by Sahara Kelly
“Sinjun. Such phrases are not for polite company.” Mrs Glynde-Beauchamp glared at him.
“Nonsense, Izzy. Don’t fret. I’ll wager he’s heard worse many a time.”
“Indeed I have, sir,” smiled Miles. “And I thank you for your permission to marry my dearest Rose.” He took her hand and drew her close to his side, his grip all but crushing her fingers. “I will do my best to make her the happiest of wives.”
“Ohhh,” Rose’s mama folded her hands to her heart and beamed at them both.
Rose’s gaze fixed on one of the two large crossed swords hanging on one wall. Could she get to them and grab one and then guillotine just about everyone in the hall?
“Don’t, Rose. You might cut yourself.” It was a low whisper for her ears only.
Damn him. How did he know? “So along with being perfect, you also mind-read?”
“Of course. Did I not mention it?” He chuckled, released her hand and turned to Sinjun Beauchamp. “I hear you’ve been abroad sir,” he said, steering the man toward the parlour. “I would love to hear about your journeys. Especially if you came across anything to do with yaks…”
Rose ground her teeth. This was a terrible situation and she was caught slap in the middle of it, entangled now with Miles on a very public level. Something they’d both hoped to avoid.
She knew that the mess would not be easily untangled, but there was also another mess that could be settled, and she decided that for the moment that was where her attention should lie.
She walked into the parlour with her head held high. “Mama, is Aunt Imelda in?”
“Yes, dear, I’m sure she’ll be down shortly. Tea?” She held out a cup and Rose nodded.
“Thank you, yes. And one for Miles too. I’m sure he’s thirsty.”
The courtesies were performed and within moments Imelda Radford swept into the room. “Ah. I see the truants have returned. Just in time too,” she smirked. “We might have been persuaded you two were up to no good, running off like that.”
“We didn’t quite run off, as you put it, Ma’am,” said Miles politely. “It was more of an investigative journey.” He sipped his tea. “May I inquire if your footman, Sterling, is with you here in London?”
Imelda frowned. “Yes he is, but what possible cause could you have to want to…”
He raised his hand. “Please bear with me. Would you ask him to join us?”
“I hardly think that’s appropriate,” she objected.
“On the contrary,” responded Miles. “I would like to ask him a few questions in the hopes that he can assist us in solving a troubling problem.”
“I…I don’t believe he’s in the house at the moment,” stammered Imelda.
Rose closed her eyes for a moment. She knew, without words, that Aunt Imelda had something to do with the theft of her music. Her stomach plummeted.
Miles moved to sit beside her, his presence a comfort in spite of everything. He didn’t look at her, but she knew why he’d chosen that seat.
“Please, Ma’am, if you would be so kind…?”
There was no escaping his request and Imelda knew it. With a flounce she stalked to the bell, rang it, and when Chalmers appeared gave the order. “I can’t believe what you might want to speak with my servant about, Lord Linfield.” Her nose was high in the air. “So inappropriate to bring him before his betters like this.”
Sterling entered, a man of modest height and unremarkable appearance. Rose had seen him around the house, taking care of her aunt’s business. Now she looked at him through new eyes, searching for something that might indicate he’d acted alone in the theft.
It wasn’t there.
His eyes were for his mistress, wide and worried.
“Sterling, his Lordship says he has some questions for you.” Imelda’s gaze was glacial. “I’m sure you will answer them as truthfully as possible, won’t you?”
The hair on Rose’s neck stood up at her aunt’s tone. It was a warning, without question.
“Yes, Ma’am.” Sterling bowed low, his face pale.
“Mr Sterling? Mr Lucas Sterling?” Miles stood up and beckoned him over.
“Yes, sir. That’s me.” He bowed low.
“Good. Now I’d like you to answer a question please. I know you are acquainted with Sir Frederick Aldredge. Last autumn you delivered a music manuscript to him. Where did you get it?”
