by Anne Herries
The realisation that her fortune would bring great responsibilities was a revelation, a bright light that gave his life purpose and reason. Amanda needed a competent steward and he intended to be more than that—he would be scrupulous in all his dealings with her and make her richer than she was, if it were possible.
‘Thank you, it is all I could ask,’ she said. ‘I have no interest in business, though I like to see my estate in good heart, and I take an interest in my people. Papa has always overseen things for me, because my main estate is only twenty miles distant from his own, and I am in the habit of staying there with Mama sometimes. In truth, I do not know what my fortune amounts to and I have no wish to know. My income is more than I should ever spend and I want you to do as you wish with it, Phipps. You must think of the estate as ours and do as you consider fit. I give somewhere in the region of five thousand pounds to good causes each year, but I shall leave that to you to decide in future.’
‘You are very trusting, Amanda.’
‘Not at all,’ she replied and her eyes twinkled up at him. ‘Had I thought you a fortune-hunter I should have asked Papa not to hear you. I have been obliged to listen to the ranting of more than one gentleman wishing to convince me of his undying love. I did not listen and I did not bother Papa. I am a sensible girl, Phipps, not at all romantic.’
‘Oh, Amanda, my love,’ he said and gave a shout of laughter. ‘You are quite delightful and I am very glad we met.’
‘Mama has asked if you would wish to stay for luncheon—or would perhaps prefer to dine with us this evening?’
‘I have an appointment at noon,’ he said and glanced at his watch, the smile fading from his eyes.
‘Is something wrong? Please tell me.’
He hesitated, then, ‘Brock was attacked last night after he left me. I have not the details yet, but I am promised to him for this afternoon. I shall be delighted to dine with you, dearest, but I must go to him first.’
‘Yes, of course you must,’ she said, at once concerned. ‘I do hope he is not badly hurt.’
‘I believe it is but a slight wound, though his doctor has advised him to rest.’
‘Do you think it was an attempt at robbery?’
‘I am not certain. I shall be able to tell you more this evening.’ He hesitated, then, ‘When would you wish the wedding to be?’
‘It might be pleasant in September,’ Amanda said. ‘If...that would suit you?’
‘Following our visit to the Brockley estate?’ He inclined his head. ‘Yes, that will give you time to have your bride clothes made. We shall discuss the details with your mama this evening.’ He held her hands once more, gazing down into her face a little uncertainly. ‘You are happy, Amanda?’
‘Perfectly,’ she said. ‘I look forward to being your wife—and the mother of your children. I see no reason why we should not be comfortable together—do you?’
‘None at all. It is my intention to make you happy.’
‘Then I shall be,’ she said and gave a gurgle of laughter. ‘I am easy to please, Phipps. Just keep your word to me—and do not forget to bring me flowers on my birthday.’
He saw she was teasing him and smiled. ‘You shall have a house filled with flowers,’ he promised and raised her hand to his lips. ‘I must speak with Lady Hamilton for a few moments and then I must leave—but I shall see you this evening.’
Chapter Six
‘You have no idea who attacked you?’ Phipps asked, looking anxiously at his friend, as he lay propped against a pile of fresh linen pillows. ‘I suppose it was an attempt at robbery.’
‘I should rather doubt it,’ Brock said. ‘There were three of them and I am certain they meant to kill me, but were instructed to make it look like a robbery. Had I not been in the habit of carrying my swordstick, they must have succeeded in their aims. Fortunately, once I had it unsheathed I made short work of them. Two were cut and the third made off like the cur he was.’
‘If that is so, it was a cowardly piece of work,’ Phipps said in disgust. ‘You must have an enemy who hates you, Brock—as Jack Delsey did, when he was twice set upon. Do you think Shearne paid those rogues to murder you?’
‘I can think of no one else with good reason,’ Brock admitted and sipped the posset his man had made him with distaste. ‘This stuff is awful, but better than the physician left for me.’
