Chapter Seventeen
Perry hated leaving Sofia when they were at daggers drawn, but he had to be strong if he wanted his marriage to survive. He trusted Beau to spend time with her in his absence and for the rest of his family to rally round and make her feel she was one of them and not an outsider.
He had mentioned to her that his eyesight had not improved, but he had been economical with the truth as he had not told her he was sure it was deteriorating. He wanted her to come to him from love and not from pity. If he was honest, if he thought he was losing her, then he would use whatever he had at his disposal to convince her to stay.
He arrived in good time for his rearranged appointment and was waiting in the drawing room when the doctor was announced. The man was far younger than he'd expected, his brother's age, of medium height, sandy hair and intelligent expression.
He asked pertinent questions, listened to the replies and made notes before doing an examination. 'I need you to be in direct light, my lord, so would you bring a chair to the window?'
Perry did so willingly as to fetch a servant would have taken so much longer. 'You must be truthful, sir, nothing less will do whatever you discover.'
He was asked to turn his eyes this way and that, look up and down, but that was all.
'Done, my lord. I can categorically assure you that you are not going blind. Your sight will not get worse but I doubt that it will improve either. You have a slight inflammation caused by possibly having sand in the eyes at some stage. I recommend that you bathe them in tepid salt water twice a day.'
Until he was given this good news Perry had not realised how worried he had been. 'Thank you, I am grateful for your knowledge and advice.'
They shook hands and the visit was completed. How could something so short and simple have made such a difference to his life? He wanted to gallop back to Silchester and share the good news with his wife first, and then his family. He would have to make do with a brief note and then he would set out on his business trip and make it as brief as was possible.
He completed the journey in three days which had allowed Billy time to recover between each stage. He was relieved to discover there was not general unrest in the area but merely a disgruntled employee who had taken to arson for revenge after being legitimately dismissed from his position as gamekeeper.
The manor house was beyond salvation and he spent a busy few days speaking to an architect and arranging for a modern house to be built in its place. The tenants were satisfied with his offer to replace their lost possessions and pay the rent on a new property for a year.
Carstairs arrived the day after him as he had travelled by mail coach but was soon fully informed and Perry was confident Beau's man of affairs could get matters brought to their conclusion without his assistance.
'I must return to Silchester tomorrow, is there anything else I have to sign before I go?'
'Nothing, my lord, everything is ready. Do you intend to put in tenants when the house is built?'
'Why do you ask?'
'The house that is replacing the old is larger, will have all modern conveniences and you have also asked for the gardens and park to be designed by Capability Brown. I cannot think such luxury is necessary for a tenant.'
'You are right, I wish the house for myself. I think we will be better here where things are more relaxed. I have been assured that the house and grounds will be completed within the year. Do you agree with that assessment?'
'It depends on the weather, my lord, if there is a hard winter it would delay things. If you are prepared to employ the maximum number of labourers, tradespeople and so on I am certain the building would be weathertight by the summer. Perhaps Lady Peregrine might like to visit then and decide for herself how she wants the interior to be finished?'
'I think that an excellent notion. Make certain there is a competent foreman in charge of the building.'
Satisfied he had done all he could he returned to the fine hostelry he was staying at. He had been away for a week, it seemed like ten times that length of time. He intended to leave first thing in the morning; this meant he would be back at Silchester on the fourth day, as long as the weather remained as mild as it had this past week.
He was eager to tell Sofia of his plans for their future. His sister, Giselle, had married Lord Rushton and moved a considerable distance away from Silchester, his twin had only recently returned from gallivanting about the world for a year or more, so no one could object to him setting up home in Derbyshire.
It was a stunning part of the country, close enough to the lakes to visit there, and he was certain his family would wish to make a prolonged stay during the summer months. He and Sofia would spend the festive season at his ancestral home so there could be no objection to his plans from anyone.
*
Sofia was determined not to mope about the place whilst her husband was away. He had written her a brief note saying that the eye doctor was confident his sight would not get worse which was a relief to everyone. She now had two letters in his handwriting and reading each in turn made him seem closer to her somehow.
When she had got up the day after their argument, if it could be called that, she had been devastated to find he had already departed. Her husband was expected to be away for three weeks, that would make it almost December, and she sincerely hoped he would not be delayed by bad weather.
She spent her days visiting with her relations and getting to know them better. She was universally welcomed, her opinion respected, they could not have done more to make her feel part of their extended family. She had yet to meet Giselle who was unable to travel as she was in an interesting condition.
Over breakfast the day after Perry had left she put a suggestion to Beau. 'I should like to travel to see Giselle and Rushton – would that be possible?'
'You cannot go alone, my dear, but I should be delighted to accompany you. I have not seen either of them since the summer. Rushton is my closest friend, you know.'
'I have made enquiries and I understand it would take two days to travel there. This means if we leave tomorrow we can be there, spend a week visiting, and then be back in good time for when Perry returns.'
