Legacy Redeemed (Redeemed, Restored, Reclaimed Book 1)

by Aubrey Grayson

  Another good reason for Mrs. Smart’s presence. In theory, there would be no need to actually swim, but if someone was swept away, the dipper could retrieve them.

  She pulled off her morning dress and put the yellow flannel robe over her chemise. It seemed heavy and impractical. Surely the water would pull at the material. Ah, well. It was all that was available, so no sense questioning it.

  She sat on the bench once she had finished changing.

  Soon she heard the sounds of the driver making ready, and then the bathing machine lurched forward. Susannah put her hands on the walls to steady herself, the box being so small that she could easily reach any side.

  She really hoped this was worth it. Letitia was already appearing healthier after only a few hours of improved water intake. But the improvements were small, if Susannah was honest. Swelling was reduced but far from gone, and Susannah worried about her friend. If she were still a praying woman… But she was not. Best leave that to Letitia and Mr. Robinson.

  The sound of the wheels changed now, as they hit the water, splashing through the mud and sand. And soon, Susannah could see the water lapping up through the cracks in the bottom of the bathing machine. Finally, the box stopped moving, and she heard the sounds of the horses being detached from their burden, followed by their departure. After a moment of hearing only the sounds of the sea, there was a rap at the second door to the box.

  She opened the door, and their stood Mrs. Smart.

  “Are you ready, Mrs. Stanhope?”

  Susannah nodded, blinking away the sun reflected in the tiny crinkles in the water’s surface. Letitia’s bathing machine had been moved to the sea as well and now stood only a few feet away from her own. The door to it opened, and Letitia emerged, clad in her own yellow flannel robe. A big grin covered her face from ear to ear. Susannah called out a greeting, and her friend replied in kind.

  “Who’ll be going first, my dears?” Mrs. Smart asked. She stood a few feet below them, her feet in water up to her knees, her skirts sloshing around her, for she was not wearing a robe, but rather a standard affair for women of her class. “Letitia, I know you are experienced in the water,” she called. “Shall I dip your friend first?”

  Letitia called back. “Oh, Mrs. Smart! Must we actually do the dipping part? It’s my least favorite part. We’d like to just splash around a bit instead.”

  Mrs. Smart’s eyes narrowed at Letitia, and then she glanced back at Susannah before answering. “Letitia, you told me you were here for medicinal reasons, did you not? If so, that requires dipping.”

  Letitia sighed. “Well, then dip me, but spare her, if you will. It’s her first time, and I want it to be a pleasant experience.”

  The older woman bristled at this. “I got many a customer who love a good dip. Might be your friend is one of them.”

  “Mrs. Smart, you know I’ve no wish to offend you. I know you are an excellent dipper, the best Seaton has to offer. It’s why we came to you. Just please let her have a bit of fun in the water. She has no need of a cure. And come dip me and get it over with, so I can join her!”

  Mrs. Smart looked at Susannah a bit reluctantly before agreeing to Letitia’s suggestion. “All right, miss, I’ll do it, but only because I’ve known you since you was a wee one. And if your friend comes back again, she’ll be getting dipped just the same as everyone.”

  Letitia smiled gaily. “I knew you’d come round, dear woman! Now come demonstrate your work to her, and give me a dip!”

  Mrs. Smart indicated to Susannah that she could climb down the steps and sit, allowing her legs into the water while Letitia was being dipped. Susannah sat down and was immediately grateful she would not be dunked into the cold water all at once.

  By now, though, Mrs. Smart had reached Letitia and was drawing her into the water. She instructed Letitia to breathe deeply, then before Susannah knew what she was about, she shoved her friend under the surface of the water, a few floating strands of red hair the only visible remainder of her. Letitia did not reemerge until Susannah was beginning to get nervous, but then just as suddenly, Mrs. Smart pulled Letitia out of the water. Droplets streamed from Letitia, and she gulped for air. Soon, she was back to rights, though rather wetter than usual. Mrs. Smart readied her again, and the whole process was repeated. Letitia balked when Mrs. Smart tried to ready her for a third dip.

