Where Love Takes You (6 page)

My
ears suddenly caught the sound of footsteps heading towards my room. Quickly I picked up the letters and the miniature concealing them under my garments in the drawer, just in time, as the door burst open to reveal Lina.

Lina
looked flustered. “Father wants to see you in the drawing room,” she said breathlessly, her eyes sparkling.

“Then
we shall go.” As I spoke, Lina took hold of my hand and led me from my bedroom.

“Lina,
what is amiss,” I said as my young charge practically pulled me along the corridor. As we entered the drawing room I could see Richard and Verity sat on the settle together by a roaring fire. The night had gone cold and they looked so cosy together, my spirits sank.

“Lina
says you wish to see me sir,” I spoke quietly, my eyes averted from Verity’s gaze.

“Yes,
Charlotte,” Richard began. “I wish to talk with you of the ball.” At these words, Lina clapped her hands together and danced around the room. So this was why she was so excited, they had been discussing the coming out ball.

“It
is only a week away,” continued Richard. “Did Mrs Rivers give any indication of when your dresses would arrive.” The fact that my employer had included me in this question made my heart sing.

“On
Tuesday, sir,” I replied, my face flushed.

“Excellent
,” exclaimed Richard, “and please be seated, Charlotte, for we are not on ceremony here.” As he spoke, I settled myself on the settle opposite as he had indicated.

“The
four of us will travel to Exeter late afternoon,” he continued.

“Am
I to go as well then sir?” I interrupted him. A bemused expression must have crossed my face.

“Indeed
you are, Miss Trent.” As he spoke I looked him straight in the eye, not believing my good fortune.

“Now if you will excuse us, Lina and Verity, I wish to speak with Miss Trent alone.”

At
Richard’s words I was speechless and embarrassed. What could my employer wish to speak to me about alone, but I was soon to find out.

“Have
you thought anything of your good fortune today?” Richard began when Lina and Verity had left us.

“To
be truthful, Mr Roseby, no I haven’t.” I answered honestly, not able to explain that Madeline’s letters had been foremost on my mind and wondered once more if I should hand the letters over to my employer. Little did I know of the feeling it would cause were I to do this.

“You
could buy a property, Charlotte, indeed you would be able to buy this one,” he said seriously.

“But
you are surely not leaving here, sir,” I said, aghast at the very thought. Richard must have sensed my reaction for he laughed.

“Indeed
not, Miss Trent.” But did I believe that he was joking, maybe I would never know the answer to this.

“I
have not given the matter any thought, sir, but if I may, I shall ask your valued advice when I do,” I assured him.

“Does
this mean you are not intending to leave us, Charlotte?”

As
he asked the question, Richard leant forward on the settle, his hands clasped before him. As he looked seriously into my eyes, I didn’t know what to make of his manner. Was he succumbing to my charms I asked myself, or was he not wishing to lose me as companion to his daughter.

“No,
sir, I have no intention of leaving Middlepark in the immediate future at least,” I answered, quite perplexed.

“I
am pleased to hear it, Charlotte,” he said taking my hand and kissing the back of it in a gallant manner as I trembled with emotion at the unexpectedness of it all.

Some
time later, back in my room, after goodnights had been said by all and I had settled Lina for the night, I mulled it all over in my mind and relived the conversation between myself and my employer. Had it really happened I mused, or was it another daydream, but I knew I had not imagined it and wondered if Richard was being a gentleman when he kissed my hand, or chivalrous. Maybe I would never know. The thought of love and romance which invaded my mind at that moment led me to think of the last letter to Madeline. Quickly I went over and retrieved the bundle from my drawer and sat again in the armchair in the light of the lamp. What would the final letter reveal and should I read it or pass the whole package to my employer? The answer was that I had to know the content of the final letter or I would not rest. Taking the letter out of the envelope, which was far more bulky than the others had been, I realised there were two letters. Swiftly I parted them and could see that the one was in a now familiar hand, the other in a hand I had not seen before. With trembling fingers I unfolded it. The missive was brief and written in a feminine hand. Looking swiftly at the bottom of the page I saw the name, Madeline. Once more I went over to the window and drawing the curtain to one side, looked down once more on the black outline of the oak tree. I dropped the curtain back in place and sitting down once more, read Madeline’s words:

“
You
know
I
am
with
child
yet
choose
to
ignore
my
plight
.
How
could
you
when
you
so
loved
me
.
I
have
your
letters
and
the
flowery
words
you
wrote
only
recently
to
remind
me
of
it
.
I
beseech
you
to
help
me
.
I
am
this
day
to move
from
here
and
stay
with
your
nurse at
her
invitation
.
If
it
were
not
for
her
,
what
would
I
do
.
My
pillow
is
wet
with
tears
;
my
hand
trembles
as
I
write
this
and
my
heart
is
heavy
.
I
cannot
and
I
will
not
believe
that
you
do
not
want
this
child
.
What
is
to
become
of
me
.
Never
again
will
I
believe
a
man’s
loving
words
as
I
believed
yours
.

You
are
a
coward
,
Sir
,

Madeline
.”

A tear trickled down my cheek, the words so unbearably poignant and sad. The letter was obviously never sent to her beloved. Had she thought better of it not wishing to enrage him, or had the situation resolved itself happily. Now to the letter from the man who had professed his love for Madeline. I opened it and read:

“
Madeline
,
I
can
do
nothing
to
help
you
,
my
family
forbid
it
.”

He was a coward, indeed. My heart bled for Madeline and I guess the situation did not resolve itself.

My
sleep was restless that night. As I tossed and turned, Madeline’s words and my employer’s attentiveness all turning, whirling around in my head, but finally, at daybreak, I fell into a sound sleep with the thought in mind that I would now pass the letters into Richard’s hands.

Chapter Six

Monday morning came with the incessant rain of the last few days continuing. I’d not seen Richard since our discussion in the drawing room a few evenings ago. He hadn’t joined us for dinner either and this morning Lina had informed me that she and Verity, with her father, were going out for the day, so I had been left to my own devices. I was left wondering how I was going to get to Redcliffe Manor in this awful weather. In the meantime, I reached for Madeline’s letters in my drawer and re-tied them with the red ribbon. Keeping them in my hand, I walked over to the window looking down on the oak tree, it’s branches now dripping with rain, leaves falling around the trunk’s massive girth. Looking down at the bundle of letters in my hand, I recalled Madeline’s words, “You are a coward, Sir.” As much as I didn’t want to relinquish the letters, I knew I must pass them to Richard. With that thought in mind, I replaced them in the drawer thinking that, with regards to Jonathon’s invitation, if he wished me to visit, then he would have to call for me for I did not intend to get soaking wet.

Making
my way to the library to find a book to amuse me, while I waited, I encountered an elderly woman on the stairs, making her way up while I descended. I don’t know who was more surprised, me or the sprightly old lady, the front of her skirts bunched up in one hand while she clutched the polished banister with her other. I made to ascend back to the landing but she stopped me.

“You
must be Miss Trent, Lina’s companion,” she enquired in a quiet manner.

“Indeed
I am,” I answered “and you must be?” Here I stopped, a questioning note in my voice. For some seconds she did not answer me and avoiding my question, she said, “Is Lina in her room?”

“No,
I am sorry to say, she has gone out with her father,” I replied, somewhat haughtily, for who was she to ignore my question?

“You
were on your way down,” she continued.

“Yes
,” I answered, feeling at a positive disadvantage as the old lady’s eyes regarded me.

“I
was making for the library.”

“Then
I shall join you,” she demanded “and will ask the cook to send us in some tea.”

I
found myself sat in an armchair in the library with this feisty old lady, her black skirts delicately arranged around her. For once, I was at a loss for words.

“I
am Miss Curtis.” She spoke so suddenly, I almost jumped with alarm and watched her pour tea for us from a turquoise coloured china teapot, decorated with pink flowers into matching cups which stood on a silver tray.

“I’m
sorry if I startled you,” she apologised “and also that I didn’t answer your question before, but the staircase was hardly the place for introductions or a conversation.”

“Indeed
this is true,” I conceded, as Miss Curtis handed me a cup and saucer.

“I
was Lina’s nurse for some years. Since she was a babe in arms in fact, but I could no longer look after her; my age prevented it. I visit Miss Lina from time to time,” she continued.

“Thank
you for enlightening me,” I answered graciously, sipping at my tea. “I apologise if I appeared rude, but I was startled to see you as I have been here all summer and not encountered you before.”

