Fenella Miller (7 page)

Somehow he had removed himself from temptation. He breathed deeply, he could still smell the faint lemon scent of her soap. Laughing he held up his own arm and sniffed, the unpleasant stench made him gag. This made her kindness even more remarkable. It was time he had a bath, pulled himself together. He had emerged from the black tunnel his life had become, suddenly had something to live for.

What was it that old fool Foster had said to him? That his blood had ruined her gown. That was something he could do for her without engendering unpleasant gossip. He stretched out, his bare feet poked out. He would return to his bed chamber today, he had had installed a newfangled bath chamber. Today he would make full use of it.

He would wait until it was light enough to see without a candle and then go up to the large box-room on the nursery floor. When he had returned from India he had brought with him many trunks of beautiful material, silks and muslins, cottons and cashmere. Amy had ignored these treasures, her wardrobe had come from the most expensive mantua maker in London. He had all but forgotten those tedious trips to Town, being obliged to rent a cripplingly expensive townhouse for the season and then dance attendance on his beloved while she dragged him to one tedious event after another.

It was he that had been overjoyed when she had become pregnant; for her it meant the end of her freedom, the loss of her figure. She had moved into the east wing after James had been born telling him in no uncertain terms that she had no wish for another child. He frowned at the memory. How could he have forgotten that they were all but estranged when the fire had killed her and his precious son?

The intolerable grief, now he was being honest with himself, was for the loss of his baby. He could scarcely remember his wife's face now. James, a beautiful child still in leading strings, was forever etched in his memory. He slammed his fist into the bedpost wincing at the pain. So that was why he was attracted to Jack…he had the same floppy brown hair and big blue eyes that his own son had possessed.

Perhaps it was guilt that gave him the nightmares, not because he had loved Amy too much but not loved her enough. If they had been living as man and wife neither of them would have died. Too late to repine. Today was to be the start of a new life; his excessive drinking would end, he would take control. He was quite sure his factor was robbing him blind, it was high time the man got his comeuppance and his tenants their just dues.

He flopped back on the bed, he would remain where he was until Dr Andrews visited later this morning. It was something niggling at the back of his mind, something he had observed in his perambulations last night. Good grief! Not only was the kitchen spotless, the corridor and the rooms he was using, had also been taken in hand. This was not the work of one woman and a doddery old man. Mrs Reed had taken it upon herself to appoint new members of staff. Yesterday he would have been in a black rage at her impudence, today he was glad she did not have to do the heavy work herself.

He dozed peacefully until he was roused by a smart rap on the door. Pushing himself sleepily on to his elbows he bid whoever it was come in. A smart young man in clean white shirt, smartly tied neck cloth and buff britches marched in carrying a laden tray.

"Good morning, sir, I have your breakfast here. I shall put it on the side table whilst I help you to sit up."

Rupert was upright in seconds. "Who the devil are you?"

"I am William Everett, at your service, Mr Bucknall. Mrs Reed has appointed me your valet. I am experienced in that position and have already taken your wardrobe in hand."

The tray was on his lap before Rupert could protest further that he had no wish for a manservant. He scowled. The young man ignored him and continued to talk as if he was addressing an elderly invalid.

"Cook has prepared you sweet morning rolls, ham, coddled eggs and mushrooms. I have also a pot of freshly brewed coffee. Is there anything else you require?"

Faced with mouth watering food and a pot of his favourite drink it seemed churlish to continue in a bad humour. Had he not vowed to be a new man? He would start by not dismissing this William before he'd had a chance to prove his worth.

"Nothing else to eat, this will be more than adequate. However, I wish you to have a bath drawn and find me something more suitable to wear."

"I shall return when everything is prepared for you."

Rupert ate with relish, it would seem there was also a cook working for him. If she continued to prepare such delicious meals she could certainly stay. He would reserve judgement on his valet. The sound of childish laughter outside his door made him smile, the movement of his lips pulled on his scars reminding him that he might have recovered on the inside but his appearance was permanently damaged.

