by Kira Stewart
Edward had said that the two girls were gossips, had warned her that she should pay no attention to them. Perhaps he was afraid of something they might say to her?
“You’re here, Henrietta. I wondered where you had got to. Look, I have brought you a nice piece of chicken pie and a piece of cheese. You still look shaky. Perhaps we should sit down for a while?”
Sitting down, she felt much better and the food fortified her. It had been a long time since breakfast, and the late lunch was most welcome. Edward was most attentive, but now she realised that he was not someone she could seriously think of as a suitor, no matter how much her mama pushed her in that direction.
Henrietta knew what it felt like to be in love, even if that love was not returned, and she definitely did not feel that way about Edward Turnbull. The words of the two women had just made her realise that. Of course, she would not have to see him again after the afternoon was over. All she had to do was to be pleasant and smile, and soon she would be back in Bath with her mother and sister, and dear Mr. and Mrs. Everton.
Despite the gossiping sisters, Edward seemed to have enough friends to talk to at the party, and the couple joined others in games of lawn boules and more dancing.
Henrietta was a good player, they played boules often at home in the vicarage garden and she had soon beaten all of the ladies, and even some of the men in their games.
More tea was served around four, and the ladies once again sat inside the marquee, and were served tea and cake by smart waiters. Some of the men were starting up a game of cards, and Edward wanted to join in with them.
“I will not be long, Henrietta, but I would rather like a game of cards. You do not mind do you?”
She looked at the little pearl faced watch her father had given to her for her sixteenth birthday. It was already 17: 30, and it was almost an hour and a half drive back home.
“Do not forget you promised mother I would be home by seven.”
Henrietta did not think her mother would mind that she was late home, but she was feeling tired and wished they would soon be on their way.
It was seven o’ clock by the time Edward and the rest of the men returned from their game. Henrietta did not mind, she had spent the time pleasantly talking with some of the girls from her own group. The two gossiping women had already left, much to her relief, and the others had taken her under their wing and looked after her. She had quizzed them about Edward, but they knew little about him. He had been away, they thought, and only recently returned to Bath.
“Who were the two elegant ladies, the ones wearing the feathered turbans?”
She was eager to find out about the two sisters.
One of the girls laughed.
“Oh, you mean the hoity toity sisters. Do not mind them too much. They look down their noses at everyone, but there was a scandal concerning their younger sister last year. The poor girl’s reputation was compromised in some way, and it has quite tarnished them all. I am wondering that they dare to show their faces here, but I believe Lord Elmsford is a friend of their father’s, poor things. They are hardly likely to get husbands now. Not decent ones anyway.”
The group finally made their way back to their respective carts and carriages for the long ride home.
Feeling sleepy, Henrietta lay back in the comfortable leather seat and relaxed. She had enjoyed her afternoon’s outing, but was glad to be going back to Bath.
Shutting her eyes, she let the rhythm of the rocking carriage lull her to sleep.
“Woah.”
There was a shout, a sudden lurch, and the carriage stopped.
Henrietta was immediately woken and she sat up with a start.
The sky was already darkening, the sun just setting over to the West. The moon was visible, hanging effortlessly above a hill to her right, and a myriad of twinkling stars filled the air.
“What is it? What is wrong?”
She peered out into the night looking for Edward.
He had already dismounted and was looking at the carriage.
“The axle on the carriage is broken. Split in two.”
Still bleary from sleep, she frowned a little.
“What are we to do? Can it be mended?”
The young man scratched his head.
“It can be mended, but it will take some days, and that is no good to us right now.”
“So what do we do? Had we better start walking home?”
The young man laughed.
“Walk! It is ten miles away, and I do not think your silk slippers will make the journey, never mind those pretty legs.”
“So, how shall we get home?” Henrietta began to panic.
Approaching the side of the carriage, the young man looked directly at her.
“There is no question about it, Henrietta. We cannot go home now. There is no way we can walk the ten miles in the darkness. We passed an Inn about five minutes ago. We must walk there and spend the night. I can walk the horse over and get someone to see to the carriage in the morning.”
Feeling a sudden chill, Henrietta wrapped her shawl tightly about her shoulders.
“But what about the others? Can they not give us a lift home? Surly they will be passing this way at any moment?”
William shook his head.
“Sadly, no. They will have passed here a long time since. I travelled much slower, so as not to wake you.”
Feeling panicky, Henrietta peered at her small watch, trying to make out the position of the clock hands in the moonlight.
“But it is almost nine o’clock. Surely we must have been home by now. We must be nearly there?”
William stepped closer to the carriage and looked at her strangely.
“You must be mistaken, Miss Maldon. It is at least another hour’s drive home. I am afraid there is no way we can get back tonight.”
“Perhaps someone at the Inn will be passing that way?”
The young man shook his head again.
“I doubt it. It is only a small Inn and the only carriage in the vicinity will be the mail coach that passes this way in the morning. We will try and get a ride back to Bath in that. Now step down. We need to be getting you inside, you are already shivering.”
