Not Just Lovely Laura

by Jessica Spencer

  NOT JUST LOVELY LAURA

  Book 2, Sisters by Marriage

  Jessica Spencer

  ©2018 to 2019 Gita V. Reddy

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

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  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

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  Print Edition ISBN: 9781092692755

  Disclaimer

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Epilogue

  Chapter 1

  England, 1798

  “I’m not their mother, Edward. I don’t know what to do when Laura keeps wailing for Catherine. Gareth tries to play the gentleman and doesn’t bawl but he misses her dreadfully,” Lady Helena said, discreetly moving the brandy behind a pile of correspondence

  The Earl of Daventon ignored his sister and continued to stare into the fire.

  “You know very well Catherine spent a lot of time with the children. She was never away from the nursery for any length of time. You must put aside your quarrel for the sake of your children.”

  “I thought I told you not to take her name in my presence.”

  Why do you call out to her if her name is anathema to you? Lady Helena wanted to demand but said instead, “Edward, you must not deprive your children of their mother. Laura is only eighteen months old. Her nurse is tired out, trying to put her to sleep. She keeps pointing to the door of the nursery and screaming out the only word she had learned: Mama. If you would but see her, you would rush to bring Catherine back.”

  Her brother merely grunted and continued to stare into the fire. Helena found the cigar smoke and brandy fumes stifling. She went to the window and tied back the drapes. “You must stop drinking, Edward. It isn’t like you at all. Tell me what went wrong so that I may help. Catherine must also be suffering. You should have let her keep the children until matters are resolved.”

  It was now ten days since Catherine had left Daventon Manor. Helena did not know the cause of their quarrel. Neither did the servants. Edward was besotted with his wife. Or had been. And Catherine loved him, Helena was sure of it. They didn’t announce their love from the rooftops or declare it in company – that would have been improper – but the way they smiled at each other and lit up in the presence of the other was proof enough.

  When the earl continued his morose silence, Lady Helena picked up the pile of correspondence and went into the morning room. Someone had to take care of the estate.

  ***

  “What does he say?” Lady Conolly asked as soon as Helena entered the morning room.

  “Nothing at all, Aunt Esther.”

  “Did you tell him about Laura and Gareth?”

  Lady Helena nodded.

  “I don’t understand any of this. When you sent for me I thought someone was ill.”

  “I didn’t know what else to do, Aunt Esther. Edward had locked himself in his study. Laura kept fretting for Catherine. Gareth had become my shadow, refusing to let me out of his sight. I don’t blame him. I was scared myself. We could hear Edward storming and raging in the study.”

  “It’s unfortunate you weren’t home. You might have stopped Catherine.”

  “I don’t know if I could have done anything. I spoke to the housekeeper as soon as I came home. She told me there had been a quarrel. The servants couldn’t tell what it was about. They heard Edward order Catherine to leave and saw him stomp out. Catherine left a little later, taking the children.”

  Lady Helena kept one small piece of information to herself. Though she trusted her aunt, she couldn’t bring herself to speak of it. She was sure the housekeeper had misheard. It was not possible that the quarrel was about a man. Edward would not have accused Catherine of being unfaithful. It wasn’t possible. She had lived with Catherine since she had come to Daventon Manor as a bride. Catherine was honourable, and loved her husband.

  Fortunately, the housekeeper was loyal and not given to gossip. Unless Edward blurted out something while in the cups, the story would go no further.

  “What is to be done now?” Lady Conolly asked, a worried frown creasing her forehead.

  Helena remained silent. She had hoped that Edward would listen to their aunt. She was their closest relative. But he had refused to see her.

  “Edward should not have sent his man of business to bring the children back. Who is to look after them? You are too young to take on the responsibility. You must send the children to Catherine and come to Mews Lodge with me. Left to himself, Edward will stop throwing a tantrum. I must say his behavior is most unbecoming. He is the head of the family.”

  “I can’t leave Edward alone! You haven’t seen him, Aunt Esther! He was never one to indulge in strong spirits. Now he does nothing but drink. His valet has given up trying to get him to dress. I can’t leave him in this state.”

  “Helena, your sentiment does you credit. But you are only twenty. You can’t take on the responsibility of the children. Come with me and I shall contrive to find you a husband in no time.”

  “Aunt Esther, you know I don’t mean to marry.”

  “I know nothing of the sort! You’ve had two years to get over Egerton. He was a fine young man and it is sad he died before the wedding could take place. But life must go on. It matters not if you cannot love another. Love isn’t required in a marriage. Or expected.”

  “Aunt Esther, I can’t leave Edward or the children. I love them. There is also the estate. The steward will be calling soon. I want to read the letters, to see if there is anything important.”

