Rosalind was gaining confidence within her household. She had been quick to learn the requirements of the running of such a large house helped by efficient staff who were grateful that they were no longer living in fear of losing their livelihoods. She also realised that the house needed some changes and sooner rather than later. She raised the subject with Peter when they were alone after the evening meal. Annie had joined them but soon went to bed when the meal was finished as she tired easily.
“Peter, have you any objections if I start to make a few alterations about the house?” Rosalind asked tentatively. The quiet of the evening was always the time that she felt most like an interloper.
“I don’t have any objections,” Peter responded, putting down the book that he was reading. “I mentioned before that the house has been sadly neglected; I’m surprised you have been able to live with it as it is for so long.”
“It did not feel right to move in and immediately create upheaval,” Rosalind said; she did not add that she felt more confident in her own abilities about tackling such a task.
Peter smiled slightly, “Is there going to be major upheaval then?”
“Not all at once,” Rosalind admitted, “But I would like to start by removing some of the furniture; each room seems to have an excess of pieces.”
Peter looked around the room they were sitting in. “It has always been cluttered,” he admitted. “I took furniture to furnish the farmhouse when I left home, and it did not make the slightest bit of difference to how it looked.”
“Did you bring the furniture back with you?” Rosalind asked.
“No, I sold it with the property; I wanted to bring in as much money as I could,” Peter admitted. “What I hadn’t taken into account was that Robert was just as foolish with money as father was, so ultimately it didn’t matter.”
“It must have been frustrating for you,” Rosalind said. She admitted to herself that she was heartened the few times that Peter had confided in her. Unfortunately they were few and far between; most of the time it felt as if they were polite acquaintances.
“It was,” Peter acknowledged. “In some ways Robert was worse than father; he knew exactly what state we were in financially. I expect father hadn’t grasped the full extent of the situation: that or he could have just ignored it. I don’t suppose we will ever know for certain. Robert knew though; we went over it fine detail every month; I insisted on it.”
“I don’t suppose it matters one way or another now; things are stable and, with you at the helm, finances won’t ever be in that position again.” Rosalind acknowledged that Peter was sensible and hardworking, something many of his peers and family did not seem to be.
“Yes, thanks to you, the future is secure, especially for Annie,” Peter said quietly. Very early in their arrangement Rosalind had insisted that Peter work with his solicitor to draw up plans for the house and staff to be in place until Annie died. She had been concerned that Annie might outlive them both and would be at the mercy of people who would take advantage of her. It was yet another time that Peter had felt a little overwhelmed by how his wife was accepting of her situation and with very little return for herself.
“Well, that doesn’t matter now; I just need to know if there are any priceless pieces that I should not get rid of,” Rosalind dismissed the compliment.
“No, do as you wish,” Peter replied.
Over the following days Rosalind worked hard with the housekeeper and under housekeeper. They went through every room, identifying furniture that was not needed and footmen removed the items. She had every intention of redecorating, but there was little point while it was so overcrowded.
Lady Joan was the first guest to openly admit to noticing any change. “Are you having a reorganisation, Your Grace? There seems to be a lot less furniture about the place.” She never left out the title that Rosalind held, but it was always said with derision.
“There is,” Rosalind admitted. “I thought it best to sort the furniture before starting on any redecoration programme.”
Mrs Adams was announced, making Lady Joan scowl even further. Rosalind was sure the woman watched for Lady Joan’s arrival; she always seemed to arrive during the visit.
“I thought that the money you brought to your marriage might not be quite so available if you were reduced to selling the furniture,” Lady Joan continued, unable to stop the inappropriate cutting remarks, even in Mrs Adams’ presence.
“Oh, I am going to sell anything I deem to be spare, but it is not down to lack of funds; more that people in trade will pay over the odds for furniture from a home such as this,” Rosalind responded with a dismissive wave of the hand. She was thankful to realise that Mrs Adams was taking her actions and tone in the spirit they were being given when she received an appreciative smile from the elderly woman.