* * * *

Within a few days Stansted Manor began to emerge from its dilapidated state. Emma had been delighted to discover that most of the problems were superficial, a vigorous application of vinegar and brown paper on the windows of the rooms that were in use soon had them looking as good as new. It would take more than the few people she had to effect a total change.

Mr Bucknall had not demanded to see her, not appeared in the kitchen, in fact had remained remarkably elusive. William informed her that their employer was busy overseeing the long neglected estate, had already dismissed the estate manager and appointed a local man to run things for him.

Mr Foster was rejuvenated and, as she and he were effectively in charge of the house, had taken to visiting her in her parlour during the morning to discuss what needed doing.

"It is Sunday tomorrow, I wish to attend church with my children and any members of staff who would like to come with us. Do you think it necessary to speak to him, to obtain his permission? Also, I should like to take on half a dozen more inside staff and I am sure that a further two or three footmen would be beneficial."

"The master has never been a churchgoer, I should not bother him with such trivialities, Mrs Reed. These decisions are best left to us. On the matter of more staff, that's something I do need to discuss with him. As butler here, it is my prerogative to ask him such things."

That was all very well in the normal run of things, but Mr Foster was absent minded, came back frequently to ask her the same questions, having forgotten what he was supposed to be doing before he had accomplished his task. "Thank you, for your kind offer, Mr Foster, but as I am the one who has instigated the changes it behoves me speak to Mr Bucknall. If there is to be any unpleasantness it is far better it is directed at me, than at yourself."

"As you wish, my dear Mrs Reed. I must admit I am finding it more difficult nowadays to remember my duties." His bushy grey eyebrows vanished under his hair. "I do declare I have forgotten something most important. The master gave me three parcels and I had strict instructions to deliver them to you three days ago. I misremember where I put the wretched things."

It took the combined efforts of William, Mr Foster and two parlour maids to discover the missing items. Tilly and Ann rushed in and placed the objects on a table in Emma's parlour. "Good heavens, what have we here?" Each rectangular object was securely wrapped in calico and then string had been tied around it. She had not the heart to send the two girls away, they were agog with curiosity. "There, I believe I have the first parcel open, I…" her voice trailed away and she stared in incredulity at what Mr Bucknall had given her.

"Oh my! I've never seen the like, madam. Such beautiful material, it's the exact colour of your hair and shimmers like gold." Tilly stretched out a tentative fingertip and stroked the fabulous silk.

"There must be some mistake. Why should Mr Bucknall give me such an extravagant gift?" Her heart was pounding, she could think of only one reason why he should wish to reward her in this way. He knew about her night-time sojourn in his bed and was, in his own clumsy way, making amends. "However lovely the cloth, I must return it, it is of no use to me. Silk is for ladies not housekeepers."

"Please, Mrs Reed, will you not open the other two? It would be a pity to return all if one of them would make you something new."

Ann was quite correct. She was in desperate need of new gowns, the village shop did not stock material, it had to be ordered in especially by their customers. With quick snips of her silver scissors she undid the other bolts of cloth. The second made her gasp with happiness. "Look at this, girls. It is perfect." She ran the lightweight blue material through her fingers. "It is cotton of some sort, light but strongly woven. There's more be enough here to make me two gowns and still have enough over to make Mary and Jack something as well."

The third parcel was equally acceptable. This was by far the largest, double the weight of the other two, there must be dozens of yards rolled up here. "This is perfect for making dresses for the rest of you. The dark grey is ideal, it will not show the marks. It is more like a cotton twill, much heavier than the other."

She picked up the heavy parcel and handed it to Tilly. "I hope more than one of you are expert with the needle."

The girl nodded, her cap slid askew on her soft brown hair. "I reckon between us we can make the gowns, ma'am. We have discovered sufficient caps and pinafores, but none of us have a change of raiment or anything smart for Sunday."

"Then hopefully there will be enough material here to make something for everyone. I do not believe that Mrs Turner requires a new gown, she told me she has more than one already."

