Читать книгу Reunited with the Major - Anne Herries, Anne Herries - Страница 11

Chapter Four

‘Stay with a widow?’ The look in Rosemarie’s eyes told Brock that she was not happy with the idea. ‘I do not wish to live quietly and hardly dare to raise my voice. Why will you not advance me a little money on my trinkets and let me go where I please?’

‘Because it would be quite improper for you to live alone, Miss Ross,’ he said patiently for perhaps the twentieth time. ‘Besides, Sam is not a long-suffering widow wearing black. Her husband has been dead for almost two years. She goes into society and will take you to small parties and dances, once you have suitable clothes.’

‘She will?’ Rosemarie tipped her head to one side, reminding him with her bright eyes of a hungry robin, ready to pounce on a worm. ‘Where shall I get the money to buy my clothes?’

‘Your lawyer will advance you some money,’ Brock lied, for Mr Stevens had refused to do anything of the kind until he had spoken to the girl’s aunt and uncle. Brock had not yet brought his own lawyer to bear on the subject of her inheritance, though he intended to speak with him as soon as he had her settled with Samantha Scatterby. ‘You need not concern yourself, Rosemarie. You will be safe and pleasantly engaged while I attempt to sort out your affairs. And do not think that your uncle will try to drag you back, because I have already informed your father’s lawyer that we are considering having your affairs taken out of his hands, unless he protects you in this matter. He was much shaken and promised that he would enquire into your affairs without loss of time.’

‘Thank you,’ Rosemarie said and looked thoughtful. ‘You are truly considerate and a great gentleman, sir. Had you not come when you did I might have fallen into the hands of rogues—or died. I know Papa would have liked you. Had he known you, I am sure he would have appointed you as one of my guardians.’

‘Well, your guardian I am not, more’s the pity,’ Brock said and smiled. ‘However, I am hopeful of a satisfactory outcome to your problems—but I must ask you to comply with my request. Mrs Scatterby is a respectable widow and will take care of you while helping you acquire some town bronze. Only if I know you to be safely established in her care can I leave town...’

‘You’re going to see your fiancée, are you not?’

‘Yes, I must,’ Brock said, ‘but fortunately for me Cynthia is in town. I may call on her and settle my affairs before I take a trip down to Falmouth to speak to your uncle.’

‘He will be very angry. I dare say he will demand that I return to his protection.’

‘He may well do so,’ Brock agreed, but seeing the fear in her eyes softened his tone. ‘However, I believe the threat of my applying to make you and your fortune a ward of court will stop him in his tracks. It is a last resort, of course, but if it were the only way to protect you from their scheming I would take whatever measures necessary.’

‘If I were married, my uncle could not make me wed Sir Montague and neither he nor Papa’s lawyer could withhold my fortune.’

Brock was struck by the look in her eyes, his senses alerted. ‘Is there something you have not told me, Rosemarie? Have you a particular young man in mind?’

‘What if I have? He is serving abroad, but once he comes home he will marry me and then...’

‘You do realise that although your uncle may not force you to marry a man of his choice, he can forbid you to wed another—until you are of age you would need his consent to marry.’

‘I knew you would say that.’ Rosemarie pouted at him, a truculent note in her voice. ‘It is the reason I did not tell you everything—but he cannot stop me if we run away.’

‘No, but he might apply to have the marriage set aside and make you a ward of court but under his own jurisdiction.’ Brock frowned at her. ‘For your own sake, I must warn you to be careful, Rosemarie. You are very young to be married and might easily make a mistake. Why not give yourself a little time to live in town and get to know more people...to be sure of your own heart?’

‘I love Robert. He is the only man I shall ever love and I am determined to be his wife.’ Rosemarie set her mouth stubbornly. ‘Papa would not have forbidden me. He believed that marriage should always be for love. His own was arranged and look what happened, though I know he cared for his wife deeply. Yet he also loved Mama and I know he would tell me to marry Robert and be happy.’

