Journey's End (Marlbrook) (12 page)

Today, as Laura strolled on her afternoon walk, the sun surprised her, and she soon learned that a forgotten parasol carried a price.  The aftermath of ruddy cheeks produced a slight stinging effect.

Life had settled for Laura.  A degree of order had been restored, aided by the splendour of her surroundings. 

Sloping banks of profuse green grass ran down to meet a series of small streams, each in turn feeding the remarkable lake that glimmered whenever the sun's rays struck at its surface.  Laura removed her shoes
, exposing
dainty feet, her toes sampling the soft carpet.

While luxuriating in the lawn
’
s finery
,
Laura
looked on
as the wrought iron gates of Marlbrook parted
.  T
he opening sanction
ed
the entry of a coach.

The conveyance negotiated the curves of the driveway, dust trailing the vehicle to form curls of creamy white smoke.

Lady
Catherine
was a guest of Lady Cynthia’s
and would be absent for several more days.  The identity of the visitor remained unknown
,
as Laura made her way back to the kitchen.

The commotion generated by the newcomer extended its reach to the scullery, a room relatively isolated from the main part of the house.  Laura stood in awe, as she witnessed the staff scuttle
about
in disarray. 
However
,
t
he reason for their confusion soon became obvious.  The butler, his face a beetroot red and nose aglow
,
lit by his underlying hysteria, heralded his findings from the top of the stairs.  Lord Henry’s unexpected homecoming created a great deal of to do.

Laura had always known that Lord Henry would take up residence, after all this was his home, but that day had always seemed unrelated to today.  A jumbled reaction
occurred within
Laura.  Lord Henry had been privy to very intimate facts, and she had shared a familiarity with him that could hardly be considered appropriate.  Her only saving grace was that Lord Henry had departed the
m
anor before witnessing her final predicament, an indication that all her troubles may not
yet
be beyond repair.

Laura had no idea how his Lordship would receive her nor did she have any immediate plans to find out.  Her mind sharpened,
with
obscurity
selected as
the
best
way
f
orward
.  With the Mistress absent
,
she would be safe for a short period, as the formalities of introduction would not be adhered to until then.

Her duties completed, Laura made for the safety and solitude of her room.  Lord Henry’s portrait was mounted on the wall lining the stairs.  Laura examined his likeness and came to the conclusion that the painting did him an injustice.  The artist, while capturing Lord Henry’s striking features to perfection, had failed to provide an insight into the true character of the man.

As Laura reached the landing on her floor
,
the artist and Lord Henry still occupied her mind, her awareness dimmed by concentration.  The mouth of the corridor, positioned to her right, had yet to be reached
,
when the collision occurred.  At full pace
,
Laura met with an obstacle and
,
in that instant
,
she managed to unravel all her cleverly thought out plans.

Dazed, Laura’s heart beat furiously.  Her body had rebounded off
a
man and
had
come to an abrupt halt back where she had started.  Her victim had not been so lucky.  Elegance of dress had failed to come to his assistance.

When surprise dispersed, a mass of unidentified matter rose in Laura’s throat, the lump restricting her ability to swallow.  His Lordship’s grim features added to the te
nsion, and Laura could feel the familiar
heat
of embarrassment
swamp her
.

“My Lord – please forgive me. I am truly sorry, but we have been at odds with your unexpected arrival and
…
”
and
Laura’s words trailed away.  Laura had no idea what her garbled apology had to do with their mishap, and she had no intention of finding out.  An untidy and somewhat hurried curtsy completed, she began a rapid retreat for her room.

Stunned by the rather unusual circumstances of their reunion, Lord Henry’s senses were shocked but not diminished.  The woman would not get away that lightly.

“Madam!”

Laura came to a
n abrupt
standstill and hesitantly turned around, and incredible though it seemed
to
Lord Henry
,
he
thought the woman might actually slight him by ignoring his
command
.

Lord Henry took charge.  “If I am not inconveniencing you, would you be so kind as to in
dulge me with your presence.
That is, madam, unless you have a more pressing engagement to run off to?”

Fresh, no - untarnished was the word Lord Henry worked to locate, as he likened Laura to a summer nymph with merely a halo of flowers absent.  His appraisal took in the sight of her sunburned cheeks, a scarcity in fashionable circles, but he did not challenge the display on Laura.

Her hair had fallen loose from its prudish constraints to tempt the viewer, the silk-like morsels distracting him momentarily from
the allure of
her eyes.  Any man experienced in the ways of women would recognise those eyes.  When kindled with desire
,
the magnificent objects would pierce a man’s soul, her innocence an arousing additive but no barrier to his resolve.  He had bedded many women like Laura and few had fought him for long.  The undertaking to capture them was almost as much fun as the end reward.

As Lord Henry focused his attention on Laura, he too was the object of scrutiny.  Sarah watched the developing scene from the hidden recesses.  Never once did she think of going to Laura’s aid.

Laura drew breath before curtseying in a slow and polite manner, while inwardly berating herself for her careless blunder.  Her resolve to remain anonymous in this house had been undone.

