Lord Atherton's Ward (10 page)

There were other miscellaneous members of the Atherton family invited to spend the festive season at Highfield Hall, but they were not arriving until the middle of the month. According to Sally there would be almost thirty residents plus their staff by the time everyone was there.

The footman waiting outside the door conducted her through the house, down the main staircase and towards a large reception room. She could hear Jane’s calm voice amongst the giggles and shrill tones of the Atherton sisters. She braced herself, fixing a smile on her lips, glided forward.

She had barely taken one step into the room before she was enveloped in a sweet smelling embrace. ‘My dear, dear Miss Ellison. I cannot tell you how happy my girls and I are to have you with us at last. When Atherton wrote to tell me of his plans, well, we were amazed, were we not, girls?’

Lady Atherton, for it could be no other, released her and stepped back drawing breath for another onslaught of words. When she eventually stopped Sarah took her chance to speak.

‘Thank you for your kind welcome, Lady Atherton. We are delighted to be here and looking forward to spending a delightful Christmastide with you and Miss Atherton and Miss Charlotte.’

The taller of the two girls ran across and threw her arms around Sarah’s neck almost choking her. ‘Please, Miss Ellison, do not be so formal. I am Elizabeth and this Charlotte. After all you are like family now.’

‘In which case, you must call me Sarah and my sister, Jane. This is a lovely house, is it possible you could give me a tour after tea?’ She had seen a sumptuous spread laid out and two parlour maids waiting, eager to serve them.

Elizabeth linked arms and drew her across the parquet floor to meet her younger sister. The only member of the family she really wished to see was not expected until the following day.

Chapter Nine

‘Absolutely no, Dickon, I cannot give my permission. The girl is scarcely out of the schoolroom and should be allowed to have her season. You must not make an offer until Jane has had a chance to mix with other eligible bachelors.’

‘But, Perry, if I can’t make her an offer now, she will be free to waltz off with a younger man, someone who is not an old crock like me.’

Perry smiled sympathetically. The carriage lurched and he knew they were turning into the drive, they would be at Highfield Hall shortly. ‘Then so be it, old fellow. It is better that Jane falls out of love with you now, rather than after her marriage, surely?’

‘Yes, no doubt you’re right. Do I still have your permission to stand as her friend if I make no mention of my feelings?’

He leant forward and grasped his friend’s hand. ‘Of course you do; believe me I should be delighted if at the end of the season Jane decides it is you she wishes to marry. But it is my duty to see that both girls get to mix in the
ton
and meet suitable gentleman.’

 He grimaced as he thought of what he had in front of him. ‘To tell you the truth, I’m dreading it. Not only shall I have to protect my wards from fortune hunters, but also my sisters.’ He chuckled at the thought of Elizabeth and Charlotte. ‘Mind you, a man would have to be deaf to marry either of those girls.’

The carriage settled into a companionable silence. He gazed idly out of the window, thinking about the meeting he would have in a few moments with a young woman who must not know his feelings. What applied to his friend, applied even more to himself. He must allow Sarah to meet others, so when he made an offer she would be sure it was he that she wanted.

He was startled from his reverie by a loud bang on the side of the carriage and he shot up in alarm. Had there been an accident? The next moment Sarah’s face appeared at the carriage window, she was cantering alongside the carriage balancing at a precarious angle in order to peer inside. Exasperated, he leant over and lowered it.

‘What the devil are you playing at? Apart from giving us an apoplexy you’re like to break your neck.’

She laughed at his scolding. ‘Good afternoon, my lords, I trust you had a pleasant journey. I did not wish to stay cooped up in the house a moment longer so have been riding around your wonderful grounds.’

The coachman had by this time drawn his team to a halt. Perry could hear his friend laughing, and reluctantly he joined in. ‘You are incorrigible, Miss Ellison. Now kindly remove yourself from the path so that we may continue our journey. We have been shut in here quite long enough already.’

