Fenella J. Miller (4 page)

All she had to do was remain in her post the full nine months until her majority and then she would be safe from coercion, Sir John would no longer be her guardian and she would be a free and independent woman. She would finally gain control of her fortune and be able to set up her own establishment.

It did not occur to her that uncle might be more astute than she had given him credit for and would suspect that her sudden disappearance was connected in some way to Ann’s movements.

 * * * *

Mr Anderson left on business in London two days after Cassie’s arrival at the Hall and she felt a definite relaxing in the atmosphere, as if everyone had been on their best behaviour whilst he was present. The staff smiled more readily, even the austere butler was seen to have a lightening of expression.

Cassie had been in residence a week and was desperate to get down to the village which was a little over a mile away. Ann must have arrived and be settled in her new home by now. Although she wasn’t sure which property Ann had chosen to rent, it shouldn’t be difficult to enquire in the village for a friend called Mrs Harper.

There had been three to select from so all Cassie had to do was send Molly to visit each of the addresses and see if her friend had arrived. The plan had been that Ann would leave as soon as she could arrange a seat on the coach. Surely that would have been only a day or two after her own departure?

There had been no more mention of riding, and remembering how Amanda’s hand had shaken in hers at the mention of horses, Cassie decided not to insist that they go on horseback. Instead she suggested that they reverse the order of their day; do their lessons in the afternoon and take their constitutional that morning.

‘I should like to explore the village, and this is the first morning the sun has been out. I thought it would be pleasant to walk down that way, I hope you can direct me, for I have no idea the whereabouts of anything as yet.’

Amanda was thrilled at the prospect of walking to the village. ‘I do know, Miss Roberts. Nanny sometimes takes me down there, shall we have time to visit the shops? There is a haberdashers and a general stores and sometimes Papa gives me a coin to spend.’

‘Then that is what we shall do, I have sufficient funds to buy you something small. Now, run along and find your thickest cloak and warmest boots – it might be sunny, but I’m sure it’s quite chilly outside.’

She heard her pupil running eagerly back to her room and smiled. Amanda was such an easy child to teach, so beautiful, so open natured, she was at a loss to know how such a dark and brooding man had produced this lovely sunny girl.

Molly was ready and waiting when she got back to her own chambers. ‘There you are, miss, I’m that desperate to get out of this house, I can’t remember when it’s been so long since I had a walk in the fresh air. Here, I’ve got your boots and things all ready for you.’

It was a matter of moments to don her sturdy boots and lace them firmly, find her muffler and gloves and tie on her serviceable bonnet. She surveyed her appearance in the mirror. ‘Do you know, Molly, I believe my colour is already better, and my cheeks filling out a little. I might not have had any fresh air, but living in comfort and eating good food is already having a beneficial effect on me.’

She was just leaving her chamber when Amanda burst into her room. ‘Oh good, Miss Roberts, you’re ready to leave. Nanny says she would come if you wished her to, but I know she’d rather stay indoors in the warm.’

‘Miss Amanda, what did you forget to do?’ Cassie remonstrated gently.

The child’s face fell. ‘I am sorry, Miss Roberts, I should have knocked and waited for you to bid me enter. I beg your pardon.’

‘Your apology is accepted, my love. Now, there is no need for Nanny to come with us, Molly is to accompany us. You can call in and tell her as we go past.’

A footman swung open the heavy front door and she emerged blinking, feeling rather like a mole that had been underground too long, into the watery sunlight. She realised she had not been outside since her arrival over a week ago. Taking Amanda’s hand in hers she ran lightly down the steps and out on to the gravel turning circle. She stopped and slowly looked around her.

‘My word, Miss Amanda, I had no idea how substantial your home is. Do you know, this is the first time I’ve seen it properly since I arrived last week? I can’t imagine how many rooms there must be here. I know you told me your grandfather built this house after the original hall burnt down in a fire. But I didn’t think to ask how big it was. Now that I can see for myself, I must own that I am very impressed indeed.’

Amanda jumped up and down in excitement. ‘Papa says it is the finest house in the neighbourhood, he’s very proud of it.’ Her face fell. ‘If he loves it so much, why does he spend so much time away from here? Away from me?’

