Moonlight And Mistletoe

CHAPTER TWELVE

‘Jethro!’ Hester released her hold on Guy’s arm and went to take the unsteady figure by the elbow. ‘What on earth are you doing down here at this hour in the morning? You scared us all to death! Oh dear, Susan, is Miss Prudhome all right?’

‘She will be if I can just find some feathers to burn under her nose.’ Susan struggled to get the wilting companion into a sitting position, only to find his lordship bending at her side.

‘Here, let me, I think she is coming round.’ He scooped up Miss Prudhome, almost dropping her again at the screech of alarm she let out when she realised she was in the arms of a man. He hastily seated her in a Windsor chair by the range and retreated to assist Hester, who was urging Jethro to take the seat opposite.

‘I heard the to-do, Miss Hester,’ Jethro explained, wincing as the hard chair back met his shoulder. ‘But I didn’t reckon on being so shaky on my feet. It took me near ten minutes to get out of bed. I’m sorry, my lord.’ He turned his pale face towards Guy, ‘I should have been more alert-like, ready to help.’

‘It’s a very good thing you did not, Jethro, there were enough of us falling all over the place-I am afraid I let your ghost go.’

‘I think we need a council of war,’ Hester announced, marching back into the room with the brandy decanter in her hand. ‘Susan, brew some coffee, please. Tea is simply not stimulating enough.’ She placed the decanter on the table. ‘Now, who would like brandy in their coffee and who would like it in a glass?’

‘Oh, if anyone should see us,’ Miss Prudhome lamented. ‘Drinking brandy at three in the morning with a man in the house.’

Guy unstoppered the decanter, sniffed, then reached for one of the glasses Hester put on the table. ‘It would be a crime to mix this with coffee.’ He poured five glasses and pushed them around the table. ‘Is the rest of your wine cellar up to this standard, Miss Lattimer?’

Off guard she replied, ‘Oh, yes, all of it is very good, although I have not dared look at the clarets yet after their jolting on the carrier’s cart.’

‘You must introduce me to your wine merchant.’ Guy took an appreciative sip. ‘I imagine we are too far from the sea here for it to be run brandy.’

‘I inherited it,’ Hester admitted. ‘Unusual, I know…’

‘Your father had excellent taste.’ Of course, that was the obvious conclusion, there was no need to fear he would guess the truth.

Hester smiled brightly. ‘Thank you. Maria, are you feeling a little recovered?’

‘Yes, indeed.’ In fact, Miss Prudhome was faintly flushed, and Hester noticed that she was taking rather more sips from the glass than from her cup. ‘This is very reviving, although naturally I do not approve of spirits except in a medicinal capacity.’

‘Good. Now, what are we going to do?’ Hester looked round the kitchen table at her supporters. One nervous lady’s companion one feisty maidservant, a boy with a damaged shoulder and a nobleman who most certainly shouldn’t be there. ‘We know whoever is doing this is flesh and blood; Lord Buckland hit him.’

‘Hard enough to bruise.’ Guy rubbed his knuckles.

‘So we must watch out for men with a bruised cheek or a black eye. We know they can get in and out of here without using the doors and windows.’

‘Which is strange, in a house of this age,’ Maria remarked. She was sitting up, looking much recovered, a faint flush on her cheeks. ‘I mean, it is not as though it is some ancient mansion where you might expect priest holes and secret passages, is it?’

‘The ghost has therefore taken time to prepare something before your arrival,’ Guy mused. ‘Or the secret entrance was built at the same time as the house. The latter, I imagine.’

Hester shot him a suspicious glance. There was something about the tone of his voice that made her suspect he was putting two and two together-and that the clues he was adding up were unknown to her.

‘And that entrance is in this kitchen, or the scullery,’ Susan added. ‘That would make sense-this is the back of the house and shielded from passers-by.’

‘And the only person, other than his lordship, who has expressed a desire to buy the house is Sir Lewis.’ Hester shook her head in disbelief. ‘He has not pressed me about it, only said that if I was alarmed he felt it was his duty to buy it back. I cannot imagine that would be easy for him, his own home is in poor repair.’

