Pride of the Courtneys (17 page)

‘Sir Hugh told me about my mother,’ I told Bassett softly.

‘Did he? I’m glad. I thought you should have known long ago, but it was
not my secret to reveal.’

‘That’s just what Georgiana said once.’

There was a moment’s silence then I said,

‘Poor Lady Courtney hasn’t had a happy life either knowing about it all.’

Bassett smiled, though the sadness remained in his eyes.

‘Even though she has been so cruel to you, you can still find pity for
her?

I looked up into those deep brown eyes of his.

‘I understand now what my coming here must have meant for her, for you
all. No doubt I would have done much the same in her position.’

‘I think not,’ Bassett said softly, ‘but I am thankful and grateful that
you can forgive.’

We sat in silence in the firelight for some time, neither of us wanting
to leave the safety of this cosy room. Neither wanted to face the reality
beyond the door. Death, mourning and all the necessary arrangements which
Bassett would have to make.

The funeral was a lavish affair. I had never seen such
grandeur bestowed upon what was after all now a lifeless and useless body.
It seemed to me that it would have been far kinder if all the people who
arrived clad in black, the women who pressed handkerchiefs to their lips
and dabbed their tearful eyes, had given Sir Hugh more affection and
attention during his life, there would have been far more sense in it.
Lady Courtney, now composed from her brief bout of what I supposed was
genuine grief, now retained a stony expression and there was no trace of
tears in her eyes.

The slow funeral procession seemed never-ending as it wound down the hill
from Courtney Hall and to the small church, where only weeks before all
the people who now followed in mournful guise, had attended Bassett’s
wedding, for them a joyful occasion.

The whole village, I am sure, without exception, fell into step behind
the family mourners and their tears were at least genuine sorrow. The
solemn service soon over, the coffin was lowered into the cold earth. Sir
Hugh’s grave had been placed next to his parents and beside his were
further vacant plots for the rest of the Courtney family. I shuddered.
This was a sorrowful place, and I knew Sir Hugh would have hated it as
much as I did.

And so the funeral party returned to the Hall, Sir Bassett, and I, now
Lady Courtney, how strange the title seemed, leading the way.

Poor Sir Hugh was gone, and now his son was truly Master of Courtney
Hall. And as I watched his face, still showing traces of the natural grief
he felt, I seemed to see it grow older and take on an even sterner
expression now that he had complete control of the Courtney wealth.

The days passed quickly enough, for after the funeral,
there were vast changes to be made as regards our living quarters. Those
we had recently inhabited since our marriage were now vacated in favour of
the main part of the Hall. Lady Courtney, now as the dowager Lady
Courtney, so to speak, moved into the west wing which had been the home of
Bassett and myself for such a short time.

‘You will have to take on more of the management of the house now,
Louella. I shall insist upon it, even though mother may resist, for I
think you should learn the running of this house as soon as possible.’

I felt he was implying that I had much to learn and perhaps he was
justified in thinking this, for I had not much idea where to begin or what
was expected of me.

‘You’ll also have to accompany me on business trips. I know this is
perhaps unusual, women are expected to stay at home. But the trend seems
to be that a woman should take more part in her husband’s affairs and I
intend to see that you do.’

‘Yes, Bassett,’ I said meekly with far more acquiescence in my tone than
I felt, for inwardly I was seething with indignation. But what was the
point in showing this feeling? I knew from the past where it would lead
me.

So, by degrees, with the patient and understanding help of Georgiana,
Jonathan and the kitchen staff, I began to take over the reins as mistress
of Courtney Hall. Needless to say, I received no help at all from Lady
Courtney, but at least times were a little happier for I saw a good deal
less of her than previously.

Millicent returned to the Hall, after a short absence. My newly acquired
confidence in managing the household affairs suffered a sharp blow for her
vicious tongue never let me forget who I was, nor how I had usurped her
rightful position.

Christmas was upon us in no time and Bassett decided that though the
Courtney family must, out of customary respect, have only a quiet
festival, there was no reason why the villagers should suffer.

