My Lord Tremaine Page 8

  'Oh dear,' Elinor murmured when Mrs Tremaine had departed. 'I don't think we are very welcome here!'

  'We'd be better off back in the lodge,' Mattie said.

  'I know, but Jane needs my support, and Jonah said the lodge is to be given to one of the new gardeners.' And she would, she confessed, be glad to finish with her endless baking.

  She had barely unpacked her few belongings when the bell in the room jangled. Assuming it was from Jane, Elinor made her way along the corridor until she found Jane standing in her bedroom doorway.

  'Good, I was hoping you were here. Oh, Elinor, I don't know how I can bear it!'

  'How was the ride?'

  'Dreadful! William tried to make me jump a hedge higher than the mare's head! Luckily she slipped in the mud and refused, or I would have been lying with a broken back now. He was furious, and says I must ride one of the bigger horses, one he hunts on, tomorrow.'

  Elinor tried to reassure her, but she was wondering just what William thought he was about. Did he wish to kill Jane? Or was it another instance of his desire to control everyone? Jonah, though he had tried to be discreet, had let fall enough hints for Elinor to understand William needed to dominate everyone in his vicinity. Even the Reverend Leamore had, in an unguarded moment, complained that it was not Viscount Tremaine's prerogative to choose the readings for the day.

  Sighing, Jane permitted Elinor to dress her in one of her old evening gowns. It seemed she had not been allowed to purchase anything new during her time in Exmouth. When Jane was ready she clutched at Elinor's hand.

  'I made William agree you should dine with us, not with the servants,' she said. 'I told him how it would be condemned in the village if he insisted you dined in the servants' hall.'

  Elinor thought she might have preferred it, and by the end of dinner she was sure she would.

  They met in the drawing room, where Mrs Tremaine glared at her and indicated she was to sit as far away from the fireplace as possible. Then when the butler announced that dinner was ready William held out his arm to his mother, while Jane, Amelia and Elinor followed them across the entrance hall into the large, gloomy dining parlour.

  Mrs Tremaine went at once to the foot of the table and directed Jane to the seat on William's right hand. Elinor raised her eyebrows, recalling how Mrs Tremaine had ousted the dowager Lady Tremaine from that place when the new owners first took up residence at the Court. What was right for her was obviously not right for Jane. Amelia went to the seat opposite Jane, and Elinor found herself in between Amelia and Mrs Tremaine.

  Dinner was an uncomfortable experience. Elinor enjoyed the food, it was far better than any she had had since her father died. The conversation was dominated by William and his mother, both insisting that Jane must learn to control her fears and learn to ride creditably. Amelia, who was to accompany them and ride the mare Jane had ridden, did little more than nod, and Elinor, seated next to her, and spoken to by no one, not even Jane who was looking subdued, kept her opinions to herself. She would not help Jane by making her feelings known.

  When Mrs Tremaine and the other ladies left the room, leaving William to enjoy his port, she turned to Elinor as they crossed the hall.

  'We shall not need you more tonight, Miss Darwen. You will no doubt be fully occupied tidying her ladyship's room before she comes to bed. My son tells me his wife is not the most organised woman.'

  Elinor closed her lips on the retort she had been about to make. Somehow, if Jane and William were to have any happiness, this virago of a woman had to be got rid of. Tomorrow she would make it her business to visit the Dower House and see whether any work was being done there in preparation for banishing William's dreadful mother to it.

  *

  After a week Elinor began to think longingly of life in the lodge. They could not go back. William had employed another gardener, and he was installed there with a wife and several children. She decided she would be far better off as a governess, and when the London newspapers were finished with she perused the advertisements and sent off several applications. At least she would be given a wage. Here at the Court she had none, and Jane had no money of her own to use. If she wished to purchase anything Jane had to apply to William, and unless he could see it adding to his own comfort he refused permission. At least, Elinor thought, he had put an end to his mother's schemes for redesigning the gardens, saying it was too expensive and not necessary. The Court was not, he said bluntly, a show place. Mrs Tremaine was resisting all attempts to move her to the Dower House, which as far as Elinor could determine was in perfect order. Even William, so dominant elsewhere, seemed to regard his mother with some awe in everything that did not involve spending money.

