Virtue of a Governess (27 page)

“Money?”

“More accurately, your finances.”

“Sweetheart, I told you not to worry about that. You are free to decorate both houses as you please.”

Restless, Nicola stood and walked to the empty fireplace. “We promised each other that we’d always be honest.”

“I am being honest.” He reclined on a leather wing-backed chair, watching her.

“Then will you tell me the extent of your wealth, or lack of it? I know you have businesses and houses but I don’t know all the details. If my name is on the deeds, then I should know.”

The door opened and Agnes brought in the tea tray. ‘Will I pour for you, Madam?”

“No thank you. I’ll see to it. Thank you, Agnes, that will be all.” Nicola, anxiously waiting for Nathaniel’s reply, set out the cups and saucers.

“I will tell you everything you want to know. There will be no secrets between us.” He sat forward on his chair and stopped her from fiddling with the tea tray. “Come over here.”

She squealed as he pulled her onto his lap. “Nathaniel, no. Mrs Rawlings might come in, or Agnes.”

“Let them. We are newly married. It’s expected.” He grinned and then kissed her deeply, showing his passion for her. “I’ve been waiting to do that all day.”

“Behave yourself.” She playfully slapped at his chest, though secretly enjoying the naughtiness of being on his lap in the middle of the afternoon. “Be serious, please.”

“Very well.” He sighed and gave her a wry look. “Apart from the inheritance back in England and the two properties, this one and the Camden house, I have shares in a sheep station in Queensland. I have a one eighth share in a coal mine near Newcastle. I own a complete terrace of houses here in Sydney. I own a pottery factory in Parramatta.” He grinned. “That was an impulsive purchase to annoy a gentleman I didn’t like and who wanted to buy it himself.” He shrugged suddenly as if to mentally dismiss it from his mind. “I recently bought land in Melbourne, plus I have two factories there. What else…”

“I had no idea.” She stared at him, amazed. “Why did you not mention this before?”

“I didn’t think you were interested. Not many ladies are.”

“Well, I am certainly interested. You should know me well enough by now to know I would be. I’m not some dim-witted woman content to spend her days in frivolous occupations such as gossiping about latest fashions, buying useless things and paying calls. Why I—”

As usual, he silenced her with a kiss. “I am fast learning just how clever my wife is. I’m also learning that when she starts a tirade I have to stop her quickly or I’ll get no peace.”

She played with a button on his waistcoat. “I want to learn about your businesses.”

“And you shall.”

“Promise?”

“Absolutely. We’ll start next week. I want you to know everything there is to know in case something happens to me.”

Her heart constricted. “Don’t say that, Nathaniel.”

“It is a way of life, darling. We have to be prepared. Look at my mother. She’s fallen apart now my father has gone. Yet, when he was alive they hardly got on at all. And my brother is a useless article.”

“I still feel guilty for you not returning to England.”

“Nonsense. I am free to make up my own mind. I’ve been doing it long enough.”

“I never thought myself as a selfish person before, but I am, and am ashamed to be so. I couldn’t bear to be parted from you.”

He held her closer, nuzzling her neck beneath her ear. “Only death will separate us, my love, that I can promise you.”

Nicola, reading a letter from Meg, swayed in the carriage, as the driver, Timms applied the brakes. She frowned at the rough ride, but continued reading, excited to finally hear from her dear friend.

 

…therefore our stay in Rio was longer than expected, and I seemed to be the only person who didn’t mind this inconvenience. I cared nothing for the ship’s repairs, only that it afforded me to spend more time in Rio. I adore Rio, there is so much to see and do. The colours and flavours, the scents and people all amaze me. There is such heat, such passion. Oh, the sights I’ve seen, Nicola. Some would shock you, I declare, but others, with you being so clever minded, would interest you vastly.

Nicola smiled, wondering what Meg had seen and frustrated that her wayward friend hadn’t seen fit to give more details, but such was Meg, she supposed.

