The Summer Maiden

by Dilly Court

  Caroline stifled a gasp and Maria began to giggle.

  ‘One more word from you, Mr Dorincourt, and I’ll walk out of that door and never return,’ Grace said, sniffing. ‘Don’t worry about me, girls. I’ve dealt with old goats like this man many times in the past, and they’ve always come off the worst.’

  Freddie hooted with laughter. ‘Whatever you say, Grace. I love you.’ He threw his spoon down. ‘She’s amazing, isn’t she, Mrs Grimes?’

  ‘Indeed she is, sir.’ Jenifry rose from the table. ‘Dickon, help me clear the plates and we’ll fetch the next course.’

  Maria leaned closer to Caroline. ‘How can she bear living like this?’

  Jenifry stopped to give Maria a stern look. ‘Other people might think the way we live is odd,’ she said calmly, ‘but Freddie and I have an understanding. We like things the way they are; it suits us both.’ She swept out of the room carrying the tureen.

  Dickon followed her, winking at Caroline as he passed her chair.

  ‘You’ll have to watch that young man,’ Freddie said, puffing out his chest. ‘A chip off the old block, except that he did not inherit my artistic talent. Keep him in order tomorrow, Caroline.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Uncle. I have two younger brothers – I know exactly how to handle difficult boys.’

  The mention of her brothers at dinner was still on Caroline’s mind as she lay in her bed that night. She was almost too tired to go to sleep – her mind was racing and her limbs felt restless. What had started out simply as finding work in order to survive had become a quest to seek revenge on the Colvilles, and now she was more deeply involved with that family than she could have imagined possible. She turned on her side, listening to the distant swish of the waves lapping on the shore. The scent of garden roses wafted in through the open window, bringing tears to her eyes at the memory of the father she had lost, and the home that had been wrested from her. She felt as though she would never sleep again, but her eyelids were heavy and she closed her eyes.

  Next morning Dickon was waiting for her outside the stables, holding the reins of two horses.

  ‘Good morning, miss. Are you ready for a hack across the fields?’ His berry-dark eyes gleamed with mischief and his lips curved in a mocking grin.

  ‘No, I prefer to go by road, like a normal person,’ Caroline said coldly.

  ‘Shall I give you a hand up?’

  Caroline took the reins from him and led the frisky bay mare to the mounting block. ‘I can manage on my own, thank you, Grimes.’

  His smile did not waver. ‘It’s Dickon, miss. Everyone, including the master, calls me Dickon.’

  Caroline mounted the horse with ease. ‘Then I suggest we get going, Dickon. I have important business at Daumerle.’

  ‘Yes, miss.’ Dickon vaulted onto the saddle and swiftly mastered the black stallion, bringing the animal to a sedate walk as they left the stable yard and headed for the road.

  Caroline had ridden this way many times when she was younger, and she rode on ahead, urging her horse to a canter when they were going uphill and slowing her down to a walk on the descent. Dickon seemed content to ride on in silence and they reached Daumerle in just over half an hour. Caroline dismounted and handed him the reins.

  ‘I don’t know how long I’ll be, Dickon.’

  He nodded. ‘Just send word to the stables when you’re ready to leave, miss.’

  Caroline shot him a suspicious glance. She did not know what to make of Freddie’s son. Sometimes he was over-familiar, and at other times he was almost subservient, although she suspected that he was secretly laughing at her. She turned away and headed up the stone steps to the front entrance.

  The butler, who answered her insistent rapping on the door, looked her up and down and was obviously unimpressed by a young, unaccompanied woman who demanded to see Lady Alice, but he ushered her into the entrance hall and asked her to wait. Caroline remembered Garner, Lady Alice’s formidable former butler, who must have been close on ninety when he eventually retired to a cottage on the estate, but this was the first time she had come across the equally stately and relatively new member of the staff. Garner might have thought he was king of the servants’ hall, but at least he would have recognised her and she would not have been told to wait or made to feel she should have used the tradesmen’s entrance. She waited impatiently for the butler’s return.

  ‘Lady Alice will see you now, Miss Manning,’ he said stiffly. ‘Follow me and I’ll show you to the garden room.’

