Deadly Inheritance (31 page)

Facing the terrified horses was a polished, dark green motor vehicle. As Richard ran up, a badly shaken driver stepped down onto the gravelled drive. A youngish man; he wore a dark jacket with embossed brass buttons, what looked like dark blue jodhpurs, a peaked cap and goggles.

‘What the hell are you doing?’ Richard threw at him.

‘Sorry, sir, it was a surprise, see; coming round the corner of the house and meeting that carriage.’

‘And sounding your horn seemed appropriate, did it?’

The driver took off his goggles, revealing unhappy eyes set in circles of clean flesh in a dusty face. ‘Like I said, sir, I’m sorry.’

The coachman handed over the now steadied lead horse to one of the stable lads and approached.

‘You’ll address his lordship as “my lord”,’ he said, his face an angry red. ‘This is the Earl of Mountstanton and these are his prime matched bays you’ve frightened out of their senses.’

‘Thank you, Ford,’ Richard said. ‘Do you think the horses are able to proceed now?’

The coachman looked back at his charges: eyes rolled, rumps quivered and the animals moved nervously, but they were no longer out of control. He nodded. ‘They’ll be all right, my lord, and all the better for being under way.’ He looked at the driver. ‘Think you can move that
thing
out of our way without putting the fear of God into them again?’

‘Perhaps,’ suggested Richard, ‘if it was pushed back a bit? The lads could help.’

The driver looked relieved and nodded. Standing on the ground next to the driver’s seat, he let off the brake and took hold of the wheel. With the help of two of the stable lads, the machine was pushed into the side of the drive.

A few minutes later the carriage moved slowly round to the front of the house.

‘I await an explanation,’ Richard said to the driver.

The young man flushed. ‘As I said, I’m sorry, sir … my lord. I wasn’t expecting … well, I was told to go round the house, like, to the stable yard.’

‘Stable yard, yes. And nothing suggested to you that horses could be coming out of the yard, not to mention a carriage, and that your infernal machine could frighten the wits out of them? That without due care you could cause a hell of an accident?’

Richard caught himself. He should have learned by now there was no point in losing his temper. After a brief pause he added, ‘Where are you from?’

‘Salisbury, Sir … my lord.’

‘Who sent you?’

‘Colonel Stanhope, sir; I mean, my lord.’

‘Colonel Stanhope?’

‘Yes, sir. The machine is his … and I’m his mechanic. Roberts is the name.’

‘Well, Roberts, you had better proceed to the stable yard.’

Richard watched as the driver switched on the engine, swung the starter handle at the front of the machine, climbed back into the vehicle, replaced his cap but not the goggles, and slowly drove off.

Richard followed him round to the stable yard. By the time he reached it, the glossy green machine was stopped in the middle of the yard, surrounded by all the grooms, and Roberts was looking around with lively interest.

Where the hell was Charles? What was he thinking of, acquiring such an infernal machine, not to mention a mechanic, without a word to anyone?

Richard singled out the Head Groom. ‘Higgs, apparently this machine belongs to Colonel Stanhope and that is Roberts, the mechanic. Both man and machine will require accommodation.’

‘Very good, my lord.’ Higgs looked thoughtful. ‘There’ll be room in the stable lads’ quarters for ’im, my lord,’ nodding at Roberts, ‘but I doesn’t know about the machine. We got a couple of empty stalls but it’ll never get through the doors.’

Richard sighed. ‘Find something for it, Higgs.’

‘Will the Colonel be back today, my lord?’

Richard was saved having to answer by the arrival of Miss Grandison mounted on the quietest of the Mountstanton mares. He went to its head. ‘Morning, Miss Grandison. Back from your morning ride?’

She looked down at him with her easy charm. ‘Good morning, my lord. I very much appreciate being supplied with Daisy,’ she gave the horse a loving pat. ‘The exercise is very beneficial and I am enjoying your beautiful countryside.’

Richard helped her dismount. He wondered just where she rode. He thought he might have caught a glimpse of her this morning on Viscount Broome’s estate. No doubt she didn’t realise she had travelled beyond Mountstanton land. She couldn’t, though, have returned home immediately for he had been back some time.

‘I hope you have had a pleasant outing?’

She nodded, removing her gloves, then caught sight of the motor vehicle. ‘Good heavens, I did not expect to see such a modern convenience at Mountstanton! Have you advanced into the twentieth century, my lord?’ She shot him a teasing glance.