  Jane had been forced to ride every day, even when it rained, which was often, but so far, she told Elinor with relief, she had not been compelled to face jumps. Amelia had never ridden before, except on a pillion, and was terrified of the gentle mare. Her mother had insisted to William that she was not to be made to do anything dangerous, so all they did was walk or trot decorously round the estate, with Amelia complaining all the time about being wet or aching in every limb.

  It was one morning towards the end of May, when Jane had been home for two weeks, that Elinor went into her room to find her retching over a bowl.

  'Something I ate last night,' she gasped.

  On the following two days she said she could not eat anything at breakfast, just managed to drink some chocolate. But on the third day she was sick and refused even that, and Elinor, worried that something was seriously wrong, begged Mattie to look at her.

  Mattie looked at Jane, exhausted, propped up on pillows. She asked various questions, then grinned.

  'You are increasing, my girl. This sickness will not last, but you must take care, and not ride.'

  'William will be furious if I refuse to go,' Jane said.

  'Does he wish for a son?'

  Jane nodded. 'I think so. But I do not,' she added in a whisper only Elinor heard. 'I only hope that now he will leave me alone.'

  Rather to Elinor's surprise William was gratified by the news, and immediately said Jane must take every care.

  'I am pleased with you for providing me with an heir so quickly,' he said, smiling at her with more warmth than Elinor had seen before.

  'It might be a girl,' Jane said.

  'Of course not. As for the riding, we will stop that for now. You can learn to jump after the child is born,' he told her. 'I have enough to do trying to teach Amelia not to be afraid of going at a faster pace than a slow walk.'

  Jane relaxed, and confided in Elinor that William had ceased to visit her at night.

  'He told me he did not wish to do anything that might harm the child.'

  She was still sick in the mornings, but now she could rest she began to look healthier, more like the girl William had fallen in love with.

  Love? Elinor caught up her thoughts. Did William love Jane, or had his pursuit of her been because, as she had confided, she had refused his attentions before they were wed? Whatever the truth, Jane was more content.

  Then Mattie became ill again, and Elinor was kept busy caring for her. The old nurse needed constant attention, and Elinor often sat up with her during the night when Mattie was wheezing badly. If she had a bowl of catmint infusion and could inhale the fumes it helped, but she was often too weak to hold the bowl herself.

  It was some time after midnight when Mattie fell asleep, propped up on pillows to help her breathing, and Elinor could go back to her own room for a few hours. It was full moonlight, so she blew out the candle and opened the door, then hesitated. Someone was coming down the narrow stairs which led to the attics and the bedrooms used by the servants. Elinor closed the door all but a crack, and peered through. Was there some problem?

  To her astonishment she saw it was William, clutching a brocade dressing gown round himself, holding up the skirts so that he didn't trip. He went along the corridor and entered his own room, and only then did Elinor m
ove. As she lay in bed she wondered what he had been about, and suddenly had a shocking suspicion. Was he taking his pleasure with one of the maids? Since he no longer visited Jane, had he found an alternative partner for his nocturnal activities? Jane found his attentions distasteful, but did any of the maids have a choice, or did he force them? It was not something she could discuss with Jane, and Mattie was too ill to be bothered. At last Elinor decided there was nothing she could do, or wanted to do. To reveal her suspicions would probably result in her own banishment, and Jane needed her.

  *

  Elinor's suspicions were strengthened only a week later. She was about to enter the drawing room when she heard Mrs Tremaine's voice. The door was not quite closed, and as she hesitated, she could hear it all. She knew she ought to go away, but she heard sobs and for a moment thought it was Jane in distress.

  'It ain't my fault!'

  It sounded like Rosie, the maid Jane had taken with her to Exmouth to act as her personal maid. Elinor was about to move away when Rosie's next words halted her.

  'He forced me! I dain't want ter do it, but he threatened 'e'd dismiss me, and I can't go home, there's too many there, an' no room for me. Besides, me dad'ld beat me when he knew!'

