Jilted

by Ann Barker

  CHAPTER TEN

  To Eustacia’s great relief, the question of sustaining the role of a seriously ill person did not demand much of her over the next few days. Lord Ilam came to take her riding again, but the subject was not broached. She concluded that Mr Lusty must have kept the information to himself, as Lady Agatha had requested.

  With this in mind, she was able to face a visit to church with equanimity. Mr Lusty took the service, and afterwards, he shook her hand in the church doorway with a look of deep sympathy on his face. ‘And how are you feeling today, Miss Hope?’ he asked solicitously, holding her hand as if it might break.

  ‘Quite well,’ she murmured. ‘My godmother takes very good care of me.’

  ‘That’s enough of that, Lusty,’ said Lord Ilam’s rather harsh voice from behind. ‘No need to monopolize Miss Hope.’

  ‘Oh, indeed, my lord, um….’ Lusty’s voice faded away.

  Eustacia turned to look at Lord Ilam, and in doing so caught a fleeting glimpse of her godmother’s face, which bore a most uncharacteristic expression of anxiety. No doubt a conversation between the curate and her nephew was the last thing that she wanted. For her own part, she, too, would be glad of as few words as possible between the two men. She was not at all sure which role she ought to be playing and for whose benefit.

  There did not appear to be any need for either of them to be concerned today, for Ilam seemed intent upon drawing Eustacia away from the clergyman. For church attendance, the viscount was dressed in a well-cut blue coat with a discreetly striped waistcoat, buff breeches and shiny top boots. He did not look the dandy – he was too muscular for that – but he could have made an appearance in Bond Street without having to blush for his attire. She was glad that she had taken the trouble to dress in one of her new gowns, one of amber trimmed with blond lace, which showed off her excellent figure to great advantage.

  Eustacia looked up at his lordship again. The day was cloudy, but at that moment the sun appeared and a ray of light, falling upon his hair, brought out a glimmer of chestnut. In his grey eyes there was a hint of concern. ‘That Lusty fellow wasn’t bothering you, was he?’ he asked her.

  She stared at him blankly for a moment or two. Then she recalled that she was supposed to have been jilted by a clergyman and blushed. The other possible meaning of what he had said struck them simultaneously a few moments later and they both laughed. Following the laughter – during which each had been thinking how engaging the other looked when amused – Eustacia asked, ‘Why would you suppose that he was bothering me?’

  Ilam seemed a little uncomfortable. ‘He just looked to me as if he was being a bit pressing, that’s all. May I introduce you to my family?’

  ‘Your family?’ she looked around, but amongst the crowd at church that day could only see Lady Agatha whom she knew to be related to Ilam.

  ‘I should say my foster family,’ he replied, holding out his arm to escort her towards a small group of people. ‘I was taken to live with a local family from an early age, as I’m sure you know already. They farm some of the land on the other side of my estate. Would you like to meet them?’

  ‘I should be pleased to do so,’ replied Eustacia warmly.

  The small group to which Ilam led her comprised a sturdy-looking man in his late forties or early fifties, a comely woman of about the same age with curly brown hair, a young man of about Lord Ilam’s age, a girl who appeared to be about seventeen, and a boy who was probably about twelve or so. They looked pleased at the advent of his lordship, and all smiled expectantly at Eustacia, apart from the young girl, who seemed rather serious.

  ‘Miss Hope, may I introduce to you Mr and Mrs Crossley, their daughter Anna, and their sons David and Elijah? Aunt Bertha, Uncle Tobias, this is Miss Hope, my aunt’s goddaughter.’

  As Eustacia responded to the formal greeting, she noticed that all the family were dressed well in clothing which, if not expensive, was undoubtedly of very good quality. Anna’s gown, of white muslin, was certainly not of the kind usually worn by a farmer’s daughter who only had one or two to her name. She guessed that they were one of the more prosperous and successful tenant families. No doubt their prosperity had been increased by the service that they had done for Lord Ashbourne by caring for his son in infancy.

  ‘It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Hope,’ said Mrs Crossley, speaking with a pleasant light country burr. ‘Are you staying with Lady Agatha for long?’

  ‘It is not yet decided,’ Eustacia replied. ‘Miss Warburton has gone to visit my mama, so I would guess I shall stay until the two ladies grow tired of the exchange.’

