A Lord In Disguise

by Fenella J Miller

  He slicked back his hair with water, checked his boots were polished to a high shine and was ready to find himself some breakfast. There was a small flock of laying hens in one of the barns so he would have an omelette. This was something he had learnt to do when up at Oxford. Eggs without bread or bacon were not his favourite repast, but would do for now.

  The Bradshaws must employ a cook – it would make sense for him to move in with them until this house was ready for them all. Once the idea was in his head he had to act on it. He flung his few garments into his bag and strode out to the stables.

  The coachman who had come with the carriage soon had the two sturdy horses harnessed and ready. 'I'm going to be living elsewhere until this house is habitable. I think you would be wise to join me.'

  The man touched his cap with his whip. 'Thank you, sir, the room above the stables will do if it don't rain, if you get my meaning.'

  The carriage arrived at Ravenswood Lodge just as the clock on the church struck eight. God's teeth! What was he thinking? To arrive at such an early time was the height of bad manners. Then he laughed. He was supposed to be a young man ignorant of the ways of society and this would just confirm his poor credentials.

  *

  Penny was just completing her morning ablutions when she saw the carriage turn into the short drive. There was only one person who could be visiting at this ungodly hour – it was Mr Trevelyan. What had brought him here?

  There was no time for her to dress her hair, she quickly tied it back with a ribbon, pushed her bare feet into her slippers and thanked the powers that be that she had put on one of her pretty gowns that morning.

  Mrs Turner, the cook, and her two daughters, who served as maids of all work, had been up since six o'clock preparing the bread and other things that needed doing. She would insist that these three accompanied them when they moved as they had proved invaluable these past months.

  There was just time for her to put her head around the kitchen door. 'We have an early visitor. Could you serve something tasty in the dining room as soon as possible?'

  She then flew back to the vestibule and was just in time to open the door. Foster would be confined to his bed for some time so they must fend for themselves until he was back on his feet again.

  'Good morning, Mr Trevelyan. I thought the arrangement was that I should come to you at ten o'clock but I must have mistaken the matter as here you are.'

  He was not at all put out by her comment. 'Mea culpa, my dear. I have nothing to eat at my house so I thought I would come here for my breakfast. I hope that is agreeable to you?'

  'As it happens, Edward, my mother is indisposed – no, genuinely so – and my sisters never rise at this hour.' She closed the door behind him and noticed he had a travelling bag in his hand. So startled was she by this observation she stepped back and put her foot through the hem of her gown.

  She lost her balance and would have crashed painfully to the boards if he had not reacted instantly to save her. 'Take care, you almost fell.'

  'I am well aware of that, sir, there is no need to point out the obvious.' Flustered by his proximity she blurted out what she had been thinking instead of keeping it to herself. 'Why have you brought your belongings with you?'

  Instead of being offended or embarrassed by her abrupt question he laughed out loud. 'This house is in a poor state but at least it is weatherproof and you have a cook. I've not eaten anything but eggs these past days.'

  'Then you are most welcome to move in with us, Edward. If you would care to follow me, breakfast is being served in the dining room. You will be relieved to know it is not eggs today.'

  He was walking by her side but she was acutely conscious of the fact that her hem was trailing where she had trodden on it. She would settle him down with his food and then excuse herself and change into something else.

  'I'm sorry about your gown, my dear, but even damaged as it is I much prefer it to the one you were wearing yesterday. Might I also be permitted to say that wearing your hair loose is most attractive?'

  The colour was creeping up from her toes to her crown. 'You may not say so, sir. My appearance is none of your concern. If this arrangement is to be successful then it must be considered as business and not personal.'

  'In which case, Miss Bradshaw, from this point on we must resume formalities.'

  There was a tempting array of dishes on the sideboard, far more than was usually offered at breakfast, she could not help but smile when she saw in pride of place a dish of coddled eggs.

  'Mr Trevelyan, it is my turn to apologise. I promised there would be none of these presented today.'

  His smile was genuine. He was obviously not a man who held grudges. 'Forgive me, I am ravenous. I care not what it is as long as there is bread to go with it.'

  The room was silent, apart from the noise of chewing and his sighs of enjoyment, whilst he sated his appetite. He reminded her of her brother who had also enjoyed his food. Her eyes filled and she blinked furiously. Papa and Ben were gone forever and she must stop grieving for them both.

  'My lord, might we talk in confidence?' Addressing him by his correct title caused him to put down his cutlery, swallow his mouth full and stare at her. His eyes were narrow, his expression hard.

  'Go on, I am listening.'

  'I should not have poked my nose where it is not wanted but I could not commit my family to a venture without being sure they would be safe.' She now had his full attention and he looked less formidable. 'You could have been fleeing from something unsavoury, something that would cause hurt to my sisters, I had to know.'

  'You do not think killing a man in a duel unsavoury?'

  'I do not approve of such practices, but both parties are aware what they are doing and willingly take that risk. I understand why you must remain incognito, sir, and you have my solemn promise your secret will never be revealed by me.'

  'How did I give myself away?'