Sterling blinked. “Why…I don’t know about any music, sir, but I’ve taken packages to Mountfort off and on. It was my Lady give them to me, sir.” He glanced at Lady Imelda. “It’s a short trip by horse across the fields, and I have family not far away.” He nodded in her direction. “It’s very kind of my Lady to allow me to visit them at the same time.”
Rose was hard pressed to keep her eyes away from her aunt. Bile rose inside her, along with an acid fury that made her want to throw the dregs of her tea in her aunt’s face.
“I see.” Miles nodded. “Thank you, Sterling. That will be all.”
With a sigh of relief, Sterling bowed low again. “Thank you, sir.” He hurried from the room.
Miles walked to where Imelda sat still and silent, her face an expressionless mask.
“What’s all this about?” asked Mrs Glynde-Beauchamp.
“I’d like to know that as well,” added Sinjun Beauchamp.
“It’s about a theft,” said Miles turning to address the room at large. “The theft of something that was private, something created with joy and brilliance, not with a thought for mercenary gain.” He glanced at Imelda then looked away again. “The package that Sterling delivered to Sir Frederick Aldredge that morning contained a music manuscript. A very special one, since it was written by your daughter, Mrs Glynde-Beauchamp.”
“Good lord. You write music, do you, niece?” Sinjun’s eyebrows rose.
“I do, Uncle. Yes.” Rose nodded.
“Well, well. I never knew.” He shook his head.
“I would guess you were not here, sir.” Miles spared him. “Yaks and everything.”
“True, quite true,” answered Sinjun sadly, not noticing that Rose was trying to hide a snicker.
“Be that as it may,” continued Miles, “it would seem that this piece of music was taken without permission by you, Lady Imelda. And don’t bother denying it. You really were the only person who would have had the opportunity to discover both Rose’s talent and where she kept her compositions.”
Rose’s mama sat with wide eyes staring at her sister. “Imelda,” she breathed. “How could you?”
Imelda’s mouth curved into a bitter sneer. “Why shouldn’t I? She didn’t care whether others heard it or not. And she wouldn’t have done it herself. So I did it. Yes, all right. Is that what you wanted me to say?”
Rose moved to her mother’s side and put her hand on her shoulder. “I doubt that is what any of us wanted you to say, Aunt Imelda, but it is doubtless true.” She sighed. “To say I’m disappointed is an understatement. To even guess what Mama is feeling at this moment…well, I cannot. To know that her sister would steal so blatantly…and for what? Money?”
“Of course for money, you stupid girl. What other reason could there possibly be?”
“But—I thought you were well off, Imelda. You never breathed a word to me…” Isabel’s face was a study in confusion. “I don’t understand all this, I really don’t…”
“I’m not surprised, Isabel. You were never the smart one, were you?”
“I welcomed you into my home. You’re my sister…”
Rose tried to soothe matters. “Come now. We shall talk this out and see if there’s some way to resolve it.”
“Don’t play stupid games, girl. You’re smarter than your mother.” Imelda Radford’s expression was ugly.
“She wasn’t if she trusted you as I did,” spat Isabel.
“I didn’t ask for your trust. You offered it…”
“I never realised what a snake you are…”
“Stop it, both of you.”
Rose stamped her foot. “You’re embarrassing Miles and making a scene in front of Uncle Sinjun. Stop it right now.”
“I…I…” Isabel put her head in her hands.
But Imelda wasn’t done yet. “You think your fiancé is embarrassed now? Wait until it gets out that he’s marrying a woman who could go insane and is a bastard to boot.” She spat the words at both of them.
Isabel’s head shot up in horror. “What? What did you say?”
“You heard me. She’s a bastard. Didn’t you tell her that, Miss High-and-Mighty Sister? Afraid it would spoil her chances for a favourable match, were you?”
Rose’s mother took a deep breath and stood, reaching for Rose’s hand. “I have no idea what my sister has said to you, Rose, or what you may have overheard, but I will tell you this now. You are no bastard. Your Papa and I were married before you were born.”
