The Accidental Marriage (18 page)

‘It’s got a mixture of comfrey and woundwort,’ she said. ‘It’ll sooth it. And I’ll get some crushed parsley to ease the bruising later. Cook said to drink this tisane, it will ease your nerves and you’ll be able to sleep for a while.’

Julia was about to reply that her nerves didn’t need soothing, and she didn’t want to sleep, but everyone was being so solicitous it would be churlish to refuse. Suddenly the soft goose-feather mattress seemed desirable, so she made no protest when Molly produced her nightgown, and allowed herself to be tucked up without protest.

* * * *

Sir Carey considered the space on the battlements where the fallen stone had rested. The stone below was slightly hollowed at the top, and much paler than the exposed stones around it. Even a strong wind would have been unlikely to move it. And there had been no wind. He peered more closely, and soon spotted some scratches which seemed newly made in the join of the next two stones along. It looked suspiciously like an attempt to prise away the top stone with a knife or some other such tool. On even closer inspection of the gap there were a few marks which could have been made in the same way.

This indicated human intervention, and he felt a sudden surge of fury at the thought that his womenfolk had been in danger. Had it been an accident, some idiot fooling around and trying to see whether the stones were loose, or had it been a deliberate attempt to injure, or even kill, Julia? Or, he belatedly recalled, one of his sisters.

Thoughtfully he went back down the spiral stairs and through to the walled garden where he knew his head gardener was currently occupied. After a few general remarks he casually asked whether the man was satisfied with his under gardeners. ‘I suppose you know what they are all up to, all the time?’ he said.

‘That I do, sir,’ was the reply. ‘I sets ‘em tasks, and know how long it should take ‘em, so woe betide any as I find idling.’

‘The pot boy, he’s new, isn’t he? Is he a hard worker? I know some lads that age can still be children, playing about when they think no one’s watching.’

‘Young Harry’s me sister’s lad, and though he’s but ten he knows better than to take liberties.’

Next Sir Carey went to the stables, where the head groom was sitting in the sunshine polishing a bridle. The same casual questions elicited the information that one of the grooms had gone down to the village on an errand, and the other was exercising the mare he’d chosen and sent down from London for the new Lady Evelegh to ride.

‘Not knowing how handy her ladyship is, sir, I thought it best to take the edge off the mare’s spirits. Will you be riding out again today?’

‘Not today. Tomorrow, perhaps.’

He strolled away, his thoughts in a whirl. If, and it seemed most likely, this was a deliberate attempt on Julia’s life, would any of his servants have been involved? He could scarcely question every one of them. Most of them had worked for him for years, many of them for his father too. It would have been possible for a stranger to enter the grounds and find his way unseen to the top of the keep, but how could anyone have known Julia would be there just at that moment? Could it have been one of the village lads, curious about the castle, simply messing about with a new knife, as he’d been known to do himself, with unintended consequences? An accident rather than a premeditated attack.

It was impossible to tell. If it had been some lad he would have been terrified of discovery, and would have escaped back to the village as soon as possible. Sir Carey came to the conclusion that was what had happened. There was nothing to be done, apart from having the stairs to the top of the keep blocked off to prevent another such accident.

He made his way more briskly to the estate carpenter’s shed, where he knew the man was mending some kitchen chairs, and gave his orders. ‘Some of the stones on the battlements are loose,’ he explained. ‘I don’t want any more being dislodged and falling down.’

That, he decided, would be the explanation. There was no point in revealing what he knew and starting yet more gossip and speculation in the house and village.

* * * *

When Sir Carey got back to the house he found Julia asleep. He stood beside the bed looking down at her. It was the first time he’d seen her asleep, apart from in the travelling coach, and he felt a sudden rush of tenderness, seeing her so vulnerable, and knowing he had so nearly lost her. Her mouth turned down slightly at the corners, whereas normally it was cheerfully smiling, and he wondered if she was having terrifying dreams. She had been so calm at the castle, soothing his sisters, who had not been so close to disaster, but he knew how one could, later, relive frightening events which had happened so fast there had not been leisure to panic or be worried at the time.

