Brothers at Arms (55 page)

“Oh well,” she said. “I expect they will come in when they are ready. What shall we do while we are waiting?”

The governess was still playing the pianoforte, seemingly unconcerned that the dancers had all but fled her charge.

Joshua saw nothing improper in sitting one end of a chaise longue, with Melissa several feet beyond at the other, but within minutes she was confiding a secret that she assured him was known to only a handful of people. An artless disclosure about her wish to groom her pony and the lengths her servants were prepared to go to help her achieve her wish.

It was an unremarkable tale until she admitted that it was done in the face of her father’s opposition. Quite why she was reduced to stratagems that exposed her to the risk of scandal and the servants to instant dismissal if discovered, he was at a loss to know.

To Joshua, it was inexplicable. Surely a man of sense would ensure training in the care of the horse, when his daughters learned to ride, just as his father did at Linmore. Things were obviously different at Hopstone Court, and having met Melissa’s father, he began to understand why.

As the story unfolded, Melissa inched closer across the seat, lowering her voice and peering around to see the governess was still engrossed in her music. What she didn’t seem to realise was that her actions were likely to draw attention.

“When I asked Papa, he refused permission for he thinks it inappropriate for me to do menial work or confide in the servants,” she said in an undertone. “Mama didn’t agree but she said that one shouldn’t argue with gentlemen because they like to think that they know best. At least I think that’s what she meant.”

Joshua sensed that Lady Gransden would allow her husband to think what he wished and do exactly what she felt inclined, while telling her daughters that she obeyed her marriage vows to the letter.

“I know that girls have a duty to obey their parents, but it seems unfair that we have no chance to form our opinions before being married off to a stranger who also tells us what to do.”

Until then Joshua hadn’t given the matter a great deal of thought, but when he considered it he realised why she had gone against her father’s wishes. It was based on giving respect to her elders, and earning it for herself.

As a baronet, Sir John Gransden was not a man who impressed him. A phrase he had heard came to mind, about one of the occasions when Mr Coke had declined a title. “I’d rather be amongst the best of the ducks than the worst of the geese
”
– or words to that effect.

That placed Melissa’s father fairly and squarely where he belonged, but irrespective of his lack of title, Mr Coke was a greater gentleman than Sir John Gransden would ever be.

Growing up at Linmore, Joshua hadn’t been aware that girls were hemmed in by convention. But he knew that Michael Gransden would expect him to break a confidence about something in which he was now complicit. Such a notion revolted his sense of chivalry.

“Who else knows?” he said, sensing the web of intrigue spread further.

“Only Jenny, my maid, and Wilfred her brother; he’s the groom who is teaching me,” she said, “and it was Alfred who found me a pair of Michael’s… unmentionables that Mama had given him, and the poor dear is in daily dread of me being discovered.”

She turned aside to beam a glowing smile at the gangly footman standing to attention by the door. A move that brought a flush to the lad’s cheeks; or maybe a warm feeling because Melissa had worn garments intended for him. Hmm!

“And now you…” she said, “but I suppose that you will feel obliged to tell Michael and Papa, for they would consider it was improper.”

“Nothing of the kind,” Joshua said, fully aware of how Michael would judge his concealment, and that Lady Gransden might not view his involvement with complacency. It was a thorny problem but not, he thought, insurmountable.

“That’s why I wish I had been born a boy,” she said, “then I could have worn the unmentionable garments with impunity. As it is I feel guilty.”

All the frivolity of her brother’s friends was as nothing compared to the image conjured in Joshua’s mind. His mouth felt dry. The footman had reason to be scared for Sir John would surely dismiss him for witnessing the impropriety. In a former age he would probably have been transported.

“Does Lady Gransden know?” he said.

“Oh, no,” she said, shocked.

But you embroil servants, however innocently, and they have no defence against your father’s wrath when he discovers you have flouted his dictate.

“That’s why I wish that I’d been born a boy,” she repeated.

But you were not, he thought. You are a pretty girl, with a delightful smile that will be the downfall of many men before you settle to be the wife of a horse-mad country squire like your father.

