The Foundling Bride

by Helen Dickson

  ‘Now you do?’

  Lowena nodded. ‘Did you really not know about me?’ she asked.

  He shook his head. ‘Had I known I would have tried to find you. You have my word on that. My greatest sadness is that I did not see your mother before she died. I was in Mexico at the time. When I was told about her death I believed it was quite impossible to go on bearing the pain of it and could see no way out. I’d give my life to see her one more time...’

  Lowena almost wept at the unmistakable sincerity she heard in his quiet voice and the sadness she saw in his eyes.

  ‘Believe me,’ he went on, ‘when I say I did not know she was with child when I went away. Had I known I would not have left her. I would have married her despite your grandmother’s opposition.’ He cleared his throat, then shook his head, for a moment seeming reluctant to speak. ‘First I lost my father, and then Meredith. I immersed myself in my work. It was a relief, in a way. I had to get on with it—leaving myself no opportunity to dwell on my troubles.’

  When he fell silent Lowena asked the question that was hovering like a spectre in the darkness of her mind. ‘Is she still alive—my grandmother?’

  He shook his head. ‘No. She’s been dead these last ten years.’

  ‘I see. How did she die? Was she ill?’

  ‘Not that I know of. Beresford Hall was devastated when a fire broke out. Your grandmother perished in the flames. I’m sorry. Would you have liked to meet her?’

  Lowena looked down at her hands and shook her head. ‘No, I don’t think so. Even though she is dead, her treatment of my mother—and me—I find hard to forgive.’

  ‘I can understand that. I felt the same. Time helps—and now there is you. Tell me how you found out. Who told you?’

  ‘Nessa Borlase—she was my mother’s maid. She was with her when I was born—and when she died.’

  He nodded. ‘I remember Nessa. Why did she not tell you before now? What reason had she for such secrecy?’

  ‘She was very young and protective of me. She brought me here when my grandmother turned us out. She was told you had died in Mexico. Her parents lived in Cornwall, so she took me there.’

  Lowena quietly told him everything Nessa had told her of how she had taken her to Tregarrick, omitting nothing. ‘The only things I possessed of my family were the clothes I was wearing and the blanket I was wrapped in, embroidered with the letter B.’

  He nodded. ‘For Beresford. Were you happy?’ Robert asked when she fell silent.

  ‘Yes, I was. Izzy Trevanion took me in and raised me as if I were her own child and her daughters were my sisters. I loved them dearly. Izzy and her husband were good, hard-working people. No matter what else they were, their home was a happy place to be. There was no shortage of good food and love. Before Izzy married she was a governess. She taught me well.’

  The door opened and a maid appeared, bearing a tray of refreshments. She placed it on a table between them.

  ‘Thank you,’ Lowena said with a self-conscious smile directed at the maid. With a slight bob she returned her smile and withdrew.

  ‘Will you be so kind as to pour the tea?’ Robert asked.

  ‘Of course.’

  There was silence as Lowena went through the familiar ritual of pouring the tea, all the while aware of her father’s eyes watching her every move.

  She was unaware, as she handed him a cup of the steaming beverage, of how his heart swelled with pride at this lovely young woman whom he sincerely hoped would remain in his life, and with a great bitterness and anger directed at the woman who had condemned them both to this life—Lowena’s grandmother.

  Settling back in her chair, Lowena smiled widely and dimples appeared in her cheeks.

  Robert was transported back in time twenty years. She looked so like Meredith when she smiled. Sipping his tea, after a moment’s thought, he said, ‘I deeply regret not having known you, Lowena. I find it hard to believe that while I was mourning your mother I had a lovely daughter growing up beyond the Tamar. Now you are here I want you to stay. When I go to London, should you wish to, you could come with me. In the meantime you can get to know what would have been your home—where I grew up and where I would have brought your mother as a bride. It’s a lovely old house. It was a happy house once. It could be again.

