by Ann Barker
‘Mama would be more than happy to have her, I’m sure,’ agreed Eustacia.
‘Then it’s settled,’ declared her ladyship. ‘I’ll have a word with Jessie.’
‘Shall I write to Mama?’
‘No, I will do so myself. I have been meaning to send her a few lines.’
CHAPTER EIGHT
On the evening Ilam came to dine, Eustacia dressed with particular care. She was determined that he would have no cause to say that she looked like someone who might start a brawl. Trixie assisted her to dress with her usual skill, and was soon fastening her mistress into a sky-blue gown trimmed with beads that caught the light.
‘I suppose his lordship’ll be walking here this evening,’ said Trixie in resigned tones. She had been rather disappointed to discover that there were no male servants worth looking at in Lady Agatha’s household. The arrival of the viscount meant that he might bring more men in his train, but because Illingham Hall was so close to the vicarage, Lord Ilam never used his horses to visit his aunt.
‘I expect so,’ replied Eustacia.
‘He’s very handsome, isn’t he, miss? Not a rake like his father, though, according to the staff here.’ She sounded regretful.
‘Be thankful for it,’ Eustacia replied. ‘If you got yourself entangled with a rake, I’d send you home straight away. In fact, for two pins, I could have sent you with Miss Warburton this morning.’
Jessie had left quite unsuspiciously earlier in the day. She had seemed to accept Lady Agatha’s reasoning, namely, that since she now had a companion in the person of Eustacia, she, Jessie, was free to go on holiday. Lady Hope was missing her daughter and was probably feeling a little lonely. Eustacia wondered whether Jessie herself might be glad to be free of a place where so many things, even her own employer’s face, reminded her of a man she could never have.
Eustacia had made sure that she had a private word with Jessie before she left, as she had something very important to say to her. ‘Whatever you do, don’t mention Lady Agatha’s conflict with the bishop,’ she had said. ‘Mama is a pillar of the church and she would send for me at once if she thought that my godmother was doing anything to undermine it.’
‘I won’t breathe a word,’ Jessie had promised. ‘I’m very grateful to Lady Agatha, but there are times when I get a little tired of her scheming.’
‘I’m rather enjoying it,’ Eustacia had admitted.
‘Was you wishful to wear your gold pendant tonight, or your pearls?’ Trixie asked, choosing to ignore her mistress’s last remark.
‘The pearls, I think.’ While Trixie was fastening these, Lady Agatha scratched on the door and came in.
She eyed her goddaughter’s appearance critically, then said to Trixie, ‘You might be a flighty piece, but you know your work, I’ll say that for you. Shall we go down, Eustacia?’
They could not have been downstairs for much more than five minutes when the doorbell rang, and moments later, Grimes admitted Lord Ilam to the drawing-room. He was attired correctly, if rather severely, in a black evening coat and knee breeches and a pearl-grey figured satin waistcoat. Presumably because he never expected to do anything more energetic than dine or dance in them, these garments were cut more closely to his shape than those which he had worn during the day, and Eustacia felt bound to acknowledge that it was a very good shape indeed with broad shoulders, powerful chest and muscular thighs and calves well in proportion.
‘Aunt Agatha, Miss Hope,’ he said, as he stepped forward to take his aunt’s hand.
‘Welcome, Gabriel,’ she said. Eustacia started a little to discover that he had such an exalted Christian name.
Ilam grinned. Eustacia realized that it was the first time that she had seen him smile. It lightened the severity of his features and revealed that he was in fact a handsome man. ‘Now I know I’m no longer in disgrace,’ he said. He turned to Eustacia. ‘My aunt always calls me Ilam when she’s vexed with me,’ he told her. ‘As soon as she reverts to Gabriel, I know I’m forgiven.’
‘My mother does something similar,’ replied Eustacia, unbending a little. ‘If I have offended her then she calls me Eustacia Mary Louisa.’
‘I shall try to remember that,’ said her godmother. ‘Shall we go into dinner? Gabriel, you may give us each an arm.’