‘It’s always been the custom, Louella,’ he told me on one of the many
sessions I now had to have in his study, receiving instructions as to what
he required me to do. ‘That the Courtneys give a ball for the villagers to
attend on New Year’s Eve. Usually we hold our own banquet and ball on
Boxing Day for all our family and guests, to which none of the villagers
are invited. But on New Year’s Eve we provide the ballroom, the food and
leave them to enjoy themselves. The Master of Courtney makes a customary
appearance at midnight, but otherwise it is their evening to enjoy in
their own way with none of the Courtneys present.’

‘And you want this ball for the villagers still to take place?’ I asked.

‘Yes. I have spoken to one or two of the villagers and though they feel
perhaps they ought to join us in our period of mourning, I think that they
would feel somewhat disappointed if thwarted of their usual revelry. So we
shall still hold that one, but not our own.’

The next weeks therefore, preceding Christmas were for me not only
extremely busy, but agonising with all the responsibility of making this
banquet a success. Bassett left the entire arrangements to me, and had it
not been for Georgiana’s support and advice, no doubt the villages would
still be waiting for their evening’s pleasure.

As it was, I managed fairly well and the evening of the ball found me
standing in the middle of the vast ballroom surveying the result of my
efforts. All the weeks of ordering decorations, flowers, masses of food,
an orchestra, all culminated in the result before my eyes.

Bright tinsel hung from every part of the room, shimmering in the soft
light of thousands of candles—for what was more romantic than candlelight?
A traditional Christmas tree stood in the corner, its topmost point almost
touching the ceiling. From every branch there swung a gift for every
member of the village. Bassett had said no expense was to be spared, and
though I had sometimes wondered at my extravagance, Georgiana assured me
that I was spending no more money than usual.

‘Bassett, more than any of his predecessors, yes, even poor, dear father,
likes to give his tenants pleasure and reward for their loyalty,’ she told
me.

Indeed he does, I thought to myself now as I viewed the result. Above my
head hung a huge bunch of mistletoe and as I looked up at it, I visualised
many a courtship being sealed beneath it tonight, and maybe several new
beginnings.

‘Wishful thinking, Louella?’ a deep voice said behind me, and I swung
round startled to see Bassett a few feet from me.

How foolish I felt, so I said crossly,

‘Of course not. Who would want to meet me beneath the mistletoe?’

Bassett smiled that sarcastic smile of his.

‘Why me, of course,’ and with swift steps he reached me.

Bassett swept me to him. I was powerless against his strength although I
pushed against his chest.

For a moment his dark eyes gazed mockingly into mine. Then he bent his
head and kissed me hard—so hard that my mouth was bruised.

I was startled and angry at the thrill of excitement which stirred within
me. And my anger sought revenge.

I opened my mouth very slightly so that his lip forced its way between my
teeth. Then, like any savage dog, I bit sharply. Bassett sprang away and
clapped his hand to his mouth but not before I saw that I had drawn blood.
His face was dark with anger.

‘You little vixen,’ he mumbled, his voice shaking.

Suddenly, he roared with laughter, his tones ringing through the great
ballroom.

‘The girl has spirit, but I’ll tame you yet,’ his voice softened, and an
almost gentle expression crossed his face.

‘Yes, little Louella, I’ll tame you yet,’ and he strode from the room.

I tried to smile to myself, to feel some satisfaction, but I was
surprised at the realisation that I was neither angry now, nor pleased
with what I had done. I was ashamed I had behaved in such a manner.
Bassett had every right to kiss me, I told myself, my cheeks flaming. It
was only because he was a gentleman that he forced no further attentions
on me, coupled with the fact, of course, that he did not love me.

And above my head the mistletoe swung in mockery.