“Are you completely sure, dear Isabel?” Imelda’s face was contorted into something truly ugly. “You and your dear Pierrepont Beauchamp spent a summer in the country, and you returned saying you’d been wed before you left. And you were with child. The numbers didn’t add up at all. And there were no records of any marriage. I checked.”
“You would.” Isabel’s mouth curved into an expression of distaste. “I always suspected you hated me, but I never ever realised how much. That’s why Beauchamp and I married quietly. And you weren’t invited.” Her body was rigid. “Rose is my lawful daughter, born in wedlock, and I’m ashamed and horrified you thought anything else.”
Miles stood in turn. “If I may, Mrs Glynde-Beauchamp, Lady Radford…I think any further discussion should take place in private. And please be assured of my discretion. None of this goes beyond this room.” He turned to Rose. “Our engagement has been announced, Rose, so we must proceed accordingly.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t…I can’t…”
“Rose.” His voice was firm. “We shall proceed accordingly. Is that clear?”
“I’m sure she’s just overwhelmed, Miles dear” said her mother, slipping an arm around Rose’s waist. “Isn’t that so, my sweet girl?”
Rose’s last tiny strand of patience snapped.
“No, Mama, I’m not overwhelmed. I’m just disgusted to find out I’ve a relative who would steal from me without apparently a second thought, not to mention making me doubt my legitimacy with whispers and veiled implications. I’m not really happy with you either, since you sent out a public announcement concerning my life without asking me. Overall,” she looked around her, “I find myself surrounded by a family that has disappointed me on just about every level. So if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to change my clothes and then go out. I shall be unavailable for the rest of the day.” She shot a pointed glare at Miles. “To everyone.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Is she still crying?”
Sir Laurence Sydenham leaned over and whispered in his wife’s ear as she stood outside one of the small parlours in Sydenham House.
“Sssh. I’m trying to hear…”
“I find a water glass pressed to the door panel usually works effectively, my Lady” Hobson strolled past.
“So that’s how you do it, you bugger,” swore Sir Laurence.
“If you cared to actually tell me things, my Lord, I wouldn’t need to.”
“I tell you things…”
“Would you both please hush?” Maud Sydenham glared at them. “And go away. Rose doesn’t need either of you.”
A sob sounded within the room. “There, you see? Now you’ve both contrived to upset her again. Perhaps you’d like to go in and talk to her?”
Sir Laurence and Hobson looked at each other and shared a male moment of bonding.
“We’re off then, dear. Must fly.”
“Indeed, my Lady. Things to do.”
They were gone before the echo of their words dissipated.
Maud shook her head and opened the door. “Well done, Rose. That last sob was an utter masterpiece.”
Rose grinned. “I rather thought so too. I hope they’ll forgive the subterfuge.”
“I’m glad to see you have stopped crying.” Maud crossed the room and sat down next to her.
“I must thank you for giving me a place where I could have a good cry, Lady Maud. I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go. I could have gone to Lydia’s, I suppose, but with Matthew in and out…I didn’t dare risk Miles coming to find me there.”
“You’re safe here. Not that I’m worried about Miles hurting you, or anything, but I agree. There are times when you just need a place to sob your heart out.” She looked at Rose. “Are you ready to talk about it?”
“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I’m so confused by everything right now, that a scream might be the next thing on my agenda.”
Maud couldn’t help a chuckle. “Go right ahead. I’ve done that many times over the years and yes, it helps too. Just pick up a convenient cushion and shriek away.”
They both shared a laugh which—considering Rose’s state when she arrived a couple of hours before—was a very positive thing.
“You probably heard that mama sent an announcement to the Times,” began Rose.
“I did,” nodded Maud. “Not a huge surprise, of course.”
“The problem is that we never really got engaged at all. It was all a ploy.”
Maud blinked. “I think you’d better tell me the whole of it.”
“I suppose I should.”
And so Rose regaled Lady Maud with the story of her improper engagement, how she and Miles conspired together to evade the pressures of both their families and ended up stuck in the very thing they had hoped to avoid…a real engagement.