‘Does Miss Warburton not join us this evening?’ he asked, doing as he was bid.
‘She has gone to stay with Eustacia’s mother for a holiday,’ replied her ladyship.
Lady Agatha took the head of the table, with Gabriel on her right and Eustacia on her left. Dinner was a well-cooked but simple meal, the fare being ample but not extravagant, and Eustacia noticed that Lord Ilam had a good appetite. No doubt he needed plenty of fuel for that large frame.
‘Well, Gabriel, you have been away for some weeks this time,’ her ladyship said when they were all enjoying the beef, rabbit pie and stewed vegetables which constituted the chief dishes of the first remove.
‘Yes, I have been finding out about some new farming methods,’ he told her. ‘I am convinced that the land could be more productive, and I want to put some of these methods into practice.’ He briefly explained some of the innovations that he was planning and Eustacia listened with interest, for she had heard her father speak about such matters.
‘A pity Ashbourne cannot show a similar interest,’ Lady Agatha said to him. ‘He does not care what happens to his land from one year’s end to the next. I do not suppose you have any idea when he is likely to return and take some responsibility?’
Eustacia raised her glass to her lips in order to hide a smile. She now had a reasonable idea of how her godmother’s mind was working. She was convinced that that lady was far more concerned that her brother should not return to interfere with her dispute with the church than that he should come back to till his acres!
The viscount glanced briefly at Eustacia before shaking his head. ‘I am not in my father’s confidence, I fear.’
Looking at her godmother seated at the head of the table with very much the air of the grande dame, Eustacia wondered, not for the first time, why a lady with her position and opportunities should have married a country vicar. Had some scandal damaged her ladyship’s reputation, and made her glad to receive an offer from any quarter? An idea stirred at the back of her mind which she could not quite grasp.
She was roused from her reverie by the sound of her own name being spoken. ‘Certainly I would be very grateful if you would take Eustacia,’ her godmother was saying. ‘I know that she would feel the same, would you not, my dear? As long as you are careful not to tire her, Ilam. She is rather delicate.’
‘Yes indeed,’ Eustacia replied, not having any idea to what she might be agreeing.
Ilam looked at her, his brows raised. They did not and never could have the pronounced arch to be found in those elegant features which adorned the faces of his father and his aunt, but at that moment he had very much a look of both of his older relatives. ‘The thought of crawling through the final cavern with the water lapping halfway up your person does not alarm you then?’ he said blandly. ‘Very well then, Miss Hope, we’ll go tomorrow.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ exclaimed Eustacia involuntarily, her face a picture of consternation.
Ilam burst out laughing, a full rich sound. ‘Confess it, Miss Hope. You were miles away.’
Eustacia was glad that because she was blushing due to her inattention, she did not have to worry about anyone suspecting the impertinent nature of her thoughts concerning her godmother’s past. ‘I am obliged to own to it, my lord,’ she replied. ‘I was wondering whether my parents might be dining with Miss Warburton at this very moment. Please tell me that you are not really intending to make me crawl through a foot of water.’
‘No indeed,’ he replied. ‘Though if ever you do wish to visit the caves at Castleton, I would be more than happy to oblige.’
‘Gabriel was offering to lend you one of his mounts,’ said Lady Agatha, taking pity on her. �
��I keep no horses as you know, but I am aware that you are accustomed to riding with your father in order to build up your strength.’
‘I am indeed,’ agreed Eustacia, fighting down a feeling of irritation because yet again he had managed to make her feel foolish. ‘Thank you, Lord Ilam.’ She was about to add that although she had enjoyed some invigorating walks in the area, she had missed her daily ride when her godmother kicked her sharply under the table and she fell silent, remembering that she was supposed to be delicate.
He inclined his head politely. ‘It is I who am indebted to you,’ he answered. ‘The horse I have in mind is not up to my weight, and would otherwise lack exercise. Shall we say, tomorrow morning at ten o’clock?’
‘Thank you,’ she said again.
Lord Ilam did not linger in the dining-room at the end of the meal. ‘He never does so,’ said her ladyship, when they had sat down together in the drawing-room and taken up their sewing. ‘If it were Ashbourne, now, I dare say we should not see him again, and he would be put to bed by his valet.’
