Marriage Under Siege (5 page)

'Were they kind to you?'

'Sir Robert? Of course. I
was given every attention and consideration by Sir Robert and his wife. It was
his duty to do so and he took his obligations very seriously. As a Baron of the
Exchequer, he could afford to live in considerable style and I was brought up
with his daughters as one of the family. I lacked for nothing. My education was
exemplary. I have all the skills deemed necessary for an eligible bride. But a
guardianship cannot go on
for ever
. I believe that
the outbreak of the war spurred my guardian to push for the marriage. And I
believe that he wanted the money to donate to the Royal cause.'

But
they did not care for you, did not love you, did they?
Did she realise that she had spoken only of duty and obligation?

Mansell felt a sudden
inclination to ask if Lord Edward had also been kind and considerate to her but
knew that he must not. It was too private a matter. And after Croft's comments,
the answer was in doubt. Whatever the truth of the matter, she was now' free of
her obligation and might achieve a happier future.

'What will you do now, my
lady? I presume that you will not wish to return to the household of your
guardian.'

'No. I have no further
claim on them. The legal obligation is complete. But I have made plans. You
need not fear that I shall be a burden on
you,
my lord. As an heiress I have an excellent jointure. It will all be clarified
at the reading of the will, but I am aware of the terms of the settlement that
was negotiated with Sir Robert on my marriage. I know that Lord Edward made a
new will on our return here and my jointure is secure. I need nothing from
you.'

'That was not what I
meant.' He tried to quell the sudden leap of annoyance at her resistance.
'Where will you go?' he pursued. 'You can hardly live alone and unprotected.
Not with the prospect of armed gangs, not to mention legitimate troops who are
prepared to take possession of any property that might further their cause.'

'I shall not be
unprotected.' She noted but ignored the impatience in his voice and in the
determined clenching of his jaw. 'Sir William Croft offered me an armed guard
if I wish to travel any distance. And certainly I can live alone within my own
household. As a widow of advanced years I hardly need a chaperon. And as a
woman I believe that I will be in less danger of attack than you, my lord. No
man willingly wages war against an unprotected woman. It is not considered
chivalrous.' Her lips twitched in the merest of smiles. 'Sir William's warning
and advice to you would seem to have been most apt, my lord. It is perhaps
necessary for you to look to your own possessions, rather than be concerned
with mine.'

'I see that you are well
informed!'
And how did she know about that?
Annoyance deepened. 'I suppose that I must learn that nothing remains secret
for long in this house.'

'Very true. Besides,' she
continued, 'I have had my fill of protection, of betrothals and marriage.' She
breathed in steadily as her wayward emotions once more threatened to slip
beyond her grasp. 'Primarily I shall go to Leintwardine Manor. It is part of
my jointure and only a short distance from here. I shall be comfortable there.
It is a place of...great charm.'

'I still do not think you should
do anything precipitate,' Mansell insisted. 'Take time to decide what is best
for you.'

'I shall remove myself from
this place as soon as may be. By Friday, if that can be arranged.' He noted
the faintest of shudders once again run through her slight frame and did not
believe that it was from cold.

'You sound as if you hate
it here.'

'I never said that.' For
one moment her eyes blazed, glinting gold and green in their depths, only to be
veiled by a swift
downsweep
of sable lashes.

'You do not appear to
appreciate the very real dangers,' he pursued the point, but knew he was losing
the battle. 'I feel a sense of duty to see to your comfort—and safety.'

'How so?' Her gaze was
direct, an unmistakable challenge. 'You have no duty towards me. You need not
concern yourself over my future, my lord Mansell. After all, until yesterday,
you were not even aware that I existed as a member of your extended family.
After tomorrow, I shall take my leave.'

Abruptly she stood to put
an end to the discussion and walked from the room without a backward glance,
leaving food and wine untouched, her black silk skirts brushing softly against
the oak floor. The wolfhound shadowed her once more, leaving Mansell alone in
the solar to curse women who were obstinately blind to where their best
interests might lie.

