Father and son looked at one another in silence for a moment, then Walter shrugged his shoulders and said in a neutral tone, ‘I’m sorry, sir. I wasn’t aware I was misbehaving.’ He turned to Katharine with a smile. ‘Have I been rude, Cousin Kate? You must forgive me—I’ve been hearing all about Herriards from my sister and mother. They are full of plans for improvements to the house—though for my part I think it is perfect as it is. You will be sad indeed to leave it, I think.’
‘Yes, I am,’ said Katharine. ‘I have lived here all my life. Anywhere else will seem strange at first.’
Catherine Payne turned at this. ‘All your life? All the time?’ Katharine nodded. ‘But you must have been to London!’
‘No, I’ve never been away from Herriards.’
Aunt Ellen’s voice was heavy with disapproval as she asked, ‘Do you mean to say that your grandfather made no arrangements for you to be introduced to Society? I am astonished.’
‘I believe he had it in mind just before he was taken ill for the first time. There never seemed to be an opportunity after that.’ Katharine spoke stiffly, resenting this criticism of her beloved grandfather.
‘He should have made one! For look at the fix you are in now! At eighteen, as Miss Payne of Herriards, I daresay you might have made a very good sort of match. But at—what are you? Twenty-three?’
‘Twenty-one, ma’am.’
‘Really? Only twenty-one? I am surprised. But now that you are older, and Miss Payne of nowhere in particular, it will be much more difficult to find a suitable husband. I hope you will not look to me for help in the matter. It would be most inconvenient. We intend to launch Catherine this next year, and I shall need all my energies for that enterprise. Indeed, we hope for great things for her, don’t we, my precious? I flatter myself that London will not often have seen such beauty as hers. There will be a great deal of expense, of course.’
Catherine Payne patted her blonde curls complacently. ‘When Papa told us of your brother’s death and that Herriards was consequently ours, we made such plans! Next year we are to take a house in London for the season, and I shall have a whole new wardrobe for my presentation! You cannot imagine how much I look forward to it—’
She jumped as her father’s fist crashed on the table, and the storm finally broke.
‘Hold your tongue! You don’t know what you’re talking about, miss! You none of you know what you’re talking about!’
Catherine gazed at her father in hurt amazement. Then her eyes filled with tears and she turned to her mama. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked pathetically. ‘What have I said? Why is Papa so cross? He promised we should go to London, didn’t he? He promised!’
Mrs Payne said majestically, ‘You are not to worry, Catherine. Your papa has guaranteed that you will be presented next year, and I shall see that he keeps his word, never fear.’ She turned her attention to her husband. ‘What is wrong, my love?’
Ignoring his wife, Henry Payne scowled at Katharine. ‘Did it amuse you?’ he asked heavily.
‘What, Uncle?’
He got up and stood at the end of the table, glaring down at her. ‘Don’t pretend innocence with me, young lady! You allowed my poor wife to plan such changes here, you listened with a straight face while my poor little daughter talked of her dreams for her début, and all the time you knew that there wasn’t the money to do half of it! How you must have been laughing!’
‘What?’ cried Mrs Payne. ‘What are you saying, Henry?’
Henry Payne’s outburst took Katharine’s breath away for a moment. Then she said firmly, ‘Sir, you are very mistaken. I knew of the situation, of course I did, but it was surely hardly my place to tell you of the terms of your inheritance. In fact, when I did make an attempt to say something at dinner last night, you forbade me to talk of it. But I assure you, I have never laughed at any of it. I don’t believe I have felt like laughing since I heard that my brother had died and that I had…I had lost both him and my home.’ Unable to continue, she got up and walked away to the windows. The gardens and terraces were bathed in the soft light of the dying sun. Herriards had never looked more beautiful. She told herself that she would survive this nightmare, she must. But she must get away from these people as soon as she could.
‘Mr Payne, you will tell us, if you please, what you mean by all this!’ said Mrs Payne. ‘I insist! What is this talk of money?’
‘Yes! Please tell us, Papa! Please!’ Catherine’s blue eyes once again filled with tears. ‘Doesn’t this place belong to us after all?’
