A Debt From the Past (12 page)

What a shame, she thought waspishly. She immediately reprimanded herself. She had never wished anyone harm in her life and, although sorely tried, she would not start now. She did not pursue the subject further, and when she looked back on the visit, Lady Sharland had said some peculiar things. No, difficult as it was to admit it, his lordship had the right of it, she decided. It had just been an odd remark from a confused mind. However, there was another matter to be raised.

‘What about the lady who is supposed to be coming to help with our season – is that also imagination?’ She hoped most sincerely that it was!

‘No, Lady Trenchard will be arriving soon; I have instructed the housekeeper to make rooms ready for her.’

‘Trenchard? I don’t believe I know the lady?’

‘You have never met her. She lives in Scotland and is making the arduous journey at my request.’

‘Scotland!’ Beth was astounded. ‘Could you not have found someone already living in London?’

‘Lady Trenchard is most suitable.’ He poured himself another glass of wine, ignoring Jenkins, who was hovering and looked affronted at being deprived of the task.

‘I hope she isn’t travelling alone?’

‘The man I have engaged to start our pig farm is accompanying her.’

Her mouth turned down in disgust. This was the first she had heard about bringing in another man, and the venture had now been elevated to a pig farm. ‘Does he also come from Scotland, then?’

His lordship nodded.

‘But where will you house him?’

‘A room in the servants’ quarters will suffice for the time being. There is space on that ground to build a cottage. Work will begin on the building next week.’

‘How dare you authorize such work without consulting me!’ she exploded, absolutely furious.

He gave her a level stare. ‘Have you forgotten that I am your legal guardian and have complete control of the estate until you come of age?’

That was true enough. Her godfather had never interfered with her management of the estate, but, in handing over his duties to his son, he had tied her hands completely. She fought to control her temper, knowing she wouldn’t get anywhere by shouting at him. ‘Would it be too much to ask you to discuss your plans with me?’

‘As you wish. Perhaps you would like to ride out with me tomorrow and I will show you where the cottage will be built?’

‘I would like that. Thank you,’ she added. Then the answer to one mystery suddenly became clear. ‘Have you also been living in Scotland, and that is why no one appears to know you?’

‘That is correct.’

His expression was shuttered, and she knew that an explanation would not be forthcoming. He had granted her a small snippet of information, but it was all he was going to allow. She continued with her meal, deep in thought. But it was a step towards finding out who he really was. He had the speech and manners of a gentleman, without a trace of an accent, so she had assumed that the answers would have been found in London, but that was clearly not the case.

She smiled. ‘It was wise of you to arrange for your man to travel with Lady Trenchard, for she might need protection from a robber during the long journey.’

He tipped his head back and laughed out loud. ‘It would be the robber who would need protection if he dared to hold up Alice. No man would be permitted to take anything from her – jewels or loved ones.’

‘She sounds formidable.’ Beth had never seen him so animated, or with such a look of affection in his eyes. It transformed him, and she could feel herself warming to him for the first time since his unexpected arrival. But she quickly banished the feeling. It would be foolish to drop her guard.

He flicked open his pocket watch and rose to his feet. ‘If they have not been delayed, the coach should be arriving within the hour.

The next two hours seemed interminable, for Beth was not pleased about having this unknown lady descend upon her, and she hoped he was not going to fill the house with his acquaintances.

At last a carriage pulled up at the door, and she hurried out to greet her guest. She had determined not to like Lady Trenchard, but she took to her immediately. She was tall, elegant and stately in her deportment, more than fifty years old, with deep chestnut hair, liberally sprinkled with silver, and vivid blue eyes. Beth caught her breath; she must have been quite a beauty in her day.

‘You must be Elizabeth.’

Beth felt as if she had been thoroughly assessed in one brief, penetrating glance.

‘You are right, James,’ Lady Trenchard said to the man standing beside her. ‘She is indeed very beautiful.’

Beth gave him a startled, disbelieving look, but his expression was well schooled, except for a slight movement at the corners of his mouth.

‘Now, Elizabeth –’ she paused – ‘or do you prefer to be called Beth?’

‘Beth, please.’ She was quite overcome with the lady’s strong personality and would not normally have given a stranger such liberty – lady or not!

