Gentleman's Guide 02 - His Contrary Bride) (27 page)

“I will visit her this evening, on our way
home. If they are asleep, I will visit first thing in the morning,”
Phoebe promised.

Banging at the door silenced the room.
Panicked Sabrina looked around for a place to hide. Phoebe pushed
her behind a door as Chambers strode down the hall after Jones. Who
would be calling at this hour?

A few moments later Dillon returned, Felding
followed him. The poor man looked as agitated as the others had a
short time earlier.

“Thank God you are safe
.
”

“As you can see, we are well.” Marius
stated. “But, that needs to remain a secret.” He continued by
explaining about the fire.

“Chesterfield is still there, along with a
few others, waiting for the fire to be extinguished. I’m afraid
there is nothing left.”

“I expected as much.” Marius pulled Sabrina
close and looked down at her. “We should go, Shields will be
waiting soon.”

Sabrina hugged each of the women briefly
before she followed Marius out of the back of the house. As they
had before, they stuck to the shadows as they made their way to the
end of the ally. As had been promised, a hackney waited at the
opening with Shields in the driver’s seat. “There are clothes
inside. I’m going to take you out of London to the next coach stop.
It will be easier to travel by common coach. Others won’t be paying
you as much attention.”

Marius helped Sabrina in and took a seat
beside her. After pulling the shades, they settled back for the
first leg of the trip. Though Sabrina eventually drifted asleep in
the silence, Marius remained awake, trying to figure out a plan. If
they didn’t gain the upper hand, they would always be looking over
their shoulder and at a disadvantage.

*

Dawn was just breaking when they arrived at
their destination. Marius left Sabrina alone in the carriage so she
could change into a modest gown.

The two men were shaking hands when Sabrina
finally emerged, glad to be back in familiar clothing.

“I will send word if and when I learn
anything of Chesterfield.”

“Thank you for everything, Mr. Shields.”

After bowing to Sabrina, he climbed back
into the driver’s seat and drove away.

“Where are we going?” She finally asked.

“To Summer Hope. Wouldn’t you like to see
your inheritance?”

They traveled by public coach for two full
days. Six people were crowded into the seats and Sabrina wondered
if they would ever arrive. The first night they stayed in an inn
along the way. They were so tired that they barely ate their dinner
before falling into an exhausted sleep. It was the first full
night’s sleep Marius had gotten since he married Sabrina six days
ago.

At the end of the second day they arrived in
the village of Hopedale. Summer Hope sat on the outskirts. Knowing
the place was deserted, they spent the night again in the local
inn. Once again sleeping soundly, glad they were close to their
destination.

The day was bright, clear and warm when
Sabrina woke. They would be at their new home soon and things
looked brighter, if only for a short time. Until her uncle located
them. Before traveling to the house, however, Marius decided to pay
a call on a local solicitor who had been taking care of Sabrina’s
mother’s family and who had been corresponding with Jacobs in
London. Though he wanted their presence to be a secret for a short
time, he didn’t want to be shot as a trespasser either.

After partaking of breakfast in the common
room, Marius gained directions to the solicitor’s office. The front
room was empty, but for a few chairs. A small desk at the end of
the room sat vacant. Behind it, a door was partially open. Marius
motioned for Sabrina to remain by the entry while he approached and
knocked on the apparent office door, calling out at the same
time.

“Yes?” An older voice came from behind the
door.

Marius pushed it further open to see an
older thin man sitting behind a huge desk, piled with papers. The
walls surrounding him were filled with books. He looked haggard and
tired as if too much had been put on him. He held a document in his
hand.

“My wife and I would like a moment of your
time, Mr. Harden. If it is convenient.”

The man sighed deeply and seemed to sink in
his chair after taking in Marius appearance. Shields had brought
clothes servants should be wearing and they were well worn. Marius
looked far different from his normal appearance. “Come in. This day
can’t get much worse. How can I help you?”

“I am Marius Parker, recently married to
Lady Sabrina Chester and newly arrived from London.”

The man’s eyes grew wide and his face paled.
“That is impossible sir. I don’t know who you are but you most
certainly are not the man you claim to be.”