  With a multitude of emotions roiling inside her heart and mind, Lowena could see how he had suffered the loss of her mother. But his love had remained constant. It had endured despite her death and his marriage to another woman. She could see how he grieved for her still. His face spoke of deep loss and regret. ‘

  ‘What was your reason for going to Mexico?’

  ‘My interest in mining silver. Mexico has emerged as the world’s chief producer of silver and it is expanding—although, like everywhere, mining techniques are precarious, be it mining for silver, copper or coal. I went to see and to learn, with intentions of investing.’

  ‘I see. It sounds extremely interesting. The mining in Cornwall is mainly tin and copper.’

  He smiled. ‘Yes, I know. I would like to show you the mine here at Castle Creek—if you are interested?’

  ‘I would like that. What happened to you in Mexico? How did you come to be wounded?’

  ‘The party I was travelling with was set upon by thieves. We were badly beaten—two of our party fatally. I was wounded—it was thought I would not survive. But after many weeks I was fit enough to travel and took ship for home.’

  ‘I am so glad you didn’t die.’

  He chuckled. ‘So am I.’

  ‘Tell me more,’ Lowena said shyly, eager to know more about the father she had yearned to hear of for so long.

  ‘Not only does the mine keep me busy, I am also a magistrate, and I spend some of my time working for the community—which is something my estate manager assists me in by organising my diary of responsibilities. When I go to London to visit my wife he will take charge of everything.’

  Listening to him, Lowena realised how much there was to know. She realised that, even though her parentage had now been established, being an illegitimate child gave her no legal rights to anything her father owned. Not that she wanted anything from him—and she wanted him to understand that.

  ‘Please believe me when I say that I have not come here to claim anything. I am not interested in anything you might have. It’s all meaningless to me, and in all truth since I discovered who I am I have never given it any thought. I have managed very well on my own for a long time.’

  ‘You work for a living?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Then I am grateful that you could take time off to come here—to see me.’

  ‘How could I not? I wanted to see you. And I—I am between positions just now. It is my intention to find a position as a governess if someone will take me on.’

  ‘You were employed by Lord Carberry. Why did you leave?’

  Lowena felt her cheeks burn at memories of Edward Carberry’s assaults and she lowered her eyes. ‘I was left with no choice.’

  ‘Do you mind if I ask why?

  ‘He—he was a difficult man to work for. Are you acquainted with him?’

  ‘No, but I know of him. I know his stepmother—Lady Alice Carberry—through a friend of hers. She was in Devon recently—a pleasant, likeable lady. Speaks her mind, which is something I like.’

  ‘Yes, she does.’

  ‘And what was her reaction when you told her you had found out about your past?’

  He frowned when she lowered her eyes and chewed on her bottom lip, her expression apprehensive.

  ‘You did tell her, didn’t you, Lowena?’

  ‘No,’ she said quietly. ‘I—I had reason not to. I wanted to wait until I had been here to see you. I will write to her.’

  ‘Yes, I think you shou
ld. And when you have done so will you abandon your intention to seek a place as a governess and stay here with me?’

  ‘You—you seem to forget that I am illegitimate,’ she said quietly.

  ‘You are still my daughter.’

  ‘You could say that I am your ward—perhaps the daughter of friends who are deceased and you have taken me in.’

  ‘There will be no pretence, Lowena. You are my daughter—flesh of my flesh. If you stay, all that I have is yours—freely given. Come, what do you say?’

  ‘Yes,’ she replied with a little smile. ‘I would like to stay. But will there not be gossip?’

  ‘I care nothing for such things.’

  ‘How will you explain my presence in your house?’

  ‘By telling the truth, if anyone asks. You are my daughter and I shall be proud to introduce you as such.’

  ‘And your wife?’