  ‘Are you liking the countryside around here?’ the farmer’s wife asked her. ‘Many people come here for holidays, I do know.’

  ‘It is very agreeable. Lord Ilam has taken me riding and there have been some lovely bursts of scenery.’

  ‘Do you hunt, ma’am?’ asked Mr Crossley.

  ‘I have never cared for the sport,’ replied Eustacia. ‘I am too soft-hearted, I fear.’ Glancing at Anna, she saw a scornful expression on her face.

  ‘Have you brought the new horses today?’ Ilam asked.

  ‘I have indeed, my lord,’ replied Crossley. ‘Would you like to inspect them?’ He turned to Eustacia. ‘By your leave, ma’am.’ Ilam bowed and turned to accompany his foster father, and David and Elijah did the same.

  ‘Anna!’ said Mrs Crossley firmly when her daughter made as if to follow them. ‘You’ll stay with me if you please.’

  ‘But I haven’t seen Gabriel for ages,’ Anna protested pleadingly.

  ‘“His lordship” to you, miss,’ said her mother tartly. ‘Miss Hope, you must come and visit us at the farm. You will be very welcome.’

  ‘Thank you,’ replied Eustacia, smiling. ‘I will ask Lord Ilam to bring me next time we go riding together.’ She turned to look at Anna Crossley and found that the younger girl was regarding her with a decidedly stony face. Could the girl be a little possessive with regard to her adopted brother?

  After a few more exchanged comments, Mrs Crossley took her leave and, escorting Anna, walked over to the family trap where the men were still inspecting the horses. Ilam stayed to help the farmer’s wife and daughter into the trap. Eustacia, watching, saw the look on Anna’s face as Ilam walked away after making his farewells, and made a startling observation. The girl fancies herself in love with him, she thought to herself. I wonder if he knows.

  By the time Ilam had returned to the church, Lady Agatha had joined Eustacia on the path.

  ‘I have been wondering whether you would both care to dine with me?’ Ilam asked. ‘It is time I returned your hospitality. There are others whom I ought to invite, but they will not be arriving until just before the garden party. With any luck, that will put off the need to invite any of them to dinner, at least for a while.’

  ‘Very gallant,’ remarked his aunt as she took his arm and they began to walk, Eustacia following behind as they negotiated the path towards the ancient lych gate. ‘I cannot imagine Ashbourne issuing an invitation in such a way.’

  ‘Believe me, ma’am, nothing you could have said could possibly have pleased me more,’ he answered, a little tight-lipped.

  ‘I dare say,’ her ladyship answered serenely. ‘Are any other persons the lucky recipients of your gracious invitation?’

  He grinned at that. ‘I was thinking of inviting Dr Littlejohn. It’s time I paid him that courtesy.’ He turned to Eustacia. ‘Doctor Littlejohn was my tutor before I went to Harrow. He lives in a cottage on the Ashbourne estate.’

  Lady Agatha nodded approvingly. ‘He is a sensible man. It will be a pleasure to meet him again. Tell me how your plans for the garden are progressing.’

  As they left the church grounds, Eustacia fell into step beside them, and Lord Ilam started to tell them about the changes that he was proposing to make to the ancient parterre behind Illingham Hall. ‘It’s not a fashionable design,’ he admitted, ‘but I like it. It suits the house. Besides, it mirro
rs the pattern of the ceiling in the great hall. Any changes I make will be ones which will not affect the geometric pattern.’

  ‘I have a fancy that your grandmother made some alterations in the choice of plants, and the ones she chose have not prospered as well as they might.’

  Ilam nodded. ‘The originals were the best,’ he agreed. ‘There are records of the first planting which I intend to examine.’

  ‘That must be fascinating,’ said Eustacia. ‘My father’s house is of a much later date than yours, my lord, but there was another house on the site, and the plans of the parterre are kept in the steward’s room, even though the parterre has long since gone. Was it very common for landowners to use the same design for their garden as for aspects of their houses?’

  ‘I have no idea,’ replied Ilam. ‘I shouldn’t be surprised. You must examine the plans when you come to the Hall, Miss Hope.’

  ‘I should be delighted,’ replied Eustacia truthfully.

