Fenella J. Miller (6 page)

The ever present footman pulled back her chair and she sailed from the room, hoping her nervousness was not apparent. She was tempted to make good her escape whilst she still could, but didn’t want to risk her employer’s wrath. Nervously she paced up and down the carpet when in the corner she spied a pianoforte. Why hadn’t she seen the instrument before? She supposed it was because she had only been in to the room the once, when Amanda had taken he on a grand tour of the house.

She hurried over to the instrument and raised the lid, running her hands lovingly along the polished surface. She glanced over her shoulder, the dining room door was still closed. Perhaps she had time to play something before Mr Anderson joined her.

Music had been her one escape from the drudgery of living with her uncle and aunt at Upton. There was a music room, no warmer than anywhere else she was allowed to go, but when she was free, she retreated there and lost herself in melody. She sat down and closed her eyes, deciding what to play. She didn’t need to find any sheets, she had a repertoire of many pieces she could play from memory. As soon as her fingers touched the keys she forgot where she was, who she was, and let the beauty of the sonata carry her away .

She was unaware that he had come into the room, drawing his chair up close to sit behind her, resting his head back and closing his eyes, to enjoy the rare treat of hearing such a wonderful performance. Cassie’s hands were finally still, she sat relaxed and smiling on the piano stool blissfully unaware he was watching her so intently, a mere yard or two behind her. She was jerked from her reverie by his mild enquiry.

‘I do not remember seeing on your résumé, Miss Roberts, that you are such an accomplished pianist. Why is that, I wonder?’

Cassie carefully closed the lid of the instrument, giving herself time to think of an appropriate answer. The reason it hadn’t been on the résumé was because Ann didn’t have a musical bone in her body. As she was supposed to be her friend, music should not be part of her repertoire.

She didn’t know what to say, she hated telling untruths, had disliked the necessity of becoming an impostor, but the only way she could remain safe until she reached her majority was by impersonating her friend. She came to a decision. There was something about this man that made her believe she could trust him, and in spite of her deception, he might just possibly see why she’d been forced to do it and allow her to stay.

 Cassie stood up and walked round him, returning to the upright chair she’d sat on before they dined. She waited until he joined her, he placed his own chair disconcertingly close. She took a few steadying breaths then raised her head.

‘I have something to tell you, sir, something that I’m ashamed of, and I know that you will be most displeased. I just pray you can understand my motives.’ She watched him lean back in his chair folding his arms across his chest; he didn’t speak, but he did not look angry, merely interested.

‘I am not Ann Roberts, I am Miss Cassandra Forsythe, I am masquerading as my own governess. It is her résumé that you received, she is unable to play the pianoforte, I had quite forgotten when I sat down in front of it that by playing I would reveal myself.’

‘Go on, tell me the rest of your story.’

‘My parents died six years ago and I was placed in the care of my maternal aunt, Lady Digby and her husband, Sir John. They had no wish to look after me, but were pleased to be able to access the interest from my trust fund. I have been kept as little more than an unpaid servant these past few years, whilst they enjoyed my money. They have a son, who is little more than a simpleton, but is gentle and kind. As my majority approaches, I shall be one and twenty next July, they have become more insistent that I marry him.

The more I refused the more unkind they were to him, making his life unbearable. I am quite able to withstand meagre food and cold chambers, but poor Perry is not made of such strong stuff. He did not understand why they were being unkind to him.’ She saw sympathy reflected in his eyes and felt emboldened to continue. ‘So you see, sir, I had no choice, I had to remove myself from Upton Manor and must remain hidden until next July when my trust funds shall be returned to me. My governess, Miss Roberts, remained nearby after her dismissal and helped me with this scheme. In fact, sir, she was supposed to move into a vacant property on the Green, but when I went down there this morning, I discovered someone else was living there, and that she had cancelled her reservation.’

Cassie had pushed these worries to the back of her mind during the day, more concerned with the excitement of dining with her employer, but now she was telling him about it, her fears resurfaced.

 ‘I am most concerned, sir, something untoward may have occurred. I can see no other reason why Miss Roberts should not now be living in the village; the only explanation I can come up with is that my uncle has detained her against her will.’

