The Winter Belle, page 32
‘My tummy is filled with butterflies,’ Ivory said with a rueful smile. ‘I suppose it’s excitement, or maybe it’s the thought of telling Grandmama that I am engaged to Charles.’
‘She can’t object. It’s a match made in heaven. Mama will be overjoyed.’
‘I thought we’d go as soon as we’ve had breakfast,’ Ivory said seriously. ‘I want to get it over and done with. You might make a joke of it, but you know what Grandmama is like.’
‘You’re making me nervous now.’ Kitty pushed her plate away. ‘I’ve lost my appetite. I’ll go and fetch my bonnet and shawl.’
Isabella Harte stared at her eldest daughter in amazement and then a slow smile spread across her face. ‘My darling girl, I am so happy for you. The Westbrooks are an old family, and Charles is very handsome. You will be Lady Westbrook, and you’ll never want for anything.’
‘I knew you would be delighted, Mama,’ Ivory said, glancing nervously at her grandmother, who was seated in her favourite chair by the ornate marble fireplace. ‘What do you think, Grandmama?’
‘Amethyst has outdone you, Ivory. I always said you would never amount to much,’ Lady Carstairs said grimly. ‘Marriner has a much larger fortune.’
‘Being wealthy isn’t the most important thing in the world, Grandmama.’ Kitty sent her a challenging look. She was not in a mood to allow her sister to be browbeaten by an ageing termagant, who always had her own way and bullied the family and servants alike.
‘What did you say, Kitty?’ Lady Carstairs clutched her ebony cane as if she were about to rise to her feet, but she remained sitting and merely raised her left hand. ‘No, don’t repeat it. I am not interested in your trite comments, and you can hardly boast. Where is your engagement ring? I doubt if any gentleman of breeding would want a wife who voiced her own opinions regardless of whether they were welcome.’
‘Mama, please,’ Isabella said faintly. ‘This is Ivory’s time. We should be happy for her.’
Lady Carstairs bristled with irritation. ‘If you had married the man I chose for you, Isabella, you would have had sons instead of feeble females. They would have taken care of you, had you been made a widow so young.’
To Kitty’s surprise, her mother rose to her feet.
‘Do not speak about Robert in that derisory tone, Mama. He is a good man, and a clever one. He was simply unlucky that he was injured so badly, but he is coming home soon. I am not a widow.’
‘Don’t get in a huff with me, my girl. You made your bed, and you can lie on it.’
Kitty also rose to her feet, despite a warning glance from Ivory. ‘That is enough, Grandmama. I won’t allow you to speak to Mama like that.’
‘It’s all right, Kitty,’ Isabella said hastily. She turned to her mother, frowning ominously. ‘I have put up with being bullied by you, for long enough, Mama. I will go with my girls and set up home far away from you.’
Kitty and Ivory stared at their mother in disbelief.
‘Well said, Mama.’ Kitty wrapped her arms around her mother’s slender body. ‘We will look after you and Papa, when he comes home. The house in Suffolk is charming and we will be able to have all our furniture out of storage. We will have a home again.’
Lady Carstairs rose majestically to her feet and reached for the bell pull.
‘This is all the thanks I get for taking you in, Isabella. I put up with you – and you, as well, Ivory – and never asked for anything in return, except a little civility, which is sadly lacking.’ She sank back onto her chair. ‘Go and pack your pathetic collection of belongings, Isabella. Your girls will help you and then Henley will show you out.’
Ivory placed her arm around her mother’s shoulders and led her, sobbing, from the room, but Kitty stood her ground.
‘You are a disgrace to motherhood, Grandmama. I feel ashamed to be related to you, and from now on you are nothing to any of us.’ Kitty swept out of the room without giving her grandmother a chance to respond.
To Kitty’s surprise they found Miss Waters in Isabella’s room, where she was busy packing Isabella’s valise. She looked up with a hint of a smile.
‘I know her ladyship only too well, Mrs Harte. I’m afraid I could see this coming, so I took it upon myself to help.’
Kitty stared at her grandmother’s maid in surprise. ‘That’s good of you, Miss Waters, but how did you know what would happen today?’
