Leap of Faith, page 1
LEAP OF FAITH
ELIZABETH JOHNS
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Epilogue
Afterword
Also by Elizabeth Johns
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1
“What are we going to do?” Hope asked, twisting her black worsted wool skirt in her hands. The question had been asked a hundred times in the past day since they had received the solicitor’s message that he was to call today.
Faith watched wearily as her sister made another frantic circuit across the Aubusson carpet in her oppressive black crêpe.
“We will be thrown out. I know we will!” She fretted.
Faith suspected the very same thing, but it would do no good to panic, she reminded herself.
“Let us see what he has to say. I have been saving as much as I can, and hopefully he will at least assist us in finding respectable positions.” The four eldest sisters had been doing what they could to make money in genteel ways—teaching music, sewing, sitting with some of the elderly in the afternoons.
Joy, the youngest, began to cry, clinging to Faith’s skirts.
“Hush, Joy. Crying will not help anything!” Patience scolded.
“Leave her be,” Hope defended.
Grace stood quietly in the shadows of the thick, puce velvet curtains, looking out over the park as if it held the answers.
“I don’t want us to be separated,” Joy wailed.
“I know, dearest, but we must wait and see what Lady Halbury wished for us. Perhaps we will be allowed to remain here.”
Patience scoffed.
“If not, then I will soon be of age. We will find a way,” Faith said with an assurance she did not feel.
“What if we are sent to the workhouse?”
“Lady Halbury saved us from such a fate before. I cannot see that she would allow that to happen from the grave.” Who knew what members of the aristocracy would do? By all accounts, everyone considered their guardian an eccentric for taking five girls in and raising them as her own. She had been their mother’s old school friend. But none of them were related by blood to the new owner of Halbury Hall, and they had no family that would take them.
“How much longer?”
“It has only been five minutes since you last asked,” Patience, the least patient of them all, remarked.
“I see a carriage.” Grace did not turn around but watched the vehicle’s progress. When they heard it stop, she finally turned to join the others. They sat soberly in their Queen Anne chairs from another generation placed in a half-circle facing the wall of windows overlooking Bath with its golden-stoned terraces and the abbey’s pinnacled tower presiding over the valley.
When the door to the drawing room finally opened and Parkhurst announced the solicitor, all of them were at rigid attention in their unrelieved black.
“Mr. Browning to see you, Miss Whitford.”
Faith indicated a chair for the thin, wiry, older man to sit in, then sat herself.
He looked a bit disconcerted by the lot of them, which was a common response to the uncommon appearance of five dark-haired, blue-eyed beauties of almost identical appearance. He cleared his throat. “Are you certain you wish everyone to be present, Miss Whitford?”
“Since what you say affects all of us, yes.”
“Very well.” He pulled open his leather satchel and extracted a sheaf of documents. He proceeded to flip through several pages before coming to the one he wanted. “Only a certain portion of the will pertains to you. I shall read only that.”
Faith inclined her head.
He skimmed through some pages, muttering words as he read, then cleared his throat. “With regards to my wards, children of my heart: Faith, Hope, Patience, Grace, and Joy, I bequeath each 5000 pounds, to be kept invested until the time of their majority or marriage, whichever may come first.”
A loud gasp resounded between them.
“That is very generous of her.” Faith knew that was a gross understatement, but felt she had to say something. She had not expected anything so large. In fact, she had not known Lady Halbury to have such a vast fortune. “Since I will soon be of age, does this mean I am to receive the money then?”
“Indeed. But that is still some months away, and your guardian has the care of it until then. I suggest you discuss the matter with him.”
“The new baronet? Her ladyship never mentioned the new heir.”
“A distant cousin of her ladyship’s dead husband. He has been in India these past years, but as Lady Halbury had a life tenancy in this house, it is likely she never thought to mention him. I wrote to him about you ladies, of course, but since he was not in the country, I allowed things to remain as they were until he gave further direction.”
“And has he now?” Faith was afraid of the answer.
“He has returned from India, yes.” There was hesitation in the man’s voice.
“What is it, sir? Are we to lose our home?”
“Sir Reginald has returned with his family and wishes to take up residence here. Unfortunately, he has four young children of his own and does not wish to be encumbered with five more that are not relations.”
Faith had known it was a likely outcome, yet it was still extremely difficult to hear that their home for the past decade or more was to be taken away. It was never really theirs to begin with, but still.
“Where are we to go, sir? Is there any hope that I might receive my portion a little sooner than my birthdate?”
“That is a question for your guardian. He might be prevailed upon to release the funds.”
Why had Lady Halbury never mentioned a guardian? Faith looked warily at her sisters, who were equally dismayed. “Is Sir Reginald not our new guardian?”