‘You think him short of funds?’ Guy twirled the stem of his glass between his fingers. ‘If he does indeed want this house, then it must represent an investment of some kind to him, but what I cannot imagine.’

‘Someone was here at night, several times just before I arrived.’ Hester recounted the village gossip. ‘Lights were seen. But if they were searching, there was no trace of it. The Nugents could well have retained keys, of course-the back door was not bolted when we arrived. But why should they? It is only a short while since their father sold it to me; if there were some secret, something of value, surely both father and son would know about it, and it would have been removed before the house was sold.’

‘If Lewis did know. I wonder just how sudden his father’s death was.’

‘He was unwell-Miss Nugent would have it that he became so when he signed the bill of sale-but the end was sudden, following a fall, and, according to her, the moon was full and a dead rose was found.’

‘A nice piece of embroidery,’ Guy observed cynically. ‘Perhaps I am misjudging them and Sir Lewis is straightforward and Miss Nugent has a taste for melodrama, but I will call on them the day after tomorrow and see if Sir Lewis’s handsome features have become marred in any way. It will be as well to allow the bruise time to develop.’

‘Of course! That will settle it.’ Hester felt a flood of relief at the thought of such tangible proof. ‘It has just occurred to me,’ she added slowly. ‘Sir Lewis gave me the sleeping draught for Jethro. What better way of making sure that no one was sitting up with him.’

‘Hmm, you could well be right. I will send a footman over every night to sleep here in the kitchen, with a lantern lit. That should stop any attempt to enter.’ Guy raised an eyebrow at Hester, daring her to refuse his help again.

‘Thank you, Lord Buckland,’ she responded meekly. It seemed the most prudent thing, and the man would be in no danger if the ghost saw that the room was occupied.

‘Then I suggest you all make your way back to bed. The clock has just struck four; I will stay here another hour, which is probably as long as I can risk it without being seen leaving by some passing yokel on his way to the milking. Ackland, do you need helping to your room?’

Jethro got to his feet with a wince, but shook his head. ‘No, my lord, I’ll do if I go slowly.’

Hester watched as Susan and Maria left, fussing after the boy, then turned to Guy with a rueful smile. ‘Thank you. I am sorry I suspected you, and I am sorry I was so cavalier with your offers of help.’

He smiled. ‘So long as you trust me now. But you will be careful, Hester-promise me? That character was at the foot of the stairs, I am sure on his way up. I suspect you would have woken to find those roses on the threshold of your bedchamber.’

‘Yes, I promise.’ She got to her feet, bone weary now the excitement was all over. ‘May I come with you to Winterbourne Hall? Two of us may observe more than one, and I have the excuse of enquiring after Miss Nugent’s health.’

‘A good idea. I will collect you-I said the day after tomorrow, but it is already almost morning, so it will be tomorrow-about two, if that is convenient.’

Hester nodded her agreement, smothering a cracking yawn behind both hands. ‘Oh, I beg your pardon! I am so tired.’

‘Goodnight, Hester.’ Guy gathered her into his arms and bent his head to kiss her brow, smoothing back the tumbled hair with a gentle hand. She let herself rest against him within the circle of his arm, safe and warm. Her body, unfettered by stays or petticoats, fitted against his hard, lean frame as if it had been made to measure for his embrace. This was so right. Against her closed lids the darkness was velvety black and she was sinking.

‘Up you come, sweetheart.’ Hester was sleepily aware of being lifted and snuggled against Guy’s chest. She uttered a muffled mutter of protest. He should put her down, of course, this was outrageous, surely she was too heavy to he carried upstairs like this.

‘My lord!’ That was Maria, she thought dreamily with a smile, turning her face into the soft linen of his shirt. ‘You cannot go in there!’ It seemed Guy was taking no notice, for she was deposited on to her own bed and the covers pulled up snugly around her shoulders. ‘Out this minute!’ A hand brushed her hair with a light caress.

‘Go’night,’ she murmured, but the door closed with a click and sleep claimed her.

