Love at the Tower (7 page)

As she led Firefly round to the Earl's vast stables, she passed by the Tower in time to see the Earl and another gentleman emerge from the base of it.

“Miss Melville!” he cried, waving enthusiastically.

He said something to the man next to him and then ran towards her.

“Good morning. How beautiful you look today!”

Robina felt herself blushing – there was something in the way that the Earl looked at her that unnerved her.

He gazed deep into her eyes and held his gaze for longer than was strictly necessary.

“Come, take Firefly to the stables and then join me in the drawing room. I shall be finished shortly and I can show you my plans.”

He seemed as excited as a young child at Christmas and Robina admired the way he seemed to be so much in charge of everything.

She settled Firefly into a comfortable stall and then made her way to the front of the Castle.

It had been quite some years since she had last been inside and she was shocked at the deterioration she saw.

The wallpaper in the hall was peeling and had damp patches.

The Persian carpets were dirty and needed mending and she could smell an unpleasant mustiness.

Many of the fabrics were faded and threadbare and the furniture looked as if it needed a good polish.

She walked into the drawing room and it was not much better. The stones on the fireplace were chipped and there seemed to be loose floorboards wherever she trod.

‘Goodness!' she murmured.

At that moment the Earl entered the room with the man who had been outside earlier.

“You will not mind if Mr. Garnett and I finish our business in here, do you? You may find it interesting to hear what we are discussing.”

He spread out his plans over a large mahogany table and began to discuss with Mr. Garnett whether or not to remodel the drawing room.

“The fireplace is in great need of repair and I am debating whether or not to have it demolished and a new one installed. Also the French doors are rotting, perhaps they should be replaced with ordinary windows?”

“Oh, no!” cried Robina, “don't you wish to be able to see into the garden? This room requires as much light as possible as it is East-facing. I would think that it only gets the sun in the morning and becomes dull by lunchtime.”

The Earl looked at her in astonishment.

“You are quite correct and so, you believe that with normal windows, the room would feel gloomier?”

“Quite so,” answered Robina confidently.

“Then I will have new French windows built. And the fireplace, what would you suggest?”

Robina walked over and stroked it.

“This is Portland stone, isn't it, and very old? I don't think that a modern fireplace would be at all suitable. A stonemason may be able to redesign it and make it good. It would be a pity to lose such an intriguing feature.”

“Then that is exactly what I shall do,” declared the Earl, smiling at her.

He returned to the builder and they discussed more improvements with Robina adding her own suggestions.

After a while Mr. Garnett departed and the Earl rang for tea.

“Thank you so much,” he said, sitting down in the chair next to her, “your advice has been invaluable. I recall that you always had an eye for design, but I can see that your time in France has improved it.”

Robina looked at him with a puzzled expression.

“I cannot think what I did as a child to impress you – ”

“Your designs at Christmas and for all our birthday parties! Do you not recall how my Mama used to get us children to make decorations for the Great Hall? Yours were always so much better than anyone else's. You had a talent for it even back then.”

She reddened and was grateful when Marriott, the Earl's butler, brought in the tea.

“Now,” said the Earl. “Tell me what you think of the designs for the Tower.”

He brought out another massive sheet of paper and spread it out in front of her.

It was a complex design that remodelled the Tower, whilst still being in keeping with the style of the house.

“It is very interesting,” she remarked after studying it, “but I notice that you have not planned to install electric lighting.”

The Earl looked thoughtful for a moment.

“It is true that I want to have it put in to some of the rooms in the main part of the Castle, but I had not thought of the Tower.”

“Surely it would be most beneficial? I remember the rooms being dark as there are only mullion windows in the walls. It would not cost a great deal to install it, if you are already building a generator for the main house.”

“Thank you. It is such a brilliant idea,” enthused the Earl. “I had no idea you understood such matters.”

“The Lamonts were very progressive and they got rid of their gaslights some time ago in favour of electric.”

“I want the Castle to become the most modern and progressive building in the country! Furthermore, I have yet more plans for it once it is finished.”

“And what might they be?” she asked, intrigued.

“I want to open the Castle to the public and host luncheons and teas for the well-to-do. These renovations will all but drain my spare funds and I need to maintain the estate buildings and the grounds.

“I have heard of other families opening their houses to the public and thought that the Castle would prove to be interesting for tourists. However, it is a part of my plan that will have to wait for some considerable time.”

“Why? Although you have missed this year, surely you will be ready to welcome guests next year?”

“No,” he sighed, “I don't have the time to write the letters and organise the whole operation.”

“I could do it all for you!” cried Robina. “Let me be your secretary. I have nothing to do at home now that my new Stepmama is running the house and I could work with you so that as soon as the renovations are complete, you could begin to welcome guests.

“And with my French connection – why stop at just English visitors? I speak fluent French and could conduct the tours myself. I also know German and could easily learn other languages.”

“Would you really?” he asked cautiously. “I would not dream of asking you to work for nothing and naturally, I would pay you.”

“It would be
my
pleasure,” she replied, believing this to be the answer to her prayers.

Working for the Earl at the Castle would provide the perfect backdrop to her make-believe courtship.

“Papa may insist upon a chaperone. Could I bring Nanny with me?”

“If it is a problem, I am sure that Mrs. Osidge would be grateful of the company.”

Robina did not like to tell him her ulterior motive – at least, not yet.

“Then it is all decided. When would you like me to start?”

“Well, there is a huge pile of letters in my study to be answered if you would care to begin at once.”

Robina sprang up from her chair,

“Lead me to them and I shall start now!”