Miss Waters folded the last garment and laid it neatly in the valise. ‘I’ve worked for Lady Carstairs since I was a girl. We all know her ladyship’s little ways. I’m afraid this was bound to occur sooner or later. When I saw you and Miss Ivory arrive, I knew it would be today.’
Isabella wiped her eyes on a hanky. ‘Thank you, Miss Waters. I really appreciate your kindness.’
‘Kind?’ Miss Waters laughed. ‘No one in this house knows the meaning of the word, ma’am. We survive the best we can. I hope you’re happy in your new home.’ She patted a stray hair in place and marched out of the room, closing the door behind her.
‘Well, who would have thought it,’ Ivory said slowly. ‘That’s the first time I’ve seen that woman acting like a human being.’
‘And the last, I hope.’ Isabella picked up a bonnet that lay on the bed cover and put it on, tying the ribbons beneath her chin. ‘Pass me my shawl, please, Kitty. We are going to walk out of Bridlebank with our heads held high. I hope I never see this old house again.’
The next couple of days passed in a flurry of packing. Charles made all the arrangements for them to travel to Suffolk, together with some of the servants, leaving a skeleton staff behind to look after the house in Duke Street to await the family’s return in the autumn. However, despite the frantic activity around them, Kitty, Ivory and Isabella found time to visit Amethyst in her town house, where they were suitably impressed by everything they saw, much to Amethyst’s delight. After that they went on to the Marriner mansion in Primrose Hill, and again were effusive in their comments. Amethyst grandly invited them all to visit the country estate in Hampshire, although she had yet to see it herself. Isabella kindly, but firmly, told her that she would have to wait until her papa had arrived back in England. He would need to recuperate and to recover from the long sea voyage before he could undertake another journey. Amethyst took it all in good part, saying that she and Sebastian intended to travel on the continent during the summer months, and they might call on the family in Suffolk on the way home. Kitty and Ivory listened patiently. They had heard all Amethysts fantastic ideas of a wonderful life before, and Kitty did not doubt her younger sister’s ability to get exactly what she desired. They returned to Duke Street, duly impressed, and totally exhausted.
Charles hired a large furniture van to collect Isabella’s furniture from the warehouse and take it to their new home on the Westbrook estate. The family, including the indomitable Nellie and the Westbrooks’ servants travelled by train. To Kitty’s surprise, they were met at the railway station by Flinders.
‘I wasn’t expecting to see you today,’ Kitty said.
‘I had a telegram from Charles, asking me to meet the train and provide transport to take you to Westbrook. Apparently, he has something to say to me, although I can’t think what it might be.’
‘Are you going away on another expedition, Flinders?’ Kitty said cautiously. She had missed his company, but she did not want to give him false hope. She knew what it was like to have a heart, if not broken, severely bruised by a cruel blow of fate.
‘I’ll tell you later, but I do have some good news for you. Your father’s vessel is due to arrive in ten days’ time. I was thinking of travelling to Southampton to meet him and help him with the rest of his journey.’
‘That’s wonderful, Flinders. And it gives us time to get the house in perfect order before he arrives. Mama and Ivory will be delighted.’ Kitty eyed him curiously. ‘Have you any idea what Charles might say to you?’
‘Honestly, no. But we’re getting along reasonably well now, and he seems to be able to put our fathers’ disagreement in the past. What is done is done.’
‘Do you think perhaps he feels a little guilty that your mama and grandmama are having to work in order to put food on the table?’
‘He never bothered about them before, so why would he change his mind now?’ Flinders stood aside as Charles called for everyone’s attention. He directed the servants to load the wagonette before turning to Isabella, whom he handed into the landau, followed by Ivory. He beckoned to Kitty.
‘Are you coming with us? Or are you going to stay and chat to my cousin?’
‘That’s the first time he’s called me his cousin since we were boys,’ Flinders said, grinning. ‘I’ll ride in the wagonette. You should travel in comfort.’ He handed her into the landau.
Charles nodded. ‘Thank you, Flinders. There’s room for you if you would care to travel with us.’