‘If we had proof, we might lay information against him,’ Phipps observed. ‘However, knowing and proving something are two different things.’
‘Yes; besides, it would only dredge up the past and I’ve no mind to tell the world of Mary’s sorrows. I was a fool to wander about alone so late at night and should have stayed at your house the night, as you asked.’
‘That is all very well, but he cannot be allowed to get away with this, Brock. Next time you might not get off so lightly.’
‘I shall make arrangements to have my back watched, though since I shall be going into the country presently I dare say this will all blow over soon enough.’
‘The man is a menace to society,’ Phipps said. ‘He threatened Miss Field and Miss Hamilton the other day in the street... Oh, by the way, will you wish me happy?’
‘You’ve spoken to Miss Hamilton?’ Brock inclined his head, a broad grin banishing the frown. ‘That’s excellent, my dear fellow. I like Miss Hamilton and think her the very wife for you, Phipps. You are in general an easygoing fellow and you should have a lady who will take care of your interests. She is both clever and kind—an unusual combination, for clever women often have a sharp tongue.’
‘Miss Hamilton does not scruple to say what she thinks,’ Phipps assured him. ‘But she says it frankly and without malice—and she is the most generous girl.’
‘Miss Field tells me she has been invited to stay after they leave town. I dare say you will escort them home and stay a few days or so before visiting your parents. I must speak to my father and make the arrangements for our house party.’
‘Tell me to mind my own business, if you please—but have you intentions towards Miss Field?’
‘Mind your own business, there’s a good fellow,’ Brock said, but without the least malice. ‘To be honest with you, I am far more concerned about sorting this business out with Shearne.’
‘Yes, of course. Just thought I’d ask, because that Armstrong fellow has been nosing about. I’ve a notion that he was after Amanda, but when he knows he isn’t going to get her, he may go after Miss Field. I think he wants a quiet girl to care for his mother.’
Brock murmured something, but the subject was dropped there. Phipps visited with him for a couple of hours, but apart from making an appointment to dine together in two days’ time little more of substance was said.
Phipps was thoughtful as he left his friend to saunter down to Bond Street. He had been giving the matter of a ring for Amanda some thought and had decided that he would buy her a personal gift of some sort and give her a rather splendid diamond-and-ruby ring that had been left him by his maternal grandmother. It and several other pieces were kept in the bank for the time when he should marry. Phipps had at one time considered whether he should sell some of the items, but a natural reluctance to part with family pieces had made him hesitate. Now he was glad he had not yielded to temptation, for the pearls were good. He would have the diamond clasp cleaned and the pearls restrung as a wedding gift, but for now he would buy Amanda a gold-and-pearl bangle he’d noticed a few days earlier.
* * *
Amanda felt as if she were in a dream. She had spent most of the day after Phipps left in changing the flowers, helping Mama write out a guest list and looking through her clothes. Mama was determined that they should have the wedding at home so that all their friends in the country could attend.
‘Any of our town friends who care to come down may do so,’ she said. ‘But our special friends at home might not wish to travel, either to town or to Phipps’s country house. So I believe we shall have the wedding at home. We must discuss it
with him, naturally, but his family might like you to stay for a week or two prior to the wedding and if they wish to give a ball for all their neighbours—but of course we shall invite anyone dear Phipps wishes for to the wedding. I think a marquee in the grounds, my love, for the overflow—but the evening reception must be in the house for September nights can be cold.’
‘I think a marquee is a lovely idea,’ Amanda agreed. ‘I want to invite all the people I know and it will mean a huge number of guests, Mama.’
‘I should be most disappointed if it did not,’ Mama said, smiling fondly. ‘We only have one daughter and Papa has already told me that no expense is to be spared.’
‘I should have my gown made in town, I suppose...unless Jane would undertake it for me. It is a lot to ask, for she has to make herself two new gowns.’