'And the problem is,' he
confided to Sir Joshua when he walked with him to the stables an hour later, 'I
find that however much I might wish to accept her decision, to let her make her
own arrangements, I simply cannot do so. God save me from difficult,
opinionated women!'

Chapter
Three

'
A
sad occasion, my lord.' Mr Gregory Wellings shuffled the papers before him
with all the professional and pompous efficiency of a successful lawyer.

Thursday morning.

They had chosen to meet in
a room that might have been transformed into a library or study, or even an
estate office, if any of the previous Brampton lords had shown the least
inclination towards either books or business. Since they had not, it was a
little-used chamber, of more recent construction than the original fortress,
but neglected in spite of the splendid carving on the wooden panelling and the
wide window seats, which might tempt someone at leisure to sit and take in the
sweep of the distant hills. Although it was rarely used, there was clear
evidence of some recent attempt at cleaning, presumably for this very event.
Where else would it be possible to invite Lord Edward's legal man to read the
will to those who might expect some recognition? The floors had been swept, the
heavy hangings beaten to remove the worst of the dust and cobwebs. A fire
burned and crackled fiercely to offset the dank air. The mullioned windows,
larger than many in the castle, had been cleaned and, although still smeared
with engrained grime, allowed faint rays of spring sunshine to percolate the
gloom. A scarred, well-used oak table served as a desk for Mr Wellings to
preside over the legal affairs of the dead, the surface littered with documents
and letters, frayed ribbon and cracked seals. The two documents before him,
upon which his thin hands now rested, were both new, the paper still in
uncreased and unstained condition.

Honoria had taken a seat on
an upright chair beside the fire. Lord Mansell stood behind her, leaning an arm
against the high carved mantel. The lady was as impassive as ever, but
Mansell's concern for her well-being increased as the days passed. If she had
slept at all the previous night it would have been a surprise to him. Her hair
and skin and her eyes were dull as if they had lost all vitality and he knew
with certainty that she was not eating enough. If only she had some colour in
her cheeks and not the stark shadows from exhaustion and strain. Whatever was
troubling her was putting her under severe stress, but she clearly had no
intention of unburdening her anxieties to him. Whenever possible she absented
herself from his company. When they met they exchanged words about nothing but
the merest commonplace.
Why are you so unhappy?
he
asked her silently, glancing down at her averted face.
Surely your freedom from Sir Edward with a substantial income in your
own name should be a source of happiness and contentment, not despair?
But he found no answer to his concerns. Perhaps she was indeed merely dull, with
no qualities to attract.

But, he decided, quite
unequivocally, she should not wear black.

Lady Mansell's spine
stiffened noticeably as Mr Wellings cleared his throat, preparing to read the
final wishes of the recently deceased Lord Mansell. The present lord, on
impulse, leaned down to place a hand, the lightest of touches, on her shoulder
in a gesture of support. She flinched a little in surprise at his touch,
glancing briefly up at him, before relaxing again under the light pressure.
After the first instant of panic, he recognised the flash of gratitude in her
eyes before she looked away. So, not impassive or unmoved by the situation,
after all!

Also present in the
chamber, as requested by Mr Wellings, was the Steward, Master Foxton, on this
occasion accompanied by Mistress Brierly and Mistress Morgan, Lord Edward's
cook and housekeeper of many years. They stood together, just inside the
doorway, nervous and uncomfortable in their formal black with white collars and
aprons, to learn if they were to be rewarded for their long and faithful
service. Uneasily, their eyes flickered from Mansell to the lawyer, and back
again. The brief sour twist to Foxton's lips as he entered the room suggested
that they had little in the way of expectations from their dead master.

Mr Wellings cleared his
throat again and swept his eyes round the assembled company. He knew them all
from past dealings at Brampton Percy, except for the new lord, of course. He
would be more than interested to see Lord Mansell's reaction to Lord Edward's
will. He straightened his narrow shoulders and lifted the two relevant documents
to catch the light. 'My lord, my lady, this is the content of Edward Brampton's
will.'