That was a question Cassie would like the answer to herself. Molly had done her best to glean information from the staff, but they had been very close lipped. All she knew was that Mrs Anderson had died some time ago in an accident, and that there had been three governesses employed since then and none of them had stayed above a few months.

This last fact intrigued her most. What was it about this place that drove these women away? She knew she had luxurious apartments, she was waited on hand and foot as though a real member of the family, and the little girl she was looking after could not be sweeter. So what was it that had caused the previous governesses to depart?

She shivered, as unbidden an explanation insinuated itself into her happiness. There was only one reason she could think of that could explain their premature departure. It had to be something to do with her employer – what did he do that was so awful these women no longer wished to remain under his roof? Was his surly temper and brusque manner the reason?

She frowned as another thought occurred to her, she hadn’t liked to enquire, but perhaps the girls had been dismissed, not left of their own volition? Either way, there was a mystery here and she was determined to solve it.

Chapter Four

The walk to the village took little over half an hour and during that time the weather turned decidedly cold.

‘I fear we could be in some snow, Miss Amanda, so we had better not delay too long. Although it is not above a mile or so back to the Hall, our route is across an open field and it would be decidedly unpleasant to be caught there in a snowstorm.’

‘Mrs Green told Nanny that Fred, the head gardener, thinks there will be snow before the end of the day, but when I got up and saw it was sunny, I thought they had been mistaken so didn’t mention it to you.’

The child looked anxious, obviously believing she was at fault. ‘There’s no need to worry, Miss Amanda, the walk is my decision, if we get caught out in bad weather there will be no one to blame but me.’ They were now entering the busy High Street. She noticed that the road was a trifle potholed, but there were flagged paths on either side for pedestrians to use.

Cassie was also delighted to see several shops and many other businesses. If the village was prospering then she was sure that Ann would settle in well and that they would both make friends amongst the local populace. She turned to Molly.

 ‘Molly, I wish you to go to those three addresses you have on the paper I gave you this morning. If you find one occupied, knock on the door and make yourself known.’

Molly nodded. ‘I’ll do that, Miss Roberts, I’ll ask at the blacksmith’s where each property is situated. Where shall I meet you?’

Cassie looked around. ‘I wish to go into the haberdashers, and then the general store. There is an inn, The Black Sheep, further down that looks clean and wholesome. Miss Amanda and I shall wait for you there, I’m sure we can order refreshments of some sort whilst we wait.’

She was surprised that Amanda wasn’t greeted by any of the locals, although several people turned to look at them and half smiled, no one actually stopped and spoke. ‘Miss Amanda, do you not know anyone in the village? Don’t you attend church here on Sundays?’

‘No, Miss Roberts, Papa does not approve of the church. I have not been since ... since my mother died. We rarely went to the village before then, Mama thought it was full of common people and not suitable for me to be here.’

Cassie wanted to ask more, but refrained as they were about to enter a shop. An hour later purchases complete, she was sitting in front of roaring fire in a neat private parlour at The Black Sheep.

‘It looks like it’s turning right nasty out there, miss. Is someone collecting you from here?’ The jovial landlord spoke to them as he placed the steaming mugs of chocolate down.

‘No, we have walked down from Martlesham Hall, I’m just waiting for my maid to come back from an errand, and then we shall walk back.’

The man scratched his bald pate and his smile slipped a little. ‘I don’t reckon you should risk it, miss, it’s a good long walk to the Hall and across open fields. The sea brings an icy wind to this area and when it snows it can soon turn into a blizzard.’

She had been thinking that herself as she watched the heavy grey clouds roll across the sky obliterating the sun. ‘I’m afraid we have no choice, landlord, unless you have a vehicle which I can hire to transport us home?’

He shook his head. ‘I’m sorry, miss, but I’ve only the one gig and that’s in use at the moment.’

That moment the door opened and Molly came in, her cheeks flushed from the cold. ‘Miss Roberts, it’s turning really bad out there, if we’re going to get home today, I think we’d better leave straight away.’