  Lady Conolly compressed her lips. She had done her duty. She had offered her niece a home, and told her what she ought to do about the children. The next day she left for Mews Lodge.

  ***

  Two days later, Lady Helena was surprised to see Mr. Meyers arrive. The solicitor only came down from London when there was important business to be conducted.

  “His lordship sent for me,” Mr. Meyers explained, after an exchange of civilities.

  To Lady Helena’s further surprise, Edward emerged from his room neatly dressed. His valet had given him a haircut and a shave. Except for some puffiness in the face and bloodshot eyes, he looked like his old self.

  Edward closeted himself in his study with Mr. Meyers. Three hours later, when the solicitor came out, he looked grim. Lady Helena managed to have a private word with him before he left.

  “It is a bad morning’s work, L
ady Helena. I tried to dissuade your brother but he was most adamant. I have drawn up papers for a legal separation. Lady Daventon is to live at Wrenrose. She cannot have the children live with her. His lordship has settled a handsome amount on her and also created a more than adequate annuity.”

  Helena gasped. “Why?”

  “He says he wants her to be free, and happy.”

  “I don’t understand. What is this? A...divorce?”

  “A divorce will cause scandal. Charges will have to be made. This is an agreement between two people that a marriage is over. Lady Daventon will have to sign the papers.”

  Helena knew Catherine would sign. It was not in her to fight for anything. What did Mr. Meyers mean by saying the marriage was over? Was Catherine no longer the mother of her own children? And Laura – was Laura to become an orphan even though her mother lived? Whatever had happened was between Edward and Catherine. She would not let Laura suffer, she decided, hurrying into the nursery.

  “How is Laura today?” she asked the nurse.

  “She didn’t cry much. She may be beginning to forget her mother.”

  “Good,” Lady Helena said. “That’s very good.”

  ***

  The earl tried to take control of his life but wasn’t very successful. Sometimes he smothered his children with love, at other times shut himself from them. He grew careless of his person and his estate. Fortunately, the steward was an honest man and Mr. Meyers was trustworthy. Lady Helena looked after the holdings with their help. She also became surrogate mother to her brother’s children.

  Edward became a recluse. There were no more house parties. Old friends who presumed to arrive without notice left without seeing him. For some years, friends and relatives continued to send invitations to hunts and parties. Lady Helena was forced to decline them all.

  When Laura was five, one of Edward’s school chums arrived at the manor. Mr. Mason was a widower, and was traveling with his daughter. Helena managed to convince her brother to receive him.

  Laura was thrilled. Mr. Mason’s daughter, Janet, was about the same age as she was.

  One evening, Janet pointed to a star twinkling outside the nursery window. “That’s Mama,” she said. “She’s looking down at me from the sky.”

  Laura remembered her aunt had told her that her mother was far away. She pointed to another star. “That’s my Mama,” she said.

  Janet’s hand flew to her mouth. “Your mother cannot be a star. Only mothers who die and go to heaven become stars. They come out at night to watch over their children. Your mother can’t become a star. She’s not dead. She’s gone to live somewhere else.”

  Laura put her thumb into her mouth, a most unladylike habit that Nurse had despaired of breaking, and listened.

  Janet was a precocious child. As her nurse had no compunction about gossiping in her presence, she picked up things not meant for her. She said, “Your mother left you when you were quite young. She lives somewhere else. That’s why your father does not laugh. He shuts himself in his study so that he can be sad.”

  “Do you know why my mother left?”

  “She loves someone else, that’s why!”

  Laura solemnly digested Janet’s words. Her mother had left because she did not love them.

  When Gareth saw Laura the next morning, he knew something had upset her. “Janet says Mama left because she doesn’t love us.”

  “Janet is a silly girl. Our mother loves us dearly. She had to go away because she is ill. It’s a secret. Promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

  Laura promised. Gareth started to tickle her arm and soon had her laughing.

  However, by the time Laura was eight, she pieced together enough to know that Gareth had lied to her. When he came home for the holidays, she confronted him. “I know about Mother. She has gone away because she likes another gentleman and Papa will have nothing to do with her.”

  “Who told you this? It’s gammon!”

  “You needn’t feed me untruths any longer. I’m a big girl. I hear the servants gossiping about mother. They blame her for Papa’s ills.”

  “You don’t remember her at all?” Gareth asked.

  “No.”

  “Close your eyes and try. Shall I describe her to you? Better still, would you like to see her portrait?”

  Gareth took her to the attic, and showed her the family portrait. Their father looked dashing in black with immaculate lace at the throat and cuffs. Their mother held her in her arms. Her gown was blue, worn with a lace collar, and her ornament was a pearl necklace with a turquoise pendant. Gareth leaned against her chair.

