A Debt From the Past

by Beryl Matthews

  She stepped forward, her smile of welcome back in place. ‘Oh, Helen, I’m so pleased to see you at last.’

  At that moment Lord Sharland strode in. ‘Ah, welcome, my dear. I’m delighted you are here. I shall be leaving for India earlier than expected, and Elizabeth is going to need you.’

  ‘I’m happy to be here, your lordship, and I thank you for your kindness in seeing to the sale of the horses for me, and to Elizabeth for her help and support.’

  So formal, Beth thought in dismay. Helen had always called her Beth, but she was obviously determined to take on the role of companion. This was going to take time, but, knowing the strength of her friend’s character, Helen would eventually heal.

  ‘Think nothing of it.’ Edward smiled and beckoned to the footman. ‘Stanley, take Miss Helen’s case up to her room, please. It’s the one next to Miss Elizabeth.’

  ‘At once, your lordship.’

  ‘Now, if you ladies will excuse me, I have business to attend to, and I am sure you have a great deal to talk about.’

  ‘Will you be joining us for dinner?’ she asked her godfather.

  ‘Of course. I’ve already informed Cook.’

  ‘Excellent. We shall look forward to hearing all about your plans for your trip to India.’ Beth kissed her godfather and then turned to Jenkins. ‘We would like a large pot of tea and some pastries in my sitting room, please.’

  The butler bowed and hurried away to the kitchens.

  Cook had obviously anticipated the request because a trolley arrived the moment they were settled. Once they had cups of tea in their hands, Beth looked closely at her friend and was swept with such sadness that it was difficult to hide. Helen had been through a terrible ordeal and it showed. ‘Is it all finished, Helen?’ she asked gently.

  ‘Yes.’ She managed a faint smile. ‘Every penny of the debts has been paid, and I have the receipts to prove it.’

  ‘I am relieved to hear that, but I wish there had been another way.’

  ‘There wasn’t.’ Helen’s expression was one of grief mixed with determination. ‘The debts were so huge that everything had to be sold, and quickly; otherwise, I would have had people pounding on my door for the rest of my life. I couldn’t have lived like that, Elizabeth. Now no one can make a claim upon me.’

  ‘Of course I understand. You have always had a clear head – and courage.’

  ‘And stubborn pride.’ Helen grimaced and then changed the subject. ‘I am grateful to be here, Elizabeth, but now you must tell me what my duties will be as your paid companion.’

  ‘Well, as you know, my guardian will be away for many months, so I will need your help in running the estate. Your advice will be invaluable, and we shall be busy. Mr Greenway is an excellent manager, but Father taught me how to handle the business side, and I like to keep an eye on everything pertaining to the estate. ‘But –’ she looked at Helen straight in the eyes – ‘the thing I need most of all from you is your friendship. You are a guest in this house, Helen, and a very welcome one.’ Elizabeth put down her cup and took her friend’s hands in hers. ‘I know you need to feel you are earning your keep – and you will be, for this is a very large estate – but you have always called me Beth, so please do not change that.’

  ‘Of course.’ A hint of a teasing smile crossed Helen’s face. ‘I expect I would have soon forgotten to be so formal and slipped back into our old ways.’

  ‘Of course you would.’ Beth smiled in relief and relaxed for the first time. The signs were that it wouldn’t take Helen long to recover from her ordeal. What she had just gone through would have destroyed many a young woman, but not her friend. She was made of sterner stuff!

  ‘I will be delighted to help in any way I can, Beth, and to be kept busy is just what I need.’ Helen shook her head sadly. ‘When we were children running wild around the estate, we never imagined we would end up like this. We are both twenty years old and we thought that by now we would be attending balls and social gatherings with a string of young men vying for our attention. Instead, you are working constantly, and I am destitute. How did such misfortune come upon us?’

  ‘We have both been dealt tough challenges,’ Beth agreed, ‘but we can help and support each other through this. We were always getting into scrapes, if I remember rightly, and nothing daunted us. It won’t now, and I feel sure we have had our share of disasters. From now on it will be smooth going for both of us.’

