Where Love Takes You (9 page)

“You
are captivating, Miss Trent,” he said and I whirled around to see Richard standing there looking at me, a secret smile on his face. I was very much aware that my dress was undone at the back and my hair in disarray.

“Mr
Roseby,” I stammered. “I had not thought to see you on this landing.”

“That
much is obvious, Charlotte,” he said walking towards me, the smile still on his face which unnerved me somewhat.

“May
I do the buttons up for you,” he continued, stepping closer.

“Indeed
not, sir,” I said angrily and hastened away to Lina’s room.

At
quarter to six we were both ready. Ruby had done wonders with our hair. I stepped back from Lina and was astounded at the total transformation in her. Her hair was swept up on the top of her head, a pink feather adorning it. She looked every inch the young lady and her gown was exquisite, as she indeed looked herself.

“You
look wonderful, Lina,” I told her, a tremor in my voice. “Your father will be so proud of you.” As I spoke the words, I thought of Richard as I was still smarting from his impudent behaviour earlier.

“Now
let me look at you,” said Lina. “In fact, let us look in the mirror side by side.” The reflection which looked back at me was almost unreal, for I didn’t look like me. Never before had I worn, or indeed owned, such a lovely gown. My hair was swept back with small curls dancing each side of my face and a curly fringe resting perfectly on my forehead. I had purchased the cream silk slippers on my way back from my outing with Lina and I could see them now peeping out from below the lovely skirt of my gown. Our long white gloves, which we had more trouble with getting on than anything, set our gowns off perfectly, our skin gleaming in the light. Lina and I both had to walk carefully down the two flights of stairs, gathering our gowns at the front lest we fall. On reaching the small hallway, Lina’s father took one look at his daughter and the love and pride on his face was evident.

“You
look adorable child and I fear that I may lose you tonight to some fortunate young suitor.” As he spoke, Richard walked towards her and gently kissed her cheek. He looked very handsome himself in black with a white starched shirt and white bow at his neck and, as Lina had told me, white gloves.

The
large carriage was waiting for us and we settled ourselves in it for the journey to Kilkenny Hall. I drifted into a half slumber, my thoughts of the man who sat opposite me, his eyes appraising me, his daughter at his side, her arm linked through his. I knew that whatever else I thought of Richard Roseby, there was no doubt he adored his lovely daughter.

On
arriving at Kilkenny Hall, which boasted a very long driveway, it was dark and light spilled from the large doorway and the downstairs windows. I felt very nervous as Richard helped me from the carriage and Lina and I smoothed our skirts ready for our entrance to this magnificent building. The ballroom was vast with garlands of green festooning the walls. Three large chandeliers hung from the ceiling lit by hundreds of candles, their glow casting a mellow light over the many ladies and gentlemen who moved around the room, the ladies causing a riot of colour. In a large alcove, tables were laden with food. I was mesmerised by the whole scene and especially the large orchestra congregated at the far end of the hall. Lina’s father seated us on red velvet seats and went to get us some refreshment of cool lemonade for the hall was hot. As I watched, Lina flicked her fan open, fanning herself with it while watching the scene before her. Verity arrived looking as lovely and serene as ever in a beige silk gown adorned here and there with silver sequins which sparkled in the light of the candles as she walked gracefully towards us. I was sipping the lemonade when the orchestra struck up to the strains of the Strauss Waltz. Gentlemen were bowing before ladies and leading them to the floor and they did indeed bow and curtsey. Within seconds there was a young man of pleasing appearance with blond hair bowing before Lina who gracefully accepted his polite request for a dance. I watched them as they glided around the floor wondering what they were speaking of when Richard stood before me and my heart lurched, whether it was with pleasure or dismay I honestly could not say. Richard bowed before me.

“May
I have the honour of this dance, please, Miss Trent?” he said graciously as I rose from my seat and let him lead me across to the dance floor. Richard gave a slight bow and I a small curtsey as he looked down on me and then his hand was on mine and his other hand resting a little too tightly on my waist.

“I
could wait no longer to hold you in my arms, Charlotte,” he whispered as we whirled around the floor. Richard expertly avoiding other dancers. His words in one way surprised me after his curtness the other day and I did not quite feel the pleasure at them as I would have done a week ago. My dancing partner said no more but his hand on my waist was firmer as the dance went on and I was quite relieved when the music stopped and he led me back to my seat.

