Lord Clayborne's Fancy (27 page)

“Yes, but she was very frightened by the whole, Constance,” he said more seriously, “and she’ll need to rest. I feel it will be only a matter of a day or so before I have enough evidence to confront Lawton with. I would gladly kill him for this, but Rebecca prefers that he be driven from the country. We’ll then be able to have the court appoint a new guardian for Elvira.” He studied his hands thoughtfully as Constance regarded him closely.

“I do not believe she has any other relatives, Jason.”

“It is a matter which I shall have looked into,” he replied calmly.

Because neither of them could voice any hopes that might make it possible for them to consider Elvira’s future, they sat silently for a while. Constance pulled herself up from her abstraction and began to tell Clayborne of their stay in Chipping Campden, the decorating they had been doing and the villagers they had met, as well as an amusing account of their cookery lessons and the horseback riding in the neighborhood.

When Clayborne rose he said, “I shall go to the inn now—I’m at the Lygon Arms—but with your permission I shall return later to check on Rebecca. I know you’ll take good care of her.”

“Of course I will. Plan to stay to dinner, Jason,” she urged.

“We shall see if Rebecca is up to it. Do you think Elvira is like to suffer for this last start of her uncle’s? Should I try to do something about that?”

Constance considered this for a moment. “It is possible. Perhaps I can persuade the vicar to pay a visit to Campden Manor this afternoon to forestall any retribution. He was reluctant before this episode, but now I think I can persuade him to do something for us, especially if I mention that you are taking a personal interest in the matter.” She smiled bitterly. “I think Rebecca would prefer that you remain in the background for the moment as far as Mr. Lawton is concerned.”

“As you wish. Just send for me if I am needed.” He made her a bow and departed.

At the inn he engaged a young man who could recognize Mr. Lawton to keep a watch at the cottage for him and inform Clayborne immediately if he should appear in the vicinity. The young man was quite pleased with this lucrative assignment and took himself off speedily to spend a very dull afternoon in the sun at the corner of the lane.

Chapter Nineteen

When Constance had peeped in at the door of Rebecca’s room and assured herself that her friend was sleeping soundly, she told Harpert that she was going round to the vicarage and would return shortly. “Should Lady Clayborne awaken, you may tell her so, and that Lord Clayborne is at the Lygon Arms should she need him. I’ll be only a short while.”

Mr. Andrews was writing a treatise on patience as a God-given virtue and did not take kindly to the interruption, but upon Constance’s insistence he shortly joined her in the parlor.

“I would not have come had the matter not been urgent, Mr. Andrews,” she explained. “This morning Mr. Lawton sent a note to Lady Clayborne signed by his niece. It begged her to come to the girl’s assistance, but when my friend arrived Mr. Lawton attempted to ... ah... force himself upon her. Fortunately she was able to extricate herself, and her husband, Lord Clayborne, brought her home. Lord Clayborne has most kindly looked into the matter of Mr. Lawton and his treatment of the girl and the mismanagement of her estate and intends to see that Mr. Lawton does not continue his nefarious activities. I have come to you to beg that you visit Campden Manor as soon as possible to ensure that the girl is not punished unjustly for this latest misadventure of her uncle’s. Will you do that for us?” Constance asked calmly.

“You say Lord Clayborne has come to Chipping Campden? Mrs. Clayborne is actually Lady Clayborne? Why did she not say so?” he asked querulously.

“She had no wish to cause a stir in the village, Mr. Andrews. Will you go to Campden Manor?”

“You are sure that Lord Clayborne has interested himself in these matters? They certainly have nothing to do with him,” he replied dampingly.

“At his wife’s request he has indeed involved himself. I myself assured him that I would ask you to go to Campden Manor to visit Elvira. Lord Clayborne would prefer not to go there until he has sufficient proof of Mr. Lawton’s crimes to confront him effectively. Will you go to Campden Manor?” Constance asked for the third time, her patience wearing thin.

“Certainly. I shall set out at once. You may tell Lord Clayborne so,” he said, beaming  benevolently upon her.

“Thank you,” she replied rather tartly. “I am sure he will be very obliged. And if you would stop round at the cottage on your return I would be grateful to hear of your mission.”

“Of course, of course, my dear. Perhaps Lord Clayborne himself will be there,” he suggested.

