“I expect he was. A true aristocrat is, but then we are being invaded by bad blood seeping into our homes and estates and poisoning blood lines and history. It is a crime,” came the vicious response.
“So your dislike of the Earl stems from him not being born to the title?” Penelope asked, astounded.
“Oh no, I knew the upstart long before that. Do you know Miss Hall, he heralds from trade, having earned his fortune through business, he deprives others of their estates.”
“How on earth could he obtain someone else’s estate?” Penelope asked.
“He seeks out those that are in trouble and swoops in, offering the smallest amount of money he can get away with and then evicts the family that has lived there for generations. It is a crime and he should be sent to the gallows for it.”
“So he buys estates that are in debt or about to be lost?” Penelope was quickly guessing the reality of Daniel’s actions.
“They should never have been sold to him no matter what state they were in,” Samuel insisted.
“I wonder if the neglected tenants felt the same?” Penelope asked quietly. “I believe him to be a successful businessman, surely the estates didn’t remain unprofitable for long?”
“You are as bad as the rest! Only seeing the face he wants you to see, he is poison and should not be allowed to pollute the heritage of the aristocracy. He tried to come into our school. Can you imagine the likes of him trying to better himself in our hallowed school? Well we showed the little upstart, we beat him unconscious, we probably would have finished the job if it hadn’t been for Wiseman coming to his rescue like some bloody guardian angel. I wish we had.”
Penelope threw down the flowers she was holding. “I have heard enough without having to tolerate such language in a place of worship! Your behaviour in all of this is unpardonable, so far all I have heard is that you dislike a man because he was not the same as you and because of that you nearly killed him! You should be ashamed of yourself Mr. Peters, I would have expected better from a man in your position. Now I shall bid you good day, there is nothing left to be said.”
Mr. Peters moved towards her. “I’m afraid that’s where you are wrong Miss Hall, there is still a lot for us to say. Do you think I’m a fool? I was an agreeable companion until that man walked into our theatre box. Did you think I did not notice your distraction? Last night confirmed what I had suspected, that there is something going on between you both. Well your lowly Earl will not want you when you have been compromised my dear and I shall receive your hand in marriage because no one else will want you when I have finished with you.”
Penelope went cold, but did not show her fear. “You are going to compromise me in a church? That is as low as you could possibly get.”
“If it achieves my aim I am sure my God will forgive me, but I think you will find we will be more comfortable in the vestry.” He moved and grabbed her arm, she pulled away, but he pushed her roughly. “Don’t be a fool, you can’t get away, I will create an ‘accident’ for you if you don’t comply. I am sure your sister would mourn your loss, but if I can’t have you, that man certainly isn’t going to.”
It took all of Penelope’s strength not to scream, panic or faint, but she held onto her nerve, barely. She let herself be pushed into the vestry and saw to her horror that there was a makeshift bed in the corner. Tears stung her eyes at the thought that she would never belong to Daniel after this. She realised then that she had never stopped loving him and now because she had not forgiven him when he had asked, he was lost to her. No man would want a soiled woman.
“Please don’t do this,” she pleaded quietly, but with dignity. Her voice was steady, she was not begging hysterically, it was the voice of a calm, controlled woman.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t,” came the sneering response.
“Because if you lay one finger on her, you will lose your life. Is that reason enough?” came a familiar deep voice from the doorway.
Penelope’s legs gave way with relief at the Daniel’s words. In two strides he was by her side, supporting her.
“Now Imp, just hold fast a little longer, you are safe now,” he whispered into her ear. “Now Samuel, you have two minutes to excuse your behaviour and then I am going to kill you,” Daniel said in a calm, but deadly voice.
Samuel had dropped Penelope’s arm at Daniel’s first words and he was now stood near the bed in the corner of the room. “Daniel,” he faltered, “It’s not what it seems...”
“You always were a damned coward,” Daniel snarled as he landed a punch which contained over ten years’ anger and frustration.
