Love at the Tower (13 page)

She was entranced watching the half dozen or so of the finest horses she had ever seen, as they gambolled and munched contentedly on bales of hay hanging from a tree.

‘They are better cared for than some humans,' she thought.

A soft touch on her shoulder made her jump.

She turned around to find herself looking straight into the Earl's startlingly blue eyes.

“Robina, I do apologise for keeping you, but please come with me now, I wish to show you how the Tower is progressing.”

He took her hand and Robina blushed to the very roots of her hair, as it was such an unexpected gesture.

She felt quite uncomfortable as he led her back to the Tower.

“Where are the men?” she asked as they reached it.

“They are enjoying a tea break in the kitchen. Mrs. Osidge always has a large kettle on the hob in readiness for them. I am told they drink enough to water several fields!”

Robina laughed shyly for the Earl had yet to let go of her hand.

“Come, shall we climb up the Tower,” he suggested gently as he looked into her eyes.

“But it is not yet finished – would you not prefer that I wait until it is?”

The Earl simply smiled back at her and led her into the dark entrance.

They climbed the winding stairs.

‘I wonder what it is that he wants to show me?' she reflected, as they reached the top, ‘it is not as if I have not seen the view before.'

As they stood at the Tower's summit, she could see that some of the brickwork had been replaced and it would not be long before it was all restored to its former glory.

“Robina,” began the Earl, taking her hand again, “I am sorry that I had to keep you away from the Castle for a few days. There were several delicate matters to attend to that involved Ellis. You will not be seeing him again – I have sent him packing.”

“Do you mean you have banished him?”

“I suppose you could say that, although banishing sounds rather drastic.”

They both laughed and Robina caught something in his eyes that told her he had more to say.

“But that is not the reason I have asked you here,” the Earl added.

Robina stayed silent, although inside her thoughts were far from still.

She felt nervous and uneasy.

“Robina,” the Earl continued slowly, enfolding her hands with his hands. “I have been thinking of nothing but you for these past few days and I must tell you that I am utterly in love with you.

“That appalling business with Ellis has only served to compound what I was already feeling. If I am honest, I have loved you since we were children together and I am not a man to hold back when I have made my mind up, so I would be honoured if you will agree to be my
wife
.”

Robina stood there with the wind blowing through her hair and the Earl holding onto her hands.

She looked into eyes that were so full of love that she could scarcely meet his gaze and did not know how to answer him.

“Please, Robina, what do you say to me?” he asked pleadingly, his blue eyes willing her to open up her heart to him.

A heart that at that very moment was wracked with confusion and astonishment.

The Earl gazed at Robina in expectation of a reply.

She could see in his eyes how much she meant to him.

‘What shall I say to him that will not hurt him?' she thought, as the wind whipped at the loose ends of her hair. ‘I am
not
ready for marriage.'

They stood there for several moments with Robina unable to reply and the Earl holding her hands tightly.

She could not meet his eyes for it pained her to see so much love there.

She felt confused – she liked him well enough, but
romance
?

At last he let go of her and said with a sad note in his voice,

“I can see that I have made a mistake in springing this on you. Forgive me and I will not mention it again as I have obviously spoken out of turn and it has embarrassed you. There are several letters that require attention, I will understand if you wish to go, but I would appreciate your help – matters have piled up over the past few days and I have not had the opportunity to attend to them. We will not speak of this matter again unless you wish to.”

Robina felt very relieved but, at the same time her heart and throat contracted with emotion.

‘It is as if he has read my mind,' she thought.

She watched as his strong back moved down the staircase in front of her.

She could see that the workmen were in the process of installing electric lights as she had suggested.

‘Goodness. I did not have the slightest notion that marriage could be on his mind,' she said to herself as they entered the study. ‘I had no clue that he had ever thought of me romantically.'

The Earl rang for tea and they made a start at their day's work. What he had said was put to one side as they concentrated on clearing a mountain of correspondence.

Robina's efforts to entice tourists to the Castle were beginning to pay off.

There was a long letter from a company in London interested in providing special carriages to ferry guests to the Castle, and another from a printer who offered generous discounts for invitations and leaflets.

“I have a letter here from Harrods who are happy to supply us with food in as large a quantity as we require,” called out Robina enthusiastically.

“Well done, Robina,” answered the Earl, giving her such a sad look that her heart almost melted. “Before we know it we shall have our first party of guests arriving and I do hope that we shall be ready in time.”

“Might I suggest then that you start working on the decorating, my Lord, as soon as the rebuilding has been completed?”

The Earl paused for thought.

“In that case I need you to speak with the decorator at once. Things are progressing so fast that the first rooms will be finished before the end of the summer. I have not given any thought to colours – perhaps you can suggest some?”

“I would be delighted,” replied Robina, “Mama had excellent taste and kept many samples at Trentham House. I shall write to her people in London and ask for samples of their latest ranges.”

“Thank you. I confess I would not know where to start. I have always considered these kinds of activity to be women's territory.”

“I would not expect an Army man to be conversant with the latest styles for the home,” she parried laughing, “in the same way that I would not have an idea how to lead a parade or plan a battle!”

“Oh, you dignify my contribution too highly, I did not plan any battles in India. It was as much about keeping the peace as anything.”

“But there is a skill in that too, I am certain. And you were responsible for a troop of men.”

“Perhaps. But I am distinctly more scared by the thought of colour palettes than a whole host of marauding natives!”

As they laughed together, Robina was glad that any awkwardness between them had now disappeared.

