Briar Patch (31 page)

He would never know the truth and it hardly mattered. Tom had been fond of her in his way, though he'd never loved her as she wanted him to love her. If rumour had it right, Dawson had killed Thornton for what he'd done to her. That meant he must have been in on the blackmail. He must surely have known what a violent brute Thornton could be? If he cared for her he ought to have protected her. Dawson had lashed out in revenge afterwards but it was too late.

Tom felt the anger and frustration build inside him. If Dawson were here now he would thrash him the way he had Thornton.

If Mary Jane had simply run off with her lover there might have been a chance for Tom with Roz. She must hate what had happened – her brother branded a murderer. She probably thought Mary Jane had been having an affair with her brother – the way Carrie had.

It might be that simple, but he was pretty certain Mary Jane had been after money. She must have pushed too hard and something snapped in Thornton's head. Everyone said he was ruined and a man could only take so much.

A feeling of hopelessness settled over him as he walked towards the bottom meadow. Once he'd been filled with ambition, eager to make something of himself – but that seemed an empty prospect now. In time people would stop pointing the finger and the gossips would turn elsewhere for their amusement, but he was sick of it all. For two pins he'd go off and make a new life somewhere else.

Roz went through the motions, thanking people for their kindness in coming but wishing they would all depart. She wasn't sure how much more she could take because everyone was being so polite when all the time she could see their true thoughts in their eyes. What hypocrites they were.

Roz needed to be alone. She'd seen Tom watching from the grass verge as the carriage passed through the lane separating his land from her brother's, and the look on his face made her heart ache. Everything was so awful, so impossible. Not her brother's land for much longer. The lawyer's letter informing Julia that she had one month to leave the house had arrived that morning before they left for the church.

‘You know you can come to me,' Roz had told her. ‘You have a home for as long as I do.'

‘My aunt hasn't replied to my letter as yet,' Julia replied. ‘We may have to come to you for a while, Roz. Apparently I can only keep my personal items. All the furniture belongs to the estate.'

‘Yes, I imagine it does. I'm so angry with Philip. You gave him a chance, Julia, and he threw it away.'

‘I don't care about the money or the estate,' Julia said. ‘He thought it was the reason I wed him, but it wasn't.'

‘I know you loved him.'

‘I still do; whatever he was, whatever he did I can't stop loving him.'

‘Mrs Rushden, I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to learn of your misfortunes. Your husband – and your brother.'

Roz turned as the man's voice broke into her thoughts. ‘Mr Harcourt. It was so kind of you to come. I did not expect it.'

‘Your brother was a friend. I am aware of the scandal, but I do not forget friendship that easily.'

‘I think you are one of the few.'

‘You bear no shame, Mrs Rushden.'

‘You are very kind, sir.'

‘I understand Lady Thornton is in some financial trouble. If I can be of assistance . . .'

‘I thank you, but Julia has a home with me for the moment. I dare say she will decide to live with her aunt in time.'

‘Yes, perhaps.' His dark eyes were thoughtful. ‘If I can be of service to you . . . You must know that I always had a high regard for you, Roz.'

‘You are very kind, sir.'

‘Not kind. I thought it would be inappropriate of me to reveal my feelings at your brother's wedding, but I took too long to speak last time and I lost you. I wanted to make you aware of my regard. It may be too soon but in the near future I should like to call on you. It is my intention to make you an offer.'

Roz sought for words to answer but was rescued by the arrival of Julia and merely inclined her head, feeling stunned.

‘Mama needs you upstairs,' Julia said. ‘Her head is very bad and she wishes to speak to you, Roz.'

‘I shall go up to her at once.' She glanced at Mr Harcourt. ‘It was pleasant to see you again, sir. Please excuse me.'

Aware that his eyes were following her, she left the room. Roz could not mistake his meaning. Mr Harcourt had it in mind to make her an offer of some kind, though whether it was to be his wife or his mistress she could not tell.