“They may wish to own a piece of the aristocracy, but they would never truly be one,” Lady Joan said with disdain.
Rosalind knew the dig was at her but ignored it. “If they pay top price, the benefit is ours; beyond that I do not care. It is purely a business transaction.”
“I see a few months away from your upbringing has not changed you in the slightest; I suppose it is only to be expected,” the condescending response came.
“I for one am glad for it!” Mrs Adams said. “I can’t be bothered with those who think they are something special, but forget the past. Fortunately, some of us don’t, eh Joan? Some have very long memories and will never forget the past misdemeanours of others.”
“I do not know what you mean!” Lady Joan said, immediately rising. “I shall inform my father of our meeting today, Mrs Adams. I am sure he will have something to say on the matter!” The indignant young lady took her leave.
Miss Latimer hesitated before following. She turned to Mrs Adams, “You really shouldn’t tease her; she gets very upset,” the quiet woman said firmly.
“If she wasn’t so obnoxious I wouldn’t,” Mrs Adams admitted.
“You didn’t see how it all affected her; she deserves your sympathy,” Miss Latimer insisted.
“Ha! You’ve lost me at that point, child! She deserves sympathy? No. She was a fool who gambled and lost!”
Miss Latimer turned to Rosalind, “I’m sorry, Your Grace. Lady Joan does not mean half of what she says.”
Before Rosalind replied, Miss Latimer curtsied and left the room. Rosalind turned to Mrs Adams, “What on earth was all that about? I’ve never heard Miss Latimer speak so much, let alone take you to task; she’s a braver woman than I am!”
Mrs Adams laughed, “Frances is a good girl but misguided in her choice of friend. She would be better out of Joan’s grip. I don’t know why she stays loyal to her.”
“You believe that Lady Joan has done a wrong in her past? She is obviously going to inform her father about what you’ve said,” Rosalind said.
“Pah! The day that that nincompoop frightens me is the day that they carry me off to the asylum! I was the oldest of our peer group by quite a few years. Don’t worry; I know exactly how to keep Lord Kettering in his place!”
“If you are sure, who am I to worry?” Rosalind asked with a smile.
“Good girl!” Mrs Adams said with approval. “Now tell me about these works you are planning.”
Rosalind told Mrs Adams of her plans, her demeanour giving away the excitement she felt at the prospect of improving the house. Mrs Adams nodded in agreement as Rosalind chatted.
“Well I wish you well,” Mrs Adams said when Rosalind had finished. “It’s about time this place turned back into a home instead of a museum. I never understood Marianne marrying Philip; she didn’t seem to want a title particularly, but she was attracted to him for some reason that was always beyond my comprehension. She did make this building into a home though; it was a pleasure to visit while she lived, although things changed when Annie was born. There was always a strain between the two of them; Marianne was heartbroken the way Philip reacted towards Annie. Once Marianne
died, Philip just did as he pleased, and the result was excess and near bankruptcy.”
Rosalind almost snorted when Mrs Adams mentioned the house becoming a home. There needed to be a real, loving family to make it a home, and all that had happened in recent months was that she had left one strange family for another.
*
The day of Annabelle’s arrival saw Rosalind going to the door every half hour to see if the carriage had arrived. Annie was waiting with her and was excited and apprehensive at the same time.
Finally, the carriage was heard and Annabelle was led into the drawing room. “Miss Annabelle Johnson,” Mr Bryant, the butler announced unnecessarily.
Rosalind almost ran to her sister and enveloped her in an embrace. Rosalind knew she had missed her sisters but not how much until she saw Annabelle’s smiling face. Annabelle laughed at Rosalind’s actions but enjoyed being encircled by her sister.
“Oh, I have missed you!” Rosalind exclaimed.
“And I you,” Annabelle replied. “I never appreciated how much you did for us until you left. Now the others look to me to be mother, and I am a poor second.”
Rosalind groaned, “Things are no better then?”