  ‘You are right. The past is behind us, and we must look to the future – whatever it may hold.’

  Three

  The last four weeks had been good, Beth acknowledged with satisfaction. It had been a blessing to have Helen beside her now that her godfather was away, and her friend had already regained much of her vigour and health. Beth smiled quietly to herself as she remembered Helen’s joy at seeing her beloved horse in the stables, and it had made both of them weep a little. Lord Sharland had told Helen that the animal was hers to use all the time, but she must exercise her and look after her, which she was delighted to do. It had been a good moment. And so was this. They had a rare couple of hours to themselves and were enjoying a relaxing time together. Although it was still cold, there were hints that spring was on the way. Once March gave way to April, they could look forward to long summer days. Beth missed her god-father and hoped that his business would not take too long, but with the support of her estate manager she was quite capable of running the estate successfully. Her only concern was that her godfather had appeared tense and distracted before he went, and she had been worried that the trip would be too much for him, but he had just laughed and said that he had done it many times and would be quite all right.

  ‘Come in,’ Beth said when there was a gentle tap on the door, and, as her butler stepped into the room, she didn’t move from her comfortable position, curled up in an armchair with a book in her hands. ‘What is it, Jenkins?’

  ‘Mr Crighton wishes to speak with you, miss.’

  She frowned, beginning to unwind herself. ‘I wasn’t expecting him today, but perhaps he is just checking to see that we have everything we need while Lord Sharland is away.’

  ‘He has another gentleman with him, but he did not offer his name.’

  ‘Perhaps the lawyer has a new assistant.’ Helen put down her book and left her seat. ‘Will you change before seeing them?’

  ‘Certainly not. I’ll be down in a few minutes, Jenkins.’

  He inclined his head and left the room.

  ‘She began smoothing down her blue dress. ‘I am quite presentable. Let us go and see what Mr Crighton wants, and then perhaps we can go for a ride. The weather is quite pleasant.’

  When they walked into the drawing room, the first thing to catch Beth’s attention was Mr Crighton’s nervousness. ‘How kind of you to call.’ Before the lawyer had a chance to say anything, Beth smiled graciously at the man standing by the fireplace. She felt a ripple of unease as soon as she looked at him. He was in his late twenties, she guessed, tall and slender to the point of being on the thin side. His hair was black, but it was his eyes that disturbed her the most – they were pale grey and as cold as a frosty morning.

  The lawyer stepped forward. ‘May I introduce—’

  The stranger cut the lawyer off in mid-sentence. ‘I am your guardian.’

  It took a dozen heartbeats for the words to register in Beth’s stunned mind. The gentleman was a complete stranger, and he was talking nonsense.

  ‘My guardian is my godfather, Lord Edward Sharland.’

  ‘He died a week ago.’

  Beth gasped in pain. Her eyes filled with tears, but she fought them back as she spun round to face Mr Crighton. ‘This cannot be true!’

  Seeing the lawyer speechless and distressed, she turned to face the stranger again. ‘How did this happen?’

  ‘He caught a fever on his business trip to India.’

  ‘Why was I not told?’ She raised her voice in a most unladylike manner, but she was too upset and angry to
care. How dare this man come and break such devastating news in these cold terms? He appeared to be unconcerned by her outburst and was leaning casually against the mantelpiece, as if telling her that her beloved godfather was dead was all he had to do. She didn’t miss the longing glances he kept making towards the drinks decanters, but she certainly wouldn’t offer this individual any refreshment. Beth knew that she was sadly remiss in the social graces and should have asked him to be seated, but she was devastated and so angry.

  He detached himself from the fireplace and strode across the room, then poured himself a generous brandy.

  ‘Sir!’ Beth was incensed by his effrontery. ‘I have not given you permission to act so freely in my house.’

  He sipped the drink, clearly savouring the taste, and then raised an eyebrow. ‘You are no longer in control of the Langton estate. Lord Sharland has put everything into my hands until you reach the age of twenty-one.’

  Helen, who had been standing quietly by the door, now moved to Beth’s side and guided her to a chair.

