Scandal at Greystone Manor

by Mary Nichols

  ‘Issie, wake up,’ Jane said, tears filling her eyes. ‘Please, Issie, please wake up.’

  Isabel’s eyelids fluttered and then she opened her eyes wide. ‘Where am I?’

  ‘You came off your horse,’ Drew said.

  She turned her head towards him. ‘Oh, it is you.’ Her eyelids fluttered and closed again with a soft sigh.

  ‘Wake up, Issie,’ Jane implored her. ‘Tell us if you are hurt. Are you in pain?’

  ‘My head aches.’

  ‘It is not to be wondered at,’ Drew said. ‘You hit your head and there is already the beginning of a lump, but I do not think there are any broken bones. We must get you home and send for a doctor to make sure. Mark has gone to fetch a carriage.’

  She struggled to sit up, but he gently pulled her back. ‘Lie still or you will make your head worse.’

  She subsided, leaving Jane to worry about the inelegant position in which her sister lay and the fact that Andrew Ashton was cradling her in his arms in a most loving way. Did Issie know what was happening? Did Mark?

  A hired carriage drew up beside them and Mark jumped out. Drew picked Isabel up and carried her to it. He put her gently on the seat and Jane climbed in beside her.

  ‘We will bring the horses,’ Mark said, addressing Jane. ‘Do not attempt to leave the carriage until we arrive to help. We will be right behind you.’

  ‘We’ll soon be home, Issie,’ Jane said when the jolting of the carriage as it moved off made Isabel cry out. ‘Put your head in my lap, if it helps.

  Isabel did that and Jane sat cradling it, noticing the bump on the side of Issie’s head growing and turning purple. If she had had doubts about the genuineness of Issie fainting at the Museum and at Ranelagh Gardens, she had none over this. She would not have fallen from her horse deliberately, even if taking off like that had been meant to cause a stir. Oh, foolish, foolish Issie, she thought as she prayed there would be no permanent damage to her lovely sister.

  * * *

  The two men were right behind them when they drew up outside the Mount Street house. Mark dismounted and ran to the carriage to help Isabel from it. She was too unsteady to walk, so he carried her up the steps into the house followed by Jane and Drew. The footman who admitted them ran off to fetch Lady Cartrose, who immediately took in the situation. ‘She must go to bed at once,’ she said, turning to dispatch a footman to fetch her physician.

  Mark had put Isabel on a chair, but picked her up again to carry her to her bedchamber. Bessie was sent to help Jane undress her while Lady Cartrose and the two men waited in the drawing room. Neither felt like leaving until they knew the extent of the injury.

  ‘What happened?’ her ladyship asked, indicating that they should take seats. ‘How did Isabel come to fall from her horse? I understood you were only going out for a gentle hack in the Park.’

  ‘That was the intention,’ Mark said. ‘But Isabel’s horse bolted with her. Drew and I galloped after her to try to bring it to a halt, but before we could do so, she was hit by the overhanging branch of a tree which knocked her to the ground. It was so sudden no one had a chance to prevent it.’

  ‘She was knocked out of her senses,’ Drew put in.

  ‘What made the horse bolt?’

  ‘I really do not know,’ Mark said. ‘I wish we had been watching more carefully.’

  ‘I wish it, too,’ Drew said. ‘I sincerely hope there is no permanent damage. I should never forgive myself.’

  The sound of voices in the hall told them the doctor had arrived. Her ladyship rose to conduct him to the patient’s room, leaving the two men facing each other in a silence which last several minutes. ‘Someone ought to see to the horses,’ Mark said in a flat voice. ‘We can’t leave hired horses on the street.’

  ‘I will do it.’ Drew jumped up and left the room, leaving Mark musing on his own. He was sorry Isabel had been hurt and would not for the world have wished it on her, but if she had not spurred her horse in that reckless fashion the accident would never have happened. Why had she done it? Why was he having to make excuses for her and pretend the horse was to blame? Would life with her always be like that? What did that augur for their future happiness together?

  Lady Cartrose came back into the room. ‘She is comfortable and the doctor has prescribed something for the headache. He said she needed to rest for at least a week, but he did not think her life was in danger.’

