An Introduction To The Eternal Collection Jubilee Edition (137 page)

“I had forgotten that,” Caroline exclaimed, “although actually it would not matter your wearing a dress of mine save that it is a driving gown and your father might be suspicious. La! but I have an even better idea, Harriet. You must meet me at the gates, earlier still. You will change behind the trees and then be ready for Mr. Stratton when he comes. That will be safer, won’t it, Maria?”

Maria nodded.

“Yes, indeed, m’lady, and I will come with your ladyship so as to help robe Miss Wantage and arrange her hair.”

“Nothing could be better,” Caroline exclaimed, “now all is settled. I dare not invite you here, Harriet, for your father might consider it strangely unconventional for me to entertain so soon after my marriage, and besides, I think Mr. Stratton relishes the idea of collecting you straight from the dragon’s lair.”

Harriet giggled at this and then she was serious again.

“Oh dear! I am so afraid of Papa.”

“Mr. Stratton will protect you,” Caroline smiled, “do not hesitate to tell him of your fears. And, Harriet, let me give you one word of advice. When you are married, if your father seems anxious to be friendly and to give his blessing to your marriage, don’t be in too big a hurry to lose your dragon. He is your greatest asset, if you but knew it.”

Harriet wrinkled her brows in perplexity.

“But I fail to understand you, Caroline. Papa will never approve of my marriage. He would never give his permission for me to marry unless the gentleman who offered for me was wealthy or of noble birth, so indeed how should I ever find anyone to please him? Such distinctions are not for me.”

“You are far too modest, dear Harriet,” Caroline said, “but remember what I have told you. I have my reasons for it.”

“I will remember, as you ask it of me,” Harriet promised.

“Now let us choose you a night-robe,” Caroline said, “it must be of the most elegant transparency, and you will need a shift and –”

It was luncheon time before all the things necessary for Harriet’s elopement had finally been decided upon and when at length they were set aside for Maria to pack, Caroline said it was too late for her to bathe and dress and that she would have her luncheon brought to her room.

“Convey my apologies to his lordship,” she said to Maria, “and say I hope that I may have the pleasure of speaking with him this afternoon.”

Maria went below with the message, but came back looking doleful.

“His lordship went out riding this morning and has not yet returned. Oh, m’lady, is there still something a variance between you?”

Caroline did not answer, but she was disappointed and discomforted. Why must Vane keep up this pretence of in- difference? she asked herself. Why indeed, would he not let her give him an explanation regarding Sir Montagu?

She sighed as she dressed, and decided that sooner, or later she must force Vane to listen to her story. But it seemed as if he was determined to avoid her.

Caroline had tea alone with Lady Brecon in her room, and though she waited anxiously for Lord Brecon to appear as was his usual custom, he did not come.

After tea she wandered about the house, looking into the various rooms and had she not been restless and depressed by his lordship’s absence, she might have been amused at the difference in the servants’ attitude. Whenever she encountered a flunkey, abigail, valet or page, they were almost embarrassingly subservient. After the indifferent and often disdainful air with which they had treated her when she was a dependent, like themselves, it was amusing to see how anxious they were to ingratiate themselves with her. As she went to her landing to change for dinner, Caroline had an idea.

Besides her personal problems where Vane was concerned and quite apart from the terrible secret they now shared, there was always in Caroline’s mind an awareness that he was still threatened by his cousin Gervase. Their marriage had, she was certain, if anything intensified the danger, and she could not forget the look on Mr. Warlingham’s face as he stood watching them across the ballroom on, the night they were married.

Sooner or later Caroline was certain that he would try once again to be rid of Vane and it seemed to her that the sooner an incident occurred and, in being circumvented, revealed Gervase Warlingham in his true colours, the better it would be. What was frightening was the idea that with her mind otherwise preoccupied she might be lulled into a sense of false security. Gervase Warlingharn’s nefarious designs might prove themselves successful if he were lucky enough to take both Vane and herself unawares.

Caroline was sure that it was Mr. Warlingham from whom she had to save her husband. However oblivious Vane might be, she could sense danger in the very air of the Castle.