Eighteen

Roz was in her favourite parlour working on her embroidery a few days later when the housekeeper announced a visitor. She rose to her feet as Julia entered, greeting her with a kiss.

‘Julia, how are you, dearest? I was thinking that I might drive over this afternoon if the rain cleared.'

‘It is a little wet but I had to come. I wanted to tell you my news at once.'

‘Has something happened?'

‘I have sad news and also news that will make you pleased for me.'

‘You intrigue me. Sit down next to me on the sofa and explain.'

Julia settled herself next to Roz. ‘My Aunt Mary died suddenly a few days ago, which is why she did not answer my letter. Apparently she appeared to be in good health and passed away peacefully in her sleep.'

‘I am so very sorry. She was a generous lady and I think you were fond of her?'

‘Yes, I was. I can only be happy that she did not suffer a long and debilitating illness. If one must die to go in one's sleep is surely the happiest outcome for all concerned.' She hesitated, then: ‘Apart from a small bequest to my brother and some servants, Aunt Mary left everything to me. I shall have a substantial income and three houses to choose from, Roz.'

‘That is welcome news for you, dearest. I know you must be grieving but at least your financial worries are at an end. Does Mama know?'

‘I came immediately to you, Roz, because I knew you were concerned and this will set your mind at rest.'

‘I would willingly have given you a home with me.'

‘Had Mama not been so unkind to you I should have accepted. Now I can provide her with a home of her own and enjoy my own residence. You will stay with me often, Roz?'

‘Yes, when I can. What will you do next?'

‘I intend to attend a memorial service for Aunt Mary at her own church. I shall ask your mama to accompany me. Once we have settled the business of the estate I hope to travel abroad. I would ask you to accompany me, Roz, but it would not suit you at the moment. Perhaps in the future?'

‘Yes, perhaps,' Roz agreed and placed her hands on her stomach. ‘I can begin to feel him here – or her. I'm sure he kicked me this morning.'

‘You're so lucky to have the child,' Julia said. ‘I would give all I own to have my baby alive and well.'

‘Yes, of course you would, dearest. I would offer to come to the funeral with you but I've been feeling a little tired the last few days. I believe it is all the trauma of the past weeks.'

‘We've both had a great deal to upset us since Christmas.'

‘It may be best for you to get right away. You must try to forget this whole unhappy episode, Julia.'

‘I shall not forget Philip. If you truly love a man you accept all his faults.'

‘Yes . . .' Roz was silent, then: ‘If Philip had been different – a man without an old estate and a title – would you still have married him, Julia?'

Julia looked at her thoughtfully. ‘A marriage such as you describe would be a big step to take, Roz. Stepping down from your class is not something to make lightly – yet, if I felt that I was loved as much as I loved, then the answer is yes.'

‘You are so brave and wise.'

‘I'm not very brave but I know what it is like to love with all my heart – even though I was not loved in return.' Julia gave her an odd look. ‘Please think carefully, whatever you do.'

‘When did you guess?'

‘I was never sure but I thought there might be someone. Is it Tom Blake?'

‘Yes – but there is such a wide divide between us, Julia. I don't just mean the difference in class or family – his is better than mine in so many ways. All that has happened . . .'

‘Philip ruined your life too, didn't he?'

‘It all started with my father's death.' Roz stood up and crossed to the window to glance out. ‘There was never any chance for us.'

‘At least I can take your mama away. She will not be here to scold and bully you.'

‘I am grateful that you care enough.' Roz turned to smile at her. ‘One good thing has come out of all this, Julia. We shall always be friends.'

‘Yes, we shall.' Julia joined her by the window. ‘I should go while the rain holds off. I want to tell your mama the news, Roz. I shall write to you soon and let you know how things go on.'

‘Yes, you must,' Roz kissed her cheek. ‘Take care, dearest. I shall miss you.'

‘I'll visit as much as I can.'

Roz nodded, waiting until Julia had walked from the room. She turned back to gaze out of the window once more.

