Captain's Lady

by Sharon Milburn

  A tide of heat rose into her face. What must she have looked like the last time Edward had seen her? She felt shy and awkward, not knowing what to say in reply to him. The silence lengthened. With well-bred ease her mother stepped into the breach.

  “Indeed, Sir Edward, Alice is much recovered. We planned a short excursion to take some air this morning.”

  He smiled at them both. “That’s wonderful. I’m delighted to hear it. I’ve a barouche awaiting my orders, if you’d consent instead to drive with me out to The Priory. The day is warm and I think Miss Carstairs will do better in her old home, don’t you? A room has also been prepared for your stay, my lady.”

  Mama was to stay with them? When had this been arranged?

  Edward took note of her puzzled expression.

  “Things have been happening. There’s much you don’t know. Lady Masterman has been…er…persuaded to remove herself to Lyme. She’ll be living there for quite some time, I should imagine. She’ll never trouble you again. I give you my word. Penelope has gone with her, but Gabrielle will remain in my charge. Everything has been settled. Lady Sarah is to oversee the nursery and the housekeeping for me and when my ward is old enough I’ll entrust her education to your care.”

  All this had happened while she slept? Lavinia banished and Penelope gone as well? What was she to do for the years that would ensue before Gabrielle was old enough to need a governess’s care?

  He smiled again. “I’ll await you in the hall. There’s no hurry.”

  He closed the door softly behind him. She held her head in her hands as she tried to work her way through the confusion. Alice had once seen an elephant, many years ago on a visit to the metropolis. Possibly the way she felt at the moment would be similar to being trampled by one of those huge beasts. There was so much to think about. Mama busied herself in the room, collecting together the few possessions they had accumulated in the two preceding days.

  “I can see that you’re surprised. I’m amazed myself when I consider my change in fortune. To think I’ve found employment of such a congenial nature and to be reunited with you, my darling.”

  Alice looked at her. “You want to be a housekeeper?”

  Lady Sarah sat down and faced her. “It’s what I’ve done all my married life, after all. At least this way I’ll earn a wage to call my own. I’ve always felt like a burden to your brother, without any of your dear sister-in-law’s frequent reminders of the fact. Now I can be useful and so much more independent.”

  Poor mama. Robert’s wife used her shamefully.

  Robert would be relieved. He’d assumed the care of his mother at that awful time in their lives, but his wife had lacked enthusiasm for the arrangement and she was the one who paid the piper. The whole family depended on the dowry given to her at their wedding. Father’s gambling had swallowed up Richard’s money, along with all the rest. Mama had had to swallow her pride. She’d never been comfortable with the situation, but what had any of them of comfort these past few years? The break would do them all good, no doubt.

  “Well, yes, I suppose that must be the case, but you were never a burden to Robert! You must have saved him hundreds of pounds.”

  “It is indeed the case and as Sir Edward explained to me, if he’s to be frequently absent for long periods of time, he needs someone he can trust completely to manage his home. I’m honored by his confidence.”

  “He’s such a good man, is he not?”

  Lady Sarah looked at her daughter with an expression suddenly somber. “Indeed, he is, but you must be careful not to read too much into this situation.”

  Alice rose to her feet. She must still be tired, for her knees shook and she felt faint. “You need have no qualms, Mama. I’m only too well aware of my own ineligibility. Papa was a traitor to his country. If that and my position as governess weren’t bad enough, the scandal of the past two weeks has surely extinguished any faint hopes I might have had of achieving any respectable match.”

  She straightened her shoulders. “Come, we mustn’t keep him waiting.” A few uncertain steps took her to the bed. The boat-cloak still lay there. Almost unseen she gathered it up, taking comfort from its familiar feel. Hugging it to her breast she waited to allow her mother precedence out of the room. She looked around one last time at her Spartan quarters. This place had been a palace after that filthy jail cell.

  Suddenly Edward was there, holding out his arm to escort her down the stairs. He smiled down at her.

  “Your mama sent me back up— What’s this? This will never do! You’re trembling.” The concern in his voice brought a lump to her throat.