‘You must ask her when she calls tomorrow,’ Mama said. ‘And then we shall repair to Susanna’s house for the rest of our stay in town.’
‘Yes, Mama.’ Amanda carefully avoided her mother’s gaze for she could have wished that they were going straight out of town when Papa gave up the house he had leased for the Season. She liked the countess, but Lord Armstrong had been one of those gentlemen that Papa had been forced to tell that his daughter was already spoken for. If he made anything out of it, she might find his company awkward. ‘You will enjoy that, I think?’
‘Yes, to own the truth, I shall,’ Mama admitted. ‘It is years since we saw one another and there is no time to talk at social events. We shall be able to sit and chatter without interruption.’
Amanda made no comment, for she knew that it would suit her mother after having spent the past five weeks escorting her daughter to all the ton parties. For Amanda it would seem quiet. She would have preferred to go home with Papa and Phipps for escort and spent the time discussing the wedding preparations. However, Mama deserved some time with her old friend and Amanda was pleased for her that she was to have it.
* * *
When Phipps dined with them that evening it was a quiet family affair and the conversation was all of the wedding. Phipps was agreeable to whatever suited Amanda and her mama, and said that he would prepare a list of his family and friends for them. He thought that the relatives he ought to invite and the handful of friends he wanted to have with him might amount to the region of a hundred.
‘I shall be inviting many more than that,’ Amanda told him. ‘Many will be neighbours and elderly friends, and they will not stay for the evening. I dare say there may be upwards of three hundred at church and the reception in the garden, but in the evening perhaps less than two.’
Phipps did not seem surprised that she had so many friends, for the people from her own estate must be invited, as well as those from her father’s—and all their friends in town, though many of them were mutual.
Amanda was allowed to take Phipps to the door when he left that evening and it was then that they were able to have some private conversation.
‘Was Major Brockley able to leave his bed when you saw him?’
‘No, he was advised to rest for the day, but he was perfectly able to talk. I imagine it was most likely footpads.’
‘If he has an enemy, he must take great care,’ Amanda said, looking up at him anxiously. ‘You, too, Phipps. I should not wish harm to come your way.’
He frowned down at her. ‘What are you saying, Amanda?’
‘I think it may have been Shearne who paid those rogues to harm Brock. He is a vindictive man, Phipps—and you have both crossed him in recent memory.’
‘It is possible. I shall not hide it from you, Amanda—but I am fairly sure Shearne left town in a hurry. His creditors were dunning him.’
‘I thought he was a wealthy man?’
‘It may be merely a temporary awkwardness, but someone told me at the club that Shearne had been badly dipped at Newmarket and the tables. If he’s taken a bolt to the country, he may not yet know that his attempt on Brock was unsuccessful. I do not fear him, for I believe he hardly notices me—his quarrel with Brock is of long standing.’ He shook his head as she looked enquiringly at him. ‘A private matter and one I am sworn not to reveal, my love.’
‘Well, as long as you are not concerned. I hope he has been forced to seek his estates in the country for a time and we may not be troubled with him again.’
‘I doubt he will bother his head with any of us. Brock is another matter—but I assure you, he is taking precautions and is well able to protect himself.’
With that she had to be content. They formed a plan of taking a drive in the park the following afternoon, after which he would call on her at Lord Armstrong’s house before taking leave of her for a few days.
‘I should go down and speak to my father,’ he told her. ‘I shall return to escort you home, Amanda, and then I hope to visit with you—and to meet some of your friends. After that, I must visit my own estate and set some matters in hand for us.’
‘And then it will be time for our visit to Lord Brockley’s home,’ she said. ‘Brock’s father must be an easygoing man to keep open house for his son’s friends.’
‘Lord Brockley is a generous host and enjoys nothing more. He often has house parties and Brock knows that he is at liberty to fill his father’s house with guests whenever he chooses. Brock is the heir, of course, though he has three sisters and a brother fifteen years his junior.’
