“I am the tenant here and I have the right to peaceful occupation, and no disruption by the owner until the tenancy expires. So you leave and you don’t come back, understood?”
Tess was quite prepared to argue the point, but she recalled something of the sort that the lawyers had mentioned. When she married, her husband could reclaim the house, but until then her trustees insisted on leaving the tenant in place.
“Very well, but there is four hundred and twenty pounds in the cash box, and I shall expect there still to be four hundred and twenty pounds when you leave, and the contents of the safe untouched, for I know what is inside it.” At least, she sincerely hoped she did. “If anything is missing, I shall see you hanged or transported. Understood?”
Mrs Mayberry did not deign to reply.
“Where is the key to the safe, do you know?”
Still no reply. There was nothing for it but to leave with as much dignity as she could manage. Within an hour, she and Betty were back at the inn, settling down in the common room to a second dinner, this time with wine.
“Now what, Miss Tess?” Betty said. “Back to Corland?”
“Heavens, no. That would be far too tame. I shall not give in so easily, you may be sure. At least now I know where my fortune is. All I have to do is get hold of it.”
“That’s just what you can’t do, Miss Tess. You’ll not get near it again, not with those women watching.”
“No, and they will change the lock on that room and hide the new key, so there will be no sneaking in.”
“If you tell the lawyers, maybe they—?”
“No,” Tess said quickly. “Not the lawyers. What I need, I think, is a husband.” She giggled suddenly. “And I have the very man in mind.”
“Now, Miss Tess, what are you up to?”
“You will see.” She giggled again. “I think it is time I paid a visit to my aunt’s sister.”
***
The first priority was to return to Helmsley to collect her boxes from Susan. Tess had no desire to subject herself to the common stage again, so she hired a post chaise and four.
Susan grabbed her arm anxiously when she saw her. “Oh, Tess, there have been so many people looking for you! First, a groom from Corland, and then your cousin, Mr Kent, and finally a Scotsman who was sent by a Captain Somebody—”
“Edgerton,” Tess said with distaste. “Nasty, snooping man.”
“That’s the one, although the Scotsman was very pleasant, but Tess, I couldn’t pretend you were here. Well, I’ve never been any good at lying. Still, I wouldn’t tell them where you were. I swear, I never told them anything!”
“Not to worry,” Tess said easily. “It is of no consequence. My mother need not know everything I do.”
“She wrote to you just a few days after you left,” Susan said. “Here… but nothing after that. I suppose when you didn’t writeback, she realised you weren’t here and sent people to find out where you were.”
“Well, this is excellent news,” Tess said, swiftly scanning it. “Aunt Caroline has gone to Harfield, which gives me even more of an excuse to go there myself.”
“Harfield Priory?” Betty said. “How are you goin’ to get a husband there? I thought you disliked the new Lord Tarvin.”
“Everyone dislikes Edward,” Tess said disdainfully. “A starchier, more disagreeable man would be hard to find, but he will still be in London, we must hope. But he is not the only man at Durham.”
“Well, I’m sure I don’t know of any others,” Betty muttered, but Tess only smiled at her. The more she considered her new plan, the more perfect she thought it.
Bidding Susan a fond farewell with a pretty little necklace and some expensive tea for her aunt, to thank them for their help, Tess made her way north. Their route passed by Corland Castle, but she chose not to stop there, even for one night. Even though her mother would perhaps not try to dissuade her from going to Harfield, it would be an unnecessary delay. She had written from Helmsley to tell Lady Alice her plans, and that, she felt, satisfied the proprieties.
She stopped at Birchall village, however, for she had not seen Tom for three weeks and who knew when she might be back at Corland? She had no great desire to see any of her family, but not seeing Tom would be insupportable.
He was busy at work, but he laid down his tools, turning to her with a wide smile.
“Miss Tess! Haven’t seen you for an age — gone off to Helmsley, so I heard. Or maybe not. There were some odd stories of you disappearing altogether.”
“I have been looking for my fortune. Oh, kiss me, Tom, or I shall run mad. I have missed you so much.”