“Perhaps. I will see you later, then. I must return to Lady Clayborne now, for she is done in by this morning’s events.”

Constance managed to make a hasty exit and returned to the cottage to find that Rebecca had awakened and had insisted on sitting in the parlor.

“How are you feeling now, Rebecca?” Constance asked with concern.

“I am quite well, do not worry over me. Harpert is cosseting me for the two of you. Why did you go to the vicarage?”

“I sent Mr. Andrews to Campden Manor to call on Elvira. I thought it might spare her if Mr. Lawton thought to take out his temper on her.”

“Yes, a good idea. I imagine it took some strong words, though,” Rebecca laughed, “to move the old goat.”

“No, not at all. Only two—Lord Clayborne.”

“Magic words indeed. No doubt he will expect a contribution to his church for assisting his lordship. No matter. Jason can easily handle the likes of Mr. Andrews if he wishes to do so.” Rebecca sighed and leaned back on the sofa. “Jason told you what happened?”

“Yes, and I had a good laugh,” Constance grinned. “I know it must have been a fearful experience, my dear, and I cannot imagine how you kept your wits about you so. I am sure I should have fainted.”

“I shudder to think what would have happened had I done so,” Rebecca said grimly. “I could not stop crying afterwards, and my legs would not hold me up. Oh, let us be done speaking of it, for it makes me feel shaky still.”

“I cannot doubt it. Since we have missed luncheon in all the excitement, shall I have Harpert bring something in here?”

Constance arranged for a light meal and chatted about the draperies for her room. With her encouragement, Rebecca took up her needlework while they waited, and soon they were busily engaged in their decorating schemes again.

They had barely finished a light but sustaining repast when Mr. Andrews was announced. Harpert whisked away the tray of empty dishes and was instructed to bring some tea and biscuits for their visitor.

Mr. Andrews cleared his throat and, assured of the young ladies’ attention, began to deliver an address on his visit to Campden Manor. “I took the gig out shortly after Miss...ah...Exton left, as I am not fond of riding, myself. It seems an informal manner of travel, not to say undignified exactly, but not perhaps in keeping with my clerical duties. I should not like to smell of the stables, ha ha. I proceeded to Campden Manor, which is but a mile out of town, as no doubt you know. Once there I inquired for Mr. Lawton but was informed that he had left for Winchcomb an hour or so before my arrival and would not be back until tomorrow or the next day. I was of course quite relieved to hear that, ha ha. I then asked to see Miss Elvira and was informed by the housekeeper, a rather churlish woman I must say, that the girl had been in her room since early morning, indisposed. I did not like the sound of that, as you will understand, and I became very firm with the woman. I instructed her that as I was the vicar it was my duty and responsibility to visit the sick in the neighborhood. She told me that Miss Elvira was to have no visitors, so I asked her on whose authority,” he pronounced triumphantly and awaited Rebecca’s and Constance’s looks of admiring approbation before proceeding.

“That of course stymied her for a moment, but she retorted that the girl’s guardian had so instructed her. Now, I have studied reasoning and logic to some extent, and I fancy I was very clever in overcoming this objection. I pointed out to her that as her guardian had left for Winchcomb and was therefore in no position to judge of the girl’s continuing indisposition, and as he was not expected to return for a day or two that I, being the spiritual leader of the area, was the logical person to assess the matter. The woman could not answer me there! I told her that I would see the child right away and no more nonsense. She still hesitated, but I maintained my right to see the child, and I fancy it did no harm to point out that I was God’s emissary. These country women are rather superstitious. In any case she allowed as how I could follow her and led me up to the first floor where the child’s room is located toward the rear. And would you believe it, she drew a ring of keys from her apron pocket and unlocked the door! The child had been locked in, and there was a tray there with a glass of water and a stale piece of bread on it. I was never so shocked!”

Rebecca and Constance managed to stifle their annoyance with Mr. Andrews’s self-righteous histrionics and urged him to continue. He was eager to do so. “Miss Elvira was curled up on the bed and when the housekeeper announced that I had come to call, she buried her face in her hands. I sent the housekeeper away and closed the door firmly after her, as you can imagine I had no desire to have her listening in on our conversation. When I spoke to the child, she said I should not have come, for her uncle would be very angry. I told her that her uncle had left for a day or two, and I could hear her sigh of relief. She still would not look at me and so I asked her if I could help her. Then she began to cry and say that she had betrayed Mrs…. ah... Lady Clayborne and could do nothing about it. I assured her, of course, as Miss... ah... Exton had assured me, that Lady Clayborne had managed to... ah... avoid any disastrous consequences from the episode. The child raised her head in her joy and I was horrified! Her face was bruised and swollen and her lip was cut, with dried blood on it.” He shivered at the memory.