It was also obvious, Caroline considered, that Mrs Miller was in Gervase Warlingliam’s confidence. They were acting in unison and she thought now that as Mrs. Miller was the more indiscreet and excitable of the two, it might be worth-while to inflame her further so that like all her sex she would find it hard to possess herself in patience and must act impetuously and on the spur of the moment.

It was but a vague plan, but nevertheless Caroline determined to act on it. She called Maria and sent her in search of the housekeeper. Mrs. Timmins came immediately, her dress of stiff black silk rustled as she walked, her hands were folded over the black apron which she wore as a symbol of her office.

“Good-evening, Mrs. Timmins,” Caroline said pleasantly, in the friendly tones which she had heard her mother use so often when speaking with the domestic staff.

Mrs. Timmins curtsied.

“Good-evening, m’lady.”

She stood waiting for orders. She was a sallow-complexioned woman of uncertain age, with frightened, short-sighted eyes and a nervous habit of licking her lips.

“How long have you been at the Castle, Mrs. Timmins?” Caroline enquired.

“Fifteen years come Michaelmas, m’lady, and I hope your ladyship will see your way to let me remain. If things weren’t to your ladyship’s liking when you first came, I hope you will not blame me. I was not to know who your ladyship was and if the housemaids weren’t as attentive as they should be, I can only beg your ladyship’s pardon.”

“I am not blaming anyone, Mrs. Timmins,” Caroline said soothingly. “I sent for you on a very different matter. I want the Chapel cleaned and set in order. It will not be any easy task, for it is a sorry picture of neglect, but the maids must begin on it tomorrow morning. Is that clear?”

“Indeed it is, m’lady, and it shall be as your ladyship wishes, although I’m afraid we shall have to ask the manservants for their assistance in cleaning the ceiling.”

“I leave the arrangements in your hands, Mrs. Timmins,” Caroline answered, “and now ask the chef to bring me the menu for dinner. There may be some slight change that I wish to make in it.”

“Very good, m’lady.”

Mrs. Timmins curtsied, but when she got to the door she hesitated.

“Forgive me mentioning it, m’lady, but Mrs. Miller has already approved the menu for dinner and has requested that the housemaids shall tomorrow –”

Caroline stood up.

“Let me make this quite clear, Mrs. Timmins. I am not interested in what arrangements Mrs. Miller has made or not made. My orders will be carried out as I have given them.”

Mrs. Timmins was completely overcome, and curtsied several times in her flurry.

“Yes, m’lady. Of course, m’lady. I will see that everything is as your ladyship desires.”

Caroline waited and when the menu was brought to her, she crossed out the chine of mutton and ordered a fillet of veal with mushrooms and a high sauce. She also added roasted sweetbreads and hot lobster to the dishes listed in the second course.

The chef made no comment, but Caroline was not surprised to hear a knock on her door a few minutes later and when she invited whoever was without to enter, Mrs. Miller came into the room.

The woman was in extreme good looks and Caroline thought that it was more than likely she was truly in love with Mr Warlingham. She seemed more voluptuous than usual, her evening gown of scarlet silk net did little to conceal her ample charms, and her eyelids seemed heavy with the languor of love.

Caroline looked at her as if in surprise.

“Good-evening, Mrs. Miller, you wish to see me?”

“If you will be so kind as to spare me a few minutes,” Mrs. Miller said. “I have no wish to trouble your ladyship, but I have just been informed you have given certain instructions to Mrs. Timmins and to the chef. Of course any order you give in the Castle shall be seen to immediately but you will understand, my dear Lady Brecon, that it would be far easier if such orders could be given to me and I will pass them on to the staff.”

Caroline raised her eyebrows.

“Why should I do that?” she asked.

“Merely so as to facilitate that things are carried out speedily and that instructions do not overlap. You must see, Ma’am, that if you give orders and they countermand those I have already given –”

“Those you have given?” Caroline queried. “But of course, Mrs. Miller, you cannot be so naive as to imagine that you will continue to give orders here now? I am, as it happens, very conversant with housekeeping, and what is more, I intend to run my household in my own way. I do not propose to inconvenience you unduly, but it will of course simplify matters if you can find other employment as speedily as possible. I am sure Lady Augusta will graciously provide you with a reference.”

