More Than a Governess Page 13

  ‘Thomas has told me something of the prize fight you attended—not everything, of course, for he is old enough to know that some things are best not shared with a sister. However, I am grateful that you allowed him to go with you.’

  ‘It was no hardship. Thomas is a fine boy, and he and Giles get on very well, despite the difference in their ages. Giles has even started to give him sparring lessons, since I have not yet had the time to do so. I hope you do not object?’

  ‘No, not at all. I am pleased that he has some male company and I do not believe you or Giles will lead him into bad ways.’

  ‘Thank you, Miss Wrenn. Your confidence almost unmans me.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ she retorted, flushing. This was dangerous territory, she moved away from it. ‘You—you have seen the magistrate, Major?’

  ‘Yes. I have given him my statement, but do not expect much to come of it. I hope that my letter to Mondwyck will be more effective. If Leeson turns up in town, Richard will apprehend him.’

  She shuddered. ‘I dread to think what would have happened if you had not come back when you did.’

  ‘Well, it is over and you need have no fear now. Fewell and my coachmen are on watch in case Leeson should come back, although I think that is unlikely.’

  ‘So, too, do I. But I cannot understand why he should abduct Minna. You know Leeson, sir—could it be some sort of revenge against you?’

  He shrugged. ‘I wish I knew. I have seen Leeson in town, of course, but I know little of him, except that…’ He paused. Juliana waited expectantly. He looked up at her, then continued gruffly, ‘We have…we had, a mistress in common. There, I have said it. Are you shocked, Miss Wrenn?’

  ‘I am too anxious to understand Mr Leeson’s actions to worry about social niceties, Major Collingham,’ she responded coldly.

  ‘I had a brief, ah, flirtation with a lady I believe is now Leeson’s mistress. Or perhaps it would be more truthful to say that he is one of the lady’s lovers.’

  Juliana studied her hands.

  ‘And your…connection with the lady?’

  ‘Ended within weeks of its beginning. Satisfied, Miss Wrenn?’

  ‘It is really of no interest to me, except where it concerns the children, of course.’

  A chilly silence descended. The Major spoke again. ‘Do you propose to sit here all night with nothing to do?’

  ‘I have my book to read, and there is some mending…’ She waved vaguely towards her workbox.

  ‘Excuse me.’

  Major Collingham rose and left the room. Juliana sighed; disturbing as she found his presence, it was preferable to sitting alone in the darkness. She went over to the bed to Wilhelmina, who was still sleeping soundly. The lack of light had robbed that part of the room of its colour, even the scarlet gown on Wilhelmina’s precious doll was almost black. As Juliana straightened she heard the door click again and looked around to see that the Major had returned, carrying a bottle and two glasses.

  He smiled, his teeth gleaming white in the low light. ‘You are confined to this room, but there is no reason why you should not enjoy some pleasures.’

  ‘I—I am not sure,’ she stammered. ‘Perhaps a little water for me—’

  He put down the glasses and proceeded to fill them, ignoring her protests.

  ‘Here.’ He held one out and she looked at it doubtfully.

  ‘Do you think I am trying to make you drunk?’ he growled at her. ‘To seduce you in my daughter’s sickroom?’

  ‘No, no—of course not! I—’

  ‘You look with suspicion upon everything I do for you.’

  ‘No!’ She looked anxiously towards the bed, knowing her voice had risen, but Minna did not stir. ‘No,’ she said more quietly, hanging her head. ‘It is my own weakness that frightens me.’

  He put his fingers under her chin and forced her to look at him.

  ‘I am an ogre to distress you so. If I give you my word to behave with the strictest propriety, to treat you with unimpeachable politeness, will you cry quits with me?’ He dropped his hand. ‘Now, what have I said to make you smile?’

  ‘Propriety and politeness are not words I associate with you, Major Collingham.’

  He laughed. ‘That’s better. Lord, how I like your frankness, Miss Wrenn. Are we friends again?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Good.’ He raised his glass to her. ‘I want to thank you for your help in rescuing Minna.’

