A Loving Family (22 page)

‘You've caused me enough grief in the past, Tommy Langhorne. It isn't a laughing matter, and don't you dare say such things in front of Rosa and my sister.'

He stopped walking. ‘Why not? Have they got reason to think there is someone else? It can't be me because we've only just met again.'

‘You're talking nonsense, as usual.'

‘Am I? I don't think so, Stella. You blushed whenever you mentioned Kit Rivenhall's name and there was a subtle change in your voice when you spoke of him.' He patted her hand as it lay in the crook of his arm. ‘We've known each other since we were small fry, Stella. You can't fool me.'

‘I do like him, but that's all.' Her attention was diverted by Rosa, who leaned out of the carriage window and waved. ‘We must join the others, but please don't say anything that might give people the wrong idea.'

He grinned and squeezed her fingers. ‘My lips are sealed, and I wouldn't want to upset the fragrant Rosa. She's a little beauty, Stella. Do you think I have a chance with her?'

Startled by this sudden interest in her friend, Stella stared at him in amazement. ‘You've only known her for five minutes.'

‘I was madly in love with you when I was a young lad, Stella. But I'm no longer a callow youth. I know my own mind. Seriously now, do you think I have a chance?'

‘Maybe if she saw Portgone Place she might think better of you.' Stella meant it as a joke but she realised too late that Tommy had taken her words at face value.

‘Of course,' he said, smiling. ‘That's it. We'll see the old lady and the young one settled and then I'll take you home for tea.'

Torn between laughter and exasperation, Stella withdrew her hand. ‘I was sent away in disgrace. Your mama won't allow me in the house.'

‘Oh yes she will. I've had a sudden attack of conscience and I'm going to put matters straight and clear your name. You must tell Miss Rivenhall how gallant I can be when I put my mind to it.'

Rosa climbed down from the carriage and hurried towards them. ‘What must I be told? What's happening, Stella?'

Belinda followed her example and jumped to the ground in a flurry of red flannel petticoats. ‘Why are we still here? I wish you'd tell me what's going on.' She glanced over Stella's shoulder and her frown deepened. ‘Who are those men? They're both waving at us.'

Stella turned her head to see Bob and his father striding towards them. She drew Belinda aside, lowering her voice. ‘Mr Hendy and his sons took me in when I lost my job at Portgone Place. They're good men and very kind and they're in desperate need of someone to help them in the house. This isn't going to be a permanent arrangement, Belle, but I want you to stay here with Aunt Maud until I've sorted out matters in London. It's up to Mr Hendy himself whether or not he'll have you both, so please don't scowl at him like a spoilt child.'

Belinda opened her mouth as if to argue, but the sound of a horse's hooves advancing towards them at a great rate made Tommy's coachman rush to hold the heads of the carriage horses as they reared in the shafts. Bertie drew his mount to a halt, sending up a shower of mud and blades of grass. He dismounted with more enthusiasm than style and seized the bridle before his frisky horse could wander off. ‘Is this a private party?' His gaze fell on Stella and his face split in a grin. ‘So you've decided to come home. Welcome, Stella. And who are all these jolly people?'

Stella could see that her sister was impressed. ‘Belinda, this is Albert Hendy. You'll be working for him as well as his elder brother Robert and his father, Mr Hendy.'

Bertie took Belinda's hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Really? Are you going to save us from a life of miserable bachelorhood?'

Belinda shot him a shy smile. ‘I dunno, sir. Maybe.'

‘It's up to your pa,' Stella said hastily. ‘And it's only a temporary measure, Bertie. I have important business in London.'

‘Have you now?' Bertie eyed Tommy warily. ‘I don't think I've had the pleasure, sir.'

‘I'm so sorry. I'm forgetting my manners.' Stella made the necessary introductions but it was clear that Bertie had taken a fancy to her sister, which made her uncomfortable. Her attention was diverted by the arrival of Bob and his father and she went through the process of making each one known to the others, only this time Maud had emerged from the carriage and she seemed to have benefited from her long sleep.

‘How do you do, sir?' She held her hand out to Mr Hendy.