He turned his narrowed eyes
in the direction of the servants and inclined his head towards them. A brief
smile, which might have been of sympathy, touched his lips. 'Lord Edward left a
bequest to Master Foxton, Mistress Brierly and Mistress Morgan in recognition
of their service at Brampton Percy. They shall each receive a bolt of black
woollen cloth, a length of muslin and a length of linen, all of suitable
quality and sufficient for new clothing. They shall also be assured of their
keep and a roof over their head until the day of their death.'

Mr Wellings paused.

'Is that the sum of the
bequest, sir?' enquired Mansell in a quiet voice at odds with the grooves of
disgust that bracketed his mouth.

'It is, my lord.'

'It is interesting, is it
not, Mr Wellings, that the final part of the bequest will fall on my shoulders,
not on those of my late departed cousin?'

'Indeed, my lord.'
Wellings's
sharp eyes held a glint of humour at the obvious
strategy of his late employer.

'It is quite insufficient,
but much as I expected.' Mansell dug into the deep pocket of his coat and
produced a leather pouch. How fortunate, he thought sardonically, that he had
come prepared. As the pouch moved in his hand, the faint metallic chink of
coins was clear in the quiet room. He approached Foxton and handed over the
pouch.

'I have noticed that every
member of this household is in need of new clothing, Master Foxton. If you
would be so good as to arrange it, this should cover the expense and more. I
expect that those in my employ should be comfortably and appropriately clothed,
as would any lord.'

'My lord...' Foxton
stammered, holding the pouch tightly. 'This is most generous...'

'No. It is your right and I
believe it has been neglected.'

'Thank you, my lord. I
shall see to it.' Mistress Brierly and Mistress Morgan, less successful that
the Steward in hiding broad smiles of delight, exchanged glances and dropped
hasty curtsies, their cheeks flushed with pleasure.

'If you will come to me
this afternoon, Master Foxton, I will discuss with you suitable remuneration
for all three of you as is fitting and as I am sure Lord Edward would have
wished.'

'I will, my lord.' Lord
Francis himself opened the door to allow Foxton to usher out the two women.

'That was well done, my
lord.'
Wellings's
tone was gruff as he nodded in
acknowledgement of the gesture.

'It was necessary. I take
no credit for it, Mr Wellings.' Mansell's tone was sharp, his brows drawn in a
heavy line. 'Efficient servants are essential to the smooth running of this
household and should be suitably rewarded. It is to Lord Edward's detriment
that he failed to do so. It is something I must look to.'

'Your concern will be
welcomed at Brampton Percy, my lord. It is not something of which your
dependants have recent experience.'

'Probably not. So, Mr
Wellings, let us continue and finish this business.' He returned to his stance
by the fire, casting a critical glance at Honoria. She had remained silent,
uninvolved, throughout the whole interchange. The sudden warmth that touched
her chilled blood would have surprised him, her instinctive admiration for his
sensitive handling of Edward's mean bequests. He did not see her quick glance
through concealing lashes. She would have thanked him, but feared to draw
attention to herself. Perhaps later, when all this was over and she could
breathe easily again.

'Very well, my lord.'
Wellings picked up where he had left off. 'To my wife Honoria...

'As by the terms of the
jointure agreed between Sir Robert Denham and myself on the occasion of our
betrothal in February 1643, she will enjoy to her sole use and her gift after
her death the property of Leintwardine Manor in the county of Herefordshire,
which was in her own inheritance. Also the property Ingram House in London. The
coach and six horses in which she travelled on the occasion of her marriage
from the home of Sir Robert Denham. And the handsome sum of £4,000 per annum.'

'This will be deemed
sufficient to allow her to live comfortably and is in recognition of the extent
of the inheritance that she brought to the Brampton family with her marriage.
It is a substantial settlement— as is your right, my lady.'

