An Unusual Bequest (17 page)

‘Yes, of course. Why would I not?’

‘If your husband left you well provided for, there was surely no need—’

‘No need at all,’ she said waspishly. ‘But it was something I have wanted to do for a long time. I thought you understood that, but there, I do not think I can be a very good judge of what men think. They appear to say one thing and mean another…’ She was looking at him, studying his face, wishing desperately that they could begin this conversation again, that he would explain, show a little humility, convince her she had been wrong to doubt him, but he said nothing, simply met her gaze and made her feel weak. She did not realise that the tide was coming in and that the wind was whipping up the waves. He was facing the sea and saw a breaker that was about to engulf them and suddenly scooped her up in his arms and carried her to safety.

Without putting her down, he turned to see that the children were safe. Squealing with a mixture of delight and fear, they raced ahead of the breaker, until they were out of its reach. They turned open-mouthed, to see Charlotte in the arms of the man who was showing no sign of setting her back on her feet.

‘Put me down at once, sir,’ Charlotte hissed in an undertone.

‘If I must.’ It was said with a sigh and a mischievous smile.

‘Of course you must. We are not alone. The children…’

The children, yes, he could not forget their presence; it was why he had not been able to speak openly to her about his feelings. And she had been so unwelcoming, so ready to castigate him, he suddenly realised those feelings were not reciprocated. He set her down, but kept her hand in his as another breaker, bigger than the first, surged towards the land. ‘Run, children, run,’ he called and, scooping little Meg up with his free arm, herded them all to the safety of the foot of the cliffs, where he reluctantly released Charlotte’s hand and set Meg on her feet. It was while the children were putting on their shoes that he realised that Julia was standing a little to one side, glaring at him. His actions had obviously upset her and the last thing he wanted was for her and Charlotte to be at odds with one another. He went and put his arm about her shoulders and they climbed the cliff back to The Crow’s Nest together.

His conversation with Charlotte had been abruptly halted and nothing had been explained or clarified. And the jewellery still nestled in his pocket. Impatient as he was, he would have to wait for a more propitious moment. ‘Lady Hobart has a school,’ he explained to his daughter as they walked, a little ahead of the others. ‘But it is a very unusual school.’

‘Indeed it is,’ she said. ‘A school for vagabonds and peasants…’

‘And young ladies. Elizabeth and Frances are young ladies. Did you not find them pleasant companions?’

‘Pleasant enough considering how common they are. And the other children are so dirty and ragged…’

‘They cannot help being poor, Julia. You are fortunate that you will never know poverty, but that does not mean you cannot show compassion towards those who do not have your advantages.’

‘Papa, you are surely not intending to put me to school here?’

‘Do you not think you should like it?’

‘It will be like all the others. You will hand me over like a worn-out portmanteau and leave me. And then everyone will be horrid and expect me to sit still and learn stuffy lessons and I shall be forced to run away.’

‘I think that would be a very foolish thing to do.’ He paused. Julia had been so much more amenable lately he had thought, had hoped, she would raise no objections, especially when she discovered how easygoing Charlotte was.

‘I do not see why I have to go to school at all. I can learn all I need to know at home.’

‘You know why,’ he said and could not keep his irritation from his voice. He had made such plans, had so many dreams, had hoped, oh, how he had hoped, that his daughter would learn to love Charlotte as he did. What would he do if they could not deal well together? More to the point, what would Charlotte do? She would refuse him, of that he was certain. Her own children had to be considered too. Oh, why was love so complicated? There had been nothing complicated about his marriage to Anne-Marie, but then that had not been based on love. ‘You do not behave properly when you are at home. It is not only literature and mathematics you need to study, but how to conduct yourself as a young lady—’

‘By consorting with peasants. Papa, you are so inconsistent. You did not like me associating with that village boy at Malcomby, but those—’ she tossed her head backwards at the children toiling up the path behind them ‘—are no different. Except, of course, for the lady, though I must be very ill informed, for I did not think it was quite the thing for ladies to allow themselves to be picked up and carried by gentlemen—’

‘That is enough, Julia,’ he snapped. ‘You have far too much to say for yourself.’

