The Lady's Maid (31 page)

As Kate moved about the hen house collecting the eggs, she realised that her options were limited. If she stayed at home she would have to put up with Honoria’s machinations and snubs, in the hope that her stepmother would eventually tire and call a truce. She had considered applying for the teacher’s job at
the
village school but Miss Winter was relatively young and likely to remain there for years. The only other alternative would be to accept the squire’s offer of a position at Westwood Grange. As her fingers explored the straw, feeling for the warm oval of a newly laid egg, Kate felt as though her world was splintering around her like shards of broken glass. She really was, as Harry had said, Miss Nobody. Even remembering the way he had teased her at their first meeting was enough to shoot an arrow of pain through her heart. She had tried hard to dislike him, but she had failed miserably. She put the last egg in the basket and straightened up.

‘I thought I’d find you in here.’ Sam stood in the doorway grinning at her.

She smiled. Dear Sam; so solid and dependable. She was suddenly overcome with emotion. ‘Oh, Sam. What would I do without you?’

‘There, there, maidy. What brought this on?’

She shook her head, unable to speak.

His dark eyes flashed with anger. ‘Don’t tell me. It’s that old besom, Honoria. I knowed she was going to cause trouble the moment I set eyes on her. ‘Tis a great pity she didn’t go off with that big burly army sergeant who was sweet on her afore she got her claws into your pa.’

Momentarily diverted, Kate blinked and swallowed hard. ‘What army sergeant? I didn’t know about that, Sam.’

‘Well, it might just have been tittle-tattle, but as I heard it she thought he was going to pop the question,
but
his regiment was sent away somewhere. I reckon he had a lucky escape meself.’

She shrugged her shoulders. ‘It’s probably just gossip, Sam. Anyway, I don’t care about her. At least I’ve got you and Molly on my side. Honoria has Pa exactly where she wants him for now, but he’ll come round eventually. I’m sure he will.’

‘Eventually won’t do, maidy. I’ll not stand by and see you treated worse than a servant in your own home.’ He grabbed her by the hand. ‘Come with me. We’ll go and find the gaffer. Last time I saw him he was in the hay barn. At least we can talk to him there without her eavesdropping, or that stuck-up Tilda spying on us.’

‘But the eggs,’ Kate protested.

‘Leave them for now. They won’t come to no harm, and this is more important than a few eggs.’ Taking her firmly by the hand, he led her out of the hen house and across the yard. A pale, watery sun had filtered through the clouds and there were brush strokes of blue in the sky.

They were nearing the barn when a shout from the lane made Sam stop and turn his head. Above the hedge Kate could just see the crown of a coachman’s hat and the ruddy cheeks of Smith, the Damerells’ coachman. He waved his hand as he drew the sturdy horse to a halt outside the farm gates. ‘Miss Kate. I’ve got a message from the big house.’

Kate clutched her jacket tightly around her body as a spiteful wind plucked at her clothing and dragged tendrils of hair from beneath her mobcap. ‘What is it, Mr Smith?’

‘Miss Josie wants to see you, miss. She said I was to bring you to the manor house right away, and no nonsense.’

That sounded so like Josie that Kate smiled. ‘I’m busy, Mr Smith. It can’t be that urgent. Please tell her that I’ll come later. Sam will bring me in the trap.’

Smith shook his head. ‘She won’t like it, miss. You know what Miss Josie’s like when she gets an idea into her head.’

Sam tapped Kate on the shoulder and when she turned to him she saw something akin to desperation in his eyes. ‘Let me take you there. We can be back before the gaffer misses us.’

Kate looked from one to the other, undecided. Surely nothing much could have changed since yesterday? And then Harry’s words came back to her. Josie had told him that she had eloped with Sam. When challenged, Josie had passed the whole thing off as a joke, and Kate had accepted her explanation at face value. Now Josie was commanding her to attend, as if she were royalty. Kate turned to Sam. ‘Fetch the pony and trap. I’ve got a few choice words to say to Miss Damerell.’

Chapter Eighteen

JOSIE PACED THE
floor, pausing at each of the four tall windows in the drawing room to gaze out at the carriage sweep and the tree-lined avenue. Despite the wild March winds, there was a faint haze of copper-coloured buds on the beech trees, and beneath them a sea of golden daffodils swayed and bowed like courtiers anticipating the arrival of a monarch.

