10
James had sent his carriage ahead of him. Going across country on Lucifer meant he was in Bath in half the time the vehicle would take. Fortunately, the house he sought was near Sofia Park. The irony of that name hadn't escaped him.
He'd timed it perfectly and the carriage was just rolling to a halt outside the house when he arrived. There was no necessity for him to even dismount as Colette was waiting on the steps holding a portmanteau similar to the one that Sofia had arrived with.
Either she was shortsighted or deliberately ignoring him as she jumped into the carriage as soon as the steps were let down. This wasn't a good start to their relationship.
'You can turn a hundred yards ahead,' he told the coachman, who respectfully touched his whip to his hat, nodded and then immediately released the brake when the groom was back on the box with him.
James was tempted to bang on the carriage window but decided against it. He stared thoughtfully at the closed front door of the substantial house she'd worked in so briefly. There could only be one reason the girl had been outside and not waiting as he'd expected indoors. This family had taken her leaving in bad part and had ejected her.
If this was indeed the case, and he'd discover the true facts when his new charge was safely home, then the family would regret treating a Brotherton with such disrespect.
There was no need for him to wait for the carriage – in fact – it had been a completely wasted journey on his part. He set off at a brisk trot and soon left the environs of Bath and could give the horse his head. Half an hour later he was cantering down the drive.
He dismounted and waited in vain for a groom to take the reins from him. He led the horse into the yard but got no further than the archway. The yard, which was a generous size, was full of horses and none of them belonged to him.
'Piper, what the devil's going on here? Where in God's name have these animals come from?'
'Lady Charlotte arrived half an hour ago, my lord, it'll take us a while longer to stable them correctly. I apologise if we didn't hear you arrive.'
James tossed the reins to him and strode off. Charlotte could only have received his express letter yesterday evening so she must have left at dawn to have arrived so soon.
He expected to find a house in even more turmoil than when he'd left but to his astonishment everything was calm. Two footmen were standing as they should by the doors of the drawing room and he could hear the murmur of polite conversation inside.
God's teeth! His grandmother was within. That was as astonishing as the precipitate arrival of his sister and her family.
He walked in unnoticed, which was a strange sensation for someone used to being the centre of attention. This gave him time to take in the scene. He'd never met his nephews and niece, hadn't seen his sister for twenty years and was shocked by her appearance.
He would be thirty years of age in September; she would be forty but looked a decade older at least. Her hair had once been as dark as his but was now more grey than black. She was thin to the point of emaciation. His heart all but stopped. Was she dying? Had she come so quickly because he must take care of her children when she was gone?
His eyes travelled to his two nephews, they were thin too, as was the girl, and in that second, he realised what he was seeing. This family had been living under the most appalling circumstances whilst he'd been living a luxurious life.
'Charlotte, welcome to my house. None of you look well, I don't wish to know the reason just now, but I vow that I'll restore you all to good health and happiness.'
She was struggling to stand so he strode across and dropped to his knees beside her. He was frightened to embrace her in case he did her harm so thin was she. But she looked pleased to see him and he decided to risk it.
Gently he embraced her; she hugged him with surprising strength. His neck was wet where her tears had fallen, and he was equally moved by this reunion. The moment was ruined by the strident voice of their grandmama.
'Enough of that mawkish nonsense. Brotherton, you have some explaining to do.'
Lady Elizabeth always addressed him thus. 'My lady, I'll speak to you later. I've not seen my sister for twenty years and never met my nephews and nieces. Either be silent of leave. I care not which.'
The objectionable old woman banged her cane on the floor expecting him to jump to do her bidding. The days of so doing had long gone. He was preparing a particularly pithy reply when Sofia intervened.
'My lady, would you like me to accompany you to your home? I've yet to see the East Wing and have heard so much about how much more elegant it is than here.'
Without waiting for a verbal response Sofia gently took his grandmama's arm and assisted her to her feet.
'I've arranged for the maze to be restored. Won't it be fun to walk in there again after so many years? Lord Brotherton really should take more interest in his estates don't you think?'
James watched wide-eyed, astonished that this young woman could manage the countess when he couldn't.
'Do you know, my lady, that until my papa passed away your grandson didn't even know he had another cousin? How can he run these estates successfully when he isn't up to the task?'
This was exactly the conversation that would engage his ancient relative. There was nothing she liked more than hearing him criticized.
His sister and her children were listening to his exchange in horror. Why was this? Then he believed he understood. Had Lord Upminster been a brutal husband and father and they had had to learn not to offend him?
