The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (13 page)

“
I could not get another good marriage, Mama? Thank you! And you think I need a good marriage. For what? A word? Countess is just a word, a word that comes with a lot of expectations and rules. Many a woman has become a countess, or even a duchess or a princess, only to become terribly unhappy. So for what? Another house or two? I’ll have Chenbury should I never marry; Papa has given it over to me, and that is all I would ever need, is it not?! You do not even have a son to give Handerton to! It will go to whomever I marry, and so I will have two in London alone! Do I want to leave London and live in the moorlands in a mossy old stone fortress? No! For another house or two, of whatever description, I must live with a man who does not want to throw balls! I will not need houses if there are to be no balls. Enough about houses. Money? Do I need more money than I can ever spend? No. I do not.”

“
You need a fortune to pass on to care for the houses, darling.”

“
I could sell one house and live forever off it!”

“
But there is much more to it. Many things were involved in the decision. You know that. Papa and I could see your distress last night, though, and we talked about it.”

“
Yes?” She turned and looked at her Mama with a tinge of hope in her reddened eyes.

“
There is so much good about Lord Holmeshire. Papa feels that you will be in excellent circumstances, should anything happen to us. You must be protected, you know, from those strange men that have begun to endlessly follow after you! Wills will protect you.”

Genevieve turned away again, face down, and pulled a thin red throw blanket over her head. “But I have servants to protect me! And Wills will be away often.”

Grace hesitated. “That is true; he will be. Wills is involved in government now. Papa says he will go far in the political world.”

Genny emerged again. “But... Lords in Parliament have a life in their homes, as well. And that is the life that their wives share.” Her hope for a reprieve gone, she began to become more distressed again. “This man… some ‘important man’s’ misbehavior landed him a child that he could not bring home, so Wills brought him home, and now I have to raise him? I cannot even know whose son he is! Should not a man who is going far in the political world have a happy wife, as well as a distinguished life?” She let out an angry wail. “And it seems that we will be devoting our lives to feeding the poor, does it not, Mama?”

Lady Breyton sat down on the bed. She played with some blankets and pushed up some pillows. Her daughter had been focused on this marriage for years; she had worked hard to learn what a woman was to learn and could skillfully manage the role of a countess and an aristocratic household by now. She had avoided involvement with other men, had waited longer in life than many other girls to marry…and now was turning against it all!

This would not work well for the Breytons. They had arranged all their matters neatly in a row, and their daughter was to do just so. She was to look impossibly lovely at her wedding at Westminster Abbey. Wills was to rise in Parliament, with her Papa’s help, and she would be on his arm at the most elite events. She was to be the perfect picture of a titled lady and never to dirty her hands with anything beneath her.

Grace tried to again warm her to her commitments. “There are worse things in life. He could be a selfish, ignoble man, but he is not. That will work to your benefit, as well as to that of the poor. Let him help the poor; just do not get much involved yourself. Papa never allows me to dirty my hands with such things. I’ve been happy doing as your father says. Give some money to your steward and have him handle it. You can well afford to give some to the poor, and it will bring you commendation.”

“
But can I afford the behavior of such a man? People will be astonished at him at every turn. I shall have to hide behind my parasol at every garden party!” Her anger now prevented her from taking it lying down, and she bounded out of bed fuming. She ran to her vanity and began pulling a brush roughly through her hair. “Mama, must we think about destitution all the time? At least we should forget about it when we are together at our dinners. Let Parliament handle it away from the dining table. Let those who do have good food enjoy it!”

“
I dined at Buckingham Palace not long ago, Genny. The smell of London’s sewage, in the drains under that palace, was most unpleasant. It is getting very hard to leave the problems of London outside of even the home of the Queen! Now, Wills must be promoted. This is what he is passionate about, and so Papa shall support him on it and sing his praises. Papa is even altering his own viewpoints to support Wills! That will bring him much other support. Perhaps that will move Parliament to improve the situation. Wills will have the credit for it, and you shall be his wife, the Countess of Holmeshire! You shall be hailed everywhere as the wife of that great man! We will be so proud of you.”