‘It appears to belong to my brother, Miss Grandison. He would seem to have obtained it from Salisbury.’

‘Indeed!’ She limped over to the vehicle and was soon in conversation with Roberts.

Richard sank his hands into his trouser pockets and watched as Belle’s companion was given a tour of the machine. He almost expected her to climb into the driving seat and ask for it to be started up.

Higgs, who had disappeared after Miss Grandison rode into the yard, now reappeared. ‘I’ve had a word with Gradgrass, my lord. There’s that outbuilding where the wheelbarrows and gardening trailors are kept. He thinks it best if it’s cleared out and the machine placed in there for the present.’

Richard wondered what pressure had been brought to bear on the head gardener.

Higgs rubbed at one of his ears. ‘Seems to think it’s time he was provided with somewhere more commodious, my lord,’ he said, all expression carefully wiped from his face.

So that explained that. Richard watched Higgs go over to the driver. A moment later, they disappeared off towards the horticultural area.

Miss Grandison limped back to Richard. ‘It seems an impressive machine, my lord. Roberts says it is a one-cylinder engine but that the power-to-weight ratio produces up to twenty-five miles an hour.’

‘You seem to know a great deal about motor vehicles, Miss Grandison.’

She shrugged. ‘They are the future, my lord. Mr Seldon has one and enjoys being driven in it.’

At that moment the station fly arrived. Stepping down from it was his brother, Colonel The Honourable Charles Stanhope.

The Colonel jumped down from the fly. He was wearing a formal dark suit with a wing collar and a bowler hat. The driver lifted out his case and handed it to a groom. The transport was dismissed. Charles Stanhope tipped his hat with the briefest of smiles to Ursula and turned to the motor vehicle.

Ursula had thought she would be delighted to see him after his protracted stay in London. Now her feelings were confused. Questions had arisen that suggested he might not be quite everything he seemed. Belle’s verbal attack on him, despite Ursula’s immediate rejection of everything she said, had left a mark, like stains on linen that only appear after time has passed. And today she had been presented with facts that made her uneasy. She needed time to think.

‘Ah, my new toy has arrived. Sorry, Richard, I meant to be here before Roberts brought it round but business made me miss a train.’ He went over and laid a hand on the motor’s bonnet.

Ursula thought that he might just as well have been caressing a well-loved horse, even a woman. She repressed the shiver that went through her.

‘A nasty accident was only just avoided,’ said his brother coldly.

Charles Stanhope listened to the details of the incident. ‘I am extremely sorry, Richard, and relieved that no harm appears to have been done. I shall have to talk with Roberts. Nothing like that must be allowed to happen again.’

Ursula had retrieved the stick left in the stable when she had mounted that morning, and hoped to escape into the house before he spoke to her. Her limp slowed her down too much.

‘Miss Grandison, I am very pleased to see you in a habit. This must mean that you are able to ride again.’

She nodded. ‘My ankle is much recovered, thank you, Colonel.’ She knew her words were stiff and saw him frown. ‘Forgive me, I must go and change.’

Ursula limped into the house, conscious that the Colonel’s intent gaze followed her.

Upstairs in her bedroom, she went to the window and caught sight of the polished, dark-green motor vehicle disappearing with the Colonel driving. The details vouchsafed by Roberts echoed uneasily in her mind. She undid the buttons of her habit with irritated fingers. Emotion had to be banished, facts faced.

By the time she had carefully put away her habit and changed into a severe, ivory poplin shirt and matching linen skirt, Ursula had managed to achieve a certain calm. She brushed her hair into a knot at the back of her head, securing it with a host of pins.

Halfway down the last flight of stairs into the main hall, Ursula was in time to see Mr Warburton hand his hat and gloves to Benson. Then, in a flurry of rose-patterned muslin, Belle ran up to him.

‘William – you’re here! How wonderful!’ She grabbed his hands and stood looking eagerly at him, her bosom rising and falling with excitement, her cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling with delight. No maidenly modesty for Belle, thought Ursula, transfixed on the staircase.

‘Miss Seldon. Thank you for being so pleased to see me.’

At the formality of his tone, Belle’s joy faded. ‘William?’ Her voice was hurt, her eyes searched his face.

Gently he removed his hands from her grip. ‘Have you been enjoying yourself, Miss Seldon?’