  'Are you accusing my son of molesting you?'

  'Yes! He comes ter me room every night. He even come ter me while 'e was in Exmouth, with his new wife!'

  'I don't believe you, you wicked girl! It is probably one of the footmen or a groom, and you think by accusing my son you will escape punishment. You will leave today.'

  'Ask him! It's 'is child you're throwin' out, too.'

  'Even if it were, which I do not believe, I want no bastards at the Court. If you are not gone within the hour I will have you thrown out. In some towns they drag whores behind a cart, naked, and whip them. I'll do that if necessary, all the way to Plymouth!'

  Elinor moved away and stepped into one of the other parlours. She knew that many men used their maidservants in such a way, and fumed with anger. She believed Rosie when she said William had forced her. The girls often had to comply or be dismissed. Jane must not know however. If William had been betraying her within weeks of the marriage, it would distress her, much as she disliked his attentions. Was Rosie the only one of his maidservants he used in such a fashion? There was no way she could find out.

  She went out into the garden and sat down on a fallen log by the main gate. She did not have long to wait. Rosie, carrying a bundle, came towards her, sobbing heartbreakingly. Elinor called to her.

  'Come and sit here for a moment,' she said.

  Rosie, sniffing, looked suspicious but did as she was bid.

  'I heard Mrs Tremaine dismissing you,' Elinor said. 'What will you do?'

  'What can I do? I've no money, the scurvy beast never even give me a present. I'll end up on streets in Plymouth! There's plenty of sailors there looking fer women!'

  'Go to Mrs Craven, tell her what has happened, and no doubt she will be able to help you.'

  'She'll throw me out, or put me in a workhouse.'

  'Wouldn't a workhouse where you'd be fed be better than the streets, at least until the baby is born?'

  Rosie shrugged. 'I don't want 'is child! I'd get rid of it, but it's too late, I'm five months gone.'

  'So he has been mistreating you almost from the day he came here?'

  'Me and Molly. She's been lucky, 'e's foisted no brats on her!'

  William was apparently even more vile than Elinor had supposed. Was there any way she could rescue her sister? Jane was apparently safe while she was carrying the child, but afterwards he would no doubt become as urgent as before, especially if the child should be a girl and not the heir he expected.

  'I'll go an' see Mrs Craven,' Rosie said, sighing. 'I can't walk all the way ter Plymouth, an' the old witch said she wouldn't give me the wages I'm due.'

  'I'd help you if I could,' Elinor said, 'but I have no money either, and I wouldn't help you to go to Plymouth.'

  'No, Miss, an' thank you anyway. I'd best be off.'

  *

  It was early June by the time Paul was aboard a smuggling boat. When he was dismissed from the inn he had considered trying to find another position in Rouen, which was a large, populous city. It ought not to be difficult to evade Mathilde and the innkeeper if he looked for somewhere in another part of the town, perhaps near the docks. In the end he decided to set off at once on the rest of the journey, and trust to luck in being able to find work for a few odd days. If he were careful he had enough money to buy food even if he found no work. And he was impatient now to get to England.

  Within a few days he was regretting the loss of his greatcoat. The weather was cold and wet. Already the hay was ruined, and the farmers he met were complaining about the damage to many other crops. He did not always find shelter at night, and though he tried to keep the clothes he was not wearing dry, it was impossible. On a few occasions he was invited into farmhouses and permitted to sit beside a fire, and dry his clothes. That, he was sure, was the only thing which kept him from developing serious illnesses. Yet faint memories surfaced of being wet all the time in Portugal and Spain. He must have served in the army there. He began to regret not throwing himself on the mercy of the army, instead of insisting on making his own way back to England.

  When he reached Cherbourg, though, with only a few coins left in his pockets, his luck changed. He was talking to a sailor near the docks, asking about the possibility of getting to England, and whether he might work his passage, when the man grinned at him.

  'Come with me. Some of my friends have the ague, and we do not have a full crew.'

