She was too young to realise her proper place in life. An older child would never have dared speak to Lady Verity until spoken to.
“I live over there in that cottage.”
The tall, elegant woman tapped her riding crop against her side, impatience flooding through her. Where on earth was that wretched groom with her horse?
“I fell in the moat, but Miss Edie pulled me out!”
“Really.”
Why didn’t someone come and collect this wretched infant?
“Miss Edie lives in a little room in the stables now, but she’s in disguise, she’s really a maid at a big house.”
Lady Verity’s curiosity was piqued. This sounded like a scandal and she was always interested in that.
“A maid in a big house?” she queried with an effort, forcing her voice to be soft and gentle.
She knew nothing about children and although she imagined she would have to provide a husband with one or two some day, she would face that indignity when it arose.
But one thing she did understand was that you caught more flies with honey than vinegar.
The child ignored her and began skipping from one foot to the other through the puddles, oblivious to the muddy water splashing up onto her white apron and Lady Verity’s shining boots.
“Look, I can hop!”
“Yes, my dear, and you do it very well. Millie, what big house does Edie work in?”
“I don’t know. It’s a secret!”
“A secret that she lives in a big house?”
“No, silly! A secret that she’s at the Castle with her Lady instead of at Donnington Hall.”
Verity eyes widened and it was all she could do not to give a gasp of amazement. She pulled a small coin out of the purse she wore at her waist.
“Here, Millie,” she purred. “Here’s a present for a good little girl. And a clever one too, I am sure. Can you tell me who is the Lady that Edie works for?”
Millie took the coin, her eyes shining.
“She lives in the Castle with the Lord. She’s pretending to be a nurse, but she isn’t really. My father and Miss Edie talk about her a lot. She’s hiding. It’s a big secret. She’s Lady – Lady – Roshnnana.”
And with that she skipped away.
Lady Verity stood staring after the little girl, her mind whirling. She had heard all the local gossip from her aunt when she had arrived from London.
Indeed, the whole neighbourhood knew and marvelled about the escapades of Lady Rosanna Donnington. Details of her inheritance, her life in London, her arrival at Donnington Hall, shortly followed by that important socialite Sir Walter Fenwick and his party, was common news.
Everyone had an opinion. It was the talk of the county. Nothing as exciting had happened around here for years.
Her aunt was a great gossip and had whispered that an announcement of a marriage was expected. The prominent ladies of the neighbourhood were already consulting their dressmakers regarding new outfits and happily reading the latest fashion periodicals for hints on hats and gowns.
But then Lady Rosanna had disappeared and it was rumoured that Sir Walter was scouring the countryside, offering a great reward, hunting everywhere for his runaway fiancée.
‘So, that is who has wormed her way into Lord Melton’s heart,’ Verity muttered as the groom appeared at last, leading the two horses.
‘It can only be her. Lady Rosanna Donnington! She was the woman in Lord Melton’s room last night! I saw her, spoke to her. If only I had known. How could she do such a thing? Pretending to be a nurse. Talking and touching a man in his bedroom who is not a relation, alone and unchaperoned! It is madness, it will ruin her – but her insanity will help me achieve my goal.’
With the aid of the groom, she vaulted into the saddle and gathered up the reins.
“Are we heading home, my Lady?” the groom asked as he swung himself onto his horse.
“No, not yet. I wish to ride to Donnington Hall. Straight away and as fast as possible.”
Smiling, she wrenched the horse’s head around and urged him into a trot, saying, “I have great news for Sir Walter Fenwick! I have found his missing bride.”
CHAPTER NINE
Rosanna awoke to the sound of curtains being drawn by a vigorous hand that could only belong to one person.
“Edie, is that you?” she murmured, pushing back the heavily embroidered silk bedclothes and struggling to sit up against the ruffled pillows.
“Yes, my Lady, it’s me in person,” the little red-headed maid replied.
“Lord Melton sent for me late last night and said I was to take up my duties again immediately. I was that pleased.
“Cor, my Lady, I was glad to get out of that stable room, I can tell you. Phew, the smell of them horses gets into your skin, doesn’t it? I’ve made John Barker duck himself under the pump before he comes into the cottage for his evening meal.”
Rosanna smiled at the young girl’s chatter. She had missed her so much.
She gazed round her new bedroom in sheer pleasure. With its pretty cream and pink patterned hangings and delicate lace bedding, it was a vast improvement on the dark little room she had occupied when she was just Nurse Robinson, a humble servant.
Things had happened so fast the evening before.
Rosanna had been on the point of going to bed, sad and miserable because of Lady Verity’s arrival at Melton Castle when Mr. Digby had knocked at her door.
With a smile and a respectful bow that made her switch from nurse to honoured guest effortless, he had told her that Lord Melton had arranged for her to be moved to another bedroom in the Castle, one more suited to her station.
“Thank you, Mr. Digby,” she had said gravely, clutching her dressing robe around her. “I am sorry if I – ”
“Indeed, Lady Rosanna, we all understand your dilemma,” the elderly man responded without a flicker of resentment in his voice.