Marius was taken aback by the reply. “I
assure you, sir, I am Mr. Parker. My wife and I wanted to introduce
ourselves before we traveled to Summer Hope.”

The older man rose from his chair, bracing
his knuckles on the desk. “I don’t know what you are trying to pull
young man but Mr. Parker is dead.”

“I assure you, sir, I am very much alive.”
Marius argued back wondering if he could trust this man. Surely
news of the fire couldn’t have reached here before their
arrival.

“I hold here a letter from Lord Chesterfield
informing of his niece’s death in a fire. It arrived just this
morning.”

“Lord Chesterfield should have waited to see
if any bodies were found before he wrote.” Marius argued back. “I
assure you that my wife and I did survive the fire.”

The older man studied him. “Do you have
proof you are who you say?”

“No, sir. Regretfully, everything I own
burned a few nights back.”

“What is amiss?” Marius turned, surprised to
see Sabrina in the door.

“Mr. Harden doesn’t believe we are who we
say we are. Your uncle has already written of our demise.”

“Lady Sabrina.” The solicitor choked.

Sabrina turned toward the man who was
looking at her oddly. “Yes.”

“I can’t believe it is possible. I thought
all hope was lost.”

“I am very much alive, Mr. Harden.”

“Why do you believe my wife and not me?”

“It’s obvious, sir.” The solicitor replied
indignantly.

“What is obvious?” Marius asked,
perplexed.

“She is the exact image of her mother, nor
has she changed all that much since she was here as a child.”

Sabrina smiled sadly at the man.

“Please, please sit down. Can I get you
anything? It was just a few days ago that I received the
announcement of your marriage from my brother-in-law.”

“Who would that be sir?” Sabrina asked,
taking a seat.

“Why Jacobs, of course.”

“I had no idea you were related.” Sabrina
stated with surprise.

“Yes, well I married his sister.” The man
sat back down. “You can’t begin to imagine how pleased we all were
to learn you had married and your uncle would no longer control the
jobs and land.”

“Have things been difficult?” Sabrina sat
forward with concern.

“Oh dear, I shouldn’t put all of this on you
at once, but you should know that since your father’s death,
everything in this village had suffered.”

“How so?” Marius asked. After all, he now
held the control Chesterfield once did.

“First Lord Chesterfield raised the rents,
and has continued to do so but he refuses to raise wages. Some
families are near starvation. When some were unable to meet their
obligation they were burned out. There is no longer a widow’s
pension, or any pension for that matter. The workers have lost hope
of owning anything of their own ever again. The school has been
closed. Children now work in the mines. The only reason most have
hung on was because Lady Sabrina was old enough to marry, hoping
she would marry a fair man.” The solicitor paused for a moment and
took in the surprised faces. “Oh dear. I shouldn’t have gone on
like that.”

“No. It is quite alright. I would like to
know everything my uncle has done.” Sabrina’s back went rigid.
Anger radiated from her being.

“As would I.” Marius agreed.

The man sat for a moment then reached for
the books. “This is the accounting for the mines, the wages, and
the rents.”

Marius opened the books on the desk before
him. Sabrina pulled her chair up for a closer look. Each employee
and tenant was listed and the columns included the wages they were
paid and the rent that was due. After some of the names deceased
had been written and the date of death and a notation of the wife’s
name. Wages ceased to be paid after the death yet the rent amount
remained the same. Ten men had died in the past year alone. The
figures were staggering. Finally he closed the book and looked up
at the solicitor. “The rent is over half the wages. How do they get
by?”

The solicitor shook his head sadly. “They
don’t. It is the hardest for the widows. When what little savings
is gone, they have to try and find work somewhere but half of the
businesses have closed and those that are open don’t have the means
to hire extra help.”

“I notice the rents are due tomorrow. What
will happen if they can’t be paid?” Sabrina asked.

The solicitor began to squirm in his seat.
“A way is always found. Nobody has been forced out since those
first few months.”

