Gayle Buck

by The Hidden Heart

  As Lady Caroline accepted the cup and saucer from Lady Eddington’s hands, that lady’s gaze met hers. There was a speculative, measuring expression in Lady Eddington’s eyes that startled Lady Caroline with its calculation. Then Lady Eddington turned away to graciously offer tea to the others.

  Lady Caroline meditatively sipped her own tea. It was scalding hot, but she hardly noticed. She had just perceived that Lady Eddington was not quite the malleable and retiring young girl that she had opined her to be upon their previous short acquaintance.

  “Oh, Lord,” she murmured ruefully.

  “What was that, niece?” Mrs. Burlington inquired quickly.

  But Lady Caroline merely shook her head and turned aside the query by beginning to tell a mildly humorous account to Lord Eddington about a minor estate problem that had cropped up in his absence.

  Chapter Twelve

  If tea was not an unqualified success from Mrs. Burlington’s point of view, it was also a rather mixed experience for Lady Caroline. She quickly gathered through her observations and the ordinary conversation one might expect to occur when travelers had returned that Lady Eddington, very quietly and quite unobtrusively, controlled Lord Eddington. Her ladyship often demurred to the Earl of Berwicke, yet somehow Lord Eddington’s declarations always fell right in line with Lady Eddington’s own gently voiced opinions.

  Lady Caroline thought that her brother neither realized it yet nor was made unhappy by it. Indeed, she rather thought that Lord Eddington seemed steadier than she had ever known him to be in his life. Certainly he appeared content enough.

  Lady Caroline only hoped that her brother was not destined for awful disillusionment. She knew very little about her new sister-in-law, except what she had been told of the young woman’s background and what she recalled of the young woman’s retiring, almost shy manner upon the occasion of her visit in the company of her stepmother to Berwicke Keep. There was also Mrs. Burlington’s purported knowledge of Lady Eddington’s opinion in regards to herself, but Lady Caroline thought that she could fairly well withhold judgment upon that.

  On balance was Lady Eddington’s open adoration of the Earl of Berwicke. Lady Caroline was inclined to believe that her ladyship’s affection for Lord Eddington was sincere. However, if it was not, Lady Caroline could only pity her brother, for she had observed enough to form the opinion that Lady Eddington could handle quite well those who presumed to counter her wishes. And that, Lady Caroline thought with an inward chuckle, might well come as a thoroughly unpleasant surprise to Mrs. Burlington.

  During tea Mrs. Burlington had campaigned strenuously to stake her claim as Lady Eddington’s mentor and confidante, but the young countess had slipped time and again out of her net. There had been nothing ungracious or even vaguely unfriendly in Lady Eddington’s responses to Mrs. Burlington’s overtures that one could point to, but still the impression was unmistakable that her ladyship preferred to retain a neutral position among her new relations.

  Lady Caroline had been impressed by her new sister-in-law’s adroit handling of Mrs. Burlington, but at the same time she recognized that if Lady Eddington did indeed choose to thrust her out of Berwicke Keep, and her brother’s life, her ladyship would be a most formidable opponent indeed.

  But that was for the future. In the meantime, Lady Caroline had another small problem that demanded a decision of her. She had received a communication from Lord Hathaway requesting a private interview of her. After their last tête-à-tête, Lady Caroline was not overly eager to see Lord Hathaway again so soon. However, she well knew the gentleman’s obstinate nature and she was resigned that his lordship would present himself whether or not she acquiesced to his request.

  It was with misgivings, therefore, that she returned a reply in the affirmative. Lord Hathaway could call upon her the following morning.

  She had just sent off her message with a servant when there was a light knock on the half-open door of the library and Lord Eddington entered. “Am I bothering you, Caroline?”

  Still seated at the writing desk. Lady Caroline smiled up at him. “Of course you are not.”

  Lord Eddington closed the door. He stood a moment, seemingly irresolute, before he crossed to a wing chair positioned close to the desk. He looked at his sister with a somewhat distracted air. “I am in need of a spot of advice, Caroline, and as you are the only one that I feel able to come to, I hope that you can help me.”