  The boat carried barrels of brandy and Calvados, and many packets of silk fabric wrapped in oiled silk. They would be bringing back cotton, his first friend told him, for it was half the price in England.

  'The English can import from places we cannot, and so we make a profit both ways.'

  They were heading for a secluded river inlet between Plymouth and Salcombe. Paul, feeling with an inward chuckle that this was not what he ought to be doing, helped unload the cargo and pass it to the men waiting with a string of ponies to transport it inland. Then, while it was still dark he slipped away, and set off towards Plymouth, where he hoped he might find an attorney who could advise him. It was little more than a dozen miles, and he should arrive there by midday.

  Just before the town he changed into his better clothes. His old ones were so worn and disreputable he doubted any respectable attorney would even admit him to his office. These were less worn, but that was almost all that could be said for them. They were creased, still wet, and he had no hat. It was the best he could do.

  He went towards the centre of the town, exploring the main streets, and soon espied a plate outside a house advertising an attorney, a Mr Aylesford. He twisted the ring on his finger, looked at it once more, and pulled on the bell.

  The clerk who opened the door was reluctant to admit him, but eventually, in the face of Paul's insistence and refusal to retreat, said he would ask if his master were free.

  'You may come this way,' he said a few moments later, and led the way upstairs to an office overlooking the street.

  'This is the fellow,' the clerk announced.

  Paul stepped past him into the room. An elderly man was seated behind a large mahogany desk, spread with papers.

  He looked up with a frown on his face, blinked several times, and then surged to his feet.

  'But my lord, you are dead!'

  *

  CHAPTER 6

  There was nothing she could do to help Rosie, but Elinor was so concerned by what she'd been told she determined to talk to Molly. Did William force his attentions on any other of the maids? There were a couple of kitchen maids no older than twelve, and they would be even less able to resist him than Rosie or Molly

  She found the girl in the butler's pantry, helping Gooch, the butler, clean the silver.

  'Molly, I need to speak with you.'

 
; Molly looked anxious.

  'Was the dusting not all done, Miss?'

  'It's nothing to do with that. Come, we will sit in the red parlour, no one will disturb us there.'

  Molly, twisting her hands in her apron, followed her to this small apartment tucked away in one of the sprawling wings of the Court. Why it had ever been given its name Elinor could not fathom, for it was panelled in dark oak. Perhaps at some distant date there had been red hangings, or furniture. She shook herself mentally. She was prevaricating, unwilling to say what she had determined on. She took a deep breath, sat in a chair to the side of the small fireplace and gestured to Molly to take the one opposite.

  'What have I done, Miss?' Molly asked, not taking the seat.

  'Sit down. It's nothing you've done, Molly. I saw Rosie as she was leaving.'

  Molly sat down, looking scared, then angry.

  'She ain't got no money,' she burst out. 'That old skinflint refused to give 'er the wages she was due when she turned 'er off.'

  'I know, and I had none to give her. I've sent her to Mrs Craven, who will, I feel sure, do what she can to help.'

  'She'll tell 'er she's just a slut!'

  'No, she will believe Rosie, that she had no choice. Does – does his lordship force you?'

  'Of course 'e does! What girl in 'er right mind would want ter bed 'im, the nasty old lecher!'

  'Can you not find another situation?'

  Molly looked at her pityingly.

  'If I left 'ere, I'd have no character to show anyone. He'd make sure of that! Besides, it 'appens everywhere there's men! Nasty brutes!'

  Elinor was afraid she might be right.

  'Were you and Rosie the only ones?'

  'Yes, but the old goat likes variety. Already 'e's got 'is eyes on young Tess. I can't stop 'im.' She heaved a big sigh. 'Could Miss Jane – her ladyship, I should say, do anything?'

  'He won't listen to her,' Elinor said bitterly. 'I doubt if even his mother could control him.'

  Molly nodded. 'So I just 'ave to endure until either I get turned off when I start increasing, or 'e gets tired of me. I'll never be able to marry Mr Gooch, and we 'ad such plans to work together, me being housekeeper.' She forced back a sob. 'Can I go now, Miss Elinor?'