  ‘Thank you, but there’s no need. I know my way.’ Caroline walked past him, holding her head high. She was familiar with the wide corridors and twisting passageways in Daumerle, and she made her way to the garden room where she found her mother and Lady Alice seated in the midst of tall palms and exotic blooms.

  ‘Carrie!’ Esther rose to her feet and rushed towards her daughter, arms outstretched. ‘My darling girl, how lovely to see you.’ She gave her a hug and then held her at arm’s length. ‘But what are you doing here? Has something terrible happened to my boys?’

  ‘No, Mama. They are safe and well. There’s nothing for you to worry about.’

  ‘But why are you here? Why aren’t you at home?’

  ‘There’s something you should know, Mama,’ Caroline said gently.

  Alice gave Caroline a searching look. ‘That sounds serious.’

  ‘It is, Aunt Alice. I didn’t want to burden you with the truth just yet, Mama, but I’m afraid I can’t keep it from you any longer.’

  ‘What’s happened to you, Carrie?’ Esther sank back onto her chair, staring up at her daughter. ‘You look different somehow, and why are you dressed so shabbily?’

  Caroline sank down on the padded seat of an ornate wrought-iron chair. ‘I didn’t want you to find out until you were feeling stronger, but apparently the rent on our home was due and there was no money to pay it, or the tradesmen’s bills. The bailiffs came in and took everything and we were evicted.’

  ‘Why wasn’t I informed of this?’ Esther cried angrily. ‘Why didn’t my solicitor do something to prevent such a catastrophe?’

  ‘Don’t upset yourself, Esther,’ Alice said sternly. ‘I’ll send for some tea, or perhaps a glass of brandy would be more to the point?’ Alice rang a silver hand bell, and, as if she had been hovering behind one of the giant plants, a maid appeared.

  ‘We’ll take tea, and you can fetch the brandy decanter from the drawing room, and three glasses.’ Alice waited until the maid was out of earshot. ‘You’d better start at the beginning, Caroline. Your mother needs to know everything.’

  ‘We’re homeless,’ Caroline said, shrugging. ‘It’s no use pretending otherwise. The Esther Manning is overdue and there haven’t been any sightings of her for weeks.’

  Esther’s eyes widened with shock. ‘She can’t have been lost at sea. George is an excellent shipmaster – he’ll bring her home safely, you can depend on that. Something must have happened to delay them.’

  ‘I hope that’s all it is, Mama. But things are very serious – we are virtually bankrupt and there was no money to pay the school fees.’

  Esther fanned herself with her hands. ‘Oh my goodness. This gets worse. Where are they now? Where are my boys?’

  ‘Sadie took us all in. We’ve been living at the Captain’s House. Max and Jimmy are being taught by Mr Bromley, who was one of their tutors at Rugby. Sadie invited him to stay and continue the boys’ education and he intends to take on more pupils.’

  ‘And all this is happening at the Captain’s House? Are you telling me that Sadie is living with this man?’

  Delighted to have given her mother something to think about other than her own problems, Caroline smiled. ‘He’s a lodger, Mama. But it wouldn’t be such a bad thing if there was something going on between them. Mr Bromley is a nice man and the boys think a lot of him. It’s time that Aunt Sadie had a life of her own, instead of living in your shadow.’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean, Carrie
. Sadie is like a sister to me.’

  ‘Of course she is, Mama. All I meant to say is that she has devoted herself entirely to our family, and maybe it’s time for her to think more about what she needs and wants.’

  Esther pursed her lips, frowning. ‘I hope the old captain doesn’t mind having his house turned into a school. He might not like having rowdy boys living in his home.’

  ‘At least you can be sure that Max and Jimmy are being looked after, Mama.’

  ‘But you still haven’t explained why you’ve come all this way,’ Alice said, giving Caroline a puzzled look. ‘You say you’re short of funds, and I’ll be only too happy to help you.’

  ‘That’s very kind of you, Aunt Alice. But it’s a little more complicated than that.’

  ‘It most certainly is,’ Esther added crossly. ‘We’re homeless, Alice. If only Jack had left the Captain’s House to me we would have a roof over our heads. I’m not too proud to return to Wapping.’

  ‘Bearwood owns properties all over London,’ Alice said airily. ‘I’m sure we can find suitable accommodation for you both until George returns. When your ship comes in you’ll be comfortably off again, won’t you?’