He bowed from the waist. ‘How do you do, ma'am? My son tells me that you might do us a great favour by taking over the domestic arrangements in our home.' He turned to Belinda with a smile. ‘And you too, young lady. As you will see when you enter the farmhouse, we are in dire need of help.' He proffered his arm to Maud. ‘May I show you where you will be staying, should you decide to accept?'

She laid her hand on his arm. ‘I would love a cup of tea. We seem to have been travelling for hours without a stop for refreshment.'

‘Of course, ma'am.' He turned to Belinda with a smile. ‘You too, Miss Barry. I hear that you've worked on a farm, so you know all there is to know about country living.'

Stella and Rosa exchanged bemused glances. ‘I'd say you have your answer,' Rosa whispered.

Bob snatched up the basket and gave Timmy stare for stare. ‘Be quiet, you noisy brute.'

Timmy gave him a yellow-eyed stare, blinked and started to wash himself. Bob held his hand out to Stella. ‘That bodes well. This chap will meet his match with the farm cats. Come indoors. It's quite chilly when the sun goes in.'

Tommy took Rosa's hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm. ‘Allow me, Miss Rivenhall. I don't suppose this is quite what you're used to.'

‘You'd be surprised, Mr Langhorne.'

‘Call me Tommy. I hate standing on ceremony, and I insist that you and Stella accompany me to Portgone Place when we're finished here. Mama would love to meet you, and I believe I've heard her mention the Rivenhalls of Heron Park. That is your country estate, is it not?'

‘It was, but no longer.'

‘Again, it's a long story,' Stella said, turning her head to give Rosa an encouraging smile. ‘But we're a bit pressed for time today.'

Tommy quickened his pace to keep up with Bob's long strides. ‘You must come, Stella. I'll make certain you get back to London safely, but I'd like you to do this thing for me. I've felt bad ever since you were dismissed without a character. Please say yes.'

LADY LANGHORNE LISTENED
intently to her son's confession, with a delicately raised eyebrow as the only evidence of any emotion she might be feeling.

Unsure of her own welcome, Stella stood a little behind Rosa who had been met with surprising warmth. Her ladyship, it transpired, had been bosom friends with the late Lady Rivenhall when they were girls. She had barely glanced at Stella but at least she had not ordered her from the house.

‘Well, Tommy,' Lady Langhorne said when his speech faltered to its conclusion. ‘It's a little late for such honesty and I hope that Miss Rivenhall is not too shocked.'

Rosa shook her head. ‘I'm well aware of the situation, ma'am. It takes courage to admit a fault.'

‘Indeed so.' Lady Langhorne gave Stella a half-smile. ‘It was fortunate that Miss Rivenhall took pity on you and employed you as her maid, Barry. You may visit your friends below stairs. I'm sure they'll make you welcome.'

Rosa opened her mouth as if to protest but Stella sent her a warning glance. ‘Thank you, ma'am.' She bobbed a curtsey and hurried from the room before Rosa had a chance to correct Lady Langhorne's assumption that she was one of the Rivenhalls' servants. But as she made her way to her old haunt below stairs Stella realised that the green baize door had once again slammed in her face. She must have been mad to think that she could escape her fate and live the life of a lady when she had been born to be a scullery maid. She had dared to love above her station and now she must face the fact that the rigid class structure was seldom breached.

The welcome she received in the kitchen only served to convince her that this was where she belonged. Mrs Hawthorne gave her a motherly hug and Annie danced her round the table in a wild jig. ‘You've come back to us, Stella. Has Lady Langhorne taken you on again?'

Breathless with laughter, Stella slumped onto the nearest chair. ‘No. I'm just here on a visit.'

‘Have you found another position?' Ida appeared from the scullery, wiping her reddened hands on a cloth. ‘You are lucky. I'm sure if I was sent off without a reference I'd end up on the streets.'

‘Get back to the washing up or that will happen before you're a day older,' Mrs Hawthorne said crossly.

Ida popped back into her domain, grumbling beneath her breath, and Jane, who had been watching the proceedings with a bemused grin on her face, scuttled into the butler's pantry. Annie pulled up a chair. ‘Where are you working now, Stella? I saw you get out of the carriage with Master Tommy and a pretty fair-haired lady.'

