by Mary Nichols
‘Very well, thank you.’ Diana was already slipping out of her gown, grimacing at the state it was in.
Lucy picked it up. ‘I might be able to do something about this. While I was working at the theatre we had to keep the costumes in good order and I learned a lot from my dresser.’
‘Please do not go to the trouble—’
‘Goodness, I owe you more than I can repay. Cleaning up a muddy gown is nothing. Come down when you are ready. There will be hot chocolate for you, too, and Richard will be waiting.’
He smiled when he saw her in the gingham dress half an hour later. ‘That’s better. Now, drink this chocolate and I will take you back to the Hall.’
‘You said you wanted to talk to me.’
‘I most certainly do. We will talk as we walk.’
Twenty minutes later, they were strolling side by side along the path back to the Hall. ‘It almost seems like history repeating itself,’ he said after a silence while he marshalled his thoughts. ‘Your grandfather, my Great-Uncle James, fell in love with someone the family did not approve of, and so did Stephen, when he fell headlong in love with Lucy, but, unlike Stephen, James stuck to his guns and left the family. Stephen toed the line. He was only nineteen years old at the time and anxious to do well in the business. He can perhaps be forgiven for wanting to keep his affair with Lucy a secret; she was an actress and he knew Papa and Mama would not approve. When she became pregnant she asked Stephen for help, but the only help he felt able to offer was a little money and not much of that. Papa has always kept him on short commons. According to my father, one must learn that money only comes with hard work. I was lucky I had my own inheritance from my maternal grandmother and could be independent.’
‘But how did she come to be living at the dower house with you?’
‘I was out with Freddie and Joe one evening, enjoying supper at Rules when she came in with some friends. We knew them vaguely and introductions were made. I did not know she had anything to do with Stephen at the time and we enjoyed the usual banter, but later she asked to speak to me alone and I escorted her to her lodgings. She told me about Stephen and the fact that she was pregnant. I was angry with Stephen for leaving her in such straits. When I saw the miserable lodgings she inhabited, I was appalled to think of a Harecroft being born there. It was soon after I had moved into the dower house and so I suggested she came to housekeep for me. I did not think it was quite proper for her to live there with no chaperon and I knew Freddie and Joe were looking for lodgings, so all three came to stay.’
‘What did Stephen say to that?’
‘He was angry with me and afraid of what our father would say and that worried him more than anything. I realised after Dick was born that everyone had assumed he was mine, but I let it go. I was already out of favour and it would make no difference…’ He laughed. ‘Give a dog a bad name and he will live up to it. I hoped when Stephen came down to Borstead and saw Lucy again he would realise he loved her enough to stand up to Papa and marry her. The trouble started when you came into our lives.’
‘I know. Your father guessed who I really was when he saw how your great-grandmother reacted when she saw me. He told me tonight that he expected me to have a good dowry. It was all about money, Richard. I had no idea, I certainly never expected Stephen to propose.’
‘I know and I apologise for doubting you. It was not you that was marrying for money but Stephen, though the poor fellow did not know it at the time. He only learned it tonight with everyone else. When he was so reluctant to tell you about Lucy and Dick, I began to wonder if he really loved Lucy, after all. I realised he did when Dick went missing; he was as distraught as Lucy. And you saw the result.’
‘He accused you of taking Lucy from him.’
‘That was only frustration and jealousy talking and meant nothing. Papa had just given him a jobation for letting you slip through his fingers and he had to take it out on someone.’
‘You are very tolerant of him. I am not sure if I could have been. I am still angry at the way I have been used.’
‘With me, Diana? How have I used you?’
She stopped to think and then laughed. ‘No, I suppose in the light of what you have told me, you have not done so.’
‘Then are we friends again?’
‘Friends?’ she queried, stopping and turning to look up at him with a mischievous smile. ‘Is that all?’
‘You know it is not or you would not be looking at me in that teasing way. I said I loved you and I meant it. Now and for ever. It would make me the happiest man in the world if you were to say you loved me too.’
‘I already have.’
‘Then say it again.’
‘Oh, I do. I love you, but I dared not hope for anything when I thought you and Lucy were lovers and Dick was your son. Why do you think I wanted to leave? Why do you think I was so weak as to allow you to bring me back when I had made up my mind to go? Because I could not bear the thought of never seeing you again.’
‘Oh, Diana.’ He wrapped his arms about her and kissed her over and over again until she was breathless. ‘Will you marry me? Can you bear to live in the dower house and be the wife of the black sheep?’