Lord Henry broke the uncomfortable silence.  “Madam, despite your gallant attempt to incapacitate me, I can state with some degree of honesty that I am pleased to see you intact and in my home.”

The declaration, while airing as genuine, held an undertone that made Laura wary.  The ability to use language temporarily passed her by.

“Come, madam. Surely it is I who shall be the loser if you were to withhold your comments. Did we not share ale and have words of friendship spoken between us?”

Lord Henry tempted Laura to debate the subject but wisdom told Laura
,
no.

“
Miss Jennings,
I can see by your reaction that I have failed to give you credit. Your past comments warned me of the dangers that familiarity can breed, and you gave strict instructions that you did not want to foster their growth. Am I correct?”

Laura
quickly
reassembled her wits and coated herself in their protection.
“My Lord,” Laura began, her voice composed and once more in control.  “I am indebted to you for the removal of my need to explain. Your sympathetic bent towards a servant and her problems earns you praise.”

Lord Henry did all that any man could
,
given the circumstances
.  H
e permitted Laura to finish her speech.

“You have rightly perceived the problems that I could face if I stepped outside of a servant’s boundaries. Indeed, credit must be given to you for remembering me at all. I regard myself as fortunate in my choice of employment.”  The words stated, Laura bobbed a polite curtsey and then left him to his own company.

Stunned by Laura’s
rapid
exit, Lord Henry made no attempt to move.  The scene replayed.  Studying the situation in depth, he endeavoured to come to grips with how a servant could have got the better of him.

A connoisseur of the ladies, Lord Henry believed himself to be an expert in the habits of women.  The majority of females who found themselves in Laura’s position would have fainted clear away at the mere prospect of a Lord of the Realm conversing with them.  As to demanding their presence, heaven help him
,
he dared not think what aftermath that would have conjured, but Laura had dismissed him and left him in this condition. 

Laughter fell from Lord Henry in a hearty burst, his hat slapped hard against his outstretched thigh in good cheer.  The minx had won, but as the laughter faded he envisioned their next encounter.  He would make it his business to ensure that all future engagements took place on his terms.

Sarah observed her sister’s blunder, and disgust built for the insipid woman with whom it had been her misfortune to inherit.  If ever an opportunity had presented itself it had been now.  Nevertheless, in compensation, one intriguing detail had stood out.  Lord Henry’s countenance had testified against him.  Sarah was quick to recognise lust.  Laura, Sarah could tell, had no idea of the effect she had on the man, but she was not her sister.  Lord Henry warranted her attention, and she would
take great pleasure in
mak
ing
sure that some day soon he would be hers.

In the privacy of her chamber
,
Sarah studied her reflection in the full-length, gilt-edged mirror.  Hands wandered over the ripe young breasts that she knew men coveted before moving on to the slim waist that enticed, tracing her curves in a downward progression to the
target
of a man’s intent.  Nature had been generous with Sarah, and she would offer no complaint.  In one month and five days, she would attain eighteen years of age.  She was a woman
,
ready to play grown-up games and perhaps entertain herself along the way.  Sarah stayed in the shadows but not for long.

CHAPTER
SIXTEEN
-
Barriers

“Mother,
as always
,
it is a pleasure to be home,” Lord Henry
stated
, as he bowed to kiss
Lady Catherine’s
outstretched hand.

“
I take it you
will carry out your side of the bargain, Henry?”

“I have given my word, and a gentleman never goes back on his oath.”

“No, a “gentleman” would not,” Lady
Catherine
replied
, knowing full well
that
she affronted her son.

#

The dawn of Laura’s impending doom started out bright and
sunny
, a false sense of
calm
dominating the atmosphere of the house.  Formal introductions were
set
to take place in the morning room.

At the given hour, Laura nestled alongside Sarah.  A parlour maid, whose pallor indicated her level of discomfort, was also in attendance
,
being the latest addition to the household.

Lord Henry appeared to be in good spirits. “Occasionally
,
a man is rewarded with a task that he enjoys and today is such a day.”

Apprehension rose
with
in Laura
,
along with
a vast amount of
other unidentified worries, as the threat of exposure flourished.

“Mother
..
.”  Lord Henry applied a deliberate pause.  He played with Laura’s emotions, fully aware of her distress.  “I have just cause to congratulate you on
your talents
.”  Lord Henry
’s
gaze
settled upon Laura.  He would not be denied her reaction.
 
“I confess that I am ignorant as to the
aptitude
you possess in the hiring of your staff. However, your ability to select a companion that is also able to defeat a man in
a game of
bowls is a feat unsurpassed. Would you not agree, Mis
s Jennings
?”

To the amusement of her Ladyship, her son went on to recount, in quite gleeful terms, how Laura had whipped his feet from beneath him while knocking the wind from his lungs.

Lord Henry’s contrivance worked.  He could read the indebtedness in Laura’s eyes.  The trivial act of relating a harmless tale had reaped him the dividend he coveted.  Laura would be beholden to him for his chivalrous conduct.  Now it was only a matter of time before Laura would be his to do with as he pleased.