‘That was Rosa Rivenhall. She was very kind and took me in when I most needed help.' Stella decided that it was easier to let them think of her as a servant, and what else was she when all was said and done? She was not Rosa's equal and never would be. The best she could hope for was to be taken on as a cook with another well-to-do family, or she could marry Bob Hendy and spend the rest of her days as a respectable farmer's wife.

Annie picked up a plate of dainty cakes and placed it on a tray with the cucumber sandwiches that Mrs Hawthorne had just finished cutting into tiny triangles. ‘I'll take this up to the drawing room. Will you do the honours with the teapot and milk jug, Stella? It will be like old times.'

‘I'm not dressed for serving afternoon tea.'

‘I'm sure the mistress won't mind on this occasion,' Annie said happily. ‘I expect she's glad to see you safe and well, especially after Master Tommy acted like such an ass.'

‘Watch your tongue, Annie,' Mrs Hawthorne said mildly. ‘We all know what he's like, but it's not our place to criticise our betters.'

‘Yes, Mrs Hawthorne. I mean no.' Annie giggled as she mounted the stairs with the tray of food. ‘He's still an ass, Stella. You might have had a fondness for him when you was a nipper, but in my humble opinion he should have had a taste of his dad's leather belt, buckle end, like what I done in the foundling hospital. That would have made him think twice afore he behaved badly.'

Stella followed on, carefully balancing the silver tea service on its tray. ‘I'm sure he's truly sorry now. After all, he was drunk and didn't know what he was doing.'

‘That's not what Jacob says.' Annie backed into the baize door and held it open for her. ‘Jacob says that Master Tommy is a disgrace and he should be horsewhipped.'

‘I wouldn't go that far,' Stella said mildly. ‘He's just full of high spirits.'

Annie pulled a face. ‘You're too generous. Anyway, the good news is that me and Jacob are stepping out together. He's doing well and he says one day he'll be able to take over from his uncle as farrier.'

‘That's splendid, Annie. Jacob is a good man.'

‘Better still, there's a cottage next door to the forge that should be coming up for rent soon. It would make a lovely little nest for a young couple and I've got me eye on it for us. I'm just waiting for the old boy who lives there to meet his maker, and then Jacob's going to have a word with the land agent. We'll be wed before Christmas all being well.'

‘I'm glad,' Stella said, chuckling at Annie's unbeatable logic. ‘I hope you and Jacob will be very happy.'

Annie paused outside the drawing-room door, straightening her cap with one hand while she balanced the tray on the other. ‘You done me a favour by getting the sack. Jacob always had a soft spot for you, Stella, but you left the way clear for me, and for that I'll always be grateful.' She tapped on the door and waited for the response. ‘Here goes. Let's do this together for the first and last time.'

Tommy drove them to the station in his curricle. Stella stood aside while he said a reluctant goodbye to Rosa, who seemed equally disinclined to part from him. It was not until they were seated side by side in the first-class compartment, which Tommy had insisted on paying for in the grand manner, that she had a chance to ask questions. Rosa was seated by the window, looking out at the countryside as it flashed past, shadowy and mysterious in the twilight.

‘Well?' Stella said eagerly. ‘What went on in the drawing room? You seemed to be getting on very well with Tommy and Lady Langhorne.'

Rosa turned her head with a hint of a smile. ‘It was delightful. I didn't realise that she knew Mama years ago, and it was wonderful to be able to talk to someone who was once close to her.'

‘And Tommy?'

Rosa's cheeks were bright with colour. ‘I like him. I like him very much.'

Stella spotted the symptoms of infatuation and she was worried. ‘He's not what you might call steady. He was sent down from Cambridge for bad behaviour, and you know what happened with me.'

‘Of course I do, and Tommy's really sorry for what he did. It must have taken courage for him to admit his wrongdoings to his mama. As to the rest, I'd say it was youthful high spirits.'

‘You're right, I suppose.' Stella leaned back against the seat, revelling in the luxury of travelling first class. Tommy had his faults but he was generous and good-natured. Perhaps he and Rosa would do well together, although she could not help hoping it was just a passing fancy. Rosa, she thought, deserved better than Tommy Langhorne. She closed her eyes, worn out by the events of the day, and drifted off into a dreamless sleep.