‘I’d be grateful if you’d put the word about in town that my mine is a sound investment. Give the other bankers confidence in me.’
‘Of course. What will you do?’
‘Hesley’s finished at the university and is of age now, so we’ll survive.’
He finished his port in one gulp.The sound of carol singing came through the wall from the drawing room next door. ‘Wait for me, Jared.’ Olivia picked her way carefully across the cobbled yard.
‘I was looking for a way through.’ He stopped and swung round with the lantern. The animal litter wouldn’t hurt his leather boots but she wore silk slippers He waited with the light held low.‘Follow close behind me.’
They went into the stables, where Jared paused to look at the horses, then passed through the gap in the wall to where the carriage was housed. It must have cost a pretty penny when it was new. The more recent models were bigger and heavier, but they didn’t travel as fast. He bent to examine the suspension under the coachwork. Olivia was opening the door and letting down the steps to climb inside.
‘Take care,’ he called. He checked that the wheels were braked and kicked wooden chocks into place as an extra precaution. ‘Here, let me help you.’
‘I can do it myself,’ she replied.‘Please bring the lantern round.’ The flickering light picked up the Mexton coat-of-arms on the open door. Jared’s grandfather, Samuel Mexton, had liked such things. Or so his mother had said. And his son Samuel, who had been Olivia’s grandfather, had carried on in the same manner. But when he had died and Uncle Hesley had taken over . . . At least he hadn’t sold the carriage.
He climbed inside and sat opposite Olivia, placing the lantern carefully on the floor between them. The soft glow cast weird shadows on their faces.
Olivia threw back Miss Trent’s voluminous cloak and spread her silken skirts over the plush seating. ‘It’s lovely, isn’t it?’
‘Yes.’ Jared nodded.
‘I’m going to ask Uncle Hesley if I can go out in it with Miss Trent, now that I’m grown-up.’
Jared imagined Olivia visiting the draper’s in town and causing a stir in the marketplace. Most shopkeepers didn’t see carriages like this. Or, he realized, young ladies as attractive as the one sitting in front of him. She was no longer a little girl.
‘You’ll be able to buy your own carriage when you inherit.’ She would suit money, he thought. She was already showing signs that she would become a beautiful, intelligent young woman. It was a pity she was out here all the time, with only the governess for company.
‘Inherit what?’ Olivia asked.
‘Your mother’s plantation in the West Indies.’
In the dim light he saw her surprise.
‘Hasn’t your uncle told you? I expect he’s waiting until you’re older. We’ve always known about it. It was your grandmother’s dowry, but your grandfather allowed her to keep it. She left it to your mother, in trust for you. You’ll be rich when you’re five-and-twenty.’
‘I didn’t know,’ she breathed. ‘You mean it will be mine?’
He lifted the lantern and watched a puzzled frown cross her pretty features. ‘I believe so,’ he replied. ‘Not even old Hesley can break a trust, though I expect he’s tried.’
‘Is that why he doesn’t like me?’
‘He doesn’t like anybody. He uses people for his own ends.’
‘But - but that must be why he won’t let me go anywhere or do anything.’
‘He’s supposed to take care of it for you, because you can’t touch it.’
‘He should have told me about it,’ Olivia said.
‘Yes, he should. Look, you’d better not say I said anything, if you’re not supposed to know about it. But it’s no secret in my family.What do you think keeps this house going? Not the coal mine, that’s for sure.’
‘So he doesn’t want me, just my money,’ Olivia retaliated. ‘He wants it for himself. Well, it’s mine, not his.’
‘Don’t get too cross. He can only spend the income from it and it will be yours eventually.’
‘He should have told me,’ she repeated decisively. Uncle Hesley never talked to her about anything, so she liked Jared for telling her that. She wondered if he liked her. He was certainly friendly and he didn’t seem frightened of Uncle Hesley. She shivered and drew the cloak up around her shoulders.
He noticed.‘It’s cold out here. Shall we go back to the house?’