The expression on Mrs. Miller’s face changed. Her lips tightened until they were only a thin line and her eyes narrowed until they were dark slits of anger. Twilight was falling, and Caroline, watching the woman opposite her change before her very eyes into something evil and malevolent, felt a sudden shiver of fear sweep over her. But she held her head high and her eyes met Mrs. Miller’s unflinchingly.

“So you mean to be rid of me,” Mrs. Miller asked.

“But of course,” Caroline answered quietly. “Did you expect anything else?”

For a moment Mrs. Miller seemed taken aback by Caroline’s candour, and then her voice came hissingly between her lips.

“Your ladyship is making a big mistake. You will repent your decision.”

Caroline smiled. “I think not, Mrs. Miller and in truth I am somewhat particular as to the company I keep.”

Caroline meant to be insulting and she succeeded. Mrs. Miller quivered with the sheer violence of her feelings.

“You will be sorry for this,” she said, “and so will your husband, if indeed he is your husband as yet.”

Her mouth curved over the ugly sneer in the last words then she turned and went from the room, closing the door very quietly and carefully behind her, which was more alarming than if she had slammed it.

It seemed to Caroline as if the room were dark because of the atmosphere the woman had left behind her. There was venom and a menace in her tone and if Caroline had wished to stir up a rattlesnake’s nest with a stick, she had succeeded. For a moment she was afraid, not for herself but for Vane, then even as the fear crept over her, something made her glance out of the window.

Instantly she sprang to her feet and ran to the casement. Coming across the park she could see a horse and rider. The horse was moving slowly as if tired, and the rider was slumped forward in the saddle, his head bent as if he too was utterly weary.

Caroline felt her heart beat at the very sight of Vane. She could sense that he was weary and despondent yet she thought on an instant that she would rather have him thus than angry and arrogant, ready to battle with her once again over what she had done in the past.

She watched him until he was out of sight. When he had vanished, she gave a little sigh and then as swiftly turned it into a smile. She would meet him at dinner. All that mattered for the moment was that she would see him again, be close to him and she knew in absolute certainty that whether he was angry or pleasant, disdainful or amused she still loved him -loved him to the exclusion of all else.

12

Dinner was at seven o’clock. Caroline descended at a few minutes to the hour, wearing a gown of blue gauze sprinkled with stars which she felt was a singularly appropriate garment in which to pursue her plans for the evening.

As she had anticipated, her trunks had arrived from Mandrake late in the afternoon and the swansdown muff was included among the clothes Maria was packing for Harriet. The coach had also brought a long and hysterical letter from Mrs. Edgmont. Caroline had perused two or three of the closely written pages and then flung the letter aside with impatience.

She had expected Cousin Debby to be in a consternation at the thought of her marriage, but it seemed to Caroline at this moment that there were many other more important things to consider than the mere fact that a ceremony had taken place.

“I will read Mrs, Edgmont’s effusion later,” she said to Maria, “but I vow her reproaches merely depress me.”

“‘Tis not surprising the poor lady is reproachful,” Maria sniffed, but Caroline, sensing that Maria was about to start another of her grumbling lectures, did not reply.

As she came down the stairs, Caroline forced her feet to move slowly and with dignity when, had she followed her inclination, she would have run in her eagerness to see Vane again. However angry he might be with her, however wide the gulf between them, there was something entirely satisfactory in just being with him, in knowing that he was there, in watching his face and feeling the deepening of her own love for him at every encounter.

As she reached the hall, the butler, who had obviously been waiting for her, came forward and bowed,

“His lordship’s compliments, m’lady, and he hopes that your ladyship will accept his apologies for dinner. His lordship was riding until late and is fatigued.”

Caroline felt her spirits drop, and there was a very wistful expression in her eyes as she replied formally,

“Thank you, please convey my compliments to his lordship with the hope that he will enjoy a good night’s rest.”

Dinner seemed to Caroline an unusually, dreary meal. Mr. Warlingham, surprisingly enough, set himself to be pleasant. He asked her opinion on the new-fangled lighting called gas, which had been brought from Paris, and they discussed at some length the preparations being made for the Coronation of His Majesty the following month.