Nathan reached across from his chair and touched the back of her hand very, very lightly. “This is all circumstantial. We will need to prove all of this beyond any shadow of a doubt before we can be secure. But I do believe we have at last found Felix.”
“And the answer to all the mysteries of my husband,” Nell said.
But Nathan’s face was shadowed, as if he was troubled.
~~~~~
While Nell and Jessica went off to the nursery to tell Louis of the dramatic change in his fortunes, and Barbara sat with the dowager, Nathan bore Sir James away to the male retreat of William’s study and poured him a generous measure of Madeira.
“There is a newspaper in the drawer over there,” he said. “No, not that one, the next one along.”
“You keep the newspaper in a drawer? Whatever for?”
“My cousin was a very tidy man. He liked everything just so, and nothing lying around. If a book should be misaligned, he fretted dreadfully. The servants still follow his orders. You will not mind if I begin making lists? I shall have a great deal to do to get this matter settled.”
“Shall you be able to? Supposing this is even true, of course, and not some convenient fiction.”
Nathan was preparing a pen, and these words made his fingers curl tightly around the knife. Good grief, but the fellow was irritating! He breathed deeply, carefully set down the quill and knife, and turned to face the baronet. “It would have been a great deal more convenient to find it out two years ago, when Felix was first looked for in earnest,” he said through clenched teeth. “It would have been a great deal more convenient if he were still alive to swear to his own identity. I cannot imagine how you think we might have contrived this ‘convenient fiction’.”
Godney smirked. “Oh, come now, Harbottle! You must think me a fool. You met Nell in Southampton, did you not? I daresay you cooked it up between you. A husband of the right age and background — what could be more perfect? It is a little inconvenient that the fellow is dead, but it can still be done. A fortuitous discovery of a letter, no doubt, confirming all. The old retainers to swear to the likeness of Nell’s drawing. I dare say you gave her the ring on the chain for the Dowager Lady Harbottle to recognise. Very convincing. And now, I suppose, you will marry my sister to gain access to the fortune.”
Nathan laughed. “You have a twisted mind, Godney, if you think that would be a sensible way of proceeding. If I wished to gain access to the fortune, I have only to prove that Felix is dead without issue, for I am next in line. In fact, I already have access to it, for my cousin left me with the power to manage everything as I see fit. If were a different sort of man, and I had not already a much larger fortune of my own, it might be a temptation, I concede.”
Godney eyed him speculatively. “Larger fortune, eh?”
“West Indies,” Nathan said, not feeling any obligation to elaborate.
“Ah.” Godney lost interest, picked up the newspaper and began to read, and Nathan was able to return to his lists.
Some time later, when Godney had long since grown bored and wandered off, there was a tap on the door, followed at once by Nell and a footman bearing a tray of tea things.
“Should you like some tea?” she said. “If not, will you mind if I have some, and drink it in here with you? I shall not disturb your work.”
“I am very happy to be disturbed, I assure you, and to have some tea.”
For a few minutes there was silence as the footman arranged the tea things, and Nell poured. She remembered how he liked his tea, he noticed, and the thought pleased him to an absurd degree.
When the footman had withdrawn, she said, “Thank you for letting me escape for a little while. Your aunt wishes to tell me how perfect Felix was, but her version of his character does not quite match my memories of my husband, and I have no wish to quarrel with her. But I thought James was here with you. Where did he go to?”
“Jumped in the lake, I hope. Is he always this obnoxious? Thinking the worst of people?”
She smiled. “Oh, yes. Julia is worse. If James has a book in his hand, and nothing requiring him to move from his chair, then he is perfectly contented, whereas Julia is never contented, and sometimes I think she is downright malicious. I am very thankful I do not have to live with her, for we should be pulling caps within a day.”
“This is the lady of the excessively long recovery time?”
She giggled in a most unladylike fashion, almost choking on her tea. “I could not possibly say, although it does seem as though they have resolved their difficulties.”
“Then he should be considerably less grumpy,” Nathan said firmly.
That time she did choke on her tea. “You are very bad,” she whispered. “Poor James! He does rather set himself up as a figure of fun, but then he was always stuffy, even as a child. Not high in the instep, as Julia is, but pompous, like a much older man.”
Such pleasantries were delightful, and Nathan was relieved beyond measure that his clumsily executed proposal had not created any constraint between them, but he had no wish to waste his precious time with her talking about her annoying brother, so he said, “How did Louis take the news of his elevation in rank?”
“Well, I did not mention the baronetcy to him. Jessica and I decided that it would distress him too greatly if it all falls through. I told him only that it seems likely that his father was actually Felix Harbottle, which makes him a Harbottle too. He is delighted to discover that Jessica is his aunt. Furthermore, he finds it wildly exciting that his father was pretending to be someone else, and has decided that he was probably on some secret mission for the government. He will work it out soon enough about the title, or one of the servants will let it slip, but he understands it may be hard to prove, now that Jude is dead. But not impossible, I hope?”