Poor Melissa, he pitied her, but she would ruin all if her imprudence was discovered. Suddenly, Joshua knew that he must separate her from the breeches… but not in the way it sounded. Michael was the type, like Teddy Pontesbury, who would think nothing of pinching a housemaid’s bottom, but would condemn a footman for looking at his sister. It seemed to be an instant brotherly reaction.

He said a silent prayer of thanks to whichever god promoted classical music, for the pianoforte-playing governess remained oblivious of the crisis being resolved a dozen paces across the drawing room.
Saint Cecilia, he thought
…

“Personally, Melissa,” he said, striving to affect a drawl, “I think for you to be a boy would waste your…abilities,”

“Do you really think so?” she said, giving him a sideways look under her lashes. “Or are you trying to flirt with me?”

“Is that what you wish me to do?” he said, before realising that she was distracting him. “What I meant to say was that if you must groom the pony, it would be more decorous to wrap an apron around your skirt. Without the breeches,” he could say it with impunity, “your mother might overlook the activity in the stable.”

She looked at him with dawning understanding. “So you are saying that if I ask Jenny to return…
them
… no one will ever know?”

He shrugged his shoulders, feigning indifference. “Once out of sight… who can prove they were ever in your possession?

She sighed with relief. “Thank you, Joshua; I’m so glad that I told you.”

He sank deeper into the mire of complicity. “It might be prudent not to frequent the stables. After all, you’ve learned the process of grooming a horse, which was, I presume, the purpose of the exercise?”

He refused to compare her actions with those of Sophie Cobarne.

“How kind you are to advise me,” she said. “I never believed, before today, that what Mama said about gentlemen being wiser than ladies was true. You’ve proved her right, and I am so grateful.”

“I think that it’s unnecessary to tell her how you reached that conclusion.”

“Oh, yes,” she said with a shy little smile and glowing eyes.

Joshua turned aside and met the glowering gaze of the young footman, and recognised it for what it was.
Dash it all, you dullard, he thought, do you imagine that you are the only one affected by her plight?

He stopped, feeling a little hand touching his arm.

“I didn’t answer your question, about whether I wished you to flirt with me.”

He already knew the answer.

“Yes, please, if you don’t mind,” she said, “because Michael’s friends think I’m a frightful nuisance, and they are the types that Papa will choose to be my husband. I think they are silly to prance around in garish colours, sounding like peacocks. Mama says that it is much more gentlemanly to wear plain colours as you do.”

Feeling the ground wobble beneath his feet, Joshua said in a voice quite unlike his own, “I would predict that in a couple of years, when you go to London to be presented at Court, you will have a greater number of beaux from which to choose than the gentlemen from Kings Lynn.”

“That’s a pretty compliment,” she said, “but two years is a long time.”

“Believe me, it will quickly pass. Two years ago I was planning to join the army, but when my brother died I became heir to the estate. That’s why I came to Holkham to learn about estate management.”

It was only one of the reasons, but as Melissa had secrets, so did he.

“You don’t live anywhere near Kings Lynn, do you?”

“No,” he said, “My home is in Shropshire, near the Welsh border.”

“I wish that I could go to Holkham,” she said. “I’m sure that I could learn to do something useful, but Michael says that riding around the estate, doing inspections and observing the labourers is tedious. Do you find it so?”

“It may surprise you to know, but I don’t,” Joshua said. “I would, however, rather you didn’t tell Michael for reasons that I prefer not to divulge.”

“That sounds terribly mysterious,” she said. “I won’t say a word, as long as you promise not to tell anyone what I have said.”

Halfway through the conversation, Joshua decided that Michael’s friends must be blind not to see that Melissa had an engaging smile, but it was easy to say when he basked in its glow.

The footman was a fool to show his preference so readily, for if her father saw he would be ruthless. Even Lady Gransden’s intervention would not save a minion. The recollection of Sir John set Joshua’s teeth on edge, but he must be careful not to give any hint of his thoughts.