It was late when she woke that morning; the sun was streaming through the unshuttered window and the house was silent. In the road outside she heard the passing of a herd of cattle, their complaining lowing punctuated by the sharp barking of the dogs.

Hester pushed her hair out of her eyes, and sat up against the pillows. Distantly she heard the church clock strike nine.

Why did she feel so very happy? She let her mind wander over the events of the previous night. It should have been terrifying, but as she recalled it she was aware that her mouth was curved in a smile and her heart was warm with contentment.

Guy was innocent of the ingenious persecution that had so puzzled and frightened her. She had an ally, a friend. The smile deepened as she recalled those last, sleepy moments as he carried her up to bed so tenderly; the trust she had felt, curled up on the chaise in the dark room, talking with him in whispers.

But it was more than tenderness that Guy Westrope was capable of. Hester’s own hands fisted on the edge of the sheet as she remembered the strength with which he had disarmed her, the explosion of controlled force as he attacked the intruder.

Hester shivered, closed her eyes. If they had been alone in the house last night, alone as he had carried her up to her bed-would she have felt so very sleepy then? Or would she have pulled him down beside her? The bed seemed to dip, her hands unclenched and reached out. ‘Guy.’

‘Hester dear.’ The tapping at her door jerked her rudely out of the dream.

‘What? I mean, come in, Maria.’ Her companion peeped round the door and Hester, rubbing the sleep, and the disturbing dream, out of her eyes, reflected that she looked exactly like a nervous hen peering out of the coop to make sure the fox had gone. She came right into the room and Hester saw she was fully dressed, although she still wore her nightcap with curl papers protruding at the front.

‘Are you awake, dear?’

‘Yes, just. We have been lie-abeds, Maria, but I think we may be excused after last night’s excitement. Is Susan up yet?’

‘She has just gone down to make up the range and to see the drawing room is as it should be in case we get any morning callers. Jethro is still asleep, I am glad to say.’ She went to look out of the window at the ugly red bulk of the Old Manor opposite. ‘His lordship is a most determined gentleman, is he not? I do not feel I was firm enough with him last night, but what can one do?’

‘And he is so very large, is he not?’ Hester added mischievously, recalling Miss Prudhome’s diminutive frame against Guy’s height.

‘Exactly! When he was carrying you upstairs last night- so very shocking, but he took not the slightest notice of me- I felt a positive thrill of awe at his strength. It was just like a medieval romance, or one of Sir Walter Scott’s stirring poems.’

‘Why, Maria, I do declare you are half in love with our noble neighbour,’ Hester teased, laughing at her companion’s look of outrage. ‘Oh, I am sorry, that was a most improper observation.’

Miss Prudhome’s expression softened. ‘It would be an unfeeling woman indeed who did not admire such a man at the height of his powers, providing he is a Christian, gallant gentleman. And it is so very comforting to have such a capable champion to hand, given our troubles.’ She put her hand on the door knob. ‘Shall I ask Susan to bring up hot water now?’

‘Yes, please.’ Alone again, Hester sat up and curled her arms around her knees. She had been jesting with Maria, but she had an uncomfortable suspicion that someone in the house was in danger of falling in love with the Earl of Buckland and that person was staring back at her from the reflection in the cheval glass in the corner of the bedchamber.

Susan bustled in with the ewer. ‘Good morning, Miss Hester. Which gown would you like this morning?’

‘Oh, just the dimity for now. I think I might drive into Tring this afternoon-I never did buy Maria’s wool and I expect there are a number of other things we need.’ Hester hopped out of bed, feeling invigorated by the thought of some shopping, even though she suspected the small town would have few really tempting shops.

As she stepped out on to the landing she could hear a vigorous altercation coming from the spare room. She pushed the door open to find Miss Prudhome, one finger raised to wag under Jethro’s nose and the lad himself, somewhat white but determined, with one leg in his breeches and one out. His large shirt covered him with perfect decency, but he still blushed scarlet at the sight of Hester.

‘Jethro, what are you doing out of bed? Get back this instant.’

‘That is exactly what I have been telling him, Hester.’ Maria sounded thoroughly flustered. ‘But he insists.’

