by Joan Wolf
“Oui,” I replied softly and watched as he walked out the door.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The planning for our wedding took place with little contribution from the bride or groom. Aunt Augusta and Mother were consumed with it, and when asked a question my invariable answer was, “Do whatever you think is best.” I don’t think either woman minded my disinterest. They were enjoying themselves enormously.
Leo and I spent most of our days with Papa planning our stud farm and riding school. Papa had settled quickly into the charming little house Leo had given him and was cooking for himself until Estelle, our housekeeper from France, arrived. Two of the men who had worked with the circus horses in France were coming as well. They were excellent riders and they were bringing Henri, Papa’s horse, with them.
One afternoon, when Leo and I were walking back to the house from the stable, I brought up a subject that had been much on my mind: Margaret. “She needs her own home, Leo,” I said persuasively. “When she married Rob and came to live at Camden Hall, she assumed the duties that rightfully belong to the mistress of the house. Aunt Augusta might be your official hostess, but Margaret does all the work. Now that we are getting married I will be expected to assume the duties of the mistress. There can’t be two mistresses in the same house, Leo, and Margaret will lose her status.”
A lock of hair had fallen across his brow and he pushed it back impatiently. “What does Margaret do that’s so important? Wouldn’t it be easier for you if she just kept doing whatever it is? You are going to be busy with the new riding school.”
I said, spacing my words so they would make an impact, “Leo, if Camden Hall is going to be my house then I want to be the woman who runs it. I do not wish to relinquish the reins to somebody else.”
There was a long pause. Leo’s brows were drawn together. Clearly he was not happy with my proposal. Finally he said, “I have no intention of replacing Rob as my steward.”
“I never said that you should. There’s no reason why he can’t carry on if they live in another house.”
“I need to be able to reach him quickly. He knows more about the estate than I do.”
I said in my most reasonable voice, “I know how valuable he is to you and I know how much you care for him. I was wondering about that big house you own that stands half a mile down the road. It’s part of the estate property but no one lives in it. What do you call it? The Dover House?”
Amusement glinted in his eyes. “The Dower House you mean. Many estates have such a house. It’s kept for the widowed mother of the owner to live in when her eldest son marries.”
“Thus insuring that there would be only one mistress in the house?”
He lifted his eyebrows, conceding the point, but he didn’t respond. I said, “It looks very elegant. The kind of house built for a noble or a rich man. It would give Margaret the status in the community she deserves.”
Silence.
I went on, “There’s no reason why Robert can’t keep his office at Camden. The only difference would be that in the evening he’d go home to the Dower House. It’s not even a mile away, Leo. If you should need him in the evening you will be able to reach him quickly.”
Leo bent his head and pretended to look at the list of mares we had been contemplating. I regarded the back of his golden head and wanted to tell him what I suspected about Margaret, but I held my tongue. He wouldn’t believe me. I had no evidence to back up my suspicions.
We walked in silence up the stone steps that led into the back garden. Finally he said, “I’ll miss seeing him at dinner.”
“I know. I will too.”
“I’ll miss the boys.”
“They’re away at school most of the time. And one day you will have boys of your own to play with.”
He stopped walking and looked down at me. “You’re set on this aren’t you?”
“I am. Margaret needs a house of her own, Leo. She’s had enough of doing the work while Aunt Augusta usurps the position that should be hers.”
He started walking again using the shorter step he adopted when he was walking with me. As we reached the back door he said, “It might be good for Rob to be the master in his own house. He has lived in my shadow all our lives.”
I said gently, “Living in separate houses won’t break the bond between you and your brother, Leo. Nothing could ever do that.”
Our eyes met and he smiled. I felt that smile through my entire body. “You’re right. But the Dower House hasn’t been lived in for many years. I’ll take a look at it. Work will need to be done before they can move in.”
I put a hand on his forearm, feeling the hardness of it through the soft wool of his coat. I said, “Don’t have any work done. Present the house to Margaret the way it is and give her a budget to make the changes she wants. Let her make it her house.”
He thought for a moment then nodded slowly. “All right. If that is what you think she would like.”
“I know it is.”
“Then we can speak to them tonight after dinner. Even if Rob should prefer to remain at Camden he will agree to the plan. He loves Margaret and what makes her happy will make him happy.”
“Thank you.” I looked up and gave him my best smile. “You are such a good man, Leo.”
“If you keep looking at me that way I will not be a good man much longer.”
I laughed and let him hold the door for my entry into the house.
*
Sometime during the day Leo asked Robert if he and Margaret would come to the library after dinner. Of course Robert agreed and once dinner was over the four of us met in the great book-enclosed room. Leo asked Robert and Margaret to sit on the old green velvet sofa and he and I sat on two chairs across from them.
Leo had asked me if I wanted to speak first. Since this move was my idea, I felt obligated to say that I would. Once we were all settled, and Robert and Margaret were looking at us with mystified faces, I began. “The Dower House has been empty for years, and Leo and I would be happy for you to have it for your own family,” I said.
They still looked bewildered.