‘Belle!’ Helen advanced down the corridor. ‘I need to talk to you.’ Her voice was cool.

‘You only ever have one thing to say to me,’ Belle shouted and fled past her sister.

‘I am glad to see you back, William,’ said Helen austerely. ‘We will speak later.’ She followed after Belle.

Ursula sighed. She felt infinitely sorry for Belle and would cheerfully do serious injury to the young man who was causing her such pain.

She was the first to enter the dining room for luncheon. Then Helen came in, followed by William Warburton.

‘Belle will be taking her meal in her room; she is a little under the weather,’ Helen said. ‘Mr Warburton, I trust your mother has recovered from her indisposition?’

He coloured very faintly and made his way to his usual place. ‘Thank you, my lady, she is feeling much improved and the doctor is confident she will make a complete recovery.’

The Earl and his brother entered. They seemed at ease with one another and yet Ursula thought she detected an undercurrent. Could it have been caused by the arrival of the motor vehicle?

‘Charles,’ said Helen as the Colonel sat down. ‘We are delighted you have been able to return in time for Mama’s birthday celebrations.’

‘Would not have missed them for the world,’ he said easily.

‘And we want to know everything you have been up to in London; the exhibitions you have seen, the people you have met – all your activities.’

‘Dear Helen, I am afraid you would find such a recital very boring. Tell me instead of all you have arranged for tomorrow.’

Helen was more than happy to talk of the singers, acrobats and tumblers who were to provide the entertainment for the Dowager’s birthday fête. ‘And the fireworks should be particularly spectacular this year. Charles, it’s no use you raising an eyebrow at me. You know how Mama looks forward to her birthday fête.’

The servants, having served the first course, had disappeared. The Colonel said, ‘My dear Helen, I am well aware of Mama’s dependence on the outward sign of her standing in the local community. Indeed, I sometimes think she extends that standing to a good part of the country. She is lucky to have a daughter-in-law who is willing to pander to her foibles.’

Ursula waited for Helen to blush. Instead, she stared haughtily at the Colonel. ‘I wish I could think you were being honest and that you do know I care for her.’

‘Yes, Charles,’ said the Earl caustically. ‘You have been absent from Mountstanton too much. Had you been here you would have seen how much Mama depends on Helen.’

The Colonel held up his hands in surrender. ‘I am put in my place. I will say no more on the matter. Miss Grandison, how have you been spending your time over the last few weeks?’

‘I have enjoyed becoming better acquainted with Mountstanton, its history and traditions. Mr Benson has been kind enough to give me a tour of the picture gallery and I have learnt from Mrs Parsons something of what it takes to run a house of this magnitude. It has all been most educational.’

Helen looked at her with astonishment. ‘Ursula, I had no idea that was what you were up to.’

‘You make it sound as though I have been indulging in something underhand. I thought you would be pleased to hear I was so interested in this wonderful house and estate.’

‘If I had known of your curiosity, I would have made time to satisfy it myself,’ Helen said glacially.

‘I hope, Miss Grandison, that you will allow me to extend your knowledge of Mountstanton,’ said the Colonel smoothly.

Her poise perfectly in place, Ursula gave a little dip of her head and said, ‘That would be most kind, Colonel.’

He gave her a slightly puzzled look, as though he recognised a change in her attitude towards him and was unable to account for it.

‘Have we told you our plans for London, Charles?’ said Helen brightly. Having regained control of the conversation, she regaled her brother-in-law with details of balls, race meetings, regattas and other excitements until the end of the meal.

As they left the dining room, Ursula said, ‘I think I should visit Belle, see how she is.’

‘I would rather she were left sleeping undisturbed,’ said Helen cooly.

‘Charles, I want you to take me in that motor carriage of yours to Salisbury,’ said the Earl. ‘I have an urgent errand there.’

‘I shall be delighted. Would you care to accompany us, Miss Grandison?’

‘Alas, I have letters to write,’ said Ursula. She moved off down the corridor, conscious that the Colonel was unhappy with her attitude.

She had not written to Mr Seldon for several days. Recently, there had not been a great deal worth telling him. Today, however, she had gained new details. In the library she helped herself to a supply of crested notepaper, borrowed the pen from the desk-stand and sat down to write to Helen’s father. The letter took her some considerable time and her clear, incisive hand covered several sheets of paper.