‘Many fathers do so.’
‘I am not one of them.’ He guided her through the passage, where the landlord was holding open the door to a private parlour. ‘So, Miss Wrenn, I have every confidence in you.’
It was not to be expected that the good mood of the party would last for ever. As soon as they had eaten, Juliana shepherded her charges back to their coach, but the novelty of travelling had worn off and the two younger girls were tired and fractious. The older children took two of the corner seats, where Thomas proceeded to fall asleep and Gwendoline stared out of the window at the rain, yawning openly and declaring that she was bored. Sitting between Wilhelmina and Amy on the other bench seat, Juliana settled the children against her and began to tell fairy stories.
Another hour passed. There was no easing of the rain, and as they travelled farther from London the state of the roads became worse until they were little more than rutted tracks that slowed their progress at times to walking pace. Juliana soon realised that the Major’s first easy stage would not be accomplished until well into the evening.
Chapter Eight
The Northampton hotel that the Major’s secretary had arranged for them could not be faulted, but by the time the travelling carriage drew up at its welcoming portal, the children were too tired to do more than pick at the choice dinner set out for them in the private parlour that had been reserved for the sole use of the schoolroom party. As soon as the children were settled in their beds, Juliana went in search of Major Collingham, who had been allocated private rooms on the first floor away from the bustling main street. She found the Major and his son sitting over the remains of their dinner.
‘Oh, I am sorry. I will come back….’
They rose.
‘No, come in, Miss Wrenn. We have finished now, and Giles was about to go out and check the horses for me.’
Giles laughed.
‘As any good groom should,’ he said, and with a bow to Juliana he went off.
Juliana waited until the door had closed behind the young man, then looked at the Major, clasping her hands before her. ‘I wanted to speak to you, sir.’
‘I realise that. Have you eaten?’
‘Yes. I dined with the children.’
He took her elbow and led her to the table. ‘With four tired children to look after, I doubt you had time for more than a mouthful. Sit down. There is plenty of food here.’
‘Oh, but I had Nurse to help me. I—I couldn’t—’
He ignored her protests and she found herself sitting at the dining table, a clean plate set before her and instructions to help herself from the assortment of cold meat on the platter. The Major poured her a glass of wine, topped up his own glass, then pulled up a chair and sat down, watching her.
‘I was right, you are hungry. Did you eat anything of your own dinner?’
‘At the time it seemed more important to feed the children,’ she admitted. ‘That is why I wanted to talk to you….’
‘Later, Miss Wrenn. Let me recommend you to take a peach—they are excellent.’
‘Peaches, so early?’
‘I had them sent up to town from my own succession houses and brought some with me.’
She watched him select a ripe fruit from the dish and carefully cut it into pieces for her.
‘You are very kind.’
‘Nonsense. I am merely looking after my investment. If you do not eat, you will not be fit to take care of the girls.’ He pushed the plate of prepared fruit towards her, his eyes narrowing as he saw her hesitate. ‘Eat it, Miss Wrenn. Or would you like me to feed you?’
He had turned to face her, one arm resting along the back of her chair. He was too close, too intimate, the gleam in his eye definitely dangerous. Suddenly it was easy to imagine him as Devil Collingham, choosing a slice of peach to offer her, those strong fingers picking up the delicate fruit in a gentle clasp that did not bruise it and holding it to her lips…
Juliana felt herself blushing. Heavens, what had come over her? She sought to cover her confusion by saying crossly, ‘Do you always impose your will on people, sir?’
‘Only when it is necessary. You eat barely enough to sustain a bird. A wren, perhaps.’
She ignored him and popped a slice of peach into her mouth. It was sweet and succulent, made all the sweeter because he had prepared it for her. As she raised her napkin to her lips, her hand trembled. Sweet heaven, such idle thoughts must be suppressed. She had heard of many poor women who had developed a slavish adoration for men with power over them. Indeed, in her own home some of the female servants had become infatuated with her father and she knew of more than one family where the governess was blatantly besotted with the master of the house. She had thought them all poor creatures, objects of ridicule. It would not happen to her, she would not allow it.