Unable to settle to anything, he wandered round the house. Having seen the difference Julia’s slight changes at the London house had made, he now noticed things he had before taken little heed of. The rooms, though scrupulously cleaned by his servants, looked cold and uninviting. There were no flowers. In the drawing room the chairs were ranged in rigid rows against the walls. The pictures were dark and gloomy, and any ornaments displayed were placed with no attention to order or compatibility.

Had it been like this in his mother’s day? It was a long time ago, and he recognized, somewhat ruefully, that small boys tended neither to notice nor care about their surroundings. He’d been much older during his father’s second marriage, but most of the time he’d been away at school or Oxford or in the army. During many vacations he had visited the homes of friends, or gone on walking or reading holidays with them. Since the second Lady Carey had died her daughters had been at school or in the charge of governesses, and for a while he had been in Russia. No one would have wanted to make changes in case they had offended him. Briefly he wondered whether Julia, if she had been a governess in a like situation, would have dared.

Miss Trant, though efficient and pleasant, and a prime favourite with the girls, would not have presumed. Though she had known the family all her life, she was a stickler for formality, still the daughter of a Rector who had depended for his living on the Eveleghs.

Still restless, he went back to the castle keep to see what progress the carpenter had made in blocking off the stairs. The man was making a good job of it. There were some stout bars held in place by brackets fixed to the walls. Anyone wishing to get past them would need an axe or a set of tools. He complimented the man and wandered back to the house, to find his steward waiting for him. He was able to immerse himself in estate matters until it was time for dinner, and when he went into the drawing room it was to find Julia there, directing one of the footmen where to place huge bowls of flowers.

The chairs had been moved, too. Some were drawn up before a cheerfully blazing fire, others arranged in small groups just right for conversations. Julia looked up and smiled at him.

‘My dear, should you be out of bed?’

‘I’m perfectly all right, sir, apart from a bruise on my leg. Even that does not pain much, thanks to the salve your housekeeper provided. It’s better than any I’ve had before, and I must ask her for the receipt.’

* * * *

On the following morning Julia insisted she was quite able to ride. ‘I am longing for some exercise,’ she told Sir Carey, ‘and wish to meet some of your people as soon as possible. At least let us go to the home farm, and the lady who keeps the gates. I promise I will tell you if I am tired or in discomfort.’

She accompanied him to the stables, saying she wished to see where her new mare was housed. ‘As well as speak to the groom who looks after her.’

Samuel, he said his name was, and came from near York.

‘You’re a long way from home,’ Julia commented.

‘Aye, but I’ve kinsfolk living near, and none of me own left back in Yorkshire. May as well bide here.’

‘Well, the mare looks healthy, and well turned out,’ Julia said and took the reins while she spoke softly to the mare, who nuzzled at her shoulder. She was a finely-boned roan, with two white socks on her forelegs, and bright intelligent eyes. Julia knew she would enjoy riding her.

‘I rode Daisy yesterday, me lady, she’s shaken off the fidgets. Ye’ll find her a steady ride.’

Julia smiled to herself. When her parents were alive she’d often ridden the horses belonging to the local squire, for she’d been the same age as his daughter, and they had roamed the countryside together. Most of those horses had been strong hunters, but she was a natural horsewoman and had easily controlled them.

She led Daisy over to the mounting block and was up in the saddle before Samuel or Sir Carey could help her. She stifled a twinge as her bruised leg rubbed against the pommel, but soon found a comfortable position.

Sir Carey mounted a large black gelding, a new hunter he intended taking to the hunting box in Leicestershire if it proved capable of tackling the country there. ‘If not, there are several hunts we could join in these counties. You would like to hunt?’

‘Indeed I would. It’s been a few years since I was able to, as being companion to an elderly lady didn’t include accompanying her on horseback, let alone hunting.’

‘We’ll leave the dogs at home today,’ Sir Carey said, and told Samuel to take the disappointed trio back to the house. ‘They might upset Daisy until she’s used to them.’

They soon reached the home farm, a neat thatched house with a large yard surrounded by barns and sheds. A flock of hens scuttled away as they rode in, and two dogs which had been sleeping in the weak sunlight woke up and came towards them, barking.

Daisy shied, but Julia was able to control her, as a woman appeared at the farmhouse door and called the dogs to heel.

