Beneath the Major's Scars (11 page)

Chapter Seven

‘W
hat will you wear to the assembly
tomorrow, Maria?’

Zelah was sitting in the drawing room with her sister. Dinner
had been a quiet affair, just the two of them since Reginald had not yet
returned from his meeting in Lesserton.

‘I thought my bronze silk with the matching turban. It has a
train, but I will not be dancing, so that will not matter. What think you,
Zelah? It is not new but good enough for the summer assembly, I think. After
all, it is not a special occasion.’

Zelah sighed.

‘It will be very special to
me
. I
do so love to dance, but it has been three years since I had the
opportunity.’

‘Goodness me, yes. I suppose you did not go to the assemblies
near Cardinham after...I mean—’

‘No, and I have added some new ribbons to my lemon silk for the
occasion,’ Zelah broke in, speaking quickly to cover her sister’s confusion.

‘I am sure you will look charming,’ agreed Maria, thankful to
follow a safer line of thought. ‘We will put your hair in rags in the morning to
make it curl—’

‘No, no, Maria, I shall be at Rooks Tower.’

‘What? You cannot work on those horrid books tomorrow, you will
have no time to prepare for the assembly.’

Zelah laughed at her sister’s horrified look.

‘I am not such a great lady, I need only enough time to change
my gown.’

‘No, no, that will never do. Did you not tell Major Coale about
the assembly?’

‘I did, but I do not think he attaches much importance to such
things.’

‘Well, you must send a note over in the morning, telling him
you cannot come.’

Zelah shook her head.

‘I have not seen him since the day Nicky came to the woods to
meet me. I fear he was not best pleased with me then, so I would not wish to
antagonise him further. He might turn me off.’

‘Oh dear, I never thought, when you decided to earn your own
living, that it would come to this. It cannot be right.’

Maria’s voice wavered, she drew out her handkerchief to wipe
her eyes and Zelah realised that she had scandalised her sister. In Maria’s
world only her duty to her husband and family would take precedence over a
social event. She said gently,

‘It is not so very bad, my love. If I was a governess already,
I should not be able to dance at all.’

‘Oh, Zelah, if only it could be otherwise.’ Maria dabbed at her
eyes. ‘If only you had not—’

Zelah jumped up. ‘Let us not think of it,’ she said quickly. ‘I
have a lifetime to regret a moment’s madness, but tomorrow I shall go to the
assembly, where no one knows my past, and dance to my heart’s content.’

* * *

Zelah went off to Rooks Tower the following day,
promising Maria that she would return a little earlier to prepare for the
assembly, but soon after she arrived Graddon came to inform her that the carter
had brought more books for her.

‘Seems they were missed off his last consignment.’ They watched
the crates being carried in and the butler shook his head. ‘Looks to me as if
you’ll have to begin all your work again, miss.’

‘Nonsense,’ she replied bracingly. ‘All that is required is a
little reorganisation...well, perhaps rather a lot! But it is not impossible.
The first thing is to empty all these boxes.’

* * *

The afternoon was well advanced when Major Coale came in
to find her surrounded by books.

‘You look to be in your element.’

‘I am.’ She smiled, relieved at his friendly tone. ‘This is the
remainder of the books you purchased from Lydcombe Park and they are by far the
most ancient. There are many more classical texts here—including some in the
original Greek and Latin.’

‘Can you read them?’

‘I know a little, but not enough to work out all these. I shall
have to take them to Mr Netherby to translate.’

‘Let me have a look...’

He pulled a chair up beside her at the desk and they began
deciphering the texts. There was a great deal of hilarity when either of them
made a mistake and they continued in perfect harmony until the chiming of the
clock proclaimed the hour.

‘Goodness, I must go!’ cried Zelah. ‘It is the assembly this
evening. Maria will be wondering where I am.’ She laughed. ‘Do you know, I
almost think I would prefer to stay here, working on these texts?’ She added
mischievously, ‘Is it something about this house that turns one into a recluse?
No, no, Major, pray do not fire up, I was only teasing, when I should really
thank you, sir, for helping me.’

‘So you will go away. You will become a lady for the
night.’

She bridled at that.