It was true, she was shaking, but it was not from the cold. Henrietta was struck by something in the young man that caused her to feel a chill. How did he know so much about the Inn and the mail coach? It was almost as if he had planned the whole thing.
“What about my mother? She will be besides herself with worry. What are we to do?”
The young girl could feel herself on the brink of tears.
“We shall try and get word to your mother, of course, but it may not be possible. She knows you are with me. Do not worry. I will explain everything to her when we return. No one need find out about this, if you are worried about your reputation.”
Suddenly, the young man seemed very cold, and she did not like his manner, but being alone with him in the middle of nowhere, she had no choice but to agree to go along with his scheme. There was no alternative.
Stepping from the carriage, she took his arm, and together they set off down the rough road toward a light in the distance.
•••
It was past nine o’clock, and Mrs. Maldon stood on the steps of the fine townhouse, looking out for the little carriage. She had been in and out of the house for the past half an hour, and now she began to fret. Mr. Everton had offered to take his carriage and look for them, but they had no idea in what direction to look.
“Do come inside, Mrs. Maldon, you will catch your death, and waiting on the steps will not make them come any quicker.”
Her hostess joined her on the steps, beckoning her to come inside.
“Oh, Mrs. Everton, what on earth am I to do? What can have happened to the two of them? What sort of mother am I, letting my youngest daughter go off with a mere stranger? We know nothing about him! Oh, whatever shall I do?”
The older lady brought out a shawl and wrapped i
t about the other woman’s shoulders.
“Do not worry, Mrs. Maldon. I’m sure all will be well. The young people will be enjoying themselves, no doubt, and will probably have lost all sense of time.”
“But it is dark, Mrs. Everton, and my Henrietta is out there somewhere, and where, I know not.”
At last, a carriage turned into the crescent, and Mrs. Maldon sighed with relief.
“There, I told you all would be well, Mrs. Maldon.”
But it was not Henrietta and Edward. Instead, another young man pulled up outside the house and stepped onto the pavement.
It was dark, and the two women could not quite see the young man’s face in the lamplight.
“Mrs. Maldon, Mrs. Everton, please forgive me. You may remember me from the Assembly Rooms last night. I was wanting to speak to Henrietta, if she is at home?”
Mrs. Maldon peered out from the doorway.
“Who is speaking, young man?”
He stepped forward into the light.
“It is Thomas Langton, ma’am.”
Mrs. Maldon had never been so pleased to see a man she had so previously disliked.
She quickly told him of her concerns.
Mr. Langton looked grave.
“That was one of the reasons I called here tonight, to see if Miss Maldon had arrived home safely. You see, I have just hastened from the Assembly Rooms, where I met two acquaintances of mine. They too had been at the picnic this afternoon, and had seen Mr. Turnbull and Henrietta. They too had been concerned about her.”
Sophie Maldon looked puzzled.
“Whatever were these young ladies concerned about, Mr. Langton?”
Thomas gave an embarrassed cough.
“Well, it is quite a delicate matter, Mrs. Maldon.”
“Oh sir. Mrs. Maldon and I are women of the world. There is nothing you can say to either of us that will shock. Now, do tell us everything that you know.”
The young man shook his head.
“I fear there is no time for that. I must find Henrietta first, and bring her home. Then we will have time to talk. I know roughly the route they must have taken back from Chelmwood House. There are not many roads that are suitable for a carriage, so it should not take me long. I will be back as soon as I possibly can.”
With a bow, he left quickly and drove away in his carriage at speed.
•••
It was fifteen minutes before they reached the Inn. The road was quite rough, and Henrietta’s feet were quite sore, and her slippers quite ruined.
The Inn was quiet, except for a few old men sat drinking. They eyed her up and down as she stepped through the doorway, acknowledging the young man with a knowing look.
The young man had hardly spoken to her during their brief walk, and seating her at a wooden table, he went to find the landlord.
“There is a room we can stay in for tonight.”
The young girl looked shocked.
“Do not worry, my dear, I have no wicked intentions. I mean to be honourable. You can have the room and I will stay down here until morning. The mail coach is due at six, so we will be on it and be back in Bath for just after seven.”
Henrietta looked around her. If anyone found out she had stayed away from home with a gentleman, her reputation would be ruined. She thought back to the conversation she had overheard outside the marquee earlier that day, and a feeling of dread passed over her. Yet, there was nothing she could do; there was no one here to help her.
As if reading her thoughts, he continued.
“Do not look so worried. I will explain the situation to your mother. It will be all right. Now, get some rest, you look tired.”
Henrietta had no choice, but to ascend the wooden stairs to the small room above the bar. It was clean, but roughly furnished.
Lying on the bed, she felt tired but could not sleep, and lay awake, listening to the sounds of the night, and wondering what the next twenty-four hours would bring.
•••
Thomas Langton followed the road that led back to Chelmwood House. There were a few Inns on the route, and he called in at them all, with no luck. He was about to turn back for Bath, when he noticed a light in the distance along a small rough track that branched off from the main thoroughfare. Turning off the main road, he headed for the Inn.