‘It is a shocking story, Miss Forsythe, although I could wish that you had not deceived me, in every other respect you’re exactly as you said you were, and more than capable of caring for my daughter and of giving her the love and support she needs.’

Cassie’s eyes rounded. ‘Are you saying, that you shall not throw me out of your house? That I may stay as your daughter’s governess until next year?’

He leant forward, a strange glitter in his eyes. ‘Do you think me so black hearted , Miss Forsyth, that I should send you packing in the middle of a blizzard?’

She half smiled. ‘Of course not, sir, but am I to stay on when the weather moderates?’

‘You may, but I think it best if no one else knows your secret. It is one thing having a governess living here unchaperoned, but quite another a young lady of substance. Your reputation would be in shatters if it should become known.’

This was one aspect of the arrangement that neither she nor Ann had considered. ‘That is of no matter, sir, as I have no intention of entering the marriage mart. For as soon as I am of age I shall buy an estate and live there with Miss Roberts. Why do I need a husband?’

‘Do you have no wish for children of your own? It’s a lonely life living as a spinster.’

‘I should rather do that, sir, than live fighting like cat and dog as my parents did. It was a love match, not an arranged marriage, but they were never happy together – my father was jealous and my mother more so.’

The rattle the tea trolley arriving prevented him from giving an answer. The parlour maid wheeled it in and left it, the copper urn gently steaming and hissing at Cassie’s side. She was expected to make the tea and had no idea how to do it. She viewed it with disfavour.

‘Do you wish to have tea, sir? I do not, and if you have no desire to have any either, then I shall not have to brave the vagaries of this contraption.’

He chuckled. ‘Allow me to demonstrate, Miss Forsythe. If you care to watch the procedure, I’m sure that you shall have no difficulty performing this duty tomorrow night.’

Cassie felt a little thrill of pleasure at his casual assumption she would join him for dinner again. The tea made, he resumed his seat, his expression serious.

 ‘As soon as the weather improves, Miss Forsyth, I shall make enquiries as to the whereabouts of your friend, Miss Roberts. I’m of the same opinion as you, it is likely that your uncle has detained her. Does she know your destination?’ He frowned. ‘Of course she does, how stupid of me to ask that. I’m afraid that Sir John might be exerting pressure on her to reveal where you are. Do you think Miss Roberts will buckle?’

Cassie shook her head vigorously. ‘Never, she knows how important it is that I remain incognito. She is a resourceful woman, I’m sure she will prevail on my uncle to release her, it is my cousin that I’m worried about. Neither Ann, nor myself, can bear to see him suffer.’

‘In that case, my dear, I shall extricate your Miss Roberts from Upton Manor as soon as maybe.

He smiled as something occurred to him. ‘In fact, I shall bring her here directly. Then she may take over your duties and become your chaperone and companion. That way everything will be as it should.’

Cassie excused herself soon after this, her head whirling with conflicting thoughts. The uppermost of which was why should Mr Anderson wish to have a complete stranger living under his roof? If Ann became Amanda’s governess then her presence would be redundant. What possible reason could he have for wishing her to stay at Martlesham Hall?

Chapter Six

Cassie stumbled out of bed eyes dark from lack of sleep. Events were moving out of her control, her life was being taken over in a quite unexpected way. She had had no choice but to tell her employer her secret. Why had he been so sanguine about her perfidy? There was something decidedly unsettling about the whole business.

As usual she collected Amanda and they went downstairs to eat together in the breakfast parlour. However, this morning she was disconcerted to find the room already occupied. Amanda ran forward in delight. ‘Good morning, Papa , are you going to have breakfast with us today?’

‘I am, my dear, it’s something I do not do nearly often enough.’

Cassie nodded a greeting and half smiled, raising a quizzical eyebrow. She saw the gleam of humour in his eyes and she knew that his sudden appearance had nothing to do with his daughter and everything to do with seeing her.

She had become accustomed to her own routine at breakfast; Amanda and she took it in turns to serve each other.