  “Well, naturally I shall do whatever I can,” Lady Caroline said. “What is the problem, Ned?”

  Lord Eddington shook his head. A half-smile crossed his face. “The truth of the matter is, you are.” He saw that he had stunned her, and he hurried on. “It is not just you, Caroline, but our aunt as well. I had not realized before what it meant to have everyone about. One becomes inured to it, you see. But now, being married and all ... well, it will be a bit awkward at times. I know what you are going to say. We have but just arrived today and perhaps we should wait and see how things go on. But during tea I saw instantly how it was going to be. Mary mentioned it to me later, of course, being sensitive to such things herself. She is the dearest of creatures and would not wish to offend anyone, least of all anyone whom I hold in affection, and so I had to pry it out of her, but she, too, felt the uncomfortable tension among the four of us. Oh, don’t you see, Caroline?”

  “Indeed I do. When one weds, one naturally wishes privacy in order to adjust to one’s new stature,” Lady Caroline said, not allowing the hurt to cross her expression or tinge her voice.

  “I knew that I could depend upon you to understand, Caroline. But what do you advise me to do?” Lord Eddington asked.

  She occupied herself with straightening the desk, putting away the inkwell and pens and sheets of paper, so that she would not have to meet her brother’s anxious gaze straightaway. “I shall need some time to decide where I will go and, naturally, to set up my own household, but I think that I can manage to be in my own establishment in a month or so.”

  Lord Eddington’s face reflected his initial surprise. “Well, it is awfully good of you to offer. I had not thought to ask if of you, meaning only to ask you to advise me whether Mary and I should not remove to London,” he said doubtfully.

  “Of course you and Lady Eddington must not remove to London just on account of myself and Amaris. I think my suggestion a far better plan,” Lady Caroline said steadily.

  “Well, naturally, if that is what you truly wish, I shall be more than glad to foot the bill for a town house in London or wherever,” Lord Eddington said, a certain relief in his voice. He straightened in the chair and his smile broadened to one of more confidence. “But I should not like you to go quite as soon as all that, Caroline. I shall need your help in prying Aunt Amaris loose, you see. I should dislike the task myself and, truth to tell, I would make a very poor hand at it. I have never been able to face down our aunt, as you well know, whereas you have never had the least difficulty.’’

  Lady Caroline did not know whether to laugh or to rage at him. It was not fair that he should force her into the decision to leave her childhood home so soon, while in the same breath request that she should perform his dirty work for him before she did go. She chose to laugh, feeling that it was better for her own self-respect. “Ned, you are a nodcock. I have always thought so and now I am more strengthened in my opinion than ever. Amaris would go quickly enough were you and Lady Eddington together to present the case to her, I am certain. Why, whatever could she say against it, pray? Berwicke Keep is your home, after all.”

  “But Aunt Amaris has been here very nearly as long as I can remember. She considers Berwicke more her home than anywhere else on earth. I cannot simply ask that she pack up her things, now, can I? Pray be reasonable, Caroline,” Lord Eddington said.

  Lady Caroline regarded her brother for a moment. She said quietly, “Berwicke Keep is more my home than it was ever Amaris’, yet you have not had the least difficulty in indicating to me that you would prefer that I find
another.”

  Lord Eddington flushed. He said uncomfortably, “Well, that is different. You are my sister, after all. I can talk to you with expectation of being heard out with some measure of quiet reason. Whereas with Aunt Amaris . . . well, you know what she is like.”

  “Yes, I know very well. I think I know better than you what Amaris is like. I know, also, that I am wearied to death of dealing with her on my own account and yours, and I really have no taste for becoming your second in this latest matter. Perhaps it is time that you were allowed to discover for yourself exactly how it is that you should deal with her, Ned,’’ Lady Caroline said. She rose from her seat at the desk.