‘I’m happy to travel in the wagonette and chat with Nellie, who looks as if she’s rather taken charge. It will give the ladies more room. I’ll see you at Westbrook, Charles.’ Flinders strolled off to help the servants pack the luggage into the other vehicle.
Charles climbed into the landau and sat beside Kitty. ‘Drive on, Phipps.’
‘What do you want with Flinders?’ Kitty asked in a low voice. ‘I know it’s none of my business, but he is my friend, and I care about him.’
Charles glanced at Frances, Ivory and Isabella, but they were chatting animatedly about the preparations to move into the former estate manager’s house. ‘I think you know about the family feud?’
Kitty nodded. ‘Yes, Flinders mentioned it.’
‘It’s taken me a long time – too long, in fact – but I do see that Flinders’ father was unfairly treated. To make amends I am giving him part of the Westbrook estate, and enough money to build a house for himself, his mother and his grandmother. I feel it’s the least I can do.’
‘That sounds like a wonderful solution, Charles,’ Kitty said, smiling. ‘Flinders is a good man. He’s done his best for his mother and grandmother, who are hardworking women. It’s only fitting that they should have a comfortable retirement.’
Charles pulled a face. ‘You’re making me feel even worse, Kitty. I confess that I never gave them a thought until recently. I was too busy adding to the fortune that I inherited from my father to think about anything or anyone else.’
‘What changed your mind, Charles?’
‘It was something that Ivory said. She made me take a good look at myself and I didn’t like what I saw.’ Charles smiled as he gazed at his fiancée. ‘Your sister is a wonderful woman, Kitty. I’m extremely fortunate that she is willing to take me on.’
‘I think you are both well suited,’ Kitty said, smiling. She settled down to enjoy the carriage ride on a sunny day with the hedgerows bursting with new life, and starry white flowers opening on the blackthorn bushes. The neatly ploughed fields were showing the first signs of green growth and the air was filled with birdsong. Kitty, a city girl born and bred, still found wonder in the beauty of the countryside. Everything looked new and perfect. Even the horses seemed to trot on in a livelier manner than usual.
When they arrived at Westbrook House Charles took Flinders aside and they walked off together, Charles seeming to do all the talking. Kitty would have loved to have eavesdropped, but there was too much to do. Isabella was eager to go to their new home, but she stood aside and left it to Nellie, who was busy organising the Westbrooks’ servants as they began unloading the luggage.
‘I’ll leave all this to you and your maid,’ Frances said wearily. ‘Moving between residences always exhausts me. I will be glad for Ivory to take over that task when she and Charles are married.’
‘Some people would find it difficult to hand over the reins.’ Kitty eyed her curiously.
‘Not I, Kitty. I enjoy parties and socialising, but as to managing a household, I will think it a blessing to have a capable sister-in-law. Ivory won’t find me interfering in any way.’
‘You are quite remarkable,’ Kitty said, smiling. She turned to her mother, who was standing at her side. ‘Are you all right, Mama? Would you like to sit down in the shade?’
‘No, my love. I just want to get into my new home and have all my lovely belongings around me again. I’m so looking forward to the return of the family silver, too.’ Isabella shielded her eyes against the sun, which by now was high in the sky. ‘It is lovely here. I feel at home already.’ She clasped Frances’s arm. ‘I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all this, my dear.’
Frances patted Isabella’s hand. ‘It’s nothing, really. To be honest, I will enjoy having women to talk to rather than my brother and his cronies. They speak about stocks and shares and market prices for things, about which I know absolutely nothing. Anyway, come inside while the girls get everything sorted. We’ll have a glass of sherry wine while we wait.’
Reluctantly, Isabella agreed and allowed Frances to lead her into the main house, although she glanced anxiously over her shoulder as if she was worried that her daughters might forget her.
Kitty was the first to notice her mother’s anxiety and she waved. ‘Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll come and get you when we’re about to leave.’ Satisfied that Mama was being looked after, Kitty turned back to the task in hand.