‘Herriards and the lands that belong to it are mine. The income from them is mine. But the lawyers here now tell me that the real wealth belonged to another branch of the family altogether. The Framptons. This girl’s great-grandmother was an heiress, and her money, Frampton money, lies outside the entail. They say it has nothing to do with Herriards. It is all in a trust for your cousin here.’
‘For Kate!’ Aunt Ellen stared at Katharine in astonishment. ‘What could she possibly want with it? No, I don’t believe it—the lawyers must have made a mistake! You must question them further, Henry.’
‘I’m afraid there’s no mistake. My grandfather was free to leave the Frampton-Payne fortune where he wished,’ said Katharine stonily, turning round again to face them.
Shock kept Aunt Ellen silent for almost a minute. Then she said blankly, ‘So what are we to live on?’
Walter, who had been sitting very still throughout these exchanges, gave his father a significant glance as he got up and joined Katharine at the window. ‘We must seem to you to be very mercenary,’ he said. ‘My father’s words have obviously distressed you. But we have all had a great shock. Can you forgive us? I should imagine Herriards provides more than enough to live on, surely?’
‘But not in style!’ said his mother. ‘Not the way we intended.’
Casting a glance at Katharine’s set expression, Walter frowned at his mother and said, ‘I am sure the situation is not as hopeless as it seems, Mama. We shall have to see what can be done. Meanwhile, I think my cousin has had enough of this conversation. She is looking very pale. Would you care to show me something of the garden, Kate?’ He put Katharine’s arm through his and led her firmly from the room, ignoring the rest of his family. Katharine, too weary to object, went with him without protest.
Chapter Three
The next day Katharine was furious to find when she went round to the stables that her Uncle Henry had already taken the phaeton out. She was forced to change her plans and, instead of driving to Basingstoke to consult her guardians, she decided to walk to Herriard Stoke to visit Tilly. The time would not be wasted. It would be useful to talk matters over with a friend before tackling Sir James and the General.
Tilly was delighted to see her, and ushered her through to the garden without ceremony. The cottage had been kept in good order during her absence and the little garden at the back was full of scent and colour. The two ladies sat under an apple tree and made themselves comfortable.
‘Now, Katharine, you can tell me what is troubling you.’
She gave Tilly an account of the previous evening’s discussion and ended by saying, ‘One thing is certain. I could never live with my uncle and his family. I must see my guardians. I must get away.’
Tilly had never been one to beat about the bush. ‘You haven’t anywhere to go,’ she said.
‘Couldn’t I stay here with you?’
Tilly smiled. ‘There’s nothing I would like better, but there really isn’t room, my dear. Besides, your guardians would never hear of it.’
‘I shall see them tomorrow! They must agree, they must! I refuse to stay with the Paynes!’
Katharine got up and walked around the garden. Miss Tillyard watched her with a worried frown. She said, ‘If I were you I should wait a little before approaching General Armitage and Sir James. They will be more prepared to listen if you can speak calmly to them, show them that you are not being unreasonable. They must be persuade
d that you have given living with your uncle a chance.’
‘Tilly, what I fear most is that they would never be prepared to listen objectively. They are tired old men, and they have no notion of what they would do with me if I didn’t stay with my uncle! What on earth my grandfather was thinking of to saddle me with such guardians I do not know!’
Though she privately agreed, Tilly did not say so. Instead she said persuasively, ‘It is very early days yet. You haven’t seen the Payne family at its best. People sometimes behave uncharacteristically when they have suffered a great disappointment. If Mr Payne had assumed that your grandfather’s fortune, as well as Herriards, would be at his disposal, it would come as a great shock to them all to discover that this was not the case.’
‘They have Herriards!’ cried Katharine in tones of anguish. ‘Why do they need any more?’
‘Not everyone thinks of Herriards as you do. And you must stop thinking so much of it, my love. It is no longer your business. You must put it out of your mind and concentrate instead on what you are going to do with your own life. What can’t be cured—’
‘Must be endured. I know. And this is beyond curing.’ There was a pause, then in a determinedly cheerful tone Katharine said, ‘You’re right, as usual, Tilly dear. It would be better to wait. I’ll try to be patient. It’s true that I can’t do anything without my guardians’ consent—my allowance is ridiculously small.’
