For The Sake of Her Family (19 page)

‘We’ll have none of that language in my kitchen, my girl. But yes, that’s what I thought about Miss Nancy. No disrespect, but she is marrying well below her station. Anyway,
I’ve said enough; it’s not for me to comment. You know me, I mind my own business, keep myself to myself.’ And with that she scurried off to the pantry.

Alice sat at the table, trying to get to grips with the news. Will getting married to Nancy . . . Where would they live? What would become of her? And most of all, how could he afford the
wedding that Nancy dreamed of? Oh, why hadn’t he talked to her first? She felt hurt and left out. She’d thought she was best friend to both of them, yet they’d not let her into
their secret. Even the housekeeper knew before her! How could they? Just how could they!

‘Alice! I’m so glad that you are here. I wanted to tell you the news, but by the time I came in from talking to Will, you had gone to bed. Alice, I’m going to
get married to your brother. Isn’t that fantastic news! Can you believe it? He proposed to me last night. My heart’s all aflutter. Tell me that you are happy for us – do say you
are happy. To think that you are to be my sister-in-law! I still can’t believe it – pinch me, I think I’m dreaming.’

‘Congratulations, Miss Nancy.’ Alice’s voice was cold, without sentiment.

‘Oh, Alice, we are going to be so happy. To think that only last year I was convinced that life held nothing for me, and now I’m about to be married. And to make things even better,
Gerald is setting up an order for the marble works from the Tsar of Russia! I suspect he will be the next to announce his engagement. You know he’s in love with Tatiana, who’s in the
Tsar’s circle of close friends? He’s been waiting for her to come of age, and then I’m sure they will be married. I’m so happy.’ Nancy smiled and composed herself on
the edge of her bed.

‘Master Gerald’s to be engaged! I didn’t know.’ Alice could hear herself nearly scream the words.

‘Well, not quite yet, but it wouldn’t surprise me. They have been close for a while now. Isn’t it exciting, all this romance? We will have to get you and Jack together, and
then that would make us all happy.’

Nancy carried on prattling happily, but Alice didn’t hear a word. She was thinking that, considering it was still only the first day of January, the new year was not treating her kindly.
First she’d discovered that her brother had kept her in the dark, and now it turned out that the man she was beginning to admire and have feelings for was virtually betrothed – to a
Russian royal, of all people. Why had she even thought she was in his league? He’d been toying with her. She should have realized that behind those smouldering eyes was a menacing,
brothel-keeping ogre. A man who was playing games with her. Yet when she looked into his eyes, her legs turned to jelly. Why couldn’t life go smoothly? How was it that Will had it all on a
plate: never worked hard, gave enough blarney to get by on and everything fell at his feet?

‘Of course, Alice, you will still be my companion, won’t you? This should make us closer. Alice, Alice, are you listening to me?’ The voice was like a distant echo as Alice
automatically tidied and put away Nancy’s clothes while her mind was racing with all the news.

‘Sorry, Nancy, yes, of course I will. I just don’t think you will need my services for much longer.’ Alice thought that it was best if she tackled her position first.

‘Nonsense. I’ll need you even more, especially when Will and I have children . . . although the doctors have warned me it could be dangerous for me to bear children. But what do they
know? I want to be a mother like my dear mama, perhaps having three or four darling babies. I’m sure Will is going to make a most perfect father; he has so much patience.’ Nancy sat in
her morning chair, face rosy and happy, wishing nothing more than to be married as soon as possible to the man of her dreams.

‘I’m sorry, Nancy, please excuse me – I’m feeling a little faint. I must have tired myself out last night with dancing. Your brother is very light on his feet and I got
carried away with the grandeur of the occasion.’ Alice had heard all she could take of Nancy’s plans, and in truth she was slightly jealous.

She went downstairs and out of the grand front door – the same door that only a few months ago she had been brazen enough to knock on, having no idea then of her place in life. Lifting her
skirts, she carefully made her way through the snow, shivering in the cold and wishing that she had picked up a shawl before hurrying out in need of some breathing space. The air was curiously
still and not a noise could be heard all down the dale. It was as if there were no other souls on the planet, only Alice, alone in her grief.