  “I’m sorry to be such a weak creature.”

  “Indeed, there’s nothing to be sorry about, but I’ll not have you fainting. Please, permit me to carry you down.”

  She felt perfectly able to walk down a flight of stairs. One step told her otherwise. What was wrong with her? She despised tears, but here they were again, coursing silently down her cheeks.

  Edward pressed her back down to sit on the bed and whipped out his handkerchief. “We can’t have tears. I’ll find your mother. Perhaps you should stay here for a few more days. You’re still so weak.”

  Oh, no. She so wanted to go back and see Barlow and Cora and Gabrielle. She laid a hand on his arm to restrain him.

  “Don’t fetch mama back again, please. I should so like to go home, if you’ll allow me.”

  The worry in his eyes warmed her heart. “Are you sure? Of course you may go home, but I don’t want you overtaxing yourself.”

  She managed a feeble smile. “I’m sure. I’m just being missish right now.”

  He smiled back. “Missish is the last thing you are. Here, put your hand around my neck.”

  He swept her up into his arms, then waited a moment until she was settled comfortably. His eyes were so close to her own she could see every shade of color. There was a tiny scar near the bridge of his nose and another, a faint, silvery line almost concealed by the hair near his right ear. One eyebrow raised in a quizzical fashion as he regarded her.

  “Home, Miss Carstairs?”

  She fought the urge to rest her head against him. If only he knew how truly at home she felt. She could barely manage a whisper.

  “Yes, please, Sir Edward. Home.”

  Chapter Seven

  Oh, the dear faces of friends!

  Barlow stood at the entrance door, tears unashamedly running down his cheeks at the sight of Alice. Francis ran to the barouche to open the door, his face alight with the broadest smile she had ever seen on him. Even Cook peeked round the door to watch her arrive, although she disappeared directly, no doubt to arrange a plate of her favorite gingerbread.

  She felt a prickling in her own eyes as Sir Edward helped her down from the barouche. More tears? No! Not if she could help it. She was done with tears. When he turned back to assist Lady Sarah, Alice could wait no longer. She hurried forward up the steps and grasped the butler’s gnarled old fingers.

  “Barlow! My dear old friend! I’ve you to thank for my rescue. It’s so good to see you again!”

  Holding his hand wasn’t nearly good enough. Alice hugged him has hard as she could. His wrinkled face broke into a beaming smile. “Nay, Miss Alice. You shouldn’t. I did nothing at all.” He protested, but he hugged her back, just the same. “I thought you’d hate me. It broke my heart when I didn’t stand up for you as I should have. It’s Harding you have to thank, who took my word without a murmur and fetched Master Edward.”

  How could he blame himself? “You’ve nothing to be ashamed of. There was nothing you could do against Lavinia and Scripps together. Let’s forget the past. It’s all behind us now.”

  He sniffed a little. “You’re very good to me. Too good, after I let you down.”

  How could she make him understand? Alice hugged him again. Truly, he’d been her best friend ever since she’d moved to this house. How could she ever think badly of Barlow?

  “It’s all right, Barlow. Everyt
hing will be all right, now.”

  He turned away, struggling with his emotion, to bow his employer into the house. Sir Edward introduced Lady Sarah, then ushered the two ladies into the drawing room. A cheerful fire blazed away in the grate, scenting the room with the faint tang of applewood.

  Edward waited for them to be seated. He remained on his feet, looking anxiously from one to the other, then signaled to Barlow. “I’ll have refreshments brought in directly, unless you’d prefer to retire to your chamber and rest?”

  Alice smiled at his unease. Here was another one, blaming himself when the guilt lay at another door entirely.

  “Sir Edward, what I would most like is for you to join us, sit down here and tell me what has been happening! I’m driven mad with wanting to know. What of Scripps and Lavinia?”

  How much would he tell her? Not as much as she’d heard from Betty, most certainly. She watched his face harden at the mention of the attorney, but he did as she bid sat down next to them.