  He frowned, becoming thoughtful. ‘I have a great deal of admiration and affection for Deborah.’ He smiled across at Lowena. ‘She leads a life with no social restraint, whereas I like normality and order in my life. She will soon get used to the idea of having a stepdaughter. Indeed, I think the two of you will get on. She will enjoy showing you London and introducing you to our friends. Sadly we have not been blessed with children. And if you are worried about being thrown into society then don’t be. When Deborah has become used to having you in our lives she will teach you all you need to know. I promise you. I will write to her and explain the situation.’

  There was silence between them as their eyes locked together. The pain caused by the years they had had stolen from them was diminishing slowly, for now they had found one another and the joy of it was taking away the pain.

  ‘I would like it to be a permanent arrangement, Lowena. I ask you not to dwell too much on the past and what might have been. You are safe, and that’s all that matters. Whatever you decide to do, I know a young lady needs much in the way of clothes and other fashionable things. I will ask Eliza—my housekeeper—to arrange for a dressmaker to call and fit you out with all the finery necessary.’

  Lowena gasped. ‘That is most generous, but I don’t—’

  He raised a hand, silencing her. ‘Please, my dear, indulge me. I can only hope that once you have considered the circumstances of your situation you will not let your pride prevent you from having the security my position can provide. There is no hurry for us to leave for London. We will travel overland, which will take several days. In the meantime we will have plenty of time to get to know one another. You know, I can’t tell you how much you are going to change my life.’

  ‘For the better, I hope?’

  ‘I felt my life was over when I returned from Mexico, but you have given me hope.’

  Chapter Seven

  While Lowena was finding it hard to believe all that had happened to bring about such a change to her life, immersing herself in adjusting to her new home and getting to know her father, at Tregarrick Marcus went about his usual business at the mine.

  When three weeks had passed and there had been no news of Lowena, his concern for her welfare—and the fact that he was missing her more than he would have thought possible—began to overshadow everything else. The thought that he had driven her away by suggesting she should leave still haunted him, and the fear that she had now disappeared completely from his life was replaced by a deeper, darker feeling of uncertainty.

  It was a new emotion to him.

  Before he had made love to her he had always believed that she could never belong to him, and had accepted the fact as permanent, but that night she had cast a lethal spell over his life that could never be broken.

  He lived from day to day in a silent, barely controlled private rage at himself. He had to drag his thoughts from the tormenting memory of their last bitter encounter—he preferred the more refined torture of thinking about the joy of her. He thought of the way she had melted against him and kissed him with innocent passion, how warm she had felt in his arms, wonderful and loving.

  How would she cope alone? For, knowing her determination to find suitable employment, he doubted she would remain with Nessa. She was proud and stubborn, and the very thought that he would never see her again was eating away at him with every minute that passed without word from her.

  He was at his desk, going over the accounts for the mine and poring over a column of figures, when his mother entered.

  ‘I have received a short letter from Lowena,’ she said, coming straight to the point.

  Marcus was unprepared for the sudden relief that washed over him. At last, he thought. Throwing down his quill, he leaned back in his chair. ‘What has she to say?’

  ‘Very little, as it happens,’ she replied, anxiously studying the deeply etched lines of strain and fatigue at his eyes and mouth, and strongly suspecting it was Lowena’s absence that troubled him rather than trouble at the mine.

  Holding up the letter, she read the contents. ‘She writes, “I have moved on with my life. Please do not be concerned about me. I am well and in a good situation. I thank you for all the support you have given me throughout my life. I shall be grateful for ever. Please do not try to find me.”’

  Marcus stared at her in disbelief. ‘Is that it? Does she not say where she is—where she is working?’

  ‘No—nothing. I don’t think she wants us to know where she is.’

  ‘So it would appear,’ he said, trying to suppress his irritation that Lowena was being so difficult. He still felt responsible for her—why couldn’t she understand that? Why couldn’t she understand his position?

  ‘I am deeply concerned about her,’ Lady Alice said. ‘I really did think she would return. It seems I was wrong. If only you hadn’t told her she must leave... I feel she would still be here.’

