Natalya stared at her. ‘But when you found I was not in the house, surely you made some enquiries of our neighbours and friends?’
Mrs Pridham looked flustered.
‘It…it was not necessary. Your uncle suspected from the start that a ransom would be demanded for your safe return.’
‘So you did nothing.’
‘We…um…we sent an express to—to Bow Street.’
‘Bow Street? London!’ Natalya was shocked. ‘Good heavens, I could have been spirited out of the country before help came from that quarter!’
Mrs Pridham cried out at that, her distress so uncharacteristic that it only added to the wild speculation that raced through Natalya’s mind and would not be silenced. She continued to dwell upon it throughout the service and even afterwards, when they left the Abbey and she greeted acquaintances with calm complaisance and assured them that she was quite recovered from her malady.
Aunt Pridham refused to say anything more, even in the privacy of the carriage, but Natalya was not to be deterred. When she saw her uncle at dinner that night, she asked him about engaging a Bow Street Runner, only for him to deny it and claim his wife had quite mistook the matter.
‘I would have taken measures, only Lord Dalmorren’s note arrived, telling me you were safe.’
‘But that would have been some time after I was taken,’ Natalya argued. ‘You mean you did nothing to find me?’
He said shortly, ‘I contacted those I thought might know.’
‘Oh? Who might that be?’
‘Everything will be made clear to you very soon.’
‘But you cannot tell me now.’
‘I cannot.’ He glared across the table at her. ‘Eat your dinner, madam, and pray ask me no more.’
‘But, sir—’
With an oath he tore his napkin from his neck and threw it down.
‘Damnation, madam, will you be quiet? If you cannot desist from these interminable questions, you can go to your room and I will have your meal sent up. I will not be hounded like this at my own dinner table!’
‘Very well.’ Natalya rose. ‘But you need not send anything up to me, I am not hungry.’
She was shaking with fury but she managed to walk out of the dining room and up the stairs to her bedchamber, where she collapsed on to the bed in tears of rage and frustration.
* * *
Natalya tossed and turned in her bed, her mind shifting between Tristan’s sudden departure from Bath and the Pridhams’ strange behaviour regarding her abduction.
Her uncle had said previously he was waiting for instructions before he could disclose anything about her birth, but from whom and why? Was it the same person he thought might know about her abduction?
At school, a passion for Gothic romances had fuelled Natalya’s imagination and the idea of being the baseborn child of a rich and unscrupulous villain had been exciting. Now that she suspected she might indeed have such a parent, it was more than a little alarming.
‘Oh, you are being ridiculously fanciful!’ she scolded herself, turning her pillow and thumping it back into shape. ‘There is probably nothing more sinister than a legal complication to do with wills and inheritance that has to be resolved.’
Yet her thoughts refused to behave and she continued to conjure ever more outrageous scenarios for her fate until at last she fell into a sleep of sheer exhaustion.
* * *
‘Wake up, Miss Fairchild. Wake up now.’
Natalya shrugged off the maid’s hand on her shoulder and opened one bleary eye. Outside her window, the sky was the clear grey of a very early dawn.
‘What is the matter, Aggie? It cannot be time to get up yet.’
‘No, miss, but the master has told me to have you dressed and downstairs as soon as possible!’
This time there was no mistaking the urgency in the maid’s voice. Natalya shook off her sleepiness and quickly jumped out of bed.
* * *
Twenty minutes later she entered the drawing room. Mrs Pridham, a silk wrap fastened over her nightgown, was sitting on the sofa and looking very tired. Her husband stood before the fireplace in his banyan, slippered feet apart and hands behind his back. His countenance was as grave as ever.
‘Come in, Natalya, and shut the door.’
‘Good heavens, sir,’ she exclaimed, regarding them in alarm. ‘What has happened, what is the matter?’
‘I told you yesterday I was awaiting a letter regarding you,’ he said. ‘It arrived yesterday afternoon, but I thought it best not to apprise you of it then. I deemed it better to let you get a good night’s rest.’
‘As it happens, sir, I slept very badly,’ she retorted. ‘From whom is the letter?’
‘A person most nearly concerned with your welfare.’
‘M-my father?’ she stammered. ‘Or even, perhaps…could it be that my m-mother is alive?’
‘I am afraid not,’ her uncle replied, his tone clipped. ‘Neither of your parents is alive.’
Natalya knew that. Of course she did. No one had ever told her anything different, yet she realised that she had always nurtured a tiny flame of hope. Now that flame flickered and died. Grief ripped through her, tearing at her heart. She wanted to be alone, to collapse in tears, to wail and cry and mourn for the parents she had never known.
Her uncle was speaking again, saying in a matter-of-fact voice, ‘You are to be ready to leave at six o’clock. Mrs Pridham has instructed breakfast to be served in the dining room immediately and I have already instructed your maid to pack a trunk—’
‘Leave? I am going out of Bath?’ She glanced down at her skirts. Suddenly the relevance of Aggie selecting her dove-blue walking dress was clear.
‘What if I refuse?’ She ran her tongue over her lips. ‘I am of age now, sir, you cannot make me go.’