As an observer, he had seen that Sir John’s apparent bonhomie hid a degree of selfishness unsurpassed by any except his son, and that Lady Gransden was hard pressed to veil her contempt for both. Michael and his father were cast in the same mould as Lord Cardington, with only a slightly lesser notion of their omnipotence.

Joshua wondered if this was how other families lived. Linmore had never been normal for they rarely entertained neighbours and never on this scale. His mother’s unnamed malady had screened them from view for many years.

Melissa’s voice broke through his reverie. “You will promise not to tell anyone, won’t you…?” She sounded anxious.

For a moment, he couldn’t remember what it was that was he supposed to have heard. “I’m sorry…” he said, trying to gather his thoughts together, whilst knowing that Alfred could have told him every word she had spoken.

“You don’t approve, do you?” she said, disappointed. “I shocked you…”

He looked at her hand, inches away from his on the seat, and left it there, knowing that if he moved so much as a muscle, the governess, would be instantly alert and ready to cry wolf. As if he was stupid enough to touch a young girl in her home in full view of the servants.

“You have my assurance that not a word of this will pass my lips, Melissa,” he said softly. “I will, however, remind you to ensure the same from your maid and her brother. A word out of place could still prove embarrassing.”

It sounded pompous but was a safer train of thought.

“I shouldn’t have worn them,” she said, “they were too large around my waist, and not even the tightest belt stopped them from slipping.”

At this point, Joshua felt the heat of the room closing in on him.

“I expect that your sister was the model of decorum,” she said.

He nodded because words were beyond him. Caroline had been everything she should be, but he had grown up alongside a hoyden who regularly strutted around wearing her brother’s breeches. As Charlie’s sister, Sophie Cobarne had never aroused the slightest interest, and yet this young girl’s naiveté stirred him in such a way that he had to curb the smile of appreciation.

Joshua was just thinking that the sooner he returned to Holkham the better, when the truants returned giggling from the garden.

“What,” said Michael, “are you still talking to my little sister, Norbery? I thought she would have bored you to tears by now. You should have come outside with us. It was great fun, blowing a cloud. Even the girls tried it, but it made them feel sick.”

“I wasn’t bored in the least,” said Joshua, glad that he hadn’t been forced to listen to any more of the inanities he had heard over dinner.

“No, I suppose not, but you’re a bit slower than the rest of us chaps with socialising, aren’t you?” Michael said, before adding, “No offense intended.”

“None taken,” said Joshua, viewing him with disdain and wondering how soon he could plead tiredness and retire.

“Michael,” interrupted his sister, “you are so rude to your guest.”

“Oh, Joshua won’t mind. We do it all the time at Holkham.”

Melissa looked at Joshua and rolled her eyes in disbelief.

He was tempted to laugh but knowing that he would have to explain what provoked the outburst to Michael prevented him. Some things were better left unsaid.

Having decided they had had a truly wonderful time, Michael and his group of friends begged their parents to allow them to visit the Assembly Rooms in Lynn the following evening.

On the Saturday morning, Joshua rode his horse whilst Michael drove his father’s curricle around the surrounding countryside, stopping at frequent intervals to introduce his friends and tell anyone who would listen of their plans for the evening. It was evident that when the Gransdens did things, everyone knew in advance.

Halfway around the local village, they met up with Michael’s two sisters, who were on horseback, accompanied by a groom.

Melissa greeted Joshua with a smile and promptly turned her mount alongside the horse he rode, whereas her older sister recalled a visit she wished to make and set off, the groom dutifully remaining with her.

Immediately, the topic of conversation changed to horseflesh. For Joshua, the young woman’s appearance was a welcome relief from the brash young men who sought his opinion on travel. Despite his cool response to such questions at Holkham, nobody believed he could have travelled so far without at least one illicit foreign liaison.

In preparation for the evening, Joshua elected to wear the coat of midnight blue, teamed with dove-grey knee breeches, and a silver-white embroidered waistcoat he wore to the ball at the Villa Borghese, in Rome.

He could not explain why he chose that, when the evening in question was full of drama. Maybe it was simply the knowledge that his outfit was acceptable in aristocratic circles, so the local gentry in Kings Lynn had no reason to complain.