Without a Mother's Love (39 page)

‘Take care, Jared. Jessup has influence in the town with the parish and the railway company. He can make life uncomfortable for those who cross him.’

‘Then perhaps it is time someone made life uncomfortable for him. But he can wait. Olivia is my concern now. Will she recover?’

‘She’s strong in mind and body. Or she was when I last attended her at Hill Top House. These things can affect ladies in different ways.’

‘She needs to be with people who care for her. I’ll take her home with me.’

The apothecary shook his head. ‘You must not move her until she has healed enough to travel. Do you know who the baby’s father was?’

‘She hasn’t said. She may tell me. Or Sarah.’

‘Sarah has her father to deal with.’

‘And she told me she has to return to her school. She was already on her way.’

‘Mrs Mexton needs someone with her at a time like this,’ Adam Harvey advised.

‘I do know someone.’

‘Well?’

‘I’m not sure that she is the right person, though.’

‘Why not?’

‘They did not part on good terms and - she had dubious morals.’

‘Who is she?’

‘The woman who was her governess.’

‘I remember her. Miss Trent. Capable, I always thought. My impression was that she was very moral. Schooled at Blackstone, I believe.’

‘She was old Hesley’s whore!’

Adam Harvey gave a short, dry laugh. ‘You do not see the world as I do, young man. The child Mrs Mexton lost was not her husband’s. Is she a whore, too?’

Jared was silent. He could not believe that of Olivia. But where was the baby’s father? Eventually he said, ‘I’ll stay with her tonight and ride into town tomorrow to ask Miss Trent if she will take over from Sarah.’

 

‘Why did you not tell my father how bad things were at the mine?’

Jared had breakfasted early and left Olivia in Sarah’s care. He rode hard, intent on a visit to Jessup. If Adam Harvey was right that Hesley was barely sensible, it would be hopeless trying to reason with him, but Jessup was a lawyer and would surely listen to advice. The man had no experience of running a mine and Jared had. From what he had seen, improvements at Mexton Pit were urgent if it was to stay in profit and pay its colliers. Jared insisted on an immediate audience with Jessup, and his standing in the town ensured that he got it.

‘I answer to Mexton and Mexton alone,’ Jessup protested.

‘When did you last see him? And what were his orders?’

The lawyer went quiet. The skin around his mouth turned white as his lips tightened. ‘How dare you march in here and make demands of me, sir?’

Jared ignored the question. ‘Why have you not employed another manager?’

‘That is none of your affair.’

‘My mother is his kin, you charlatan!’

‘I warn you, sir, I do not have to receive you in my office.’

‘Nor the colliers, it seems. They need an engineer for the winding house.’

‘And who would pay him? The miners themselves?’

‘You are not talking to one of Mexton’s lackeys now. That coal is good and I know what you charge my father for it. Where are the profits going?’

‘It is not your business, sir. If that is all?’ He raised his voice. ‘Clerk!’

A youth in a poorly cut jacket, ill-fitting breeches and worn shoes came in immediately. Clearly, he had been waiting by the door and listening.

‘Show Mr Tyler out,’ the lawyer ordered. ‘Good day, sir.’

‘This matter isn’t concluded, Jessup.’

The youth looked at his feet as he led Jared through to the front of the office. But when he held open the outer door, Jared heard a soft whisper: ‘Gambling, sir.’

‘What did you say?’

The youth kept his eyes firmly on the ground. ‘Nothing, sir. It’s a chill wind out there today, sir.’

Jared nodded. Of course. Jessup was one of Hesley’s drinking friends. He wondered how much Hesley owed in gambling debts. Perhaps nothing. Perhaps he was using the mine profits to pay off his creditors. That was a more likely explanation. He walked slowly to his horse, immersed in thought.

The only way forward was to see Hesley and try to reason with him. What had Adam Harvey said? Hardly sensible? Well, he would find out for himself. But first he had to make sure Olivia was looked after discreetly. He must find Miss Trent.

It was surprisingly easy. A visit to the mission hall next to the beast market brought him face to face with her again. ‘I thought you’d gone back to the asylum,’ he said.