‘Do you want us to put you back to bed?’ Hester threatened, advancing on the lad who managed to negotiate the other leg of his breeches and backed away from her.

‘Miss Hester, my shoulder feels better if I’m not lying down, honest it does,’ he protested.

‘The doctor said you were to rest for a week.’

‘I can do that downstairs. Please, Miss Hester, I’m going out of my mind, stuck up here. I can sit in the kitchen, quiet-like, and read my book.’

‘Very well, but only if you promise that if Miss Prudhome thinks you look tired or unwell and orders you back to bed, you go with no argument. Now, is that a promise?’

‘Yes, Miss Hester.’

‘Then finish getting dressed.’

‘Only if you ladies go out. I’m not seven, Miss Hester!’

‘Er, no. Of course not. Come along, Maria, and leave Jethro to finish dressing.’ Hester managed to keep a straight face until they were out of the door. ‘Poor Jethro, I do feel he has a hard life sometimes in a household of women. Perhaps Parrott will not mind if he walks over to the Old Manor one day soon for another talk.’

They reached the kitchen to find Ben Aston the handyman propping up the door into the yard and chatting to Susan. He straightened up as Hester entered and knuckled his forehead. ‘I came round in case there was anything you needed doing, Miss Lattimer, what with last night an’ all.’

‘What about last night?’ Hester kept her voice calm with an effort.

‘All the lights on back here, thought perhaps you’d had the burglars or som’at.’

‘Burglars? Goodness, no. Young Ackland was very unwell in the night and we were up for most of it brewing hot possets and warming bricks and I don’t know what else. But it is good of you to be concerned, Aston. How come you were around at such an hour?’

‘Up early to a sick cow, Miss Lattimer,’ he answered glibly.

Poaching, Hester translated to herself. It just went to show how difficult it was to keep anything secret in a village.

‘Now you are here, you can finish turning out the sheds in the yard. Let me have a look at everything you find, but I expect most of it will have to be burned. Then sweep them out and check the roofs for leaks, if you will please.’

They were finishing their belated breakfast to the sound of thumps as Aston tossed a seemingly endless mountain of junk out into the yard when Mrs Dalling arrived for her day’s work at the Moon House. Hester had come to an arrangement with the two village women recommended by Mrs Bunting that they would take it in turns to come in daily on five days of the week for the rough cleaning, the washing, to prepare vegetables for meals and to make bread. In this way, most of the heavy work was taken care of and the household had their privacy by the evening.

Hester and Maria took themselves off to the drawing room, leaving Susan organising Mrs Dalling and Jethro seated in the big Windsor chair by the range with a cushion behind his back and Mr Parrott’s book on his knee.

Hester picked up a pile of bills and her accounts book and Maria started to rearrange a winter bouquet of evergreens on the mantel. But she seemed disinclined to concentrate on the task.

‘What do you think Lord Buckland will do if he finds Sir Lewis with a black eye?’

Hester frowned at the butcher’s account. ‘Is it possible we consume so much stewing steak? Sir Lewis? I have no idea; presumably his lordship has arrived at some plan.’

‘Will he call him out, do you think?’ Miss Prudhome stood, one limp ivy frond in her hand, an excited glint in her eye.

‘I have no idea, Maria. Probably he will do nothing to disclose our suspicions. Now, please, do let me concentrate on these accounts.’

‘Perhaps he will hit him again.’ This seemed to gratify the genteel companion to a surprising degree. ‘He most certainly deserves it.’

‘Yes.’ Hester nibbled the end of her quill abstractedly. The image of Guy, standing over a cowed and beaten foe who had been felled to the ground after a spirited flurry of blows, was a stimulating one. The fantasy developed rapidly to the point where the earl strode over and took Miss Lattimer in his arms, passionately embracing her and raining kisses upon her upturned face.

Hester pulled herself together to find a large blot on her account book. This must stop. It was dangerous folly she was deluding herself with-the one thing that was certain in the life of Miss Hester Lattimer was that no respectable alliance with any gentleman was possible. To fall in love with an earl could have only two endings: heartbreak or the acceptance of a carte blanche.