  The following day was wet and miserable, with no chance of a ride, so Eustacia and her godmother stayed indoors sewing, writing letters and reading.

  Part way through the morning, they both grew tired of their occupations and Lady Agatha sent for coffee while they laid their work aside. It was then that Eustacia ventured to ask a question that had been occupying her mind for some little time.

  ‘Why does Ilam so resent his father?’ she asked. ‘I know that he feels himself to have been rejected as a child, but could that still make him angry now?’

  Lady Agatha sighed. ‘You are right of course,’ she agreed. ‘He does believe that Ashbourne rejected him when he was a baby. I think that Gabriel would understand better if he had ever really known my father. He was an implacable man, and the pressure that he could put upon one was quite unbelievable. In addition to that, Ilam has always believed himself to be second best.’

  ‘Second best? To whom?’ asked Eustacia.

  After a short pause, Lady Agatha said, ‘Raff fathered another child before Ilam was born. It was that child’s mother that Raff wanted to marry. It wasn’t permitted, as she was just a farmer’s daughter. She died in childbirth as did Ilam’s mother.’

  ‘Did the child live?’ asked Eustacia.

  ‘Oh yes. Michael is older than Gabriel by six months. He was packed off to another part of the country to save the family from embarrassment, but has always been supported by Ashbourne.’

  ‘And did Lord Ashbourne show more interest in Michael than in Gabriel?’ Eustacia asked, then almost bit her tongue off because she was being rather intrusive.

  ‘Lord, how should I know?’ asked her ladyship. ‘Ashbourne has never taken me into his confidence, nor shown the slightest interest in me, either. He’s a care-for-naught, and you’d do well to remember it.’ When she next spoke, it was about a completely different matter, and Eustacia was left with the uncomfortable feeling that she had overstepped.

  That wet day was succeeded by two more, but fortunately, the weather cleared on the evening that they were due to go to Illingham Hall for dinner. Lord Ilam sent a message asking whether they would like him to send the carriage, but Lady Agatha declined, telling his messenger, ‘I have pattens for each of us, which will keep the worst of the mud off our hems.’

  Eustacia was a country girl, so she readily agreed to this decision. Although she disliked wearing the overshoes which were clumsy and lifted her up to four inches off the ground, she saw the value of keeping the mud off her evening slippers, which were new and of white kid.

  They were on the point of setting off when there was a knock at the door. ‘Ilam has sent a servant to walk with us,’ remarked Lady Agatha. ‘That’s good of him.’

  Grimes opened the door to reveal not a servant, but Ilam himself, clad in evening attire, but with a pair of top boots on his feet. ‘I thought you might like an arm if you’re tottering along on those,’ he explained.

  Eustacia was torn between relief at not having to negotiate the drive on her clumsy pattens unsupported and vain annoyance at having Ilam seeing her in such unbecoming footwear.

  ‘Miss Hope, good evening,’ he said, bowing. ‘You appear to have gone up in the world – at least three inches, I would say.’

  ‘I hope you do not expect me to curtsy in these,’ she retorted, then blushed because she had sounded very rude.

  ‘Not at all,’ he answered, rather taking the wind out of her sails. ‘No doubt I should then be obliged to pick you up off the floor afterwards. Shall we go, ladies?’

  Thanks to Ilam’s strong support, the journey was accomplished without difficulty, and soon the ladies were in the entrance hall of Ilam’s house being assisted to remove their pattens, whilst Ilam when upstairs to exchange his boots for shoes. The lace on one of Eustacia’s slippers had worked itself into a knot, so while Lady Agatha exchanged a few words with Ilam’s butler, Keithly, who was well known to her, Eustacia undid the knot, then proceeded to tie her lace once more. It so happened that she was rising to her feet as Ilam reached her side, having just come downstairs.

  ‘Ah, that’s better,’ he remarked, smiling down at her.

  ‘What do you mean?’ she asked him, puzzled.

  ‘I’ve got used to looking at you from this angle,’ he replied.

  ‘It isn’t funny being so short, you know,’ she answered him defensively. All through her childhood, she had waited to grow to her mother’s height. At the age of fourteen she had stopped growing. Her nurse and even her parents had confidently assured her that she would grow taller soon, but it had never happened.