‘Miss Darton.’ Charlotte had come up behind them without either of them realising she was there. He wondered how much she had heard. ‘It is not as a schoolgirl that I would like you to stay, but as a pupil teacher for the little ones. I really need some help.’

Julia turned to look at her in surprise. ‘Why me? I am ignorant. Papa is always telling me so. And are you not afraid I should lead them astray? I am also very wicked, you know.’ She spoke almost as if she were boasting.

‘Wicked?’ Charlotte queried, pretending to take her seriously. ‘Who says you are wicked?’

‘Everyone. Grandmother and Miss Handy and Papa.’

Charlotte gave Stacey a withering look that stopped him from speaking, just as he opened his mouth. ‘But what do you think? Do you think you are wicked?’

Julia sighed. ‘I must be or I should not be at such odds with everyone.’

‘I am sure you are nothing of the kind,’ Charlotte said. ‘But perhaps you would do better if you could get away from all these people who are for ever finding fault. I really do need some help with the little ones, you know.’

‘You mean it?’

‘Oh, yes. You help me and I will help you to overcome this shocking reputation you have.’ It was said with a genuine smile and Charlotte was rewarded with a little giggle. ‘Shall we make a bargain?’

‘What bargain?’

‘A month’s trial and if you do not like it, then I shall ask your papa to take you home and you may find somewhere more to your liking.’ She stopped. ‘But you have not seen the school yet, have you? My goodness, I would not expect you to make such an important decision without first inspecting the premises. Come, we are nearly there.’ Putting the onus of making a decision on Julia herself had a wondrous effect on the child. She was actually smiling as they reached the top of the cliff and Charlotte led the way back to the school, ignoring Stacey who followed in pensive silence.

The tour of the school was undertaken after Charlotte had sent the village children home and Stacey’s horse and carriage had been taken to the stable where Jenkins, who had been pleased to come and work for a few hours each day, showed Jem where everything was and afterwards conducted him to the kitchen where Betsy provided him with a meal. Then Stacey and Charlotte left Julia to talk to Lizzie and Fanny in the schoolroom and adjourned to her sitting room, where Betsy brought in the tea tray. They had said very little since coming into the house; there was a constraint between them that made every thought, every opening gambit too full of pitfalls to utter. She busied herself making the tea to cover their awkwardness.

‘The establishment is satisfactory?’ she enquired at last, raising her head to meet his gaze and wishing that she had not. He was studying her intently, his brown eyes watchful as if he wanted to catch her out, to discover what was in her mind. If only he knew! She squirmed inwardly. Oh, why did he have to come back and upset her hard-won equilibrium all over again? Why could he not have stayed away and left her in peace? But only half an hour before she had been longing for his return, praying for it. Did she know what she wanted?

‘You mean for Julia?’

‘Of course I mean for Julia. We are not talking about anyone else, are we?’

‘No, no one else,’ he said. ‘And the school will do very well, but why did you tell her you needed help? How can she be a teacher? She is—’

‘The daughter of a viscount and granddaughter of an earl,’ Charlotte finished for him. ‘And therefore above such a lowly occupation.’

He decided not to tell her he knew of her own aristocratic connections. She had never mentioned it and would want to know how he knew and he could not tell her of his visit to Hardacre. Besides, he did not want her to think he was influenced by such things. ‘I was not going to say that at all, my lady. I was thinking of what she might teach your pupils. She may lead them astray, as she said she might.’

‘She said nothing of the sort. She asked me did I think she would, which is a very different thing. And she will not be left unsupervised, you may be sure.’ She handed him a cup of tea, sitting in its deep saucer. ‘Julia needs to feel valued, my lord, and by asking for her help, I am trying to show that she is.’

He smiled suddenly. ‘Here endeth the second lesson.’

‘I am sorry, my lord, I did not mean to preach at you, but why the second—has there been a first?’ She handed him a plate and offered the cakes.

‘Indeed there has,’ he said, taking one, though he did not begin eating it. ‘That is why I have been so long away. Lesson one was that I should spend more time with my daughter.’

‘Oh.’ She felt deflated and then suddenly stiffened her spine. ‘That does not explain why you did not come back to Parson’s End before you went home.’