 

You will be surprised, I think, to learn that I am very happy in my marriage. James is a wonderful man and is no way dull or strict. He gives me such freedom to go ashore alone when we make port at different places. He is a busy man but makes the time to spend with me. I am most in love with him, which is fortunate.

 

“I am indeed happy for you, Meg,” she murmured. Her own happy marriage gave her the insight to how Meg must feel.

I will tell you though that our dear Hilton is still not himself since leaving Sydney. I truly think you broke his heart and it will never be mended. But perhaps that will change when we arrive in Boston and he is home among his own people again. I have grown rather fond of him and James wouldn’t be without him of course…

 

“Mrs West.” Timms’s call through the open window stopped her reading and she looked up.

“Yes, what is it, Timms?”

“There seems to be some sort of blockage ahead, Madam. An overturned cart, as far as I can tell. I can’t turn the horses or go around it. We’ll have a bit of a wait it seems.”

“Blast. Where are we?” A horse and rider blocked her view from her opposite window.

“Bridge Street, Madam.”

Folding the letter away into her reticule, she nodded and prepared to descend from the carriage. “I will walk from here, Timms.”

‘I will meet you in Charlotte Place, Madam?”

“No, I don’t know how long I’ll be or how long you’ll be getting through all that.” She waved towards the build up of vehicles. “I’ll catch the omnibus to the Home. You go back to the house when you can, my husband may need you later.”

“Right you are, Mrs West.”

Once on the footpath, Nicola steadied her hat as a gust of wind tunnelling down the street threatened to dislodge it from its pins. She remembered Mrs Eldersley mentioning that April was known for its winds. Well, it would be May next week, surely the gales would be gone by then?

Dust swirled around her legs and she grimaced at the state of her dress hem. It was all well and good for Nathaniel to want her to wear light colours, like this pale green stripe, but the practicalities of doing so weighed heavily on the negative. Still, she didn’t have to launder the clothes and donning such beautiful dresses gave her selfish pleasure.

The church bells struck the hour of twelve and she hurried away down an alley to escape the confusion of the road blockage. Weaving through the streets, she kept her head down to keep the wind and dust from her eyes. A part of her wished she could cry off the appointment with the printer, but she’d promised Florence to check the progress of the leaflets for the school since Florence was busy with her newly arrived sisters. She ducked down another narrow alley, finding it the quickest way to Charlotte’s Place.

“Well now, if it isn’t Mrs West.”

Surprised, Nicola glanced up and found Tristan Lombard in her way. Beside him, leered a rough looking man. “Good day, Mr Lombard.”

“It seems as though married life suits you, Mrs West. You have never looked so lovely.” Lombard’s insolent gaze roamed her from head to toe and back again.

“Thank you. If you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment.” She attempted to move past him, but he stepped in her way, blocking her path. Surprised, she stared at him.

“You have time to chat with an old acquaintance?”

“I don’t actually. Forgive me, I’m already late.” She forced a smile in his direction, not meeting his eyes. Something about the man always made her shudder.

“How is my friend, Nat? He hasn’t been seen in the club for some time.”

“He is a busy man.”

“Well, what man wouldn’t be when he has a wife as beautiful as you in his bed?” He leaned closer. “I know that’s where I’d be if you were mine.”

“I beg your pardon?” She gave him a scathing stare, her dislike of him going up another notch. How could Nathaniel have anything to do with such a horrid person?

“Well, something extraordinary had to have captured his interest enough for him to marry you, wouldn’t you say?”

“Excuse me.” She stepped around him, but he caught her elbow in a crushing grip.

“Don’t be so hasty, Mrs West. We have much to talk about.”

She winced at the pain in her arm. “There is nothing we have to discuss. Let me go.”

“Did you not miss me at your wedding? I was to have been Nat’s attendant. Did he tell you why I wasn’t there?”

“He said you were away in the country on business.”

Lombard smirked. “A lie, Mrs West, a damned lie.”