“
Mother, it is not me you shall be proud of. It is you yourselves. You will be proud that I have done just what Lady Embry thinks I should have done. You will be able to breathe easily at tea, knowing that you will not be scolded for my indelicacy, and that you will be admired as the glowing mother of the Countess of Holmeshire. These opinions that you express to me belong to my father and to Lady Embry. All of them! You do not think for yourself; not ever! I simply do not want that for myself. I do not wish to submit my wishes under someone else constantly as you do, Mama, until I do not even know what mine are anymore! And I do not wish to be an ornament on an earl’s arm. I want my life to be meaningful, fulfilling, worthwhile.”

Lady Breyton had caught and held her breath. She finally let it out. “It is the way of society, Genny. It is how things are done. I am a marchioness, and surely you understand that I cannot be disapproved! Darling, we are to have tea at Belgrave Square later, in a few weeks. Or perhaps we will see Lady Holmeshire sooner! Perhaps we can prepare for more pleasant conversation than we had at dinner and ask Lady Holmeshire to talk to her son about these things. Please, now, prepare yourself for the day. Be my pretty little lady again.”

“
No doubt we are to have tea with Miss Carrington. Perhaps they will invite the scullery maid, as well!”

“
I agree, my dear, that we must preserve proper social graces. I will discuss this, too, with Lady Holmeshire. Lady Embry is entirely horrified, and I have never seen your Papa so upset about social order! He is sorely distressed.”

“
No, Mama, please. Allow
me
to discuss it with
Lord
Holmeshire at my next opportunity, for there is much at stake!”

But Genevieve found that the opportunity would not arrive soon, for Wilfred was too busy himself with Parliamentary matters, hotel meetings with assemblies of deliberating gentlemen and a week out of town to tend to his castle’s redesign.

***

Anne’s mood had been very low since meals downstairs were no longer on her schedule. Several days had gone by. How was she to know if her dear one was thinking of her? The kitchen maid certainly did not let on when she brought meals up to the nursery; she seemed to represent the Montagues with a smug smile. They were all very pleased to have won the war without ever a fight. Footmen rarely came up to the area that the nursery was in, and if they should, they were down at the far end of the hall and gone again. But she also had to deal with the Capulets of the nursery, who were greatly opposed to the romance, and with Lizzy trying to regain her position as Commander of her sister.

“
Lizzy. What you have done to me!” Anne moaned. “How could you tell on me, when I had just begun to find such happiness, and destroy me?”

“
You were perfectly happy all your life before you went down those stairs. You can be happy again. This could cost you and him—what’s his name? Do you even know his name? It could cost the both of you your positions!”

“
I do not want my position; I want him!”

“
Stop this, Anne! You do not even know him! He might be a despicable rake! If you were with him, you could not go home. How would you see Mama again, or Papa or the girls or Freddy?”

“
I could write to them.”

Elizabeth shook her head, giving up for now, though angrily. She turned her attentions to hurling a paper ball to Nicky, who dodged it with a look of fear on his face.

Anne was entirely alone with her problems. Only Emma and Gabriel, of all persons in the universe, seemed to care, and they had no authority in the matter. However Emma might try to help her, would the ladies care to do her bidding? Things could not be left to chance. Anne had to think of a way to see Romeo. She wandered about the day nursery, contemplating what to do. As she passed by a window, she saw someone looking up toward her—a footman! Yes, she believed it was him!
Her
footman! He was there, carrying the post and looking with deep concern up at the nursery! When she appeared through the glass, his apprehensive expression turned to one of delight. He cared!