  “When I left I’d no notion of what would happen. I had believed everything settled here at home. My only thought was to obtain a commission, but as you can well imagine many others were before me. I kicked my heels at the Admiralty for three days, then had the notion of appealing to Admiral Lord Blaydon. His fleet is assembling at the Nore.”

  He stopped to punch a fist into his palm. “If I’d only waited for Harding then, you’d not have had to endure that place for so long, but I was impatient and left before he arrived. He missed me by less than two hours as it turns out. Because I’d left no message about my intentions he took three more days to find me. I’m sorry for that.”

  Lady Sarah intervened. “Sir Edward, no one blames you for what has occurred. You were not to know what Lavinia would do.”

  Barlow’s arrival with refreshments interrupted them further and it was some little time before Edward resumed his explanation.

  “I should have guessed exactly what my sister-in-law would do. I hadn’t lived in this house a sennight, my lady, before I realized what sort of person my brother had married. I’ll spare you the details, but she gave me ample proof of her corrupt morals.”

  Alice gasped. “She didn’t quote the Bible about the widow who married seven brothers, did she?”

  He shook his head. “Lavinia quoting the Bible? How hypocritical would that be? Thank God I was spared. No, her suggestion was far less virtuous than marriage, unless I very much missed my guess and I’m generally held to be a good judge of people.”

  Lady Sarah voiced her displeasure. “Common baggage! I refuse to be shocked by anything Lavinia has said or done, but for her to have had the audacity to think for even a moment that you’d have any interest in her beggars belief. What an opinion of herself she must have! You’d never stoop so low, I’m sure.”

  Alice and Edward looked at each other. She giggled. He burst out laughing.

  “I quite thought you’d be shocked at her morals, ma’am, not her conceit.”

  “She can’t have known you very well, that’s all I can say. Judging you by your brother’s behavior, I’ve no doubt. He kept a mistress in Winchester and another in Southampton.”

  Alice felt her jaw slacken. He did? How did mama know that, when she herself had no notion of it? The knowledge explained more than a few things, especially Lavinia’s behavior toward her husband.

  It was certainly a day for revelations. Alice felt obliged to make one of her own. “I knew a little of his character, as he twice felt the sharp end of my scarf pin before he was so good as to take the hint I didn’t appreciate his attentions, but I confess I didn’t know about his mistresses.”

  Sir Edward jumped to his feet. “Gregory forced himself on you? What a base black scoundrel he was. A pistol bullet was too good for him.”

  “There’s no point getting worked up now.” Lady Sarah endeavored to calm him and probably herself as well. Her eyes filled with pain. “I’m so terribly sorry, Alice, that you were subject to such treatment. I would have fetched you home immediately if I’d known. You should have sent word to me. But you were telling your story, sir. Pray, continue.”

  After a few paces down the room and back Edward sat again. “I am utterly disgusted. I feel grateful that my character was formed in the Navy and not in this house! I’ve honorable men like Lord Blaydon to thank for that. Unfortunately not even his lordship, who is my sponsor and, I hope, my friend, could supply me with employment immediately. I was on the point of returning to London to try again when Harding at last found me at the inn in Sheerness. You can believe me when I tell you my dismay at his news was considerable and I lost no time in returning.”

  Alice could only imagine the scene when he confronted her cousin. “But what did Lavinia say to you?”

  “Lady Masterman expressed considerable surprise at my return. Everyone other than herself was blamed for what had occurred. She ended by informing me her inconveniences were all my fault entirely.”

  “How dare she!” Alice sprang to her feet, causing Edward to follow suit. He smiled at her indignation.

  “Please sit down, ma’am. I’ve dealt with worthier foes in my time, I assure you. I gave Lavinia a choice. Either she could exchange places with you or retire to Lyme on the instant…” He paused for a moment.

  “I’m not normally vindictive, but after what she did to you I was more inclined to let her rot but there are her children to consider. I’ll supply her with a cottage and an annuity. She’ll not be welcome here again, although I may invite Penelope on occasion when she’s older.”

  “What of Gabrielle? She’s to remain here?”