  “What’s that?” Laura asked, pointing to some ink stains.

  “I did that. I was angry after she went.”

  Laura nodded. She understood the bond of love and hate that would have made him do it.

  ***

  Lady Helena often worried about her niece. She was a sensitive little thing, prone to hiding her feelings. Gareth sometimes mentioned his mother, mostly in anger but Laura never said a word.

  As the years went by, Lady Helena expected her to ask questions. Curiosity about her absent mother would have been natural. But Laura behaved as if it was normal to grow up without a mother.

  The first time she wore a grown-up gown, Lady Helena remarked upon her resemblance to her mother. “You promise to be a great beauty, dear. You have your mother’s looks. Golden hair, soft and thick with a tendency to curl, and grey eyes that sometimes look green.”

  Laura stared at her, the light of happiness in her eyes giving way to pain and desolation.

  Chapter 2

  As Laura grew older, Lady Helena became anxious about her prospects. After Catherine left, Edward had shut himself up. He had also discontinued the tradition of holding festivities for the tenants. Without village assemblies and dinner parties, she was worried that Laura would not know how to go about in Society.

  Laura had received a good education. She was well versed in the rules of etiquette. She could paint, embroider, and play the pianoforte. She knew how to keep household accounts. While not a blue stocking, she was better read than most young women of the ton. But she had no opportunity to learn the most important of social skills, which was to move among the ton. They only socialized with their closest neighbor who was a baron. His daughter Lydia was three years older than Laura and held her in true affection.

  Lady Helena hoped Gareth would fix his attentions on Lydia. Though her father was a mere baron, she was well connected on her mother’s side. One uncle was a viscount, another a duke. If Lydia came into the family, Laura could have a successful Season. A husband might be found among her connections.

  “It will be a good match,” she told Gareth. “Lydia is an amiable young woman and lovely to look at. I’m surprised you aren’t in love with her.”

  “Love is a quagmire. I will not be caught in it,” Gareth replied.

  “I know she is fond of you. If you encourage her, you can win her hand in marriage. The baron and his wife will be happy with the match.”

  “Lydia is my friend. I’ve known her all her life. She wants love, Aunt Nell. I would be a cad to deprive her of it.”

  ***

  One day the earl did not return from his walk. It was not unusual for him to disappear for several hours but when he was absent for a day and a night, Lady Helena sent men to look for him.

  They found him easily enough, caught in the rushes at the river bend, fully clothed. And dead.

  Jack, his valet for thirty years, told the family he feared the earl had willingly walked into the watery grave. For three days he had abstained from spirits and had stared gloomily in the direction of the river.

  Gareth wrote to his mother, informing her of the funeral arrangements. The messenger returned without a reply.

  Due to the nature of the death, the funeral was a small affair. Before the coffin was closed, Lady Helena placed a pair of gloves in it. They were Catherine’s. Her brother had kept them in his room.

>   After the vicar and the mourners left, Lady Helena said, “I didn’t expect this. Your mother ought to have come. She has shown a total want of feeling.”

  Gareth nodded, clenching and unclenching his hand. “I expected her to come. I hoped ...to heal the breach.”

  Laura whirled to face him. “How can you speak of reconciling with that unfeeling woman! She isn’t a mother at all! A mother l...loves her children. She doesn’t abandon them!”

  Lady Helena waited a few days before talking to Laura. “My dear child, you must not harbor such strong sentiments against your mother.”

  “How can you defend her? You were upset when she didn’t come to Father’s funeral.”

  “I spoke in anger. It is my dearest wish that you and Gareth are reconciled with your mother. When I knew her, she was the sweetest of creatures. She couldn’t have changed that much.”

  “She left us for another man. That could have changed her,” Laura said, her face heating up.

  “We don’t know if that is true. You must not give credence to gossip. Laura, I’m happy we are having this conversation. You have never spoken about your mother. It is better to speak out than to let things fester.”

  “What is there to speak about?”

  Lady Helena sighed. “You are now a young woman so I needn’t mince words. Whatever happened between your parents caused a great deal of talk. It needn’t have. Many ton marriages are a sham with the man living elsewhere with a mistress while the wife and children are left in the family home. Married women have been known to cheat on their husbands after providing them with an heir. As long as they are discreet, they are respectable.”

  “Do you mean to say that Mother should have been discreet?”

  “Of course not! Your parents had a quarrel and were not able to reconcile. That should not have been cause for scandal. They didn’t do anything wrong. If Edward had let Catherine come back and stayed in London or elsewhere, no one would have cared to discuss it. Husbands and wives aren’t expected to live in each other’s pocket. But Edward loved your mother. He refused to see her but pined for her. Because he shut himself up, and Catherine also withdrew from Society, outrageous stories spread about them.”