Hastily Cassie paid for the unfinished drinks and buttoned her charge back into her thick winter coat, tying her bonnet strings securely. Molly then did the same for her.

Five minutes later they were back in the High Street and gusts of icy wind buffeted them back along the pavement. Amanda ran ahead, laughing as the wind whipped her coat open and closed as if unseen hands were snatching at it. Cassie took the opportunity to turn to Molly.

‘Did you find her, Molly? ‘

‘No, miss, it’s mighty strange, but all three properties are occupied, but none of them by you know who. I spoke to a Mrs Smith, who moved in yesterday to the cottage on the edge of the green. She told me that she had only been lucky enough to get that cottage because a young widow had cancelled her reservation at the last minute.’

Cassie felt an icy shiver run up her spine and it wasn’t caused by the weather. She had no time to comment as Amanda ran back to her, her face glowing with excitement.

‘Isn’t this exciting, Miss Roberts? You know I’ve never been out in a storm before. Do you think it will snow before we get home? Shall we be like intrepid explorers?’

‘I fear that we shall, Miss Amanda. I for one am not overly partial to blizzards, but I’m prepared to enjoy the experience for your sake.’

The child stared at over a moment and then laughed. ‘You’re funning me, Miss Roberts. I do so like it when you tease.’

Cassie and Molly exchanged glances, the more she got to know her charge, the more there was to discover. The threatened snow started to fall in blustery clouds when they were halfway across the field. Fortunately they reached the shelter of Home Woods before it became too heavy. They paused underneath the overhanging branches to shake out their cloaks and stamp snow from their boots.

‘Well, that’s the worst of the journey over. Come along, Miss Amanda, let’s hold hands and see if we can run the rest of the way. That should warm us up sufficiently so we won’t die from the cold.’

The child obediently held out her hand and gathering up her skirts Cassie started to increase her pace. They erupted on to the gravel circle at full speed, barely able to see a few yards in front of them through what had now become a blizzard. Breathless they raced round to the side door, which was always left open, and Molly held it back. As it slammed behind them they collapsed in a heap against the wall, laughing and brushing snow from their faces.

Cassie was just about to undo the buttons on Amanda’s coat when she heard heavy footsteps approaching rapidly from the front hall.

 ‘Where the devil have you been? Have you lost your senses, woman? What possessed you to take my daughter out in a blizzard?’

Cassie’s hands stilled, but her heart thumped wildly. She glanced up at Amanda’s face and saw the fear in it. Some instinct made her grin and a wink immodestly. Slowly she stood up and as she did so she whispered in Amanda’s ear. ‘Now I’m for it, what bad luck, Mr Anderson arriving just as we were having so much fun together.’

 She felt the rigid shoulders under her hands relax. Quickly she pushed the little girl towards Molly and her maid, taking the hint, took the child away, leaving Cassie to turn and face the glowering man.

‘We were in no danger, Mr Anderson, the snow did not start until we were in the shelter of the woods. Your daughter does not have nearly enough exercise and a walk to the village whatever the weather is good for her.’ She risked raising her eyes as she finished her sentence. She wished she hadn’t.

‘I wish to speak to you in my study. Be there in five minutes.’ He raked her with an icy stare then vanished leaving her flustered and unsure of herself. She ran up the back stairs and into her rooms where Molly was waiting.

‘I have to change, I have to be in the study in five minutes. I’m in for a bear garden jaw, that’s for sure. I cannot understand why Mr Anderson is so enraged. We would hardly have come to any harm even if we had been stuck in the snow. A few strongmen could soon have rescued us before anything untoward occurred.’

‘The hem of your gown is mired, miss, if you take off your boots and things, I’ll fetch you a clean one. If we’re quick, I reckon you can be changed and still back downstairs in a minute or two.’

Cassie hesitated outside the study door before knocking. She suspected that Amanda’s fear had been for her, not for herself. Did the girl think she would be dismissed for taking her down to the village? She heard the barked command to enter and pushed open the door, determined not to show any nervousness. She had done nothing wrong, her charge had been in no danger, and her employer had given her full responsibility for his daughter’s upbringing.