  ‘I should never have left London.’ Esther fumbled in her reticule, taking out a hanky and dabbing her eyes. ‘If our last vessel has foundered it will be the end of everything. I can’t bear the thought of losing my only brother so soon after Jack was taken from me.’

  ‘Please don’t upset yourself, Mama,’ Caroline said anxiously. ‘We’ll manage somehow.’

  ‘That’s easy for you to say.’ Esther’s lips trembled. ‘We’re ruined, and everything your father and I worked for is lost. It will affect us all and you’ll never find a husband. Who would want to marry a penniless girl?’

  ‘That’s hardly to the point, Essie.’ Alice was suddenly alert, looking towards the door. ‘What is it, Digby?’

  Caroline looked round to see the pompous butler standing in the doorway.

  He cleared his throat. ‘There’s a gentleman who wishes to see Mrs Manning, my lady.’

  ‘Really?’ Alice turned to Esther, eyebrows raised. ‘Are you expecting anyone?’

  Esther shook her head. ‘No, of course not.’

  ‘Who is it, Digby? Do you know this person?’

  He proffered a silver salver. ‘His card, my lady.’

  Alice studied the visiting card and her lips tightened. ‘Phineas Colville.’ She turned to Esther with an anxious frown. ‘Do you want me to send him away, Essie? Or I could see him on my own and find out why he has come all this way.’

  ‘I have nothing to say to that gentleman,’ Esther said icily. ‘I can’t imagine what brought him to Devonshire.’

  ‘I know why he’s here.’ Caroline stood up, smoothing the creases from her cotton skirt. ‘I was going to tell you everything in my own good time, but you’ll find out anyway.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’ Esther’s voice rose sharply. ‘What else has been going on in my absence, Caroline?’

  ‘Allow her to explain later,’ Alice said hastily. ‘Let’s see what Mr Colville has to say for himself. Send him in, Digby.’

  Digby bowed out of the room, narrowly missing a giant potted palm in his retreat. Caroline giggled nervously, but the situation was far from amusing and Phineas Colville was the last person she wanted to see.

  ‘He has a nerve, coming here when he knows very well that his company’s dealings were responsible for our huge losses.’ Esther’s cheeks flamed with angry spots of colour and she rose to her feet. ‘I’m afraid I’ll be very rude to him, Alice. Perhaps I’d better go to my room.’

  ‘Too late, Mama,’ Caroline said in a low voice. ‘You’d better sit down.’

  ‘Mr Phineas Colville, my lady.’ Digby ushered Phineas into the room.

  Alice acknowledged Phineas with a gracious smile. ‘Mr Colville, welcome to Daumerle.’

  ‘It’s very kind of you to see me, my lady. I wouldn’t have troubled you were it not a matter of some urgency.’ He shot a glance at Esther and bowed. ‘Mrs Manning, we haven’t met since your husband’s untimely death, but might I offer my sincere condolences.’

  Esther’s lips trembled but she held herself very straight and looked him in the eye. ‘It’s just words as far as you’re concerned, Mr Colville. It’s a pity you were not more generous in your treatment of my husband when he was alive.’

  Caroline had not intended to say anything, but this was a step too far. ‘That’s not fair, Mama. There were circumstances of which you know nothing.’

  ‘How do you know that, Caroline?’ Esther demanded crossly. ‘What have you been up to in London since I was forced to leave?’

  ‘You chose to come here, Mama. I don’t recall anyone exerting any pressure on you, and you left me to cope with everything that happened afterwards.’

  ‘We have a guest,’ Alice said pointedly. ‘Please take a seat, Mr Colville, and tell us why you are here.’

  ‘Miss Manning knows very well why I’ve travelled all the way to Devonshire. I doubt if she’s told you about her exploits, including the forging of your signature on a reference, Lady Alice, in order to obtain a position as companion to my cousin Maria.’

  ‘My daughter wouldn’t do such a thing.’ Esther turned to Caroline. ‘Did you?’ she added in an undertone.

  ‘I was going to tell you, but Mr Colville’s sudden arrival forestalled me. Yes, I did write myself a reference, signing your name, Aunt Alice. I was desperate for money and I couldn’t impose any longer on Sadie’s good will.’

  ‘As I recall she did very well from your father’s generosity,’ Esther said through gritted teeth.