‘How old is Lord Ilam, ma’am?’ Eustacia asked, after they had each set a stitch or two in silence.
‘He is just twenty-five.’
‘I am surprised. I took him to be older.’
‘He takes his responsibilities seriously, and that has aged him a little, I think. That blunt manner of his doesn’t help, either. I sometimes feel as though I am the younger relative whom he is trying to control.’
Eustacia smiled. ‘He looks younger when he laughs,’ she said.
‘Yes, he does, doesn’t he?’ Lady Agatha agreed, looking at her sideways. ‘You look thoughtful, my dear.’
‘I was just wondering about their names,’ replied Eustacia. ‘Raphael, Gabriel: they are not exactly the kind of names that one comes upon every day.’
‘The men in my family are always named after angels,’ Lady Agatha told her. ‘It’s rather ironic, really. Raff is no more of a rake than was our father, so angelic names were not really appropriate for either of them.’
‘There can’t be many names to choose from,’ Eustacia reflected.
‘Only three sensible ones,’ her ladyship agreed. ‘Gabriel, Raphael and Michael. The latter was my father’s name. If you think that Gabriel is unusual, then reflect how it would have sounded had he been called Barachiel or Zachariel.’
‘So if there are more than three boys born in the family, then I suppose that some of them are saddled with very peculiar names.’
‘It’s only happened once as far as I know. On that occasion, they named the fourth one Angel. He was part of the court of Charles II and was the worst rake of the lot.’
‘They could have called him Lucifer,’ Eustacia pointed out. ‘After the fallen angel, you know.’
‘Doubtless they thought that it would be tempting fate,’ replied Lady Agatha, causing both of them to laugh.
Her ladyship was proved to be correct in her prediction, when Ilam entered the room a bare quarter of an hour after they had left him, very properly, to his port.
‘Ah, Gabriel,’ she said. ‘As you are on your feet, will you please ring for the tea tray?’
He did as she asked, but when he sat down, there was a serious expression on his face, and his aunt remarked upon it. ‘There is a matter that is troubling me greatly,’ he admitted. ‘I have been away for some weeks, as you have rightly said. Now that I have returned, I find that the church has not yet seen fit to send a new incumbent. Are you still having to make shift with a visiting curate from the next village?’
Eustacia was glad that his direct gaze was not turned upon her. She was not at all sure whether she would have been able to withstand its power. She could not help feeling a tiny dart of pleasure. Here, perhaps, was her opportunity to turn the tables on him for his rudeness and mockery, by aiding Lady Agatha as she pulled the wool over his eyes.
That lady did not seem to be similarly constrained and she met her nephew’s eyes blandly. ‘I fear so,’ she replied. ‘I am in regular contact with the bishop, but without success.’
He raised his brows. ‘Perhaps I should pay him a visit myself. My weight added to yours should make a difference.’
‘It is very kind of you to suggest it,’ replied Lady Agatha, with what Eustacia considered to be breathtaking audacity. ‘However, I understand that the bishop has become incensed at Ashbourne’s profligate behaviour.’
‘As have we all,’ agreed Ilam as the tea tray was brought in. ‘I fail to see what that has to do with the matter.’ There was a brief pause in the conversation as the table was arranged, and Grimes withdrew.
‘Possibly. There is an additional problem, though. You must forgive me, Gabriel, I have no desire to distress you.’ The viscount made no comment, but continued to look at her with that uncompromising gaze. Eventually, with a show of reluctance, Lady Agatha said, ‘It gives me no pleasure to say this.’
‘Go on, ma’am, go on,’ said Ilam, his brows snapping together.
‘There is a rumour going round that it is a case of like father, like son.’
‘Damnation,’ he exclaimed, springing up out of his seat. ‘Then I must most certainly see the bishop and disabuse him of that idea.’