  “You are angry!’’ Lord Eddington exclaimed, discovering it with surprise.

  Lady Caroline rounded on him. There was no mistaking the temper in her flashing eyes or the high color in her cheeks, and he shrank back in his chair. “No, am I? Well, perhaps you should give a little thought as to why, Ned. And now, if you will excuse me, I shall go up to my room. I have the headache and I think that I shall lie down for a while before dinner.” She whisked herself out of the library, leaving Lord Eddington to stare after her in the liveliest dismay.

  Lady Caroline did, indeed, go upstairs to her room. She sent away her maid, saying again that she had the headache and wished to lie down quietly for a few moments. It was an unusual excuse for her, and well she knew it before she was ever treated to the maid’s dubious expression, but she did not care. She was in full retreat for the second time in her life. She wanted to be alone in order to catch up her rampant emotions. Otherwise she suspected that she might fly apart in such a manner that it would embarrass both herself and whoever was witness to her unaccustomed fury.

  For fury it was. She was unexpectedly consumed by it. She had endured a particularly grim week with Mrs. Burlington’s strictures and malicious unpleasantries, only to have it all capped with Lord Eddington’s startling though characteristically timid insinuation that she leave Berwicke Keep. What was most infuriating about the entire business, of course, was that she had been forewarned by her aunt.

  Lady Caroline had thought it possible that Mrs. Burlington had exaggerated in her insistence that Lady Eddington would not wish to compete with a sister-in-law’s presence, but she had succeeded in suspending judgment upon the matter until she had time to see how the wind might blow. She had never expected to be hit so swiftly by the possibility. She had been caught completely off-guard by Lord Eddington’s confidences, and as a consequence had been hit harder than perhaps she should have been.

  Lady Caroline had ample space for reflection before it became time to change and go downstairs for dinner. She made up her mind that no good purpose would be served if she were not to accept her brother’s awkward hints as realistically as she was capable. Indeed, she was too used to her brother’s sensitive nature not to realize that for her to treat him with the distant civility that her anger urged upon her would only bewilder and hurt him. Therefore she intended to make an effort to greet Lord Eddington in her usual convivial manner.

  Chapter Thirteen

  After the disastrous outcome of the interview earlier that day between himself and Lady Caroline, Lord Eddington was anxious at first of his reception at his sister’s hands. However, when she met him in the drawing room before dinner was announced, she spoke to him in her usual fond fashion.

  He was greatly relieved and thereafter put out of his mind the previous unpleasantness. He made himself agreeable to his sister and to his wife, and if his efforts fell somewhat flat with Mrs. Burlington, no fault could be laid to his lordship’s door.

  In truth, Mrs. Burlington was vaguely disgruntled. She had been surprised by the countess’s faintly aloof air toward her, for she had been anticipating being at once able to establish herself somewhat in the guise of a mentor and confidante. She could not imagine what was wrong with the girl, for she had had that most respectful letter from Lady Eddington written not more than a month before. She could not complain that Lady Eddington was no longer respectful toward her, but there seemed to be an air of standoffishness that Mrs. Burlington did not recall had been in the girl’s manner before the marriage.

  Mrs. Burlington decided that perhaps Lady Eddington was simply overwhelmed by her new status. Once the young countess had settled a little more into her role, with gentle guidance from herself, naturally, Mrs. Burlington felt that she need have no doubt of her own indispensability.

  The talk over the dinner table was desultory and ranged from estate business and neighborhood gossip to travel anecdotes from Lord and Lady Eddington. The conversation changed tone, however, when Lord Eddington made the surprising announcement that he and his lady planned to leave Berwicke Keep.

  “What! But you cannot be serious, Lord Eddington. Why, you have but just arrived at Berwicke,” Mrs. Burlington said. She was taken so by surprise that she spilled her wine on her dress and in utmost irritation dabbed at the stained silk.