Brock smothered a sigh. ‘Unfortunately, your father is no longer here to tell us his wishes, Rosemarie. If you are sensible and give yourself a little time, your aunt and uncle may be brought to agree—and that would be best for everyone. Would you not wish to be on good terms with your family?’

‘Why should I care for them?’ Rosemarie’s eyes sparkled with defiance. ‘You say that because you do not know Lord Roxbourgh. You think I exaggerate when I say he covets Papa’s estate and his wife wants my mother’s jewels, but I assure you I do not, sir.’

‘Forgive me, Rosemarie. I believe that you have been unjustly treated, but I must reserve judgement until I have spoken to your uncle and aunt—after that we shall see what needs to be done to protect both you and your fortune.’

There was the hint of a tear in her eyes as she inclined her head, but her pride would not let her give way to a show of weeping.

‘I know you are right, sir,’ she said. ‘I am grateful to you—but I love Robert and he loves me. Even if we have to wait two years, I shall marry him.’

‘Do not think me your enemy,’ Brock said. ‘I speak only out of a desire to protect you. I think you would not like to be cut off from society for your whole life?’

‘As Mama was?’ Rosemarie tilted her chin at him. ‘No, indeed, it was sad for her that she and Papa had only a few friends they could visit who would also visit them. Most of the county people looked down their noses at her, even though Papa treated her as if she were his wife. He would not associate with anyone who ignored Mama—but only a few ladies were kind enough to visit, and they were not out of the top drawer. I think they were all perfectly horrid to behave so.’

‘Well, think seriously about the rest of your life, Rosemarie. Now, I must take you to Mrs Scatterby and leave you with her, for I really do have business of my own that I must attend.’

‘Yes, of course.’ Rosemarie gave him a sunny smile, her petulance forgotten. ‘You have been truly kind, sir. I know you have had much trouble on my behalf.’

‘Nothing was too much trouble,’ Brock assured her. ‘Please, may we leave now? I should like to continue with my plans before the evening is too advanced.’

Rosemarie consented and they went out to the waiting curricle.

* * *

It was a short drive to Samantha’s house. Brock escorted her into the pleasant parlour once more with its pretty satinwood furniture and dainty chairs with satin-covered seats in a pale straw colour. It felt as if he were walking into sunshine and he had a feeling that he would like to stay in its warmth for ever, but dismissed his fancies with a laugh. Samantha had always had a knack for making a house into a welcoming home, even when on campaign with her husband. He introduced the ladies, saw that Sam immediately set her guest at ease and left them to get to know one another.

After he’d made his farewells, Brock set out once more, but this time bound for the countess’s London house. His knock was answered by a serious-looking butler in black, who asked him to step into the downstairs parlour while he enquired whether the countess, Lady Langton or her daughter were at home.

Left to admire some rather lovely paintings on the wall, Brock did his best not to lose patience as the minutes ticked by. Then, at last, the butler returned.

‘Countess Snowdon will see you now, sir. If you will follow me to her parlour.’

Brock inclined his head and followed the stately servant up the main staircase and along the passage to a pair of double doors. He knocked and then threw them open with a flourish, announcing Brock and standing aside to allow him to enter.

Brock’s gaze went immediately to the rather lovely but fragile-looking lady ensconced in an early Georgian wingchair covered in green-striped brocade. He approached and bowed to her, offering his hand.

‘You will forgive me if I do not get up, sir? I am unable to do so without assistance.’

‘You must not think of it, Countess.’ Brock smiled at her. ‘Please forgive me for calling on you out of the blue like this, but I have just returned to town this very day and I learned that my fiancée was staying here as your guest.’

‘Yes, indeed, Cynthia and her mama have so kindly taken pity on me,’ the countess said with her sad sweet smile. ‘She is such a charming girl that I have quite lost my heart to her. I have prevailed on the dear gel to continue her stay for another few weeks and go down to the country with me when we leave next week.’

‘Indeed?’ Brock frowned slightly. ‘I was hoping—but no matter. May I speak with Cynthia, perhaps?’