  “Lavinia refused to take her. I’m happy with the arrangement.”

  Now that startled even the normally unflappable Lady Sarah. She gasped with astonishment. “She refused to take her own daughter? She abandoned her baby? Now that does shock me more than anything that has gone before.”

  Alice shook her head. “No, that’s typical. I’m only surprised she took Penelope.”

  Edward uttered a snort of disgust. “She took the child because she foresees using her to her own advantage. No doubt I’ll be presented with scandalous bills for the child’s supposed upkeep. If that occurs I shall know what to do.”

  “I sincerely hope so! I don’t even want to think about her anymore. But what of Scripps?”

  His expression hardened. “Scripps, my dear Miss Carstairs, will never bother you again. I presented the magistrate in Winchester with enough evidence of his dishonesty to leave him no option but to commit him to the assizes. He’ll be transported. Indeed the magistrate was all for hanging the man, but justice is better served this way. I could wish his imminent sojourn in the colonies will improve his character, but I doubt that will happen.”

  “He’s sure to be transported, then?” She didn’t like the man, but she wouldn’t have wanted to see him hang.

  Sir Edward nodded. “It’s far too good for him. On any vessel of mine he would have been flogged. He well deserved punishment for what he did to you, but in fact he’s to be transported for his original embezzlement from the estate during my brother’s time. There’s no need to drag your good name through the courts yet again. Only a simpleton could have missed the discrepancies. I foolishly allowed him to escape retribution when his actions first came to my attention. He begged me to spare his sick wife the humiliation of public disgrace.

  Why was she a lady? Alice wanted to swear. “Ooh, the snake! Scripps wasn’t married. His wife died years ago. No doubt he sent her to her grave, poor soul.”

  “So I found out. As I said, he’s lucky not to be facing a hangman’s noose for perjury. The magistrate also bade me offer you his apologies. The evidence presented to him was such he could act in no other way without my testimony to refute Lavinia’s lies.”

  “They were as thick as inkle-weavers, weren’t they? What they had done in cold blood didn’t bear thinking about. He presented the evidence, but she stole your letters.”

  He agreed. “She als
o stole your thirty guineas, but I’ve remedied that situation. Lady Sarah here has your wages in her keeping.”

  Alice shook her head. “I don’t know who is worse, Lavinia or Scripps.”

  His expression lightened. “Two peas in a pod, I should say, but you don’t have to worry about either of them anymore. Forget about those wretches. You must rest and recover your strength.”

  * * * * *

  On Easter Sunday the barouche arrived at the front door to take them to morning service in Winchester cathedral. Edward had seen fit to wear his full dress uniform for the occasion. His silver medal from his service as a lieutenant at the Trafalgar action gleamed proudly round his neck on its blue riband and there were others Alice didn’t recognize. The sight of the honors had a strange effect on her. While she’d been sewing her samplers and learning to draw and play the pianoforte he’d been embroiled in the desperate struggle for the nation’s freedom. A greater contrast between the two of them could hardly be imagined.

  Not for the first time Alice considered the insurmountable differences between them. She glanced down at her own plain pelisse. Outmoded by nearly five years, the simplicity of style allowed the gray broadcloth to pass muster. Edward would never give her a second glance. Nor would anyone else. Who would be looking at her beside Edward’s magnificence, anyway?

  Unfortunately, she couldn’t have been more wrong. They did more than look. Alice’s first outing since her release from prison caused no little stir among the congregation. The scandal was far too delicious to ignore. Word of Lavinia’s precipitous departure had followed hotfoot upon the sensational news of Josiah Scripps being hauled down the High Street to face the magistrate. Such goings-on were almost unheard of in quiet Winchester.

  Tidings of Lady Sarah’s identity rippled around the gathered congregation in a sibilant murmur. There were some who knew her in days gone by and others who knew her by reputation. Still more remembered the scandal when her husband had fled the country, never to be heard of again. Alice felt herself coloring under the scrutiny as the stares of so many pairs of eyes shifted from her to her mother and back again. Some looked accusing, most sympathetic.