‘Miss Wrenn?’
‘I—oh—my apologies, Major. Wh-what did you say?’
‘I merely asked if you would like more wine.’
‘No. No, thank you.’ She pushed her chair back and rose. ‘Your kindness has almost made me forget my reason for being here.’
He sat back in his chair and watched her. ‘And what was that?’
She began to pace the room, frowning over her words. ‘To ask if you could send a message to Mr Brasher, to make new arrangements for the morrow. This wet weather has turned the roads to a quagmire and I fear it will disrupt your—our plans. It was full eight o’clock before we reached Northampton, sir. Far too late for the children.’
‘Impossible.’
She stopped before him. ‘For myself, sir, I do not object to the long hours in the coach, but the children—’
‘Madam, I have no wish to make the children suffer, but Brasher is even now at Derby. How do you expect me to contact him?’
‘You could send a messenger.’
He got up and strode to the window. ‘No, Miss Wrenn. I am sorry, but the arrangements must stand. We travelled greater distances in the Peninsula, you know, and over rougher ground.’
‘But you are not eight years old,’ she persisted. ‘And then there is Nurse. She says nothing, but I know her hip is paining her from sitting for such long periods.’
She waited anxiously for his reply. He did not speak, but looked out at the leaden sky and the steady rain puddling in the lane below.
‘Tomorrow may be better. If that is the case, we shall reach Derby and the hotel Brasher has secured for us with time to spare.’
‘But—’
‘No more, Miss Wrenn.’ He turned to face her. ‘It has been an exceptionally wet spring, but the rain cannot go on for ever, you know.’
Juliana knew it would be useless to argue further. She returned to her rooms, where she found Nurse waiting for her, sitting in a chair with one foot upon a gout stool, her hands busy with her knitting.
‘Well, miss, what did he say?’ She lowered her knitting to her lap.
‘The Major thinks we shall do better tomorrow, if the rain stops.’
‘There you are, then,’ said Nurse, picking up her needles again. ‘If the master sees no difficulties, then we shall do. He is a seasoned traveller, after all.’
‘But even he cannot control the weather,’ Juliana pointed out.
Nurse gave a comfortable smile.
‘When you’ve known the master a little longer, miss, you will learn to trust him, as I do.’
Closing her lips against an unwise retort, Juliana retired to her bed, aware that Nurse was exhibiting the trait she most despised in a female, slavish devotion to the master.
Chapter Nine
Juliana made sure her charges were ready to travel at the appointed time the following morning and greeted the Major with determined cheerfulness. It was a dry morning, but from the lowering clouds Juliana thought the respite would be brief, and by the time they had reached Market Harborough a steady rain was falling. The muddy road was stony and uneven and the coachman was obliged to slow down to walking pace, for the large puddles ga
ve no sign of how deep the ruts might be. At last they pulled into the stable yard to change horses at Oadby, and even before they had come to a halt Giles was at the door.
‘It was not planned, but Father says we will stop here for a short while, so that the children may have luncheon,’ he announced, preparing to hand Juliana out of the carriage. She threw up her hood over her bonnet and descended to the yard, where she was glad to hang on to Giles’s arm as they crossed the slippery cobbles. Giles left her at the door, saying he would go back and help Nurse. Juliana gathered the children together and they followed the landlord to a large parlour, where they found the Major standing before a cheerful fire.
‘Now that is a welcome sight,’ she exclaimed, untying the strings of her cloak. ‘There is nothing like a good blaze to make one feel more the thing on a wet day.’
The Major took her cloak from her. ‘We have not made the progress I intended. No doubt you would like to say I told you so?’
She twinkled up at him. ‘No, sir. That would be very ignoble of me.’
His lips twitched. ‘It would indeed, Miss Wrenn, and you are too magnanimous for that, are you not?’