Tom was forking hay on to a cart when he saw the trap. He stuck his fork into a bale and walked towards it. She was wearing black, her face pale beneath the fine tulle that half covered her face.

‘I hoped you might be here at this time,' Roz said as he came up to the trap. ‘I wanted to speak to you – unless you hate me too much?'

‘Hate you?' Tom gave her his hand to help her down. ‘Why should I hate you? You had nothing to do with any of it.'

‘We quarrelled earlier that day. Philip was in trouble. He needed money to get away and I refused to give him more than five hundred pounds. He was furious when he left me. Had I been kinder to him he might not . . .' Roz choked back the words. ‘You know that they've caught Jack Dawson? I heard this morning that he confessed to killing my brother.'

‘I've been told.' Tom led her to the haystack, making a place for her to sit. ‘Should you be driving yourself about in your condition? You are with child?'

‘Yes.' What would he say if she told him it could be his? ‘I don't think I shall come to harm unless my horse bolts – and Dobby is very placid.'

‘Unlike the horse that threw you.'

‘You haven't forgotten, then?'

‘I have forgotten nothing that concerns you.'

She hid her emotion, glancing away as she said, ‘They told me Jack Dawson and Mary Jane planned to blackmail Philip because they saw him murder my husband.'

‘That was a shock. I thought the blackmail might be to do with Carrie's death. I had no idea that he'd killed Harry Rushden . . . but you did, didn't you?' Roz nodded. ‘You didn't tell anyone? Why did you keep quiet about your husband's murder? If you'd spoken out Mary Jane might still be alive . . .'

‘Please don't be angry with me. I was concerned for Julia. She had just lost her baby.'

‘I'm not angry with you. I just need to know.'

‘I couldn't be sure it was Philip. How could I know? Harry went looking for him and something happened between them. Later, I accused Philip of murder to his face. He shouted at me but despite what he said a part of me struggled to believe him, even though I knew he was telling the truth. I didn't want Julia to know because it would hurt her – but I suppose it will all come out now.'

‘It's bound to at the trial. I pity Dawson. He was a fool to try blackmail – and an even bigger one to let Mary Jane do it on her own. He lost his head and just went for your brother when he realized that she was dead.'

‘Yes. I'm so sorry for what Philip did to your family. I would make it all disappear if I could.'

‘We can none of us do that, Roz.'

‘I know. I just wish . . .' She caught back a sob. ‘Why don't you hate me, Tom? You should.'

‘Do you hate me? Dick killed your father and in a sense that started all this business.'

‘No, it was before that – when Philip seduced Carrie and told her to blame your father.'

‘He was rotten through and through.'

‘Yes. I think it was a kind of snowball. When it started rolling he couldn't stop it – things just got out of control.'

‘Yes, I dare say.'

‘An act of dishonour led to tragedy.'

‘Damn his cheating soul to hell!'

‘It's all such a mess.'

‘That's one way of putting it.'

‘Oh, Tom . . .' Tears trickled down her cheeks. ‘I shouldn't have come . . . it's too late. You hate me now.'

‘Hush, my love.' Tom reached out and drew her to him. ‘If my stupid pride hadn't got in the way I should've come to you before this. I thought you must hate me.'

‘I could never hate you, Tom. Surely you know?' She lifted her tear-laden eyes to his.

‘I can't get my head around that you love me – I've nothing to offer you, Roz.' Tom groaned as he bent his head to kiss her. It was a long, hungry kiss and they were both shaken when they drew apart. ‘What the hell are we going to do?'

‘I don't know.' She hesitated. ‘Rushden Towers is only mine if I have a son. If I have a girl the property and most of the money goes to Harry's cousin.'

‘I'm not interested in Rushden's money.'

‘I didn't mean that. I just want you to understand.'

‘I'd heard something of the sort. It's all one hell of a mess.'

‘Yes, I know. People will never let us forget.'

Tom stared at her for a long moment. ‘We could go off together, Roz – start a new life somewhere else.'