She smiled mischievously. ‘The place is in uproar. One would think royalty is visiting the way everyone is running around.’ Laughing she saluted and cantered away. He watched her go a smile playing around his mouth. He was relieved to see she was riding sidesaddle and that she handled her huge horse as expertly as if she was astride.

* * * *

Sarah clattered into the stable yard and her groom, Bill, was waiting to assist to her to dismount. ‘The coach will be here any moment, you had better warn the stable boys.’

Gathering the skirt of her habit she raced back down the flagged path and in through the side door. She skidded to a halt almost colliding with her sister. ‘They have just turned into the drive, I expect you can see them if you look through the drawing-room window. I must go and change, and, yes, Mainwaring is with him.’

Laughing at her sister’s expression she dashed up the back stairs to her apartment. Sally was waiting, her bath steaming gently in the new- fangled bathroom. ‘I have perhaps twenty minutes to be ready and downstairs. Do you think we shall do it?’

‘I reckon so, miss, everything is laid out ready like you asked.’

Sarah had no intention of lingering in the warm water she jumped in, immersing herself and within moments was stepping out to stand on the mat wrapped in a warm towel. She watched Sally remove the plug and the water gurgled noisily through the hole. She thought it extraordinary that it left of its own accord. When she had the time she would ask Atherton to explain where it went.

‘I think my hair needs little doing to it, all I have to do is dress.’

In less than her allotted time she was walking gracefully down the main stairs to join the trio of noisy females milling around in the entrance hall waiting to greet the unfortunate men. Like her, Jane was standing slightly to one side.

‘They are goodhearted girls, as is Lady Atherton, but I find myself dizzy after being in their company for too long. It is no wonder that Atherton rarely visits.’

Jane nodded. ‘According to Lady Atherton, he has not set foot at Highfield for over two years. I think that’s disgraceful. Whatever their faults, they are his family, and he owes them more attendance than a visit every two years.’

‘You’re right, of course. Did you think to enquire if
they
went to visit
him
? He might not have been here, but I believe he told me they come up to town frequently to see him.’

Jane looked sharply at her, and Sarah realised it had been unwise to jump to his defence so vehemently. It was her intention to keep her feelings secret even from her sister. In the pandemonium of the welcome given to the master of the house, and his handsome friend, she was unable to do more than exchange a smile with him. As he was all but dragged into the drawing-room by his sisters he paused to speak quietly to her.

‘I shall escape from this eventually. Meet me in the library at three, I wish to talk to you urgently.’

She was unable to answer, but nodded as he vanished. She noticed that Mainwaring and Jane also entered the drawing-room deep in conversation.As the clock was striking three she left her rooms and went in search of the library. In the conducted tour Elizabeth had given her the previous afternoon she had been shown its whereabouts and felt certain she could find it without seeking the assistance in one of the footmen.

The door was open, a cheerful fire burned in the grate. She was early, or was he late? she hesitated just inside the entrance, not sure where she should position herself whilst she waited. She selected an upholstered, wooden chair that she could move closer to the fire.

She closed her eyes, remembering every detail of Perry’s appearance. Her lips curved at the memory of his curmudgeonly comments when he had been inside his coach. He looked well, with no sign of a limp, thank goodness. The sound of his footsteps approaching alerted her; should she be standing or seated?

He bowed casually and smiled his toe curling smile. ‘My dear, Miss Ellison. I do apologise for my tardiness. I was waylaid by my mother - some tedious detail about the supper party she has arranged for tomorrow evening.’

‘I have only been here a few moments. I am eager to hear what it is you wish to discuss with me so urgently.’

He ran his finger around his stock as if it had grown too tight. How curious! She had not seen him unsettled before. Taking a similar chair he placed it opposite her, but not too close, she was relieved to see. He sat and stared for a few moments into the fire. ‘I believe that Lord Mainwaring wishes to marry your sister.’

Sarah jumped to her feet clapping her hands. ‘I am so glad. Jane is head over ears in love with him. This is wonderful news, my lord. When shall he make his offer, today?’