“Mr. Harden, I need to speak with you.” A
female’s voice came through the door. Sabrina and Marius turned to
find a young woman stepping inside the room. She was expecting a
child in the not so distant future. Marius automatically stood at
her entrance as did Mr. Harden. Seeing the solicitor was not alone,
the newcomer blushed and began backing out the door. “Excuse
me.”

The solicitor came around the desk. “It is
fine Mary. How can I help you?”

Glancing at Sabrina and Marius, Mary bit her
bottom lip. She hesitated for a few moments before she turned her
attention back to the solicitor and began to speak. “It is the
rent, Mr. Harden. I have tried to save everything, but I have to
feed my son. I don’t know what to do. If I gave you everything I
had it still wouldn’t be enough. I know I have asked before, but is
there any way you could help again?” Tears formed in her eyes.

Mr. Harden smiled at her sympathetically.
“You know I will help where I can, Mary.”

The woman seemed to relax at his words.

“However, you should now address Mr. Parker
with your request.” Mr. Harden turned toward Marius to make the
introduction. “Mr. Parker, may I present Mary McGregor. Mr. Parker
has recently married Lady Sabrina and now makes the decisions.”

Mary paled visibly and nodded her head in
greeting.

Seeing her discomfort, Marius stepped
forward. “I assure you, Mrs. McGregor, that if you are having
difficulty with the rent, I am certain we can work something
out.”

Tears began to come to the woman’s eyes
again. “Thank you. Honestly, I try to save, but it is so
difficult.”

“Why don’t you ask your husband to come see
me in a day or so and we will discuss arrangements.”

Mary sighed. “That is kind of you, but my
husband was killed in a mining accident three months back, so it is
I you’ll need to speak with.”

“I am truly sorry for your loss, especially
at this time. I am still trying to figure everything out but, given
your circumstances, don’t worry about paying rent. Take care of
yourself and your child.” Marius added with a smile.

“Oh, thank you so much. You are a blessing,
Mr. Parker.”

Uncomfortable with her gratitude, Marius
stepped back, looking to his wife. “Mrs. McGregor, may I present my
wife Lady Sabrina Parker.”

Sabrina stood, smiling at the woman to greet
her and all warmth fell from Mary’s face as she curtsied. “Pleased
to meet you.”.

“Please, Mrs. McGregor, don’t stand on
ceremony. Call me Sabrina.”

Mary stood looked at her coldly. “I’m afraid
that is impossible and likely to remain so.”

Sabrina cast a glance at her husband, who
appeared as bewildered as she at the cool, resentful attitude
emanating from the woman. Finally she looked to the solicitor for
help.

Looking uncomfortable, he retreated behind
his desk.

“I suppose I should have warned you, Lady
Sabrina. You are not likely to receive a warm reception.”

“I thought you were relieved I was
alive.”

The man blushed uncomfortably. “Our hope was
that you would marry a fair and honest gentleman.”

“I am afraid I don’t understand. Do they
hold me responsible for my uncle’s actions?”

“In a manner of speaking.” The solicitor
finally offered.

“But I had no control over his actions,”
Sabrina argued, her voice beginning to rise.

“Perhaps not directly, but you were the
reason rents were raised and all the profits from the land and
mines were used,” Mary spit out.

Sabrina felt hated. “How?” Sabrina asked
hesitantly, almost afraid of the answer given the venomous
tone.

Mary raised her eyebrows. “While you were
attending that exclusive girls school our rents were raised to pay
the tuition. While you prepared for your Seasons.” Mary’s voice
grew harder, “Our rents were raised . I am surprised to see you
dressed thus given the cost of your wardrobes. How many Seasons
have you had now Lady Sabrina? Three? While we were slowly starving
so you could catch a wealthy and titled husband.” Mary flicked a
glance at Marius, taking in his appearance. “At least you married a
fair one.”

Slowly Sabrina sank back in her chair,
stunned.

“Don’t worry, Lady Sabrina. I’m sure
everyone will come around as their lot improves. Perhaps then they
won’t mind so much having to suffer so you could meet Mr. Parker,”
The solicitor offered.

Marius stood in silence, his eyebrows
narrowed with concern. The solicitor looked at her almost
apologetically while Mary looked at her as if she were the mud on
her boots.