  ‘I did very little.’

  ‘I was glad to have you with me.’

  ‘Th-thank you.’ She was unaccountably cheered by this, and managed to give him a small smile. It was reflected in his eyes.

  ‘That’s better. Now, we shall sit down and drink a glass of wine together while we keep watch over the patient.’

  When a clock somewhere in the house chimed one, Juliana suggested he should retire.

  ‘There is no need for you to give up all your sleep, sir. Besides, Nurse will be returning shortly to relieve me.’

  ‘And you would not want her to find us together?’

  ‘She might not understand the nature of our…friendship, sir.’

  ‘I’d wager Nurse knows me as well as anyone, but I can see from your expression that you are adamant, so I will take my leave of you. Until the morning, Miss Wrenn.’

  When Major Collingham had gone, Juliana sat for a long time, staring at the chair he had vacated. In the day there had been anxiety for Wilhelmina, but the doctor had put her worst fears to rest and she had been able to enjoy her glass of wine. The Major had been with her for more than two hours, yet she could not recall what they had talked about—everything and nothing. She thought she had never felt so content as in that quiet, dark room with the occasional hooting of an owl outside the window, and Minna as their chaperon. Juliana felt a sudden constriction in her throat. She took out her handkerchief and blew her nose defiantly. There was a saying that half a loaf was better than none. Well, she had only a few crumbs, and she feared that they were proving to be infinitely worse than no loaf at all.

  Chapter Fourteen

  The next morning Nurse came downstairs to report that Wilhelmina was recovering well. The rest of the party were gathered at the breakfast table, and the old lady beamed at them all.

  ‘She is sitting up, and Gwen helped her to take a little gruel for her breakfast.’

  ‘When may I see her?’ asked Amy.

  ‘The doctor is to call again at noon,’ said Juliana. ‘We had best wait for his opinion. To pass the morning we will take a walk across the fields to the tiny church on the far side of the valley. Look, you can see it from the window here.’

  Gwendoline pouted. ‘Will that not be muddy?’

  ‘Perhaps a little, but there will be a path leading from the village, so we shall go and see. We can always come back if it is too bad.’

  ‘You will not go unattended,’ put in the Major. ‘The landlord must send one of his servants with you.’

  ‘It is already agreed,’ she replied, meeting his harsh gaze with a bland smile. ‘It will mean taking his man away from his duties, but I said you would not begrudge the extra charge.’

  His frown deepened, but she observed the twinkle in his eyes and turned away to hide her smile.

  ‘Do you mind if I do not go with you?’ put in Thomas. ‘Giles and I wanted to see the carriage.’

  ‘Oh, is it mended?’ said Juliana.

  ‘The new wheel was fitted yesterday and the carriage is now safely under cover,’ replied the Major. ‘I would like the boys to look it over and make sure my driver is happy with it. And Giles, ask Fewell to make sure the leather hood of the curricle has been waxed again; it was leaking yesterday.’

  ‘So may I go with Giles, Juliana?’ Thomas turned his hopeful gaze upon his sister.

  ‘Very well. I will take Gwendoline and Amy for a walk, and we will look for more wild flowers to press for our journal.’

  The Major held the door as she ushered her young charges off t
o collect cloaks and bonnets.

  ‘You are never at a loss for amusement, Miss Wrenn,’ he muttered as she passed him.

  ‘Activity prevents boredom, Major Collingham,’ she told him. ‘And boredom, as we know, leads to mischief, for adults as well as children.’

  The doctor called again promptly at noon and declared himself satisfied with Wilhelmina’s progress. He recommended another night of rest, but agreed that Major Collingham could resume his journey the following day, if Wilhelmina continued to improve. The children went to bed in good time that evening in readiness for their early start and, after wishing them all goodnight, Juliana returned to the private parlour where she found the Major and his son engaged in a game of chess.

  ‘Are the children asleep already, Miss Wrenn?’ asked the Major, not looking up.