‘Of course. Now, if you have bespoken a bedroom from our host, I will take the children upstairs to tidy themselves.’ She glanced at the large table set with eight chairs. ‘Are we to eat together?’
‘You will hardly expect an inn of this size to have more than one private parlour.’
The Major’s retort made her smile. She shepherded the children towards the door, saying over her shoulder, ‘Then we shall be delighted to have you join us, Major Collingham.’
Juliana had to admit that the party gathered for luncheon was a large one. She had suggested that she and Nurse could dine with Thomas and Amy in an upstairs chamber, but the Major would have none of it.
‘Good heavens,’ said Nurse as she came in, ‘this is a real family party and no mistake.’
Following Nurse into the room, Juliana bit her lip hard to prevent herself from laughing aloud at the look of unease on the Major’s face.
‘You need not fear, sir. The children’s table manners are excellent.’ She smiled at him. ‘They will not disturb you with their chatter.’
‘No, but we have not started our meal yet, so I can ask Papa how he likes my hair,’ said Wilhelmina. ‘Miss Wrenn braided it specially, so that I would look well for you.’
‘Very smart,’ he replied gravely. ‘And did Miss Wrenn help you with your hair, Gwen?’
‘Miss Gwendoline did not need assistance,’ said Juliana. ‘She is very able.’
‘But you showed me how to make the ends curl,’ admitted Gwendoline, determined to be fair.
‘Does this betoken a truce?’ murmured the Major to Juliana as he held her chair for her.
‘I hope so,’ she replied quietly.
‘Well, well, so like old times!’ Nurse beamed around the table. ‘It quite takes me back to when I had Master Damon and your aunt Louisa in my nursery.’
‘And were they troublesome?’ asked Giles, grinning at his father.
‘Not a bit of it. Good as gold, they were, although it did help that I could get about better in those days, and did not need a stick. Such a lot of travelling as we did then. The family would spend the spring and summer at Kewhurst or London, then off to Blackthorpe Hall for the autumn and winter, when the old master wasn’t away visiting his friends.’
‘Did the children go too?’ asked Gwendoline.
‘Of course, my dear. The mistress, your grandmother, God rest her soul, liked to have Master Damon and his sister with her whenever she could, so we travelled with them to each one of their houses. Of course, I was younger then, and the journeys didn’t affect my bones so much.’
‘You have only to travel a little farther today,’ said the Major, helping himself to a slice of the huge pie in the centre of the table. ‘I have spoken to the landlord, and there is a very decent inn, the Queen’s Head, at Loughborough. Less than twenty miles from here.’
Giles looked up.
‘I thought we were stopping at Derby tonight, Papa.’
‘It would take too long to reach Derby.’ His glance flickered to Juliana. ‘I have sent Fewell ahead to reserve rooms at the Queen’s Head.’
‘Will Lady Frances be waiting for us at Blackthorpe, Papa?’ asked Wilhelmina.
‘No, silly, she has her own house,’ said Gwendoline. She turned her dark eyes towards her father. ‘Is she already in Lancashire, sir?’
‘I have no idea,’ returned the Major. ‘I expect so; she knows I am coming north.’
‘Then we will meet her before the wedding.’ Wilhelmina nodded. ‘I am glad of that.’
Major Collingham looked amused. ‘Of course you will meet her. I would not foist a new mother on you without giving you time to get to know her.’
‘You foisted Miss Wrenn upon us,’ said Gwendoline.
A nervous silence fell over the table. Outside the rain pattered against the window, the sky as dark as the scowl on Major Collingham’s face. Juliana caught his eye and gave a tiny shake of her head, silently begging him not to reprimand his daughter. He seemed to understand her. Instead he growled, ‘It would not have been necessary, had you not driven away your old governess.’
‘Well, I am glad Miss Wrenn is with us,’ declared Wilhelmina, ‘because now I have Amy to play with.’