“It is indeed fortunate that your medical knowledge has helped his Lordship back to full health. At times I feared I would never see that again.”
He had led her to a beautiful bedroom, decorated in pink and cream and gold, the curtains and bed linen all embroidered with the M for Melton.
Even though her new bed was far more comfortable than her old, Rosanna had lain awake for hours, wondering in which room Lady Verity was sleeping.
She chided herself for feeling pleased that Lord Melton had taken the trouble to make her position clear to the staff.
‘He could do no less, once he knew my true identity,’ she murmured into her pillow.
‘He has acted to save my reputation and for that I must be grateful. I just wish I could believe he had other motives for my happiness than plain courtesy.’
Now in the bright light of a new day, Rosanna felt herself to be a little happier.
She had made several resolutions in the dark hours of the previous night.
She would return to Donnington Hall, insist that Sir Walter leave and begin her new life as owner of that great estate.
She would start entering her horses for races, make sure that her tenants were happy and busy and deal with the hundreds of appointments that the owner of a great estate had to undertake in Society.
And she would only allow herself to think about Lord Melton once every day!
“Edie, what shall I wear?” she asked as the maid poured hot water into a deep, rose patterned basin.
“All I have with me is my nurse’s uniform and aprons. I intend to go back to Donnington Hall today, but I do not wish to leave here wearing that grey monstrosity!”
Edie smiled.
“What about your pale blue morning dress, my Lady? The one with the lace trim.”
And with a flourish, she produced the garment from a drawer and laid it over the end of the bed.
Rosanna stared in bewilderment from her to the pretty dress – one of her favourites.
“But how – ?”
Edie giggled, her red curls bouncing under her cap.
�
��Don’t you remember, my Lady? You tore the hem badly one morning when you were walking in the garden at home in London and I said I’d repair it that evening.
“But I clean forgot and when I went to visit me Mum and Dad, I took it with me to do there. Me Mum’s a fair old hand at sewing and I knew she’d make a better job of it than me.”
“So you had it with you – ”
“In me bag all the time when Sir Walter threw me out of Donnington Hall. I pressed it last night and here it is, right as rain and twice as pretty!”
Rosanna jumped out of bed and when she had washed, Edie helped her to dress.
It felt so good to have the soft blue silk against her skin instead of the harsh grey material of the nurse’s uniform.
She wondered why the medical authorities would not make nurses more comfortable in their working clothes.
She realised that they had to be serviceable and no one would suggest nurses should wear pale pink or lemon, but Rosanna was sure it would help them to be even more efficient if they were happy with what they wore.
And being happy would certainly be more beneficial for their patients.
“Edie – ” she began hesitantly, knowing she had to go downstairs and face Lord Melton, “do you know if Lady Verity Blackwood – ?”
“Left the Castle very early this morning, my Lady,” Edie said, her eyes twinkling.
Rosanna felt herself blushing but could not help the rush of happiness that flooded through her veins.
Lady Verity had gone! So perhaps she and Lord Melton – No, she chided herself, you must not think like that. To him you are no more than a neighbour in trouble who has cast herself into his path and is relying on his chivalry.
“She is a very elegant woman, of course,” she said, sitting in front of the gold-framed mirror so Edie could comb and dress her long blonde hair.
Edie said nothing.
“She would make a fine Countess for Melton Castle,” Rosanna said, pushing her words against the wound to see how much it hurt.
Edie sniffed and busied herself dividing the shiny locks in front of her into sections.
“Fancy is as fancy does, my Lady, as me old Mum says.”
Rosanna tried to catch her gaze in the mirror, but Edie studiously avoided her eyes.
She sighed. Edie’s old Mum had a saying for every occasion but they never really helped.
“I expect Lady Verity and Lord Melton spent a very pleasant evening together,” she tried speculatively, knowing that her maid would have all the Castle gossip at her fingertips.
A little smile twitched at Edie’s lips.
“Well, I wouldn’t know, of course, my Lady, but Peter Simkins, the Earl’s valet, did happen to mention over breakfast this morning that Lord Melton retired to his room very shortly after her arrival.”
Rosanna threw caution and discretion to the wind.
“But this morning, I imagine they have breakfasted together?”
Edie thrust two pearl headed pins into the finished hairstyle and stepped back, nodding happily.
“I think so, my Lady, but Lady Verity has now left Melton. I saw her in the stableyard with my own eyes.”
“I must go downstairs,” Rosanna said nervously pushing at the complicated braid Edie had woven from her blonde curls.
“A nice cup of tea will work wonders, my Lady,” Edie suggested.
Rosanna found herself smiling as she walked slowly along the corridor and down the great spiral staircase into the grand hall below.
Edie watched her go.
She had a fairly good idea of how the land lay.
She had seen the way her Mistress’s eyes had widened into deep, dreamy blue pools when Lord Melton’s name was mentioned.
Edie gave a little chuckle of contentment.
She knew how she herself felt about John Barker.
Nothing had been said between them, but sometimes words were not necessary. A look, a touch, a certain smile was all that was needed.