Lina
was dancing all evening. She must have been exhausted and, at one time between dancing, she said with bright eyes, “that young man I have just danced with is called Brett and he is heir to the Malverton Estate in North Devon. He has asked that he may call on me. Isn’t it exciting, Charlotte?” She was whisked away to dance again. I danced intermittently with young gentlemen and more elderly ones. I was beginning to feel tired and while eating a canapé and small sandwiches, I looked up to see Jonathon standing before me. I had never seen him dressed in black before, his fair wavy hair swept back off his face, his white gloved hand reaching out to me.

“Will
you bestow on me the honour of this next dance, please Miss Trent?” as he bowed slowly before me, his eyes never leaving my face.

“With
pleasure, Mr Moore,” I replied, trembling with anticipation I let him lead me to the floor as the orchestra struck up another waltz. Jonathon bowed and I gave a perfect curtsey in return and then his hand held mine while he gently held my waist. As we glided around the floor he never took his eyes off my face and I could feel the soft green muslin of my skirt, flowing as one with me.

“You
look enchanting, Miss Trent and at this moment in time, I am the luckiest man in the ballroom,” he whispered and I felt my cheeks go hot, praying he could not see it.

“Thank
you, kind sir,” I replied just as the music stopped to my disappointment. Jonathon bowed and led me back to my chair. He walked away and then I saw him glance back at me; our eyes met and for a brief second we were locked together. I sipped at my lemonade and, with a flourish of my wrist, opened my fan for the first time to cool my hot cheeks.

The
evening was a success for Lina as she had a suitor to call upon her the next week at Middlepark. As we stood in the entrance hall, awaiting our carriage to pull up at the front of the Hall, I saw Jonathon and Richard standing not far apart from each other. Nonchalantly, I looked from one to the other and I honestly could not say quite where my heart lay, but I was soon to find out.

Chapter Nine

We arrived back at Middlepark at seven o’clock in the morning. Richard bade us goodnight, kissing Lina on the cheek, before we made our way up the stairs. We were both weary, but when we reached her room, Lina fell on to her bed laughing.

“What
a wonderful evening,” she said, jumping up once more and taking my hand. “Please do the honour of dancing with me, Miss Trent.” She whirled me around her bedroom until I felt dizzy and I felt it was time to calm her down. I stopped her with some resistance, for the young woman was over-tired and enraptured by the evening.

“Come
now, Lina, we must get you to bed, for sleep is what we both need,” I told her. “Now be sensible. We have had a wonderful time and can re-live it later in the day when we have rested. Now let us get you ready for bed.” The long gloves were the biggest problem of all, but eventually, both Lina’s and mine were strewn across the bed.

“Before
I forget,” I asked Lina, “please undo the buttons on my gown.” She did, far more slowly than they were done up, and when the task was done, she went across and looked at herself in the mirror.

“I
don’t ever want to take this beautiful gown off,” she said petulantly.

“Well
you must, young lady,” I told her firmly and eventually, the gown stood hanging on the wardrobe. Once her hair was brushed and Lina was in her nightgown, I drew back the covers of her bed and she climbed in, exhausted. I made sure the heavy curtains were pulled to properly so the daylight didn’t filter in. Giving Lina a kiss on the cheek, I made to leave when she suddenly said, sleepily, “I saw you dancing with my Father. How I wish that you would marry him.” Then she was asleep and I was left feeling quite confused. For now I really didn’t know if I would wish to marry him, when in the beginning, it was all I dreamt of. As I undressed, reluctantly stepping out of my gown, I reached the conclusion that I was a daydreamer no longer and, as I slipped between the crisp white sheets, promptly fell asleep.

I
knew no more until two o’clock that afternoon when I awoke and drew back the curtains to see the afternoon sun shining through my window, casting a strip of light across the carpet. After I was dressed, I remembered that I had vowed to pass Madeline’s letters over to my employer.

First,
I went to see if Lina was awake and was surprised to see her bed already empty and no sign of her. I set to thinking that I had failed in my duties and should not have slept so long. Swiftly, I returned to my room when I bumped into Ruby, who carried a large tray laden with tea, toast and a boiled egg.

