Regency High Society Vol 3: Beloved Virago / Lord Trenchard's Choice / The Unruly Chaperon / Colonel Ancroft's Love

‘Am I right in thinking that Julia has a son?’ Katherine asked, as a further fleeting memory returned.

‘Yes, and he’s a nice little boy. Just like his father used to be!’ Her smile was replaced by a look of concern. ‘And like his father before him, he’s proving to be a weak and sickly child, so I’ve heard. The good Lord knows, miss, I wouldn’t want misfortune to befall the boy. Because if he died, then you know who would eventually inherit the title. Not that he has any desire to do so, mind you.’

Before that moment Katherine had given the matter no thought. ‘Of course, Daniel would then come into the title!’

‘Aye, miss. And if I’m right and it were the wish to become Lady Julia Ross that prompted her to marry Simon, if something does happen to her son, there’s only one way she’s ever going to achieve her ambition.’

‘And you’re very much afraid that Daniel might fall prey to the beautiful Julia’s charms again, aren’t you, Janet?’

‘He’d be a fool if he did, miss. And Master Daniel’s no fool.’

‘Yet, the fact must be faced that in all these years he hasn’t met anyone else he wished to marry,’ Katherine responded, and then found herself the recipient of a prolonged and contemplative stare which was more than just faintly unnerving. ‘What is it, Janet? Have I said something to upset you?’

‘Oh, no, miss. I were merely wool-gathering, as you might say.’

‘In that case, I shall leave you to do so in peace,’ Katherine announced, rising from the table. ‘I think I shall occupy my time until Daniel returns by continuing the weeding in the rose garden.’

As she made her way round to the side of the house, Katherine was glad of the protection she obtained from the old fashioned, wide-brimmed straw bonnet, for the day was bright and for early spring the sun’s rays were remarkably strong. She swiftly found it necessary to discard her cloak, tossing it down on the grass close by, but surprisingly enough she soon grew tired of the task she normally attained great enjoyment from performing, and found her mind all too frequently returning to the conversation she had had with Janet.

Rising up from her knees, she went through the wicket-gate that granted access to a large meadow and, without paying too much attention to which direction she took, made her way across the wide area of grassland to yet another large field that Daniel had mentioned he had every intention of putting to the plough. After skirting several more fields, which also formed part of Daniel’s land, she found herself entering a very familiar woodland area.

Suddenly realising she had walked much further than she had intended, Katherine decided it might prove beneficial to rest for a while before attempting the homeward trek, and promptly discovered a conveniently fallen tree, ideal for the purpose.

How odd that she should have come this way, she mused, gazing about the woodland which she and Helen Rushton had frequently explored during those few short months when she had resided with her grandfather. She had been contented then, living with her grandfather. But nowhere near as contented as she had been during these past few days living at Rosslair.

The thought, unbidden, came so naturally, so effortlessly that any attempt to persuade herself that it was quite otherwise, that it was merely living in the country again which had made her so blissfully happy, would have been fruitless. She might succeed in fooling others but not herself. She loved Rosslair…. But nowhere near as much as she had by imperceptible degrees come to love its master. There was little point in not facing the simple truth that it was Daniel’s reappearance in her life which had resulted in her present wholly satisfied state of mind. But it was a situation that could not … must not continue for very much longer.

Oh, dear God! Why had it taken so long to realise that she had fallen desperately in love with the infuriatingly overbearing, adorable man? She had known right from that very first moment, when they had collided in the inn doorway, and the touch of his hands had left her with such a feeling of well-being, that there was something very singular about him. There was some excuse, she supposed, for not having appreciated just how strong the spark of attraction had been back then, on that bitterly cold day in January. But she ought to have realised long before leaving France that her feelings towards him had gone far beyond that of deep respect and friendship. At the very least she ought to have recognised that first uncomfortable pang of jealousy, when she had witnessed him receiving Josephine Carre’s welcoming embrace. And she had experienced it yet again earlier, when she had caught him holding the great love of his life.

