She looked out of the window at the gardens that her mother had loved so much; at the woods beyond which clustered thickly around the southern end of the Oaksgrove estate and included the ancient grove that the estate took its name from.
Though she had the freedom of the grounds and the woods, it felt limiting to know that she was not permitted to go beyond without either Ralph or her grandmother as escort. Not permitted to ride or be carried by carriage alone, either, and never to travel in any carriage that did not belong to Ralph and, therefore, was kept in a state of meticulously good repair.
“Your brother bears the weight of an Earl. Guardian of this house, these lands, his sister and aged grandmother both. It is a heavy burden, and he does the best that any man can,” Agnes remarked somberly, her voice dry with age.
“Of course he does,” Harriet murmured, “and I am one year away from my majority. Then I shall be able to carry some of that weight myself.”
A knock at the door was followed by the door opening, almost before the sound of the knock had reached them. A tall young man with long legs and a shock of coal black hair stepped into the room. He wore an overcoat and carried a top hat. Behind him was a groom carrying two suitcases as well as Oakgrove's butler, Mr. Beecham.
“Ah, you're both here. How fortuitous! I just wanted to say goodbye. I received a letter this morning and must bring forward my plans to travel to Bristol. I shall be away for about a month, I should think.”
He spoke in a clipped voice, ever efficient when talking of business. He had the same green eyes as Harriet, his prominent jaw looked out of place with his lean physique, the former from his father; the latter from his mother. Harriet felt a cold chill run through her.
“But this evening is the Chelmsford ball, Ralph... You were to escort me,” she reminded, rising from her seat.
He clapped his hands by his chest. “Ah, yes, I appreciate you must be disappointed, Hattie. But there is nothing for it. I must be in Bristol by daybreak to catch the tide. My ship is due to sail, and I must speak to her captain regarding his trading instructions. There will be other balls.”
It was put in dismissively, as though this occasion were of no consequence.
To him, it quite possibly isn't. He has the freedom to come and go as he pleases. It does not matter to him that he will not attend the ball. But to me, it is the first time in more than a year that he has agreed to allow me to leave Oaksgrove!
“But Ralph, I have been so looking forward to...”
He looked at her tolerantly and crossed the room to take her hands. There was a kindly look on his face, but also a resolute expression.
“Dear Harriet, I assure you there will be other occasions, but no other chance for me to conduct the business arrangements that are for the good of us all. Please don't make a fuss.”
Agnes frowned. “No, Ralph, your sister has gone to a great deal of trouble for this evening. Surely, she can be accompanied by—”
“No,” Ralph snapped, “she willnotattend alone. Under no circumstances!”
“I am a grown woman...” Harriet protested weakly.
“Only just, and with no experience of the world,” Ralph added.
“But how am I to gain experience of the world if I am locked away here!” Harriet cried.
“Hardly locked away. You have the run of the estate. I am merely saying that you cannot attend the Duke of Chelmsford's ball,” Ralph said patiently, “come to think of it, Beecham, I would like you to keep a close eye on my sister.”
He directed this last to the butler who stood behind him. The man was shorter than his master and stocky with close-cropped red hair and a freckled, pale-skinned face with blue eyes. He nodded sharply.
“As you say, milord,” he said in a steely tone, glancing once at Harriet.
“And I will hear no more on the subject from you, Hattie. It is for your own good. Perhaps I will find a suitable husband for you during my time in Bristol, think on that.”
He kissed her forehead and gave her hands a squeeze. He smiled benevolently, and Harriet returned the smile weakly.
The house was a prison once more.
“If you will excuse me, I think I will take the air for a while,” she breathed shakily.
Without waiting, she left the room, heading downstairs and for the nearest door that would let her out into the grounds. The hallways and rooms of Oaksgrove seemed smaller all of a sudden, and she felt a craving for fresh open air.
“Psst! Harriet, are you alone?”
Harriet was startled out of a reverie that had engulfed her as she walked through the gardens of Oaksgrove. Beside her was a low wall of stone that separated the gardens from the woods beyond. A head of fiery, gold hair was peeking above that wall, framing pale blue eyes.
Harriet looked around. Not for Ralph, he would have left without a second thought. But for Beecham. A very loyal servant and one who took his instructions very seriously.