“Indeed, no. I have contacted the gentleman on your behalf, but have received no response. The best I could convince Sir Reginald to do was to provide you with enough to see you on your way. A hundred pounds will hopefully see you comfortably to your guardian and then he may advise you from there.” He slipped a piece of paper from the folio along with an envelope and handed it to Faith, who took them distractedly.
“How long do we have?” Hope asked.
“Sir Reginald will be here in a sennight and would like you to be gone by then.”
“We are simply to arrive on our guardian’s doorstep without any communication with him?” Faith was in shock.
“I am not certain how to advise you, Miss Whitford. I have done all I can.”
“I cannot like haring off to London without any expectation of being received.” It was not to be borne!
“A legal guardian can hardly refuse his wards. Perhaps you and Miss Hope could go and leave the others with someone in the village until matters are settled. It would certainly be easier for two of you to travel than five.”
The man stood and made his way to the door, clearly ready to wash his hands of them. “Good day, Misses Whitford.”
Faith watched him leave feeling oddly detached. It was hard to feel angry with Sir Reginald when he was only claiming his rights, but Faith could not help it. At least there was enough money to see them to London. But none of them had ever been to London, and she held no delusions that it would be a simple task to set up house there. She did not even want to set up house there. She knew her sisters would love to have a Season, but she also knew enough that they would have little success without funds or a sponsor. Her 5000 pounds would not last long in such an endeavour, let alone provide for her own future.
Her sisters were watching her, waiting for her reaction.
“Perhaps Hope and I should go and try to speak with our guardian before taking everyone to the city. It is not so far, and we would be back before the week is over. I am certain Vicar and Mrs. Carson would allow you to stay for a few days.”
Grace and Patience were best friends with their eldest daughter, Louisa, and their younger daughter, Mary, was between Grace and Joy.
“Would you mind terribly?” She looked to her sisters. They had always made decisions together, even though she was more like a mother to them.
“If we may stay with the Carsons, that would be well enough,” Joy said. She was the one that did not like Faith to be out of her sight.
Faith blew out a breath of resolution. “Very well. I will arrange it and plan on leaving first thing in the morning.”
She gathered her sisters around her, and they all came together for a hug.
“I don’t want everything to change,” Grace said.
“Supposing our guardian is an ogre?” Joy asked.
“Supposing he’s nice?” Patience countered.
“Supposing he won’t let us have a Season?” Hope worried.
“We will resolve everything, I promise you. It is only a few more months until I come of age. At least now we know that we have some funds if we can survive for that long.” Faith pulled back. “Now, we must pack and make arrangements.”
“I wish we could all go,” Grace bemoaned as they climbed the stairs to pack their trunks.
While his five newly acquired wards were plotting their imminent descent upon his peace unbeknownst to Dominic, Viscount Westwood, he was enjoying a reprieve with his old school friends and partners at his hunting box in Leicestershire.
It was completely devoid of any femininity, save Mrs. Barrett, the housekeeper, and it was perfect. The dark-panelled walls were lined with paintings of hunting scenes and trophies—no bright colours, gilt or floral patterns in sight. Scents of leather, smoke, and brandy wafted through the house, mixed with the roasting of game emanating from his chef’s kitchen.
He and his oldest friends were enjoying glasses of brandy around the fire after a day of shooting pheasant while they waited for their supper from the renowned chef.
“What will your mother say when she realizes the guest of honour at her house party is a ghost of honour, Max?” Freddy snorted and laughed at his wit, which was anything but. Freddy Cunningham was too beautiful to be a man with his blond hair and green eyes. Too many silly females fawned and laughed at his ridiculous sense of humour.
“I do not care much what she says, though I can hear it in my head anyway. Devilish annoying to be set upon by matchmaking harpies. I will not dance to her tune no matter what schemes she concocts,” Max, Lord Rotham said loftily. As the heir to a wealthy dukedom, he was constantly besieged.
“Better you than me, old fellow. Can’t stand up to me mater for anything. She even threatens tears and I turn to mush,” Freddy acknowledged.
“Well, we are all safe from females of any variety here.” Dominic was himself tired of being hunted by the fairer sex, which was why he’d suggested removing here.
“Agreed, there’s no chance of anyone finding us here. It’s more off the beaten track than anywhere else I’ve ever been,” Rotham agreed.
They all raised their glasses and drank to that.
“I’ll remember that the next time I need a repairing lease,” Montford murmured, having been uncommonly quiet. His dark eyes looked troubled.
“What’s the matter, Monty?”
“I wish I could laugh about females. But the fact of the matter is I have to marry and soon.”