With Nellie’s impressive organisational skills everything went smoothly and within the hour they were in their new home. The furniture had already arrived and once again Nellie took charge. Frances sent two of the estate workers to help them move the heavy items and then Isabella came into her own. She was very particular as to where each piece of furniture should go, and she uttered directions, sometimes changing her mind, and making them move a sofa a few inches to the left or the right until she was satisfied it was properly placed.
Kitty left Ivory to deal with the situation as Nellie had taken over the kitchen and had appropriated a young scullery maid from the big house to assist her. Kitty made her escape from the house and was about to start walking back to the main house when she saw Flinders striding towards her. She stopped by the gate in the picket fence and waited.
‘Well?’ she said eagerly when he was close enough to hear. ‘What did Charles say?’
‘He’s given me a parcel of land and what I assume is a generous share of the money so that I can build a house for my mother and grandmother, and for myself, when I am not working.’ Flinders took off his hat and ran his hand through his thick brown hair. ‘I’m stunned, Kitty. I was not expecting such generosity.’
‘It’s overdue, if you ask me,’ Kitty said, smiling. ‘But I’m happy for you and for your mother and grandmother, too. But do you think they will agree to move? Mrs Riley seemed quite happy looking after her travelling gentlemen, and they’re both very independent ladies.’
Flinders frowned. ‘I don’t know. I can only put it to them.’
‘They would have a considerable income if they sold the Mill House and the mill as well,’ Kitty said thoughtfully.
‘You’re right, of course, but I might have to call upon your help if they decide to be stubborn.’
‘I doubt if they would take any notice of me, but I will do anything I can to help, Flinders. After all, you and your mother took us in when we were homeless.’
‘It was my pleasure,’ Flinders said earnestly. ‘I was more than happy to come home to a house where you were, Kitty.’
Kitty met his gaze, and she felt a rush of sympathy for him. She laid her hand on his as it rested on the gate. ‘I know that, and I wish I could return your feelings, Flinders. You know that I really care for you as a dear friend, and of course I’ll do anything I can to help you to persuade your mother and grandmother to accept Charles’s offer.’
Flinders nodded. ‘I know you will. I promised not to pursue my suit any further, Kitty. I wish things were different, but I don’t want to lose your friendship.’ He gently removed his hand. ‘I’d better leave now. It’s a long ride home.’
‘Goodbye for now, Flinders. And thank you for being so understanding.’ Kitty stood by the gate and watched him walk away. She wished that she could return his love, but her heart belonged to someone else, even if her love was unrequited. Deep down she suspected that Will Barton had feelings for her, which made his deception even harder to bear. She turned to go back into the house. She would unpack her easel and her paints and start work on the portrait of Ivory and Hardy, Charles’s much-loved horse. There was a boxroom at the back of the house that Kitty had earmarked for use as a studio, although she would have to make sketches of Hardy either in the stables or out in the fields. It was an exciting project, and she could not wait to start.
Kitty walked down the path and entered the house as the men were bringing in the furniture from the removal van. Nancy, the maid on loan from the big house, was running to and fro, carrying baskets of crockery and piles of linen. Isabella was sipping tea in the front parlour. She was enthroned in her favourite armchair, which had been placed at a strategic angle so that she was able to watch the comings and goings through the open door. Ivory was doing her best to unpack ornaments and the familiar things they had had around them in Soho Square. Kitty could see how much all this meant to her mother, and she realised that her help was needed urgently.
‘What can I do, Ivory?’ Kitty asked eagerly. ‘The sooner we get this place shipshape, the better.’
Ivory pointed to a large tea chest. ‘I think the dinner service is in there, Kitty. I’m sure that Mama would love to eat in style this evening. I heard Nellie say that she is roasting a chicken, which was sent down from the kitchens in the main house. We are being so spoiled. I can hardly believe it.’
Kitty laughed. ‘Well, you are the next Lady Westbrook. They are looking after their own interests.’ She held up her hands when Ivory gave her a reproachful look. ‘I’m just teasing you.’ Kitty turned away quickly and began unwrapping the individual pieces of the dinner set, which she took bit by bit to the kitchen where a large oak dresser dominated one entire wall. Nellie was up to her elbows in flour and dough as she made the pastry to cover the prepared apples in a pie dish.
