The Companion of Lady Holmeshire (17 page)

“‘
However, I am happy to relate that as of this moment, all the silverware and any jewelry you left behind is safely counted and locked up.’”

She looked at Helena and smiled, “I am, of course, not concerned about my silverware, but you know Barreby, and that he must report.” She went on.

“‘
Yesterday, and a few days before, I had visits from a man claiming to be the father of Alexander Scott.’”

Winnie looked up, startled, and Emma gasped. Her Ladyship continued reading,

“’
He desires a position as butler in the home, or any other supervisory position where he should not have to do any actual labor. I’ve turned him away, as he had no references and presented evidence on both occasions of being inebriated. However, he and his second son and daughter-in-law have arrived to live in the village below. Yours most sincerely, Mr. John Barreby.’”

Winnie’s hands, with the note, dropped to her lap, and Emma rose to her feet.

“
Ma’am, Alexander was never able to speak well of his family. This is a matter of serious concern. I am greatly afraid!”

“
Thank you, Emma, for your viewpoint. I received the same impression from Barreby’s message. I will instruct him to alert the staff to be wary of any situation that may arise.”

The Sitting Room door opened for Mr. Gabriel Hughes to be announced. He received the usual warm welcome, though Emma deplored the conversation that might arise, but she took her seat again, and he sat. The party continued with discussion of journeys, great ships and the ever warm sun of the Caribbean islands.

After some time had passed, enough for Gabriel to have been adequately gracious, he apologetically said, “Although all the company is very good, I do wish to talk alone with Miss Carrington. Having burst in and intruded so already on your time, I am ashamed to ask, is there a place where she and I could talk together, with the young lady’s permission?” Emma nodded her willingness, though her heart leapt into her throat.

Helena thought for a moment and then stood up. “My sister and I will leave this room. We have a matter to discuss and plans to make. You may visit here together for as long as you might wish. The footman will remain.” The two ladies gave Gabe their kindest regards and left the room.

Gabe and Emma moved from their stiff silk chairs to a down-stuffed white couch, and there was a moment of silence. Gabriel was apprehensively determining how to proceed as he transferred himself, nearly speaking twice after they sat. Emma was racing through her previously prepared expressions of regret, searching for one that would suffice to mercifully stop him before amorous words appeared that could not be unsaid. She had just raised a finger to signal her wish to speak when he began to talk.

“
Miss Carrington, you have just recently met me, as I am well aware.” Having at last raised the courage, he went on to make his case. He was grateful to have spoken in time to thwart any intention of hers to prevent it. “I am horrified at myself for being so forward in this matter, but you see, I am more troubled that someone else may appear, someone who does not love you as well, nor would treat you as well, before I feel it more appropriate to take the opportunity. Therefore, you see, I must declare my feelings today and hope that you will understand my expedience in the matter. I have seen for myself and have heard that you are an admirable woman, and you are certainly beautiful in every way. In the few weeks that I have known you, I can barely eat unless I am with you, or hardly sleep at night. I am a barrister; therefore, I am well able to support you in good comfort on my earnings alone. Besides that, I have been left a truly charming country cottage, and some considerable income to manage the house, through Her late Majesty, the Queen Caroline of Brunswick. My foster parents, as well, have left me a pleasant home here in Town, which is where I dwell for much of the year. It is not so grand as this Belgrave mansion, but I can entertain comfortably in it, that is, when a hostess can be found.” He fumbled, not wanting to forget any important part of his preamble or fail to pour it out before she could decline. The words, once said, might prove to be a great temptation to her! “As, well, you see, as a barrister, my wife would be able to attend the royal court, so you would be able to spend as much time as you would like with your friends during the London Season. All other wishes of yours would be given the greatest consideration. I would dislike, very much, to ever decline your request. I wonder, then, dear Miss Carrington, if you would make me ever so happy and become my wife?”

He put up a finger to stop her from replying and added, “I felt great urgency, indecorously, in making this request, but I shall give you as much time as you wish to reply. Please be assured of my lasting faithfulness and love, and do consider my words.”

Emma could have been easily swayed, kind-hearted as she was, not wanting to hurt him. She had listened intently, watching his face and how it gradually raised as he gained confidence. His eyes had lifted from overseeing the tapping of his right foot and had settled, with a hopeful gaze, on hers. He surveyed every motion of her eyes, the direction of any turn of the corners of her mouth and the forward leaning of her body to ascertain her thoughts.

How touching, she thought, that a great barrister, who could fight in court for the Crown and win great cases, should first be so hesitant to speak, and then nearly desperate. His eyes remained fixed on her, his speech concluded. She could not escape his hopes to hide and have a moment to think, for though her mind had already been settled, her heart was being battered. He was soft-spoken and charming. His promises were appealing. The country cottage...could she not go to see it? And especially because of his deep feelings, which she did not wish to bruise, she sought to find an excuse to assent. But no, there was much involved that had already been thought out many times. Winnie had not encouraged her toward the match, and she did not want to leave Holmeshire Hall; there was too much there for her to leave behind. She could not do it. She did not wish to say what she had to say, but summoned up her strength and spoke with finality.

“
Sir, I am honored for all my days beyond words. I have, though, committed my life to the companionship of Her Ladyship. Therefore, I must, with deep regret, turn down your kind offer.”

Gabriel looked around for solutions to this obstacle in the line of a candle, the orchids, a pillow. There were none to be found, and he could not speak for a moment. And then he professed, “Miss Carrington, I shall wait for you. I can do nothing else. I wish Her Ladyship a long life, but it seems that mine will, then, be a lonely one. Please tell me that should the time ever come when you are free from this obligation, you would be able to love me?”

“
Oh, sir, I most possibly could, but I cannot promise to ever marry you.”