Penelope watched in horrified fascination as Mr. Peters left the floor, did not touch the bed and slammed into the wall. She flinched when his head snapped back and hit the wall with a sickening crack and he slumped down onto the bed, completely still.
“Have you killed him?” she asked afraid of the answer.
“Probably not, more’s the pity,” Daniel snarled. “Did he harm you?” he asked turning Penelope towards him and looking her over.
“No, I’m fine, but if you hadn’t arrived when you did.......how did you?” Penelope faltered.
“Let me get you home and then I will explain,” Daniel said gently, ushering her out of the door.
“I need to walk,” Penelope said, trying to pull herself together.
“Fine, I will walk with you. You are never going to be out of my sight again Imp.”
Chapter 13
Penelope arrived home to much fuss and attention. Margaret had been pacing the hallway until Daniel had returned her sister safe and sound. It transpired that the maid Penelope had walked into town with had been the person who had raised the alarm. She had returned from her duties in the village early and decided to call at the church to see if she could offer help. The doors she had tried had been locked which had worried her. Returning home, she had explained her worries to Margaret, who had immediately determined to set-out and seek Penelope out herself. Her exit coincided with Daniel calling at the house to leave some paperwork for Mr. Simpson’s consideration. Daniel had noticed Margaret’s worried expression and had soon been apprised of the situation. He had left Margaret, promising to return with Penelope as soon as was possible.
“Your sister’s maid will be receiving a large bonus payment from me,” Daniel said as he sat next to Penelope.
Margaret had left the pair alone, closing the door gently. She was so relieved that Penelope was safe and unharmed that she was prepared to flout convention to give the couple some quiet time together.
“I will never hear anything more welcome than the sound of your voice when you made your presence known,” Penelope said with a sigh. “I cannot believe you were violent and cursed in a church though!” She laughed.
“I think under the circumstances it was excusable. According to Sam, people like me don’t have a place in heaven anyway, so it wouldn’t matter in the long term,” Daniel said trying to keep his tone light. He knew the picture of Penelope’s frightened face as she looked between the bed and her attacker would haunt him for many nights to come.
“Why did he hate you so much?” Penelope asked.
“Fred says it is because I belong to the class that has more money than the aristocracy, they feel threatened. I’m more inclined to think it’s because they descend from a smaller gene pool.”
Penelope laughed. “You could be right.” Her tone became serious. “He mentioned a beating you had at school,” she said gently.
Daniel frowned at her and then sighed. “It’s strange isn’t it that when you are feeling unsure of yourself, something happens to magnify that feeling a thousand times and although you spend the rest of your life running from it, you can’t.”
Penelope instinctively knew this was all tied up with the anger that she had seen and needed to find out more. She hoped he would not refuse to speak about it again. “He said they would have killed you,” she said with a shudder. She could not u
nderstand such violent behaviour, particularly in school boys.
“Yes, I don’t think they would have stopped if Fred hadn’t appeared. I don’t think it is an overstatement to say that Fred saved my life that day,” Daniel said, the memories flooding back.
“He must have been brave to stand up to them,” Penelope replied.
“He was, he comes across as shallow, but he is a just man. My crime had been to attend a school without coming from the right background. I could have helped myself by not antagonising them I suppose, but I was headstrong and perhaps hiding behind my bravado,” Daniel acknowledged.
“My poor love,” Penelope said, brushing her hand across his cheek. “You have proved yourself a fine man and friend to those who know you, nothing else matters.”
Daniel held her hand to his cheek, not wanting the contact to end. “Penelope I have been malicious and have sought revenge on those who beat me.”
“I know,” came the soft reply. “Mr. Peters told me that you had bought estates from some of your attackers when they were about to lose them. He failed to realise that it was through their own stupidity and arrogance that they lost their estates. Are the estates profitable now?”
“Yes,” Daniel replied cautiously.
“Good. So many tenants and villagers rely on an estate, it would be terrible if they had to suffer because of the foolish actions of people who should know better. I can imagine the tenants are grateful that it was you that bought the property. It may have started as actions of revenge, but it has probably provided security for hundreds of people.”
