Cecilia's Claim (3 page)

"Who?" she asked urgently.
She jerked her
head to one side to try to see who approached. As she did her domino slipped
and she hastened to cover her face once more it was too late.

"Randall."

That was a relief, Randall and Cecy always watched out for each
other. She leaned toward Caleb and laughed again. She hoped it didn't sound as
uneasy as she thought it might.

"Damn, it's too late." Caleb muttered. "He
knows."

In that case there was no need to dissemble. Cecy straightened and
smiled at Randall as he stopped in front of them. "Why how nice to see
you, Sir."

"I doubt it." Randall touched her arm.
" Cecy
you need to go home, Peregrine is here."

Chapter One

Not many years before, she would have looked out of the coach
window with interest, exclaimed at the ever-changing view and bounced on the
squab in excitement at everything she saw. Now it was all she could do to smile
when her brother drew his horse alongside the coach window and asked if she was
warm enough, hungry, or fatigued. In truth although she was not
actually
fatigued, she thought the
journey was tedious and couldn't wait for it to end.

Randall bent his head to speak to her.

"We stop very soon, for according to our esteemed brother, I
must arrive in style, not road weary on my horse." He rolled his eyes to
show what he thought of Peregrine and his diktats. "I have bespoke a
chamber and a parlor at The Boar, so you can partake of refreshments and I can
look my best."

Typical male.
Do
I
not need to look my best?
 
Well she thought, honest to herself,
probably not. She was with Randall on sufferance, at the behest of Peregrine
their eldest brother. Cecilia was, he pronounced in his usual pontificating
way, too dangerous for her own good.

She nodded at Randall and he once more let his horse draw ahead.
Cecy watched him disappear from her view, subsided back onto the seat and
wished she were with him. It would have been perfect to be riding in the weak
autumn sunshine instead of sitting bored inside the coach. In fact it would be
even better not to be here at all, but at Sarrington Manor, the house her grandmamma
had left to her, close by the family seat in Northamptonshire. There she could
be herself away from all disapproval.
 
However it had been decided by Perry she should accompany Randall,
therefore it was a fait accompli. Peregrine had proclaimed he had no faith in
her staying out of the ton's eyes and eluding their censure, or away from
trouble in such familiar surroundings. Neither Cecy nor Randall had a say in
the matter. It was as well they enjoyed each other's company and accepted each
other for what they were.

True to Randall's word within the hour they were ensconced in a
snug parlor, with an array of tempting goodies in front of them.

"Randall?" she asked as he leaned back in his chair.
"Why am I here?"

Randall made a steeple of his fingers and looked at her curiously.
"To help me settle?
Why do you think?" He
grinned.

 
"Well, not to help you
settle," she said frankly.
"Perhaps because I am an
embarrassment?
But I am four-and-twenty, almost an old maid. Why is it
imperative to remove me from London and send me here? Surely Sarrington Manor
would have sufficed? I have lived a life of a nun for many years now."

Randall's eyes crinkled at the corners as he stared at her. How
she loved this brother. She knew he had secrets, well didn't they all? But Randall
had more than most, and she ached for him.

"Cecy, your idea of a nun does not reconcile with
others."

Well no, not when I think of
some of the toys you have presented me with.

She had no time to ponder before he continued. “It may have
something to do with inviting men into your bedchamber whilst you were still at
school.
Or perhaps your antics at Lady Gravesend's ball?
To say nothing of slapping The Earl
Of
Beverstoke at
Almacks not many weeks ago." Randall smiled as if her antics didn't bother
him unduly. She her other siblings were so different from Peregrine that Cecy
often wondered if her beloved Mama, after providing the heir, looked elsewhere
to warm her sheets.

However, being reminded of her youthful misdemeanors made her
flush. "Ha, it was Gussie who invited the men in, not me. I just took
advantage of her generosity.
And Beverstoke?
He
deserved it. He is a pig. Do you know what he thought I would be interested in?
Do you?"

Randall laughed and handed her the last patty. "Though I may
agree, pig or not, Almacks is not the place to say so. Nor is a ball where all
eyes on you, the place for assignations. And I will add there is no chance of
his lordship ever repeating his requests to you or anyone else. He has, I
believe, decided his absence will be most appreciated."

That is one thing less to
think about, and perhaps he does have a point about my actions. But the
assignations were not down to me, and it was slap the Earl or
kick
him in the bollocks. That would have caused even a
greater scandal.

"Yes, well, he was rude to me, I returned the favor. So here
I am, foisted on you. Randall I am truly sorry." She was, but she wasn't
sorry to be out of Peregrine's orbit and his glee at being able to dictate to
her. She loved him dearly, but prosy could have been his middle name. She
wrinkled her nose. "However it will be good to be out of the censure of
the tabbies. And I include our dearest brother in their ranks."

Randall laughed. "That's true for both of us love, and I'm
not sorry you're with me, not at all. It'll be pleasant to have someone to
manage the house, take care of hiring servants and be there to talk to when I'm
home. To a person who wants no truck with the marriage mart. Someone I love and
trust. Believe it or not, I miss uncomplicated female companions. So you, my
dear, do me a favor. Now if you're finished shall we press on? 'Tis but
a half
dozen miles. These I'll ride inside the coach with
you. Arrive in style."

****

The views, as they trundled along high above the river, did at
last catch Cecelia's attention. After all if this was to be her home for the
foreseeable future she needed to take heed. Far below across the fields, the
shimmer of water looked lazy and sullen. The darkening sky did nothing to
dispel her feelings of unease, as they got closer to their destination. Not one
to be normally superstitious, Cecilia wondered why she felt as if someone had
walked over her grave. Her skin tingled in a most unpleasant way. Not like the
way she had felt when…She gave herself a mental shake. Those thoughts were best
not remembered.

