Scandal at Greystone Manor Page 22

  ‘No, please don’t.’ She hated to beg, but she could see Mark marching purposely towards them with a furious expression on his face and she feared a public quarrel. ‘It is too soon. I need more time.’

  ‘You have had over a month.’

  ‘I could not help being ill.’

  ‘But you are well now.’

  ‘After my sister’s wedding in three weeks’ time,’ she said, groping at straws. ‘I will give you an answer then.’

  Mark was almost upon them when Mrs Caulder came hurrying up to Jane. ‘I beg your pardon, my lord,’ she said, addressing Lord Bolsover, ‘but I must speak to Miss Cavenhurst. It is urgent.’

  Jane’s relief at the interruption was palpable. She turned to Mrs Caulder with a smile which left her face when she saw how distressed the lady was. ‘What has happened?’

  ‘Someone has stolen the gate money. I only turned my back a minute to listen to the speeches and when I turned back it was gone.’

  Lord Bolsover laughed aloud. ‘I will leave you to sort it out, my dear, but it is only a few pounds. I can easily make it up for you.’ And with that, he strolled away, smiling to himself.

  Jane’s shoulders sagged as the tension she had been enduring seeped away from her. Her hands were shaking and her knees felt boneless.

  ‘I am mortified,’ Mrs Caulder went on. ‘I really am sorry, but if his lordship is prepared to make it up, we shall not lose by it.’

  ‘That is not the point.’ Mark put in. ‘It is theft and we must discover who is responsible. We cannot have people thinking it pays to steal.’

  ‘No, I suppose you are right, but I have no idea who it was.’

  ‘Did they take only the money or the jar with it?’ Mark asked

  ‘The jar. Everything. There was a five-pound donation from Sir Mortimer Belton, as well.’

  Jane had not seen the Member of Parliament arrive. ‘That was generous of him.’

  ‘Yes, but now it is lost. Some people gave more than sixpence to come in, too. They said it was for a worthy cause. There must have been nigh on ten pounds altogether.’

  ‘Did you see anyone loitering nearby?’ Mark asked.

  ‘Not that I can recall.’

  ‘Leave it to me,’ Mark said. ‘We will keep it to ourselves for now. We don’t want to cause a stir.’

  ‘I won’t say a word. Thank you, my lord.’ She hurried away, leaving Mark facing Jane.

  ‘What did he have to say?’ he asked.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘Bolsover. What did he say?’

  ‘Nothing he has not said before. I begged him to give me more time. I said I would give him his answer after your wedding.’

  ‘My wedding! Did he agree?’

  ‘He neither agreed nor disagreed. Mrs Caulder interrupted us.’

  He laughed. ‘Oh, well done, Mrs Caulder.’

  ‘It is not funny, Mark.’

  ‘No, but if she has afforded us more time...’

  ‘Us, Mark?’

  ‘Yes, us. You do not think I am going to let you marry that scoundrel, do you? I have tried to find something to discredit him, but though he is not at all liked, no one seems to know anything against him. There are rumours of sharp practices, but nothing to substantiate the rumours. I shall keep trying.’

  ‘Mark, please do not raise my hopes, if they are to be dashed. I don’t think I could bear it. Really, you should be escorting Isabel round the fair and buying her trinkets, not talking to me. I can see her over there and she is looking at us. Go to her, please.’

  * * *

  ‘You have been neglecting me,’ Isabel complained as soon as he joined her. ‘People are beginning to notice.’

  ‘I am sorry, Isabel, but I have had much to do with the organisation of this event and seeing that everything is running smoothly and I had to escort my mother back to the house; she finds events like this tiring. Now something else has happened that demands my immediate attention, so I am obliged to leave you again.’

  ‘A fine marriage we shall have if you are forever going off and leaving me.’

  ‘If you wish to change your mind about that again, please say so.’