Very soon they were in his study going through an endless pile of correspondence.

Robina looked at each one, asked for his response and then set to work on a reply.

‘I had quite forgotten how well we used to get on,' she thought to herself as they made idle chatter.

“So, tell me more about your time in France,” asked the Earl later as they ate luncheon.

“Oh, it was not as exciting as your sojourn in India, I'll be bound,” answered Robina laughing. “I think it is I who should be asking you about
your
adventures.”

“Oh, I don't wish to talk about any action I saw, but India is such a fascinating place. Did you know that they worship elephants and cows?”

“I cannot imagine it.”

“The Hindus worship a God called Ganesha, who is represented by an elephant and they view a cow as sacred.”

“Although I am fond of cows, I just cannot imagine viewing them as holy relics!”

“It is fearfully hot too – unimaginably so. I found having to wear such a heavy uniform most uncomfortable.”

“I have heard that the Indians experience the most dreadful rainstorms. Enough to drown a man.”

“You are referring to the monsoon, no doubt. They do not have rain-showers as we do. At certain times of the year they have torrential rains that do not cease for days. That was almost as unpleasant as the extreme heat.”

“I don't think I would care to live in India,” said Robina, as they returned to the Earl's study.

“It has so much to recommend it – the temples, the animals, the superb scenery and the colourful people. The women particularly wear wonderful gowns so unlike those that British women wear.”

Robina now sighed to see that the pile of letters did not seem to have diminished in the least.

“Tell me,” she asked, “how long is it since you last answered your correspondence?”

The Earl gave her a sheepish look.

“It is some months because the estate has kept me so busy and then there was that trouble with Ellis – ”

His voice trailed off as he stared into space.

“Ah, yes, Ellis. Where is he at present?”

“In London again.”

“It must grieve you to have a brother who does not seem to care for the Castle and estate as you do.”

“It does indeed. I have not dared visit the Mayfair apartment for ages, as I cannot face the inevitable scene of destruction. I intend to see it only once I have finished the renovations on the Castle.

“As far as I am concerned, unless Ellis attempts to sell it or stake it in a card game, which he cannot legally do as it is in my name, then I will not interfere.”

“I often used to wish that I had a brother or sister,” sighed Robina, “but hearing all your experiences makes me glad I am the only child.”

“Alicia, my sister, never caused any trouble,” added the Earl, “but I often wonder what would have happened to her after Father's death had she not married well.”

“Such is the lot of female children,” sighed Robina, trying to ignore the nagging fear that her stepmother might well give birth to a son.

“But you could have no concerns in that direction, surely?” asked the Earl, as if reading her thoughts.

She remained silent – could she tell him her worst fears?

“Your new stepmother – how old is she?”

“It is hard to say.”

“I see,” said the Earl, thoughtfully and then added, “and is she pleasant?”

“She certainly has not taken to me. In point of fact she is making every effort to ensure I do not remain long under the same roof as her!”

“Why is that?” he enquired, sounding horrified.

“I wish I knew what I had done to offend her. Why, even as I sit here, she is busy planning to marry me off to some old rich man so that she can have Papa to herself!”

“You are too harsh. I just cannot imagine how anyone would take against you so.”

“I am telling you the truth. This very evening, she has invited some recently bereaved Lord to dinner so that he may consider whether or not I could be suitable wife material.”

“That cannot be!” he exclaimed with an angry look on his face. “She cannot force you to marry against your will.”

“Sadly I have no choice in the matter. I must do as Papa tells me and if that is marrying someone against my wishes – whom I do not love – then I have no choice in the matter.”

The Earl brooded thoughtfully whilst she continued to sort out his letters and eventually he spoke,

“I don't approve of arranged marriages. I believe that one should only marry for love and there should be no other reason. Father was also most resolute on this score – he told us all that although he wished us to marry to ensure that the family line continues, he did not expect us to marry for that reason alone.”

“My Mama and Papa were a love match and I had hoped to make the same. I cannot understand why Papa is allowing Stepmama to follow this course of action.”

“Perhaps she has persuaded him that it would be for the good of the family.”

“I could not say – all I know is that I am terribly unhappy about it and if I can find a way around it, I will.”

The Earl looked as if he was about to speak and then hesitated.

“No matter,” he said before returning to his plans.

Robina wondered what it was that he had wanted to say, but did not press him.

*

Before she knew it, it was almost time for dinner.

“How the afternoon has flown,” she exclaimed, as Marriott came to tell her that Firefly was ready and waiting for her. “But I must take my leave as I have to be ready for this odious dinner.”

“You are welcome to stay and have dinner with me, here at the Castle,” suggested the Earl with a hopeful air.

“No, that would cause too much of an argument. I must go home.”

“I will see you tomorrow then.”

“At nine o'clock sharp,” she replied, attempting to raise her own spirits.

She was rather dreading the return to Trentham House and would have far rather dined with the Earl.

As she was about to leave, the Earl suggested,

“My guest room is at your disposal should you ever require a place to stay. There could be times when I will need you to stay late or to start early and it would be most convenient for you.”

Robina smiled gratefully, although she doubted that she would ever be allowed to stay with the Earl as a guest now that her stepmother had plans for her.

“Thank you,” she replied, wishing she could stay.

Outside a well-rested Firefly was awaiting her. He shook his head and snorted as she appeared.

“See how eager he is to gallop across the fields? He knows that he has a warm stable and hay waiting for him at home.”

The Earl shook her hand warmly and thanked her again.

Robina felt that he appeared reluctant to let her go.

She mounted Firefly and rode off down the drive.