‘At the moment she, her mama and my son have all gone to the races, I’m afraid. I believe they are to dine informally somewhere and I do not expect them home until quite late this evening.’

‘Oh, that is unfortunate. I was hoping to speak to her—but, of course she did not know I was coming.’ Brock hesitated, sensing something of a reserve in the lady of the house. ‘May I ask you to give Cynthia a message?’

‘Yes, of course. I am sure had she known you intended to call she would have arranged to be in.’

‘I did not know until late this day that Cynthia and her mama were your guests, Countess. I had several calls to make for various reasons and hoped to catch her before she left for any evening engagements.’

‘I believe Cynthia has not made any appointments for the morning. Why do you not call again tomorrow—shall we say at ten o’clock?’

‘Yes, very well. Perhaps Cynthia might like to go driving with me in the park?’ Brock suggested. ‘I shall be here without fail tomorrow morning.’

‘I will see that she gets the message,’ Countess Snowdon said graciously.

‘Then I shall leave you, ma’am. I apologise for disturbing you at this hour.’

‘Not at all, Major Brockley. You are very welcome to visit while Cynthia is staying here.’

Brock thanked her and took his leave. The countess had been polite, but he thought cool, a little reserved—almost as if she wished he had not come to call on her guest. Yet why she should feel that way when she knew that Cynthia was engaged to Brock was something he could not fathom.

He wondered if he might find a letter from Cynthia at his house, something that might explain the countess’s coolness. A pile of letters and notes awaited him in his parlour, but he had not yet done more than glance through the top few. He would remedy that as soon as he reached his house.

* * *

Flicking aside the sealed letters, most of which he knew were invitations to dinner or a card evening, with one or two bills from his tailor and wine merchant, Brock came at last to the letter he sought. It was inscribed to him here in Cynthia’s neat hand and smelled faintly of her perfume.

Slitting the seal with a silver paperknife, he read the few lines swiftly. Cynthia had written only to inform him that she would be staying with Countess Snowdon and Lord Armstrong for a few weeks and would be in London from the ninth of the month. Since it was now the sixteenth she had been in London for a week and must wonder why he had not responded, for she must have expected that he was in town. Perhaps the countess believed that he had deliberately ignored her letter and that was the reason for her coolness.

The urgent message that had taken Brock from town had not been something he wished to communicate to Cynthia by letter, and he knew he was guilty of neglect towards the lady he had asked to marry him. It was remiss of him and he had fully intended to beg her pardon this evening, and to arrange a meeting so that they could set the date of the wedding, yet now he discovered that his reluctance was as strong as ever.

He could smell the strong perfume from the letter on his hands and it irritated him. It had not particularly bothered him before this, but now he realised that he did not like such heavy scent. Brock preferred a light flowery fragrance with hints of rose or lavender...similar to one he had smelled earlier that day. He must ask Samantha what kind of perfume she used and purchase some for Cynthia.

Catching himself up, he frowned. No, that would not do, but he would make his preference for light perfumes known to Cynthia one of these days. Leaving his study, he went upstairs and into his dressing room, washing his hands with the soap he preferred. It had stirred his senses when he’d met Samantha Scatterby again that morning, remembering her perfume which she’d never changed and bringing back such good memories. She’d been an inspiration to Colonel Scatterby’s men, his friends and fellow officers. Brock had always thought her the most attractive woman in so many ways, not just her looks which were not exactly beauty, but somehow striking. He’d admired her friendly behaviour towards the junior officers, helping them over their shyness when they came out fresh from England—and her cheerful courage when faced with terrible accommodation and harsh conditions. A soldier’s wife had to cope with all kinds of setbacks, but she’d never complained, never caused her husband the least anxiety.

It would not do to let his thoughts wander. Brock knew that his future was set. He must speak to Cynthia the next day and arrange the date for their wedding...and now he was going to change and visit his club. He must apologise to the friends he’d let down the night he stopped to assist Rosemarie Ross.

He would not think any further about that young lady’s affairs. There would be time enough to visit her uncle and aunt once he’d made his peace with Cynthia.