‘My lord, I didn’t hear you coming. I’m that sorry about the dogs. My lady, are you all right?’

Julia nodded, and glanced at Sir Carey. The black gelding had taken fright, and was doing his best to bolt, but Sir Carey was in control, and soon the horse settled down.

‘Mrs Harris, good day to you. I came to see how you do, and introduce my wife.’

‘And glad we all are to see you wed, sir. Will ye both come inside and have some ale and perhaps one of my scones? I baked them fresh this morning.’

By this time a gangling lad of about fifteen had emerged from one of the barns and come to hold the horses. Sir Carey slid from the saddle and came to lift Julia down.

‘That would be very welcome,’ Julia said, holding her hand out to Mrs Harris.

Mrs Harris bobbed a curtsey, then shyly took Julia’s hand for a moment. ‘It’s glad we all are to see Sir Carey wed at last,’ she said again. ‘We want little ones up at the manor, that we do, and at times we thought we’d never get any. But ye looks a healthy enough lass. Jed, go and fetch your Pa, he’s in the five acre. Come in, do, and please excuse the state of the kitchen. Baking day, it is.’

‘Everything smells delicious,’ Julia said, ushered in front of Mrs Harris into a large, cheerful kitchen. On the table, cooling, were trays of scones, a large fruit cake, several loaves of bread, and half a dozen pies.

‘You keep a good table,’ Julia said, relishing the aromas.

‘That I do, wi’ Mr Harris and eight growing lads and lasses to feed! Now sit down, do. Or would you prefer the parlour? But there’s no fire lit there.’

‘This is wonderful,’ Julia reassured her, and pulling out a stool sat at the big table. ‘I much prefer kitchens when they’re as welcoming as this one.’

Mrs Harris fetched a large cheese, some butter and a jar of strawberry jam from the pantry, set plates and knives in front of Julia and Sir Carey, who had pulled out another stool opposite, and began to carve one of the loaves.

We won’t need to eat again today, Julia thought in amusement, and wondered how they might avoid having to eat half of the good things on the table.

Fortunately Sir Carey was used to Mrs Harris and her overwhelming hospitality. He held up his hand and laughed. ‘Mrs Harris, I’d love just a slice of that bread and a hunk of cheese, and I’m sure Julia would too, but that’s enough, really it is, or Cook will threaten to leave when we can’t eat her dinner.’

‘And a scone? Ye can wrap them up in a clean napkin to take with you. You won’t be offered such fare at any of the other farms,’ she added.

‘We haven’t time to visit any more of the farms today,’ Sir Carey replied, and Julia approved his diplomacy. She was certain every housewife where they called would be only too anxious to display her own cooking skills. It would not do to be comparing them.

‘What’s this we hear of an accident yesterday?’ Mrs Harris asked after a few moments. ‘My lady here was almost killed, they said.’

‘A stone fell from the roof of the old keep,’ Julia told her. ‘It was so ridiculous, it pinned my skirt to the ground and I couldn’t get up until Sir Carey came and rolled it away. It must have been loose. Maybe when we pushed open the door of the undercroft, which the girls were anxious to show me, it was dislodged.’

‘It would take a dratted great push to rattle they thick old walls,’ Mrs Harris said.

‘You know the old part of the manor hasn’t been used for years,’ Sir Carey said. ‘No one has checked recently if the battlements are safe. But that stair is blocked off now, no one can get up onto the roof. So I don’t want the village lads trying, out of curiosity.’

She gave him a hard look, but said no more. Just then Mr Harris came in and the talk turned to farming matters, last year’s harvest, the health of the animals, and what he was planting this season.

Soon afterwards they rose to leave. Sir Carey lifted Julia into the saddle and felt her wince.

‘Your leg, it hurts?’

‘Just a twinge, on contact with the pommel. It’s much better today.’

‘All the same, we’ll go home now. You’ve done enough.’

* * * *

Though she contrived to behave as normal Julia was thankful when she was able to retire to bed. Her leg was throbbing, and the exertion of riding had been more of an effort than she had admitted. When Molly came to draw her curtains on the following morning and suggested she might like breakfast in bed, Julia happily agreed.