‘Calm yourself, dear boy,’ said Lady Agatha soothingly. ‘You would do much better to leave the whole matter in my hands. If you go to see him in that glowering sort of way, he will think that he is being bullied and dig his heels in. Believe me; I will make sure that your sentiments are made known to the bishop. If I feel the need to call upon your powers of persuasion, rest assured that I shall inform you of it.’
‘I thought that passed off quite well,’ said Lady Agatha calmly after Ilam had gone. She had walked out into the hall with him, while Eustacia had stayed in the drawing-room.
‘Quite well?’ echoed Eustacia. ‘He was furious, Godmama.’
‘Yes, I suppose he was quite annoyed,’ her ladyship agreed. ‘I was quite pleased with the bit about the church thinking that he was like Ashbourne. The last thing we want is for Gabriel to have any conversations with the bishop or any of his minions. Moreover, he does have other properties to see to, so I don’t suppose he will stay here for long.’
‘In the meantime, though, he is here. What is more, I am to go riding with him tomorrow. What am I to do if he asks me any questions about my health or about the church?’ She thought about saying that she was sure that she would not be able to lie with her godmother’s effrontery, but she decided that that would be uncivil.
‘He will not do so,’ Lady Agatha replied tranquilly. ‘That is what I was ensuring when I went with him to the door.’
‘Godmama, what have you told him?’ Eustacia asked with a feeling of deep foreboding.
‘I warned him not to talk about the church for fear of upsetting you. I said that you had been jilted by a clergyman.’
‘Jilted by a clergyman and delicate!’ exclaimed Eustacia. ‘Whatever next?’
‘Probably the one caused the other,’ her ladyship replied blandly.
‘But you told me that you did not want my circumstances to be bruited about,’ Eustacia protested.
‘Oh, Ilam won’t tell tales. In any case, that was purely a matter of decorum. This is to do with my strategy, and therefore far more important.’
Eustacia could only stare at her, completely lost for words.
That night, as Trixie was preparing her for bed, Eustacia remembered the thoughts that had gone through her head as she had been eating her dinner. ‘Trixie,’ she began.
‘Yes, miss?’
For a moment, Eustacia paused in indecision. Then she recalled that Trixie, for all her apparent empty-headedness was in fact exceedingly shrewd, and utterly loyal to her mistress’s interests. ‘Trixie, have you heard talk of any scandal in my godmother’s past?’
‘What, recently, miss?’
‘No, before she was married. It’s just that I would have expected someone in her position to have looked much higher for a husband. I’
m wondering whether something happened to prevent that.’
‘Perhaps she fell in love, miss,’ Trixie suggested.
‘Perhaps.’
After a brief pause, Trixie came to sit down next to her on the bed. ‘You mustn’t worry about what happened to you, miss,’ she said reassuringly. ‘We’re living in more modern times, now. After all those nasty goings on in France, people know that there’s worse things to worry about than that.’
‘Yes, of course,’ Eustacia replied. She hadn’t been thinking of her own situation at all; but now she realized that all the time, it had been there at the back of her mind.
‘As for that other business, I’ll see what I can find out, miss. At least it’ll take your mind off your own troubles.’
CHAPTER NINE
Lord Ilam arrived promptly at the vicarage at ten o’clock the following day. He raised his brows at the sight of Eustacia coming down the stairs, becomingly attired in a mulberry-coloured riding habit topped by a pert little hat of the same shade.
‘Is anything amiss?’ she asked him calmly, drawing on her gloves. She knew that her appearance was faultless. Trixie was never satisfied with anything else.
‘By no means, ma’am,’ he assured her bowing. ‘I am merely surprised by your punctuality.’
‘My father dislikes keeping his horses waiting as much as any man,’ Eustacia told him. ‘Shall we go?’
He inclined his head, and gestured for her to go before him. She gave silent approval to his own dress. As on two other occasions when she had seen him during the day, he was dressed neatly and with style, but with a practical concern for ease of movement. Yet again, he was in buckskin breeches and comfortable-looking boots and his blue coat seemed to impart something of that shade to his grey eyes.
When she stepped outside into the bright July morning, an involuntary cry of delight broke from her lips.