  “Why are you doing a third one? Two is the usual number.”

  Mrs. Smart nodded. “Aye, two is the usual, for one who ain’t got anything wrong with ’em. But you are here for a reason, and we’d best make sure it’s taken care of. The number for you is three.”

  Susannah took this opportunity to ask, “Mrs. Smart, have you seen women come to sea bathe in Letitia’s condition? Do you believe it helps?”

  “Aye, it helps.” Mrs. Smart nodded again, sagely. “We don’t have a lot of quality folks come to do it, but the local women always sea bathe when they puff up so. It’s the best thing to do. I’m right proud of our Mrs. Powell here for coming. It’ll save her babe and herself, for sure, if anything can.”

  Relief flooded Susannah. She trusted her mother’s journal, but this idea had seemed to upset Mr. Robinson. And Mr. Daventry, though she supposed he had no right to be upset. Friend of Letitia’s or no, it was no business of his what medical treatments she decided to take. Horrid man. Definitely no Prince Charming.

  Mrs. Smart dunked Letitia for the final time, and Susannah wondered if she could somehow keep Letitia appearing ill so that Susannah wouldn’t have to help Mr. Daventry. Oh, so sorry. I’m afraid she is far too ill. I couldn’t leave her side! But then, of course, it would appear she hadn’t helped at all, and perhaps her methods would be tossed out, which wouldn’t do either.

  Now Letitia was wading toward her, so Susannah stepped farther into the water as well. Mrs. Smart sat down on the steps of Letitia’s bathing machine, admonishing the two women to spend no more than a quarter of an hour frolicking.

  Letitia was beaming. “I feel so light! I have been feeling so burdensome of late. It is quite refreshing to actually feel buoyant!”

  Susannah enjoyed the feeling too. Her burdens weren’t physical, but somehow even the burden of her uncertain future seemed lighter in this moment. Not quite gone, but lighter was still nice. “It is lovely to be in the water.”

  “How often must one take this cure? Because I confess I want to do it daily.”

  Susannah laughed. “Let’s see if it helps. If it does, we should definitely continue to do it regularly until the babe comes. And you heard Mrs. Smart—we have reason to believe that it will help.”

  Letitia sighed contentedly, splashing gently with her fingers. “Excellent. I will be well enough that you don’t have to sit with me but that we can come bathe in the sea. That way you can assist Nick with his treasure hunt. Happy circumstances all around!”

  This time Susannah’s laugh held a wry note. “I very much doubt that Mr. Daventry would agree with you.” To say nothing of her own sentiments.

  “Oh, don’t worry about Nick. He’ll figure out soon enough that you are a much cleverer partner than I am.” Now she wriggled her eyebrows rather suggestively. “Not to mention lovelier.”

  Susannah’s heart gave a painful squeeze. How she wished her life were different, that she could sink into peals of girlish giggles with Letitia, knowing that Mr. Daventry had no reason not to be charmed by her. That she could launch into innocent flirtation, secure in the knowledge that she was marriageable and not the woman of low repute she knew herself to be. “You are too kind, my friend. But I myself am hoping that you are well enough that you can help him yourself.”

  Letitia eyed her speculatively, the merriment dropping from her face. “In my experience, most women are quite happy to have a reason to spend time in Nick’s company. And it isn’t as though you’ll be alone. You can work together at the vicarage. Or if you are at Poppledown Park, Gabriel can join you.”

  “Gabriel?” Susannah had heard them mention the n
ame.

  “Nick’s son. He’s quite delightful. I met him the other day. Well, that is to say, I knew him when he was an infant, but after Mary died… Well, it’s been several years since a Daventry has graced Seaton’s presence.”

  So Nick had a son. And apparently was widowed. She supposed that would account for at least a bit of his cantankerous nature. Loss had a way of making a person hard. At least on the inside. But she wasn’t about to feel sorry for him. Not when he’d treated her the way he had. Knowing about his trouble made him seem more human, but that didn’t excuse his behavior.

  “Tell me, what is this business about a treasure hunt, anyway? I’ve never known a grown man to participate in one outside of a silly house party.”