“To live there,” I clarified. “Margaret has been the unnoticed chatelaine of this house for years while Aunt Augusta, who does nothing, is Leo’s hostess. I believe that Margaret deserves to be the chatelaine of her own house. Especially since Leo is getting married.”
Margaret had grown very pale and Robert had grown very red. He said to Leo, “Are you trying to push us out of the house?”
Leo leaned forward in his chair. “Of course not, Rob! I love having you and Margaret and the boys under my roof. But Isabel seems to think that Margaret deserves to have a house of her own.”
Robert said, “That’s nonsense. We love living here.”
Margaret said, “You would really give us the Dower House to live in?”
Leo said, “More than that—I will give you the deed to the Dower House. I think it’s time Rob owned some property.”
Robert’s mouth opened in astonishment.
Margaret said incredulously, “You will make it over to us?”
“I will.”
He hadn’t told me about this decision and my heart swelled with pride and love.
“But…you might need the Dower House someday,” Rob said.
“Rob, it’s been standing empty for years. I can’t remember the last time it was used. Grandmother lived here at Camden when she was still alive; she didn’t move to the Dower House. Remember?”
“That’s true,” Robert said slowly.
I said, “If I outlive Leo, I will never live in the Dower House. I am more than happy for you to own it.”
“There’s no reason to keep it standing empty the way it has,” Leo said. “It’s better that somebody lives there than letting it stand the way it has.” He turned his gaze to Margaret who was just beginning to regain her color. “Is Isabel right, Margaret, or do you wish to keep living here in Camden Hall?”
“I would like to live i
n the Dower House very much,” she said in an unsteady voice.
Rob’s brows drew together in the exact same way Leo’s did when he was puzzled. “Are you sure, Margaret? You never said a word to me about having our own house.”
“It’s as Isabel said. Once she takes over as mistress of Camden there will be nothing for me to do.” Her voice steadied and became firm. She looked directly into Leo’s eyes and said, “I would love to have the Dower House for our family.”
Robert turned back to Leo. “It’s been standing empty for so many years. Is it livable?”
“I took a look at it this afternoon. It’s livable but it needs work to turn it into a comfortable home.” He smiled at Margaret. “I was planning to hire someone to refurbish it, but Isabel thought you would like to do that yourself. I suggest we get together and go over the house to see what needs to be done. You will definitely have to replace some of the furniture. Once I have an idea of how much money it will cost to bring it up to standard I’ll give you a budget and you can send the bills to me.”
“No, Leo.” Robert’s voice was loud and distinct. “I cannot allow you to spend money on a house that won’t even be yours. And you need me to be close by. It will be better if we remain here at Camden. Isabel and Margaret will find a way to work together.”
Margaret made a small, protesting sound.
Leo said, “You will be half a mile away. You can easily continue as my steward from so great a distance.” He leaned forward again and when he spoke his voice was deep and intense. “You are the best brother in the world, Rob. I rely on you all the time and you always know what to do. I want you to have this property to pass down to your children. I’ll also increase your salary to accommodate the demands that come with owning property.”
“You don’t have to do that. You pay me much more than you’d pay a steward who wasn’t your brother.”
“I was born first, Rob, and I inherited everything. It’s the way the world goes but it isn’t fair.” He looked at Margaret. “Tell him not to argue, Margaret.”
“Don’t argue with your brother, Robert.” The ivory skin of her face flushed. “We will have need of more money since our family will soon be increasing.”
Shocked silence. Finally Rob said, “Are you saying that…are you…?” His voice ran out. Margaret smiled radiantly. “Yes, I am saying that we will have another child.”
Well, you can imagine. Robert folded Margaret in a tender embrace. Leo and I grinned like idiots. When Robert finally let Margaret go, Leo shook his hand and said, “I am assuming your argument is finished.”
Robert was grinning even more than we were. “She can have whatever she likes. We’ll take your house, we’ll take your money, and in return we’ll give you a new niece or nephew.”
Leo hugged him then went to kiss Margaret, who was crying. I also hugged Robert and kissed Margaret. Henry’s killer had not yet been found and I was extremely glad she would be leaving my house.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
The wedding plans were marching along. Mother and Aunt Jane dragged me into London for an interminable week so I could find the perfect wedding dress. Custom said it had to be white with silver trim. I also had to wear a long lace scarf that was supposed to hang from my head all the way down to my ankles.
Once I was in London, I discovered that picking out the wedding dress was just the start of our shopping. Mother and Aunt Jane had planned to replace all of the dresses I owned with clothing “suitable” to the Countess of Camden. They bought me morning dresses, afternoon dresses, carriage dresses, evening dresses, pelisses, hats, gloves, muffs, stockings, reticules and hair ornaments. When I protested, Aunt Jane laughed and said they didn’t trust me ever to buy clothes for myself, and they were going to make certain I was provided for.
Not for the first time I wished that Leo wasn’t an earl. It was a fleeting wish, though, and I didn’t mean it. Leo was an earl. It was in his bones and in his blood. It had formed him from childhood. To wish he wasn’t an earl would be to wish he wasn’t Leo. It was going to be difficult for me to be a countess, but I was determined to do my best to live up to Leo’s standard. So I allowed Mother and Aunt Jane to pick out my clothes. They knew what I needed.