‘I am staying with one of the leaders and his wife. I have been speaking with other leaders here and I am to have my own mission - a school, when funds can be found.’

‘Congratulations, Miss Trent. You must be pleased. May we talk privately?’ He took her elbow and steered her into a dark corner.

‘You have news, sir?’

‘Can you leave here? Can you move out to Mexton? Someone needs your help.’

‘Mr Holmes has a mission there,’ she said.

‘Holmes? Do you know him?’

‘Of course. His sister was my benefactor when I left Hill Top House.’

‘They are both gone. The farmhouse is shut up.’

‘He has been visiting his sister while I am here. With his wife, I expect. He married, you know.’

‘Did he? I had not heard.’ Jared lowered his voice. ‘It is not Holmes I speak of. I have found Olivia.’

Harriet’s eyes rounded. ‘You have? Where is she? May I meet her? Will she see me, do you think?’

‘She is not well and needs someone to care for her.’

‘She is the one you spoke of? In Mexton? So close and I did not know! What ails her? Take me to her immediately.’

‘Wait. Finish your business here and come outside. There is something you must know first.’

Minutes later they were standing beside his horse, deep in conversation.

‘She has lost a child. The apothecary believes it was several months in the womb. She had a great deal of bleeding and is weak.’

‘Olivia has lost a child?’

‘She almost died. This might not have happened if you had not deserted her so soon, if she had not run away . . .’

‘But you know why I had to do it! Th-that cruel, selfish man - I had to get away from him.You advised it yourself at the time.’ Her voice ended in a whisper.

‘I wish I hadn’t. It was Olivia who suffered.’

‘I thought she would be all right. Truly I did. I should not have left her otherwise.’

‘Well, you were wrong.’

‘You cannot blame me for everything! You were her friend. You told me you would look after her. I trusted you with her.’

‘She - she asked too much of me. She wanted me as her - instead of her husband.’

‘She . . .’ Jared saw realization dawn on Miss Trent’s face. ‘It was your child, wasn’t it? Yours!’

‘No! Why does everyone think that? I cared for her but I would never have disgraced her in such a way. I did not lie with her!’

‘So it was Hesley’s child.’

‘No. She has not lived with him for more than a year. I do not know who the father is. She may confide in you.’

‘If she will see me.We did not part as I would have wished.’

‘Well, she needs you now,’ Jared stated flatly.

‘She has asked for me?’

‘No.’

‘So it is you who is asking for my help?’

‘I know you can be discreet and you were very close to her once.’

‘Will you take me to her, please?’

Jared untied the reins tethering his horse.‘We shall be quicker on horseback.’

‘I - I do not ride, sir.’

‘But you will do it for Olivia, I am sure. There’s a mounting stone by the water trough.’ He took the halter and swung into the saddle with ease.

Miss Trent eyed his horse and swallowed. He leaned over towards her, offering his hand. ‘Put one foot on my boot and swing the other leg over the horse’s back behind me. I shall not let you fall.’

She grasped his arm and he smiled at her, making her blink. He had never smiled at her before. She landed behind him with her skirts awry, showing her boots and stockings and - her eyes widened - the edge of her drawers. Carefully she shuffled about until she had covered as much of her legs as she could.

If Jared had not been so concerned about Olivia he might have been amused by her show of modesty. He said, ‘Now put your arms about me and lean forward. Hold on tightly.’

They set off at a walk and eventually she relaxed her grip.

‘That’s better,’ he said. ‘I thought you would squeeze the breath out of me.’

‘I prefer to ride in a cart.’

‘Well, you had better hold tight again because now we are going to speed up.’

He grimaced. He could hardly believe he was doing this. He was taking old Hesley’s former mistress to look after the woman who was so precious to him. Why? Because he knew she would put Olivia’s welfare before her own. No, more than that: because a bond had developed between them since she had first gone to Hill Top House as a governess.

He supposed they had both been ill-used by Mexton men, had both fled the comfort of money to be away from them. Miss Trent had found solace in religion and good works. And Olivia? What had she been doing for more than a year? Who was the father of her lost child? Who had deserted his responsibilities when she needed him most?

