The Heiresses (17 page)

“Why Shropshire?” He’d frowned.

“Why not? Clio’s choice,” she’d added, then leaned forward, closer to his desk, conspiratorially. “She’s a little odd.” Finally, he had passed her over the much longed-for check, which she had immediately eyed. “So you only want us to go for a month?” She had stared at it rather distastefully. “What a shame! We were hoping for at least three months.”

In the end, after some more coaxing, Charles had doubled the original amount.

He’d also made it quite clear that the name Craven-Towneley was off-limits. “And you won’t use the family name?” he’d double-checked, as Thalia had begun to make her way off the premises.

“Why would I want to use it, with a father like ours?” She had carefully kept her options open. Though, at the time, she could see no reason why she would need to.

And, now, here she was, still in the city, using the family name, and having gone through most of Charles’s money, which was where the motorcar, their new clothes, and Haggis McTavish had all come from, of course. If the news were to somehow get back to Charles that she was flitting about London and being arrested under the name Thalia Craven-Towneley, her chances of any more money would certainly be slim. Perhaps even her sisters’ chances, too. She had no excuse for using the name, not really. It was only that she was so awfully bored. And this whole Charles thing was going nowhere. This might speed things up a little. In what way, she had no idea, but at least it provided some excitement.

Looking at her sisters now, Thalia had to admit from time to time she did feel just the tiniest bit guilty about having taken the money from Charles without telling either of them. It was just that they did keep going on and on so about this united front and doing things
together
. The pair of them was so awfully unsuspecting. She was not used to it. Any treachery would have been uncovered at Lintern Park in under five minutes flat. However, the fact of the matter was that she simply needed the money more than Clio or Ro did. Clio would be fine with Hestia. And Ro had her Uncle Henry.

“Thalia!” Ro yelled at her now. “Why would you do that? I’ve been spending all my time running around the city, trying to find a way through this genetic muddle, trying to sort everything out, and you go and steal a policeman’s truncheon and then use the name Craven-Towneley?” Her eyes moved to the offending item.

Thalia glanced down at it. “It wasn’t this one. I had to return the one I stole, of course, but I was so heartbroken that Venetia’s brother, Edwin, stole another one for me. He’s such a darling. And I
am
a tiny bit sorry I used the name. I honestly didn’t think anyone would recognize it.”

“Well, they did.” Ro sighed. “And you’re not sorry. I just don’t know what to say to you, I really don’t.” She shook her head, staring at the floor for a moment or two before she recovered. “Look, do either of you even want to know what I found out today?” Ro took the few steps over to flop into one of the armchairs, looking altogether exhausted.

“Oh, yes, sorry. Do tell us!” Clio entreated.

Ro mustered the energy to tell them of her visit. She lingered over Dr. Hollingsworth’s cryptic comments concerning the “third one,” how William must have “told” about something, and the mistress. Ro continued with her tale, finishing off by saying, “I don’t think Dr. Hollingsworth was confused—about the mistress being there, I mean. He seemed quite insistent. He even thought it was amusing, which tells you the kind of man he once was. I just can’t understand why she would have been there. Don’t you think that’s rather odd?”

“Extremely odd,” Thalia said as she frowned, and Clio nodded in agreement. “What a strange event to want to be a spectator at. Especially if he’s talking about Charles’s mother, which I’m guessing he must be, because she would have conceived Charles by then, surely. What a thing for her to be party to!”

Ro nodded. “You’re right about those dates. I have to say it’s all rather confusing and I think there’s still a lot more to it than we’re being told. However, I think it’s becoming quite clear that William did know Clio has a different father. I hope Hestia isn’t concealing anything else from us.”

“Why do you say that? What do you think she might be concealing?” Clio asked quickly, making both Thalia and Ro turn to look at her. “I mean, what sort of thing might she be holding back?”

“I don’t know,” Ro said, giving Clio a funny look. “Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps something about the mistress? I don’t know. I’m just hoping that she comes up with those addresses for me soon. I’m dying to get to the bottom of this and—”

The doorbell rang, halting Ro’s thought and making Thalia’s eyes light up. “I hope that’s who I think it is! What perfect timing!” She didn’t wait for the maid to answer the door, but ran eagerly to answer it herself, Haggis McTavish barking at her heels, sensing excitement in the air.

Ro and Clio glanced at each other. If Thalia was expecting someone, and was happy to see them when they arrived, surely it could only be because she was up to more mischief.