‘Beth. That suits you.’ She took her arm. ‘You may call me Alice. Now, show me to my room, for I am feeling quite fatigued after that dreary journey.’

She did not look at all weary, Beth thought as she led her into the house. The lady was alive with energy.

When they reached the stairs, Beth stopped. ‘Oh, your lordship, where is your man you said was travelling with Lady Trenchard?’

‘Jenkins took him to the back entrance and into the servants’ wing.’

She did not miss the look of amusement that passed between Lady Trenchard and his lordship. They were clearly finding it very difficult not to burst into laughter. What was so amusing about a hired hand being taken to the servants’ entrance? She could not fathom it.

After seeing her guest comfortably installed, Beth left her to rest and went to the kitchen. Jenkins and her estate manager, Greenway, were waiting for her.

‘Have you settled his lordship’s man?’ she asked.

‘Er ... yes.’ Greenway looked rather bewildered.

‘What is it?’ she demanded, sensing an atmosphere. ‘What is wrong with him?’

‘Well, he is no more than a boy,’ Greenway told her.

‘Oh, no,’ Jenkins interrupted, ‘he must be around twenty-five, but certainly no more than that.’

Beth was puzzled. ‘That is rather a tender age to be an expert pig farmer, is it not?’

‘That’s what I thought.’ Her manager held a chair for her to sit down. ‘But I’ve had a talk with him and there’s no doubt he knows the animals.’

‘Well, that is something, I suppose. As long as he is competent, his age matters little.’ She sampled one of cook’s tarts and nodded approval.

‘There’s something else odd.’ Jenkins tapped his fingers on the table, deep in thought.

‘What is it?’ she prompted.

‘I might be wrong, but I would swear that he is a gentleman wearing a working man’s clothes.’

‘What is his name?’

‘George Riley,’ Jenkins informed her, ‘but I don’t think that’s his real name. I haven’t any proof of that,’ he added hastily, ‘but something about him doesn’t seem right.’

‘Oh, not another mystery man!’ she exclaimed, shaking her head in dismay. ‘Well, keep an eye on him, and let me know if you think he is not up to the job.’

It was half an hour before dinner, and Beth decided to meet this pig man.

He was in the kitchen when she entered. He leapt to his feet and bowed, keeping his eyes lowered.

‘You must be Riley?’

He nodded, still keeping his eyes hooded, which she found annoying. She liked people to look her straight in the eyes.

‘Look at me!’ she demanded. Her estate manager had been right; this tall, elegant young man was no farm worker.

He lifted his head and she gasped when she saw the pale grey eyes looking at her. She turned and stormed out of the kitchen and into the drawing room.

‘Do you consider me lacking in wits?’ Beth demanded, hands on hips in fury.

His lordship put his glass down on the drinks table. ‘No.’

‘I am pleased to hear it.’ She turned on Lady Trenchard. ‘Madam, I do not take kindly to being deceived in my own home.’

‘What is it, Beth?’ She reached out, but dropped her hand when Beth moved back.

‘Do not pretend innocence! Dishonesty is the one thing I will not tolerate.’

‘We are quite at a loss to know what you are talking about.’ James frowned. ‘What has sent you into such a fury?’

‘Shall we invite your relative to join us for dinner?’ she demanded, nearly shedding tears of rage.

‘Ah.’

‘Is that all you have to say for yourself? I demand to know what is going on!’

‘I’m sorry, James.’ A quiet voice spoke from the doorway. ‘She recognized me at once. We are too alike.’

Beth spun round and glared at the young man. ‘Come in, Mr Sharland – or whatever your name is.’

‘Alex Beaufort,’ he told her in that same quiet tone. ‘I am James’s cousin.’

‘I don’t doubt that you are related to each other, for I could not mistake the unusual colour of your eyes, but I think you are both masquerading under false identities, and I am deeply hurt at being used in this manner.’

‘We mean you no harm,’ the young man assured her.

‘Don’t try to talk with her, Alex.’ James came and stood beside his cousin. ‘She is too angry to listen.’

‘And is that surprising?’ Her foot was tapping with impatience on the carpet. ‘I demand an explanation for this ridiculous subterfuge.’

‘My dear –’ Lady Trenchard stepped forward – ‘please don’t upset yourself. It can all be explained.’