I also knew how important this wedding was to my mother. She had missed seeing me grow up and she was glowing with happiness that she was here for my wedding. I understood this and I did my best to be cooperative. I was unbelievably patient with the long discussions between Mother and Aunt Jane over what dress looked best, what shoes looked best, what hat looked best. When they asked for my opinion I invariably went with my mother’s choice.
Sometimes, as I stood in the dress shop modeling a dress, Mother and Aunt Jane circling me with frowns on their faces, I would think of the girl who had arrived at Camden Hall four months ago. I remembered how I had fought becoming a part of the decadent aristocratic family I had been thrust into. They had been as alien as if they lived on another planet. When I looked back on that prickly unhappy girl I realized how much I had changed.
Susan had come with us to London. She was to be my bridesmaid and of course she had to have a special dress too. I sat with saintly patience while she tried on dress after dress in shop after shop and I gave my opinion when I was asked. As the prices for this shopping expedition mounted higher and higher, I wondered who was paying for all this extravagance. When the last of our purchases had been delivered to our hotel I asked Mother that question.
“Susan’s father is paying for her dress and Leo is paying for everything else,” she replied. “My husband told me he was happy to pay for your wedding dress, but when I mentioned this to Leo he wouldn’t hear of it. He was perfectly prepared to pay for the entire wedding, including your bride clothes, and there was to be no more discussion on the subject.”
I said, “It was very kind of Sir John to offer to pay for my dress. He is not my father and I only just met him.”
“He wanted to pay for it, Isabel,” Mother said earnestly. “He is very fond of you.”
I put an arm around her shoulder and hugged her. “Tell him I appreciate his offer.” I knew he had made the offer for Mother’s sake not for mine, and it was nice to know he cared about her so much.
Finally all of the purchases were delivered and packed into our coach. We had taken Leo’s old coach because it afforded more space for storing baggage than did his newer coach. As we drove out of London I leaned back against the cushioned seat and smiled. We were going home.
Home. When I came to Camden Hall I never dreamed I would ever think of it as home. Home isn’t a place, home is people, I thought. Wherever Leo and Papa are, that is home for me.
Then I thought of Alonzo, and amended my previous conclusion. Home is people and a horse.
*
The day of our wedding arrived, and the sun was out. The wedding was scheduled for ten o’clock at St. Michael Church in the village. Camden Hall had its own chapel, but it had not been used for religious purposes for many years. Leo said he preferred the church where he worshipped every Sunday, and so we were to be married at St. Michael.
Mother and I and Elisabeth breakfasted in my room so Leo wouldn’t see me before the wedding. After breakfast Mother and Elisabeth helped me dress. After Elisabeth had pinned the circlet of roses that was the headpiece that anchored my lace scarf, I went to look in the mirror. Behind me I heard Mother sniffle. I turned around to see tears streaming down her face.
“Mother!” I went to stand close to her. I didn’t dare hug her while I was wearing this hugely expensive dress, but I patted her back. “Is anything wrong?”
“No.” She looked at me through her tears. “You just look so beautiful and I am so fortunate to have you back.”
Damn the bloody dress, I thought, hugged her and said, “I’m lucky to have found you. I never told you this, but I didn’t want to meet you. I thought it would be a betrayal of my mother in heaven if I met you. But now I understand that my mother in heaven wants me to be h
appy. That’s what she wanted when she was on this earth, and I know that’s what she wants now. She is glad I have you.”
“Thank you, my darling. You are such a generous girl.”
I had never thought of myself as generous, but I allowed the comment to pass. My eyes went to Elisabeth. She was crying too. I went to give her a hug and said, “You look beautiful in your new dress. Don’t get it wet by crying on it.”
She wiped her cheeks with her hand. “I am so h-happy,” she said in a strangled voice.
Leo had driven Elisabeth and me into Lambourn to purchase her a dress for the wedding. She was going to sit with Papa at the front of the church. As Elisabeth disappeared into her room to get a handkerchief, a knock came at the door and Susan came in. She looked lovely in the pale blue dress that matched her eyes.
“Ohhh Isabel,” she said in a hushed voice. “You look so beautiful.”
I looked back in the mirror and saw a tall slender girl in a long white and silver gown. The front of the gown had a small scoop baring my neck (Leo had once called my neck “swanlike”) and I wore a single strand of pearls that had belonged to my Maman. I didn’t know if they were real and I didn’t care. They were one of the few ornaments she had owned, and I treasured them. I wore pearl earrings as well, given to me by Aunt Augusta! She told me her father had given them to her when she made her come-out and she wanted me to have them. I had been sincerely touched by her gesture.
When Elisabeth and Mother had repaired their faces, Susan opened the door and held it for the three of us to go out. When we reached the staircase, Susan bent to hold the small train of my dress. “We don’t want the bride to fall down the stairs and miss her wedding,” she said brightly.
I walked carefully down the grand staircase, which had become as familiar to me as our farmhouse in France. I’m getting married, I thought. Pray for me, Maman. I am getting married!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