‘I am no less a lady for working here, Major.’ She rose and
began to move the books off the desk.

‘Of course not. So what will you wear and who will you dance
with?’

She chuckled as she collected another armful of books from the
desk. ‘I shall wear my lemon silk robe and as for dancing, why, I will dance
with anyone who asks me!’

* * *

After Zelah left Rooks Tower the house seemed very
quiet. Usually this did not worry Dominic, but for some reason this evening he
was restless, unsettled. By God but the chit irked him, prattling on as she did
about company, and society and his obligations to his neighbours. He grinned.
She had had the nerve to tease him, too, calling him a recluse. It was
impossible not to smile at her impertinence. He shut himself in his study and
tried to read, but it was no good. He prowled about the room, too restless to
sit down. Perhaps he should look in at the assembly. All the local people would
be there, and there were a few things that needed to be discussed, small matters
that could be dealt with in a moment. With his usual decisiveness he strode out
of the room and soon set the household on its ears, calling for an early dinner
and sending Graddon to search out his dancing pumps.

* * *

The Lesserton Assembly was crowded and good natured. Sir
Oswald Evanshaw’s appearance had surprised some and dismayed even more of those
gathered in the long room of the White Hart. There were plenty of resentful
looks, but mostly everyone ignored him, not wishing to bring their disputes into
the ballroom. Zelah was going down the line with a young farmer when his stifled
exclamation brought her head up and she saw Major Coale in the doorway. Although
he was not wearing regimentals his upright bearing proclaimed the soldier. He
was looking grim, but Zelah knew that was merely his defence against the stares
of the crowd. Mr Eldridge the MC was bowing, making him welcome, and as soon as
the dance ended Zelah hurried over to her brother-in-law.

‘I wish you would go and greet Major Coale, Reginald,’ she
urged him. ‘It cannot be easy for him, when he is so new to the area.’

Reginald was inclined to hang back.

‘Dash it all, Zelah, I barely know the man myself. If Coale
wishes to be introduced, then Eldridge is the man to do it.’

Zelah gave him a little push.

‘But you are a relative, Reginald, albeit a distant one. And
you are so well acquainted with everyone here that you are much better placed to
introduce the major to his neighbours. Please, Reginald. I think it cost Major
Coale a great deal to come here this evening. He is not likely to put himself
forwards.’

‘No, with that hideous scar running down his face I suppose he
is not,’ Reginald mused. ‘Very well, I’ll go and talk to him.’

With that Zelah had to be content. She went off to dance again,
but found her attention returning constantly to the major. She saw him
conversing with Reginald and was relieved when they were joined by several other
gentlemen. With some satisfaction she watched the whole group stroll away to the
card room and she felt at liberty to give herself up to the enjoyment of the
dance.

Some of the young ladies present might bemoan the lack of
eligible gentlemen at the Lesserton Assembly, but Zelah was not amongst their
number. She wanted only to dance and her sister numbered sufficient married
gentlemen amongst her acquaintance to provide Zelah with a partner for almost
every set. She was therefore happily engaged on the dance floor for the best
part of the evening. She was delighted to see Major Coale take to the floor,
partnering Mrs Eldrige, and when the movement of the dance brought them together
she gave him a wide smile.

‘You came.’

‘Yes.’

She wanted to ask him if he was enjoying himself, but there was
no time before she was swept off by her next partner. She watched him lead out a
couple more partners, both older matrons, and realised that he was avoiding the
young ladies who cast surreptitious glances at him and giggled if he went near
them. Their insensitive behaviour angered her, but there was little she could
do, so when her brother-in-law swept her off to dance again she tried to push
the matter from her mind as he whisked her around the floor in a lively jig.

* * *

Standing at the side of the room and watching the
dancers, Dominic smiled to himself. Everyone was eager to improve their
acquaintance with him, but not because he was the son of a viscount, that cut
little ice here. They saw him as their landlord, or a fellow land-owner or even
a farmer. Phillips, his gamekeeper, would be pleased to know Abraham Judd had
trapped the fox that had been terrorising the local bird population and Giles
Grundy had suggested digging out the culvert at Rooks Ford, which would benefit
them both. All in all it was a successful evening. Not that he would want to
make a habit of it, he had grown used to his own company, but Zelah was right,
it was a good way to keep in touch with his neighbours. Sir Oswald Evanshaw came
up and Dominic returned his bow with a nod.

