won’t have a life of our own.’