‘You have but one brother, I believe?’
‘Yes. He is one year my senior and was always more interested in politics than the army. He may well rise in his profession for he has a safe seat for the Tories and my father is hale. There is no need for Alexander to think of the estate for years yet.’
‘And no sisters?’
‘None, unfortunately. Mama wanted a daughter, I believe, but it was not to be.’
‘Well, she may yet have two daughters-in-law.’
‘As yet Alexander is not married.’ Phipps frowned. ‘He shows no sign of it, which is a source of irritation to my father.’
‘Well, let us hope he will be pleased with your marriage.’
‘He cannot fail to be pleased,’ Phipps replied and smiled down at her. ‘I must let you go now, dearest. I shall see you tomorrow.’
‘Miss Field comes in the morning and stays for nuncheon. I shall see you at three.’
With their plans made for the near future, Phipps went off and Amanda returned to say goodnight to her parents. Mama was still chattering about the wedding when they went upstairs and parted for the night.
* * *
The morning brought a letter from Cynthia with the post. It was filled with complaints. Miss Langton was thoroughly bored and looked forward to seeing her friend again at Lord Brockley’s estate. She wrote that her rash had gone and she was free of infection.
She wished that her mama had not brought her home, for she missed all her friends and Amanda in particular. It would suit her if Amanda could come and stay with her when they left town, for it would be no trouble to Lady Langton to chaperon Amanda when they travelled to Lord Brockley’s home.
Amanda felt a spasm of disquiet, for she knew that she must write at once to tell Cynthia that she was now engaged to Phipps. Cynthia’s letter was mercifully free of any mention of him, which relieved Amanda’s mind a little, because she had thought her friend was thinking of him favourably.
It was not until the last few lines of her letter that she wrote a hint of what might now be occupying her mind.
It was on the way home that we were forced to stop two days at an inn to have a repair made to the leading pole of Mama’s carriage. At first the foolish man said it would take a week to repair it, but fortunately the Marquis of Shearne happened to arrive and prevailed upon the blacksmith to mend it at once.
Mama was delighted and she invited him to call on us at home, which he has done. I must tell you, Amanda, he is the most delightful companion...
There was some more in this vein, which caused Amanda a few qualms. Knowing what she
did of the marquis, ought she to write a warning to her friend? She had threatened the marquis with it, though she had not meant to follow through on it. Would Cynthia see such a letter as an act of kindness or think it spiteful? Her conscience told her she ought. Yet what could she say? He had annoyed Miss Field by the river, made veiled threats to her—and Brock suspected him of having paid some rogues to set on him. It would be so much better to speak to Cynthia as a friend rather than write what must be a libellous letter. Yes, she must wait until she saw her friend before giving her the warning that was needed.
Amanda had no proof that the marquis was a rogue, even though he was suspected of having had an attempt made on Brock’s life—and the rest of it could be put down to mere impoliteness. She could make no assertion that was strong enough to deter Cynthia—and to write of what she did not know would be libellous and morally wrong. Therefore she decided to keep her doubts to herself, at least until they met. Cynthia’s parents were her guardians, and it must be for them to keep a watchful eye on her.
In this way she was able to ease her conscience and to write a friendly letter to Cynthia, telling her of her engagement to Phipps and inviting her and her family to the wedding. She said that she was also looking forward to the visit at Lord Brockley’s estate, but apologised for not being able to visit Cynthia at her home.
Cynthia must forgive her, but after she left the countess, Phipps was to escort them home. She did not know for certain, but rather thought that his parents might invite her to meet them in the interval between their return home and the promised visit to Major Brockley’s home.
It is not certain yet. Phipps said we must go at some time prior to the wedding, but he means to ask his parents when it will suit them to receive my family.
I fear this means I shall not be able to accompany you and Lady Langton to Bath, but I am sure we shall arrange something in the future, for I shall still have the use of the house in Bath and I should love you to be our guests...