  ‘No, no, I didn’t mean anything,’ she said quickly. ‘Go and do whatever it is you have to do. But I hope it will not take too long. Papa has said we may stay for the dancing, so I shall expect you to stand up with me.’

  * * *

  He had bowed and left her to watch the races with her parents while he spent the next hour and a half going round all the stalls, asking if anyone had been spending unusually freely, but no one had. Perhaps the thief was no longer on the field, perhaps had never been any further than the gate. If that were so, it was going to be doubly difficult to apprehend him. Or her.

  He went to the gate to ask Mrs Caulder if anyone had approached and not entered, but the good lady must have decided that there would be no more arrivals and had left her post. He turned away and it was then he saw the woman out of the corner of his eye. She was carrying a jar close to her chest, which looked very like the one Mrs Caulder had been using. He dodged behind the hedge and watched her. She approached the deserted table and, looking furtively about her, set the jar on the table. Mark left his hiding place and confronted her.

  ‘It is Mrs Butler, is it not?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘What were you doing with this?’ He picked up the jar. It was heavy with coins.

  ‘Putting it back.’

  ‘What were you doing with it in the first place?’

  ‘Nothing. Putting it back, I told you. I found it.’

  ‘Oh, come, madam, you do not expect me to believe that, do you? Shall I tell you what I think? I think your boy took it.’

  She gasped. ‘He didn’t mean no ’arm, sir. He’s only a little lad and he wanted to ’elp me. I lost me ol’ man to the war, yer see, and now I’ve lost me job, on account of staying at home to look after Lizzie, who was sick. You in’t a-goin’ to turn ’im in, are you?’

  ‘No, I do not think so. We have the money safe. Go home and see to your family.’

  ‘Thank you, m’lord. God bless you.’ She bobbed a curtsy and fled.

  He took the jar back to Jane. ‘It is all here,’ he said. ‘No harm’s done.’

  ‘Oh, thank goodness. I didn’t want the day marred by something so unpleasant. Who took it?’

  He told her what had happened. ‘Did you not say you were thinking of offering the Butler children a home?’ he asked.

  ‘Yes. I haven’t mentioned it to Mrs Butler yet, but I will do so soon. She may not want to part with him.’

  ‘I think she might. She has just lost her job and her chances of finding another while she has two children to care for are slim.’

  ‘She could work at Witherington House, then they could all be together. I need to recruit staff.’

  ‘Good idea. Shall we join your parents and sisters?’

  Jane looked round and spied them watching the skittles competition. Lord Bolsover was with them. ‘No, I do not think I will. I’ll go and see Mrs Butler. You go.’

  But he did not want to join them either and went in search of the parson’s wife to give her the good news and return the pot to her after emptying its contents into a canvas bag Jane had stowed under the dais for just that purpose. There was money being taken on all the stalls and it occurred to him that it might be a good idea to take temptation out of the way and collect it. He would take it up to the house and put it in the safe until it could be paid into the Hadlea Children’s Home account. By the time he had finished the bag was heavy. They had done well, but he would not count it—that was a pleasure he would leave for Jane.

  * * *

  Mark was almost home when he saw a familiar figure coming towards him, a slightly
plump figure dressed in a blue military-style frockcoat, embellished with silver braid. ‘Jonathan Smythe, you old dog,’ Mark said, smiling with pleasure. ‘Where have you sprung from?’ They clapped each other on the back.

  ‘Scotland, where else? I’ve been up to the house and your mother told me where to find you.’

  ‘I will be going back there after I have put this in a safe place.’ He held up the bag. ‘Come with me.’

  Jonathan turned and they walked side by side. ‘I was sorry to hear of your father’s demise, Mark.’

  ‘Thank you.’

  ‘My mother’s cousin died, too. I’ve inherited a pile of stones, as cold as charity, but it comes with a sizeable fortune so I must not grumble. I assume your mourning has delayed your wedding?’

  ‘Yes. Much has happened since you left.’

  ‘If you still want me to be your groomsman, I am yours to command.’