“Master
thought you may be in need of refreshment, Miss,” Ruby told me, “and when you be ready, he’d like to see you in the drawing room about three o’clock, but no rush, Miss.” While drinking the well needed cup of tea, I tried to ascertain what my employer wished to see me about and wondered also where Lina was. After the well needed refreshment, I smoothed the skirt of my dove grey dress, checked my hair and retrieved Madeline’s letters from my drawer. I looked down at them and the miniature for what would probably be the last time. I felt a pang of sadness, but knew it was the right thing to do.

With m
y hand on the porcelain handle of the drawing room, I hesitated, for I was nervous about handing over the letters, but common sense told me, if I had not chanced upon them, they would still be tucked away beneath the floorboards in my room and would probably never been found. This thought in mind, I stood up straight, held my head high and entered the room. Richard Roseby was standing with his back to the fireplace, in which a cheery fire burned brightly, taking the chill off the room.

“Charlotte!”
he exclaimed, using my Christian name once more, “thank you for joining me. Please be seated.” He indicated the settle to one side of the fire. I placed the letters and miniature beside me but Richard seemed not to notice; he was intent on looking at my face.

“You
looked enchanting at the ball, Charlotte,” he began, “and I realised as I held you and danced with you, that I have fallen in love with you.” His declaration was indeed a shock, for I had certainly not anticipated it. Two weeks ago I would have been elated by it and fallen into his arms, but now I did not know what I felt for this handsome man and realised that for a while now, he had not pervaded my dreams.

“Please
speak to me, Charlotte,” he implored.

“I
thank you, Mr Roseby, but at this moment in time, I really have no notion as to what to say,” I said honestly and then unexpectedly, Richard was on one knee before me.

“I
ask you, Charlotte Trent, to do me the very great honour of becoming my wife,” he said earnestly as he took hold of my hand and looked into my eyes, eyes which must have mirrored the confusion I felt, but an answer was necessary to alleviate its obviously strong emotion.

“I
thank you for your proposal sir, which, to say the least, is unexpected and I ask that I may be given some time to think about it,” I said quietly. At my words, Richard rose to his feet once more and leant his hands on the mantelshelf. He looked for some time at the flames leaping up the chimney, the only sound being the crackle of the logs and my beating heart and then he turned to me.

“I
understand that you will need time, Charlotte, but I beg of you that you will give me your answer tomorrow and I pray the answer you give will be, yes,” he told me quite calmly.

“Thank
you, sir, I shall go away and consider your proposal and declaration of love,” I said with far more composure than I felt. I rose from the settle and picked up the precious bundle of letters.

“Before
I leave, sir, I would like to give you these,” I began, handing them to him along with the miniature. As he looked down at them, Richard’s face drained of colour.

“Where
did you find these, Miss Trent?” he said looking at me. His eyes were cold and I had noted his formal use of addressing me.

“I
found them under the floorboards in my room, sir,” I told him honestly.

“And
how did you come to be looking under the floorboards?” he asked angrily.

“Half
a crown rolled under my bed and got lodged between the floorboards in the corner of my room,” I explained, “and when I dislodged it, the floorboard came with it.”

“Did
it indeed? That will be all, Miss Trent, thank you.” I realised that I was dismissed. As I stepped back into the hallway, I had reached one conclusion: that Richard Roseby was a man of changing moods and I certainly had no intention of marrying him.

I
made my way to the kitchen in search of Ruby who may know where Lina had gone. I had never entered this domain before and was surprised to find how small the kitchen was, but even so, it boasted a large black cooking range where Ruby sat on a rocking chair, warming her hands by the fire.

“Miss!”
Ruby exclaimed, jumping up, causing the chair to rock to and fro on its own.

“I
have come to ask if you know where Lina has gone, please Ruby,” I said, half smiling to myself, for Ruby acted like a burglar caught in the act with a silver teapot.

“I
think she went out for some fresh air with Miss Verity,” Ruby told me.

“Thank
you, Ruby and I am sorry I startled you,” I told her gently.

On
my way back across the hall, I decided to go back to the drawing room to speak to Richard of his proposal, for I had made my mind up and I felt it unfair to keep him waiting for an answer. As I reached the door of the drawing room, I could see that it was ajar and I could hear voices, one was certainly Verity, so I eavesdropped.

“So
what was her answer?” she said.

“She
said she needed time to think about it, but I can wait no longer.”

So,
I thought, as I moved away from the door and made my way up the stairs, he cannot wait, well I will keep him dangling a bit longer, I decided, if only to repay him for his bad behaviour at the dining table, which I had not forgotten.

