Mary Nichols

by Society Bride Working Man

  ‘Yes, indeed. I asked his valet, who assures me he will make a full recovery by luncheon. I am sorry that you will be deprived of his company this morning, Lucinda. No doubt he will make it up to you this afternoon.’

  ‘Oh, please do not worry about me, Lady Gorridge,’ she said. ‘Rosemary and I can amuse ourselves, I am sure.’ They were in the breakfast room, a small, sunny room looking out on to the park, which was dotted with fine specimen trees and grazing deer. In the distance she could see the sparkle of water. ‘Perhaps we will take a stroll in the grounds.’

  ‘Oh, yes, go wherever you please. You will find the path through the park to the lake a particularly pleasant one when the weather is hot. I would ask Dorothea to accompany you, but she has a music lesson this morning and her teacher is a little temperamental. He will not accept excuses.’

  Thus it was that Lucy and Rosie found themselves dressed in pale muslin with a parasol apiece, wandering across the short grass of the park. The conversation naturally turned to the events of the previous evening.

  ‘Do you think Mr Gorridge was drunk, Lucy?’ Rosie asked her.

  ‘His mother said he was taken ill.’

  ‘She would have to make excuses for him, wouldn’t she? I am sure he was drunk.’

  ‘If he was, I expect it was because that navvy plied him with drink and he is not used to it. It is well known that navvies are great drinkers.’

  ‘How do you know he was a navvy?’

  Lucy was caught out for a moment, but recovered quickly. ‘Lady Gorridge said the man worked for the railway engineer, so I guessed he was.’

  ‘He was magnificent, wasn’t he? I never met such a strong man, and the way he had Mr Gorridge slung over his shoulder, it was so funny, I wanted to laugh.’

  ‘It is as well you didn’t. It would have affronted Lady Gorridge.’

  ‘And he was so bold, wasn’t he? Later, I mean, when we met him in the corridor. He did not seem at all overawed.’

  ‘Overawed! I am sure he doesn’t know the meaning of the word. I expect that is the disrespectful way he speaks to all the women of his acquaintance and thinks nothing of it. He probably thought he was being gallant.’

  ‘He was handsome though, don’t you think?’

  ‘I am sure I don’t think of him at all,’ Lucy lied. ‘He is nothing but a common labourer.’

  ‘So he may be, but not many labourers are that good to look at. He was clean for a start and I liked the way his hair waved and the gleam in his eye, as if he found the whole world amusing.’

  ‘Rosie! How could you?’

  ‘Oh, go on, Lucy, don’t be so stuffy. I am sure you noticed it, too. You turned scarlet when he spoke to us in the corridor.’

  ‘If I did, it was with mortification.’

  ‘Is that why you pushed me into my room, or was it because you wanted him all to yourself?’

  ‘Rosie, I am losing all patience with you. I wish I had not told Papa I wanted you to come and keep me company, if that is all you can talk about.’

  ‘Whatever has got into you, Lucy? I haven’t done anything wrong. Talking about the man is not a sin. I am not about to fall into his arms and run away with him.’

  ‘Now you are being silly.’

  ‘Yes, of course I am. I would never jeopardise my future in that foolish way. I mean to make a good marriage, and that means at least eighty thousand a year, a house in town, a country estate and a hunting lodge in good hunting country. That doesn’t mean I can’t admire specimens like that navvy. If he really was a navvy. I have my doubts about that.’

  Lucy was beginning to wonder about that herself, but decided not to encourage her sister by admitting it. ‘You have high aspirations, Rosie.’

  ‘Why not? I want my husband to be at least Mr Gorridge’s equal. Maybe there will be someone among the guests coming this afternoon who will fit the bill.’

  ‘You are still only seventeen. There is plenty of time to enjoy being single first.’

  ‘And I mean to, don’t worry.’ They had arrived at the shore of the lake and stood looking across the water. It was so wide they could barely see the bank on the other side. It was edged by reeds and bulrushes and a flock of water birds bobbed up and down, too far away to identify accurately. ‘It’s big,’ she murmured. ‘I wonder how far the Viscount’s land stretches.’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Just think, you will be mistress of it.’