  'I am a keen observer of human behaviour, I can assure you that no one else would have noticed your one mistake. You behaved as a member of the ton when you greeted us and that immediately alerted me.'

  'I am dismayed that you discovered my identity so easily. I think I must tell you the whole.'

  When he had finished she was bothered by his account. 'I take your word for it, sir, that you are an excellent shot. Therefore, there must have been a fault with the weapon used, there can be no other explanation for how a bullet that should have grazed an arm hit your opponent in the chest. The fact that your families have been feuding for generations could mean that there was something untoward going on.'

  'Tarnation take it! I should have thought of that myself. I have the actual weapon in the bottom of my bag. I shall examine it later.'

  'To return to your former point about being worried your deception will be discovered, I think you need not concern yourself on that point. The newspaper report stated you had left the country with your valet so neither the family nor the authorities will be looking for you. Why should they associate Mr Edward Trevelyan of Ravenswood Hall with the fugitive Lord Edward Stonham?'

  He returned to demolishing his enormous plate of food. When he finally dropped his cutlery she was on her third cup of tea.

  'If you are to reside with us until the house is ready, Mr Trevelyan, then could I ask you to contribute to the housekeeping? I'm sure you would not enjoy eating the way we usually do.'

  'I have gold in my bag. I shall give it to you. Shall we continue our business discussion here or is there somewhere more suitable we can talk without being interrupted?'

  'I use the study. There are several things I shall suggest to you. Would you like me to write them down or do you have a retentive memory?'

  'I'm quite capable of making my own list, if you have the necessary pen and paper.'

  As she led him briskly to the study she rehearsed in her head what she wanted to get straight. If she continued to address him formally that would be one problem solved. She didn't want Ma
ma deciding he would make her a perfect husband. He was not in a position to marry anyone, as by doing so he would reveal his true identity or would be obliged to marry under a false name. Doing this would make the licence invalid and she was sure he would never subject any young lady to such a thing.

  She pushed the freshly trimmed pen and inkpot across the desk to him. The paper was within his arm's reach. There was no necessity for her to write anything down as it was engraved in her memory.

  He smoothed the paper, dipped in the pen and raised one eyebrow expectantly.

  'Number one – I would like your permission to appoint a lady's maid for my mother. She is not used to doing for herself. Number two –…'

  'This is quite ridiculous you know, my dear. I should have made myself clear. I have sufficient funds for you to appoint a dozen maids if that's what you need to do. I'm hoping you will begin the task of assembling the staff that I shall need to run my establishment. I also need more labourers to get the work completed speedily.' He pushed the paper aside and folded his arms.

  'I have your permission to spend what I think is appropriate on anything I think we need?'

  'Exactly so.' He looked around the room and shook his head. 'This place could be made more habitable if it was cleaned thoroughly. Appoint as many extra people as you think fit. Where will you find the servants that we require?'

  'I can appoint all we need for this house locally. I'm sure you are aware that countryfolk are suffering from the Corn Laws and there are many veterans of the recent war who have returned and are unable to find employment. These will make the nucleus of the staff you will need to run your house, but the rest must come through an agency in Ipswich.'

  'I take it this is a company that your family used?'

  'Indeed it was. Will you be setting up your stables? There is a small stud no more than half an hour's drive from here that I can recommend.'

  'I take it that you and your sisters will require mounts? I shall also purchase a gig for Lady Bradshaw and a pony cart for the use of the housekeeper.'

  'We must be careful not to draw attention to ourselves. There is no necessity to do more than buy one horse which we will share. Mama can use your carriage if she wishes to make morning calls. Conspicuous expenditure is not a good idea in my opinion.'

  His expression changed. For a second she wished the words unspoken. Then she straightened her back and stared right back. She was not going to apologise for saying what needed to be said. If he didn't wish to be unmasked then he must learn to behave like a country gentleman not a toplofty London aristocrat.

  *

  Edward had been about to put her straight but she glared at him. He was unused to being gainsaid, being told what to do, especially by a female. Jemima wouldn't have dared to speak to him like that.

  'I shall be guided by your common sense, Miss Bradshaw. If you would be kind enough to direct me to the chamber I shall be occupying for the next few weeks I shall see myself settled and then drive over to the stud you mentioned and find myself a horse.'

  'I doubt that your coachman would be able to find it without help, sir.'

  He swallowed his irritation. 'Then I shall get the directions before I leave. Excuse me, Miss Bradshaw, I will not detain you longer. I'm sure you have domestic duties to attend to.'

  She smiled sweetly but he wasn't fooled for a minute. She then curtsied. 'Indeed I have, there are floors to be scrubbed and potatoes to be peeled so I must not dally here a moment longer.'

  Before he could reply in kind she was gone. There was no doubting who had got the better of that encounter. If she was not to run him ragged he would have to sharpen his game.

  When he returned to the central hall there was a diminutive maid hovering nervously at the bottom of the stairs. 'If you would care to follow me, sir, I am to show you to your chamber.'

  The child, and she was little more than that, had made no attempt to pick up his bag and for that he was glad. She could not fail to note the weight and possibly mention it elsewhere. Clothes and personal necessities should not weigh as much as these apparently did.