‘We would never force you to do anything you did not wish to do, Natalya, but our responsibility for you ends today. When you leave this house you have a choice: go your own way in the world, or you travel to meet your benefactor.’
Mrs Pridham rose and stood beside her husband. ‘You have always wanted to know your history, Natalya, this letter comes from someone in a position to answer your questions.’
‘Perhaps it is the same person who had me abducted!’
‘For heaven’s sake, girl. This is the man who has provided so generously for your upbringing all these years. Without him you would most likely have ended in the Foundling Hospital!’
His words hit Natalya like a blow.
‘You were paid to look after me. I was a…a commission.’
‘You must not think that we have not enjoyed having you with us these past four years,’ said Mrs Pridham, twisting her hands together. ‘We could not have hoped for a better behaved or more biddable charge.’
The shock was receding. Natalya said bitterly, ‘You were appointed to complete my education, I suppose. To see to it that I attained all the accomplishments necessary. Will you receive a dividend for the satisfactory completion of the contract?’
Mr Pridham regarded her coldly. ‘We have always done our best for you, Natalya. I hope you believe that.’
‘Your best!’ She shook her head. ‘I thought perhaps there was some family link, or at least that you had known one or other of my parents and were doing this for their sake, if not for mine. That, at least, was how I explained your lack of affection. I thought you would not tell me about my past because it was too painful.’
Mrs Pridham bit back a little cry. ‘We were expressly forbidden to do so.’
‘Leaving me to think the very worst.’
Natalya gathered her thoughts and her pride, coming to terms with the fact that she had no parents. No relations at all, not even the two people standing before her. For four years she had lived with the Pridhams. They had been her guardians
, she had looked up to them, been guided by them. She had forgiven their coldness, believing they had always had her best interests at heart. Now they seemed diminished, somehow.
She said, ‘I am obliged to you, then, for looking after me. For giving me every advantage money can buy. Now, if you will excuse me, I shall go and see if Aggie has finished packing my things.’
‘Will you not take breakfast with me?’ asked Mrs Pridham, surprised. ‘You will need something to eat before your journey.’
Natalya was already walking to the door, but she stopped. She was tempted to reply that in all her time at Sydney Place she had never been invited to take breakfast with them, but that seemed petty.
She said, ‘It is already gone five and I must prepare for my journey. I will send Aggie to fetch up a little bread and butter for me to eat as I pack.’
* * *
The hall clock was chiming the hour when Natalya walked out to the waiting carriage. She was reassured by the fact that Aggie was to accompany her. The maid was in a dither of excitement, but Natalya felt remarkably calm. In truth, there had been no time for grief or histrionics.
She had no expectation of returning to Sydney Place, or of seeing the Pridhams again. Apart from the clothes which Aggie had already packed, Natalya had had to decide very quickly which of her belongings she would take with her into her unknown future. It had not been difficult. A few treasured keepsakes from her schooldays, her presents from Mrs Ancrum and her mother’s pearls. And the pale rose-pink shawl that she threw around her shoulders.
The travelling chaise looked new and expensive with liveried postilions and four glossy horses to pull it. A footman was sitting on the leather bench at the back, while a second stood by the open door, waiting to hand Natalya into the sumptuous interior.
It is not too late, Natalya. Refuse to go. Throw yourself on Mrs Ancrum’s mercy until you can contact Tristan.
She glanced back to where Mr and Mrs Pridham were standing on the steps. There had been no exchange of kisses, no warm hugs and words of regret expressed at her leaving, but they had done their duty and looked after her for the past four years with kindness, if not love. She could not believe they wished her harm.
And Tristan? Her heart contracted. It was almost a week since she had seen him and there had been no word, but she was convinced he had not abandoned her. It was a misunderstanding, something that she might be able to resolve at some later date. But until she knew about her past, she could not make promises for the future.
Resolutely, she stepped into the carriage.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
‘Damn it all, Hurley, I told you not to wake me!’
Tristan raked a hand through his hair. He had driven through the night from London and fallen into bed shortly before dawn. His eyes felt gritty and his temper was definitely uncertain.
‘I beg your pardon, my lord, but Simon wishes to speak with you.’
Tristan recalled Simon was one of the men he had set to watch the Pridhams’ house. He rolled out of bed and thrust his feet into his slippers.
‘Send him in.’
By the time the man entered his bedchamber, Tristan was wrapped in a silk-brocade banyan and had sent Hurley to fetch up water for washing.
‘My apologies for disturbing you, my lord, and it might be nothing.’ Simon stood before him, nervously turning his hat between his hands.
‘Tell me.’
‘Miss Fairchild left Sydney Place this morning, my lord. She was accompanied by her maid and looked to be perfectly at ease. There was no sign of anyone forcing her into the carriage, but I thought you should know.’
‘The devil,’ muttered Tristan, frowning. ‘What time was this?’
‘Six o’clock, my lord, on the hour. I know because I heard a clock chiming from one of the houses, it being a warm night and the windows was open, you see.’
He stopped when Hurley came in with a jug of hot water.
‘Go on,’ barked Tristan. ‘Tell me everything you observed while I wash and dress.’