“I
take it Miss Lina has not mentioned me.” As she spoke the words, Miss Curtis laughed, more to herself than to me. “Secretive, that one, just like her father,” she observed.

I
was somewhat startled at these words, for I had thought Richard Roseby to be very open and honest.

“I
don’t wish to undermine Lina’s image, for I love her,” Miss Curtis defended the words she had spoken. “But it is true none the less.”

“And
do you wish me to keep our meeting secret?” I asked of her.

“Bless
me no child, if you wish to say we have met, so be it. It isn’t to be kept a secret.” As she spoke, the old lady laid her cup and saucer back on the tray. “Well, I must be going,” she said looking at the fob watch pinned to the bodice of her dress. “My nephew will be waiting for me in the pony and trap, a covered one I might add.” She laughed again and I felt that I had quite taken to this nurse of Lina’s. As she went to leave, Miss Curtis turned in the doorway of the library and said, “I hope to meet with you again, my dear.” Here she hesitated then said quietly, “Nothing is as it seems in this household, child, remember it,” with which words she was gone, leaving me somewhat perplexed at her words and a half a cup of tea in my hand.

At
two o’clock a maid informed me, as I was finishing lunch alone, that Mr Moor had called for me and he was waiting in the drawing room. I finished my coffee and dabbed a napkin to my lips. On the way from the dining room, I looked in the large mirror on the sideboard to check my appearance before making my way to the drawing room, smoothing my dove grey skirts as I went.

Jonathon
was seated warming his hands at the fire which now burned in the large fireplace. He stood up as I entered the room. How tall he is, I thought as I looked at him. He looked immaculate in a brown frock coat, his hair slightly damp from the rain no doubt.

“Miss
Trent,” he commenced, “I could not let you make your way to the manor in this terrible weather, nor could I not see you either so here I am.”

“Indeed
you are, sir,” I said moving towards him, “and I thank you for your thoughtfulness. I had wondered how I would manage to accept your invitation on such a day.”

“I
have a covered pony and trap,” he continued causing me once more to think of Miss Curtis’ visit this morning and her mysterious words.

“Then
if you can give me five minutes to collect my coat and reticule, I will accompany you, sir,” I told him.

Ten
minutes later, with me suitably attired and sat in the pony and trap, a blanket around my legs which Jonathon had solicitously placed there, we were bowling along to Redcliffe Manor, the rain pattering on the roof above us, every now and then a drop falling on my straw bonnet, which caused me much amusement and my companion concern. As we turned into the drive and I saw Redcliffe Manor once more I took hold of Jonathon’s arm.

“Please
stop one moment,” I implored him.

Bringing
the pony to a halt, Jonathon looked across at me while I studied the beautiful building, the rain had not diminished it’s appeal. How sad, I thought, that the whole place was in such state of disrepair.

“You
are really smitten by our home aren’t you, Miss Trent,” Jonathon’s voice drifted across to me interrupting my thoughts.

“I
am indeed, sir. To say it is a place of beauty is an understatement. One day I shall find the correct word to describe it and I shall draw a picture of it just for you,” I said passionately, looking the handsome young man in the eye. To my amazement, Jonathon pulled the pony and trap to a halt at the main entrance. As he helped me alight, a young man of no more than sixteen years old appeared from nowhere and led the pony away. Jonathon took my arm at the elbow and steered me towards the wide curved steps which we ascended side by side and then he opened the huge oak door and let me pass through in front of him.

We
had stepped into a huge hall, flagged with black and white tiles. White sheets covered articles of furniture and I looked up at the large splendid crystal chandelier which hung majestically from the centre of the ornate ceiling. I suddenly shivered for it was cold and damp in here.

“I
apologise,” Jonathon said taking hold of my arm once more, “you are cold and I should not have brought you here on a day such as this.”

“Do
not apologise, sir,” I assured him, “for I would not miss seeing your lovely home, whether it be snowing, raining or sunny.” I looked at him and smiled and he smiled in return, a smile which lit up his otherwise serious countenance and then he moved me forward gently toward one of the many lovingly carved doors which led off the hall.