Where was Kate? Smith had returned with the barouche but he had not stopped outside the house as she had expected, and had driven on towards the coach house. Surely he would send word if Kate had refused to accompany him? She bit her lip, drumming her fingers on the windowsill. She wondered if Kate was angry with her after Harry’s revelation yesterday. But she had seemed to accept that it was all a joke, and not meant to be taken seriously. Josie could not bear to admit, even to herself, that she had uttered the lies in a fit of pique. Even so, Kate would forgive her. She always had in the past and there was no reason to suppose that she had changed.

Wrapping her arms around her body, Josie began to pace the floor between the windows. If Kate brought the matter up she would have to apologise again, and say that it had all been a silly misunderstanding. It
was
all in the past, and today she longed to share her good news with her friend. She also wanted to let Sam know of her engagement before the servants had a chance to spread the glad tidings around the village. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine. Lies were like a spider’s web; they had a habit of entangling the perpetrator in their silken threads.

Come what may, she had sealed her own fate last night when Harry had finally proposed. She sighed, rubbing her hand across her temples. If she were to be honest he had not exactly asked her to marry him, but the result was the same. The cigar band on the ring finger of her left hand was proof that they were engaged, but it was she herself who had put it there. Did that count? She tugged it off and tossed it into the fire, watching the tiny paper band curl up and turn to ashes as she recalled the scene at dinner the previous evening.

Joseph had invited Harry to dine with them and Squire Westwood was also one of the guests at dinner. Tired, nervous and desperate, Josie had drunk rather too much wine during the meal. It had gone to her head, making her reckless enough to refuse to leave when her mother and Hermione retired to the drawing room. She had been flirting with Harry all evening, making it perfectly plain to all those present that she encouraged his attentions, and when Toop brought in the box of Havana cigars she had insisted on choosing one for Harry. Sir Joseph had laughed at her antics, telling her how much he had missed her lively company, but Squire Westwood had remained
poker-faced
and disapproving. Harry had been amused by her unconventional behaviour, but had done his best to turn the conversation to matters of business which would have excluded her completely. The prospect of living under her uncle’s roof once again and dwindling into an unwanted and unloved spinster was too awful to contemplate. She had moved closer to Harry, sitting on the edge of his chair. She had slipped the cigar band onto her finger and held it up for him to see. ‘Does this mean that we are engaged, Harry?’

She felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she recalled the startled look on his face. He had attempted to laugh it off, but she had leapt to her feet, holding her hand high. ‘Look, everyone. Harry and I are engaged to be married. Isn’t that splendid?’

He had been too much of a gentleman to embarrass her by a denial, and Sir Joseph had sent for champagne to celebrate the good news. Squire Westwood had offered his congratulations, although she had seen the look of disapproval in his eyes. He knew that she had tricked Harry, but Sir Joseph was too drunk to have seen through her ruse, and was patently delighted. He might have inherited the title, but Harry had the business connections and the money. Even in her tipsy state, Josie had seen her uncle’s eyes gleaming with avarice.

Now, in the cold light of day she struggled with feelings of remorse. She knew very well that Harry was still pining after Kate, but a match like that would spell ruin for an ambitious man. She needed a rich
husband
and he needed a well-bred wife to assure his position in society and to bear him a son and heir. It was a business contract, and both parties would benefit. She smiled. She had lied and cheated, but these were just ploys that anyone with ambition might use to further their own advantage. If she were a cat she would be purring. Her abominable uncle was delighted and Mama was smiling for the first time since the death of her beloved husband. Even Hickson had managed a tight little grimace that passed for satisfaction on hearing the good news. Now all she had to do was to tell Kate and Sam.

She came to a halt by the middle window as she spotted the familiar pony and trap at the far end of the avenue. As it came closer she could see two people on the driver’s seat and she knew instinctively that it was Sam who held the reins. Her heartbeats quickened and her pulses raced at the sight of him. She made a valiant attempt to replace his earthy image with that of Harry Challoner, but she was painfully aware that there was no magic in Harry’s touch. There was no fire in his eyes when they met hers. There was no heat in her blood when he was close to her. She controlled her erratic breathing with difficulty and forced herself to walk sedately as she left the room and made her way down the wide flight of marble stairs to the entrance hall.