“
Could you tell me, then, that you will try to nurture love for me in your heart for these many years? That perhaps you will honor me with letters, perhaps with discussions at dinners over the years?”

“
Sir,” she paused for quite some time. “I do not wish to much encourage you. What can I say? You are kind, patient and good. I could not ask for a better husband, I say with abundant conviction. But I have words to speak that I am certain will dissuade you from this proposal. I must tell you a secret of mine. No one else must know.”

She leaned over hesitantly, hoping to discourage him, and paused to fortify her courage. She glanced at the footman and covered her whisper to Gabe. He looked at her in disbelief, but found her to be sincere. He paused and thought, but he soon shook his head and waved his hand as if to say that it did not affect his feelings.

She looked down at the floor, and then up again, and continued, “You must, then, promise me one thing.” He sat up more properly, that his word would be considered as perfect as gold. “That should you find another during these years, you will not wait for me, but marry,” she went on, “and you should seek another, sir. You will need a wife, and…and you will need sons. You have wonderful things to pass on, and I cannot promise that I could ever marry you. Should I become able, when I am older, I do not know that I could give you sons, even though we should marry. And, as I am sadly aware, you have no other family to take your abundant possessions at all.”

He considered her words and stood up. She did the same. He bowed his head, at length, and then answered.

“
Miss Carrington, I can promise you that should ever any eyes look at me as yours have, and reach out and pull me into a soul the way yours have, I shall marry. I shall notify you by letter and marry. But I have looked at a million eyes in my life, and they do not have the dominion over me that yours have. I will take my leave now. And I will restrain myself from writing you more than one letter a week, that you may have some freedom in your life. God be with you.” He walked out the door, and her eyes filled with tears.

~
Chapter 8~

Misery, Difficulties…and What’s This, Now?

“
Emma, you have not told us anything of your conversation with Mr. Hughes! As a matter of fact, you have not said much about even the weather for the past few days. Tell us your secret; what are you so deeply pondering?” Helena queried. Winnie looked over with interest. Their Ladyships had seen sympathy on her face, and then short spells of gloom, followed by a lifting of the chin and a faraway look. “Did he indicate a desire to court you?” she pried, hoping that her friendly manner would excuse it.

“
He indicated a desire to marry me, ma’am,” she divulged, “But I gave the appropriate reply and have let it go.”

“
The proper reply? Does that mean he does not interest you?” Winnie appeared hopeful.

“
Ma’am, he is a kind gentleman. I have the utmost respect for him. But I do not plan to marry him; I have been given both generosity and the greatest kindness in my position with you. Along with that has come responsibility
to
you and to the orphans Robin and Kate, as you are aware. I take my duties seriously and will never sway from them. Besides that, you know that I could never leave Holmeshire Hall.” She was sweet, but steadfast. “And I thank you again for my enormous privileges, at great social cost to you, to both of you.” She started to rise to leave the room, but Winnie gently pulled her down.

“
Emma. You are a most serious and responsible girl. I commend you greatly.” Winnie paused. “I am pleased with the way you have responded to this situation and urge you to remain of this mind. I wish very much to see you live happily, please believe that.”

“
Ma’am, please do not concern yourself with it. Mr. Hughes has asked me to correspond with him and to see him, upon occasion, as a friend. I told him that I would enjoy that. In response, he has promised me that he would marry, should another woman enter his life. I shall continue to encourage him to do so, since I am to remain unmarried.”

“
And no doubt he has promised to be there the very day that I die. Is that true, Emma? For I would not want that.” Winnie’s concerned reaction surprised Emma. She had delayed discussing the matter because she had expected Winnie to encourage her to marry Gabe, as he was so suitable a gentleman. But here, instead, Winnie was opposed.

“
Mr. Hughes has wished you a long life, ma’am. He respects my wishes.” Winnie nodded, but her expression did not change. Helena, too, held back from any sentimental expression, and she nodded agreement to Winnie’s undisclosed concerns.

***

The lavish Empirelands Hotel, with all its dignified candelabra accented against richly beautiful, dark wood walls, had a small matter developing at a round corner table where five men were seated on a balmy afternoon. Some had never met, and they were introduced while drinks were being poured and delicacies set out.

“
Lord Wilfred, I have asked you to meet here with me and these gentlemen to discuss some of the policies you are trying to introduce in Parliament. Some of your ideas are strikingly insightful; you have earned much respect. However, there are some things that you are not aware of, I am afraid. In one matter in particular, you are speaking up a few years too late, for this matter has been settled,” dictated the Marquess of Breyton, and it was clear that he was not to be crossed. “Let me read to you what Patrick Colquhoun wrote some time ago. He pulled out a printed paper and read,

“‘
Poverty… is a most necessary and indispensable ingredient in society, without which nations and communities could not exist in a state of civilization. It is the lot of man
—
it is the source of wealth, since without poverty there would be no labour, and without labour there could be no riches, no refinement, no comfort, and no benefit to those who may be possessed of wealth.’

“
In my opinion,” Breyton continued, “poverty is a necessary part of God’s plan to show how rich his blessings can be upon those whom he has placed in higher positions. It is God’s right to bless one and curse another, which is why the poor will always be with us. Now, of course, the poor must eat and have shelter; that is only right. Governing a country, such a duty as you and I have, means, in part, caring for the people within its borders. A few years ago, just a
very
few years, older men than you, and wiser, with keen concern for the people, rich
and
poor, took up this matter at great length. Much debate was carried on; much work was done. The final decisions were made. Parliament required that the poor be helped in a specific way. It is important to give this method an opportunity to show its benefits, but here you are, a mere youth in Parliament, trying to throw out what was finally established through the hard work of erstwhile lords, while you were yet at home, or taking your first Grand Tour.”