One would have thought they’d just watched a comrade fall on the battlefield, so quiet and taciturn did the group fall in a matter of seconds. Truth be told, it was akin to losing a war, being the first man to fall to matrimony.
“Why?” Freddy asked.
“My father asked me. They want an heiress to replenish the family coffers and an heir, of course.” He made a circle in the air with his fork.
They all made noises of sympathy. That was more than any of them could withstand.
“Any candidates yet?” Rotham asked.
Montford looked up with disgust. “My mother has made me a list. Two dozen of them and not a single one I can stomach the thought of being a tenant for life with.”
“Does it have to be from the list?” Freddy scowled with distaste.
“I cannot see why it matters one way or the other. It is not like an eligible beauty is going to drop from the sky. Whichever way you look at it, I’ll be leg-shackled.”
They all took another drink and observed a moment of silence.
“At least we have a little while longer and the food is superb.” Dominic did not wish to dwell on scheming females and marriage.
“Can we stay here forever, Dom? Good food, good drink, no matchmaking mamas or whey-faced chits.”
“It matters not to me. I have no obligations at the moment and I intend to enjoy it.”
“’Tis easy for you to say. You’re as rich as Croesus.”
Dominic could not argue that point.
Once they were well into an array of roast saddle of mutton, pheasant pie, civet of hare, prawns, and a fricassee of chicken served with asparagus in butter and spinach cakes, the distant sound of a rapper knocking on the door caused all of the gentlemen to look up.
“Who the devil could that be? Only my secretary knows where I am and he was instructed only to bother me under the direst of circumstances.” Yet Dominic could not think of any dire circumstances. His mother and brother enjoyed the best of health, and were comfortably tucked up in their estates at the moment.
“Did any of you tell anyone where we would be?” Rotham asked scornfully, which was received with a series of rebuffs. All of them were equally desperate for privacy after Max had been recently chased down by a desperate mama and daughter, and had barely escaped the parson’s noose.
Dominic heard the dreaded footfalls approaching the dining room, and Barrett entered the room.
“An urgent note from London, my lord. One of your grooms. He says he is to await a reply.”
Satterlee had sent one of Dom’s own men. It must be dire, indeed. He was conscious of all of his friends watching warily, and that they had ceased eating. He opened the missive in Satterlee’s familiar script.
My lord,
Forgive the intrusion, but I deemed this most urgent and felt you would agree. Two females have arrived on your doorstep, saying they are your wards and wish for your instruction on where they may reside. Apparently, they were taken in by the late Lady Halbury upon the death of their parents, who were missionaries. There are five of them, but only two are here at present. I have checked the validity of their claim with your solicitor, and it is unquestionably true. Even though I believe the intent was for your father to have been their guardian, it nevertheless falls to you. I am looking into any loopholes, of course, but what would you like me to do with them in the meantime? They are to be out of their present situation in less than five days’ time.
Your obedient servant,
Charles Satterlee
Dominic stared at the words on the page, but no matter how many times he read them, they did not change.
“What is it, Dom? You have me worried. Did someone die?” Freddy asked.
He sighed, then put the paper down. “No. Well, yes, someone died, but that is not the issue at present. It seems I have acquired five wards.”
His friends stared at him, clearly as stupefied as he felt.
Then Freddy began to laugh. “He’s funning with us.”
“I assure you, my taste is not so poor as to fun about something like this.”
“How old are they? Ship them off to school,” Rotham recommended.
“Not a bad notion.” He considered that suggestion for a moment. “I assume two of them are of age, since they arrived on my doorstep in London.”
“Then your mother can handle them.”
Dominic almost smiled because his friends were trying to be so helpful. He would do the same were the situation reversed. He shook his head as if trying to awaken from a dream. It still seemed too fantastic to be true. No one in their right mind would leave him five wards. Were they all female? He scanned the letter, and it did not say other than the two that had shown up at his door were of the fair sex.
“I beg you will excuse me. I must pen a letter to my secretary. Pray continue the meal. It is too fine to waste.”
As he went to the study to seek pen and paper, the gravity of the situation disturbed him greatly. Rarely did anything disturb Dominic, but being saddled with young wards certainly was beyond inconvenient. If anyone could find a way out of the pickle, it was Satterlee. But likewise, it was not his wards’ fault they’d all been placed in an impossible position. There was nothing for it but to make the best of things. Devilish inconvenient that they were at his London home, however. Certainly, they could not stay.
He wrote for his secretary to find them a place to live, and whatever servants were necessary for their comfort until he returned. He had no intention of curtailing his hunting trip for a pack of brats he knew nothing about. Hopefully by the time he returned, the mess would be sorted out. Dismissing any worry for the nonce, he returned to his friends.