In the hall, there was a lot of hustling and bustling, voices, and then, finally, Thalia once more, returning with two large packages. So, it was not
someone,
but
something
she had been expecting. “They’ve arrived!” she sang out.

“What’s arrived?” Ro sounded very dubious indeed.

“Our costumes, of course!” Thalia replied.

*   *   *

In the doorway to the drawing room, Thalia looked altogether pleased with herself. “There’s a party this evening. A big one. In the country. And you’re both coming with me.”

“In the country?” Ro and Clio spoke at the same time.

“That’s right. It’s a ‘Knights and Damsels’ party. In a castle tower. Or the remains of one, I think. I ordered us costumes. And a driver, because I doubt very much I’ll feel like driving back.”

“I…,” Clio started.

“No arguing!” Thalia looked from one of them to the other. “It will be good for you both. You don’t want to turn old and dull before your time, do you? Oh, wait…” Her glance told them they were both already there, in her mind.

“How amusing,” Ro said. But, within a few minutes, it was settled. Thalia had expertly bullied both girls into attending. Just as she was beginning to bully them into trying on their costumes immediately, the doorbell rang once more.

“Maybe they forgot something?” Thalia ran back out to check who it was. However, this time, when she returned, it wasn’t with yet another package, but with something else besides.

“Uncle Henry!” Ro gasped, standing from her seat as soon as she spied him standing beside Thalia. “What are you doing here?”

Uncle Henry took a moment to gather his thoughts. “Well, the thing is, Ro, I have some news for you.”

*   *   *

Seeing that the pair needed some time alone, Thalia and Clio retired upstairs, Thalia saying they would try on their costumes in Ro’s absence and Clio not looking altogether like a willing participant in this exercise.

Ro remembered herself after the other two girls had left the room. “Uncle Henry!” She smiled, going over to give her uncle a kiss on the cheek. “What a lovely surprise! Do sit down!” she entreated him. “Should I call for some tea?”

“No, no.” He waved his hands. “Too much fuss. I’m afraid I can’t stay long. I have a little … business to attend to in the city, you see.”

“Oh,” Ro said. As she looked at her uncle she sensed that everything wasn’t quite right. “You said you had some news?”

“Ah, yes. Yes.” Uncle Henry coughed nervously.

“Which is?” Ro lowered herself into the armchair opposite him, beginning to think that everything was far from right. Uncle Henry wasn’t normally a man to beat about the bush.

In front of her, Uncle Henry opened his mouth, then closed it again. “Uncle Henry?” Ro sat forward on her seat now, truly worried. “What’s wrong?”

“I’m an old fool, Ro, dear. A very old fool.”

“What?” Ro shook her head. “Of course you’re not! What is this all about? Do tell me, Uncle Henry.”

“Yes, I must. The thing is … you see … oh, dash it, I must simply say it—I’m afraid I’ve lost all my money in an investment scheme. I must sell Halesworth Hall to settle my debts. It’s as I told you. I’m an old fool.”

Wide-eyed, Ro stared at her uncle for quite some time. At first she thought he was playing a trick on her—how could it be true? They had never worried about money. They had never spoken about it, but Ro had been vaguely aware over the years that Aunt Charlotte had made several wise investments and that, financially, they were quite secure. “But, Aunt Charlotte…,” Ro began.

“I have undone all her good work, my dear. And then some. It seems the certain thing I invested in was not so certain after all. Suggested by a friend, you know.”

“Oh,” Ro replied, dumbly, for what else was there to say? Uncle Henry was not one to play games. If he told her he had lost all his money, then he had lost all his money and that was the end of it.

“I have made a terrible mess of things, I know that. Oh, what would your Aunt Charlotte think?” He shook his head before her as he stared at the floor.

Ro knew what Aunt Charlotte would think—she would be furious. She sighed. “Uncle Henry … I’m sure … I’m sure everything will work itself out.” She remembered something then. “Is that why you didn’t want me to order those clothes? When we were staying at Claridge’s?”

Mutely, Uncle Henry nodded.

“You didn’t forget to pay the bill the last time I had made an order. You
couldn’t
pay the bill.”

Another shamefaced nod.

“Oh, dear.” Ro sighed again, bending forward and placing her head in her hands. “Oh, no.”