***

The door to the Drawing Room swung open for Grantham to announce a guest. “Mr. Gabriel Hughes!” The gentleman had been overtaken by a cloudburst, and the butler had taken great pains to dry him off. He took a few steps in and then stood just inside the door with the look of a guilt-ridden intruder. Helena always enjoyed his company and warmly greeted him.

“
Mr. Hughes! Do come in! Join us. We’ve been just whiling away the time and are delighted to have you call! Have you arrived to complain about your excursion with Emma and Anne, or is there a happier reason for your visit?”

“
Your Grace, Your Ladyship, Miss Carrington, I thank you all for receiving me. Should I complain, it would be for the rain, which, just a few moments ago, caught me having left my umbrella in lieu of my cane. It is so nice to see you all and to step in; surely I would have washed away in that downpour! I had in mind entreating Miss Carrington to walk out with me again, should her chaperone be of better constitution this day, but how inconsiderate it would be to escort a pair of ladies out to be drenched alongside me!”

Helena spoke up. “Then you shall stay and have tea with us. One must keep etiquette in its place, for it does not consider that a gentleman might have been entirely drenched! We must charitably overlook that you are not a lady come to tea in the appropriate gown and save you from certain washing away. Tea is soon to be served, and it has been some time now since we have had the opportunity to enjoy your company.”

“
I shall be most grateful to stay indoors with such good company, if only you will find me a chair cushion that is not wrapped in silk, for I should hate to ruin the hard work of so many industrious little worms.”

Emma enjoyed his winsome conversation, and she hoped that she should not have to break his heart. She felt that the sooner they could talk together, the better it would be for him. She hoped there would be no more delays, but apparently this afternoon would be spent in company with the ladies. “How very kind of you to visit, Mr. Hughes; I am so grateful for your help with Anne’s unhappy afternoon.”

Gabriel ascertained that Anne had survived to this day and stated that he hoped, ever so much, that her problem could be solved in a way that would suit everyone. Helena assured him that the matter was being discussed amongst the family, and that all aspects of the situation were under consideration. To be sure, she said, they wished everyone, high and low, to be happy, but that such things take time, and that there would almost certainly be no pleasing the Belgrave staff if there were any allowance for Anne’s feelings.

Footmen arrived with a wooden chair, along with tea, cream cheese-watercress sandwiches and a few pastry selections. The ladies and Gabe all wondered if Anne’s beloved Rescuer might be among them. Simon
was
there, and he seemed to wish to speak, looking right at Helena, despite the rules in great houses. Helena asked whether he had something to say. He opened his mouth, but then looked around, for the first time becoming conscious of the fact that the room was well occupied with strangers. He knew that he was out of place entirely in taking this matter to Her Grace at tea, nor was he allowed to go to anyone other than Grantham with his concerns at any time. “No, ma’am,” was his unwilling reply, and he looked to the wall.

The other footmen were quite perturbed that he had nearly overstepped this boundary, that he might attempt to talk to the Duchess on another occasion and that it could result in his perpetual happiness. (They later reported it passionately to Grantham, informing him that Simon’s behavior was thoroughly inappropriate. He was quickly replaced by another footman at future teas and was given duties that did not put him in such direct contact with the Mistress of the house, who was, as the butler well knew, a sympathetic woman.)

Helena filled gold-trimmed porcelain cups as everyone took their seats at the table. There was some talk of the case that Gabriel was arguing in court for the Crown. Helena spoke to the women about a past case he had won, how he had overcome some huge obstacles and how he proved what was needed for justice in the matter. Mr. Hughes had, in fact, had some involvement in ending the death sentence for minor crimes! The Queen was particularly fond of him, having learned of that great work, according to Helena.

Gabe was happy to see a delighted expression appear on the face of the woman he favored, and whom these praises had apparently impressed. There was also some parley about upcoming social events, coordinating together as to which they would attend, with Gabe making a mental note of which parties Emma, in particular, might be allowed to grace. And, of course, some great surprise was declared about the heaviness of the spring rain shower.