‘Not just yet. Will you visit us again soon?’
‘I doubt it. This is the first time I’ve been here and I reckon Uncle Hesley only invited us because he wants to borrow money from my father for the mine.’
‘Does it need money?’
‘The whole town needs money. Haven’t you heard about the bank failure?’
‘Miss Trent told me about it when Uncle Hesley was injured.’ She had talked about her becoming mistress of a large house, too, and Olivia wondered if Miss Trent knew about her inheritance. She thought not. Miss Trent would have said if she knew. Mrs Cookson was different. She always did what Uncle Hesley ordered, and if he had told her to keep quiet about it, she would.
Olivia was beginning to see that growing up was not just about leaving her childhood behind and becoming a lady. It meant learning that some people were on her side and others were not, that some could be trusted while others had to be watched.
‘Will you be my friend?’ she asked suddenly.
‘Your friend?’
‘I haven’t any friends. Aunt Caroline said so at dinner, and Miss Trent commented on it once.’
‘My sisters would be better as your friends,’ he replied warily.
‘Would they come and visit me in the spring and go for walks on the moor with me and Miss Trent? I should like that very much.’
Jared thought about his parents’ opinion of Uncle Hesley and his grandson, and decided that this was not a good idea. He didn’t want his sisters anywhere near Cousin Hesley and his hard-drinking ways. ‘It would be nicer for you to come into town and visit us.’
He watched her face fall. ‘Uncle Hesley won’t let me. Miss Trent has asked him before.’
Then it would have to be him, and he would have to come out here.As he reflected on this he found he liked the prospect. The walk would be invigorating and he would get to know Olivia properly. He found her intriguing, innocent of the world outside Hill Top House but intelligent and questioning. And she was very pretty. More than pretty. She was beautiful.
‘I’ll come and visit you, Olivia,’ he said.
‘Would you? Would you really? Oh, thank you, Jared.’ She leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
Now it was his turn to look surprised. He touched his face with the tips of his fingers and laughed nervously.‘It’ll be weeks before the weather improves and there’ll be enough daylight.’ But his cheek tingled where her lips had brushed it and he had to conceal a sudden desire to return the kiss.
His eyes took in the small swell of her breasts, her skin velvety in the lamplight. It was pleasant to know he could never indulge himself with her. But he could not stop himself thinking of her in that way and his fingers itched to take hold of her. His tongue ran lightly over his lips as he suppressed the urge to kiss her.
‘Olivia!’ Someone was calling her. The governess. He was annoyed and relieved at the same time, and found himself breathing deeply as footsteps approached.
Harriet had heard the carol singing from the kitchen and thought she should fetch Olivia. She hurried into the hall, tapped lightly on the dining-room door and entered.Three sets of male eyes stared at her.The master and his morose grandson were now quite drunk and old Hesley demanded, ‘What do you want?’
‘I should like Olivia to join in the carol singing.’
‘Go on, Hesley. It’s Christmas,’ Mr Tyler said.
‘Very well. One hour only, then take her upstairs.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
She hurried across the yard, chilled without her cloak. The stable
door was open and there was a lantern glow from inside the carriage. When she looked in she found the two young people sitting quietly, opposite each other. They were smiling at each other, as though enjoying a private confidence. As she watched them, she half expected them to reach forward and hold hands.
Wordlessly, Harriet stared at them. In the lamplight, she saw an expression on Olivia’s face she had not noticed before. It was in her eyes, an intensity and a seriousness that startled her. She opened the carriage door and took Olivia’s hand. ‘Come with me now,’ she said.
Olivia climbed out of the carriage. ‘Goodnight, Jared.’
‘Goodnight.’ He added, ‘Take the light.’
Miss Trent took it from him and nodded her thanks.
The carriage was empty and cold without Olivia. Slowly Jared brushed the plush pile on the seats, then climbed down and closed the door carefully. Outside, in the yard, he listened to the carols.They sounded as good as any church choir, he thought.
