“Fifty pounds,” she said brightly.
He was so shocked she almost laughed. “Fifty pounds! Great heavens, Tess!” But then he began to laugh. “Still, such brazen impudence should be rewarded.” He opened a drawer and counted out five gold coins. “There. Five guineas. That should buy you a new gown and a pair of stockings, too. But never ask me for money again, do you hear? Everything I possess will be yours after I die, so you will get your hands on it then and not a moment sooner. Now leave me in peace, you little monkey.”
She had never again asked for money, but knowing where he kept his coins, it was not difficult to help herself to a few shillings now and then. After all, it would be hers one day anyway, so she was merely taking a small advance on her inheritance. She was very careful only to take small amounts, and only silver or copper, never gold. Even a careless man might know precisely how many guineas he had, and her father was anything but careless about money. Did he ever notice? If he did, he never gave any sign.
Now she wished she had taken more, and hidden it away instead of spending it. At least it would be hers, and no one could take it away from her. Now she would be penniless…
But not if she acted swiftly. There was yet a possibility of getting hold of some, at least, of her fortune.
The group below began to talk about Mr Neate’s journey to Pickering, and under cover of their conversation, Tess creptaway, brushed off the accumulated dust and cobwebs her gown had acquired, and descended the service stairs to the ground floor. In the great hall, Simpson and Wellum were conferring, breaking off their discussion as she approached.
“Miss Nicholson? How may I be of service?” Simpson said.
“Is my uncle free at the moment, Simpson?”
“I believe he is not engaged at present,” the butler said, in his ponderous way.
“Would you ask him if he could spare me a few minutes?”
He could and did, returning very soon to say, “His lordship will see you now, Miss Tess.”
And there was that little niggle of discontent that always bubbled up. Josie and Izzy and Olivia were always‘my lady’.Even now, the servants still called Olivia‘my lady’, and not‘Miss Olivia’, as she should be, but Tess would always be‘Miss Tess’.Or Mrs Shapman, as she should have been, she thought resentfully. Mrs Frith, perhaps. Or Lady Tarvin. That made her scowl even more. As if she cared tuppence for him or his title! It was a question of respect, that was all.
Simpson led her through the ante-room to the library, and into the earl’s study.
“Miss Nicholson, my lord.”
“Tess! My dear girl! Come in, come in, do. How delightful to have this little chat. I do not see you often enough, not to talk to, for one cannot talk properly over dinner, can one? May I send for some tea for you?”
“I will have a glass of Madeira, thank you, uncle.”
His eyebrows rose a fraction, but he willingly dismissed the butler and poured a small glass for her and a larger one for himself.
“And how are you, my dear? You are well, I can see that, and happy, I am sure, with your future so well settled.” If only that were true! “We cannot wait to meet your young man, my dear.Such a whirlwind romance! I cannot tell you how happy it makes me, and your aunt…” A shadow crossed his face as he mentioned Lady Rennington. “I am sure she will be pleased about it, too, when she hears. Have you written to her?”
“Not yet, uncle. Everything is very much up in the air at the moment, so I hardly know what I am about. Have you not written to her?”
“Oh… not recently, no. She… she prefers me not to. Just until… things are settled. If I find someone to marry. But as to your happy news, I dare say your mama has told her all about it, although she would be glad to hear from you, I am sure. Was there anything in particular that you wished to talk to me about?”
“I am thinking ahead to my wedding in the spring. It cannot be sooner since Mama has not given her permission, but I should like to be prepared — wedding clothes and so forth. Under normal circumstances, my father would have paid for such things, but perhaps I could have the money he left me to begin with. Ten thousand in the bank, and a thousand in cash. That would enable me to make my preparations… put some renovations in hand at Mr Frith’s principal seat, that sort of thing.”
The earl frowned, and she knew at once that he was not going to fall for her stratagem.
“Ten, eleven thousand for wedding clothes, my dear?”
“And a carriage and horses, uncle. Perhaps two. I want to begin some work in the grounds, too. A summer house… a lake… a fountain…”
“Most of these plans, worthy though they are, are for your husband to undertake, Tess. Your wedding clothes… perhaps something might be done there, but a carriage? Building works? Wait until you are married, my dear. Your husband will have all your money then, and he will be the best person to decide whatto do with it. There will be settlements, and so forth… your pin money, widow’s jointure, all that sort of thing. More important than a lake, I should think.”
“I am sure you are right, uncle, but perhaps something for wedding clothes now?”
“When you are still in deep mourning? My dear girl, it seems a little disrespectful to be thinking of such things now. When you have set a date for the wedding, talk to your mama about what you will need, and then come to me for the money. We shall not send you into matrimony in rags, you know! There now, you are excited about entering the married state and cannot wait to make a start, and that is perfectly natural, but you will have the rest of your life with Mr Frith, after all. A few more weeks to wait for wedding clothes is neither here nor there. Do not forget to write to Lady Rennington, will you? I am sure she would love to hear from you. And if she writes back to you, as I am sure she will, do not forget to let me know what she says and how she is, will you?”
Tess drank the rest of her Madeira in one mouthful, and left with as much politeness as she could muster.
Everything was going wrong! What a horrible day this was turning out to be.
19: Tears And Kisses