But she did wonder why suddenly she seemed to be besieged by men who wanted to marry her!

‘I am certain that there are many young ladies who would eagerly change places with me,' she mused, as she busied herself answering invitations to balls that the Earl had received and organising his diary, ‘but marriage is not something I would want to consider at present.'

*

She worked tirelessly until five o'clock struck and then yawned and stretched.

“Yes, I do believe it is time for you to go home,” commented the Earl.

“But there is still much more to do,” she protested, indicating a list of ‘things to do' covering an entire page.

“I think you have done enough for one day, now, let me ring for Marriot to call for Firefly to be brought to the front for you.”

“Thank you, I am just a little tired – ” she confessed gratefully. “But before I leave today, there is something I wish to say to you.”

“Oh?”

She took a deep breath.

“My Lord, I am very flattered by your proposal and I want you to realise that my refusal is not in any way a personal slight on you. You are a fine man and any woman would count herself fortunate to have you as a husband.

“However, I have no wish to marry anyone at all at present – in spite of what Papa and Stepmama would want – and I hope that we can remain friends and continue as we have been. I love working for you and I would not wish to jeopardise that.”

The Earl looked down and slowly nodded his head to signify that he understood.

There was something about his manner that touched Robina's heart.

“But I have your assurance that our friendship will continue?” he asked without looking up.

“Of course,” she replied, rising from the desk.

“Robina,” said the Earl, “whatever you wish is my command. As I said this morning, we shall not speak of this again unless you desire it. Friends we are and friends we shall be.”

‘He really is such a gentleman,' she thought, as he accompanied her along the corridor to the front entrance.

*

Ten minutes later whilst mounting Firefly she caught the Earl gazing at her wistfully.

“I shall see you again tomorrow morning at nine,” she promised.

Racing off down the drive, she suddenly felt sad.

‘Was I just a little hasty in refusing him? I don't understand why I have such a pain in my heart if I only feel friendship for him! I wish I had someone to advise me. It is at moments like this that I miss my Mama so much. She would know why it is that I feel as I do now.

‘The Earl is a fine man and I would be most upset if he subsequently went off and courted another lady. After all when a man has marriage in mind – '

All the way back to Trentham House, Robina could not stop thinking about it.

She arrived home to find the phaeton was ready and waiting outside.

‘Can my Stepmama be going away?' she wondered hopefully, as the footman brought out a large trunk.

Charles came up and helped her down from Firefly.

“Ah, look at him,” he said fondly, “he be ready for his stall and a nice bucket of water!”

“Yes, we flew back today,” she answered, patting the horse's big head. “Perhaps I should have named him Lightning!”

Charles laughed and then led Firefly away.

At the very same moment her father appeared at the door wearing one of his best suits and a top hat.

“Ah, Robina, I am glad that I have seen you before I depart. I have to leave for London and I shall be away for the next few days. I am sorry it is so sudden but I must go, as there are some problems in the office.

“One of my partners has died and all is in uproar. I cannot trust the young whippersnappers to run things and so I shall remain in London until we have sorted it out.

“You will be fine here with Laura and I only ask that you remember the talk we had on Saturday and abide by your promise.”

“Yes, Papa,” she answered, as he climbed into the phaeton. “I wish you a pleasant journey.”

She waved until the phaeton disappeared.

Walking back to the house, her first thought was of how she would now be alone with her stepmother.

It was not that she was frightened of her – more that she did not trust her. She had already shown that she could be vicious when her father was not present to protect her.

And then there was the business with Nanny.

In spite of repeated requests that Nanny attend her, she had not appeared. Even Newman did not seem certain as to the reason behind her returning to the village.

Robina had put it to the back of her mind till now, as for a while she had believed that Nanny had wanted to return to her home, but with the prospect of there not being anyone to shield her from her stepmother's wrath, she was forced to reconsider this position.

Inside the house was very quiet save for the ticking of the hall clock.

‘Hideous thing! How I hate it!' she mumbled.

She was well aware that each day a different article appeared in the house and took the place of something that her mother had chosen and loved.

Moving upstairs she noticed that the portrait of her grandmother that was once at the top of the stairs had been moved. In its place was a rather clumsy still life of a fruit bowl and a trio of cats.

Robina wrinkled her nose at it – she did not care for cats, preferring horses and dogs. Cats were only useful for keeping rats down and she hoped that her stepmother was not about to bring the nasty creatures into the house!

No, just give her a fine horse – a proper animal – any day of the week.

Walking into her room Robina quickly checked her drawers and the wardrobe for missing items, but everything appeared present and correct.

The room had been cleaned whilst she was out and it smelled of beeswax and carbolic.

Sighing, she took off her new riding habit and rang for Molly to collect it. It had become quite rumpled during her ride and needed pressing.

There was something about the way the girl would not meet her eye as she entered the room that made Robina suspicious.

She took the riding habit and was gone in a flash.

‘I cannot bear the girl's insolence,' she thought, as she lay down on the bed for a rest before dinner.

She picked up her book from the bedside table and as she opened it, she was surprised to find that she could not find her place.

‘I know I used the Earl's letter to mark the page,' she said to herself, ‘and now I cannot remember where I was. Perhaps it fell out when I put the book back this morning.'

But search as she might, she did not find the letter.

Then the truth dawned on her.

“Molly!” she exclaimed out loud. “She must have taken it!”

A simmering fury swept over her. She snapped the book shut and was on the point of ringing for Molly when she heard a noise in the corridor outside.

Thinking that it might be Nanny returning, she ran and opened the door.