“No, mother is still mother, and father, well he’s hardly there these days,” Annabelle said with a grimace. “I need to tell you why, but it can wait until later.”
“Well, never mind that; you are here now,” Rosalind said, becoming aware that she had not included Annie in the conversation. “Annabelle, I would like to introduce you to my new sister, Annie.” Rosalind smiled at Annie, which seemed to give her permission to move forward. Whether it was Annie’s way of greeting people or as a response to Rosalind’s greeting, Annabelle was wrapped in a gripping embrace, the way Rosalind had been.
Annabelle laughed and returned the girl’s embrace. “Hello, Annie; I’m very pleased to meet you.”
“Rosalind said that you are going to go to lots of parties to find a husband,” Annie said releasing Annabelle.
“I hope so,” Annabelle replied easily.
“I would like to learn how to dance, but I’m too clumsy,” Annie said wistfully.
“We could teach you how to dance, couldn’t we Rosalind?” Annabelle asked.
“Yes, but let’s have some refreshments before we start to plan any of your mad schemes, Annabelle,” Rosalind said, carefully deflecting Annie from wanting to dance immediately.
The group sat down while Rosalind distributed tea and Annie handed round cakes. “So, how are Grace and Eleanor?”
“They, like me, have missed you a great deal,” Annabelle said. “But they are both fine. Grace still spends most of her time in the garden, and Eleanor has a new friend who she met at the finishing school we have all had to endure. She is on a visit to Bath with her family; apparently the young lady could not be parted from Eleanor. Grace and Eleanor both send their love. I was convinced that I would find them hidden somewhere in the carriage. The house is not the same without you.” The last words were said seriously.
Rosalind leaned over and squeezed her sister’s hand. “You are here now, and if you fall in love with the first man you meet, I can send for Grace immediately,” Rosalind said, trying to lighten the mood. She wished she could change things for them, but unfortunately she could not.
Annabelle laughed, “I shall try my best!”
The chatter was interrupted by Peter’s entrance. Annabelle stood and curtsied at the introduction and, after bowing and welcoming her to Sudworth Hall, Peter sat and accepted tea from Rosalind.
Peter watched the two young women before him. Rosalind was darker than her sister, Annabelle, who had deep chestnut colouring rather than the black of Rosalind’s hair. Annabelle was prettier than Rosalind, but his wife was not plain in the slightest. He thought her beautiful but, more than that, she had elegance and poise. He had already thought many times that she already looked every bit the Duchess, but Annabelle’s presence seemed to emphasis it more. Annabelle was more fidgety and laughed easily and loudly; she seemed almost ready to jump up and fly off somewhere whereas Rosalind seemed calmer and more refined than her sister.
He could see that Annie was fascinated by the new arrival. Annabelle did include Annie in all her conversation, which Peter appreciated. It also meant that Annie had relaxed very quickly around the visitor, something that she did not usually do. Peter was humbled once more; the family that most of the ton would look down on had done his own family more good than the last few generations of the ‘pure bloods’.
*
Annabelle joined Rosalind in her bedchamber that evening. She had asked if she would be intruding when she entered, and Rosalind had had to mention some parts of her marriage, which she would have rather not. It embarrassed her.
“I suppose being strangers makes it easier,” Annabelle said, pondering the news that Rosalind and Peter were not living as man and wife. “It’s not how I would wish to live my life if I had a choice though.”
“I hope not!” Rosalind said with feeling. Her maternal streak was very strong where all her sisters were concerned. “I want the three of you to marry men you love and then at least this farce will not have been in vain!”
“It is a huge sacrifice on your part,” Annabelle said, her tone serious. She would hate to be forced to do what Rosalind had been required to do, but in some ways her own situation was worse. It kept her awake at nights; rather that than the nightmares that disturbed her when she did close her eyes. She was trying to be her normal self in front of Rosalind because for once she could not confide in her sister.