  Mark could think of nothing to say to that except to thank him again.

  ‘You’ll never guess whom I met while I was up north. Drew Ashton. I hadn’t seen him since we were at school together. He’s come up in the world by all accounts.’

  ‘Drew is in Scotland?’

  ‘Yes. He was visiting his great-aunt. I must say I was surprised by that. She never bothered with him when he was a boy and he don’t need her blunt now. I reckon it was a convenient bolt hole. He was havey-cavey when I asked.’

  ‘He always played his cards close to his chest. You don’t happen to have his direction, do you?’

  ‘I think I have it in my trunk. I left it at Broadacres, by the way. I assumed you would invite me to stay, what with the wedding and all.’

  ‘Of course, stay as long as you like. There’s a fair on the Ten Acre Field that I’ve been helping to organise, which is why I am carrying a bag of small change. I have to go back as soon as I’ve put it in the safe. There’s to be a country dance this evening which I am obliged to attend. Come if you like.’

  It was incredible how cheerful he suddenly felt. At last he could see a way out of his dilemma.

  Chapter Twelve

  The field was lit by lanterns on poles for the dance in the evening. Everyone joined in, including the children, and it proved to be the most fun of the whole day, if only because it was impossible to dance properly on grass. Jane and Mark partnered each other in an eightsome, which meant occasionally holding hands in full view of everyone. She was acutely aware that she must in no way betray how she felt about him, but the slight squeeze he gave her fingers every time they met and circled together told her he was aware of it, too. He seemed unusually light-hearted, smiling and joking with everyone. Afterwards she sat with her parents, watching him dance with Isabel while his friend, Mr Smythe, danced with Sophie.

  She was quietly congratulating herself on the success of the venture and enjoying the spectacle of everyone amusing themselves when Lord Bolsover stood over her to claim a dance. She pleaded tiredness, but he would not take no for an answer and led her into the throng.

  He was clumsy and stumbled more than once. ‘I can’t get the way of this,’ he said, giving up after only a few minutes. ‘If this is what you call dancing...’

  ‘It is meant to be fun,’ she said. ‘This isn’t a London ballroom. If that is what you want, I suggest you return to the capital.’

  ‘Not without my answer.’

  ‘I have told you when I will give you that.’

  ‘And I shall hold you to that, never fear. My mother is become impatient to have a grandson.’ Still smiling, he bowed and strolled away. Jane let out a long breath of relief.

  * * *

  The result of the fair was forty pounds to add to the funds, which was far more than Jane had dared to hope for. She and Mark spent Sunday morning at Broadacres, counting the pennies and sixpences and the occasional gold sovereign. ‘People have been so generous,’ Jane said. ‘I can buy enough beds and bedroom furniture to fill the dormitories at Witherington. I will ask the Rector to announce the result in church.’

  * * *

  The announcement after evensong had brought gasps of delight and it was suggested it should be an annual event, which had pleased her. There was so little to please her nowadays; she was becoming hopelessly resigned to marrying Lord Bolsover. He was staying at the Fox and Hounds, but was constantly at Greystone, seemingly unaware of how unwelcome he was. He would talk of the alterations he meant to make, the refurbishment, the parties he would host, smiling all the while with that oily smile of his, which sickened Jane, if no one else. The only way she could avoid him was to spend as much time as possible at Witherington House where she could immerse herself in what was going on there and for a little while, forget her coming fate.

  Gradually the furniture arrived and was put in place until it began to look like a real home. She was helped by Mrs Butler, who had accepted her offer and moved in with ten-year-old Robert and two-year-old Lizzie, who had been conceived when her husband came home in 1814. He had only come home to die of his wounds within weeks, unaware that his wife was carrying another child. The family had lived on poor relief until Mrs Butler had found a job working in the fields. It was piece work and the poor woman was so exhausted she was unable to earn more than a pittance. Jane heard the tale little by little as they worked together.