Lina
was in her room when I looked in, propped up by a pillow on her bed. She beckoned for me to sit by her and we spent a pleasant hour talking of the ball and all the young men she had danced with. An hour later, Ruby appeared to say the Master wished to see me in the drawing room.

“You
go on,” said Lina, “for I could do with a nap, if you could please draw the curtains before you go.” I did as I was bid and made my way once more down the stairs, thinking that Richard could obviously wait no longer, but as I entered the drawing room he said.

“I
wish to take you to meet a friend of mine and if you could please wear your best gown, for it is quite a well-to-do household. Would you care for a small glass of wine?” he asked solicitously.

“I
will drink a glass of wine with you,” I agreed graciously and on being handed a glass of clear liquid, I sat down on the settle and sipped it slowly while we talked of my time here since I had arrived. Richard was charming again and did not once mention Madeline’s letters. The wine finished, I handed my employer the glass and he said,

“I
shall be waiting with the pony and trap in half an hour, Charlotte,” with which words I was dismissed.

Hastening
back to my room, I wondered who Richard was taking me to see and I prayed he did not intend to introduce me as his betrothed. Back in my room, I decided to wear my new blue silk gown which should be appropriate for any visit. I tidied my hair and pinched my cheeks applying a little rouge to my lips for I looked quite pale today. Deciding it could be chilly, I wrapped my black cape around my shoulders and placed a blue bonnet on my head. Picking up my reticule, I was ready. Before I went downstairs, I looked in on Lina, quietly opening the door to her room. I could see she was asleep.

Richard
was waiting with the pony and trap. He assisted me into it, wrapping a warm blue blanket around my legs, and we set off. I’d started to feel strange, my brain didn’t seem to be functioning properly and I felt as if I was in a dream, but I put it down to tiredness.

“Are
you alright, Charlotte?” I heard Richard’s voice but it seemed to come from a distance.

“Just
tired, sir,” I managed to utter, my voice not seeming like my own. The sun had gone down and everything seemed very dark. Trees and hedges passed by us and small cottages with plumes of smoke spiralling from the chimneys and I suddenly wished that I was tucked up cosily in a small cottage and safe. I looked at Richard who appeared to have taken on a look of the Devil himself and suddenly I felt afraid, wondering where my employer was taking me.

“Where
are we going, Mr Roseby?” I asked weakly, for I did feel weak, so much so that I leant against him and then shook myself upright once more, wondering what was happening to me.

“Have
no fear, Charlotte, we are nearly there.” His voice seemed to come from far away and I was struggling to keep myself awake.

“I
feel unwell,” I told him, my voice shrill as I caught hold of his arm. “We need to go back, sir, back to Middlepark,” I pleaded.

“It
is probably the evening air, Charlotte, after drinking the wine,” he assured me and I realised his words could make sense, so I sat as upright as I could, watching as we entered a small village, cottages built in a cluster either side of the winding street. I noticed that a mist was rising and was sure I was not imagining it. As we drove on, the mist seemed to get deeper, obscuring the cottages and the air was chilled. I shivered and pulled my cape closer around me and then leaned against Richard once more, but this time, I did not have the strength to sit up again. I was half asleep when I felt the pony and trap pull to a halt. Richard moved me away from him and opening my eyes I realised that the mist was now swirling around us, obscuring everything in its path, but I was so pleased we had reached our destination, for I would feel better once we were in a warm room and I was drinking a hot cup of tea.

“I
will come round for you, Charlotte.” I heard Richard’s voice from far away and didn’t care anymore where I was or what was happening to me. The next thing I knew I was being lifted from the trap by my employer who steadied me as I struggled to stand.

“Take
my arm, Charlotte,” Richard instructed and I did as I was bid, half leaning against him as we walked up a short path, our feet crunching on the gravel. I could not see anything because of the mist, only that a large wooden door lay before us which Richard was now opening. We passed through into a large dimly lit room with a low ceiling which was very cold and I shivered once more. We seemed to be walking through something on the floor and looking down, I could see it was rose petals. My befuddled brain tried to make some sense of it but I could not think straight, as Richard, with me holding on to his arm, came to a halt.

“Where
are we?” I asked him quietly, as my brain told me I shouldn’t shout, that we were in a place which demanded reverence. Then I heard a woman’s voice, one I recognised but could not place.