The ball was a huge success and greatly enjoyed by all
the villagers. Bassett told me afterwards that when he went there at
midnight, many of the villagers in making their thanks to him, had
complimented me on my organisation and said it was quite the best they had
ever attended. This pleased Bassett and he seemed to have forgotten the
affair of the kiss under the mistletoe. My womanly pride suffered a blow
for obviously the kiss had meant nothing to him from the start, but I had
tried, by repelling him so viciously, to turn it into something he had
never intended.

I was glad, however, that the villagers had enjoyed themselves, for
little did I realise when I worked so hard at the preparations that they
were to have, little enjoyment for a long time after that night. Indeed,
they were about to enter a time of severe hardship and misery. On the
following morning, on the very first day of the New Year, the snows began.

At first, the snow seemed harmless enough, beautifying the countryside
with its layer of virgin white. But day after day the snow continued to
fall, until the whole surrounding land was enveloped in deep drifts. Many
sheep were lost on the hillsides, and the men of the village fought their
way through miles of snow in the hope of finding them.

Bassett soon shed any superiority as Master of Courtney and joined his
men in the battle against the weather. Night after night, day after day,
he worked side by side with his men. And they loved him for it.

This, then, was what the old men of the village had foretold in their
warnings of flooding, for it soon became apparent to everyone that when a
thaw set in, the hillside streams and the river itself would never cope
with the vast deluge of water.

Preliminary steps were taken for the villagers to salvage as much as
possible from their homes and the outbuildings at Courtney Hall,
fortunately there were many, soon became crammed with the belongings of
the villagers.

The threat of flooding hung over us for weeks, but it was not until the
beginning of February that I knew the fear would become a reality. The
snow stopped falling and with it came a spell of milder weather. The snow
on the hills began to melt rapidly, aggravated by a wind which sprang up
and reached gale force. It blew the remaining snow into drifts, and drove
the water of the streams surging down into the valley to wreck the
villagers’ homes.

I was coming down the wide main staircase when the huge door was flung
wide. The gale, which had been raging all night, filled the hall, rippling
the carpet and billowing the heavy curtains. As if part of the rushing
wind, Bassett forged into the hall. Catching sight of me, he stopped and
hesitated. He swept back his windblown hair impatiently with his hand.

His stern expression was even more serious, almost desperate, than I had
thought possible.

Sir Bassett Courtney was a worried man.

Forgetting everything but the fact that something was obviously very
wrong, I picked up my skirts and ran down the remaining few steps.

‘Bassett,’ I cried, ‘what is wrong?’

‘The river, Louella, the river has burst its banks—as we feared.’

‘Oh, Bassett, how dreadful. Has it reached the houses yet?’

‘No, thank God, but it won’t be long.’

He sat down in the heavy, carved oak chair and leant back wearily.

We looked at each other and both thought the same thing.

The tentative plans we had made for sheltering the homeless villagers
must be put into action and quickly.

I tried to smile comfortingly, but now I was worried too. There was
suffering and danger ahead for the Courtneys and their people.

And I knew who would get the blame.

I, who was believed to have stolen the Courtney dagger, would be held
responsible by several for having brought disaster once more upon the
Courtneys.

But there was nothing I could do. I could not undo something I had never
done.

At that moment Lady Courtney followed by Millicent, Georgiana and even
Evelyn who had recently come up from the village to stay at Courtney Hall
because of the danger of flooding to her home, joined us in the hall.

Bassett turned to face them as he rose.

‘The river has bursts its banks. I’m sending most of the village folk
whose homes are threatened up here. They’ll stay here until their homes
are safe for them to return.’

Lady Courtney’s eyes held disapproval, Georgiana’s anxiety, but the look
which passed between Millicent and Evelyn puzzled me the most. They looked
really frightened.

‘Bassett, is this really necessary?’ Lady Courtney was saying. ‘All those
dreadful people trampling round our home.’

‘Yes, it is necessary,’ Bassett said curtly and his eyes met his mother’s
in determination.

Lady Courtney shrugged and turned away.

‘As you wish. ’Tis no more than I expected since we are now destined to
misfortune and degradation since the theft of the dagger.’