  ‘Only if I marry Mr Gorridge, and then only on the demise of the Viscount.’

  ‘Well, you are going to marry him, aren’t you?’

  ‘I don’t know. He hasn’t asked me yet and perhaps he won’t.’

  ‘Of course he will. That’s what this stay is all about, isn’t it? For you and he to come to an understanding.’

  ‘But I am not sure I do understand. I do not know why Papa and Mama are so keen on him. If a man can leave his house guests to go and get drunk…’

  ‘Oh, you are not going to hold that against him, surely? All men get drunk sometimes. Why, I have known Papa to get a little tipsy on occasion and Mama thinks nothing of it. Perhaps he was a little nervous of the future. It must take courage to propose, especially if the poor man has no encouragement from his intended.’

  Lucy laughed. ‘You are probably right. Let us turn back. It must be nearly time for luncheon.’

  They turned and made their way back to the house, which was just as imposing from the side as it was from the front. It was perfect; there wasn’t a window that did not gleam, not a step that did not dazzle with its whiteness, not a blade of grass out of place nor a weed in the flower beds. It needed an army to keep it like that.

  When they arrived they discovered more guests had arrived and luncheon would be taken in the large dining room at the front of the house. Lucy and Rosie went up to their rooms to tidy themselves.

  The atmosphere of an intimate family gathering disappeared during lunch. The company consisted of Sir Edwin Benwistle and his wife and daughter, Ursula, distant relatives of Lady Gorridge; Mr and Mrs Ashbury, Victor’s parents, who evidently knew nothing of the previous evening’s escapade, for Mrs Ashbury continually commented on the fact that her son did not look ‘quite the thing,’ to which he replied irritably that he was perfectly well. Others of the party were friends of Viscount Gorridge who were there for the fishing and shooting and who had brought wives and daughters, so that the party numbered twenty.

  ‘The lake is well stocked,’ his lordship told them as they enjoyed a sumptuous luncheon. ‘I propose a little competition to see who can bag the greatest weight. A magnum of champagne for the winner.’

  ‘Supposing the winner is a lady,’ Rosemary asked.

  ‘A lady?’ he queried in surprise.

  ‘Why not, my lord? I shouldn’t think the fish are particular whose bait they take.’

  ‘Well, I suppose a lady could take part.’ He beamed at her in a condescending manner. ‘A separate prize for the winning lady, then. A new bonnet, eh, what?’

  ‘Silly idea,’ Edward murmured to Lucy, who was seated beside him.

  ‘What, that a lady can fish or that she should win a new hat?’

  ‘Neither—the idea of fishing as a pastime.’ He was feeling decidedly under the weather, but to have absented himself from luncheon would have been unforgivable in his father’s eyes and he was already in trouble as it was, having to beg the price of a barrel of ale because a gambling debt was a debt of honour and he had spent his monthly allowance. But he’d be blowed if he’d let that navvy have the last laugh. He didn’t remember being brought home, but Victor had furnished the details and said his mother had put it about that he had been taken ill and Mr Masters had asked the navvy to drive him home in the gig. But, damn it, the fellow did not have to carry him into the house.

  ‘You do not care for it?’

  ‘No, I would rather go for a ride. What about it, my lady, shall you leave them to their fishing and allow me to show you the countryside on horseback?�
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  ‘If Mama agrees, I would like that.’

  ‘Lady Luffenham, will you allow me to take Lady Lucinda for a ride this afternoon?’ he asked.

  Lady Luffenham looked at her husband, who gave a small nod. ‘Very well, but take someone with you.’

  ‘Victor will come, won’t you, Cousin?’

  ‘I meant a lady,’ the Countess put in quickly. ‘For appearance’s sake. Perhaps Rosemary.’

  ‘Oh, Mama,’ she protested. ‘I want to go fishing.’

  ‘Then you have been nominated, Dotty,’ Edward told his sister before Lady Luffenham could insist. ‘We shall be four. That should satisfy the proprieties.’

  As soon as the meal was finished, everyone dispersed. The fishermen and women went to select their rods and bait and to be shown their stations round the lake, others who preferred to stroll set off down the drive and the elderly went up to their rooms to take an afternoon nap. The four riders went to the stables, where Edward made a great fuss about choosing a mount for Lucy.