Before
we entered the room which lay behind the first door, I stopped and looked up the wide staircase. Threadbare patterned carpet covered the treads of the stairs, but the curved banister still shone as if someone had recently polished it. Room after room on the ground floor was the same as the one before, large long windows which desperately cried out for a clean, furniture of all shapes and sizes covered with yellowing dustsheets, cobwebs forming everywhere and a chillness which distressed me as I thought what a tragedy it was. Each step I took served to cause me to feel more at home in this place, though why I couldn’t say. Upstairs corridors led to the right and left which we walked down, opening each door as we went along to peep into rooms which mirrored the neglect downstairs. As we walked, rain splattered the many windows where curtains hung full of dust and smelling of must. Threadbare carpet matching the one on the staircase lay beneath our feet. We hardly spoke except for Jonathon to explain which part of the house we were in and at one point he urged me to look from the window.

“Can
you see where you are, Miss Trent?” he asked of me.

“Indeed
I can,” I replied as I looked down over the lake we had walked past on that glorious summers day. Today it looked forlorn and a slight mist hung over the water where the rain continued to fall.

“It
is a far different outlook to when we walked together that day,” I observed as I turned to Jonathon.

“You
are so right, but one day soon the sun will shine again and remind us of that perfect day which now seems so long ago.”

He
spoke as if to himself and then, taking my arm, we walked back along the deserted corridor and down the stairway. Instead of leading me to the main doorway, we passed through a door and I found myself in the room where Lina and I had taken tea with Georgina, but today, Jonathon’s sister was nowhere in sight, although a fire burned weakly in the hearth, emitting a little warmth. By now I was chilled to the bone and as if reading my thoughts, Jonathon urged me to be seated by the fire. I removed my bonnet while he rang the bell and, when the maid arrived, ordered us a hot drink and cake.

“Would
that I could revert this house to what it was in my childhood,” Jonathon said unexpectedly, as I held the hot cup in my hands to warm my numb fingers.

He
continued, “The whole house was alive with warmth and gaiety then, fires blazing in the hall and every room. I used to run from room to room and along the corridors stealing into the warm kitchen for a slice of freshly baked bread and creamy butter.”

As
he spoke, my companion seemed almost in a trance and unaware that I was there, but the memories of long ago must have seemed very painful to him.

As we rode back to Middlepark in the pony and trap, Jonathon kept turning to me and smiling.

“Have
you enjoyed your trip to our stately home?” he asked with pride in his voice and I felt compassion for him, or was it something else I felt which I couldn’t quite put my finger on. I looked at him while his face was averted from me and marvelled at his strong determined jaw line and his strong hands on the reins. As I looked he turned to me and said, “I shall live for our next meeting, Miss Trent.”

These
words burned in my head as I entered the house. I was met by Lina, who was excitable, and today it irked me for I wanted to be alone with my thoughts. As I entered the drawing room with Lina, I could see Richard and Verity sat together sipping what appeared to be champagne.

“Look
at what we’ve bought,” said Lina with an enthusiasm I didn’t feel. Scattered on the floor I could see various packages in disarray.

“See
,” said Lina, “father has bought me gloves and a pair for you as well.”

I
looked down at the white silk gloves in her hands which would fit to the elbow and realised it was the first pair I’d ever owned. I suddenly felt ungracious.

“They
are exquisite, Mr Roseby, thank you so much,” I said truthfully, looking at him and Verity.

“Verity
chose them,” he revealed, “but I am pleased you like them so much. They will look very fetching, I am sure, with your new gown.”

“Try
them on, please Charlotte,” Lina urged me and I did with much laughter as they were hard to pull up my arm and suddenly I felt light hearted again as both Lina and Verity helped me.

“And
tomorrow,” Lina said with gusto, “our dresses will arrive.”

As
she spoke, I looked over Lina’s shoulder at Richard who raised his glass to me and silently watched us. I realised that I had not seen him for a few days and that I had missed him. Redcliffe Manor seemed to cast a spell over me and I realised I had not been the same since entering its doors. I smiled at my employer just as the gloves reached my elbow and I realised that Verity had intercepted our glances.

I
was surprised that evening to see Jonathon and Georgina at the dining table. Jonathon was quiet as he acknowledged me whereas Georgina in her overbearing manner greeted me with the words, “Darling, how lovely to see you. I was at the dressmakers when you called by today. My dress is ready for the coming out ball.”