The blood ran cold in her veins as she stared at him. “Let me go, please.”

“On your wedding day, I was still recovering from a busted lip and swollen eye, courtesy of your husband.”

She raised her chin. “Then-then likely you deserved it.”

His wolf-like smile frightened her. “I’ll beg to differ on that. Your husband has a temper, Mrs West. You should be careful not to entice it. Nat’s a fine boxer. Did he tell you that was one of his pastimes, knocking men’s teeth out?”

“He has mentioned he boxed, yes.” Why did Lombard bear her such animosity? She shivered, afraid of his threatening presence.

“But not that he did the same to me?” He chuckled. “No, I can see by your face he didn’t reveal that information. However, I expect there is much about his previous life he hasn’t told you.”

“I haven’t the time to talk to you. Please let go of my arm.”

“In a moment.” He paused, his eyes narrowing with anger or hatred she didn’t know which. “Tell Nat that I’ll be waiting for his apology.”

“You’ll be waiting a long time, I think, especially after the way you are treating me today.”

“Tell your husband, that unless he does right by me, I’ll let loose certain information about his private dealings with a certain Mr Carstairs.”

“What do you mean?” She stared, her mouth dry at the warning.

“Pass the message on, if you please.”

“I insist you tell me what you mean.” She had the urge to strike his impudent face.

“You cannot demand anything of me, Madam. In this case I hold all the cards. Simply tell Nat to contact me or I’ll spill everything I know about Carstairs and his dealings. If Nat hasn’t lost all his reason then he’ll know what to do.”

“He’ll not react to your intimidation, Lombard.”

“And I’ll not lose another penny because he has a fancy to become an honourable married man, particularly when he’s only married a strumpet of a governess.”

“How dare you!”

“Oh, I dare, Madam, I dare.” He grimaced, curling his lip up as if what he saw disgusted him. “I cannot believe West has thrown away so many lucrative financial opportunities because of you. Well, he might suddenly want to be righteous, but I do not, and I’ll not grow poor because of it either.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Give him my message.” He squeezed her arm cruelly and then thrust her from him, before bowing like a gentleman. “Good day, Mrs West.”

Incensed by his disrespect, her temper flared. “Go to Hell, Mr Lombard, and take your message with you. I’ll not do your dirty work. I have never liked you and am glad Nathaniel has rejected your friendship. I’m pleased he gave you the hiding you deserve.” She stopped, alarmed at her own viciousness and at the expression of calm rage on Lombard’s face.

He turned to the silent man next to him, gave one nod and then quietly walked away up the alley.

Nicola, frozen to the spot, watched wide-eyed as the rough-looking fellow smiled, showing black rotten teeth. She backed away, hitting the wall behind her, but he advanced quickly, too quickly for her to respond. He slammed one hand over her mouth and then she felt a sharp burning pain in her side.

Gasping, she held her side, confused at the pain and its source. Taking her hand away she staggered at the sight of the sticky blood soaking her gloves. Her knees buckled and she slid down the brick wall to the damp cold cobbles.

“Don’t scream, missy,” he threatened, leaning over her, “or I’ll bone you as clean as a butcher’s carcass. You just lie quiet now until I’ve gone.”

She held her side, reeling as the pain hit her in repeated waves without let up. “No! Help me,” she begged on a scream.

“I said to shut it!” He drew his hand back and she screamed again as his fist came down and spun her into blackness.

* * * 

Nat flicked the lace curtains aside and stared at the empty drive for the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes. He glanced over his shoulder at Fran, who sat knitting on the chair by the fire. “Are you sure she didn’t mention her plans for today to you?”

Fran huffed and gave him a quelling look. “No. I told you, she has likely been held up at the Home. Miss McIntyre’s sisters arrived yesterday and she would be listening to the latest news from them.”

He tapped his fingers on his leg. “She’s never this late. It’ll be dark soon.”

“She’s only at the Home, for goodness sake. Go there and fetch her if it will soothe you.”