Oh, but what could she do? Even if Janet was right, and Julia was totally unworthy of him, there was nothing she could do to prevent a marriage taking place between Daniel and his old love. Shackled by fears that refused to leave her, she couldn’t fight to win him … dared not. At least with Julia he might be blessed to live a long and contented life; whereas …

Burying her face in her hands, Katherine refused to give way to tears that might help to relieve the heartache for a while but which could never hope to bring lasting relief to a mind that would be forever tortured with what might have been possible if she had not been such a curse. There would be time enough to weep when she returned to Bath. She would have years to dwell on the happiness she would undoubtedly have attained had it been possible for her to become Mrs Daniel Ross. Life without him would be desolate, have little meaning, but better that than be forced to live with the knowledge that she had been responsible for any mishap befalling him.

The sooner she left Rosslair the better, she reflected, hating the mere thought but accepting there was no alternative. In the meantime she must take great care to behave towards him as she had always done. It could only spell complete disaster if he ever suspected that her feelings for him went any deeper than those of mere … of mere sisterly affection, she told herself, before she suddenly contemplated the dreadful possibility that Daniel, discerning demon that he was, had perhaps already guessed the true state of her heart long before she had herself.

The sound of high-pitched squeals succeeded in penetrating the heart-rending reflections, and a moment later Katherine removed her hands to see something rolling along the ground towards her. She bent to retrieve the object at her feet, and then clearly heard a breathless little voice announce, ‘It went this way, Papa.’

A moment later a boy of about seven came scampering through the undergrowth, stopping dead in his tracks when he glimpsed her standing there, blocking the path. ‘Would this be what you’re looking for?’ she asked, holding out the ball, which, after a moment’s hesitation, he removed from her outstretched hand.

‘Yes, thank you, ma’am,’ he answered, before turning his head at the sound of his father’s voice. ‘I’m over here, Papa!’

A fair-haired gentleman, whom Katherine judged to be five or six years older than Daniel, came striding along the woodland track towards them. He betrayed surprise at first catching sight of her, then his gaze as he drew steadily closer grew very much more intense, his clear grey eyes finally coming to rest on the fiery curls clearly showing beneath her bonnet.

‘This lady found my ball, Papa.’

The gentleman glanced down to cast a reassuring smile at his son before his gaze returned to Katherine, once again studying her intently before remarking, ‘You are a stranger in these parts, ma’am?’

Only just in time did Katherine remember her role. ‘Oui, monsieur. I am staying for a short time with my cousin, Major Ross.’

The boy’s eyes, so very like his father’s in both colour and shape, stared up at her, puzzlement clearly discernible in their depths. ‘Why are you speaking in that funny way?’

Katherine could quite cheerfully have boxed his ears for noticing that she had not spoken with a marked French accent when she had first addressed him. Fortunately his father did the next best thing by reminding him of his manners. ‘James, that is not at all polite. This young lady, unless I much mistake the matter, has recently come from France and is a—er—native of that country.’ He reached for Katherine’s hand. ‘Permit me to introduce myself, mademoiselle. My name is Cranford … Charles Cranford. And this young imp is my son James.’

‘I am pleased to make your acquaintance, monsieur. And you too, James. My name is Louise Durand.’

Katherine had by now guessed that the gentleman with the piercing gaze was none other than the present owner of the house in which her grandfather had once resided, and thought it behoved her to apologise for trespassing on his land.

‘Do not give it another thought, mademoiselle. The middle of the wood forms the boundary between your cousin’s property and mine, but we do not quibble, and are both quite happy to permit the other to walk freely across the entire area.’

His reassuring smile went some way to soften his probing gaze. ‘You have walked a goodly distance, mademoiselle. Can I not persuade you to come up to the house and partake of some refreshments? My wife would be delighted to make your acquaintance.’

Katherine hesitated. She knew she ought to return to Rosslair without delay, but the invitation to set foot inside her grandfather’s old house to see how much it had changed since she had resided there was just too tempting to refuse. Besides which, it would grant her the opportunity to marshal all her resources before coming face to face with Daniel again, for the days ahead would undoubtedly prove the greatest challenge she had ever faced in her life.

