Harry piped up. ‘Look, Beth, Mr Meltham is smiling at Lottie.’ Beth tried unsuccessfully to hush him. He continued his childish treble clearly audible. ‘He has no teeth in the front, did you see? I shall ask him if he’s waiting for them to grow.’
‘You shall do no such thing, Harry. Be silent, this instant.’ Charlotte’s words snapped across the table instantly repressing him. She saw him scowl into his porridge and her heart sunk. Trouble was brewing, he was usually a happy biddable child, but just sometimes he rebelled and got into the most horrendous mischief. She would have to keep him close this morning, see he was occupied and had no time to misbehave.
‘I thought we could walk over to the maze, the sun’s out today and the cold wind has dropped. It will be pleasant in the grounds.’
Beth was enthusiastic. ‘Yes please, Lottie. I dearly want to try and get right to the middle.’
Harry remained silent.
‘Do you not wish to come with us, Harry?’ Charlotte enquired.
He shook his head. ‘I’m going to go and see Buttons. I don’t want to go to any silly old maze.’
‘But I want to, Lottie, that’s not fair.’
‘We can still go, Beth. Harry will have to stay with Annie.’ Charlotte pointed to the bell strap. ‘Can you pull the bell for me please, Harry?’
Normally he was delighted to the asked, but this time he ignored her request and continued to shovel his food into his mouth. She was tempted to scold him, but she knew from experience, it was best to ignore bad behaviour and reward the good. Beth jumped up and pulled the bell.
‘Could you ask Annie to come here, please?’ Charlotte asked the parlour-maid when she arrived. The girl bobbed a curtsy and vanished back through the almost invisible door in the panelling. The nursemaid appeared moments later.
‘Did you want me to take Master Harry, miss?’
‘Yes, he prefers to play with his puppy in the yard and Beth and I are going to stroll down to the maze.’ Harry dropped his spoon noisily and mumbled a request to leave the table. ‘Yes, you may go, Harry. But remember, Cousin Jack doesn’t want any of us to stray too far from the house at the moment.’ The mention of Jack was a masterstroke.
Harry’s scowl lifted. ‘Is he back then, Lottie?’
‘He is, Harry. He is joining us here in a little while. Will you not stay to greet him?’
‘I will. He will let me talk to his big horses if I ask him nicely.’
‘What is it you wish to ask, lad?’ Jack had come in and had heard the end of Harry’s sentence.
The boy ran across and gazed up imploringly; he had to tilt his head right back to make eye contact. ‘I’m going to the stable to play with Buttons and I wanted to stroke your big horses. Jethro won’t let me near them.’
Jack dropped his haunches. ‘Neither Lucifer nor Phoenix are suitable to pet, Harry. I am sorry but they are more likely to bite you than anything else.’
‘Then can I stroke the grey horses, are they safe?’
Jack ruffled his hair. ‘You certainly can. I shall be along as soon as I’ve eaten and exchanged news with Charlotte. I shall be delighted to introduce you to my matching greys.’
Annie led Harry away his bad temper apparently gone. Charlotte finally relaxed.
Beth jumped up. ‘Can I go to, please? I wish to play with Tiny and Silky.’
‘Yes, of course. Shall I come and collect you later?’ The girl nodded and ran after her brother and his nursemaid.
‘I must thank you. You have restored Harry’s good humour. I hate it when he’s out of sorts like that. It’s so difficult to coax him back to pleasantness.’
‘Then do not, leave him to sulk. You mustn’t pander to him; he is in danger of becoming spoiled, my dear. He needs discipline in his life.’
‘Are you suggesting I am doing an inadequate job of raising my brother and sister?’ her tone was clipped, her irritation plain.
He recognized the danger signals. ‘No, you are doing an excellent job. But you are not much older than Beth; it’s hard for them to give you the respect a guardian demands.’
‘Beth is never impolite or disobedient. We have an ideal relationship. I’ve always been her caring older sister. With Harry it’s different; I have taken care of him from infancy. My mother was unwell after his birth and never really bonded with him. Then, when my father returned, injured, she devoted all her energies to nursing him.’