The countryside began to change; the occasional farmhouse and
cottage became a street of low buildings, pleasantly whitewashed and with neat
thatched roofs. Whoever the lord of the manor was he took pride in the accommodation
of his workers. A few urchins waved as they drove past.

Between the houses, glimpses of the river showed, and every so
often a small boat could be seen tied up and bobbing on the gentle current. The
sun broke through the clouds and sent a shaft of brilliance into the water, and
it sparkled. Cecy smiled. She had no illusions; it would not always be thus.
However for now, it seemed the village was welcoming them.

The corner of the lane leading to the house was, according to
Randall, somewhat tight. It was
,
Cecilia accorded, a
truth. Only due to the skill of the coachman did they turn in a smooth
progression that drew admiration from her.

Finally they pulled up outside a snug house, which she
acknowledged, was perfect for Randall. Cecilia wandered through the rooms as
Randall gave instructions to the coachman regarding stables and their
accommodation. The public rooms were spacious, and she saw to her delight very
elegantly furnished, and a small room overlooking the river would be perfect as
a study for Randall. She herself would take the even smaller room attached to
the second bedchamber as her own private domain. Although there were only three
bedchambers overall, plus two attic rooms for whomsoever needed them, there was
more than enough space for the two of them not to be on top of each other.
Along one side there was a long low building running from the riverside track
toward the village green, in essence an annex, perfect for the housekeeper Mrs.
Batting and her husband, their general factotum, plus Cecy's maid and Randall's
valet. A tidy but tiny garden behind the house, with currant bushes and an
apple tree delighted her. Then to her joy another garden across the rutted
lane, which abutted onto the riverbank, and where a plethora of autumn flowers cascaded
over an old stone wall. Cecilia decided she could be happy here.

If only….
She sighed. If only was not to be allowed in her vocabulary. She
would put her past behind her and she
would
be happy.

Fighting talk, she decided as Randall sat opposite her at the
dinner table later that evening.

"We will need to find a larger house at some point," he
remarked as he toyed with his wine glass. He might work for customs and excise,
but Randall was no fool. Wine, tax paid of course, was always welcome in his home.
"We will surely soon annoy each other here." He smirked. "Well
one can but hope some activities we are able to indulge in
could
annoy the other. Envy perchance?"

 
"Oh Randall, this is
my fault." Cecy was dismayed. "I'll go back to London, or even better
to the Manor Grandmamma left to me. We don't need to let Peregrine know. I
cannot be allowed to crowd you. Why should you suffer for my folly?"

 
"Don't worry, you
won't be. Allowed to live alone or crowd me." He elaborated.
"As for anything else?
Firstly do you really think he
who knows everything wouldn't discover your whereabouts? I swear the man has
eyes everywhere. Then both our lives would be more than uncomfortable. Our dear
brother can become mighty intractable, especially if his ideas are thwarted.
As for anything else?
I do not foresee my drought ending
anytime soon; more is the pity. Ah well, such is life. I will also be away part
of the time and have no time for dalliance. This job holds great
responsibility. No doubt we will muddle along fine m'dear. Just lie low until
Peregrine gets this latest bee out of his breeches, and then take up your life
again as you so desire. Before I forget, here is a roll of readies." He
passed a roll of notes to her. Cecy put it in her reticule, there was no point
in protesting, and she may well need cash. As Peregrine managed her fortune
until she was either wed or thirty years of age, Randall and she had long since
come to an agreement. He bankrolled her, and she kept a tally of how much she
would need to pay him back when she had access to money. The pin money
Peregrine accorded her was negligible. Why their Papa felt the need to ask
Perry to oversee her allowance and her fortune Cecy couldn't fathom. However
over the last few months her Papa had passed more and more responsibility over,
and Peregrine thrived on it.

"I'll be out later tonight, should I asked Mrs.
Batting
to sleep in?" Randall asked as they rose from
the table, and he led the way into the drawing room. There was no idea of
Cecilia retiring whilst he drank his port. Randall had long since taught her to
enjoy a glass of the tawny liquid.

"Not at all, I am well able to hold my own if needed."
Cecy settled into a comfortable chair near the fireplace. "And what could
she do? Lovely though she is I fail to see how she would foil any intruder,
unless she sat on them. Why she must be less than five foot tall and weigh over
a dozen stone. Any ill-wisher would reach Newton Bushel before she left her
room."

Randall laughed and stooped to kiss her cheek. The affection he
held for her was visible in his eyes.
"So true.
Very well, I will let you have your own way. Be sure to check all doors and
windows are locked, and I will see you in the morning, I hope you have an
enjoyable night." His eyes twinkled, and Cecy laughed. He knew her so
well. The sewing tools he had purchased for her had more than one use.

"God willing we will both be fine. It is a night for
smugglers to be active, and I must meet with my men." He left her sitting
quietly, her eyes on the dancing flames of the fire.

So tonight smugglers would be active. She sighed. In this part of
the country surely they were only men trying to feed their families? Times were
hard, and it was said many a child cried themselves to sleep on an empty
stomach. Cecy well knew, and thought Randall turned a blind eye to the basket
Mrs. Batting left the house with each morning. Filled with the leftovers from
the day before, it saved many a child from going too hungry. Cecy had taken to
ordering too much for each meal, happy to think she was able to help her
neighbors in some small way. Whilst every day was a struggle for so many it was
no wonder some turned to illegal activities to survive.