Lord of the Abbey (16 page)

“
Shall we go down to the library?” Rowena asked, still holding the letter reverently in her hand.

“
Absolutely. After you, ladies.” Harry, Lyon and Micah followed the ladies downstairs.

“
It is shorter than the last letter. Only one page.” Rowena realized she was holding her breath as she carefully broke the seal and opened the old linen. “It is signed by William Dulac. It must have been written after the other, for his hand is much weaker.” She squinted as she perused it. “Oh my! This will take some deciphering.” Rowena looked about the table to Harry, Lyon, Micah and her aunt.

Micah sat on one side of Rowena, Harry on the other.

“
It is later, by one year. This letter is dated January, 1600.” Micah squinted to make out the marks.

“
I suggest that you, Micah and Lady Rowena, partner to decipher the letter since you are both quite adept at the old handwriting. Lyon if you can begin searching the downstairs and outbuildings for a secret chamber, perhaps Lady Sperring will assist me in looking above stairs.”

“
Very good idea, Harry!” Micah commented. Rowena rose to retrieve quill, ink and paper from a small writing desk along the wall. She returned to her seat beside Micah, and the pair bent heads to begin with the letter.

“
Lady Sperring, may I have permission to look in the kitchens, the larder, cellar and chapel as well?” Lyon asked.

“
Of course. Look where you will, Lyon. Every nook and cranny if that’s what it takes to find this secret chamber.” Frances took Harry’s arm as they proceeded to the stairs.

Harry led Frances into the hall. “May we return to Rowena’s bedchamber, Lady Sperring. Since the furniture is believed to have been long in the house, I should like to inspect the rest of it more closely.”

“
Of course, Harry.”

Ensconced in Rowena’s chamber, safe from the curious ears of the servants, Harry felt free to make good use of his time alone with his Angel’s aunt. “Lady Sperring, I wish to tell you that Lady Rowena has captured my interest.”

“
Oh!” Though she tried to act politely surprised, Frances feared that her pleased expression might give her away. It did.

“
You are not surprised, Lady Sperring?”

“
Harry, I will be honest with you. I thought, or had a feeling if you will, that you might be interested in my niece.” She couldn’t admit that after hearing voices from the old wing last night, she walked only far enough to ascertain that they were Harry’s and Rowena’s. She turned around and made her way back to her chamber upon that discovery. “Firstly, I shall tell you that I absolutely approve of your interest in Rowena. You appear to be the perfect match for her. I’ve watched you grow from a boy, and know you to be a good man. I think you might already suspect that Rowena has many fears regarding marriage.”

“
I guessed as much. Would you be so kind as to enlighten me, Lady Sperring, on the cause of Rowena’s fears. I assure you, I will hold what you tell me with the utmost secrecy. I wish to know the cause of her fears so I may know how best to move forward.”

“
It partly stems from the relationship between her father and her mother, my sister, Anne. At least that’s where the seeds of her fear were planted.” Frances began to recount the painful story of Anne Locke’s marriage.

Harry listened to her explanation, asking questions for clarification when he felt the need.

Frances also told him of Rowena’s brother and his wife’s treatment of Rowena, and her horrible experiences when Richard arranged the marriage between Lord Dalworth and her niece.

“
Thank you for telling me, Lady Sperring. I realize speaking of your sister must bring you sadness. I do appreciate your confiding such to me,” Harry said truthfully. Even with the snippets Rowena revealed to him about her brother and Dalworth, he’d no idea the true depth of her fears.

“
I used to be sad when I thought of Anne, Harry. But I tried to help her leave her situation many times. Of course I had no specific course of action to spring her from Edward’s clutches, but I always told her it was not impossible. That together we could formulate a plan. Anne hadn’t the courage to leave. She never wanted to talk of it. Rowena braved scandal and being ostracized by the ton to avoid ever even being put into a similar situation. Anne made her choice to stay in her misery. My dear brave Rowena, however, chose to never venture into such a horrible relationship.”

“
If you don’t mind my prying, Lady Sperring, how did you spring Rowena from the engagement to Dalworth? I must confess, I never remember hearing anything of it.”

Frances grinned triumphantly. “I had a dear friend in Italy, Marchese Montecatini, a most adorable widower of eighty-seven he was then. He has since passed on, the dear, dear man. He thought very highly of Rowena, for they met several times when Rowena accompanied me to Italy before and after her mother’s death.

I took Rowena traveling, even though we were in mourning, after Anne died. Sir John accompanied us. I did not like the thought of leaving Rowena with Richard and Almena while I was away. Anne’s death was hard on both of us. So I convinced Richard it would do her well to have a change of scenery. We just returned from Italy when Richard and Almena whisked her to London and within a month informed her she was to be wed to Dalworth. They forced it upon her. After Rowena sent word to me, I went immediately to Richard and informed him that he could not give her to anyone in marriage, for she married the Marchese Montecatini while in Italy and we were waiting for him to arrive in London before we made the announcement. I took her from that house with me that very day.

I immediately sent a letter by special messenger to the Marchese. Within a week, the ‘fake’ marriage certificate was delivered into Richard’s hands. We never heard anymore from Richard after that. Rowena and I returned to Glastonbury. The week following, my friend the Marchese arrived, and met with Richard, while in the company of two very large Italian guards.”

Frances continued, “He came to Glastonbury, to
claim
his bride. The gossip mongers in London made the most of everything, as you can well imagine. Of course none here in Glastonbury really knew anything of what transpired in London. So we never mentioned anything about the supposed ‘marriage’ here. There was talk of our esteemed visitor, for he visited the town often while here. If there were whispers, they stayed whispers. The Marchese visited us a few months and returned to Italy. Alone.”