  She was shaking badly, but, having a strong nature, Beth soon had herself under control again, speaking in a clear voice. ‘My father declared me his sole heir, and it was arranged with my godfather that I should have complete authority over the Langton estate.’

  ‘Ah –’ he sat down and crossed his long legs – ‘but I am not your godfather.’

  She realized that she still did not know who he was. ‘You have not had the courtesy to introduce yourself.’

  ‘I beg your pardon; I thought your butler would have informed you who was calling.’

  ‘He merely said Mr Crighton was here with another gentleman.’ She cast the dark man a disbelieving look. Jenkins had got that wrong: this person was clearly no gentleman!

  He dipped his head in a parody of a bow but did not rise to his feet. ‘I am Lord Sharland’s son, James, and your guardianship has become my responsibility.’

  ‘You lie, sir! He did not have any children or close heirs; that is why my father appointed him my guardian.’ Beth was struggling to clear the confusion from her mind. Who was he? Why had she never seen or heard of him before? Her heart ached for her dear father. How upset he would be if he knew that she had been left to the mercies of a complete stranger – and not a very trustworthy one, if she had guessed correctly. His clothes were fashionable enough, but the man wearing them looked decidedly uncivilized.

  The lawyer spoke for the first time, shuffling with unease. ‘I am sorry, Miss Langton, but it is as Lord Sharland says. Your godfather came to see me before he left for India to make these arrangements. I tried to persuade him not to, but he would not listen to me.’

  ‘I would like to see the legal papers, please, Mr Crighton.’

  ‘You need not bother yourself with details, Miss Langton,’ the stranger said, not giving the lawyer a chance to speak again. ‘You have Mr Crighton’s word that this is all legal.’

  ‘I doubt that very much, sir. You need not burden yourself with me. My father trained me well, and I have been running the estate on my own quite efficiently, and I shall continue to do so.’

  ‘I think not.’

  ‘How dare you walk in here and threaten to take over my affairs!’ She was on her feet again. ‘If you are truly the Sharland heir and now my guardian, you are honour-bound to abide by the agreement made between my father and godfather. The running of the estate was to be left in my hands.’

  ‘You are mistaken, Miss Langton. There is no legal document to that effect, and I only have your word for such an arrangement,’ he added.

  ‘I am not given to telling lies, sir! Mr Crighton must have the details.’

  ‘I have seen all the documents, and they state quite clearly that your guardian is to have control over your affairs until you reach the age of twenty one.’ The expression in his eyes was unreadable.

  Helen drew in a deep breath and reached out to grasp her friend’s hand, coming close to whisper one word: ‘Caution!’

  But Beth was too upset and angry to listen. ‘Do not distress yourself, Helen; there has been some dreadful mistake, and I shall soon have it clarified.’

  At that moment the butler entered the drawing room and addressed her. His normally impassive expression had disappeared and he looked disapproving. ‘A carriage has arrived loaded with luggage, Miss Langton, and the man assures me that he was told to deliver it to this address.’

  ‘That is quite correct.’ His lordship rose to his feet. ‘Ask the man to take it up to the master suite.’

  ‘You will do no such thing!’ Beth raised her voice; his arrogance was beyond the pale. ‘What right do you have to move your belongings into my home?’

  His sigh was weary. ‘You do not reach twenty-one for another year, so until then I shall take over the running of the Langton estate and use this mansion as if it were mine.’

  ‘You cannot! I forbid it.’ She was more than angry by now; she was frightened.

  His laugh was humourless. ‘You cannot stop me, Miss Langton. From the moment I was declared your guardian, you ceased to have any rights over your father’s property. It is effectively mine to do with as I wish for the next year.’

  Beth felt ill, but she would not allow this obnoxious man to believe he had won. ‘I demand proof!’

  ‘I do not care for your inference that I might be a liar. I am now the legal master of this house and your affairs.’

  For the first time in her life a feeling of helplessness washed through her, but her stubborn character would not allow her to give up. ‘But why do you not stay at your own house? The Sharland estate is no more than six miles away; there is no need for you to move in here, surely?’