‘You should have had it increased when your grandfather died.’
‘I know, I know! But while Tom was there, I had his authority to draw on funds from the estate, and I used them. I never thought—’ Katharine stopped and swallowed. After a pause she went on, ‘I was lazy, I suppose. I should have looked into it a long time ago.’ She paused. ‘Those old men still think of me as a child. And, worse still, a female child! It would be so much better if I had a man I could trust to represent me, someone they would respect…’
‘What about your brother’s friend, the one who wrote to you?’
‘Lord Calthorpe?’
‘Yes. He offered his help and it sounded as if he meant it. Why don’t you write to him again? I should think he is exactly the sort of person the General and Sir James would listen to.’
‘I think I will,’ Katharine said slowly. ‘You’re right. Lord Calthorpe sounded like a man one could trust. I wonder if he is still in England? Tilly, you’re a genius!
I’ll write to Lord Calthorpe tonight! And this time I shall ask him to come and see me.’
Katharine was reminded of Tilly’s words when she came downstairs the next morning. Uncle Henry seemed to have recovered from his displeasure of the previous day, and greeted her with a benign smile. He led her personally into the breakfast room, where her aunt was sitting. Neither Walter nor Catherine had yet appeared.
‘My dear Kate,’ her aunt said as she sat down, ‘my dear Kate, what must you be thinking of us? I’m afraid we have not behaved as we ought. You will forgive us, won’t you?’
‘Of course,’ Katharine murmured uncomfortably.
Her uncle cleared his throat and added, ‘I hope you will overlook what I may have said last night, my dear. I’d had a hard day, d’y’ see?’ He gave her a look. ‘You didn’t take me seriously, I hope?’ Katharine shook her head wordlessly, and he laughed and went on, ‘Of course you didn’t! I told Walter so. Kate’s too sensible a girl, I told him, to be upset by a few hasty words. He was quite concerned about you.’
‘The dear boy,’ said Mrs Payne fondly. ‘It has been very hard for us this past month, Kate. My health is not good, and when I am tired I, too, sometimes make mistakes. I dare say you thought me a little harsh and unfeeling when I arrived. It was all so confusing… But believe me, your rooms are yours for as long as you want them. I would not dream of turning you out of them.’
‘You are very kind, ma’am,’ said Katharine. ‘But I intend to consult my guardians about my future. Miss Tillyard and I have considered setting up house together.’
‘You want to live with a governess!’ exclaimed her uncle.
‘As I said when you first arrived, Uncle, Miss Tillyard is a friend.’
‘Oh, she may well be a very good sort of creature, but she is not exactly suitable company for a young lady of fortune! I don’t imagine for one moment that your trustees would agree to such a plan.’
Aunt Ellen cried, ‘No, indeed! It is an absurd idea!’
‘I do not think so, ma’am,’ said Katharine.
‘Child, you do not realise what it would mean. Social ostracism! No, no, you would do much better to live with us, your family. It is only right!’
‘Thank you, but I will see my guardians first, ma’am,’ said Katharine firmly.
‘Oh, don’t be so obstinate, girl!’ snapped Aunt Ellen, forgetting herself.
Giving his wife a warning look, Uncle Henry said gently, ‘My love, discussing business with older gentlemen is no occupation for a young lady. I think you should leave it to me to deal with them.’
‘No!’ exclaimed Katharine. She made herself speak more calmly. ‘Thank you, Uncle, but your intervention is not necessary. My guardians are elderly, but I have known them all my life.’ Then, taking some liberty with the facts, she went on, ‘In any case, I already have someone to act for me if it should be required.’
‘Oh? Who is that?’
‘A…a very good friend of Tom’s. Lord Calthorpe. I have already written to him.’ She did not say that the letter had not yet been despatched. It was at present in the hall, waiting to be taken to the receiving office in Basingstoke.
Her uncle eyed her thoughtfully. He said, ‘Well, it all seems very odd. Your guardians received me very kindly yesterday.’