He shook his head. “Not impossible, no, but it will need a great deal more evidence than we have so far. I cannot believe that Felix was so lost to all that he owed his family as not to make some provision for this eventuality. He read the newspapers, I assume, so he would have known that the last brother standing between him and the baronetcy had died. He must have realised that he was the heir, and that he would have to show himself eventually, when William died.”
“But he died before Sir William. He did not know the time or place of his own death,” she said.
“None of us do,” Nathan said. “That is why we write wills, to ensure a tidy transition. There was nothing untoward in his will, presumably?”
“Nothing. He left everything to Louis, apart from a few small bequests to his fellows on the Minerva, most of whom are also dead.”
“And there was nothing odd amongst his effects? No letters, papers, documents, apart from the letter to Aunt Amelie?”
She shook her head. “I did not look very thoroughly, however.”
“I shall have to go and check. There may be a false bottom or a hidden drawer or a box under the floorboards with all his papers. There has to be something that connects Felix Harbottle to Jude Caldicott, something that will convince the Master of the Rolls. And then, once that has been proved, I shall also need to prove that Felix had legitimate issue.”
“There is no difficulty there,” she said. “We were married in the parish church at Bishopswood Cromby by Mr George Lumley, an ordained clergyman, in the presence of my father and brother and most of the village. I have my marriage lines to prove it. Louis’ birth was registered in Southampton.”
“Nevertheless, I shall have to go to these places and check the registers. There is Felix’s change of name, too. We must hope that was executed in some official manner. Nell, it is an imposition, I know, and I have no right to ask it of you, but this will be a great deal easier to accomplish if you are with me. I have no authority to investigate Jude or your marriage or Louis’ birth, and although you can write me letters authorising me to act on your behalf, there may still be those who refuse to assist me.”
“You want me to go with you?”
“If you are willing.”
“With Louis?”
“I do not think it would be wise for Louis to be party to our investigations,” he said cautiously. “He is too young to understand it all. However, if we can persuade his uncle to agree to it, I believe he would be perfectly happy to stay here with Jessica.”
He paused, watching her face. It pleased him that she did not immediately say no. Instead, she considered it carefully, thoughtfully, her lovely face serious. Her cheeks were a little plumper these days, he thought, and it suited her. It was always a pleasure to sit and look at her, but the intimacy which had grown between them made the watching all the sweeter. So he watched and waited as she thought it through.
Her head lifted. “Would it be quite proper? The two of us travelling together, I mean… even though we are… cousins by marriage.”
He broke into laughter. “So we are! But I had not intended us to travel alone. I shall find you some fearsomely starchy lady’s maid who will share your room and guard your virtue, and my valet will lock me in at night to forestall any nocturnal wanderings.”
“I am not afraid of what you might do, only of what the world might say. However, the starchy lady’s maid would suffice to protect my reputation, such as it is. If Louis is permitted to stay with Jessica and is happy with that arrangement, then I shall willingly accompany you, but you will appreciate that his welfare must come first.”
His unruly heart surged in delight at the glorious prospect opening up before him — weeks, perhaps, in her enchanting company. What more could any man wish for?
There was just one small difficulty…
“Nell, there is one point in all this that we must consider, no matter how painful. If we are to make our investigations into your husband, there is the possibility that we may discover even more unhappy truths about him. That we may end up a great deal worse than before.”
“It is difficult to believe it could be any worse. Oh, but… you suspect something?” She sat a little straighter on her chair, and set down the tea cup she had been cradling. “This sounds very ominous.”
“I hope I am wrong about this, but it must be considered.”
Nodding, she said, “Very well. I am prepared for the worst. Tell me what you suspect.”
“You are aware, perhaps, that Felix was married when he was very young — only one and twenty.”
“The housemaid. Mrs Drabble told me all about it, that she fell to her death and— Oh.”
Nathan could see her abrupt realisation. Her face paled.
“She said…” She stopped, caught her breath, ploughed on. “She said there was some suspicion that she had not died, that he had simply got tired of her and… Oh God! Perhaps she is still alive? Perhaps she has a son? A legal son, and Louis is—” Her breath grew ragged and she covered her hand with her mouth, eyes closed.
“That is what we must find out, with some urgency,” he said, in his gentlest tones.
She jumped to her feet, and paced across the room and back. “No, I cannot believe it! Jude would never have married bigamously, no. He would not have done such a thing, not to me. He loved me, Nathan, he did!”
“I am very sure of it. But if we are right about this, then something drove Felix to abandon his real name and leave his past behind so thoroughly that no one could find him. Who was he hiding from? Could it have been his wife?”
“I cannot believe it,” she said stubbornly.
“Then who are all those payments to, Nell? Eight hundred pounds a year, for more than twenty years… enough to support a wife, surely.”
“‘EP’,” she whispered. “Was that the housemaid’s name?”
“Her name was Eliza,” he said. “His wife’s name was Eliza.”
23: A Journey South
Nathan spent one more night at Percharden House, working subtly but steadily towards eroding Godney’s plans for Louis. After a second night of good food, good wine and gentle persuasion, Godney had been brought to concede, albeit rather ungraciously, that the home of the widow of a baronet was a perfectly proper place for Louis to stay, whether or not she turned out to be his aunt. Louis himself was happy for his mother to leave him there for a while with the besotted Jessica. No child ever minded being spoilt, and besides, Louis was clever enough to have worked out that the Percharden House library was now his library, and all the books therein, and was determined to read every last one of them.