  ‘From what I have been told, you are sadly in need of supervision, and I cannot do that while I am residing in the Sharland house. Anyway, the house will not be habitable for some months while renovations are taking place to turn it into a school. I intend to see that you no longer run wild.’ He pursed his lips in disapproval. ‘I would have expected you to still be in deep mourning for your father. I believe he died less than a year ago.’

  ‘My father forbade it.’ She was incensed by his attitude; what right did he have to judge her? ‘He said life was for the living. He never did agree with the dowdy dress and long periods of mourning.’

  ‘A remarkable man, then.’

  ‘Yes, he was.’

  He cast her one more disapproving glance and then strode out of the room. The butler remained, obviously bewildered and distressed. ‘Miss Langton?’

  She tore her angry gaze away from the retreating figure and gave Jenkins a quick explanation.

  His usually impassive expression wavered for a moment. ‘I’m very sorry to hear about Lord Sharland. What shall we do about this gentleman moving in?’

  ‘Do as he says for the moment, Jenkins, and tell the rest of the staff what has happened. Then have the master suite made ready for him. We shall have to go along with this for the time being. There has been a grave error made here, but I shall soon sort it out, and then we shall have the pleasure of throwing him and his belongings on to the street. For I have no doubt that is where he belongs!’

  ‘What a terrible thing to happen to Lord Sharland.’ The butler shook his head in sorrow. ‘He was such a kind man.’

  ‘Yes, he was, and that makes this all the more unbelievable.’ Her voice trembled as grief began to overcome her. With tears filling her eyes, she held her hand out for her Helen. ‘I will retire, Helen, while we decide what is to be done.’

  Before leaving the room, she faced the lawyer. ‘I shall be calling on you, Mr Crighton, when I shall expect to see all relevant papers and receive a full explanation about this disgraceful arrangement.’

  The lawyer bowed his head. ‘I am holding a letter for you from Lord Edward Sharland, Miss Langton, and there are provisions in the will I must discuss with you and Lady Helen.’

  ‘Why did you not bring the letter with you?’

  ‘Er ... I was ord
ered by Lord Edward not to let anyone else know about the letter.’ He glanced nervously around the room to make sure they were alone. ‘And he did mean no one.’

  ‘Very well. We shall be at your office early in the morning.’

  Once in the privacy of her room, Beth allowed the tears to flow freely, unable to believe that her dear godfather was dead and that he should have put the Langton estate at the mercy of this stranger.

  There was a tentative knock at the door and her maid, Jenny, peered in. ‘Cook said to bring you a tray of tea, miss.’

  ‘Thank you, Jenny. That is most thoughtful of her.’ Beth dried her eyes. It was not wise to allow grief to distract her from the seriousness of the situation. ‘Jenny, will you ask Tom to come and see me, please.’

  ‘Up here, miss?’

  ‘Yes, and tell him not to let our visitor see him. Leave the door slightly open when you leave.’

  The maid hurried away, and before Beth and Helen had a chance to finish their first cup of tea, a young boy slid into the room.

  ‘No one saw me, miss,’ he whispered.

  ‘Good. Come in and shut the door, Tom. I want you to do something for me.’ When the lad nodded, she continued. ‘Go and find the estate manager, Mr Greenway, and tell him that I’ll come to the grain barn in an hour’s time to see him. We have urgent matters to discuss, but it is imperative that the new Lord Sharland doesn’t know we are meeting.’

  ‘Understood, miss.’ Tom opened the door a crack, then slid through the door and disappeared without making a sound.

  ‘That boy is going to be very useful, Helen, for I fear we shall have to move with stealth. Until I am able to sort this mess out, everyone here will have to obey that obnoxious man, but I shall watch every move he makes. I refuse to put the prosperity of my family estate at the mercy of a man I do not know. I am hoping that my godfather’s letter will throw some light on this mystery, for I cannot imagine why he has done this.’

  ‘Neither can I.’ Helen was shaking her head. ‘It is so unlike him to do such a thing, and I cannot imagine what the lawyer needs to discuss with me.’