  ‘Go on, Carrie,’ Alice said eagerly. ‘This sounds very diverting. I was growing rather bored with country life and considering a return to London.’

  ‘Yes, do continue, Miss Manning.’ Phineas pulled up a chair and sat down.

  ‘I saw that Maria Colville was being treated abominably by her grandmother. The poor girl was virtually a prisoner in her own home, and the unfortunate circumstances of her birth were constantly being thrown at her.’

  ‘Maria Colville?’ Esther said faintly. ‘You say she’s your cousin, Mr Colville. Do you mean that she is your aunt’s child?’

  ‘It’s a scandal that my family has had to live with for the past twenty years, Mrs Manning. It’s common knowledge that my aunt, Grace, was seduced by a man who took advantage of her when she was only fifteen, and she gave birth to a child, my cousin Maria.’

  ‘I remember hearing about the scandal when I returned from Australia.’ Esther eyed him thoughtfully. ‘Although it was said that Grace Colville was as much to blame as the man who fathered her child.’

  ‘How can you say that, Mama?’ Caroline demanded. ‘Did you know Grace? More importantly, did you know the man who led her astray and then abandoned her? I don’t call that the act of a gentleman.’

  ‘This has nothing to do with you, Carrie.’ Esther stood up, facing Phineas with a haughty toss of her head. ‘I am not interested in your family problems, Mr Colville. The fact is that your company drove our business into the ground. You set out deliberately to ruin us and now you have. I hope you’re happy with the result.’ She stormed out of the room.

  ‘Why did you have to come here today?’ Caroline asked angrily. ‘I was about to tell them everything and now you’ve made matters worse.’

  The maid chose that precise moment to arrive bearing a tea tray, followed by a younger servant carrying a decanter and three glasses.

  ‘May I offer you some refreshment, Mr Colville?’ Alice said with an attempt at a smile. ‘I’m afraid that Esther is still very upset by the death of her husband. You must forgive her outburst, although I can’t think what could have brought you here today.’

  Phineas shook his head when the maid offered him tea, and he waited for the servants to leave before responding.

  ‘Two things, my lady. First, I knew that Mrs Manning was here and I wanted to
give her some good news for a change. Her brother’s ship was sighted off the coast of Cuba. The Esther Manning is apparently safe and sound, presumably on her way home.’

  Caroline stared at him in astonishment. ‘Are you certain? There hasn’t been any news for so long I was certain she was lost.’

  ‘The ship has had two verified sightings. By my reckoning she should arrive in a couple of weeks’ time.’

  ‘That’s wonderful news, Mr Colville,’ Alice said earnestly. ‘Esther should be informed immediately. But you said there were two pieces of information you had for us.’

  ‘That’s right, and Miss Manning will be able to help me here – I came to find my cousin, Maria, and take her home, where she belongs.’

  ‘You want to take her back to that ice palace you call home?’ Caroline jumped to her feet, clenching her fists at her sides. ‘Maria was virtually a prisoner in that place. She won’t go with you.’

  ‘But you admit that you took her without her grandmother’s knowledge?’

  ‘Yes, I helped her to escape, and she’s happy to be free from you both.’

  ‘Where is she? I want to hear it from her lips.’

  ‘You want to browbeat her into returning with you.’ Caroline shook her head. ‘I won’t allow it.’

  Phineas remained seated, looking up at her with calm disdain. ‘You can’t speak for Maria.’

  ‘Yes, I can. She’s my friend and I won’t allow you to bully her. Anyway, it’s not me you have to deal with now. Maria is reunited with her mother. You’ll have to answer to your aunt Grace for allowing her daughter to suffer so badly.’

  Alice uttered a sharp gasp. ‘Where are they, Carrie?’

  Caroline turned to her in surprise. ‘They are together and they’re safe.’

  ‘Oh, my God!’ Alice struggled to her feet. ‘You shouldn’t have interfered.’

  ‘Where are they?’ Phineas also rose from his seat, towering above Caroline. ‘Are they here?’

  ‘Certainly not,’ Alice protested. ‘I’m as shocked as you are, Mr Colville.’

  ‘I don’t understand,’ Caroline said wearily. ‘I thought you would be pleased to know that Maria has found her mother at last.’