‘We will tell her nothing!’ James snapped.

Beth was now beyond all reasoning. ‘You will all leave my house this instant, or I shall have you removed by force.’

‘You will do no such thing.’ His lordship came menacingly to within a few inches of her. ‘I am still your legal guardian.’

‘Please, Miss Langton—’

She did not allow the young man to say anything else. ‘Take your cousin and this lady, and leave now!’

‘We cannot do that.’ James was clearly at the end of his patience.

‘We shall see about that!’ She turned towards the door, but he caught her arm in a fierce grip.

‘I have almost a year and can do a lot of damage in that time,’ he warned. ‘If you reveal this to anyone outside of this room, then I shall cast you into penury.’

‘Oh, James!’ Lady Trenchard whispered in distress.

The threat terrified Beth, for she knew he meant it. No matter how angry she was, she mustn’t do anything to jeopardize the estate. ‘I see I have little choice in the matter. I do not indulge in tittle-tattle, sir, and you can be assured that I shall not utter one word of this to anyone, and neither will Helen.’

Beth shook her arm free of his grip and turned to her friend. ‘Come, Helen, we shall dine in my room and leave these people to their devious intrigues.’

There was a knock on Beth’s door, and Helen opened it.

‘Would you ask Elizabeth if she would allow me to talk with her?’

‘Let Lady Trenchard in,’ Beth told her friend. She had slept little during the night, for her mind would not cease racing as she tried to make some sense of what was happening – but to no avail. The fact that he was filling her house with his family and friends was alarming. She felt under siege in her own home.

She rose when the lady entered and indicated a chair for her to sit in.

‘Thank you. It is gracious of you to see me.’

Beth said nothing, noting that Lady Trenchard did not appear to have slept soundly, either.

‘I have come to beg your forgiveness for our deception. I was not in agreement with this course of action, but my ... James would not be swayed, and I could not allow Alex to make the long journey from Scotland on his own.’

Beth still said nothing. She was deeply hurt by their conduct.

‘Ah, this is very difficult.’ Lady Trenchard was clearly distressed.

‘It can all be cleared up,’ Beth said. ‘All you have to do is tell me why this subterfuge has been necessary.’

‘I cannot!’

‘There does appear to be a rather tangled family history. Can you at least explain that to us?’

When the lady shook her head, Beth stood up and said briskly, ‘Then there is nothing further to discuss.’

‘Oh, please, my dear, don’t dismiss me.’

‘What else can I do, Lady Trenchard?’ She sat down again, disturbed to see this normally composed woman so overset.

‘I am pleading with you to trust James.’

‘How can I do that? He has done nothing but lie to me from the moment he arrived. And I have grave doubts that he is really my guardian.’ Beth gave a weary sigh. ‘But how do I prove it?’

Lady Trenchard shook her head. ‘He told you the truth about that. He is Edward Sharland’s legal heir.’

‘So everyone believes. And that is why I feel so helpless. He is a hard man and will, no doubt, carry out his threat to ruin me if I disobey him. I am at a loss to understand why I have been dragged into his devious scheme. I cannot believe this is what my godfather intended. He would never have placed me in this dreadful position. He wouldn’t ...’ Beth’s voice broke slightly with distress.

‘I am so sorry it has come to this.’ The lady studied Beth intently. ‘But you are wise to be cautious, for he will carry through his plan, regardless of whom he has to hurt along the way.’

‘And what is his plan?’ Beth prompted, hoping she could still tempt her to reveal something.

‘I am not privy to that information. Only he can tell you that,’ she replied.

Beth gave an impatient wave of her hand. ‘But he will not.’

‘No.’

‘Then we are at an impasse. It seems I have no choice but to await my twenty-first birthday and hope this fiend leaves me something to inherit.’

Lady Trenchard visibly flinched at the word ‘fiend’. ‘He has good reason for his conduct. My boys’ lives have been blighted—’

‘They are your sons?’ Beth was astounded, for they looked nothing like her.

‘I did not bear them, but I consider them my sons.’ She stopped and tried to compose herself. ‘May I have a glass of wine?’

Helen poured one after a nod from Beth and handed it to Lady Trenchard, then returned to her seat in the corner of the room.