Rosalind paused before speaking. “I hated the situation from the start, but it could have been much worse. Peter is a kind man; he cares about his sister and I think about me in some way. Oh, it’s not all happy and carefree; far from it, but does it make sense to say that I think I have been lucky with the man I am married to? It is not the marriage that I wanted, but I can be comfortable enough here.”
“Comfortable does not sound a good enough recommendation for a marriage, Rosalind,” Annabelle said gently. It was true that since Rosalind had left she had realised just what her eldest sister had provided over the years. In many ways she had been mother, father, governess and friend to the three younger girls. They had been like a rudderless boat over the last weeks and, although Annabelle had suffered some remorse at leaving Grace to fend for herself, she had been desperate to be back in the care of Rosalind. Unable to confide she may be, but just being in Rosalind’s presence, soothed her a little. After seeing Rosalind’s position, it seemed as if her sister was still sacrificing her life to improve that of her younger sisters, and it seemed so unfair.
“Well as long as you settle only for a man who will truly love you, my heart will be content,” Rosalind replied firmly.
“That may not be possible,” Annabelle said seriously; she could tell Rosalind some of what had been happening at home, and this was her opportunity.
It was so unusual for Annabelle to be serious that Rosalind was immediately wary. “Why? What has happened?” she asked.
“I mentioned earlier that father had been spending a lot of time at work; well a few weeks ago we found out why.”
“Go on,” Rosalind encouraged.
“It appears that a Mr Wadeson has convinced father that he is the person to take over the business when father deems it time to step down,” Annabelle stated. “It didn’t mean much to us; we had become used to hearing about Mr Wadeson whenever father was in the vicinity but did not pay it much heed.”
“What changed?”
“Eleanor was away for the weekend, meeting her friend’s family before they left for Bath, so there was only Grace and myself present, but Mr Wadeson was presented by father and amongst his introduction, with us both standing before him, he offered the choice of either of us if Mr Wadeson so wished!”
“What?” Rosalind asked astounded. “Is Mr Wadeson titled?”
“No,” Annabelle replied.
“W
hat on earth can father be thinking? What has changed his mind from wishing us all to have a title?” This was a complete turn-around by her father, and Rosalind could not believe that he had even mentioned such a scheme. He had seemed determined to secure titles for them all.
“The wish for us to become titled was the only thing that saved us, that and he hadn’t seen Eleanor. Mr Wadeson said that he wished to make his choice only when he had seen the three of us,” Annabelle said in disgust, remembering the way the words had been spoken. It was only later that Annabelle had found out what type of man he really was.
“Surely, those aren’t the words of a gentleman?” Rosalind asked, aghast at someone saying such a thing.
“I don’t know where he originates from, Rosalind, and I can’t see what father is so smitten with. To both of us, he was inappropriate, lecherous and too keen on touching us. During the evening, he got a hold of my arm, and his hand started to wander along my skin. It made my skin crawl, and I snatched my arm away. He grabbed me, squeezing me so hard that I bruised. He isn’t a kind man,” Annabelle said, looking a little afraid at the memories, not mentioning the bruises that she could not mention to her sister.
“Oh my goodness!”
“The only way that I managed to get us a respite was that I had the most stupendous tantrum after he had departed. I’m ashamed to say that I used your name ill, demanding why the favoured child had married a title, but that one of us would end up with a mere ‘Mr’. Luckily it must have stirred at father’s original wish, and he actually agreed that we could all visit you and try our luck with the aristocracy, as he put it.”
“Thank goodness for that!” Rosalind said. “I shall be sending him a piece of my mind in the morning; he will receive such a telling off!”
“No, don’t!” Annabelle begged. “If he is antagonised, his likely response will be to marry Grace off to Mr Wadeson and be done with it. I don’t wish to marry him, but Grace would wilt under him. I need to find a suitable husband quickly and then Grace has the opportunity of visiting. Eleanor is safe while she stays in Bath; I have apprised her of the situation so that she won’t return home too soon.”
Rosalind: A Regency Romance (The Four Sisters Series Book 1) Page 6