But she wondered if Lady Rosanna and Lord Melton were quite as sensible about affairs of the heart as she and her John were. That was the trouble with the gentry. They were always so busy being polite, they could never see what was under their noses the whole time!
Rosanna turned the handle of the breakfast room door with trepidation. Her heart was thumping so hard she was sure the blue silk above it must be moving.
Taking a deep breath, she entered, head held high.
But the room was empty, except for a young parlour maid who brought her the hot chocolate she asked for.
There was no evidence that Lord Melton had already eaten.
The table seemed big and imposing and the breakfast buffet contained various tasty and savoury dishes under the big silver serving covers.
But Rosanna had no appetite for bacon or kedgeree.
She drank her chocolate and nibbled on a piece of toast, wondering what she should do next.
She could not go looking for the Earl, that would be unseemly, but there was also no way she could leave Melton Castle without seeing him.
Just then Mr. Digby, came into the breakfast room.
“If you have finished your repast and are at leisure, Lady Rosanna, his Lordship requests that you join him.”
Rosanna swiftly rose to her feet.
“Certainly, Mr. Digby. Is the Earl in his room?”
“No, my Lady. Please follow me.”
Puzzled, Rosanna obeyed.
The elderly butler led the way back up the great staircase, but did not stop at the first floor.
Instead he opened a small door and mounted the steep stone steps that circled round the inside of the Castle’s northern turret.
He was breathing heavily by the time he pushed open a wooden door at the top of the steps and ushered Rosanna through.
She gasped as she realised she was standing just inside the battlements at the top of the tower.
Although it was a sunny day, the wind was blowing strongly and she swayed as a gust caught the skirt of her dress.
Just then a strong hand shot out and grasped her bare arm, holding her steady.
“Be careful, Lady Rosanna. I would not care to see you lying on the stones of the courtyard beneath us!”
She turned to find Lord Melton smiling down at her, his dark hair ruffled by the breeze, the tan already returning to his pale cheeks.
“I thank you, my Lord. Indeed, it is not a fate I would choose for myself!”
“Do you have a good head for heights, madam?”
Rosanna nodded and felt her colour rise as his warm hand slipped away from her bare skin.
“Yes, I believe I do. On my first day at Donnington Hall, Bates, my butler, took me up onto the roof itself so I could look out at my new estate. I felt no fear or giddiness.”
“Good. Then come closer to the battlements. You are even higher here than at Donnington, but I am anxious for you to see everything. Don’t be afraid.”
He held out his hand once more and raising her gaze to his, she smiled and grasped his fingers with her own.
“I would never be afraid when I am with you, my Lord,” she murmured and blushed as his grip tightened.
He helped her across the lead flashings on the roof to the side of the turret.
They stood in the embrasure between the battlements and stared out over miles and miles of beautiful English countryside to where the blue hills rose up in folds, many miles away.
For a long minute they stood in silence, the wind whipping colour into her cheeks and tousling the Earl’s dark hair into a riot of curls that made him suddenly look younger.
Rosanna glanced at him and felt a little shock run through her.
The great, remote Lord Melton had vanished and in his place stood a young man who seemed to have not a care in the world.
“It makes me very proud – this view,” the Earl said softly. “The Melton estate lies to the west as far as the eye can see.”
He laughed briefly.
“Ind
eed, I used to think my father was a boring old man with his endless lectures about the land and caring for our tenants, making sure all our people were well fed and looked after.
“I used to stop listening when he began one of his eternal sermons about our duties and how our ancestors had passed on the torch to us and it was up to me to take it further. Now I look out and realise I feel exactly the same.”
“It is a vast responsibility, my Lord,” Rosanna replied. “As you know, I have only recently inherited Donnington Hall, which is half the size of Melton, but I am already beginning to appreciate what will be involved.”
Lord Melton slipped his hand under her arm, turned her round and led her back across the turret roof to the south side.
He pointed out towards the misty distance.
“There is the river that borders our two estates. And if you look over to the left, just behind that fine clump of oak trees is the Racecourse your late great-uncle built. As you say, Lady Rosanna, a great responsibility, especially for a young lady.”
He gazed down at her fine featured face, the rose colour in her cheeks and the blue of her eyes matching the sky above.
Little tendrils of fair hair had escaped their clasp and curled around her neck.
A surge of emotion ran through his veins.
He had never felt like this about a woman before.
A few months ago he had imagined he was attracted to Lady Verity, but now he realised those feelings were just flickers from a candle against the roaring fires he was now experiencing.
Rosanna was everything he had ever wanted, but she was so alone in the world. There were those who would say he was taking advantage of her.
He frowned.
Sir Walter Fenwick wanted to marry her for what she possessed. Would she perhaps think that was his reason too?
He wondered if it was too soon to tell her how he felt.
They were alone, although he had heard scuffed footsteps on the stone steps so guessed that her little redheaded maid was in close attendance, guarding her Mistress’s reputation.
Being alone with a man could cause damage to a single young girl in Society’s eyes, even if that man was a Lord of the Realm.
“Would it be presumptuous of me if I asked for your help and advice in the future, my Lord,” Rosanna asked hesitantly.
Love Rescues Rosanna Page 11
