Lord Tarvin breakfasted late, as usual, after an evening spent at a musical soirée and a rout. There were not so many evening engagements now as during the season — in fact, there were very few — but he needed material to send to his mother in his weekly report so that she would be satisfied that he was diligently searching for a wife, and not feel any urge either to descend upon town herself or to summon him back to County Durham. He was not a sporting man, so the opening of the game season held little appeal for him. He had friends — male friends, thankfully, devoid of unmarried sisters or cousins — who could be depended upon to invite him to visit over the autumn, and then the weather would be too bad to travel north. Perhaps inthe early spring he might spend a week or two at the Priory, just to ensure that his mother would stay at home for another season. Lord, but it was pleasant to be single and alone in town! A man might do as he pleased, and no one could gainsay him.
Deakin, who acted as both valet and butler in the reduced household prevailing at Grosvenor Street, entered bearing a fresh pot of coffee and a silver salver.
“The morning mail, my lord.”
“Thank you, Deakin.”
There were several invitations on the salver, together with a bill or two, a letter from his banker and another from his mother. He opened the invitations first. No balls, thankfully, but three invitations to dine, one to be a guest at someone’s estate in Surrey — someone with a marriageable daughter, he recalled with a shudder — and a sprinkling of card parties and the like. He would accept everything except Surrey — another shudder — but these quiet evenings were very much to his taste.
At a ball, one was obliged to dance with a succession of hopeful young ladies, and very often take one into supper, too, and very tedious it all was. If only he could just dance once or twice and then head for the card room and male company, but that would only encourage speculation surrounding the chosen ones. Almack’s was positively the worst, for his very presence excited the rapacious mamas beyond all reason. As an unmarried baron with an income of twelve thousand a year, he could not possibly escape their notice. But his mother would never believe he was seriously looking to marry without regular visits to Almack’s. Thank heavens that was all finished until next year.
He glanced without interest at the bills, read the letter from his banker with quiet satisfaction, for his finances were in very good order, and then turned with a sigh to his mother’s letter.
‘My dearest son, You must come at once for the most dreadful thing has happened.”
Edward sighed. “Deakin!Deakin!Ah, there you are. Brandy, if you will. I have a feeling I am going to need it.”
‘Or at least, it has not happened yet, but I feel certain that it will happen soon forthat womanis conspiring to make it happen and she has not an iota of sense, or care for the dignity of this family.’
Deakin came in at a trot bearing a decanter and glass on a tray.
“Ah, good man. Pour me a large one, will you?”
‘Mind you, she would never have thought of it if it had not been forthat girl, who looks as meek as milk, but is all the time a wicked serpent plotting her nefarious mischief.’
Edward took a large gulp of brandy, and then a second one. Letters from his mother fell into one of two categories. Either they were filled with trivia, such as the uninteresting doings of the neighbours or wild speculation on the young ladies mentioned in his own letters, which could be safely ignored, or burnt if he were feeling in a particularly rebellious mood. Or else there was some dreadful doom about to fall on their heads which only Edward’s presence could resolve. These required brandy, and a degree of ingenuity to find a suitable excuse for not rushing north to the rescue.
‘I speak, of course, of Tess Nicholson, who seemed to be so friendly and helpful tothat womanand worked a positive miracle with the children — Joan said that even Tostig minds her, as I wrote in my last. But instead she was scheming and plotting, as cool as you please, and you will not guess what she plans to do!’
Edward sighed. No, he could not guess, nor was he very interested. He vaguely recalled that she had turned up at the Priory a week or two ago, and had then decamped to HollyCottage to be useful to Aunt Joan, none of which sounded very threatening. No doubt she planned to reorganise the still room, or throw out the worn linen, or some such tragedy. Or perhaps she proposed to beat some sense into the obnoxious Tostig, which was what he needed. Edward’s heir, as his mother never ceased to remind him.
‘She set out right from the start to wheedle her way into Ulric’s good graces by riding with him every day, but now — you will never believe it — indeed, I can scarce say the words —”
“Oh, do try,” Edward muttered, reaching for the brandy glass again.
‘She plans to marry him!’
“What!”
A little brandy slopped over the side of the glass as he slammed it down on the table.
“Deakin!Deakin!Have the carriage brought round in… one hour, shall we say. And go and pack. We are going north.”
“Very good, my lord. How long a stay, my lord? Shall you require evening dress?”
“Yes, everything. I shall stay as long as it takes, Deakin. As long as it takes to detach a leech. She will not get away with this, I swear it! I shall put an immediate stop to it.”
“Yes, my lord,” Deakin said, without knowing a thing about it.
“What are you waiting for?” Edward yelled. “Carriage, pack, at once!”
“Yes, my lord.” Deakin bowed himself imperturbably out of the room.
7: Lord Tarvin Arrives
Tess received a steady stream of letters from Corland, sent to Harfield Priory, where she was presumed to be staying, and brought to Holly Cottage by a long-suffering groom. Her mother wrote regularly, but without saying anything of interest. Olivia spoke only of her own complaints, and the blighting of her prospects now that she was illegitimate. Josie wrote reams of motherly advice, offering the comfort she supposed Tess to need. And occasionally Tom Shapman wrote.
‘Miss Nicholson, I hope you are well. Captain Edgerton has been here. He knows about our friendship. Wants to talk to you. If you don’t come back, he says he’ll have you arrested. Your friend, T. Shapman’