With a guilty start he realized that Olivia had accused him of the same thing when he had ceased their meetings at the ruined cottage. But surely he had not been misguided in his desire for her to maintain the sanctity of her marriage.To walk away from her then had been the most difficult action of his life. He had done it for her, for her future happiness, and now she hated him for it. No, it would not be Miss Trent that Olivia refused to see. It would be him. Her late uncle’s mistress would be more worthy in her eyes than himself. He deserved Olivia’s rejection.

Chapter 30

Harriet slid thankfully off the horse and stumbled before she picked up her skirts and hurried into the Wiltons’ kitchen, where she introduced herself briskly to Sarah.

Sarah was pressing linen with a flat-iron on the kitchen table. She directed Harriet upstairs to the back bedchamber, where Olivia was awake but pallid.

Harriet was so relieved to see her again that she could hardly speak. She approached the bed softly. ‘Madam! What has happened to you?’

‘Miss Trent?’ Livvy could not believe her eyes. Miss Trent was here? Dear Heaven, she had come back.
Come back to her
. Now she could explain how she had never wanted her to leave. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I’m going to look after you.’ Harriet marvelled at how wonderful it was to say it. To have a chance to make up for the guilt she had felt when she had left her. To make good their friendship.

‘Look after me here?’

‘Oh, Mrs Mexton, you have no idea—’

‘Do not call me that.’ She lifted her head to see around her visitor. ‘Is anyone with you? No one here knows who I am and you must not tell them.’

‘But why not?’ Harriet began to feel anxious. Had she been in hiding all this time?

‘I’m known as Livvy.You must call me Livvy.’

‘Very well.’

But Livvy began to worry about what Miss Trent would do when she found out the truth. ‘How did you get here?’ she asked. ‘Who else knows about me?’

‘Stay calm, my dear. Jared brought me.’

‘Jared? He is here too?’ She remembered seeing his blackened face through the pain It had not been a dream, after all. They were both here! What did they want? To take her back to Hesley, where she belonged? She couldn’t go back. Not now.

Harriet saw the anxiety and distress on Olivia’s face and it worried her. Olivia had trusted her. She had betrayed that trust and deserved the censure. But she had thought she would be pleased about Jared.

‘We shall both care for you until you are well again.’

‘No! Go away! I have managed quite well without you, these past years.’

‘I’m sorry I left, but you know why I had to go, and I have missed you so much. I often wondered how you were faring as mistress of Hill Top—’

‘Quiet! No one here knows of my past life.’

‘Past life? But why did you have to leave?

‘Hesley came home.’ Olivia tried to sit up and Harriet moved to aid her. ‘I do not need help.’

‘You do. This happened only yesterday and you have lost a great deal of blood.’

‘You know what happened?’

‘Jared told me.’

‘He mustn’t tell anyone else.’

‘He won’t.’

‘I should like to speak with him.’

Harriet smiled. Olivia had not lost her spirit and for that she was grateful. ‘Wait until you are stronger,’ she said.

‘Do you still think you know what is best for me?’

‘I think you will become too agitated with him.You should rest.’ Harriet began to straighten the bedding.

‘I am already agitated. Please stop doing that and go away.’

Harriet sighed but did as she was bade. She understood Olivia’s anger. ‘Very well. If that is what you want.’

‘It is.’

Reluctantly, Harriet went down the stairs. Jared had seen to his horse and was now in the small cottage kitchen, emptying his saddle-bags of brandy, sugar and scented soap from the town, and questioning Sarah about Olivia.

‘May we speak frankly, sir?’ Harriet said.

‘Of course.’

Sarah put her iron to cool in the hearth on its heel and picked up a pile of undergarments. ‘I’ll go to my father. These are for travelling.’

As soon as she had gone, Harriet turned on Jared. ‘Did you tell me the truth? Was it your child?’

‘I have already answered that question.’

‘But you did lie with her?’

‘I gave you my word,’ he said evenly, ‘and I have not seen her since she left Hill Top House.’

Harriet put a finger to her lips and raised her eyes towards the ceiling. ‘You promised you would take care of her.’