‘That explains a lot. You were only fourteen, but old enough to take on the role of parent successfully. Harry has never had an adult in his life. He has no father figure to look up to.’
‘And you intend to assume the role.’
‘Of course I shall. No, don’t poker up, we’re to be wed in just over two weeks. It must fall to me to take responsibility for both Beth and Harry and any children we might have together.’
She counted slowly to ten, a ploy her father had told her, before answering. ‘So I am to be redundant, to have no further part in their upbringing?’
‘You are talking fustian, my dear, and you know it. I expect you to do as all wives do; take an interest in the children and organize their wardrobes. You will also act as hostess and run the house, but the all-important decisions must be left to me, which obviously includes disciplining any children.’
With commendable composure she folded her napkin and pushed back her chair. Her movements gave him no intimation of the bombshell she was about to drop upon his head.
‘In that case, my lord, I have no wish to marry you. I have my own competence; I am in a position to support a household. What possible reason could there be for me to give up my freedom and my brother and sister in order to become the chattel of a man who does not love me?’
He thought she was jesting then saw her face. In that moment he must have known he was no longer dealing with a half child - half woman. She had grown up. She watched him quizzically an almost amused expression on her face. ‘Pray excuse me, Lord Thurston, I have promised to take Beth down to play in the maze.’ She smiled politely and stepped round him, leaving him nonplussed by woman for the first time in his life.
She was still smiling as she left the Hall in search of the children. She felt triumphant; she had finally emerged from a confrontation without losing her temper, bursting into tears or being frightened into obedience. She giggled - he had appeared stunned by her announcement.
What would he do to make amends? Last time he had provided her with a lovely private parlour, a drawing-room and half a dining-room. She sobered as she remembered exactly what she had said. Had she gone too far? Would he metamorphose into the formidable stranger and try and browbeat her into submission? She shrugged, no, he was not a bully, he was a soldier and sometimes forgot she was not a recalcitrant recruit but his prospective bride.
Beth was happily seated on an upturned pail whilst her two kittens gambolled at her feet, of Harry, his puppy, and his nursemaid, there was no sign.
‘Beth, where are Annie and Harry?’
‘Harry ran off and she has gone to look for him.’
‘Did Buttons escape?’
‘No, Lottie; Harry was being silly. Annie reprimanded him for misbehaving and he picked up his puppy and ran away. Annie called but he kept on going.’
‘Which way did they go? I wish you had sent for me, Beth.’
‘He would not have stopped for you either, Lottie, you know what he’s like when he gets in a twitty mood.’
He had his father’s strong will and ever since he was out of leading strings he had shown a determination to go his own way on occasions, regardless of restraint.
‘Come along, let’s try and find him before he gets into more mischief. Which way did he go, Beth?’
‘Out through that archway but I’ve no idea where he went after that.’
‘Quickly, Beth, put the kittens back in the stable and then we’ll go and look for him together.’
Hand-in-hand they ran out of the yard and began their search. They had reached the edge o
f the turning circle when Annie puffed into sight, Buttons under her arm.
‘Lawks, miss, thank goodness you’re here. That young rascal’s gone up an old oak tree and is refusing to come down no matter what. And he’s that high up, I’m scared he will tumble down and break his neck.’
‘Beth, darling, run inside and ask Cousin Jack to come. Tell him Harry is stuck up a tree.’ Now was not the time to consider their differences, she needed him to rescue her brother.
Annie led her back to the oak that stood a short way down the stand of trees that bordered the park. This giant tree stood over sixty feet high and its branches stretched as wide. She walked under the canopy and peered up into the leafy darkness. ‘Harry, what do you think you’re doing up there? You have broken your promise not to climb big trees and I am very disappointed in you.’
There was a rustle high above but there were too many leaves on the branches and she was unable to see him. She called at the second time. ‘Harry, answer me, if you please, I don’t like to be ignored.’