Reluctantly, Nathan returned to York to plan the journey south. It would be more complicated with Nell, but vastly more pleasurable. When he arrived home, there was such a great deal for him to tell Meg and the two Macs that the discussion of it carried them through dinner and the whole evening. Even that was not enough for Meg, who came through to his room to continue the conversation. After a while, her chatter slowed.
“So, brother, are you going to tell me the parts you have left out?”
“What makes you think there is anything left out?”
“Because you are as miserable as a ten-hour sermon, that is why, and considering you will be spending weeks on the road with your beloved, you should be in alt.”
He was sitting on the window seat, his long legs stretched out before him, but it was not a question that could be answered in so casual a pose. He swivelled round to face her.
“I offered for her, Meg.”
“Ohhhh… finally! But she rejected you.”
“No.”
“She… accepted you?”
“No. We were interrupted, but it is immaterial now. I offered for her as a way to keep her miserable brother away from Louis, and now that the boy is a baronet, there is no need for such protection.” He leaned forward, elbows on knees, and looked studiedly at his feet. “I had her in my hands, Meg. She was considering it, and she would have done it, too, for Louis’ sake.”
“So… your offer was merely the unselfish gesture of a friend? Is that what you are trying to convince yourself?”
He shook his head with a rueful smile. “No. I have finally seen the truth in my own heart. My offer was made on impulse, but at that instant, as I spoke the words, I understood at last how much she means to me. I know she does not love me, and perhaps she never will, but I would have made her happy. We would have had years and years for me to make her happy, and give her the wonderful life she deserves and that her husband failed to give her. And now I have to smile and pretend it makes no difference and inside I am hurting. It hurts so much. I want her so much. I hate being a gentleman, Meg. I hate it. Having to be restrained and polite and… and not touch her. I cannot bear the thought of never touching her again.” He took a ragged breath. “Forgive me. I should not burden you with things you cannot understand.”
“Oh but I can,” she said in a low voice. “I understand better than you know.”
“Harry?”
“Harry. But I have too much pride to let him see how much he affects me. You will survive this, just as I do, by taking each day as it comes. And I bring you good news, brother. You want a starchy maid to accompany Nell, and you shall have one. You may take Carlotta.”
“Your own maid? But how will you manage?”
“I cannot, of course, so I shall have to come with you.” She gurgled with merriment. “This will be so much fun!”
~~~~~
Nell had travelled but little in her life. Childhood visits to relations, meaning dreary hours confined in the old travelling coach with Nurse. The journey to London, her senses assaulted with every new sight and sound and smell, and feeling sick with excitement. The short journey from the church to Southampton with Jude, delirious with happiness. And finally, her strange flight to Yorkshire, bewildered and grieving. She had never yet travelled with two good friends, who beguiled every mile with diversion of one sort or another. At least, Meg beguiled every mile. Nathan started the day cheerful, then fell into silence, fingers tapping his knee impatiently, until the first change of horses was accomplished, repeating the pattern as the hours passed.
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br /> “He becomes fretful when he travels, in case of mishap,” Meg said. “Take no notice of him, for there is nothing to be done to relieve his anxiety. He will be better once we arrive.”
It was Meg, therefore, who maintained a stream of anecdotes and observations, and cajoled Nell out of her gloom.
She was undeniably gloomy. For the first time in eight years, there was no Louis at her side, sitting next to her at table, his hand firmly in hers when they walked, or leaning against her when they sat together. Sometimes when she walked, her hand stretched out to reach for him, only to remember with a pang of sorrow that he was far away. It had hurt that he was so excited to stay with Aunt Jessica and Grandmama, but then he had never before had relations who wanted him and loved him and smiled whenever he entered a room. His father sometimes, when he was at home, but mostly it had been just Nell, and a child needed more than his mother. He needed a whole family of relations.
There was another cause for her gloom, too, because Nathan had asked her to marry him. It was only because of Louis, she knew that, and it had been couched in practical terms and not at all romantic, but still, she had seen the light in his eyes, and could recognise the eagerness in his voice, in the way he leaned forward as he spoke. His motives were not entirely altruistic.
Marriage… she shivered even at the thought of it. For Louis’ sake, perhaps, she might have considered it, but for herself? She never wanted another husband, never! She had lived the last few years in darkness, and now that she was finally catching glimpses of sunshine, there was nothing on earth that could make her surrender it again. Besides, would she really want to marry Nathan, knowing that she would always be second best? He would never forget his first love, just as Nell would never forget Jude, even though neither love had brought lasting happiness.
And yet, when he looked at her with such admiration in his eyes, her resolve weakened. To be loved, as she once had been, to be cherished again would be so glorious. Then there was his wealth. It should not matter, she scolded herself, but inside she yearned to be rich again, to buy a new gown whenever she wanted one, and have a carriage at her disposal. One could live without much money, but life was a great deal more pleasant when one had more of it.
The Widow (Silver Linings Mysteries Book 1) Page 23