‘Black sheep? I do not think you are that. On the contrary, you have done your best for everyone, sometimes with little gratitude.’
‘That has not answered my question. Will you marry me?’
‘Oh, yes, it is my dearest wish.’ She stopped. ‘But what about Miss Standish?’
‘That will be up to Stephen. I have told him it is about time he stood up to Papa and I think he might.’
‘It will be a dreadful shock to your father.’
‘He will get over it. Lucy will make an excellent shop Harecroft when the family get over their antipathy towards an actress.’
‘That is nothing to getting used to having a…’ she hesitated ‘…a love child in the family.’
He laughed and hugged her and she reached on tiptoe and kissed him again, then arm in arm they returned to the Hall.
Everyone was out on the terrace, intent on watching the fireworks exploding in the sky in a myriad of colours. They crept behind them and in at a side entrance. He kissed her and gave her a little push towards the servants’ stairs. ‘Hurry back to me.’
She raced up to her room, stripped off Lucy’s gingham and put on the blue gown Richard had bought her. Then she tied her hair back with a ribbon and went to join him. They watched the last of the fireworks and waited until most of the guests had gone and the family had congregated in the drawing room. They could hear a babble of voices as they approached. ‘Do we really want to join them?’ Diana asked.
‘Not if you do not wish it. Our news can wait until the morning.’
The door opened and Alicia came out. ‘Where have you two been?’ she asked. ‘We missed you.’
‘Having adventures,’ Richard said. ‘Dick ran off. Diana’s father found him paddling in the brook.’
‘Good heavens, what was Miss Standish thinking of to let him out of her sight? I hope he was none the worse for it.’
‘No. All’s well that ends well.’ He reached out and took Diana’s hand. ‘We have come to an understanding, Diana and I.’
‘About time, too. What about Stephen? Does he know?’
‘Yes, but Stephen has rediscovered his own love. They are together at the dower house now.’
‘I am glad to hear it. You took a great risk bringing Miss Standish there, Richard, but your gamble seems to have worked.’
‘Yes, but it very nearly did not. I have resolved never again to interfere in anyone else’s life. Diana has taught me that it does not pay.’
‘But Stephen will need your support when he tells your parents,’ Diana said. ‘They are going to be shocked.’
‘Not as shocked as you might think,’ Alicia said. ‘Mama spilled the beans tonight.’
‘Great-Grandmother knew?’ Diana asked in astonishment.
Alicia smiled. ‘There is
not much that gets past my mother.’
‘What did Mama and Papa make of it?’ Richard asked.
‘They were bemused, but it was not the only revelation she made tonight and they had much to occupy their minds.’
‘Oh, you mean about my father and me.’
‘More than that. You should have been here.’
‘I hope her ladyship was not too cross that we missed it.’
Alicia laughed. ‘No, she seemed to derive a great deal of satisfaction from the fact that you had disappeared together, as if she meant it to happen.’
‘She could not have predicted Dick would go missing or that I would fall into the water.’
‘No, but she laid her plans well, set everyone’s nerves on edge and then waited to see what would happen.’
‘Isn’t that just like Great-Grandmama?’ Richard laughed. ‘Put all the ingredients into the pot, give it a stir and wait for the bang.’
‘Something like that, but Mama did have something else on her mind besides making you two come to your senses. She decided not only to reveal the contents of her will but to enact it straight away and not wait until she died. You could have heard a pin drop when she made the announcement.’
‘Go on,’ Richard said. ‘What did she say? I know you are dying to tell us.’
‘William already has the estate and the stud and there was nothing for him, but he expected that and was in complete agreement. There were gifts to the staff, of course. Henry was given a batch of shares Mama has been hanging on to for years, but, knowing Henry’s luck on the ’Change, they will probably treble in value as soon as he has them in his hands. Cecil and Maryanne are to be given a sum of money provided they spend a year working at Harecroft’s to earn it. It did not please them, but she told them Stephen had been working there for years and Diana had already done her year and she was treating them no differently. All are to receive an equal amount.’
‘Me, too?’ queried Diana.
‘Yes, of course. You have equal status with the others. Your father is to have his inheritance and John is to have sole ownership of all the shops except the one in Bond Street. Stephen is to have that, so that he can have a measure of independence, provided he marries Miss Standish.’
‘And you?’ Richard asked.