  ‘Thank the lord for that,’ Mark said.

  ‘Jane is sitting with her. She is blaming herself.’

  ‘Whatever for?’

  ‘I do not know, something about not curbing Isabel’s exuberance.’

  ‘Exuberance,’ he mused aloud. ‘Is that what it’s called? I would have called it wilfulness. Isabel set off to gallop and the mare got the bit between her teeth and bolted. It had nothing to do with Jane.’

  ‘You are very fond of Jane, are you not?’

  ‘Indeed I am. I admire her greatly for the way she tries to keep the family together, making sacrifices for them, which they seem to take for granted. She is always making excuses for their bad behaviour. If it isn’t Teddy, it’s Isabel.’

  ‘You make a good champion of her, Lord Wyndham.’

  ‘There is no one else to do it.’

  ‘Not even Mr Ashton?’

  ‘Drew?’ he asked, puzzled. ‘No, I do not think so. She always behaves coolly and correctly towards him. What made you think it?’

  ‘He is so often in your company, the four of you together.’

  ‘Why not? Drew is my friend.’

  ‘Oh, I see. I did not quite understand.’

  He was not one to analyse his own feelings too closely, but the events of the past few days when he had been more in Jane’s company had opened his eyes to the differences between her and her sister and what he saw and felt filled him with doubts. Drew returned before he could ponder that more deeply.

  ‘How is she?’ he asked, after bowing to Lady Cartrose.

  ‘Awake and sitting up,’ her ladyship answered. ‘She will recover, but must have a week in bed.’

  ‘Thank goodness it is no more than that,’ he said, taking the chair her ladyship indicated.

  ‘Did you manage the horses?’ Mark asked.

  ‘Lord Bolsover turned up just as I was rounding them up and offered his assistance. He said he had seen what happened and was on his way to ask after the invalid.’

  ‘What on earth is the man playing at?’

  ‘I’ve no idea, but I was glad of his help. Four horses on a busy street are not easy to handle. We each rode one and led another.’ He turned to Lady Cartrose. ‘When will we be able to visit Miss Isabel?’

  ‘I think perhaps tomorrow Mark may see her, if she feels up to it.’ It was plain she did not think it fitting that Drew should see the young lady while she lay in bed.

  ‘Then we will take our leave,’ Mark said, rising to bow to her. Drew followed suit.

  * * *

  ‘I had not intended to stay in town above three or four days,’ Mark said, as they walked to South Audley Street. ‘And I ought to go back to Hadlea and inform Sir Edward what has happened. No doubt Jane will want to stay with her sister. I can come back for them when Isabel is well enough to travel.’

  They separated on the corner of Mount Street and South Audley Street, arranging to meet at White’s for supper that evening. Mark went to the mews to order his carriage to be ready to return to Norfolk the next morning and then went into the house to change and deal with some paperwork. But he could not settle to it and found himself pacing backwards and forwards, his mind on Jane and Isabel. The latter was lovely, charming and sensitive in many ways, but in others, completely selfish. Not until recently had he realised that.

  As for Jane, she was far from the plain Jane she was purpor
ted to be. Her beauty was in her inner self, in her compassion and selflessness which shone through in everything she did. Why had he not seen that before? Was it because everyone else overlooked her and treated her as if she did not matter, was as familiar and static as the furniture? He had been as guilty as anyone. It was not that she lacked confidence; she was more independent than most and able to hold her own in an argument when the subject was something she felt passionate about, especially the orphans. Not everyone needed to be lively and flirtatious—indeed that could sometimes pall. There he was, comparing them again. Did that mean he had made the wrong choice? He stopped his thoughts abruptly before they carried him away where it was best not to go.

  * * *

  On his way to White’s he stopped at Mount Street to enquire of the invalid and was told by her aunt that she was comfortable and resting. ‘Jane is sitting with her,’ the old lady said. ‘But the medicine the doctor prescribed has made her sleep and there is nothing we can do but watch over her. What her father will say of my guardianship of his daughters I dread to think. I have written to my sister-in-law and told her Isabel will have the best medical attention available.’