‘What would you like this morning, Miss Roberts?’ The girl lifted the lids of the chafing dishes and standing on tip-toes to peer in. ‘There are coddled eggs, ham slices, and I don’t know what the other thing is, and field mushrooms. There is also toasted bread, hot rolls and conserve.’

‘Let me think, Miss Amanda – this morning I shall have coddled eggs and toasted bread please. And if there is butter, then I should like a little of that as well.’

The parlour maid hurried in bringing the customary jug of chocolate which the girl placed beside Cassie. The whole time she was aware that she was under scrutiny from the man sitting at the far end of the table, his food congealing on his plate. Eventually Amanda had served herself as well and was safely seated, a napkin tucked in the neck of her pinafore.

‘Shall I say grace, Miss Roberts?’

‘I think this morning we shall miss that out, thank you, Miss Amanda.’ Cassie could feel the disapproval radiating down the table. For some reason Mr Anderson did not approve of the Church, indeed did not seem to wish to even hear God’s name mentioned in his house. What could have happened to destroy his faith?

The child, unaware of the tension, chattered on about this and that, being reminded gently not to talk with her mouth full. Cassie was only able to push the food around her plate, anything she put in her mouth felt as if she was chewing sawdust. Why did the wretched man not finish his meal and leave them in peace?

When Amanda had completed her meal her father was still sitting at the table. Amanda looked first at him and then at Cassie. ‘May I be excused, Papa, Miss Roberts? I still have a lesson to prepare that I didn’t finish last night.’

Cassie waited for him to answer and when he didn’t she said quickly, ‘Yes, my dear, run along. I shall be with you directly.’

The door closed behind her charge, leaving them alone for the first time since the revelations of the previous night. She put her cutlery back on the table with a decided snap. ‘Mr Anderson, why are you here? You never felt the need to breakfast with us before, it is most uncomfortable having you in here like this.’

He raised his hands and carefully dabbed his lips with his napkin before answering. ‘Pray, excuse me if I’m incorrect, that I believe this is my home, and I am at liberty to eat where I wish?’

Cassie bit her tongue in annoyance. He was quite correct, of course, but she had not meant what he implied, and he knew that very well.

‘Mr Anderson, things are difficult enough between us, now that you know how things are, can’t you understand that having you here calling me by a name that is not mine, in front of your daughter, makes me uncomfortable?’

Immediately he stood up and walked round to her side. ‘I had forgotten, Miss Roberts. I had not considered that aspect of things. It is against your nature to prevaricate in any way, is it not? The sooner the real Miss Roberts arrives and this charade can be put to rest, the better I shall like it.’ 

He turned away abruptly and strode to the window, scowling out at the snow as if it had fallen deliberately to annoy him. ‘There’s nothing I can do about it, until the snow clears and heaven knows when that shall be. I have estate business to attend to, I shall not be around during the day, and fully understand if you prefer not to dine with me as things are.’

Cassie felt a rush of relief. ‘Thank you, sir. I have thought of a compromise, if you would consider it? Perhaps we could dine together, a little earlier, and invite Miss Amanda to join us?’

He hesitated for a moment before nodding. ‘Very well, we shall do so tonight, but I do not intend to make habit of having a nursery tea.’

Cassie curtsied politely and hurried out before her wayward tongue said more than was wise. She prided herself on being level headed, slow to anger and never speaking without thought, but these past few hours she had been behaving quite out of character. It was decidedly odd.

 * * * *

The next few days past pleasantly enough, the three of them only dined together the once, and after that Cassie asked to have a tray sent up. She assumed Mr Anderson ate on his own in the dining room. She knew it would be foolish to spend any time alone with him, for some reason

when in his vicinity her emotions were heightened and her tongue, and common sense, assumed a will of their own.

Four days after the blizzard she was up before Molly arrived; she was finding it difficult to sleep at the moment. She went to the window, pulled back the heavy curtains and pushed open the shutters. She gaped at the scene in front of her. Overnight the snow had vanished, not a trace of it, apart from the snowman she and Amanda had built standing lonely in the middle of the park.