Spoiled (27 page)

Michael stared at him, then slowly nodded. He was surprised at how moved he felt.

T
he day following Michael and Evangeline's reconciliation brought good news. A note from Sir Lyle Belton arrived for the curate later in the day. In that note, he expressed his regret for his wife's hasty actions. Her foolishness had been encouraged by their scapegrace nephew, Lieutenant Fellowes, whose presence would not be welcome again at the Cedars. He considered her reasons for complaining to be quite inappropriate and had insisted that she write a letter to the bishop withdrawing her complaint.

‘I find it hard to believe that Lady Belton would do such a thing,' said Lady Ashbourne. She had made such an excellent recovery that the doctor had given permission for her to be conveyed the short distance to Illingham Hall. There she would remain for the time being. This meant that Michael now had his cottage to himself.

‘I suppose it is quite logical when one thinks about it,' Eustacia answered. ‘Apparently Amelia had been determined that she should have Michael for herself. When she discovered that his affections were already given to Evangeline, she made such a fuss that her mother wrote to the bishop.'

‘It seems very unfair that a man's career should be put in jeopardy all because of the infatuation of one silly woman,' Jessie replied.

‘I hope it will not come to that, my love,' murmured Lord Ashbourne. His visit to Sir Lyle the previous evening had been private, brief and to the point. In it, he had reminded the baronet that it had been Sir Lyle's own nephew who had plotted against Evangeline whilst staying under his roof, using his conveyance to further his schemes. When Sir Lyle had complained that Michael and Evangeline had kissed in the vestry,
Ashbourne, much amused but not betraying the fact, had intimated that they had been as good as engaged at the time. Amelia's hopes of snaring the curate could never have been more than wishful thinking.

The first effect of Lord Ashbourne's offer to stand alongside Michael was felt when a letter arrived from the bishop a few days later, saying that he would wait upon the earl at Illingham Hall and that he would see Mr Buckleigh at the same time. The complaint had been withdrawn, but the bishop still felt that a discussion about the curate's career would be advisable.

Michael walked into the village to visit his father at Illingham Hall as soon as he had received the letter telling him of the change of plan. He found the earl sitting in the back parlour with his wife and daughter-in-law. The two youngest members of the Montgomery family had lately been attracting their fair share of attention, but they had both been taken upstairs by their respective nursemaids. Gabriel was out dealing with some estate business.

Michael was a little inclined to accuse the earl of manipulating the whole situation, but with a great air of innocence, Ashbourne denied this accusation. ‘I informed the bishop that my wife had only just given birth to our child,' he explained. He was, as always, immaculately dressed, his every garment fitting him to perfection, his movements easy and graceful. ‘I am not surprised that he offered to come here so that I would not have to leave Jez's side.'

Michael had spent many anxious hours wondering how to tell Theodora about his parentage. To his great surprise, in a quiet moment, Lord Ashbourne had offered to do so whilst Michael talked with Lady Ashbourne about the baby's Baptism. A little later, Michael had asked his sister very tentatively how she felt about the matter. The maturity of her reaction had surprised him.

‘You were born when he was too young to be able to take responsibility for you,' she reasoned. ‘Just think, Michael, he was less than my age!'

‘He was much too young,' Michael agreed. He was thinking about how protective he felt towards his sister. Who had been there to protect and advise Ashbourne when he had most needed it? No one.

‘He said that he would have liked to get to know you when you were younger, but that it had not been possible,' Theodora went on. ‘Then when you got older, he did not want to interfere in your life.'

‘Yes.' Ashbourne had obviously not told her about the beating he had received. Michael found himself admiring the man for his reticence.
Quite clearly it was something that he only shared if compelled to do so.

‘Just think, I am in the same position as you, now,' said Theodora happily. ‘You have a father and a stepfather, and so do I.' She paused. ‘Of course, he isn't really my stepfather, but he says that I can think of him as one if I want to. You're so lucky, Michael. You haven't just found your father, you have a stepmother, and a brother and sister-in-law and a niece, and now you have a new baby sister as well. I only have you and Papa.'

‘You can share any family I have,' he replied warmly, putting his arm around her.

Every day, Michael went to Granby Park and each time he was greeted with the news that Mr Granby had not yet returned. He did not know whether to be glad or sorry. He could not in all conscience offer for Evangeline until the threat of dismissal was gone, yet he longed to claim the privileges of an engaged man. Perversely, Mrs Granby seemed to have gained new resources of energy. Guessing what might be in the wind, she had developed strict notions of chaperonage and did not leave them alone for a single moment. The best thing that happened was when Evangeline brought him a glass of wine and fleetingly he touched her fingers with his own. How sweet it was, yet how tantalizing!

 

The meeting with the bishop took place in the library at Illingham Hall. It was a handsome yet welcoming room, with high, mullioned windows, dark panelling, and oak furniture set upon a dark-red carpet, whose predominant tone matched the curtains which hung at the windows. The bishop and Henry Lusty were shown into the room, where they were joined by Lord Ashbourne. On this occasion, he had chosen to dress in a coat of dull gold brocade with a matching waistcoat. His bow of greeting was perfection. ‘Welcome to Illingham Hall, Bishop, Lusty,' he said. ‘May I offer you a glass of wine?'

Both clergymen accepted, the bishop rather abstractedly. This was the first time that he had met Ashbourne. The earl's reputation together with Lusty's rather jaundiced view had led him to expect a drunken debauchee. This immaculate, smoothly courteous gentleman was very far removed from his imaginings. ‘I trust that Lady Ashbourne is in good health,' said the bishop. ‘I understand that she has come safely through her confinement.'

‘That is correct,' replied the earl. ‘She is well, as is my daughter. You may see them before you go, if you wish.'