How she wished that Mr Foster had given her these gifts immediately. Mr Bucknall must think her both ungrateful and impolite not to have come personally to thank him. To purchase items of this quality would cost far more than she, or her staff , could afford. However, the gold silk must be returned forthwith.

She had not seen her employer since that ill-fated night. William had informed her his master was now happily returned to his apartment upstairs. He had accepted all the changes in the house with equanimity, ate all his meals without demure in the breakfast parlour and had not seem to notice the shrouded appearance of the main reception rooms. She had forbidden Mary to use the pianoforte until she had asked permission, as she hadn't yet spoken to Mr Bucknall, her daughter had been growing impatient. That was until she discovered an enormous black tomcat lurking in the undergrowth behind the barn.

It took the girl a day and a half to coax him out, and now the cat was earning his keep catching the vermin. The animal, which Mary had named Sooty, had not even objected when she'd bathed him in the copper in the laundry. Emma hoped this had removed the worst of the fleas from the animal's fur. The fact that Mr Bucknall could not abide cats was neither here nor there. Better to brave his wrath than be overrun with rats and mice.

The children were outside with Jethro, they appeared to have adopted each other, they had never had grandparents, and the old man seemed happy to fulfil that role. Indeed, the entire staff were ready to step in when needed with advice or help for Jack and Mary when she was occupied elsewhere.

Jack, who up until now had been a truthful child, insisted that he'd spent several hours in the company of Mr Bucknall and had even been taken up in front of him when he gone out on his fierce stallion. She was sure this was a fabrication; John had never been interested in his children, had played little part in their lives, it was possible her son was beginning to see Mr Bucknall as the father he had never had. This would be a catastrophe, she must ask her employer not to encourage her son. It would make matters so much worse when eventually they moved on, as they surely would. Good things did not last forever, in her experience.

Checking her cap was straight, no errant strands of hair protruding on either side, that her apron was crisp and clean, she felt ready to go forth and find him. It had occurred to her several times that as housekeeper she should not need to wear protective covering, all menial tasks would be accomplished by those under her control. However, until she had made up a fresh gown from the pretty material she had been given, she must appear as she was.

She paused in the grand entrance hall, already it both smelt and looked far better. The magnificent oak staircase was polished, the marble tiles scrubbed clean and the tall windows on either side of the front door sparkled in the sunlight.

According to William she would find the man she sought in his study working at estate business. With the parcel tucked firmly under one arm she marched up to the door and knocked far louder than she'd intended. Immediately he bid her enter, this time he did not roar and shout.

Stepping into the room she dipped in a polite curtsy. When she raised her eyes she was astounded to see he'd stood up as if she were a lady and moved from behind his desk to greet her.

Her pulse raced. Before, he had been a handsome man, now he was devastating. She could not take her eyes from him.

His hair shone with good health and was fastened, in the old-fashioned style, at the nape of his neck with a black ribbon. Even the thick white bandage did not detract from his appearance. His shirt was immaculate, his waistcoat a dazzling peacock blue, and his cravat tied in an intricate arrangement. She dared not lower her gaze to see what he was wearing below the waist.

"Mrs Reed, I had thought you avoiding me for some reason."

Was it her imagination or did she detect a decided glint in his eye? "I must apologise for not coming and thanking you immediately for your generous gifts." She could hardly tell him that his butler had forgotten to pass them on. "They were temporarily mislaid. Thank you most sincerely, but I cannot keep this one. Material of this quality is not suited to someone of my station."

She held the rectangle out and he was obliged to take it. She could see he was not pleased to have it given back to him in this way. Then he smiled and the breath caught in the back of her throat.

"Mrs Reed, I do beg your pardon. I should have realised that myself. Please, will you not sit down, there are various matters I need to discuss with you." With a slight bow in her direction he pulled out a chair and placed it on the opposite side of the desk to the one he had been sitting in. She had no option but to take it. It was highly irregular for someone in her position to sit in the presence of her employer. But then everything about this relationship was irregular.