  ‘I must return to Hadlea tomorrow,’ he said, ‘and will call at the Manor to apprise Sir Edward and Lady Cavenhurst of what happened and reassure them that Isabel is recovering. I assume Jane will stay with her sister? I will return to take them home when Isabel is well enough to travel.’

  ‘Thank you, my lord. I do not know what we would have done without you.’

  ‘I did nothing. Please convey my good wishes to both ladies and tell Isabel I wish her a speedy recovery.’ He picked up his hat, bowed and left the house for his rendezvous with Drew.

  * * *

  If he had hoped for a quiet supper and then home to bed, he was thwarted by the arrival of Lord Bolsover. ‘May I join you?’ his lordship asked. Not waiting for a reply, he sat down at the table where Mark waited for Drew to arrive. ‘I would hear how Miss Cavenhurst goes.’

  ‘She is recovering at the home of her aunt.’

  ‘I am glad to hear it. I was fearful that she had sustained a serious injury. A rather headstrong girl, I believe. Has no one told her that the terrain of the park away from the Row is too uneven for a lady riding side-saddle to attempt to gallop? Most unseemly, but courageous, all the same.’ He smiled suddenly, but it was the smile of a tiger. ‘Undoubtedly Andrew Ashton thought so, for I could see he was most solicitous of her. I helped him take the horses back to the stables, you know.’

  ‘So I heard. We are indebted to you, my lord.’

  ‘He bears watching, that friend of yours.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘Why, you are in danger of losing your bride, or I miss my guess.’

  Mark was furious, but contained his temper with an effort. ‘You, sir, are impertinent.’

  ‘I am merely stating a fact. It seems to me all the Cavenhursts are untrustworthy.’

  ‘Why are you so interested in my fiancée, Bolsover?’

  ‘I am interested in all the doings of that family. Her brother has deprived me of a considerable amount of money and I cannot let that go unchallenged.’

  ‘What do you propose to do? Neither Sir Edward nor, come to that, either of the Misses Cavenhurst, is responsible for Teddy’s gambling debts.’

  ‘Not in law, perhaps, but I am sure Sir Edward would wish to avoid the scandal of a scapegrace son welshing on his debts.’

  ‘I believe Sir Edward considers a spell in India will set him to rights.’

  ‘Only because he does not have the blunt to pay his son’s dues, or so I have heard. It is a pity I did not know that earlier before I acquired all the debts. Now, I shall have to rethink my strategy.’

  ‘I do not know how you came by that piece of tittle tattle, but you have been misinformed.’

  ‘I think not. Ah, here is your friend, Mr Ashton.’ He stood up. ‘I leave you to make what you will of what I have said, but rest assured, by hedge or by style, I will have my revenge.’

  ‘What did he want?’ Drew asked as he sat down and beckoned a waiter.

  ‘He was enquiring of the invalid. I do not think he cares a groat how Isabel is, he was simply trying to garner information about Teddy.’

  ‘You can hardly blame him for that. He’s lost a deal of blunt.’

  ‘Then why spend more buying up the rest of Teddy’s debts? I do believe it is Sir Edward he is after and he means to do it through his son or his daughters.’

  ‘I do not see how.’

  ‘Neither do I, but he spoke of revenge, which puzzles me, since I cannot see that he has been harmed by Teddy or anyone else in the family. There is more to it than debt.’

  The waiter came to take their order and they left off their discussion while they decided what to eat.

  ‘Would you like me to try to discover what it is, while you are gone to Hadlea?’ Drew asked as the waiter disappeared. ‘Bolsover may have confided in some of his associates, who might not know my connection with you.’

  ‘Yes, please do that. He appears prodigiously wealthy, which is surprising because the estate he inherited from his father is only a moderate one in Northamptonshire, not enough to support the kind of life he leads.’