  Letitia sighed, concern for her friend evident on her face. “Yes, it is odd. It was the first thing he told Father and me when he returned, before you joined us for dinner. The hunt was his grandfather’s plan, apparently. Nick was to be married on the day of his thirtieth birthday, and if he isn’t, then the inheritance goes to his cousin, and Nick must complete this treasure hunt to have any hope of receiving something. He’s not sure if there even will be a treasure, but he hopes so. He loved his grandfather very much, so perhaps he’s only doing it out of respect for him.”

  “So he’s already lost the home?”

  “Not necessarily. He won’t turn thirty until almost Michaelmas. He could marry before that.”

  Was it Susannah’s imagination, or did that speculative glint reappear in her friend’s eye? Best to discourage it. “It seems a waste of time to be here in the country chasing after clues when there are women in London who would give their left arm to marry the brother of an earl. Certainly the season is over, but all he would have to do is find out which ladies didn’t receive offers and go off to find them.”

  An understanding grin tipped up the corners of Letitia’s mouth. “Yes, I have no doubt he could do. But Nick is one of the rare gentlemen hoping for a match made for more than an inheritance. Mary was a special woman, and I think he’ll have a hard time finding one he feels is worth marrying after her.”

  Susannah’s breath whooshed out in a sigh of relief. She had misunderstood Letitia’s intentions after all. She wasn’t trying to play matchmaker, for even if she didn’t know the exact truth about Susannah, she at least knew that Mr. Daventry wouldn’t be interested in the likes of her.

  “Well then, I suppose he’d better do the treasure hunt after all.”

  Letitia’s merry smile was back in its usual place of residence. “Well done, Susannah! I knew you’d come around!”

  “Ha! I didn’t say I should do the treasure hunt. Only that he should!” Letitia’s grin was irresistible, and Susannah couldn’t resist teasing her back. “Besides, he hasn’t asked me, so I haven’t anything to come around to!”

  “Well, there is that. Please just consider it when he does. I think it would be good for both of you.” Letitia cocked her head demurely and batted her eyes beseechingly at Susannah, who decided it was high time for another topic.

  She gestured to the cliffs to the northeast. “Did someone actually build a castle atop the cliffs there? I think I would be afraid to live so close to the edge.”

  “It isn’t a castle really—only a folly. Although a rather extravagant one.”

  Susannah looked quizzically at her friend. “It has three towers.”

  Letitia laughed. “I said it was extravagant. Actually, Nick’s grandfather used to own the land on that part of the cliff. And Nick’s grandmother loved the sea, so he built a castle for his queen. Father says she used to love spending time there. And as children, my brother and I joined Nick’s family there often. But in his will, he donated the land to the people of Seaton, so it’s not part of Nick’s inheritance.”

  Drat it all! Susannah had been looking for a way to avoid talking about Nick, and the first new topic had brought her directly back to his family. She carefully selected a question that should have little to do with him. “So who uses the folly now?”

  Letitia looked carefully at Susannah before she answered with a question of her own. “Do you know much about the economy of a coastal town, Susannah?”

  Susannah shrugged. “Many fishermen, I know. And perhaps a few more innkeepers than usual, for those who come to take the sea air. Other than that, I assume mostly the same as any other English village.”

  Letitia’s mouth crooked, and she glanced over at Mrs. Smart, who was too far from them to hear their conversation. “Well, you are right about the fishermen and innkeepers. But the truth is, there is another…industry. It’s not something we usually discuss with outsiders, because it isn’t precisely legal. But many of our fishermen are also in the smuggling business. For example, Mrs. Smart’s husband.”

  “Smugglers! And you and your father haven’t reported it? You condone this?”

  Now it was Letitia’s turn to shrug. “If we were to report every smuggler, we’d lose half the parish or more. And the others would likely starve to death. Smugglers have been in Seaton for hundreds of years, and most of them are upstanding citizens, apart from it.”

  Susannah glanced back up at the enormous folly. “So the smugglers use it now? Surely that isn’t what Nick’s grandfather would want?”