  ‘Lowena left of her own accord,’ Marcus stated, even while admitting that his mother’s words held the ring of truth.

  ‘She was put in such an impossible position by you that she must have felt compelled to go.’

  Marcus pushed back his chair and, standing up, stalked to the window, where he stood looking out, seeing nothing. ‘Don’t concern yourself unduly, Mother. Lowena is a clever, sensible young woman. I am confident that she will find a situation that suits her—if she hasn’t already done so’

  Lady Alice went to his side and looked at his stern profile. Her eyes worriedly scanned his drawn face. ‘My instinct tells me there is more to this than you want me to know about—and my instinct is never wrong. Did something happen between you and Lowena? I know how fond of her you have always been. It cannot have been easy for you, having Lowena—young, attractive and desirable—living beneath your roof.’

  ‘It wasn’t,’ he admitted tightly. ‘Which was why I decided that she should leave.’

  Lady Alice looked at him with a new understanding. She hadn’t wanted Lowena to leave, and knew she should have spoken her mind sooner, but she had been reluctant to interfere in something Marcus clearly felt so strongly about.

  ‘I see. So I think what I am now seeing goes deeper than mere fondness. Lowena is proud, and a young woman of principles—very special. She has a right to be treated with respect, without the master of the house—both masters, as it happens—pursuing her,’ she said with gentle reproach.

  ‘I am not guilty of pursuing her. I merely want to know that she is safe.’

  On a sigh, Lady Alice placed her hand on his arm, wishing she could ease his suffering and magic Lowena back to Tregarrick. ‘Of course you do. I understand that. I know Isabel hurt you very badly, and I suspect that because of what happened with her you are fighting your feelings for Lowena. You want her, and you care for her, and you hate yourself for that weakness. But if you wanted her to despise you, then you have gone the right way about it by asking her to leave.’

  M
arcus’s features tightened and he looked at his mother sharply. ‘The way you speak, Mother, anyone would think you wanted me to marry the girl.’

  She smiled. ‘And why not? Would that be so terrible? Isabel is in the past. Yes, she humiliated you when she left you for Edward, and wounded your male pride, but it happened and she is dead. Nothing can change what happened. You can’t go on dwelling over former grievances. In my opinion, Lowena is nothing like Isabel. Oh, I know she is poor and un-dowered, but she would make any man an excellent wife. You,’ she stated, ‘since I can see that you care for her very much.’

  Marcus scowled darkly at her. ‘You see too much,’ he retorted.

  ‘Yes—well, there is nothing wrong with my eyesight. I agree we know nothing about her background, but that is not her fault. Besides, does it really matter? I have every confidence that Lowena would make you a good wife. Not only that—if you were to marry her then Edward would not dare touch her.’

  ‘Unfortunately that is not the answer, and I will not wed her for that reason. Edward is determined to cause me harm, and whilst he has not harmed me directly he knows Lowena is special to me. It is only a suspicion, but I fear he might try to get to me by harming her in some way.’

  ‘It is unfortunate that the resentment he feels towards you is long-standing and unlikely to change.’

  With this seed of an idea that marriage to Lowena would be worth considering to end this torment her absence from his life was causing, he said, ‘Does it not concern you that society would never accept Lowena?’

  ‘I think we are both secure enough in our positions in society not to be bothered by such old-fashioned prejudices. You are not the kind of man to allow convention to dictate what you do.’

  ‘I am not thinking of myself.’

  ‘No?’ she said archly. ‘Then whom?’

  He shot her a look of annoyance and then sighed, his mood softening. ‘I would not wish Lowena to become the victim of vicious tongues. Here in Cornwall social prejudices may very well exclude her from respectable activities—imagine how it would be if I were to make her my wife and take her to London. The society papers would rip her to shreds and accuse her of being some kind of gold-digger, an opportunist. I couldn’t bear to put her through that.’