Chapter Fourteen

Daniel arrived back at his home shortly before noon. He had remained at the Hall far longer than he had intended, mainly because Julia had seemed reluctant to allow him to take his leave, and had insisted on taking him up to the nursery to see her son. That part of the visit had unquestionably proved to be the most enjoyable. Young Geoffrey was the image of his father in both looks and nature. He was a charming boy, and it had been a pleasure to pass half an hour or so sitting on the nursery floor, keeping him entertained by playing with his toy soldiers.

If only the rest of his visit had passed so agreeably! he mused, dismounting and leaving his horse in the care of the stable-lad. He was forced to admit that by the time he had ridden over to the Hall he had surprisingly wearied of Julia’s company. He had found her stilted conversation tiresome in the extreme and her evident curiosity about Katherine, quite frankly, distasteful.

Trying to converse with his uncle, whose hearing had become increasingly impaired since attaining middle age, had not proved particularly satisfying either. Yet he would far rather have preferred to remain in the library, forced to shout his every utterance, than be dragged into the parlour to spend a further half-hour with Julia and her mother who, since becoming a widow four years before, had taken up residence with her daughter at the Hall.

He had not set eyes on Eleanor Melrose since before he had embarked for India, and he had been shocked at the changes he had perceived in her. Although she had never been what one might describe as a vivacious, outgoing female, she had seemed a mere shadow of her former self, painfully lachrymose and decidedly jaded.

He well remembered that she was a woman who had always set great store by good manners and correct behaviour at all times; strict codes of conduct that she had instilled in her sole offspring from an early age. Daniel could well imagine that when Julia’s looks began to fade, which undoubtedly they would in time, she would turn into a mirror image of her woebegone mother.

Dear Lord! What a lucky escape he had had when Julia decided to marry his cousin, Daniel reflected, shaking his head in wonder as he strode across the yard towards the house. Looking back, it was hard to imagine that he had been so set on marrying her himself once, and had been utterly heartbroken when he had discovered that she had chosen Simon instead.

One must put it down to the folly of youth, he supposed. Thank heavens he had acquired some sound common sense during the intervening years! He and Julia simply wouldn’t have suited. He was far too outspoken and brusque for her delicate sensibilities. He needed a female who would not dissolve into floods of tears each time he raised his voice above a whisper and one who, moreover, was not afraid to stand up to him. And thank the Lord he’d found the very little virago for him!

Entering his home by way of the rear entrance, Daniel went striding into the kitchen to discover, much to his surprise, only his housekeeper present, for Katherine had made a point, since her arrival at Rosslair, of always helping Janet prepare both luncheon and dinner.

‘Where’s Kate?’

‘She went out into the garden shortly after you left with Mrs Ross,’ she answered, giving the broth a stir. ‘I must say, sir, she has worked hard on those rose-beds since she’s been here. She’s green fingers like your dear grandmother, and no mistake! You can see the difference she’s made already.’

‘Mmm,’ Daniel murmured, running impatient fingers through his thick, slightly waving brown hair, as he experienced a pang of conscience. ‘I suppose I ought to be thinking of employing a full-time gardener and general handyman. I can’t expect McGann to cope with everything.’

‘Now there’s a considerate soul for you, Janet!’ McGann announced, entering the kitchen, with a pile of logs for the stove, in time to catch his master’s final remark.

‘If the truth be known, I was thinking more of Katherine than you,’ Daniel enlightened him. ‘I don’t want her working her fingers to the bone attempting to get the garden in order.’

‘She enjoys herself out there, sir,’ Janet assured him. ‘Besides, she ain’t one to be idle. If she didn’t work in the garden, she’d be doing something else.’

Janet smiled to herself as she detected her master’s low growl of disapproval before he went stalking out. She turned in time to see him pass the window, heading in the direction of the garden, and was a little startled when he returned a minute or so later, carrying Katherine’s cloak, and looking decidedly grim.

‘She isn’t there. Are you certain she didn’t come back into the house?’

‘She might have done,’ Janet conceded. ‘I’ll go and check.’