  ‘I never said it was funny,’ he insisted. He might have said more, but at that point, Lady Agatha finished her conversation with Keithly, and the butler led the way to open the door for them into a comfortable wood-panelled room with mullioned windows and a large stone fireplace with a screen in front of it, decorated with needlepoint embroidery of a hunting scene. A grey-haired man who was sitting in a chair by the window laid down the book that he was studying and rose to greet them.

  ‘Miss Hope, you must allow me to present Dr Littlejohn,’ said Ilam, when Lady Agatha and the older man had greeted one another.

  ‘Miss Hope, I am very pleased to meet you,’ said the former tutor, bowing courteously. He was a tall man, nearly as tall as Ilam, but with a slight stoop. He wore his own grey hair neatly tied back and his evening dress, of brown velvet with a frilled shirt, was in the fashion of about twenty years before. ‘You remind me of someone, although I cannot imagine whom.’

  ‘You will have all evening to think about it, Jonathan,’ said Lady Agatha. ‘Just don’t stare at her while you do so, for she will find it very unnerving.’

  ‘I wouldn’t dream of being so unnmannerly,’ he replied. ‘Although to look at such a pretty face would not be a hardship, I assure you.’ He smiled at Eustacia in an avuncular manner, and she found herself smiling back.

  ‘I would not object,’ she replied. ‘It would be quite a novelty. I usually find that the gaze of gentlemen passes over me quite rapidly, and finds its way towards my mother.’ She smiled as she spoke, and did not notice that Ilam was eyeing her rather keenly.

  It was not long after their arrival that dinner was announced. Ilam offered Lady Agatha his arm, but she shook her head and turned instead to Dr Littlejohn. ‘I can take your arm any day of the week, Gabriel. I have not seen Jonathan for a long time. You may give Eustacia your arm.’

  ‘Youth must to youth,’ Dr Littlejohn murmured, as he escorted Lady Agatha into the dining-room.

  The meal began with soup, and was followed by a variety of dishes, including one of jugged rabbit, which Dr Littlejohn confided was his favourite. ‘Gabriel always makes sure that it is served when I come,’ he remarked, his eyes twinkling as he helped himself to more. Indeed, for a lean man, he seemed to consume an enormous amount of food, even surpassing the amount that Ilam put upon his plate – which was considerable.

  During the meal, it became clear that the doctor was staying with Ilam for a few days.
‘I have some reading to do and there is a fine library here with some volumes that I do not possess at home,’ he said. ‘Has Gabriel shown you his library, Miss Hope? Of course you only see part of it here. Some of the volumes are housed upstairs in the long gallery.’

  ‘No, I have not yet seen it,’ replied Eustacia, blushing as she remembered her visit to the long gallery, and how Ilam had found her looking at his father’s portrait.

  ‘It’s an omission that I intend to rectify after dinner, sir,’ said Ilam. ‘With your permission, Aunt, I would like to show Miss Hope my garden plans.’

  ‘Why don’t we all repair there when we have finished?’ suggested the doctor. ‘I have no desire to sit over a glass of port, and you can bring one into the library.’

  ‘An excellent suggestion,’ put in Lady Agatha. ‘You may bring me a glass as well, Gabriel. I see no reason why gentlemen should keep it to themselves.’

  After they had finished the dinner, they all left the table together, and went to the library. It was a welcoming room, wood panelled like many others in the house, with chairs that looked comfortable rather than stylish, and curtains and carpet in shades of red. Eustacia looked around at the bookcases. Did Lord Ilam have a copy of The Vindication of the Rights of Woman? She doubted it.

  Lady Agatha and Dr Littlejohn went to sit near the fireplace and chat, but Ilam put his hand under Eustacia’s elbow and led her over to the library table, where the garden plans had already been set out.

  ‘Ah yes,’ she said, after she had looked down at them for a few moments. ‘I remember seeing this motif in the ceiling of the gallery.’

  ‘The maker of the original plan was thwarted a little in his ambitions by the parsimony of my ancestor,’ remarked Ilam. ‘He designed a fountain to go in the centre, and four more, one for each of the four segments.’

  Eustacia wrinkled her brow. ‘As far as I can recall, the fountain which is there at present is nothing like this one,’ she remarked. ‘I don’t remember the others, either.’