'Is that as you
anticipated, my lady?' Mansell queried when the lady made no comment.

'Yes. It is as was agreed
between my lord and Sir Robert. Lord Edward made no changes here.'

'Continue then, Mr
Wellings.'

'To my heir, Sir Francis
Brampton, of the Suffolk line of Bramptons, there being no direct heirs of my
body, it is my wish and my intention that he will inherit the whole of the
property that comprises the Brampton estate. This is to include the estates
of—and each area is itemised, my lord, as you will see—the castle and land of
Brampton Percy, the manors of Wigmore,
Buckton
,
Aylton
and
Eyton
, the lease of
crown land at Kingsland and
Burrington
. That, my
lord, is the extent of the Brampton acres. Also itemised is livestock, timber
and grain from the said estates and the flock of 1,000 sheep, which run on the
common pastures at Clun. Finally there is a substantial town house in
Corve
Street in Ludlow. Apart from this bequest, there is
the inheritance of the
Laxton
estates in Yorkshire
and
Laxton
House in London, both from the inheritance
that Honoria Ingram brought to the marriage.'

Wellings laid down the
document in completion, then peered under his eyebrows at Lord Mansell with a
speculative gleam in his eyes, his lips pursed.

'You should know, my lord,
that even though this will was made less than a month ago, on the occasion of
his recent marriage, Lord Edward in fact added a codicil only two weeks later,
a few days before his death. He visited me privately in Ludlow for that
purpose.'

'I see.' Mansell's brows
rose in some surprise. 'Or perhaps I don't. Did you know of this, my lady?' He
moved from the fireplace to pull up one of the straight-backed chairs and sat
beside her.

'No.' She shook her head,
running her tongue along her bottom lip. 'Does it pose a problem to the
inheritance, Mr Wellings?'

'A problem? Why, no, my
lady. It is merely in the way of being some what... unusual, shall I say. But
nothing of a serious nature, you understand.'

'Then enlighten us, Mr Wellings.
Just what did Lord Edward see a need to add to so recent a will that is not in
itself
serious?
'

'Lord Edward was aware of
his impending death, my lord. He had been aware, I believe, for some months. It
was a tumour for which there was no remedy. Recently it became clear to him
that his days on this earth were numbered. The pain, I understand... I know
that he did not wish to worry you, my lady, so I doubt he made any mention of
his complaint...?'

'No, Mr Wellings.' There
was no doubting the surprise in Honoria's response. 'He did not. All I knew was
that he was drinking more than was his normal practice. But I did not know the
reason. Why did he not tell me? And what difference would it make to his will?'

'It was his choice not to
inform you, my lady. And, if you will forgive me touching on so delicate a
matter, my lady, he also realised that in the time left to him he was unlikely
to achieve a direct heir of his own body to his estates.' Wellings inclined his
head sympathetically towards Honoria. A flush of colour touched her pale
cheeks, but she made no response.

The lawyer glanced briefly
at Mansell before continuing.

'In the light of his very
brief marriage to Mistress Ingram, a lady of tender years, and your own single
state, my lord, Lord Edward recommends in the codicil that the lady should be
taken into your keeping and protection. That is, to put it simply, that you, my
lord, should take the lady in marriage. It will provide Lady Mansell with
protection and continuity of her status here at Brampton Percy, as well as
keeping the considerable property and value of her jointure within the Brampton
estate.'

Wellings leaned across the
table and handed the relevant document to Lord Francis for his perusal. He took
it, rose to his feet and strode to the window where he cast his eyes rapidly
down the formal writing. It was all very clear and concise and precisely as
Wellings had intimated. He looked back at Honoria.

Their eyes touched and
held, hers wide with surprise and shock, his contemplative with a touch of wry
amusement at Edward's devious methods to keep the estate intact. And negate the
need to raise the vast sum of £4,000 every year for the comfort of his grieving
widow!