Melinda Hammond (10 page)

 She choked, aware of the novel sensation of wanting to laugh at a gentleman and murder him at the same time.

 He led her up to Lady Winter, then with a brief word he was gone, and Verity stood beside her hostess, watching his departing form. Lady Winter smiled at her

 'Well my dear, you have such a glow about you I need not ask if you are happy. Would you like me to find you another dancing partner? It is the last chance, I think, for people are beginning to depart.'

 But Verity found she did not want to dance again. Excusing herself, she made her way around the edge of the ballroom, looking for a secluded corner where she could be alone with her thoughts.

 'Cousin – are you looking for Mama?' Mr Worsthorne came up to her.

 'No, that is, does she look for me?'

 'Not at all.' He grinned. 'She is catching up on several weeks' gossip.'

 'Good. I was looking for somewhere quiet …'

 He took her arm.

 'I know the house a little – come with me.' He led her out of the ballroom and across the hall to a set of double doors that opened into the library. The candles had burned down in their sockets, but several were still alight, giving the room a cosy glow, and a cheerful fire crackled in the hearth.

 'Will this suit you?'

 'Perfectly.'

 She allowed him to lead her to a sofa placed before the fire. She sank down, gazing into the flames and not aware that he was still holding her hand.

 'You are fatigued.' He observed. 'We are not used to such late hours at Highclough.'

 'Indeed not, although I have enjoyed it immensely.'

 'We could dance at Highclough, there is the ballroom, you know. Cousin,' his free hand rested along the back of the sofa, and she felt his fingers playing with the ringlets on the nape of her neck. 'Verity, you have been at Highclough for only two months, but already I feel I know you very well.'

 'Luke, please,' something in his tone alarmed her. He put his fingers to her lips.

 'No, let me finish. I know it is too soon, but I've grown to care for you, Verity, and I think you are not indifferent to me.'

 'Not indifferent, but –' she paused, noting the earnest look in his eyes. 'Luke, you are very sweet, and I
do
care for you, but in a brotherly sort of way.'

 'That could change.'

 She shook her head, resolutely meeting his gaze.

 'No, Luke.' She smiled and gently put one hand to his cheek. 'It would be very wrong of me to give you hope were none exists. You and Megs are very dear to me, Cousin, I should hate to lose you now. Pray tell me we may still be friends?'

 She saw him frown, as if struggling with his emotions, before he gave a slight nod. He reached up and caught her hand, pulling it round to press a kiss into its palm.

 'Aye. As you wish, Cousin.'

 He spoke so wistfully that she was obliged to brush away a tear.

 'I am sorry if I intrude.'

 At the sound of Rafe Bannerman's harsh voice they sprang apart. Verity rose hastily from the sofa, aware of the blush spreading over her cheeks.

 'Mrs Worsthorne is wishing to retire, and is looking for you both.'

 Luke got to his feet in a leisurely style. 'Thank you. We will go to her immediately.'

 Following Mr Worsthorne to the door, Verity glanced up at Mr Bannerman as she passed and saw such searing anger and accusation in his eyes that her cheeks flamed. She shrank away from him, as if afraid he might strike out at her and hurried back to the ballroom, aware that her enjoyment of the evening was at an end.

* * * *

 By the morning Miss Shore's naturally sunny temperament had reasserted itself. If Mr Bannerman had misconstrued the nature of her
tête à
tête
with Luke Worsthorne she thought it would be a simple matter to explain. Unfortunately, she had no opportunity to do so. Apart from a cold nod in greeting as she entered the breakfast room, Mr Bannerman made no effort to speak to her. At their departure, he bade them all a polite but brief farewell and went off to his book-room, leaving Lady Winter to see them off.

 'Goodbye, Verity my dear.' Lady Winter hugged her. 'I promise I shall visit you very soon. Robin returns home at the end of the week, but I will remain here for some weeks yet, so we shall have time to become great friends.'

 'Oh I do hope so,' murmured Verity, returning her embrace. 'I have so much enjoyed your company.'