‘Indeed, they seemed inclined to regard your uncle’s plans with favour,’ added Aunt Ellen with a satisfied smile.
Katharine felt a surge of anger but asked evenly, ‘What plans are those, sir?’
‘As your aunt said—that you should remain in our care for the foreseeable future. After that…well, we shall see, we shall see.’
Katharine rose. ‘Your thought for me does you credit, Uncle Henry, but it is somewhat premature. I should prefer to settle my future for myself, directly with Sir James and General Armitage. By the way, exactly when did you see them?’
‘Yesterday, my dear. I thought it only right to make myself known to them. And I took Walter along with me. We had a very pleasant half-hour with both Sir James and the General.’
‘Since it was such a large party, I am surprised that you did not think to invite me to go with you, sir. Any discussions with my guardians surely concern me more directly than they do your son.’
‘There you go again, Kate! When will you realise that it really isn’t proper for a young lady to be so independent? You are no longer alone in the world. Your aunt and I are here to look after your interests.’
‘Do you not rather mean “my fortune”, Uncle Henry? Forgive me, but it seems to me that your concern for my safety is so much greater since you discovered the truth about the Herriard estate.’
Henry Payne smiled blandly. ‘You’re right, of course. But what is wrong in that? You are a considerable heiress, Kate. Would you rather you were left to the mercy of a selfish and self-seeking world? I think not.’
Aunt Ellen took one of Katharine’s hands in hers. ‘Our only concern, Kate, is to protect your interests. Poor child, you have no one else to look after you.’
‘Indeed, ma’am, you underestimate me,’ Katharine said, removing her hand. ‘I have looked after myself, and this estate, for years. I need no protectors. And I wish most of all to make my own decisions about my future.’
Uncle Henry shook his head. ‘Sir James said that you were wilful, that you had had your own way for far too long, and I can now see that he is right. But I fancy he will soon bring you round to our way of thinking. By all means see him, if you wish. It will make little difference.’
Katharine felt a shiver of apprehension. She said desperate
ly, ‘Sir James’s notions are somewhat old-fashioned. But he has always been fond of me. I cannot believe he would force me to do anything which would make me unhappy. I must see him today. And I’ll talk to General Armitage, too. Excuse me.’
Katharine ordered the phaeton and set off for Basingstoke as soon as she had changed her dress. Delay had already cost her the initiative. She would not wait another minute before talking to her guardians herself. She would not let them ignore her. To remain with the Paynes was impossible, and she must make them see it.
In Basingstoke she had difficulty at first in seeing Sir James—his manservant said that his master was distinctly unwell, and unwilling to receive visitors. But Katharine knew her guardian of old. When faced with a problem of any kind, Sir James took refuge in illness. She insisted on being seen.
‘I don’t know why you have to disturb me, Katharine. You always were a headstrong child. What is it?’ said Sir James testily.
Katharine explained her plan to leave Herriards and live somewhere else with Miss Tillyard as a companion.
‘Why on earth do you want to do such a foolish thing?’
‘I…I do not think that my uncle and I will deal very happily together,’ said Katharine uncomfortably.
‘What nonsense! Mr Payne seems an excellent fellow! And that son of his is as agreeable a young man as I’ve met in a long time!’
‘Please believe me, sir! My uncle and I will never agree. Indeed, I refuse to stay at Herriards with them!’
‘Refuse? Refuse? What do you mean, miss? Of course you won’t refuse!’
‘But I—’
‘Don’t say another word, Katharine! The trouble with you is that you’ve been allowed to go your own way for too long! I always thought you had too much say in the running of Herriards. That ain’t work for a female. And now it has gone to your head.’
Katharine was incensed at the injustice of this remark. ‘Taking charge of Herriards was not by my choice, sir. When my grandfather was ill and Tom was away there was no one else to do it!’ she said hotly. Sir James glared at her, and she forced herself to speak more reasonably. ‘But you are quite right. I am bound to feel injured when my uncle takes over the estate I thought would be…would be Tom’s. So surely it would be wiser to let me go elsewhere?’
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