Frances sighed, “Of course there had been no marriage. The certificate was fake. I have a copy of that and the Marchese’s certificate of death. He was a brilliant man, thought of everything. He wanted to make certain Rowena was free to marry if she ever chose to. He adored her and would have done more to protect her if needed. It never came to that.”

“
That explains her distaste of London society as well,” Harry mused aloud. Deep in thought, he pulled on his chin.

“
It was brutal, really, as I’m sure you can guess. The audacity of Richard, Earl of Heathcote, to promise his sister in marriage to a man with a reputation like Dalworth’s was the first scandal. Then for Rowena to verbally refuse Dalworth and her brother, well that news circulated like wildfire. The crux was finding out that Lady Rowena Locke already married, without her brother’s consent to the eighty-seven year old Marchese Montecatini from Florence, who was at the time known to be nearly the richest man in Italy.

Heavens, the gossip-mongers were not kind. The ton went from pitying her for being forced to marry Dalworth to condemning her for being a scheming fortune hunter in the span of a few weeks.”

“
But she was spared from a life, most likely a short one, of painful hell with Dalworth,” Harry pointed out. The thought of Dalworth laying a hand on Rowena made him angry. He realized then his hands were curled into tight fists at his sides.

Frances shuddered at the revolting memory. “If the Marchese hadn’t come through, I was planning on Rowena and I just disappearing from England, moving as far away as Istanbul, or somewhere along the Rhine permanently, never to return, in order to escape such a fate for her. I would have helped her hide the rest of her life if need be.”

Frances nervously cleared her throat and added, “Rowena never spoke of what truly happened at her brother’s house, but she was very withdrawn, distrustful and fearful of men after I brought her back to Glastonbury. I must speak frankly to you Harry, since you do have an interest in my Rowena, I fear my nephew Richard wanted Rowena to marry Dalworth so badly that he allowed the lecher to force himself upon her. To try and force her into marriage with him by the claim she was ruined. She suffered nightmares for a time…” Frances’ eyes misted slightly.

“
If Rowena were forced by Dalworth, that does not change any feelings on my part, save that I will proceed more cautiously, so as not to frighten her. I still intend to pursue her.” He thought a moment then said “Lady Sperring, I think Rowena must learn she can trust me, and that I mean her no harm before I can even think about convincing her to marry me.”

“
I agree, Harry. But in your favor, I must tell you this. She seems quite at ease with you and your friends. This is not a natural thing for her. Rowena is generally reserved and somewhat awkward in male company. Her general fear of men has subsided some over the years, yet she has, until meeting you and your friends of course, remained wary. This quest of the Abbey treasure is part of it. You all share a love for history and have common interests. Though she never tells me her feelings, for Rowena is very reserved about such things. She never told me all that happened with the Dalworth incident. John and I were left to put things together as it were. Both Sir John and I believe Rowena favors you. At the very least, she does not fear you. ‘Tis only been several days. Time will tell.”

“
And you have no objections to the match as long as Rowena chooses to have me of her own accord?”

“
I have no objections, Harry.” Frances beamed. “In fact, I must be honest for I have only one son from Lord Sperring, and no daughters. Rowena has always been like a daughter to me, and we spent a great deal of time together in her younger and adult years. Why, if you were to make a match with her, she would remain right here in Glastonbury. She has been such a large part of my life, I don’t know what I’d do if she was not near. I knew your family, and you’ve always been kind. I believe you will treat her very well. I would so like to see her happily married.” Frances’ eyes became misty again.

“
Do you have any advice for me then, Lady Sperring?”

“
Do not press her or overwhelm her. And never try to control her. She steers very clear of domineering men. To the point of avoiding them. That is the best I can give you, Harry. Otherwise, you seem to be doing a very good job so far.” Frances winked at him.

“
Well, we had best get to searching or the rest of our party will wonder what we are doing up here. Thank you, Lady Sperring for speaking so frankly with me.” Harry prepared to begin his search in Rowena’s chamber. Then as an afterthought he stopped and asked, “Lady Sperring?”

“
Yes, Harry?”

“
Might you and Sir John arrange from time to time to give me time alone with Rowena, in the proper setting, of course. I have no intention of taking advantage of her.” He raised his eyebrows and offered her a hopeful smile.

Frances Phippen nodded and returned his conspiratorial smile. “Absolutely, Harry. This can definitely be arranged.” Frances thought a moment. “Harry, I forgot, I must speak to one of the maids while I’m up here. I’ll be back in a moment, please continue your search.”

Frances sought out Rowena’s maid. “Betsey dear?”

“
Yes ma’am?” The girl curtsied.

“
What gown has Lady Rowena chosen to wear for dinner this evening?”

“
The dark blue, ma’am.”

“
Oh.” Frances frowned. That gown was far too plain. Far too modest. Far too boring. It would not do. Now that Frances knew Harry’s intentions, there was no reason she couldn’t help his interest in Rowena along. “Will you get the new silver watered silk ready and substitute it for the dark blue. Without her knowing that you and I talked, of course. I’ll tell her the dark blue had a stain that you must get out, so I suggested the new silver evening gown. And take the blue one with you and have it laundered.”

“
Yes, mum. Of course.”

Frances returned to see how Harry was progressing, wearing a very satisfied expression.

Charlie and Sir John returned just in time for their late luncheon. Other than informing the party no secret chamber had been found, there was no talk of their quest at lunch.