‘Perhaps, sir, you would tell the children a little something about Lady Frances,’ said Nurse, anxious to turn the conversation.
‘Yes, Papa, please do,’ Giles urged him.
The Major shrugged. ‘What would you have me say? I have known Frances since she was a girl. She married Ridlington, my neighbour, but since his death she has spent much of the time with her parents.’
Gwendoline looked up. ‘She is the daughter of an earl, is she not, Papa?’ she asked.
‘Yes, Lord and Lady Mattishall.’
‘And is she very beautiful?’
‘I believe she is considered so.’
‘And accomplished?’ persisted Gwendoline. ‘Can she sing, and play the piano, and speak many languages?’
‘Of course. She has had the benefit of an excellent education.’
A veritable paragon, thought Juliana, her spirits sinking.
The road into Loughborough was in a particularly poor state of repair and the constant rain had turned much of it into a running stream. The carriages bumped and jolted along at a snail’s pace. Juliana amused the children with songs and stories until they reached the edge of the town, when they all gave their attention to looking out for their destination. The Queen’s Head turned out to be a good-size coaching inn with an impressive frontage, two bay windows flanking a wide doorway. Juliana climbed down thankfully from the carriage and took the children inside, where Major Collingham was already in discussion with the landlord, who was explaining regretfully that he did not have sufficient rooms to meet the Major’s requirements. Juliana listened for a moment, then she went over, put a hand on the Major’s arm and drew him aside.
‘I believe we could manage, sir. From what I overheard, the landlord has four bedrooms free for tonight: Nurse and the two younger girls could share one room, Gwendoline and I another. That would leave a room for Giles and Thomas, and one for yourself. I am sure he could find somewhere for your groom.’
The children had gathered round, and Amy now tugged at her sister’s sleeve.
‘Yes, please, I want to share with Minna.’
Juliana smiled down at her. ‘I know, my love,’ she said gently, ‘but it is for Miss Gwendoline and Wilhelmina to decide. Well, girls?’ She looked at Gwendoline, well aware that she was torn between choosing to sleep with her little sister or sharing with a governess she was determined to dislike.
‘Let Minna and Amy sleep together. I will share with Miss Wrenn.’
Juliana tried not to allow too much of her relief to show. She looked an enquiry at the Major.
‘That still leaves the problem of one p
arlour.’
‘I am sure you endured much worse hardships in the army, Major.’
‘Of course, but that was with…’
‘That was with your comrades?’ she finished for him. ‘Then surely to share a parlour with your family will be a pleasure.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘I can hardly contradict you, madam, when they are listening to every word.’
She laughed. ‘No, so pray tell the good man that we will take it, and we can order dinner.’
Juliana approached the dinner table that evening with some trepidation. In Burlington Street it had been the custom for the Major to see the children at breakfast and for only an hour after dinner. Now, not only had they all taken luncheon together, but would be confined to one room for the whole of the evening. Nurse had elected to take her dinner in her room and Juliana had at first suggested that Thomas and Amy should join her, but Major Collingham had overruled her, saying that if he was obliged to dine with his own youngsters he did not see that another two would make much difference. His tone was not encouraging, but Juliana was becoming used to his brusque manner and she hoped he would not find himself out of patience with such childish company. In the event she found the Major perfectly affable, the children were all on their best behaviour and since the dinner was good, if plain, fare, the meal passed off much better than she had expected. However, the long day’s travel had taken its toll, and by the time the covers were removed both Amy and Wilhelmina were almost asleep at the table. Juliana rose to take the girls to their rooms, but the Major waved to her to sit down again.
‘You have not finished your wine. Giles will take them all upstairs and deliver them to Nurse.’
‘Of course, Father.’ Giles rose. ‘With your permission, sir, I was going to check the horses. Fewell thought one of the carriage horses was blowing too much, and feared a touch of colic.’ He hesitated. ‘Perhaps Tom would like to come out with me?’
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