‘It’s an Indian summer day,’ Adrian said, glancing around as he and Robert walked down towards the lake at Bolton Manor. ‘Better weather than we’ve had all year, don’t you think?’
‘I do, Addy, but it’s often nice in October in Yorkshire. And it’s been like this for several days, given me a chance to study the estate. You see, I’m going to build a guesthouse in the grounds, and I need to pick the right spot.’ Robert’s step was light as he took in his land, his heart glad to be home again.
‘A guesthouse!’ Adrian exclaimed. ‘When the manor is so comfortable and spacious. I’m surprised you’d bother.’
‘It might sound strange to you, but there’s method in my madness, old chap. In-laws, another family suddenly in my life—’
‘Vanessa’s family,’ Adrian interjected, glancing at his dearest friend. ‘So you are going to marry her?’
‘Did you ever doubt it? Surely not. You’ve just given me the papers for the villa in Zürich. I’ll be buying it from you later today, and it will be my winning hand, as you call it. Lucinda does still want it, doesn’t she?’
‘She does. And the villa will give you your freedom. If you hand the villa over to her. As a gift. Don’t forget that bit.’
‘I think I would prefer my solicitor to give the deeds to her solicitor, if you want the truth. I’ve no desire to see that horrendous woman ever again. Now, here we are … look over there, Addy, at that little wood.’ Robert began to walk faster, explaining, ‘The guesthouse will be just to the left of it. A perfect spot, with a lovely view, and easy access to the main house. It will be perfect for Vanessa’s parents, and Caroline. Incidentally, what’s happening between you two? Do I detect a hint of seriousness in your relationship?’ Robert gave him a questioning look.
Adrian came to a halt, and took hold of Robert’s arm, a strained expression flashing across his face. ‘Caroline? No, it’s not quite right for me,’ he said, a tenseness in his voice. ‘I like her enormously, and she’s good-looking, smart, modern, all the things a man likes. Yet I hesitate, and feel I should break off with her. Not that there’s been any understanding between us; nothing has ever been voiced.’
‘You’re not in love with her, Addy, is that it?’
‘You’re correct. And by the way, there hasn’t been an affair. I’ve been a perfect gentleman, not made a move in that direction.’ Adrian stared at his friend and added, ‘So you can wipe that smirk off your face, old chap.’
Robert laughed. ‘I believe you. After all, you’re the man with a key to a private place, so the odds were all in your favour if you’d wanted to go in that direction.’
Adrian chuckled with him, and they both walked on to the wood, letting the subject drop.
‘I plan to have four bedrooms, and bathrooms, on the top floor, and two sitting rooms downstairs for general use, along with a small kitchen and scullery, just so their maid or valet can make them a tray of tea or prepare a light supper. I want it to be small but comfortable,’ Robert told him. ‘A kind of lodge.’
‘It doesn’t sound small,’ Adrian muttered.
‘Medium-sized, I suppose,’ Robert replied. ‘Young O’Neill is going to build it for me. He was here yesterday, to show me his drawings. I decided to give him a chance, try him out, and he’s a darned good draughtsman, by the way, unusually talented. He is in partnership with his uncle, and they have taken the job, much to my relief.’
‘When are you going to start on the project?’
‘In about a week, I believe – it’s up to O’Neill and his uncle Patrick Kennedy. They are now in charge. Anyway, do you like this spot?’
‘I do, yes, as long as you don’t put me in the guesthouse,’ Adrian said, his tone jocular.
‘Only if you ask for it, perhaps if you’re with a lady friend,’ Robert teased him back.
‘None around at the moment,’ Adrian answered. ‘At least none I’m bowled over by.’
‘Things can change in the blink of an eye, as I so recently discovered …’ He paused, and then said swiftly, ‘I see my butler, coming out onto the terrace. I think he must be looking for me.’ Without another word, Robert hurried towards the long terrace above the lawns, leaving Adrian to follow. As he rushed forward, he called, ‘Are you looking for me, Camden?’
‘Yes, Your Lordship. A young lady has just arrived and—’
‘Did you show her into a sitting room?’ Robert cut in.
‘No, Lord Robert. At least, I tried to do so, but she said she preferred to wait in the hall.’
‘I see. Thank you, Camden.’ Robert edged around the butler and went inside through the French doors.
The moment Robert saw her, his face changed, filled with shock. He strode down the hall, saying, ‘Thank God you are here. I’ve been so worried about you.’
When he came to a standstill in front of her, she stood up and stepped into his outstretched arms. He held her close to him, and then he stepped back, looked down into her upturned face.
‘Thank God you’re alive,’ Robert said, his voice full of feeling. ‘Nobody knew how to find you. I even wrote to that monstrous brother of yours, to Lawrence, but got no response. So, where on earth have you been, Moira?’
‘In Leeds, Robert. But I’ve written to you. Twice. Once when I arrived in London. And again when I got to Leeds. You never replied,’ she said, a hint of sadness echoing in her quiet voice.
‘I never received your letters,’ he answered. ‘I did get the short note you wrote from Galway, and I did send you a condolence letter, and explained I was right in the middle of a very big property deal in London and couldn’t leave for her funeral. Did you receive that at least?’ Robert stared at her intently.
‘Yes. But my brother behaved terribly badly. He had already agreed a sale on the Galway house, while Mother lay dying, and he ransacked the house, looking for Mother’s jewels, which he never found.’
‘I know she did have a special collection from your father, that he gave her when he was alive. Separate to any of the family jewellery,’ Robert murmured. ‘All diamonds, I believe.’