Jack was pounding in her direction and moved out from under the tree to greet him. ‘Harry is so far up this tree I cannot see him and he refuses to speak to me. I don’t know if he is stuck and too frightened to answer or whether he is just being disobedient.’
‘Has he climbed a tree like this before?’
‘No, he is forbidden to climb large trees. I heard him moving about so I know he’s hiding somewhere in the top branches.’
He took her hands, his face serious. ‘Sweetheart, can you trust me to sort this out? I shall fetch him down and I can promise you he will never do anything so stupid again.’
‘Do not beat him, I beg you. I know he has been wayward and must be punished but…’
‘Goose -of course I shall not. He is scarcely more than a babe. No, I shall achieve my aim a different way.’
‘Thank you. By the way, I did not mean everything I said earlier.’
He grinned. ‘Which part was that, my love? That I consider you my chattel or that our wedding is cancelled?’
Her nostrils flared but then her lips twitched and she returned to smile. ‘I shall marry you, Jack, but I can assure you that if you think I am going to become a silent, subservient spouse you have sadly mistaken the matter.’
He raised her hands to his mouth and kissed first her fingertips and then her palms. ‘I should hope not, my darling; I should die from ennui in a se’night.’ He released her. ‘Go inside, leave this to me. Your brother shall be returned safe and sound to you shortly.’
‘I shall be waiting in the drawing-room. He is not usually a bad boy.’
‘I know that; he’s just in need of some rules.’
Charlotte took Beth’s arm and gesturing that the nursemaid should follow returned to the Hall.
‘Annie, wait upstairs in the nursery for Master Henry. Lord Thurston will send him
up to you.’ She smiled at Beth, who still looked troubled. ‘Don’t worry, Cousin Jack will rescue your naughty brother.’
‘But Harry will be so scared. Cousin Jack is like a giant to him. I know that I would not dare to disobey him.’
‘He has promised he will not beat him which I suppose he richly deserves. He will give him a stern lecture and send him to his room.’
Beth was reassured and joined her in front of the fire, curling up on a battered but comfortable armchair. They did not have long to wait before a subdued and tearstained Harry appeared at the door, Jack standing behind him. Charlotte was about to open her arms to give him his usual embrace but Jack shook his head.
Harry walked forward. ‘I’m sorry I disobeyed you, Lottie.’ He stopped, gulping noisily. He glanced over his shoulder and Jack nodded. ‘I promise I shall not do it again. I am going to be a good boy now.’
Surely she could kiss her little brother at this point but Jack’s expression was stern. She kept her hands firmly in her lap. ‘Thank you for apologizing Harry. I shall say no more about it.’ The child began to edge closer to his sister, desperate for comfort, to be petted as he always was.
‘No, Harry. You have made your apologies now you will go upstairs to the nursery and stay there until I give you leave to come out. Is that understood?’ Jack’s tone was enough to frighten a far larger person than an almost five -year-old.
The boy turned and fled; the sound of his crying audible in the hushed drawing-room. Jack walked out to check the miscreant had indeed gone upstairs and Beth threw herself into Charlotte’s arms.
‘Lottie, he was so frightened. He’s only little. Cousin Jack is horrid to be so cruel.’
Charlotte agreed but knew if Jack’s disciplining was not to be undone she had to hide her feelings. ‘Harry has been sent upstairs, that is all Beth. He is not been whipped or spanked, although as I said before, he deserved to be. He has to learn that his actions have a consequence. I know he is not five years old, but if he is old enough to climb that oak tree, he is quite old enough to be punished for his foolhardiness.’
Beth sat back. ‘But you always cuddle him after he has apologized. He will think you don’t love him anymore.’
Jack spoke from the doorway. ‘That is nonsense, Beth. He is upset but will recover his spirits soon enough.’ He strolled into the room to stand beside her. ‘I said Harry was to stay upstairs, Beth, I did not say you could not join him there.’
‘Can I? Thank you. Are we allowed to play or has he to sit still on a chair?’