* * * *

 Highclough seemed very empty after the crowded bustle of Newlands, but Verity was optimistic that she would soon settle into its domestic routine. Luke was surly and quiet at first, and Verity forced herself to refer to their conversation at Newlands. She had asked if she might ride out with him, and waited until they were a safe distance from the house before broaching the subject.

 'Luke, what we said, at Newlands.' She sensed his tension and hurried on. 'I like you too well to lie to you, Cousin. I have grown so fond of you, and I do so want us to be friends.'

 He turned toward her, frowning. She held out her hand.

 'Come, Cousin,' she coaxed him. 'You have not known me long enough to have developed a lasting passion. Pray take my hand, and cry friends with me.'

 After a brief hesitation he shrugged and grasped her fingers.

 'Very well, Cousin.'

 'There! Now we can be comfortable again. I dislike being at odds with anyone, and I really do value your friendship, Luke.'

 He nodded, his face set, and she realized that he had conceded as much as he was going to do for one day. She spent the rest of the ride chatting away to him, trying to dispel the last remnants of his stony resistance.

 After that she made a point of riding out with Luke whenever the weather and his duties permitted, getting to know the tenants and clothiers that lived in the small farmsteads dotted over the slopes. In the face of such a determined assault Mr Worsthorne's reserve gradually dwindled and Verity felt they had gone a long way towards restoring harmony.

Chapter Nine

 At the end of January the weather worsened, the temperature dropped and two weeks of hard frosts followed. Icy winds scoured the hills and a scattering of snow dusted the high moors. A message from Newlands brought word from Lady Winter that her husband and her brother had forbidden her to travel in such conditions, so with no prospect of visitors, the Highclough ladies busied themselves indoors. Passing through the hall one day Verity looked out of the window and was intrigued to see several of the house servants making their way to the pond. They were armed with various long-handled nets and saws. She stopped to watch.

 'Cousin? Is anything amiss?' Mr Worsthorne called down to her from the gallery.

 'What are they doing at the lake?'

 Luke came to stand beside her.

 'They are collecting ice. We have a store built into the garden, behind the west wing. They will take the ice there, and add more to it through the winter, if the weather remains cold. It can then be used during the summer for sorbets, among other things.'

 Verity laughed. 'How delightful!'

 'Yes. The winters here can be something savage, so it's comforting to think we receive some benefit, however frivolous!' He moved away. 'Now Cousin, you wanted to see the rent books?'

* * * *

 The bitter winter weather continued, the temperature rising only enough to bring another fall of snow. Verity had just resigned herself to another week confined indoors when Rafe Bannerman came trotting along the drive on his black hunter. Clutching her shawl around her, Verity hurried out to meet him.

 Mr Bannerman! Welcome sir, I am so glad to see you.'

 He had been frowning, but her words made him smile.

 'Well that is prettily said, at all events,' he remarked, dismounting. 'Are you quite well, Miss Shore?'

 'Exceedingly bored with my own company. Luke is working out of doors and Megs is busy writing letters, so I am left to amuse myself, which I am finding very tedious this morning. Come into the house. Brigg will take your horse to the stables.' She beckoned to the groom, who was hovering in the shadow of the building. 'We have been making a few changes. I discovered a harpsichord which we have moved into the morning room - it was in the ballroom, which is far too cold and never used.' She took Mr Bannerman's arm and led him indoors. 'We have a fire kindled in the morning room every day, you see, and Megs and I spend most evenings in there if we are alone, which is usually the case.'

 He was quick to detect the wistful note in her voice.

 'You wish for more company?'

 'No, no - well, that is, not often. Although it can be a little quiet here.' She cast a quick glance up at him through her lashes. 'I've no doubt that you are constantly entertaining visitors … Mr & Mrs Wetherby, for instance?'

 The disturbing twinkle appeared in his eyes and she flushed.

 'You will be pleased to know that I have not seen Mr & Mrs Wetherby - or their daughter - since the New Year party.'

 'Pleased, sir?' she said airily, 'Wh-why on earth should it matter to me if you have seen the Wetherbys?'

 'Oh? Was not that the reason for you mentioning them?' he responded in the same light tone. 'Sally seemed to think you might be pleased to know that Miss Wetherby is no longer … what was her phrase? Throwing her cap at me. My ideas are too modern to suit her parents. My company embarrasses them'

 Verity choked, but her companion did not appear to notice.