  The Earl of Berwicke instantly sensed his aunt’s strong disapprobation and sought refuge in an even heartier tone than was his habit. “Oh, well, there is not much happening here in the country this time of the year, and Lady Eddington and I are not much for rusticating at any time. We prefer town amusements and making a splash among the ton and such.” Not wishing to be forced into argument by Mrs. Burlington, Lord Eddington turned to his sister. “May I rely upon you for the estate awhile longer, Caroline? I should be ever so grateful to you, as would my dear lady.”

  Though Lady Caroline’s surprise at the announcement was at least equal to Mrs. Burlington’s, she managed it better. “Of course you may rely upon me, Ned. But I had quite thought you and Lady Eddington were fixed here at Berwicke for a time. At last, that was the impression I gathered from you earlier this afternoon.”

  The questioning note in her voice made Lord Eddington flush. He waved his hand, saying uncomfortably, “Oh . . . as to that! The thing of it is, Caroline, I had not given the matter proper thought. My lady’s family is not yet aware that we have returned to England, and naturally she wishes to call upon her father and his wife. I should like to pay my respects as well, of course.” He eyed his sister in a half-apologetic fashion.

  “I understand, dear brother,” Lady Caroline said with a small laugh. Indeed she did, she thought. She had been given a reprieve of sorts because yet again her feckless brother needed her to take over the responsibilities of the estate. For the first time, Lady Caroline began to look upon her departure from Berwicke as a move in her own better interests. She simply could not allow herself to evolve any further into her brother’s permanent crutch. Something must be done, and perhaps her best course would be to discuss the earl’s indifference with his lordship’s man of business, who was, after all, employed to look after Lord Eddington’s concerns.

  “Well, it is more than I can understand!” Mrs. Burlington exclaimed. “I do not know how long you mean to continue shirking your responsibilities here at Berwicke, my lord, but I think I must tell you that in my opinion it is a grave mistake. It should not be made your sister’s position, for nothing could be more unseemly. And dear Lady Eddington must be wondering at the manner that you have kept her capering hither and yon, as though she were a Gypsy rather than the proud mistress of a grand and old house. I wonder at it, indeed I do!”

  Lady Caroline threw a glance at her brother. Lord Eddington appeared more and more uncomfortable under his aunt’s scolding tone of censure. His normally jovial face had lengthened into deep, unhappy lines. She sighed, for though she had meant what she said to him about learning to deal with their aunt, she found that the old habits of childhood were too strong. She could not sit idly by while he was bullied by Mrs. Burlington. “I think that the earl could be allowed to voice his decision without being subjected to these embarrassing exclamations, Amaris,” she said quietly.

  “By Jove, so I should,” Lord Eddington muttered. A dull flush of resentment shaded his cheekbones.

  “Mrs. Burlingt
on, I shall look forward to our return to Berwicke, if for no other reason than to speak at length with you,” Lady Eddington said.

  On the point of addressing her nephew again, Mrs. Burlington instead shrugged as though the matter was one of indifference, after all. Though ill temper still hardened her eyes, she smiled at the countess. She said in a surprisingly tolerant manner, “As I am certain that I shall do also, dear Lady Eddington. It is all me same to me, of course, but I had thought to point out what I thought to be your own interests in the matter.”

  Lady Eddington inclined her head. She said softly, “I shall not forget that, I do assure you.”

  Mrs. Burlington’s severe expression relaxed completely into a satisfied smile. She threw a rapid glance at Lady Caroline to be certain that her niece had not missed the progress she had made toward becoming the countess’s ally. “That is most gracious of you, my lady.”

  Lord Eddington let out his breath on a long sigh. He said feelingly, “I am glad that is settled.”

  “But when shall you be leaving?” Lady Caroline asked.

  The Earl of Berwicke warily eyed his aunt, unwilling to be the cause of another outburst. It was Lady Eddington who replied. “My lord intends to start off early in the morning, being most anxious to make London as speedily as possible so that we shall not be required to spend the night at some remote inn.”

  “Too right. One can never be certain of the airing of the sheets at those places,” Lord Eddington said, nodding.