‘Enough money to secure my independence. Do you not want to know what she is giving you?’
‘I have what I want. She has been instrumental in giving me Diana.’ He squeezed her hand and smiled at her as he spoke.
‘Nevertheless you are to have the dower house, until such time as you inherit Borstead Hall, which you will do in the fullness of time, and enough money to secure a seat in the Commons. She expects you to make a name for yourself as a Member of Parliament and a force for good.’ She laughed suddenly. ‘You should have seen your father’s face when she said that. He could not have been more surprised.’
‘Am I no longer the black sheep?’
‘It seems not, though when he discovers your political stance, he might not be so pleased.’ She paused, nodding towards the drawing room and the sound of indignant voices, Maryanne’s loudest of all. ‘Are you going in there to tell him your good news now?’
‘Is Great-Grandmother in there?’
‘No, she retired as soon as she had had her say.’
‘Then we will leave it until tomorrow. I think that will be the time for Stephen and I to present a united front.’ He leaned forward and kissed the old lady’s cheek and then took Diana by the hand. ‘I believe there is a moon tonight, sweetheart. Shall we go and look at it?’
They went out into the garden hand in hand. There was indeed a moon and they stood side by side, gazing up at it, then he turned and took her in his arms to kiss her. He had kissed her before: in anger, in frustration, wanting to hurt, to demonstrate his ability to control her, but never like this, never with such tenderness, such overflowing emotion. It was an emotion she returned in equal measure and he was left in no doubt that he was really loved. When they were breathless and the moon disappeared behind a cloud, they turned and walked slowly back into the house.
‘Tomorrow,’ he said, as he kissed her again at the foot of the stairs. ‘Tomorrow we tell the world and make plans for a wedding. Goodnight, my dearest love.’
He was loath to part with her, even for one night, and held on to her hand as she moved away from him and started up the stairs. When she was at arm’s length, he let go and blew her a kiss. ‘Happy dreams, sweetheart.’
She looked down at him, one hand extended towards him, eyes shining with happy tears. ‘See you in the morning, my love.’ She climbed the stairs and at the top looked back. He was still there, one foot on the bottom step, one hand on the banister. It was the picture she carried to her bed with her, the heart of her dreams.
Church attendance was mandatory for both family and staff at Borstead Hall and only Mrs Evans and the kitchen maids were excused on the grounds that they were needed to cook dinner, which on that day was always served at one o’clock to allow the servants to have their meal afterwards and then have the rest of the day in which to do as they pleased. Diana wondered if Stephen would go and was slightly surprised when she and Richard arrived with Alicia and James to see him carrying Dick into church with Lucy walking beside him. It was a public statement and she wondered if his father had approved, or even knew he was going to do it. She glanced at Richard and noticed his wry smile. ‘It might set the cat among the pigeons,’ he whispered to her. ‘But I am glad he has decided to face up to his responsibilities.’
They had already spoken to John about their own plans. Going down to breakfast, Diana had discovered Richard was already there and waiting for her. ‘We will beard the lion together,’ he whispered, taking her hand and leading her towards his father. ‘Sir,’ he said formally, making John look up in surprise from the coddled eggs he was eating. ‘I have the honour to present my future wife.’
Diana stifled a giggle; it was too solemn a moment for that.
‘Have you, indeed?’ He looked Diana up and down. ‘Well, I suppose it does not really matter which one of you she marries.’
‘I hope you will give us your blessing,’ Diana said diffidently.
‘Yes, yes, of course. Glad to have you in the family.’
‘Thank you,’ she said.
‘Now, I suppose I shall have to find myself a new clerk.’ He sighed. ‘Changes, nothing but changes. Stephen off on his own with the actress and Richard standing for Parliament and writing books. I wonder if Grandmother knows what she has done.’
‘Oh, I know very well what I have done.’ The old lady stood in the doorway, laughing. ‘Shaken you all up, that’s what I have done.’
‘And I thank you for it,’ Richard said, going forward to kiss her wrinkled cheek.
‘And me.’ Diana kissed her too.
‘I expect you to be very happy in the dower house, where I can keep an eye on you,’ she said. ‘I intend to live for years yet to enjoy your company and see more great-great-grandchildren. Do not disappoint me.’
They had looked at each other and laughed and now Diana stood between Richard and her father, as the first banns were read for two weddings.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-4124-8
RAGS-TO-RICHES BRIDE
Copyright © 2008 by Mary Nichols
First North American Publication 2009
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