Following that, Rose unburdened herself about her family and the stolen music, bringing a frown to Maud’s face.
“That’s unpardonable, Rose. Forgive me…I know she’s your aunt…but still…”
“Oh I know, my Lady. And I’m both disgusted and heartbroken about it.” She sighed.
“And that brings us to Miles,” prompted Maud. “Does he want to cry off?”
“God no. He wants to marry me, the idiot. All I wanted was to be his mistress.”
Maud absorbed that piece of information with remarkable aplomb. “Just a moment, dear.” She stood and crossed the room to the door, standing in front of it. “Put the glass away, Hobson,” she yelled loudly.
There was a muffled clatter in the hallway.
“Right.” She returned to Rose. “Now we can continue.”
“He didn’t want me for a mistress,” sniffed Rose.
“How churlish of him.”
“He kept insisting we were to wed. And he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I tried everything.”
“And you don’t wish to marry him, dear? He seems like he would make a good husband, you know…”
Rose’s head shot up. “Oh he would, my Lady. The very best. He’s kind and considerate and knows just how to…” Colour flooded her cheeks. “Er…”
Lady Maud sighed in disappointment. Apparently she was not to be treated to any salacious details.
“Right then. So here you are, engaged to a man who would make the perfect husband, and there’s no doubt you’re tail over teakettle in love with him.”
“I suppose so.” Rose’s eyes filled with tears again. “But I’m all wrong for him. I keep telling him, and all he does is either ignore me or insist that I’m not insane.”
“Well.” Maud thought about that statement. “It’s good to know one isn’t insane…isn’t it?”
“Yes, but I might be even though he says I’m not.”
“I’m a little confused. Can you explain that?”
Rose swallowed. “I shouldn’t. I’ve been threatened all my life that if I tell I will be shut away somewhere.”
“Oh my darling child, no. How could that be possible? You’re as sane as the next person, other than being a young woman in love, that is. And I’m completely certain you’re not likely to end up in Bedlam j
ust for that.”
Rose shook her head. “I see colours, Lady Maud. Colours in music.”
“Ahhh.” Maud smiled. “Is that all?”
Rose’s face was a study in utter shock. Her eyes were wide enough to see white all around her pupils, her jaw had dropped and Maud wasn’t sure if she was breathing. She pinched her. Hard.
“Oww.” Rose gasped.
“My dear girl, people have been reporting colours in the oddest places. It’s nothing new. Laurence had a great uncle who insisted that his mathematics problems could be solved as soon as he applied blue to them. Was he insane?” She paused. “Well, no more so than the rest of the Sydenhams. I know that’s not saying much but still…”
Rose’s eyes flooded with tears, but this time they were the result of a different emotion. “Oh Lady Maud.” She threw her arms around the older woman. “Miles insisted it was nothing to be ashamed of. But I thought that was just him being kind. I’ve never met anyone like me in that regard…and my family…”
“Say no more, Rose. I understand.” She hugged the girl hard. “Families don’t always consider that what they say and do can have the opposite effect to the one intended.”
“They told me to not mention it. To keep quiet about it. The more they told me, the more afraid I became of what it meant,” whispered Rose.
“And of course, when Miles asked you to marry him, you immediately imagined bringing a touch of insanity into his family.”
“Yes, exactly. And the thought of having a child go through what I went through…”
“I understand, Rose. Completely. But now you know the truth. So many truths for one day, little one.” Maud stroked Rose’s hair gently. “Now here’s what we’re going to do. You will go upstairs to one of the guest rooms where you’ll lie down for a good long nap. I think you’re ready for it.”
“I…well…”
“Hush, I’m not finished. While you’re sleeping, I will send a message to your home and ask your maid to bring you clothes for this evening. You will get dressed here and there will be no need for you to face your family again for a bit.”
“But…”
“No buts, Rose. Besides, did you forget? It’s Wednesday…”