Once in the stables, she called for Jack. She didn’t think he’d be there; if what Mrs Dowbiggin said was correct, he’d probably have taken Lord Frankland to Stone House. Not a
sound: good, she was on her own, exactly what she wanted. She needed time to think things out. She walked past the stalls with the horses munching content on their hay bags or oats, the smell of
the animals comforting, reminding her of home. She stopped and stroked the nose of her favourite horse; blowing up its nose to make friends with the creature was a trick her father had taught her.
The horse snorted, enjoying the attention as she gave it a handful of oats.

‘I don’t know, lad, what am I going to do? Nothing seems to be going right for me.’ She hugged the horse’s neck, expecting no response but feeling better for something to
talk to that wouldn’t answer back. ‘Why does everything go wrong, lad? I’ve no parents, no real home, and I’ve just got rid of my baby – poor mite, it had not hurt
anyone – and now my brother’s lost his senses and is getting married to someone he doesn’t really love. And then there’s Jack. I know he loves me, but he could do a lot
better than me because he’s a good man. I don’t really love him. I know who I do love, but I can’t have him and never will.’ The horse munched and gazed at her with its big
doe eyes, shaking its head as if in agreement. ‘I know, lad, you can’t answer me, but I needed to talk to someone.’ She patted its neck. Shivering, she folded her arms tight
around her, then set off back to the manor.

Up in the hayloft Jack stared at the oak beams, lying on the makeshift bed he used when keeping vigil over a foaling mare. He’d heard every word Alice had said and now he realized it was
no good. Whose baby had she been carrying? Whoever the baby belonged to, it was no longer . . . How could she? He would have looked after her, cared for her and the baby, if only she’d said .
. . She had broken his heart, if she only knew it. Still, he was going to show her. In another month or two he’d be a man of property. The Alderson family owning two farms in the dale –
perhaps that would turn her head.

‘Now, Will, I understand you proposed to my sister last night. Did you not realize there is such a thing as protocol? I should have been informed of your decision before
you asked for Nancy’s hand. Do you really think that she is the right woman for you? And how are you going to keep her in the manner she is accustomed to?’

As he waited for an answer, Gerald studied his soon-to-be brother-in-law. He quite admired the fellow, but Nancy could have done so much better if her reputation and appearance had been up to
standard.

‘We’ll manage, Master Gerald. I do truly love and care for her, and I’m sorry I didn’t realize that I had to ask for your blessing first.’

Will had expected this visit all morning and had dreaded it. Of course he had realized he should have asked Gerald Frankland’s permission first, but he wasn’t about to tell him that.
He had known that once Nancy said yes, her brother wouldn’t dare say no. He’d been counting on the fact that Gerald would do anything to make her happy.

‘Well, I don’t know, Will Bentham. I always wanted her to marry someone titled, but true to form, my sister has to go and fall in love with a hired man. No house, not a great deal of
money and no title does not place you very high in my society. However, if you truly love her, I can’t stand in the way. She deserves some happiness in her life. There’s not been a
great deal of that since our parents died.’ He sat, crossing his long legs, and studied the perplexed face of his employee. ‘Now, financial matters, of which my sister knows nothing:
she receives a yearly allowance of five thousand pounds from our parents’ estate. This is paid into my bank account at the moment; of course, it will be transferred to yours once you have
become man and wife. I’m also prepared to transfer the deeds to the marble works to you as my wedding present, which would give you this cottage to live in as your secure home. What’s
more, I’m in the process of finalizing an order that will give you a great deal of prestige in society – I’ll tell you more of that shortly. Now, how does that sound? In return, I
want you to promise to look after her. My sister’s needs must come first.’ Gerald Frankland searched Will’s face, trying to read his reaction.

‘I don’t know what to say, Lord Frankland,’ said Will, dumbstruck. ‘I didn’t expect all that. I just wanted the hand of Nancy. Truly, there is no need for your
generosity. And, yes, I will put her before my own life always.’

‘In that case, Will, welcome to the family. You must call me Gerald from now on. The one proviso I have is that you must make it a discreet wedding. St John’s, I think, not Dent
parish church; she wouldn’t want everyone gawping at her. She still thinks people look at her as if she were a monster. And then a small reception back at the manor. What do you say. That all
right?’

