4
Sofia erupted into the small sitting room where she and Annabel had been practising their French. Her friend, for that's what she'd become in the two days that they'd been acquainted, was in tears.'
'Don't cry, dearest Annabel, Lord Brotherton insists that you come with me. I had to tell him your story and he said, and I quote, “If I'm taking on three young ladies then why not make it four.” Mary must pack your trunks; you must help her as his carriage will be here soon.'
Forty-five minutes later the two of them were sitting in his lordship's carriage along with Mary, Annabel's trunks secured at the rear and her portmanteau on the seat opposite.
'I wish I'd been able to say goodbye to my mother properly but if her husband had arrived before we left he'd have stopped it. He would never have agreed for me to go somewhere I'd be happy; he'd have sent me to the asylum instead.'
Annabel burst into tears and Sofia embraced her until the girl had regained her composure. 'Hush now, things are going to be better for you in future. Lord Brotherton might speak harshly but he's not the sort of gentleman to raise his hand to make his point.'
'Mr Sinclair will be beside himself. I do hope he doesn't take it out on my mother – he persecuted me in order to make her pay for her sins.'
'Your brothers are almost men; do they know that she's being maltreated?'
'They don't care. They've not spoken to her since my true birth was revealed. None of the family – even my younger siblings – have anything to do with me now.'
The carriage was rocking and bumping down the cobbles making conversation all but impossible. When they were out of Bath and on the smoother turnpike road Sofia finally asked what misdemeanour Annabel had committed that had got her expelled.
'It wasn't my fault, I know all young ladies would say that, but it really wasn't. I'd been sent to the school to get me out of the way and knew I had to behave. The brother of one of the girls attempted to seduce me and when I complained the headmistress expelled me saying that I had initiated the event.'
'Were you harmed?'
'No, but he was. I hit him on the head with the nearest candlestick and he required a dozen sutures in his head. His family threatened to take legal action if I wasn't removed immediately.'
'Then you've nothing to be ashamed of. I'm absolutely certain that your new protector will keep you safe from predatory gentlemen. You are so very beautiful, as well as intelligent, witty and kind – I guarantee from this point on you'll be treated with respect and loved by all that know you.'
They embraced a second time and Annabel blew her nose noisily. There was something else that Sofia thought she had to ask, something that had been bothering her about the story. Talking so openly in front of a maid was not ideal but Mary must already know the story.
'I was told that you were wild, is that true?'
'I was rather disobedient when I was a child, I ignored my governess when I could but then she was the most unpleasant woman with no imagination at all. Of course, things have been different these past four years. I didn't dare to be wild at school as I knew that the slightest complaint would mean Mr Sinclair would banish me.'
'My dear Mama passed away when I was ten years of age. My sisters were nine and seven, it behoved me to step up and act as mother to them. My Great Aunt Jemima didn't join us until years afterwards and she took no interest in us until we were older.'
Annabel squeezed her hand. 'So, you've never been able to throw your cap over the windmill either? Do you think that now you're safe, that someone else has the responsibility for your siblings, you'll dare to behave badly?'
Sofia shook her head. 'Sadly, dearest friend, I'm no longer of the age to wish to misbehave. Lucille, the youngest of us, is the same age as you. However, she doesn't have the energy to do anything but read silly books and dream about a handsome stranger arriving on a big black horse to save her from some dastardly villain.'
They both squealed when suddenly the window darkened and his lordship rapped smartly on the window. Sofia slithered across and lowered the strap so he could speak without being obliged to shout.
'I thought you would like to know that we are now on my land. Take note, this is as far as you may ride without my accompanying you.'
He straightened and cantered on ahead. For a moment there was a breathless silence in the carriage.
'I think that Lucille might consider him to be the romantic hero she's been dreaming about these past two years. He's the only man I've ever seen who stands a head taller than me, his hair is as black as a raven's wing and his eyes are the most arresting slate grey colour.'
'If Lord Brotherton owns a black horse then his days are numbered,' Annabel said giggling.
Sofia joined in. When they eventually recovered, the carriage was bowling along a well-kept gravel drive that ran between rolling fields, manicured lawns, majestic woods and in the distance was the sparkle of open water.
As the window was open they squashed together on the end of the squab and peered out like village urchins. Even Mary was eager to see her new abode. Sofia was the first to see a glimpse of Avon Court and her mouth rounded.
'There must be over a hundred windows glinting at us, and that doesn't include the east or west wings. It's as big as a palace. It will take us weeks to find our way about the place without becoming hopelessly lost.'
They left the window open as the fresh air was welcome in the stuffy interior but sat back, both quite overwhelmed by what they'd seen. Annabel was the first to break the silence.
'One could tell from his appearance that Lord Brotherton is a wealthy man, but he must have very deep pockets indeed to live in such a place. Look around, Sofia, the grounds are immaculate, not a tile out of place on the roof, Avon Court must take a king's ransom to be maintained so well.'