Seeing this, her uncle reached forward to touch her knee. “Now, I don’t want you to worry, Ro. Your Aunt Alice has offered to take you in and…”

“Aunt Alice!” Ro looked up quickly. Aunt Alice was Aunt Charlotte’s awful sister who altogether despised Uncle Henry and his scholarly ways. She lived in Norfolk, in the middle of nowhere, with her equally ancient sister-in-law (her husband had died years ago) and far, far too many dogs that she refused to admit smelled terribly. Living with Aunt Alice would be … unthinkable.

“I know it is not ideal…” Uncle Henry grimaced. “Of course, your Aunt Hestia has also said that you are most welcome here.”

Ro shook her head, speechless.

Uncle Henry prattled on for a few more minutes, while Ro sat in stony silence, running over her now very few options in life. She had been hoping to study medicine at a university (either in England, or abroad—she and Uncle Henry had discussed both options). Obviously, that would not be possible now. She simply could not land on Hestia’s doorstep and ask to be sent away for an expensive course of study. The trip with Harriet’s family over the coming summer was also, obviously, cancelled. These thoughts went unspoken and, eventually, Uncle Henry made movements as if to leave and, automatically, Ro stood up, kissed him good-bye on the cheek, and wished him well.

*   *   *

Ro wasn’t sure how long she sat, alone, in the drawing room with her thoughts. It was only when Thalia, Clio, and Haggis McTavish reentered the room that she looked around and realized Uncle Henry had gone.

“Are you ready to try on your costume now?” Thalia bounded across to the sofa to stand next to her. “The maid told me your uncle had gone. Oh, and while you were talking to your uncle, Hestia came home. I asked her about Dr. Hollingsworth’s mistress comments,” Thalia said. “She swears that she doesn’t know anything about anyone else being in the house that day. Though, as she said, it was a very large house. There could easily have been someone in another room and she would never have known about it. It made us all feel quite sick thinking about Charles’s mother in that situation. Imagine carrying a child and being a part of what went on at our birth. It wouldn’t half put you off, would it?! Why, whatever’s the matter, Ro? You’ve gone quite pale. I didn’t take you as squeamish.”

“Me?” Ro woke up to herself with this. “No, it’s not that. I’m fine.”

“Your uncle said he had news?” Clio stepped forward, looking concerned. “I hope everything is all right?”

Quickly, Ro nodded and tried to compose herself. She could not let them know. Especially not Thalia. “No. It was nothing of importance. He has taken a teaching position and I will need to stay here, if Hestia will have me. Well, either that or go live with my Aunt Alice and that is certainly not an option I am willing to entertain, even for a moment.”

“Now you know how I feel,” Thalia replied.

“Yes,” Ro agreed, in a half whisper. “I suppose so.”

“Now, come on.” Thalia took one sister under each arm. “You must try on your costume as well. Clio’s looked quite nice, but we will need to look absolutely top shelf tonight. Everyone will be going to a great deal of trouble and I will
not
have us outshone.”

Behind Thalia’s shoulder blades, Clio shot Ro a look and Ro managed to return what she hoped looked something like a bright smile that implied everything was fine. As the three girls made their way upstairs, Thalia continued to prattle on, though Ro found she could not hear a word her sister was saying. Instead, her sister’s words from the other day rang loud and clear in her ears …

You need money
, Thalia had said to Clio,
I need money. And you need
—she had turned to Ro herself at this point—
I’m not sure
.
The truth, a family, but eventually you’ll discover you need money. Everyone does
.

How awfully, stingingly right she had been.

*   *   *

“Clio! Do hurry up!” Thalia called from the bottom of the stairs. “The motor will be here at any moment! I hope you have that lipstick on that I gave you!”

“I’m coming,” Clio said, turning to take a final look at herself before she headed downstairs. She had to admit it was a much nicer outfit than she had hoped for. She had expected Thalia to order her some sort of awful bodiced contraption that would have her displaying her wares in a manner she would be uncomfortable with. Instead, she was wearing something altogether the opposite—a simple, long, creamy white sheath with silver details around the neck, wide cuffs and hem, a long silver tasseled belt that cinched the outfit neatly in at the waist, and some sort of round silver headpiece with a veil attached. With a sigh, Clio adjusted the headpiece, wondering how on earth she was going to keep it on all night. The headpiece forced her hair from her face and Clio had to wrestle with it in order to cover the small scar on her right temple. She knew no one else ever noticed it, but she was aware of it and, thus, liked her curls to cover the small imperfection. Being teased as a small child in the schoolyard tends to bring out the vanity in all of us, she reckoned.