  ‘Cinder is a good lady’s mount,’ he said, pointing to a horse with a mottled grey coat. ‘Will he do?’

  ‘Yes, thank you,’ she said, realising that calling him a lady’s mount probably meant he was docile to the point of sluggishness. She was a good rider and would have preferred an animal with a little spirit, but decided not to make an issue of it.

  Dorothea had her own horse, which was only slightly more lively, and the two men had big bays. Once they were all saddled and mounted, the four riders set off at a gentle trot across the park. ‘We’ll go up on to Gorrymoor,’ Edward said. ‘It has some spectacular views.’

  He led the way, skirting the village and trotting through the wood that lay behind it. The path was narrow and there was little opportunity for conversation, which Lucy was glad of. She was studying Edward’s back and was obliged to admit he sat a horse very well. It reminded her that she had promised herself to concentrate on his good points, so, while they walked their horses through the leafy shade, she began to list them. There was, of course, his obvious wealth and prospects. He was handsome in his own way, had a slim figure and was well turned out. The cost of clothes would not be an issue with him. He was educated, but how well she had no idea; his manners were polite and he did not appear to be governed by temper. Perhaps she had been unkind to call him a cold fish, because any show of passion would not have endeared him to her.

  And then she came to a stop. She had no idea of his likes and dislikes, whether he would be a loving and affectionate father to his children, what his plans were concerning the life he meant to lead. Surely not one of indolence, which appeared to be the case at the moment. No doubt Lord Gorridge was grooming him to take over the estate and that was no mean task. Could she learn to love him? Was love something that could be learned? According to her mother, it was. But her mother belonged to another generation, when young ladies were expected to obey without question, to marry from a very narrow selection of gentlemen. Society was changing and changing fast and the old ideas were dying, but not quickly enough to help her.

  They emerged from the trees, trotted up a narrow lane past a single cottage with a few chickens pecking in the yard and a dog on a chain, which barked ferociously as they passed the gate. Then they were on the moor and Edward urged his horse to a canter, followed by Victor, then Dorothea. Lucy kicked hard, hoping to find Cinder had a little life in him. He obeyed after a time and she realised his sluggishness was habit; he had never been given his head before. Once urged into a canter, he went well and she soon caught the others as they reached the highest point and stopped.

  ‘There!’ Edward said, waving his crop about him. ‘All that is Gorridge land—the farms, the village of Gorryham and goodness knows how many smaller hamlets and farms. There, on the far side of the lake, is Luffenham land. See the river—it’s the same one that flows past Luffenham Hall.’

  ‘What are those white posts?’ Lucy asked, having noticed a row of them following the line of the river.

  ‘That’s the line of the proposed railway.’

  ‘I see. It looks as though they are going to cross my father’s estate after all.’

  ‘So they are. There is Gorridge land, then a strip of Luffenham and then Moorcroft’s grounds. After that there are several small holdings before it reaches Peterborough and joins up with the proposed line to Grantham.’

  ‘But I do not think Papa will agree to it. He is against the railway going over his property.’

  ‘Oh, he will change his mind. My father will persuade him that it makes sense. We need the railways to carry freight as well as passengers and having to avoid the Earl’s strip will cause no end of problems and put the cost up.’

  ‘You sound as if you know a great deal about it.’ Now they had touched on the subject of railways, she began to ponder the navvy again, just when she thought she had put him out of her mind. Would it remind Mr Gorridge of him, too?

  It was Victor who laughed and said, ‘We had a lesson in railway building last evening, didn’t we, Teddy?’

  He looked daggers at his cousin. ‘From Mr Masters, the engineer, yes. I met him to discuss progress.’

  ‘Is that what it was?’ Dorothea put in. ‘I thought it was to enjoy a convivial evening with the hoi polloi. I cannot think why you like to frequent that common alehouse. It is full of peasants.’

  ‘Why should I not go there?’ he demanded. ‘It belongs to our father and the men I see there owe him their living and they know their place. And they know mine, too.’