  ‘No, sir, but they have been persuaded to lie down on their beds—Gwendoline is reading to Amy and Nurse will look in upon them later to make sure they do not leave a candle burning all night. She tells me she will sleep on a truckle bed in Minna’s room tonight, so I am relieved of my sickroom duties.’

  ‘Careless, Giles.’ Major Collingham’s hand hovered over the chessboard. ‘You allow me to take your bishop. So, you are at leisure to please yourself, Miss Wrenn. What do you propose to do? You never seem to be idle.’

  ‘Well, tonight I shall be,’ she declared, going to the window seat. ‘Our host tells me there will be a fine moon rising tonight, and I intend to sit here and watch it. Pray do not let me disturb your game.’

  Juliana made herself comfortable in the window, but instead of looking out for the moon she watched the game of chess and studied the two opponents. They were very alike, both tall, but Giles was fairer and still had the ranginess and exuberance of youth; by contrast, his father exuded an air of calm strength. Juliana watched the Major as he gave his attention to the chess pieces. The flickering candles highlighted the strong lines of his face, giving him a harsh, intractable look. Many called him a hard man, but she had seen the tender way he had carried Wilhelmina back across the fields, and she remembered the way they had talked, late into the night. There was kindness beneath his harsh exterior. She was glad he had not gone on to Blackthorpe and left the school party to follow. With an effort she tore her eyes way from the two men and looked out at the butter-yellow moon climbing over the valley. Really, she was becoming quite weak-willed, quite mawkish. It would not do. The sooner she set up her own establishment the better.

  ‘Papa, you have me in checkmate! I made sure you could not do that.’ Giles’s laughing protests cut through her reverie.

  ‘I told you that you were too careless with your smaller pieces,’ said the Major. ‘Next time take more care over your moves. Will you pack the set away, please?’ He rose and came over to the window, bending a little to look out at the sky. ‘If you wish to see the moon, Miss Wrenn, perhaps you would care to step outside. You will have a clearer view from the road.’

  She hesitated, and he turned to his son.

  ‘Giles, would you like a little fresh air before you retire?’

  ‘Thank you, no. That replacement knight I made does not sit quite steady, so I am going to work on it again.’

  Major Collingham looked back at Juliana. ‘So it is just you and I, Miss Wrenn. It is a fine night; you will come to no harm.’

  The temptation was too great to resist. She uncurled herself from the window seat. ‘I will get my shawl.’

  The heavy rain clouds of the day had broken up and a full moon was climbing high and bathing the village in a silver-blue light. The road outside the inn was in good repair and the few puddles were easy to negotiate. She walked beside the Major, making sure she kept a distance between them.

  ‘So,’ she said at last, ‘ tomorrow you will be at home.’

  ‘Aye, if all goes well.’

  ‘I have never been so far north—will you tell me about Blackthorpe?’

  For a moment she thought he had not heard her but at length he began to speak.

  ‘It lies amid the hills and high moors to the north of Manchester. At one time Blackthorpe was a hunting lodge, but the forests and woods have for the most part been cleared for farming, although there is still a fine park surrounding the house.’

  ‘Has it been in your family for long?’

  ‘Aye, generations. The Collinghams made their money as wool merchants, then my grandfather wanted to be done with trade and to live as a gentleman.’

  ‘You do not sound as if you approve of his decision,’ she observed.

  ‘He sold off the best of the farming land on the northern estates. What was left was not sufficient to support the lifestyle my father adopted and the estate was reduced even further. I am not a pauper, far from it, but the income is dwindling and will continue to do so, unless I can turn around our fortunes.’

  Juliana pulled her shawl more tightly about her. ‘With an advantageous marriage, perhaps?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said curtly. ‘Marriage to Lady Frances will combine our estates—indeed, a fair portion of her inheritance is land her husband’s family bought from mine. The alliance will more than double the income and allow me to pass on a healthy inheritance to Giles as well as providing good dowries for the girls.’

  A dull ache had settled inside Juliana. She raised her eyes to the moon, idly noting how it had turned from a large yellow ball to the cold silver disk now shining down upon them.