  “I don’t know. It might be exactly what he had in mind. He was a kind man and wanted to make sure that people had ways to feed their families.”

  Susannah was still wrestling with this new information when the call came from Mrs. Smart.

  “All right, my ladies! You’ve been pickling long enough! Back to the machines so we can get you dry and warm!”

  Susannah’s questions would have to wait.

  Chapter 15

  Nick’s trudge to the vicarage the following morning found him no happier than he had been the day before. The only advantage it had over yesterday was that he did not meet Mrs. Stanhope on his way. After all, she was the reason for his second sleepless night in a row. He’d gone over and over the conversation he must have with her. He did not consider himself a proud man, but asking Mrs. Stanhope for her assistance would be lowering indeed. He had decided to offer her a sum of money. Perhaps that way he could convince himself that he was simply assisting a widow. Or at least protecting Mr. Robinson and Letitia from an adventuress.

  But deep down he knew he was simply asking for help from a woman of probably unsavory character. Cad that he was, he found himself almost hoping that Letitia would remain ill enough that Mrs. Stanhope could not be spared. Regretting the thought instantly, he sent up a quick prayer that she was much improved.

  By God’s grace, that prayer was answered. The smile on Mr. Robinson’s face was telling enough, even before Nick set eyes on Letitia herself. She looked…better. At least compared to the day before. Part of him was surprised that Mrs. Stanhope’s suggestions had helped. But mostly he was relieved to see Letitia smiling.

  Alas, Mrs. Stanhope was here as well.

  He ignored her and walked directly to Letitia, dropping a kiss on her forehead and giving her hand a squeeze. “You’re looking quite refreshed this morning.”

  Letitia’s nose wrinkled. “Hardly. I am still a puffy dumpling, and we both know it. But the swelling does seem to be going down a bit, and I’m grateful for it.” She gestured to Mrs. Stanhope. “Susannah’s ideas seem to be helping greatly.”

  At this, Mrs. Stanhope, who had become pointedly engrossed in her embroidery upon his arrival, looked up and smiled at Letitia. “I’m so glad. Oh, and I meant to tell you. I was doing some reading in my mother’s journal last night and found some more information on a tisane that might help as well. I’ve just got to search to see if I can find the herbs. They’re very common though, so perhaps I’ll find them all in the garden at the cottage.”

  “I’ll try anything that brilliant mother of yours suggested.” His friend beamed at the interloper, and Nick tried not to roll his eyes. Of course he was grateful Letitia was well, but he didn’t want to give any credit to t
his woman. A woman as pretty and corrupt as she should not be allowed to be clever enough to heal people.

  But dwelling on that would not make his task any easier. Perhaps he should just get it over with.

  “As it happens, Mrs. Stanhope,” he said, “that makes two things I must give you thanks for.”

  Her brows rose a bit, and her chin jutted slightly forward, questioningly. “Oh?”

  “As soon as I returned home yesterday, I discovered that the longcase clock in the hallway was stuck at twelve after ten.”

  A wide grin broke out across her face, making her even more maddeningly lovely. “Oh! Did you find the next clue then?”

  “I did.”

  “How lovely! Was it very well hidden? Tell me how you found it!”

  Her enthusiasm was heartening. Perhaps he would find this request easier than he had thought.

  He told the two ladies about the secret compartment, and Mrs. Stanhope’s excitement was almost palpable.

  “How very amusing! Thank you so much, Mr. Daventry, for sharing this story with me. It’s very exciting, mysterious clues and secret compartments and all that. I haven’t had so much diversion for quite some time.”

  “Bravo, Susannah!” Letitia added. “See, Nick. I told you she would be a far better help than I!”

  He lifted his eyebrows toward Letitia, then turned back to Mrs. Stanhope. “Well, about that—I was hoping that you would consent to helping me further. There are more clues, and frankly, I have a bit of a deadline.”

  The smile vanished from her face. Her eyes darted from him to Letitia. “Help you? Mr. Daventry, you shouldn’t feel beholden by Mrs. Powell’s request. I know how charming she can be, but I really doubt I would be much help at all.”

  “Nonsense. Of course you will be. You already have been.”