He wandered across the cobbles.The horses were stabled for the night and the stock locked up until morning. He saw the housekeeper stagger to the stable with a stone flagon.The lamplight moved from downstairs to upstairs. He inhaled deeply, gazing up at the stars. It was a clear night with the promise of a frost. Soon it would be New Year. He wondered what fresh misfortunes it would bring to the Riding.
After the carol singing, Miss Trent helped Olivia to take off her gown and wrap it in calico, then left her alone to do the same for Jared’s sisters. There was a good fire in the grate and Olivia lingered by the window, unpinning her silky hair and brushing it slowly.
Jared was still in the yard, walking about in the moonlight. It was a cold night and she wondered why he didn’t go inside. He was so different from Cousin Hesley. He talked to her and listened to what she said. She hoped he would come over every Sunday in the spring. He was interesting and she looked forward to proper conversations with him. She brought her long fair hair over one shoulder to tackle the ends with a comb.
He was looking at the stars.Then he must have noticed her, standing in the candlelight, watching him, for he stared at her, then smiled. She saw his teeth flash white in the moonlight. He raised his arm and she waved her comb at him. She thought of him until she was in her nightgown, drifting off to sleep.
Chapter 10
The next day Jared left with his family after breakfast. Uncle Hesley and his grandson had drunk so much the night before that they were not up to see them go. Olivia stood at the front door with Miss Trent and Mrs Cookson to watch them on their way. Everyone smiled and said how much they had enjoyed the festivities.
Jared helped his sisters and parents into the carriage, then climbed up beside Matt. He looked back and waved as the horses pulled away. Olivia remembered his wave of the night before, which had been just for her. ‘It would have been nice to go with them.’ She sighed.
Miss Trent nodded wordlessly. Her eyes were shiny. Mrs Cookson went indoors straight away but Olivia stayed outside until the carriage had disappeared.
‘Perhaps they will visit again,’ Miss Trent said.
Olivia’s heart leaped. ‘When?’ she asked.
‘I cannot say.’
‘They were nice. They talked to me. And they were interested in what I said. Like you.’
‘It was over too quickly.’
Olivia reached for her hand.‘You wanted them to stay longer, didn’t you?’
‘Yes. Hill Top House was built for such a family. It came alive while they were here. And now it’s empty again. Even the serving girls are leaving tomorrow.’
Olivia heard shouting from indoors and gripped Miss Trent’s hand. ‘Uncle Hesley’s about.’
‘We’ll go to the schoolroom.’
They hurried past the open library door.The sound of raised voices was not unusual in this household, but this time they could be heard clearly from the hall. Uncle Hesley and his grandson were arguing again.
‘Grandfather, are you out of your mind?’ Cousin Hesley shouted. ‘You cannot ask me to do that!’
‘Oh, but I can!’ her uncle boomed.
‘Well, I am no longer under your control! May I remind you that I am one-and-twenty?’
‘And you are dependent on me for your income so you will do as I say. My only source of revenue is the sugar, and since the slave trade was stopped that has fallen too. I must have more capital to keep the pit going and it is time you repaid me for your education.’
‘But I shall repay you! Just let me spend some time in Europe first. In Italy or Spain.’
‘I have settled your bills and given you all the money you’ve asked for without questioning how you used it. But do not make the mistake of thinking I do not know where it goes. I know about your drinking, and your gambling. And the kind of women you like.’
‘I am sure you do, because in that respect we are cut from the same cloth!’
There was a short silence before Uncle Hesley went on, ‘Indeed we are.We understand each other.That is why I know I am right about this. Do this now and our future - your future - will be secured.You will have the means to live as you please. That is what you want, is it not?’
‘Does it matter? You will do as you like anyway.’
Miss Trent urged her towards the stairs. ‘Quickly, Olivia. Out of the way.’
But they were too slow. Cousin Hesley stormed out of the library, closely followed by his grandfather.They stopped abruptly when they saw Olivia and her governess.