  Lucy wasn’t sure what to make of that statement. ‘But the railway engineer wasn’t one of those,’ she said.

  ‘No, of course not, but he’s working in the area and so decided to stay there.’

  ‘What about the man who brought you home last night?’ Dorothea posed the question Lucy did not like to ask.

  ‘His assistant, I think, some sort of jumped-up navvy. I cannot be sure, for we were not formally introduced and then I was taken unwell.’

  ‘Are you fully recovered?’ Lucy asked him.

  ‘Yes. It is a weakness I have that occurs now and again, but nothing to concern yourself with, my dear. I am, as my physician will confirm, hale and hearty.’

  ‘Goodness, I wasn’t questioning the state of your health, Mr Gorridge, simply making a polite enquiry. I suggest we change the subject.’

  ‘I could not agree more. Shall we ride on?’

  They walked their horses in silence for a moment, not at all sure what subject would be acceptable, then Edward suddenly said, ‘My horse is getting lazy. I’m going to give him a gallop.’ And with that he set off across the moor, followed by a determined Victor.

  ‘You must forgive my brother, Lady Lucinda,’ Dorothea said as they followed at a more sedate pace. ‘He knows he ought to be thinking of marriage and he has said how much he favours you, but he is perhaps a little anxious as to your reply and that makes him behave in a silly fashion. He has always been the same, ever since childhood. I suppose it is a kicking over the traces, a way of showing he is not to be coerced and will make up his own mind, even when it is what he wanted in the first place.’

  ‘I hope he does not think he is being coerced into marrying me. If I thought that, I should never entertain the idea.’

  ‘But it would be such a good match. You would be good for him, I think. Mama thinks so, and of course Papa and the Earl have so much in common, both from ancient families with adjoining estates.’

  ‘I cannot see how having adjoining estates matters. I am not an heiress—I have a brother, you know, so no advantage would come to Mr Gorridge through that.’

  ‘Yes, I know. I heard your mama talking to mine about him. She is devoted to him, isn’t she?’

  ‘Of course she is, but she has no favourites and loves us all.’

  ‘How fortunate you are. I think I should like to have you for a sister-in-law.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She did not want to continue with the conversation. Even if
Edward was not being coerced, she felt as if she was, and, like Edward, she wanted to rebel. How could two people who had been pushed into a marriage expect it to be happy? She pointed at the men, who had stopped and dismounted a little way ahead. ‘Shall we join the gentlemen?’ She spurred her horse and this time he responded a little more enthusiastically.

  Edward and Victor were standing on the highest point of the hill deep in conversation, but stopped when the ladies rode up. Lucy noticed they were standing with their backs to a large boulder, which was a shelter from the wind that blew across the moor, and were facing a second valley. Here, too, were white stakes, but they stopped short on the opposite slope. ‘More of the railway surveyors’ work?’ she queried.

  ‘Yes. They are down there, can you see?’ Edward said.

  Her heart jumped into her mouth when she saw where he was pointing. The tall navvy and his two companions were pacing the ground, quite oblivious to the people who watched them from the opposite hill. ‘So I see.’ She tried to sound indifferent.

  ‘I want a word with that fellow,’ Edward said.

  ‘I must go back,’ Dorothea said. ‘My horse is tiring and I promised Mama I would visit Nanny this afternoon.’ To Lucy, she explained, ‘Nanny is our old nurse and lives in a little cottage in the village and Mama likes to keep an eye on her to see she wants for nothing.’

  ‘Would you like me to come with you?’

  ‘No, you enjoy the rest of your ride. Victor will keep me company, won’t you, Victor?’ The young man was addressed with heavy emphasis. He looked surprised for a moment, but a meaningful look from Dorothea stopped him protesting and he chuckled and remounted. ‘Delighted, my dear.’

  Before Lucy could say a word, they had ridden off and she was left with Edward.

  ‘Not very subtle, are they?’ he commented. ‘But no matter, we will continue our ride. You will not mind if I stop and speak to those railway people, will you? You need not speak to them yourself, or even approach if you think it will be distasteful. I shan’t be above a minute or two.’ He did not sound like a man with marriage on his mind, though he undoubtedly realised why Dorothea had inveigled Victor away.