  ‘My first marriage was a love match,’ he continued. ‘Harriet and I were both very young. My father tried to advise me against it but I would not listen. I did not then understand how matters stood, and even if I had done, it would not have made a difference: the estate would support us as it had always done. It was not until the children were born that I realised how little there would be to pass on to them.’

  ‘Then your duty is clear.’

  He stopped. She risked a look at his face, grey in the moonlight, with a muscle working in his jaw as if he were trying to control some inner turmoil. Suddenly he turned and dragged her into his arms, his fingers biting into her flesh.

  ‘Duty be damned!’ he muttered.

  Even as she opened her mouth to protest he kissed her, so hard that her senses reeled under the assault. His arms came round her like steel bands, almost crushing the breath from her.

  ‘No, Damon. Pray don’t—stop!’ Juliana tried to push him away.

  He did not release her, but he raised his head, and with a sob she buried her face in his coat.

  ‘You promised me!’ she cried, her voice muffled against the cloth.

  ‘I know, but talking of marriage to Frances, I—’ his hold tightened. ‘Juliana, I love you.’

  She whimpered softly. ‘Oh, Damon, no. You cannot love me.’

  He gave a shaky laugh that Juliana, her cheek resting against his chest, heard as a deep rumble.

  ‘But I do. God knows why, for you use no arts to attract me, and take delight in crossing me at every turn! But after these past few days, I cannot contemplate a life without you.’

  She blinked away her tears and raised her head. His eyes burned down into her soul; it would do no good for her to deny she loved him, he would read the lie in her face. As he went to kiss her again, she reached up and put her fingers against his lips.

  ‘No, Damon, we must not. You have told me now why you must marry. There is no other way. You must provide for your children, as I must look after Thomas and Amy.’ The thought of her family gave Juliana the strength to push herself out of his arms. ‘When we get to Blackthorpe, I will look for another appointment. I—I do not think I could bear to stay now until September.’

  He gripped her hand. ‘You will—you must,’ he said savagely. ‘We have a contract.’

  ‘You cannot hold me to it.’

  ‘I can and I will. Leave me now and you will get not one penny.’

  She looked up at him, anger sparking in her own eyes. ‘I will serve my two weeks’ notice.’

  ‘And leave th
e children to wonder why you are deserting them?’

  ‘That is too cruel, sir!’

  ‘Perhaps, but it is the truth.’

  She felt her resolve weakening. ‘I will not stay in the house once you are married. Surely you would not ask that of me.’

  He let her go. ‘No. No, I would not ask that.’ He looked up at the sky. ‘But there are ways other than marriage—you do not have to leave the area…’

  She gave an exasperated sigh. ‘Would you make me your mistress? Would you take away the little dignity I have left?’ She hunted for her handkerchief. ‘I—I joked when I first embarked upon this venture that I had made a contract with the devil. How true that has turned out to be!’

  ‘Ah, love, don’t cry.’ He pulled her into his arms again, his anger gone. ‘We will find a way out of this coil.’

  She allowed herself to lean against him, to breathe in the heady mixture of wool and skin and spices that she associated with him. She sighed. ‘If I were to discover I was an heiress, perhaps there could be a solution. Until such a miracle, we must both do our duty.’

  He buried his face in her hair. ‘Even though it tears at my very soul?’

  ‘To do otherwise would destroy us. You know it is so, Damon.’

  With a growl of frustration he pulled her closer. ‘I want you as I have never wanted anyone, Juliana. Why should I not have you?’ he muttered savagely, driving the fingers of one hand into her hair and forcing her head back until she could not avoid his searing gaze. ‘What is to stop me dragging you into that barn yonder and taking what I want? After all, it is not as if you are unwilling; I know you want me as much as I want you. And once I have taken you, I will set you up as my mistress—you will have nothing more to lose then.’ His arms tightened. ‘Why should I not do that?’

  He held her so close she found it hard to breathe, and her blood ran cold at his words and the wild look in his face. Struggling to free one hand, she reached up and touched her fingers to his cheek.