‘Evening, Coale. Surprised to see you here, what with your...’
His eyes flickered over Dominic’s face and shifted away to the dance floor. ‘How
are you enjoying the entertainment?’ Sir Oswald raised his quizzing glass and
surveyed the room, his lip curling slightly. ‘A far cry from London, ain’t it?
In fact it’s positively rustic, but it behoves us to make an appearance,
what?’

Dominic felt the slight nudge in the ribs from Sir Oswald’s
elbow and he moved away a little.

‘I saw you dancing, too. By Gad, but you are braver than me,
Coale. I wouldn’t dare to approach any of the dragons lest they devour me!’

‘They are more like to refuse you,’ murmured Dominic.

Sir Oswald laughed.

‘You are right there, of course. It’s this demmed court case,
they have set me up as the villain of the piece.’

‘Can you blame them? They have grazed those fields for
years.’

‘I know.’ Sir Oswald shook his head. ‘They have got it into
their heads that they can use my land, that it’s their right, but it ain’t,
Coale, and the sooner they learn that the better. They have even paid for a
London lawyer to come down to plead their cause at the hearing next week. I told
’em to save their money, but what can you do? It’s ill advised, Major, and I
hope you’ll support me in that.’

Dominic looked at him, surprised.

‘The legal wranglings over grazing rights and the ownership of
Prickett Wood is none of my concern, Evanshaw.’

‘Not directly, perhaps, but you never know when they might turn
on you and begin claiming your land, too. It would be helpful if they knew that
you supported my case.’

Dominic regarded him in silence for a long moment. Sir Oswald
was smiling, but there was no warmth in his pale eyes, just a cold, calculating
look.

‘I know nothing of your case,’ he said at last, ‘and I do not
see why you are so concerned, if you are sure the land is legally yours.’

Sir Oswald’s eyes snapped with impatience and he chewed his
lip.

‘At least assure me you won’t join with the villagers. It’s bad
enough that Buckland should lend them his support. The farmers, well, I can
understand them fighting me, but Buckland—demme, he’s a
gentleman
! It makes the lower sort think they have a chance.’

Dominic did not answer and with a curt nod Sir Oswald lounged
away, shouldering his way through the crowd until he disappeared into the card
room. An unpleasant fellow, Dominic decided as he strolled around the edge of
the room. He found himself hoping that Buckland and the villagers did find some
legal loophole that would stop Evanshaw claiming the disputed land.

‘You are looking very serious, Major. I hope you are enjoying
yourself.’

He looked down at Maria Buckland, sitting on a nearby bench,
sipping at a glass of wine. Shaking off his thoughtful mood, he scooped a glass
from the tray of a passing waiter and sat down beside her.

‘I am, ma’am. More than I expected to do.’

‘I am very glad of it. I have always found the society here
most friendly. But we were surprised to see you this evening: I understood you
had told Mr Eldridge you did not plan to attend.’

Dominic smiled.

‘That is correct, ma’am, but I was, er,
persuaded
to change my mind. By your sister.’

‘Oh dear, I hope she was not impertinent.’

With some difficulty Dominic prevented the smile from turning
into a grin and he resisted the temptation to tell Mrs Buckland exactly what he
thought of her sister.

‘No, no. Not at all.’

‘Do you know, Major, when I think of Zelah spending her life as
a governess I am quite cast down.’

Dominic had heard that innocent tone in many a woman’s voice,
and he was immediately on the alert.

‘Indeed?’ He sipped his wine, determined to empty the glass and
move on as quickly as possible.

‘Zelah is extremely accomplished,’ Maria continued, still in
that thoughtful tone. ‘Do you not agree, Major?’

‘She certainly seems to be well educated.’

‘Oh, she is and her birth is impeccable.’ Maria clasped her
hands around her glass and gave a huge sigh. ‘It is the most tragic waste that
her worth—and her charms—are not more widely appreciated. She would make some
lucky gentleman the perfect wife.’