‘My congratulations,' said Lusty stiffly. Ashbourne acknowledged his words with a grave inclination of the head.

‘Now, to Mr Buckleigh,' began the bishop.

Ashbourne held up his hand. ‘Forgive me, but I did promise my son that I would not discuss this matter in his absence,' he said.

‘Of course,' said the bishop, beaming. ‘I shall be pleased to meet Lord Ilam again. I understand that he, too, has recently become a father.'

Ashbourne smiled, but said nothing. Moments later, the door of the library opened and Michael and Gabriel walked in and made their bows. Quite deliberately, Ashbourne walked over to them and stood next to Michael.

‘Ah!' exclaimed the bishop, speaking before he had considered the wisdom of doing so. ‘The likeness is not strong, but now that I see you side by side, I can detect it. Lusty thought that you might be related and I can see that it is so.'

Ashbourne raised those famous brows. ‘Did he?' He glanced at Henry Lusty, who was looking very embarrassed, as well he might. ‘He is right, of course. Mr Buckleigh is my son; a fact that I am delighted to acknowledge. One wonders, however, about Mr Lusty's reasons for sending him to Illingham. I would be interested to hear your thoughts upon the matter, Bishop.'

The bishop spluttered for a moment or two, his face turning a similar shade to his bishop's purple. ‘I … I … I … think that Mr Lusty's only motive was to allow the young man to prove himself,' he said.

‘Without informing me or Lord Ilam?' Ashbourne continued. ‘Anyone who did not have the highest regard for you might suspect a desire to embarrass me. Mr Lusty ought to have informed you that I am a shameless rake who is utterly beyond embarrassment.'

‘A trait that you appear to have passed on to your son,' said Mr Lusty impetuously, unable to keep silent any longer. ‘Part of the complaint says—'

‘You mean the complaint that has been withdrawn?' enquired Ilam, a hint of menace in his voice.

‘I would like the opportunity to speak,' said Michael, his voice firm and dignified. He turned to the bishop. ‘I am grateful to you, my lord, for coming all this way to talk about my present situation. I am also grateful to you for three other reasons. The first is that in sending me here, whatever your reasoning might have been, you have enabled me to meet members of my family for the first time. I had thought myself to be virtually alone in the world. Now, I have a brother, a sister, relatives
by marriage …' He paused, then looked at Ashbourne. ‘And I have a father. You have also made it possible for me to meet the lady whom I hope very much to marry. Finally, though, you have given me another chance to exercise my ministry as a clergyman; a ministry that with your permission I would like to continue.'

The bishop nodded seriously. ‘No doubt you would find it hard to support a wife on a curate's money.'

Michael drew back his shoulders. ‘Her family is not poor, but I have no desire to live off my wife; or my father,' he added, looking at Ashbourne.

‘A commendable sentiment,' agreed the bishop. ‘There is much to discuss.' He turned to Ashbourne. ‘My lord, with your permission, I would like to have a little private conversation with my chaplain.'

‘Of course,' Ashbourne answered. He rang the bell. ‘Conduct the bishop and Mr Lusty to the small drawing room,' he said to the servant who came at his summons. After the two clergymen had left the room, Ashbourne turned to Ilam. ‘Give me a few minutes alone with Michael, if you please.' There was silence for a short time after Ilam had gone. Eventually, Ashbourne said, ‘This is rather difficult for me to say. I'm only too aware that had I been permitted to marry your mother, you would be my heir and Ilam would not exist.'

‘That had occurred to me,' Michael replied. ‘I shouldn't like that. I … like Ilam.'

‘It relieves me to hear you say so,' Ashbourne answered. ‘Did I have two legitimate sons, however, I would expect to provide for the second as well as the first.'

Michael straightened his shoulders. ‘You
have
provided for me,' he said stiffly. ‘You paid for my education and care until I gained my majority.'

‘You forget that for the early years of your life, that provision was made by my father,' Ashbourne replied. ‘I consider that I have done less than my duty by you.'

‘I don't want your duty,' Michael stormed. ‘I want—' He broke off abruptly.

‘Yes?'

Michael shook his head. ‘I don't know what I want.'

After a long silence, Ashbourne said, ‘You told the bishop that you would like to continue to be a clergyman. Is that really your desire?'

Michael explained how he had begun reading for the priesthood to please his stepfather, but had continued on this journey for its own sake.
‘I would be deeply grieved if my journey on this route was to end now,' he confessed.

‘Is that likely?' Ashbourne asked him. He poured them each a glass of wine. ‘It does not seem to me that your sins have been so great.'

‘You do not know the whole story,' said Michael heavily. He told Ashbourne about his two previous curacies and about the way in which each had ended. ‘This was my last chance,' he concluded. ‘I have thrown it away.'

‘But it seems to me that most of this was not your fault anyway,' the earl responded. ‘These women who have thrown themselves at you, for instance.' Michael lifted his head and stared straight into his father's eyes before looking away. ‘I see,' Ashbourne responded. ‘You lay that at my door.' Again, there was a long silence. Eventually, the earl said, ‘My son, I am very far from contradicting you. You have an inheritance from me which is nothing to do with any money or goods that you may or may not choose to accept. For good or ill, you have found that you are attractive to women. It's something I discovered about myself in my youth. I have not always used that gift honourably. You have been much wiser and more restrained in the feeding of your appetites.

‘There are great similarities between our natures and our abilities. There are also vast differences between the paths we have taken. But I believe that the solution for both of us is the same: a good marriage.'

‘Sir?'

‘Marry Evangeline Granby. Do you doubt her ability to keep any others who may pursue you at bay?'

Michael smiled wryly. He thought about her courage during the hold-up, her spirited defence of her virtue at the Cockerel, and of how she had ridden all over the parish on his behalf. ‘I think her equal to anything.'