Daniel smiled, trust Penelope to be so matter-of-fact and practical, accepting that he had acted for the wrong reasons, but pointing out the goodness of his actions. He wanted to grab her there and then and kiss her until his dying breath, but there was just one other hurdle he had to overcome.
“Penelope, I intend to find out if I can get rid of my title,” he said watching her face closely.
“Good,” Penelope responded instantly and with feeling.
“Good?” Daniel queried.
“That title has haunted me for the last six years and I for one will be glad to see the back of it!” She said forcefully.
Daniel laughed and scooped her into his arms. “I need to marry you Penelope Hall at the earliest opportunity. I cannot be apart from you a second longer. There are going to be no more misunderstandings, I love you, I will love you with all my heart until the day I die and I need you by my side. Will you consent to be my wife?”
“How could I refuse such an offer?” Penelope asked with a smile, looking into his deep green eyes. “I love you too. Can we be married very soon?”
“Special licence it is then,” Daniel whispered as he bent to kiss his wife. His past no longer lurking in the background, he was sure of her love, sure it was him she wanted and he would spend the rest of their lives showing her his love.
Epilogue
Daniel decided not to rescind his title after all. It meant nothing to him, but he liked the thought of Penelope being his Countess, so although she protested and teased him, he kept the title.
Mr. Hall was jubilant when he heard of the marriage of his now favourite daughter to the Earl of Rivington, his standing in the village was secure, particularly as the couple would rarely visit. Daniel declined Mr. Hall’s offer to manage his estate, assuring his father-in-law that he was happy with the Steward he had already employed. Penelope yet again apologised for her father’s behaviour.
Penelope had suffered a moment of wonder when she had realised the extent of Daniel’s wealth, she wondered that he was still so driven after being so successful, but when he introduced her to what plans he had to support charitable trusts, she could only encourage him to make more money to help increase the amount they could give to others.
Penelope and Daniel decided to remain in the Norwich area because of Daniel’s business interests. Penelope settled into life in the new part of the country, particularly when the couple commissioned a house that was to be their own, with no history to hinder their happiness.
They were visited often by Fred, Margaret and William, who were always welcome guests. Penelope fitted into the circle of business friends and acquaintances that Daniel had in Norwich. She always swelled with pride to see how well her husband was respected by his peers. She had never had any pretensions around the different classes, but found she preferred being part of the new ‘middle class’.
Mr. Clark found that life in the village had become too confining and it was not long before he obtained a different living in a town some twenty miles distant. Whether his motivation was that he could not face the gloating Mr. Hall or that he was afraid to face the Earl, it could never be known, but he had made sure he had left before Daniel and Penelope returned to Cheshire.
Mr. Peters had been informed by the church that he would no longer be employed as a village clergyman. Fred had informed the powers that be exactly what had happened and stressed that if they did not act appropriately, he would inform the newspapers of the scandal. He also made sure that Mr. Peters knew exactly that it was he and not Daniel that was taking the action. Mr. Peters agreed with the church that he should spend some time abroad on missionary work, to help focus his faith.
Daniel, William and Fred did invest in steam power and further on, the railways. As Daniel predicted the railways saw the decline of the canal network and the planned extension into Wales never happened, although it may also not have happened because of the mountainous middle. Whatever the reason, the men saw a huge return on their investments, again as Daniel had predicted.
Penelope had never been happier. She enjoyed her comfortable life and was spoiled with jewels and clothes from her husband, but it was not that that contributed to her happiness. It was the going to bed every night and waking up every morning with the man that always had the ability to make her pulse race, had the ability to make her cry out in passion and fall into fits of giggles within a matter of moments and who totally and utterly loved her and was loved by her.
When the children arrived, with their dark hair and deep green eyes and olive skin, both parents experienced a sense of completeness neither had ever expected, but welcomed it with open arms and a lot of laughter.
THE END
The Unwilling Earl Page 9