  They talked about how the information could be achieved and used while they ate. Not once did Mark mention Bolsover’s hint that he might lose Isabel. Andrew Ashton was an honourable man, a long-term friend and he would not betray him in that fashion. But all the same, he could not quite dismiss the idea, not least because Isabel herself had been behaving strangely ever since she met him. If only she had not had that accident, they would all be on the way back to Hadlea the next day and out of harm’s way.

  Chapter Six

  Mark called the next day before he left town and was allowed a short visit to the sick room, where Jane sat reading to her sister. Jane put the book down and went over to the window to look out on the busy street and give them a little privacy. She heard him ask Isabel how she was and her sister’s low answer, but then the conversation stopped. They were silent for so long, she risked a glance. Mark was sitting on the chair she had been using and Isabel was propped up in bed, with the covers up to her chin. They were simply sitting there with nothing to say, both looking down, both unhappy.

  ‘I am going back to Hadlea immediately,’ he said at last. ‘Have you a message for your parents?’

  ‘Tell them I am doing well and no harm has been done,’ she said. ‘Tell them not to worry. Jane is looking after me.’

  ‘Ah, the inestimable Jane.’ He turned to her. ‘You are looking tired, Jane. Has no one thought about how you feel?’

  ‘I feel fine,’ she said. ‘Do not worry about me. Tell Mama and Papa I shall stay until Issie is well enough to travel.’

  ‘I will come back and fetch you.’ He rose, picked Isabel’s hand off of the coverlet and kissed the back of it. ‘I’ll be off then. Don’t do anything rash while I am away.’

  Isabel laughed. ‘I can’t do much stuck here in bed, can I?’

  He bowed to Jane and left. He was no sooner gone than Drew arrived, but Lady Cartrose did not think it fitting to allow him into the sickroom. She received him in the drawing room and gave him an account of the patient’s progress and he had to be content with that.

  Day by day Isabel recovered and though Jane spent some time sitting with her, trying to cheer her up, she was quiet and withdrawn. Drew called regularly to ask after the patient; Isabel did not see him, though Jane did. He was most concerned for the invalid, more than was warranted in Jane’s opinion, considering Isabel was engaged elsewhere. She might not have thought of it if she had not seen the look on his face as he cradled her sister in his arms. She wondered whether to confront him about it, but decided against making an issue of it. Once they returned t
o Hadlea it would die a natural death.

  When she was not sitting with her sister, Jane returned to the matter of raising funds and continued to write letters and invite people to Aunt Emmeline’s soirée. Her aunt had wanted to cancel it altogether, but Isabel, feeling guilty about what had happened, insisted it go ahead a week later than planned when she was sure she would have recovered enough to play her part. Jane encouraged her to walk about her room to strengthen her muscles and, on the sixth day, Bessie helped her to dress and she went downstairs for the first time. She was there when Drew arrived on his daily visit.

  ‘I am pleased to see you looking so well,’ he said, after bowing to Lady Cartrose and Jane. ‘I feared you might have sustained a serious injury.’

  Isabel laughed. ‘A bump on the head, that was all, and it is quite gone now. I am my old self.’

  ‘Then I am, indeed, relieved.’

  ‘Are you going to come to Aunt Emmeline’s soirée tomorrow evening? I think it will be a very grand affair.’

  ‘It is not meant to be a grand affair,’ Jane said. ‘It is to raise funds for my orphanage.’

  ‘Well, I know that, but Aunt Emmeline has invited a great many wealthy people so it is bound to be grand.’

  ‘Whatever it is I would not miss it,’ Drew said. ‘If Mark is not back in time, I shall stand in for him.’

  After he had left, Isabel went back to her room to rest, but as she no longer needed anyone sitting with her, Jane went to walk in the garden where she rehearsed under her breath the words she would use to persuade people that the soldiers’ orphans were a worthy cause for their charity.

  It was there Mark found her on his return. ‘Jane, how are you?’ He took both her hands in his own and leaned back to look at her. ‘You are looking pale. Have you not been sleeping?’

  ‘I am perfectly well, thank you.’ His touch was sending shivers into the very core of her. Her love for him was something that could never be cured and must never be spoken of, so every tiny touch, every short private conversation, was secretly treasured. ‘You should be asking about Isabel, not me.’