He had been obliged to stand when she had; he towered over her, he wasn’t smiling. ‘There will be no offer, I have told him he cannot…’

She could not believe what she was hearing. He had no right to interfere in such a way. She wouldn’t let him ruin her sister’s happiness just because he had arbitrarily been given the legal right to do so. She stepped closer to him, he was forced to move back.

‘You have no right to involve yourself in this matter. No, do not tell me you are Jane’s legal guardian, that is fustian and you know it. It is
my
right to say if the match shall go ahead. I have taken care of my sister’s welfare ever since she was born. If she wishes to marry Mainwaring then
I
shall give her my permission to do so.’ She glared up at him daring him to contradict.

‘It is not your decision to make, my girl. She is underage and until she is one and twenty she must have my blessing.’

Ignoring the warning signals, the rigidity of his shoulders, the way his lips pressed together, the fact that his eyes were almost black - she was not going to back down. She was fighting for her sister’s happiness.

Unwisely she raised her hand and poked him sharply in the chest to emphasize each point. ‘You have been nothing but unpleasant since I made your acquaintance, Atherton. You seem to think you can bully your way through the world. You ignore your mother and sisters until it suits you to visit, terrify my aunt and now intend to ruin the happiness of my sister and your best friend. It will not do. I shall not allow….’ With each accusation she had prodded him; it was like jabbing a brick wall. Her third attack released something inside and he reacted so swiftly she had no time to escape.

One moment she was in charge, the next crushed against him, her hands trapped uselessly, as one arm encircled her, his other grasped the back of her head and tipped it back.

Sarah’s exclamation of protest was smothered as his mouth covered hers in a searing kiss. She knew she ought to struggle, to kick his ankles, but a strange lethargy spread through her body and instead of fighting, she relaxed. Her lips softened and when he eventually lifted his head her eyes were dazed, her limbs too weak to support her.

Expecting loving words and an immediate declaration of his good intent; she was sorely disappointed. Holding her at arms’ length he glared and her happiness dissolved.

‘You are a termagant, you need to learn to hold your tongue and listen for a change.’ The languor vanished to be replaced by incandescent rage. He had taken liberties with her person as punishment for her temerity.

Without thought for the consequences she bunched her fist, aiming a blow at his face. Unfortunately her reach was not sufficient and she caught him squarely in the throat. The resulting pain in her knuckles forced her to cry out. Equally astonished by her attack, he lost his balance and fell heavily, taking his chair down with him.

Sarah knew it was time to go; when he regained his feet it would be too late, she felt sure his retribution would be swift and painful. He was lying spreadeagled on the carpet, she would have to step over him to reach the door. Without hesitation she gathered her skirts, had one foot raised, when he swept them from under her and she was falling. Somehow he rolled over and guided her down so landed on top of him. What would have happened next she never knew. At that moment Lady Atherton and Elizabeth burst into the room. Their cries of shock and outrage reverberated around the room.

Sarah froze, staring at him in horror. For some reason he didn’t seem as upset as she was. He smiled and in one smooth movement regained his feet, lifting her with him. Keeping his arm around her waist, she knew without it she would have been unable to stand, he faced their accusers in the doorway.

‘Madam, Elizabeth; Miss Ellison has made me the happiest of men. She has agreed to be my wife and we wish to announce our betrothal at the supper party tomorrow.’

Sarah wanted to protest but his fingers pressed a warning into her side; she knew he was right. Her stupidity had compromised them both he had had no alternative but to do the honourable thing. She must acquiesce and appear happy to do so.

‘Atherton, I had never thought to see such a sight in my life. What a way to behave! I think it would be wise to call the banns immediately. The sooner you two are safely wed the better.’ With a decided sniff Lady Atherton turned, grabbing her daughter, she stalked back down the corridor.

His hold relaxed and Sarah staggered to a chair and collapsed, burying her face in her hands in despair.

‘I had no choice, my dear, you must understand, if I had not told my mother we were betrothed your good name would have been gone, your reputation destroyed.’

Wearily she raised her head. ‘I know that, sir. Forgive me, this has been a terrible shock.’ She stood up wishing to take herself away from the room where she had been disgraced in front of a hostess.