  Jane and Mark together interviewed several local people for positions and took on a married couple to be master and housekeeper. They came from a school and would have to give notice to their present employers and would not arrive until the end of September. Mrs Godfrey remained as cook and old Silas looked after the outside. Already what they were doing was becoming known and men and women were turning up asking for employment. They would need more staff when more children were taken in, so she took their names and said she would let them know when the time came.

  One was a Portuguese man who said his name was Paolo Estaban. He told her he had been a servant of a British officer in the late war and had returned to England with him. The officer had not paid him for several weeks and he needed employment. He was used to looking after horses and he had seen her pony and trap outside. She was about to say they were not hers and did not belong to the home, but then realised she might well need such a conveyance to get about as she had been doing. She would ask Mark if the funds would stretch to buying it from her father. She told the man to come back the following week.

  News of what she was doing had spread and she was also approached by several charities asking for places for children. Three of the most needy had already arrived. Harry, Tom and Emma had been begging in Norwich when they had been picked up by a local parson who had heard about her venture and come to see her. The result was the children had been put on a carrier’s wagon and arrived filthy, half-starved and dressed in an assortment of rags. They were also very wary of her and their new surroundings and not at all keen to be put into a bath, brought into the kitchen for the purpose. She asked Robert and Lizzie to make them feel at home and this worked better than anything the adults could do. Bathed, with their tangled hair washed and brushed, and dressed in new clothes, they were different children. She began looking for a teacher because they would need to be schooled.

  The whole project was keeping Jane so busy she did not have time to dwell on the fact that the six months of mourning at Broadacres was coming to a close, that half the contents of Greystone Manor had been packed up ready for the move as soon as the wedding was over, not only Isabel’s wedding to Mark, but her own to Lord Bolsover. She refused to make any preparation for that, praying as she had never prayed before that something would happen to prevent it.

  Mark had said he would think of something, but he had not mentioned it again. After the fair he had seemed more cheerful, making jokes with the children and flattering Mrs Godfrey outrageously. She did not ask him how he was dealing with Isabel, but assumed all was well
between them. She tried desperately to forget he had ever said he loved her. It seemed he had done so, for he stopped coming to Witherington. She told herself that was as it should be; she could not continue to rely on him for help. He had other matters nearer home to attend to. She must endure the heartache as best she could.

  * * *

  Mark had certainly not forgotten. He was in a state bordering on panic. There were only two weeks to go to the wedding he wanted so much to avoid and Drew had not answered his letter. Supposing he had moved on and the letter never reached him, what then? He would have to do something himself, something drastic like eloping with Jane. He knew she would never agree to that. Could he abduct her? That would be dishonourable and illegal. And whatever he did would have to be done with the consent of Isabel. He could not see her giving it. The euphoria he had felt when Jonathan arrived had long ago evaporated.

  He paced the house, watched by his worried mother, went riding with Jonathan, covering mile after mile, exhausting his mounts until, one morning very early, they came to a halt at the edge of the fen. There was a landing stage there and a lopsided dwelling where the ferryman lived. The meadows on either were only dry in summer and were used for grazing cattle, which grew fat on the lush grass. There was a small rise in the ground on the right, not really big enough to call a hill, and on top of it an old hovel which had many years before been a fenman’s dwelling. It was a place Mark knew well, for he had often wandered about here as a child, frequently in the company of Teddy and his two older sisters, picking wild flowers, watching for frogs and toads, having imaginary battles in which the hovel was a fort. Happy times in which the future was unknown.

  ‘What in God’s name is the matter with you, Mark?’ Jonathan said, as they dismounted. ‘You are certainly not acting like the happy bridegroom. I am forced to the conclusion you do not want this wedding.’

  ‘No, I do not.’

  ‘Are you going to tell me why?’

  Mark sighed and put his head into his horse’s neck. ‘I suppose I must.’ He paused, wondering where to begin. ‘I suppose it started when I offered to help Jane with her orphan project.’