Constance gave a cry of pain and Rebecca’s eyes blazed with fury. “The despicable bully!” she uttered and then waited impatiently for Mr. Andrews to continue his lengthy, self-justifying narrative.

“I had no idea, of course, that Mr. Lawton could do such a thing. Had I believed it possible I would have taken some action to see the situation put to rights. I called to the housekeeper for some warm water and bathed the child’s face with my own handkerchief. Such a pitiful sight! I assured her that Lord Clayborne was acting on her behalf at his wife’s request and that she would not long have to suffer such treatment. She was properly grateful to Lord Clayborne, and to you, of course, Lady Clayborne, and to me for coming to her then. I ordered the housekeeper to bring her a proper meal and to turn over the key to the room to me so that the child could not be locked in again. I assured her that she would have to answer to God for her cruelty, and to me for any further mistreatment of the child. She could only say that Mr. Lawton had given her her orders and that he was the child’s guardian. I informed her that all children are in the care of God and that I as his emissary intended to see to it that no further harm came to the child. I assure you she quaked before me,” he announced proudly.

“You feel, then, that she will be safe until her uncle returns?” Constance asked softly.

“I am sure of it. As I mentioned before, these country women are superstitious if not always religious. We must, however, arrange for her protection when Mr. Lawton returns. Obviously he does not hesitate to do her harm. I do not believe this is the first time he has struck the child,” he observed, as though this were information likely to enlighten his listeners.

Rebecca bit back a scathing retort and managed to thank him for his assistance. “I am sure Lord Clayborne will make some arrangement for Elvira. He has been gathering the necessary evidence to end Mr. Lawton’s guardianship of her. Please do not let us keep you from your duties any longer. We sincerely appreciate your kindness.”

Constance helpfully rose and escorted Mr. Andrews to the door, while that worthy proclaimed all the while his earnest desire to be of whatever assistance he could. Before Constance returned to her chair, Rebecca had started to pen a most devastating cartoon of the cleric. Constance laughed and said, “‘Tis a marvelous way to vent your spleen. I could scream for his sanctimonious blathering! Oh, Rebecca, the poor child. How she has suffered. I hate to think that we are the cause of some of her pain.”

“We must not do so, Constance, for she herself would be the first to assure us that her uncle needs little provocation for his attacks upon her. And we shall see an end to this mistreatment if I have to steal her away myself. Jason does not think it will be long now before he can free her of that beast.”

“I hope he’s right for I cannot bear to think of it. It is so hard to sit here and do nothing.”

“Let us take a ride, then, for it will make us both feel better,” Rebecca suggested.

“You cannot feel up to a ride!” her friend protested.

“But I do. There is nothing I long for more,” Rebecca replied, laying down her sketchbook.

When they returned an hour later Clayborne was awaiting them in the parlor. He was tempted in his concern to scold his wife for overexerting herself, but he refrained from doing so. He could tell from the twinkle in her eye that she had observed his struggle and he smiled ruefully.

“I’m glad to see you feeling more the thing, Rebecca,” he said, as his eye fell on the sketchbook. “The local vicar, I have no doubt.”

“Quite right. He accepted Constance’s assignment and told us of his adventures in great detail. Constance will tell you of them for I cannot trust myself to do so.”

Constance was able, in a few pithy sentences, to enlighten Clayborne on the situation the vicar had found at Campden Manor as well as her own thoughts on that worthy himself. Clayborne’s brows drew together in anger and he remarked, “I shall go back to Broadway in the morning to do what I can. At least Lawton is away for a bit, and I shall post someone at the gates of Campden Manor to advise me of his return. I don’t expect he will be back right away but we must be prepared. I would have Elvira come to you but that would be dangerous for all of you. She might best find security at the vicar’s. Rebecca, if you will write a note to her, I can see it delivered in the morning. Suggest that she go to the vicar’s if her uncle returns. I do not think she will be in danger there.”