‘It was a travelling chariot, my lord, newly painted.’ Simon told him. ‘Yellow and black, with two postilions for the team of four bays and two servants in the hind boot. I could see the body was lined in blue silk, too. Fringed. No hired hack, I reckon. Looked like the equipage of a gentleman and a rich one at that.’
‘And the passengers? Was Miss Fairchild alone?’
‘Her maid went with her, sir, no one else. I saw them loading two trunks and a portmanteau.’
‘You did very well, Simon. With your description of the chaise it should not be difficult to discover which road they took out of Bath, although I have a pretty good notion of where they are going.’ Tristan was already tying his neckcloth while Hurley was shaking out his riding jacket. ‘Take a couple of fellows with you to report back and in the meantime have John make sure my chaise is ready with all speed!’
* * *
It was a long journey and the weather was inclement. Sunshine and showers. Natalya knew they were travelling east, but other than that she had little idea where they were going. They changed horses frequently, and at each stop coffee and a little food was brought out to the carriage by one of the footmen. Whenever Natalya or Aggie stepped out of the carriage to use the necessary at the posting houses, one of the servants escorted them. They were civil, but uncommunicative, and Natalya wondered uneasily what would happen if she should ask to be taken back to Bath.
Aggie, however, had no such concerns. She thought the journey an exciting adventure and looked out eagerly at the passing landscape.
‘Are you not the least bit anxious about the future?’ Natalya asked her, as they drove across a particularly bleak expanse of heath.
‘Oh, no, miss,’ came the cheerful reply. ‘Mrs Pridham told me that if I was a good girl and did as I was told it was very likely I would be allowed to remain as your lady’s maid. If you was agreeable, that is,’ she added hastily.
A small comfort, thought Natalya, reasoning that if she was to keep her maid then the Pridhams did not expect her to become a governess, or a companion.
She tried to calculate how far they travelled and, by the time the carriage slowed and turned into a gated drive, she thought it must be close on a hundred miles. They should be near London, although she had no sense of it, for the last part of their journey had been off the main coaching road and through thick woods.
She sat upright and stared out of the window as the carriage rattled its way through a landscaped park. Eventually they emerged from the trees and she saw that the drive ended at a pretty manor house. Its steeply pitched roof was studded with windows and topped with tall chimney stacks. Below, there were regularly spaced windows on two floors and a rusticated basement level. A set of shallow stone steps swept up from the drive to the main entrance, which was crowned by a shell-like pediment. Everything was neat and well maintained. It spoke of affluence, as did the comfortable equipage that had carried her from Bath in such luxury. Should she be reassured by that?
The carriage swept around the curving drive and came to a stand. As Natalya alighted a man in a black coat hurried down the steps and bowed to her.
‘Miss Fairchild. You are expected, ma’am.’
The servants were unloading her trunks. Natalya swallowed, cast a quick glance to make sure Aggie was at her shoulder and followed the man into the house.
A woman in a black gown and snowy apron and cap was waiting in the hall. Her rosy cheeks and cheerful countenance were reassuring.
‘I am Mrs Noakes, the housekeeper.’ She dropped a curtsy. ‘Your rooms have been prepared, if you and your maid would care to follow me. I am sure you would like to wash and change your gown before anything else.’
Natalya would have preferred to be taken directly to meet her mysterious benefactor, but after a journey of eleven hours she suspected she looked quite dishevelle
d. She and Aggie followed the housekeeper up the stairs to a comfortably appointed bedchamber with a dressing room, where Mrs Noakes pointed out that a truckle bed had been prepared for her maid.
‘Now, ma’am, when you are ready, you just ring the bell and I will come and fetch you.’
Natalya interrupted her. ‘Mrs Noakes, who am I to meet here, what is his name?’
The housekeeper shook her head. ‘I am afraid I cannot tell you that. As a matter of fact, I am not sure of his name myself. I have instructions merely to look after you until he arrives.’
‘You do not know?’ Natalya stared at her. ‘Is this not his house, then?’
‘Goodness me, no! The master has given the gentleman the use of the Lodge for a few days.’
‘And who is the master?’
‘Ah, now, that is a delicate matter and not one I can discuss.’
Natalya gave a little cry. ‘I do not understand any of this!’
Mrs Noakes regarded her sympathetically. ‘No, ma’am, but I am sure it will all be explained in due course.’
‘That is all anyone ever says to me!’ Natalya bit her lip. ‘And if I wish to leave?’
The housekeeper looked a little shocked at that.
‘Leave? But you have only just arrived! However, if that is what you wish, then I am sure we can arrange for the chaise to be brought back to the door for you very quickly.’
‘You were not given orders to keep me here?’
‘Lord love you, no, Miss Fairchild! I am sure no one wishes to do that.’
The housekeeper was smiling at her, no hint of guile in her homely countenance. Natalya sighed. She had been travelling all day and the thought of quitting this place and travelling through the night to return to Bath did not appeal to her.
She sank down on the stool in front of the dressing table.
‘Very well, I will stay. For now.’
The housekeeper beamed at her and dropped another curtsy. ‘Thank you, ma’am, I will call back for you presently.’
Harlequin Historical May 2020--Box Set 2 of 2 Page 42