‘Heaven forefend! Of course you can play but he must not leave the nursery floor.’
Beth stared at him. ‘What would happen if he did?’
‘I should put him over my knee but I am sure it will not come to that, so you have no need to look so worried, little one.’ He gently smoothed back Beth’s hair. ‘I am not an ogre, Beth, and Harry has learned his lesson.’
Charlotte waited until Beth’s footsteps faded before speaking. ‘How did you get him down?’
‘I told him to hold onto my neck and he did so, I rather think he was delighted he was not obliged to negotiate the descent unaided.’
‘Was he very scared?’
Jack chuckled. ‘No, but when I got him safely down it was another story. I treated him to a scold he will not forget in a hurry.’
‘Thank you, I have to admit you’re correct. He does need a man’s hand on the reins.’
‘Not all the time, sweetheart. Children need love as well as discipline and you supply an abundance of that.’ He folded himself on to an adjacent chair. ‘I haven’t told you what transpired in Ipswich yesterday, do you want to hear or am I still in bad odour?’
She had the grace to blush. ‘Please tell me, do not tease.’
At the end of his account she frowned. ‘So we are no nearer finding the answer? Discovering who is behind the attacks?’
‘I’m afraid not. However, with Captain Forsythe camped at Thurston, and an armed guard around the Hall, I am sure we are safe, for the moment, from further ambush.’
‘How long will the militia stay? Will they not be wanted elsewhere?’
‘They will stay until the culprits are apprehended. I had not fully understood my position in the county. I am the Duke of Lenster and attempts on my life are taken very seriously.’
‘Then we can attend church on Sunday?’
He nodded. ‘The path has been cleared so we are able to walk. I am assured the building is clean and fresh chairs have been found for us.’
‘I am so glad. I’ve not attended a service since we arrived and I do miss it. And talking of churches reminds me that I have been thinking about our wedding. Have you arranged for your groomsman? And I have no one to lead me down the aisle, no witness of my own.’
‘Would you like me to send out invitations? I, like yourself, have no living family but I do have comrades from the army, men I spent half my adult life fighting beside.’
‘It will seem more… more acceptable an arrangement if we have guests and a wedding breakfast’.
‘Very well, several of
my friends are married; they could bring their wives, if that’s what you would like. But I have not corresponded with them since I came to moulder here- I cannot promise to be able to contact them in time. However, I’ll do my best.’
‘But is this place fit for guests? Do we have sufficient bed-chambers ready for occupation?’
‘There are still two weeks, plenty of time to decorate if needed. I don’t intend to ask more than two couples. But this doesn’t solve the problem of your escort on the day.’
‘I was wondering if I could ask Dr Andrews.’ Seeing his sudden scowl she added hastily. ‘He would not be my first choice, obviously, but he has been kind and offered to assist us in any way he could.’ Jack looked unconvinced. ‘And he is the nearest gentleman. Remember, Upton Manor borders your land. He is your neighbour. You’re going to have to learn to deal amicably with him.’
‘If there’s no one else then I’ll ask him.’
‘It’s not ideal, but we have no alternative unless I am to progress down the church by myself.’
‘Then the matter’s settled. Notice of the eleven o’clock service has been posted in the village so it is to be expected the doctor will attend. I’ll speak to him after church.’
‘I have all the arrangements for your party on Monday in hand. Do you wish me to invite the doctor?’
‘God forbid! He may be our nearest neighbour, but I don’t want to become bosom bows with him.’
She giggled. ‘I rather thought not, it will be a family occasion, just the four of us.’
‘That’s what I should prefer. I’m not a sociable person, have never really enjoyed doing the pretty at routs and balls.’
‘But you’ll not object to a small celebration being held in the barn for the staff and their families? They’re all working so hard to get the place restored, they deserve a reward.’
‘That’s quite different; it’s my duty to provide suitable entertainment for my people. But I had thought to do something on our wedding, would it not be better to leave it until then?’
The Duke's Challenge Page 21