‘I don’t know what to say, except thank you. I hadn’t even planned that far ahead. It’s all happening so fast.’

Inside, Will was ecstatic. All that money! He couldn’t believe it. And the marble works! He wanted to yell for joy, but knew he had to keep it reined in, at least until Gerald Frankland
had gone.

‘Well, get on with it, man. One more thing. You might need these – they were Nancy’s mother’s.’ Gerald Frankland reached into his inside pocket and pulled out a
ring box containing a diamond-encrusted engagement ring and a wedding ring. ‘They will mean a great deal to her.’ Shaking Will’s hand, he passed the box to him. ‘Good luck,
old man. Make her happy.’ He patted Will on the back and then left him in a state of shock and ecstasy.

All that money! Not in a million years had he dreamed of owning all this and having money as well. Small price to pay for marrying a scarred, spoilt bitch. Hopefully their night of passion in
the stable would have sealed the deal. He hoped that she was pregnant; then there would be no way of getting out of the forthcoming wedding. Yes, things were definitely on the turn for Will
Bentham. Why, he was almost related to nobility now.

‘Master Gerald needs to see you in the study, Alice. He’s back from Stone House – don’t know if it’s good news or bad news, but he’s going
through his papers. His desk is in a right mess.’ Mrs Dowbiggin placed the tea tray on the table and sighed.

‘He wants to see me? Did he say what for, and do you think it’s urgent?’ Alice quickly checked her hair in the small kitchen mirror.

‘How would I know? I’m more bothered about my lumbago – it is giving me jip. Besides, I’m not told anything any more. I’ve worked for this family more than
twenty-five years and I’m not told nothing.’ She rattled the dirty teapots in the sink and turned away from Alice, muttering to herself.

Alice smiled. In the study on her own with Gerald . . . perhaps there was hope. She pinched her cheeks and checked her dress; she wanted to look her best.

‘Ah! Alice, do come in.’ Gerald Frankland fixed Alice with a penetrating gaze, gently rocking in his office chair. ‘So, what are we to do? My sister is to marry your brother.
Neither can be talked out of it . . . Which leaves me with a predicament: what am I to do with you?’

Alice’s face dropped a mile. Was she going to be told to go, to make her own way in the world? She couldn’t bear that her life was so hard.

‘If we are soon to be related through marriage, we can’t have you working for us any more. That would not be correct; family and servants should remain separate. However, it’s
obvious that my sister adores you, so provided you are in agreement I propose that you leave your brother’s cottage and move into the manor. You will occupy one of the good spare bedrooms and
eat your meals with us – after all, we can’t have you telling Mrs Dowbiggin all our news around that kitchen table, can we? In return, you must offer Nancy your devoted friendship, help
her plan her wedding, go shopping with her, do whatever it is that you women get up to in your spare time. I’ve told your brother this morning that Stone House is to be his marital home and I
am now in the process of signing the whole works and cottage over to him. Your brother will be a rich man, if he plays his cards right. I’m also willing to give you a small allowance, just to
help while you are living with us. I want to make everything above board; you know how people talk. So, what do you think, Alice? Does that sound agreeable to you?’

Speechless, Alice could only nod.

He reached across the desk to shake her hand. ‘In that case, welcome to the family. I promise that as long as Nancy is happy we will see that you are looked after.’

Tears of happiness in her eyes, Alice shook his hand. Being part of the Frankland family was something she had dreamed about since those early days when she had toyed with the idea of marrying
sultry Lord Frankland and becoming mistress of Whernside Manor.

‘What are you waiting for? Go and choose which bedroom you want. I’d choose the blue room myself: it catches all the sunlight in the morning. Faulks will help you move your
possessions. And, Alice, I enjoyed our few dances last night. Perhaps we can dance together more often, now we are to be related.’

Gerald smiled as he saw the tears again welling up in Alice’s eyes before she turned and hurried from the room. He’d always had her down as a fighter; something must have laid her
spirits low. Perhaps it was the Christmas period. Everyone missed departed loved ones at Christmas and New Year; it had been years since his own parents died, but he still felt their absence. She
would soon cheer up now that she had been relieved of worries about money and work and where to live.