Moira nodded. ‘Lawrence accused me of taking her jewels. I hadn’t. Also, I was frightened by his growing animosity and his threats.’ Moira swallowed, and felt a cold chill run through her. ‘He threatened to report me to the constabulary for theft, and said they would come and arrest me. When I said I would come to see you, he struck me, shook me and threw me down on a sofa. I was terrified, I thought he was going to strangle me – kill me, actually. He was so enraged. Then he locked me in my room.’
‘But he’s your half-brother, you grew up together, I simply can’t understand why he behaved in such a brutal way.’ Robert was incandescent with sudden anger, furious with Lawrence, and couldn’t wait to confront him, take him to task.
‘Lawrence has a violent streak. He’s like his father, Lord Andrew Chandler. I lived through many of his rants with Mother. Anyway, when I mentioned your name again he told me you were all ashamed of me because I was illegitimate. He called me Mother’s bastard, and that none of her cousins wanted anything to do with me, that you wanted me out of the family.’
Moira paused, and realized her eyes were moist. She brushed her hand against her face. In a low voice, Moira said, ‘Lawrence told me that it was my misconception that anyone in Mother’s family cared about me. He added that you didn’t, that you couldn’t stand me, and I was now alone in the world.’
Robert’s face changed. Again a look of rage crossed it, and he exclaimed, ‘I can’t believe this. He lied! Henrietta loved you more than anyone in this world, except for your father, of course. It was unbearable to us all that she was already married to Andrew, then tragic when your father was killed. Lawrence knew how special you were to them. But I’ve always sensed hatred emanating from him. Lawrence has the air of evil around him, and I’m afraid he resented your place alongside him in the family.’
‘You are right. The night he attacked me, and locked me up, I knew I had to leave. I was terrified he would bring the constables to arrest me. So I packed a bag during the night and left at dawn, climbing out of my window. Tommy, the son of one of our grooms, helped me – he was taking the boat to Liverpool.’
‘Why didn’t you come to me? Or to one of your mother’s other cousins?’ Robert asked, a troubled expression in his blue eyes.
‘Because I believed Lawrence. I felt that, without Mother, I was an outcast, a stain on the family honour.’ Moira’s eyes had filled with tears. ‘And I had almost no money, only a few pounds left after I paid the boat passage. It was much more expensive than I realized to come here. I was scared.’
Robert shook his head, sorrow floating across his face. He had always loved his cousin Henrietta, had watched this daughter of hers grow up, and he had promised his cousin he would look after her, knowing that her place in society was fragile and insecure, owing to the open secret of her illegitimacy. After a moment, he asked, ‘Where on earth did you go?’
‘Tommy has a cousin by marriage in Leeds. He took me to her house, but it was in a terribly poor area, the Bank, and I couldn’t stay there for long, or find work around there. Fortunately, a friend of Tommy’s, Finn, came and rescued me and arranged for me to live somewhere more respectable. I’ve been waiting and waiting to learn that you were back in Yorkshire. By great good fortune I became friendly with Blackie O’Neill, and I heard from him you had returned. I thought if I saw you in person I would know for sure if—’
Robert heard the French door close, and then there was a slight cough before Adrian decided to walk down the hall, his footsteps echoing in the stillness.
‘Ah, there you are, Adrian,’ Robert said, thinking quickly. ‘Please come and meet Moira, my cousin Henrietta’s daughter,’ he exclaimed.
‘I would love to,’ Adrian replied, moving forward swiftly, struck by this young woman’s beauty. She was stunning, with her silver-blonde hair, glossy and shining, and those large soulful greyish-blue eyes in a perfect face.
‘Moira, let me introduce Adrian, Lord Fraser, my best friend,’ Robert said to her, calming himself as he spoke, clamping down his fury about Lawrence.
Taking his hand, Moira said, ‘I am honoured to meet you, Lord Fraser.’ She spoke softly, pushing aside her pain.
‘And likewise, Miss Aherne, and it is my pleasure indeed.’ He dropped her hand after a long moment, stunned by her looks, her lilting voice. What a true beauty stood looking at him, her eyes wide and full of expectation, he thought. A knot of tension was settling in his stomach. Suddenly, he realized he was just gaping at her, and he moved towards the staircase. ‘I mustn’t interrupt you both, Robert, Miss Aherne. Please excuse me.’ He inclined his head, looking at Moira, and smiled. ‘Excuse me,’ he said, sounding flustered.
‘Tea at four-thirty, Addy,’ Robert called after his departing friend, who was now mounting the staircase.
‘I’ll be there,’ Adrian answered without looking around.
Robert took hold of Moira’s hand, and picked up the carpetbag next to the chair. ‘Is this all you have?’
‘Yes. I can only stay one night.’
Robert was startled, and frowned, ‘Why? What is going on, Moira?’
‘I have a job—’
‘You’re working?’ he cut in sharply.
‘Yes, I am.’
‘Doing what, for God’s sake?’ It was apparent he was taken aback.
For a moment, she thought of fibbing, but changed her mind. He had known her all her life, knew her inside out.
Taking a deep breath, she said, ‘I’m a lady’s maid.’
He stood looking down at her, obviously flabbergasted.
After a moment, he said, ‘You are joking, aren’t you? Pulling my leg?’
‘No, I’m not. That’s what I’ve been doing since I got to Leeds. I am a lady’s maid.’
There was a moment of silence. Robert looked slightly stricken and, without another word, he led her into the small study he favoured, closed the door and said, ‘You owe it to me to explain everything.’