‘Miss Trent, and Olivia. Come into the library.You, too, Hesley.’ They obeyed silently. The master took his favourite stance in front of the fire. Olivia stood before him nervously, gripping Miss Trent’s hand. Cousin Hesley slumped into his grandfather’s chair and stared at the flames.
‘My grandson is going to the West Indies.’
Olivia was pleased about this.The drinking and noisy arguing would stop. But her uncle added, ‘He will manage my sugar plantation out there.’
His sugar plantation? That was not what Jared had told her, and she burst out, ‘It’s not yours! It’s mine!’
The fury on her uncle’s face struck fear into her heart. He turned on Miss Trent and glared at her. ‘Who told her that?’
‘I do not know, sir.’
‘It was my mother’s and you are only looking after it for me until I am older!’ Olivia yelled.
‘Who has been talking to her?’
Olivia saw that she was making him even angrier, but she did not care. He was her guardian. He should have told her. He hadn’t even told Miss Trent. Instead he had been taking her money and spending it on himself and his grandson without a thought for her.
Miss Trent replied, ‘I repeat, sir, I do not know. Perhaps your relatives yesterday.’
Olivia was holding her breath.Would they guess it had been Jared?
‘But I was with her all the time,’ Miss Trent added. ‘They sang carols together, that is all.’
She felt a gentle squeeze of her hand and relaxed. Miss Trent would not betray her, even if she knew.
‘I knew it was a mistake to ask them here!’ her uncle roared. ‘Meddling in my affairs! I will not have that family over my threshold again.’
He’s a wicked man, Olivia thought. He takes everything from me. First my money and now my only hope of friendship and a little happiness with Jared. She wanted to hit him, to push him backwards into the fire. She pursed her lips and flared her nostrils to stem her mounting rage.The gentle squeeze of her hand tightened. Miss Trent felt the same about her uncle. They could push him together! Then she felt a gentle tug.
‘Come along, Olivia. We have reading to do in the schoolroom. ’
Harriet dared not look at her charge for she knew that they thought as one about the injustice of her situation and it would not do for her to show this. She focused her eyes on the gentlemen and wondered why young Hesley seemed so shocked by the suggestion that he should go abroad. Resentment, she could have understood. But he appeared astounded and his p
allor indicated more than anger. It was none of her business, except that it involved Olivia. And her inheritance. She had not known her charge was an heiress. It was not unheard-of for gentlewomen to have means of their own but not, she had thought, in the Mexton family.
‘Sit down, Miss Trent!’ the master barked. ‘Olivia, go to your chamber. You, too, Hesley.’
‘Thank God,’ young Hesley exclaimed.‘I’m off to Swinborough Hall for New Year.’
Harriet frowned.The master did not often ask to speak with her. It made no difference to her that Olivia was an heiress. But if the girl was to grow up as a wealthy lady, perhaps she needed more education than Harriet could provide. Someone more used to the ways of society. She hoped he would not dismiss her in favour of another governess.
‘Sherry wine? Take it. I insist.’
Harriet took the glass he offered. He was tired, she thought. He has never fully recovered the energy he had before he was attacked, and now he looks more like the ageing gentleman he is.
‘You have a way with her.’
‘Sir?’
‘Olivia. She has turned away from her wild ways in your care.’
‘Thank you, sir.’
‘She will become a lady, after all.’
‘I hope so, sir.’
‘Like you.’
Disarmed, she replied, ‘I did not have her advantages, sir.’
‘But her behaviour, her demeanour . . . Commendable, Miss Trent. Are you settled here?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘I am not. I am used to more company. Since my accident - well, you know of the pleasures I have given up.’ He paused. ‘You wrote the letter for me.’
Harriet was silent. Mrs Cookson had told her that his mistress had left the Riding. The master had terminated the lease and closed the house.
‘I am advised not to join my grandson and my friends at the races and the pugilistic meetings. Adam Harvey orders for me this sherry wine instead of whisky. What sort of life is that for a gentleman? Eh?’
Harriet looked at her hands.
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