  'Thank you, there is no need for you to come up. Just tell me which door and I can find it for myself.'

  'It's the one at the end of the passageway, it overlooks the garden.' She bobbed and with a whisk of her skirt returned to her duties elsewhere.

  Her directions had been somewhat cryptic as she had neglected to say at which end of the passageway as when he reached the head of the stairs he discovered that this stretched in both directions. A pretty oriel window overlooked the drive. From here he could not see the garden. If his calculations were correct then the chamber at the right would overlook the stables and outbuildings. Therefore, his bedchamber must be to the left.

  He was about to push open the door but then thought he had better not in case his calculations had been incorrect. He was waiting to see if there was an answer when the door beside him flew open and he found himself face-to-face with the younger Bradshaw sister.

  'Why are you knocking on Penny's door?'

  'I was told the room I am to occupy was at the end of the corridor, but not which end. So, I am trying this one first.'

  The girl's belligerent expression turned to a sunny smile. 'This end is for family, the other is guest rooms. Although you are the first person to stay here since we moved last year.'

  The door closed and he strode to the other end of the house and pushed open the door of the room she had indicated. He had expected it to be shrouded in holland covers, neglected, dusty but the furniture was polished, the bed made up with fresh linen and even a jug of water on the washstand.

  This was a great improvement on the rooms he had been occupying. There was a large closet and a dressing room, but no separate parlour. It took him barely five minutes to stow away his garments and then he had to decide where to hide the bag with the pistol.

  Before he put it under the loose floorboard in the dressing room he would look at it more closely. He sniffed, and it smelt as he'd expected of cordite. Then he peered down the barrel to see if there was anything strange about its construction, but that too was no different from any other pistol he had seen. He rewrapped it in a rag and put it in its hiding place.

  He had been foolish to bring it with him and indeed, to keep it. The monogram on the stock would immediately identify it as belonging to the Bentley family. There was only one way he could have it in his possession. Satisfied not even the most diligent of chambermaids would discover the weapon, he was ready to return to his carriage and go in search of a decent hack.

  He paused to examine the view from his window – it did indeed look over a garden, but it was the kitchen garden and not one filled with flowers and roses. As he watched, a familiar figure emerged with a basket over her arm and appeared to be picking some sort of leaf vegetable. His knowledge of horticulture was abysmal and he had no notion what might be available to harvest so early in the season.

  His carriage was facing in the correct direction and the coachman was standing by the team. 'It ain't far, sir, to the stud. I'll find it right enough. I reckon you'll be riding something back and not travel with me.'

  This was the longest sentence the man had spoken since he'd made his acquaintance a week ago. 'I hope so, Travers.'

  'If that be the case, sir, Miss Bradshaw has asked me to go into the village and pick up some provisions. Will that be acceptable?'

  'It will. Even if I don't purchase a mount we shall still go and collect whatever Miss Bradshaw requires.'

  He jumped into the carriage, not bothering to lower the step, and it rocked violently as Travers resumed his position on the box. With the windows lowered he was able to inhale the fresh country air and take stock of what was now his land and responsibility.

  Papa was in his prime and ran the family estates without the necessity to call on him for assistance. This would be the first time he had been responsible for anything and he was invigorated by the challenge.

  What he d
idn't know he would soon learn. Ravenswood would be restored and profitable within the year if he had anything to say about it.

  Chapter Four

  Once she had collected a basket filled with sufficient salad leaves to accompany cold cuts and potatoes for luncheon Penny left them in the kitchen. She then went to speak to her sisters who were now eating a leisurely breakfast themselves. Mama was going to remain in bed this morning and had only required tea and toast.

  'I have several errands to run, will you two come with me or do you intend to remain here?'

  'It rather depends on where you are going and what you intend to do when you get there,' Mattie said as she finished her mouthful.

  'I'm going to call on several villagers and begin the task of collecting servants for Mr Trevelyan and ourselves. He has given me permission to appoint as many as I desire and we are to have personal maids to take care of us again.'

  This had their full attention. 'Are you thinking of the Brown family that arrived recently? There are at least four daughters and two sons. They are struggling to survive since their father lost his life fighting for King and Country.'

  'They are first on my list. I have spoken to Mrs Brown at church and they are all well-spoken and polite. Mr Brown was not an officer, but a sergeant and they travelled about with him all over the continent. The older girls would make ideal dressers for us and we can practice our French with them because I know that they are all fluent in that language having spent so much time there.'

  Beth was already on her feet and shaking out her gown. 'We already have on our boots and there is no necessity to take a wrap as the weather is clement. We can leave with you immediately.'

  As expected, the thought of being able to offer employment to the Brown family was enough to get her sisters moving. They were like dear mama in character and looks, whereas she and her brother had taken after their father.

  The village was no more than half a mile away and the Browns occupied a house on the outskirts. The gentleman who had previously owned the property had been derelict in his duties and she could only presume that he had been as ancient and out of sorts as the old gentleman who had been his tenant at Ravenswood.