The footman opened the double doors at her command and she descended the steps slowly, hoping that no one but herself could hear her heart thudding against her ribs. She waited until Sam helped Kate
alight
before moving forward and holding out her hands. ‘You’ve come. What kept you so long, Kate? You must have known that I needed you.’ She addressed her words to Kate, but she intended them for Sam and she shot him a sideways glance to see if he had understood. The bond between them was so strong that she could feel him silently embracing her, even though they were not physically touching. She knew in that moment that he had forgiven her for running away without telling him. Despite her intention to appear aloof, she could not tear her gaze from his face, but she forced herself to speak harshly to him. If she weakened now she would fling herself into his arms and never let him go. ‘Go round to the servants’ entrance, Loveday.’

Sam tipped his hat. ‘Yes, my lady.’ He turned on his heel and strode off without a backward glance.

‘Why did you speak to him like that?’ Kate demanded as she followed Josie into the house. ‘That was so cruel. You know how fond he is of you.’

Josie tossed her head. ‘Sam has to learn his place. We aren’t children now, Kate. Anyway, forget him. Come up to the drawing room. I need to talk to you.’

‘What is it that couldn’t wait? What has changed since yesterday?’

‘Wait until we’re alone.’ Josie shot a meaningful glance at the stone-faced footman. ‘
Pas devant les domestiques
, Kate.’

Kate followed her up the stairs and into the drawing room. ‘I’m sure they already know whatever it is that you are dying to tell me.’

Josie closed the doors, leaning against them. The thrill of keeping Kate in suspense faded a little as she met her earnest gaze. She would have to be cruel to be kind. ‘I think you’d better sit down, Kate …’ She broke off abruptly as Hickson entered the room without knocking. ‘Yes? What is it, Hickson?’

‘Lady Damerell wants to speak to you about the guest list,’ Hickson said, eyeing Kate’s working clothes with a disdainful sniff. ‘In my day no one would visit the big house looking like that, Coggins.’

Josie turned on her in a sudden fury. ‘Don’t speak to Kate like that, Hickson. She came at my request.’

‘She should be in the servants’ quarters.’ Hickson appeared unabashed.

‘Mind your own business, Hickson. And tell Mama that I’ll come as soon as I can.’

‘Her ladyship doesn’t like to be kept waiting, Miss Josephine.’

‘She’ll understand. Now go away and leave us alone.’

Hickson left the room with a disapproving twitch of her shoulders, closing the door firmly behind her.

‘Abominable woman,’ Josie said with a wry smile. ‘I don’t know why Mama puts up with her. Anyway, she’s not important. Sit down, Kate. I’ve something to tell you.’

Kate perched on the edge of the nearest chair. ‘What list was Hickson referring to? Are you having a party?’

Josie clasped her hands tightly in front of her. Suddenly it was not so easy to tell Kate something which would break her heart. ‘It’s for my wedding.
That’s
what I wanted to tell you before you heard it from someone else.’

‘He proposed?’ Kate’s eyes were wide with shock and disbelief. ‘Harry actually asked you to marry him?’

‘He did, and I accepted. I’m going to be mistress of Copperstone Castle before the year is out.’

‘But you don’t love him.’

‘This isn’t about love, and you know it.’

Kate leapt to her feet. ‘How can you stand there so calmly, admitting that you’re marrying for money and position?’

‘Because that’s what we do. Women in my position have little choice. I can stay here and suffer the insults and degradation handed out by my dear uncle, or I can marry a man who will give me everything.’

‘Everything but love.’

‘Oh, he loves me, Kate. Make no mistake about that. I can twist men round my little finger if I choose.’

‘As you have done with Sam. You cut your teeth on his poor heart and he’s devoted to you. Do you want to destroy him as well as yourself? You told Harry dreadful lies about me and Sam, and then pretended it was a joke. I hate you for what you’re doing to us, Josie.’

The pain was excruciating. Josie gasped, clasping her hands to her breast. She had not been prepared to face her own feelings head on, but Kate’s words cut deep. A red mist hazed her vision and she was suddenly furious, but her anger was directed at herself.
She
alone had created this situation, and she must be the one to make it right again. ‘Why are you so upset, Kate?’ she cried angrily. ‘Is it because I’m going to marry the man you wanted for yourself, or do you resent the fact that I love Sam?’