‘No, but I wrote to you at Easterley Manor, which was the only direction I had. I explained that I had received an urgent summons to go home because Julia was gravely ill. I am afraid I abandoned my errand of selling your jewels in my haste to go to her. I thought I would sell them in Norwich instead and send the money to you, but she was so ill, I did not leave her bedside for two weeks and then I felt I ought to wait until she was strong enough to travel.’

Charlotte was stricken with guilt and forgot her animosity. ‘Oh, my lord, I am so sorry. Please forgive me…’

‘I assume you did not receive my letter?’

‘No. Oh, dear, and did you enclose the money? If you did, then I am afraid—’

‘No, I would not be so foolish as to do that, knowing how matters stood at Easterly Manor. In any case, by the time I was able to leave Julia for a few hours, I had seen your advertisement and concluded you had found funds elsewhere and decided you might not wish to sell your valuables after all and so I have brought them back to you.’ He reached in the pocket of his coat and drew out the velvet bag that contained them. ‘Of course, if you still wish—’

‘Oh, my lord!’ She took the bag he offered and tipped the contents into her palm, her eyes alight with joy. ‘Oh, I am so very glad you did not. Thank you. Thank you. I am sorry I ever doubted you.’

He sipped his tea and watched her lovingly fingering the jewellery, precious not in monetary terms, but because they reminded her of her husband whom she had loved. It gave him a stab of pain, not only because she was not yet ready to look favourably on him, but because he had not enjoyed a similar experience in his own marriage.

‘I collect you said your late husband had provided for you,’ he said, when she returned them to the bag. He must evince some curiosity or she might wonder why he had not asked. ‘How did that come about?’

‘Oh, it was Mr Hardacre who discovered it when he was going through Grenville’s papers. My husband made some investments just before he went to Spain, which were left to me. I cannot conceive how he overlooked them before, but it was fortuitous, for I could not have stayed another night at the Manor.’

‘Are those men still there?’

‘Cecil and Sir Roland and Mr Spike are and like to be for some time, I think. I heard them plotting more mischief.’

‘I’ve a mind to visit them.’

‘Why?’

‘I told you, unfinished business.’

‘Then I am very disappointed in you, my lord.’ She rang a little hand bell on the tea tray. ‘I would have thought you had learned your lesson.’

He burst into laughter. ‘Lesson number three. Do not gamble. But my dear Lady Hobart, surely it is permissible if one is winning.’

‘You cannot always be winning.’

‘No,’ he said suddenly serious. ‘One cannot always win, cannot always achieve one’s heart’s desire.’ He stopped speaking as Betsy came into the room in answer to the summons.

‘We have finished with the tea things,’ Charlotte told her and they silently watched as she gathered the cups and saucers and plates and piled them on the tray before carrying it from the room.

‘Will you take Julia, my lady?’ he asked after a long silence when they were both busy thinking about his last remark. He knew what he meant, but did she?

‘If she is willing.’

‘I am reluctant to leave her.’ He saw her little smile and laughed. ‘Oh, I know what you are thinking, that I had no compunction about leaving her before, but it is different now. In the last few weeks, while she has been so ill, I have come to understand her a little better.’

‘But there is still a long way to go.’

‘That is exactly what I was about to say. We are in accord, my lady.’ He smiled a little wryly.

‘But you cannot stay here with her, my lord. It would be most…’

‘Improper?’

She laughed. ‘Yes, it would raise a few eyebrows and I cannot afford that. I am already considered a little out of the ordinary and I must find fee-paying pupils; the funds I have must be husbanded carefully until I am making a profit. And if you were here, it would disrupt the whole routine of the school when it is important for everyone, Julia included, to be settled.’

‘I know that. It is why I said I would go to the Manor. If I am there, I will not be in your way and I can still see Julia occasionally.’

‘Oh, I see,’ she said, disappointed that he had not said he wanted to see her. Something had changed since he had left Easterley Manor and she supposed it was that he had decided his daughter was more important than making love to an eccentric schoolmistress. And he was right, wasn’t he? She endeavoured not to let her misery show. She stood up shakily. ‘I will go and find Julia.’