•••
Henrietta must have dozed, for she awoke to the sound of raised voices outside.
Getting up, she hastened to the window to listen. Edward was shouting into the night at someone.
“How dare you suggest such a thing? The girl is unharmed and upstairs in a room. My carriage is in need of repair, sir, and I had little choice. My first thoughts were only for the girl, and to get her inside on such a chilly night. You can enquire of the Innkeeper of my conduct, whilst I have been here if you doubt my honour?”
There was no reply, but Henrietta saw the figure of a man step inside the Inn, and could hear his tread upon the wooden stairs, before a knock came at her door.
“Henrietta?”
Her heart beat fast. Recognising the voice, she hesitated a moment, adjusting her dress and wishing for a mirror.
For a split second, the girl imagined opening the door and falling into his open arms, but reality was nothing like the novels she had read.
Instead, he looked tired and angry.
“Come, Henrietta. My carriage is waiting outside. I have come to escort you home.”
Without another word, he held open the door and she stepped through and descended the steps.
Edward was still standing outside, and stepped out of the shadows, as Henrietta stepped through the door of the Inn.
“Henrietta I …”
Before he could reach her, Tom Langton had stepped between the couple.
“I think you have said and done quite enough for one day, sir.”
For a moment, the two men stood face-to-face, and Henrietta worried that the two might fight as they squared up to each other.
Finally, Tom backed down, and taking Henrietta by the hand, helped her into his carriage, and without looking back, set away as fast as the horses would allow.
Tom drove the horses at speed all the way home. Henrietta sat in silence, wondering what was happening to her. Although she had felt uneasy at the Inn, there was something angry in Tom’s demeanour, something dark that frightened her far more, than her time spent with Edward at the Inn.
The moon was hidden by a halo of clouds as they travelled in silence though the countryside, the dim outline of trees and bushes menacing in the dim light.
As they drew nearer home, the sky began to clear, the mist clearing. In the moonlight, the trees now stood out in strong relief against the night sky. Henrietta recognised the place they were just passing. It was Solsbury Hill, raising itself majestically against the indigo inky sky. She could see Tom’s face, he no longer looked angry, but somehow he seemed sad in the moonlight. She wished she could think of something to say, something to make it like it used to be between them, back in the old days. But they had travelled too far and she remained silent.
•••
The candles were ablaze in the villa in Bath, as the occupants waited eagerly for word of the girl. When the curricle appeared on the crescent with Henrietta inside, the whole house rushed out to greet her. Even the dogs joined in the excitement and sensing that something was happening, yapped at ankles and feet, wondering what all the fuss was about.
“There, I told you all would be well. Now look, Mrs. Everton, did not I say my daughter would be home safely?”
Helping her out of the carriage, Tom Langton bestowed a grave and small bow onto the gathered group.
“Now if you will excuse me. It is getting late.”
Mrs. Maldon remonstrated.
“Surely you will stay and have some supper with us, Mr. Langton. We have yet to eat. Indeed, we could not until our dear Henrietta was brought back home safely. You are the hero of the hour, and must take some refreshment as reward
for your endeavours. Tell him, Mrs. Everton.”
“Of course, we would love you to join us. Mr. Everton has some very fine brandy to warm you back up, sir.”
The young man bowed again.
“Forgive me, ladies, but I am away early tomorrow morning and must return home. As you can see, Henrietta is safe and well. I will take my leave. Goodnight.”
There was no time to argue further, as he quickly mounted the small carriage and was soon away, down the Crescent and out of sight.
“Well, I never. I am thankful that he brought our dear Henrietta back to us, but he is a strange man, I must confess. Now, come and warm yourself by the fire, my dear. You are chilled to the bone.”
11.
“But I do not understand why Mr. Langton thinks that Edward behaved so disgracefully. If it is as you said, Henrietta, that the carriage axle really was split in two, then there was really nothing the poor young man could do, but to find a safe and warm place for you to stay the night. You said yourself, he was to explain everything once you returned home. Of course, we would have been worried all evening, but he sounds like a man of honour, and this would have just been between ourselves. I am sure no damage could have been done to your reputation in the long run. I think perhaps that your Mr. Langton is perhaps jealous of Edward, or that he dislikes him in some way.”
Henrietta had told her story, whilst warming herself by the fire and eating a large bowl of hot soup. At the time, it had seemed as though Tom had saved her from Edward, but now on reflection, as she told her story, it all became confused. Had Tom really behaved badly toward her? She had been tired, and perhaps the words of the two sisters had affected her subconscious much deeper than she thought. And Tom had not been particularly civil with her on the way back to Bath. In fact, he had not spoken a word to her the whole journey. Indeed, he had seemed to be rather angry at her.
Recalling the tale of the young men’s early school days leading to Edwards’s expulsion from college, she retold the story to her eager listeners.
“Well, there you have it!” Mrs. Maldon threw up her arms, having cracked the conundrum. “Thomas Langton is clearly jealous of poor Edward, and has tried to make him look bad in our eyes. I never did like that young man.”