 'And if we are talking of company, Miss Shore, I would have thought Worsthorne would have been with you most evenings.'

 'No. That is, he -he has business that often keeps him in Halifax, and if he is at Highclough he likes to meet with friends in Derringden of an evening. Please do not think I blame him – he is young, after all, to be tied to Highclough day and night.'

 'The same might be said of you, madam.'

 'My case is different, sir. As a governess I am used to keeping my own company.'

 'If Worsthorne has time on his hands I wonder he does not look to his Sowerby estates. I understand he has not been near them for months.' He saw her anxious look and shook his head. 'Forgive me, I did not come here to criticise. Tell me instead how you fill your days; are you at daggers drawn with Mrs Worsthorne?'

 'Of course not! We rub along very well, for Megs has the sunniest nature imaginable.'

 'While you, of course, are for ever at odds with the world.'

 She laughed. 'Only with you, sir, and I lay the blame for much of that squarely at your door. But to be serious – with music, and books, and sometimes backgammon as well as keeping household, we occupy ourselves very well. When the weather improves I shall make a start on restoring the shrubbery within the walled garden. I intend to make a sketch of the garden as it is now, as soon as it is warm enough to sit outside.

 'An admirable idea. Do you require drawing materials – can I fetch you anything from Halifax?'

 'Thank you, but I gave Luke a list of my needs and he fetched everything last week. I also ride out with him when I can, so that I am gradually becoming familiar with the estate.'

 'Good. And now you have mentioned riding – my sister has asked if you would care to have her mare for the next few months? She brought the horse with her to Newlands, but Sir Robin does not think it wise for her to ride in her present state.'

 'And she would trust me with her mare?'

 'I have told her how well you ride.'

 'Th-thank you, but, I could not –'

 'The creature might as well be of use here as eating her head off in my stables, you know.'

 'Well, in that case I cannot refuse, when you put it so elegantly, sir! Please thank Lady Winter for me; I shall accept her generous offer.'

 'You may thank her yourself, for she intends to visit you in a day or two, and she will bring the mare with her.'

* * * *

 With this treat to look forward to, Verity found her spirits rising. Even the weather improved and a few days later she put on her warmest gown, wrapped herself in her cloak and took her sketch pad outside. The shrubbery was contained within a walled enclosure at the eastern end of the main building. Verity sat down on the stone bench that had been placed against the house wall. It was ideally suited to take advantage of the morning sun, while the high walls kept off any chilly breeze. Verity smiled as she felt the February sun warm her cheeks, then she turned her attention to sketching the overgrown shrubbery. She was making good progress when she heard the sound of carriage wheels on the drive. Assuming it was the servants returning with fresh supplies she continued with her drawing, until she heard Lady Winter's cheerful voice calling to her.

 'Sally!' She jumped up and ran forward as Lady Winter appeared at the stone archway, her hands tucked inside a frivolous swansdown muff. Verity's smile wavered as she saw the look of horror on Lady Winter's face, but before she could speak there was a loud crash behind her. Verity swung round. The bench where she had been sitting a moment earlier was now smashed into little pieces.

* * * *

 Verity stared. A large block of stone lay amongst the remains of the bench. Clutching tightly at her sketchpad to stop her hands from trembling, she looked towards the roof. Two square chimney stacks rose toward the sky and there was a large gap in the side of one of the stacks.

 'Oh thank God you were not hurt. I saw the stone falling but was too shaken to say a word.'

 Lady Winter's quavering voice brought Verity to her senses. She hurried towards her.

 'Poor Sally, I am so sorry – we will go indoors immediately and find you a restorative. What a shock for you.'

 'Even more of a shock for you,' replied my lady with a shaky laugh. 'By all means let us go in – Rafe rode over with me. We could not find your groom so he took the horses to the stable while I came to find you.' She leaned on Verity's proffered arm and walked with her to the front door, where Verity sent a footman scurrying off to fetch brandy.

 The two ladies went into the morning room, where they found Mr Bannerman standing beside the fire, conversing with Mrs Worsthorne.