Although Edward slept well the night before, and had only just left his bed, he decided that the safest option for him would be to feign sleep. The less interaction he had with Miss Sophia Barlow, and his mother's chattering, the better. He couldn’t help feeling relieved that he would soon be away from all of this for several weeks, and if this morning was the measure of it, his mother wouldmanage quite well without him. Now that she had Sophia, as her new companion.
So after making his excuses to the Duchess, Ned closed his eyes. A part of him was sorry that he couldn't also block out their voices. In particular, Sophia’s, which was soft and gentle. Just like her, he couldn't help thinking.
Chapter 12
It wasn't until the Duke's carriage had been on the road for several hours that Sophia began to feel more at ease. Cynthia had done her best to lighten the atmosphere. Drawing her into conversation about a variety of topics which she clearly thought would interest her and making her stop being quite so afraid of making a mistake. Or even worse, losing her new position after it had only just begun. It seemed too that Lady Cynthia was more than happy to provide instructions on how to perform her duties as a ladies' companion, if she didn't know what to do.
Moreover the further away from London they went in the Carlisle family carriage the safer Sophia felt. Gazing out of the window at the incredible sights she hadn't often seen, if at all. From the cows and sheep grazing in the fields to the orchards they passed, and Inns where they broke their journey, providing a welcome relief for both Lady Cynthia and her from the jarring movement of the carriage. When they alighted this gave her the opportunity to look at Ned, without him noticing her doing it. Her eyes secretly followed him as he was overseeing everything, talking to the coachman and other servants. She noticed him changing the grooms, to allow them to rest before travelling at the back of the carriages for too long, which she knew was an act of kindness.
After a while she also came to realise how much the Duchess shared her love of poetry and books, also somewhat to her surprise, the gardens and parks in London. She recounted the details of many happy hours spent visiting them with Ruth, before she told Sophia about her son's extensive grounds at his country seat which she was looking forward to sharing with her. She said that there was a lake, dovecote, the orange house where the head gardener grew a pineapple or two, and of course the rose garden. The Duchess clearly loved all of it, and both of them soon became quite excited by the thought of the many walks they could take around the grounds. Her Ladyship also appeared to know the names of the multitude of plants and flowers growing there. Sophia listened to her talking about them whilst trying her best not to mention her own situation, in case Lady Carlfield had heard of Lucas and his misdeeds.
There was only one occasion when she felt that she had said far too much, and tried to remain silent after that. Feeling invigorated by Lady Cynthia's description of the London gardens she loved, Sophia had spoken about her passion for Vauxhall Gardens, and the times she had been there with Hannah and her family. The Duchess had listened politely to her description of the lights, and so on before asking for the name of Hannah's parents. She was delighted that her companion was at last on the point of being more open with her, but Sophia realised her mistake immediately after the Duchess' question. Since it was inevitable that the Duchess of Carlfield would know Lord and Lady Audley, Hannah's parents, she couldn't reveal their identity, again for fear of word getting back to Lucas about her whereabouts, she began to cough into her handkerchief so dramatically that all thought of their names were gone by the time she had finished.
Except for Edward who had his eyes closed while he listened to them talking, delighted that all was well. Nevertheless Sophia’s coughing fit had seemed contrived to say the least, and he began to wonder about her reasons for doing it. She surely wasn't hiding something from his mother by not telling her what she had asked? If so, that was something he wouldn't be able to accept, irrespective of how delightful she was otherwise. Once again the Duke had the feeling that Miss Barlow might not be everything she appeared to be. Although he didn't intend to alert the Duchess to his suspicions for the time being, since he didn't have any actual proof of her wrongdoing, he felt compelled to keep an eye on the situation. Nevertheless, he would have to instruct Jenkins to maintain a discreet and watchful eye during his absence abroad and so would Mrs Pender, the housekeeper. Quite diplomatically put to them of course, as it would never do to have the servants under the impression that he condoned them spying on each other. No! It had to be done discreetly, which he was certain Jenkins and Mrs Agnes Pender would manage admirably.
Meanwhile Cynthia was most displeased with Ned for pretending to be asleep when she knew for certain that he wasn't. She had seen the corners of his mouth twitch on several occasions, if she wasn't mistaken and rarely was. Looking as if he wished to laugh, but knew he couldn't because of his ruse. She wished that he had instead behaved like the charming man she knew he was, beneath that dreadful brooding exterior he adopted after Joey'sdeath. Although her heart softened again when she recalled what he had told her privately about the subsequent loss of Felicity.
She sighed inwardly. It would take time she supposed for him to recover fully, knowing how much she still missed Ned's father, and such a pity that he would be travelling abroad so soon after he had seen Sophia and her safely installed at the house. During one of the brief pauses in the conversation she had scrutinised her new companion, taking in every detail of her face and appearance. Sophia had looked a little bedraggled earlier, but she had put this down to their early start. Nothing that the maid she had in mind to give her wouldn't be able quite easily to remedy.
Sophia had likewise been forming a better impression of the Duchess whom she thought was refined and elegant, but more importantly in her opinion kind, extremely well read and knowledgeable. She seemed to enjoy talking to all manner of people in society, and as a result, knew a lot about life. It was going to be a fascinating experience spending so much time with her, she couldn't help thinking. Realising again with an aching heart that this might well have been the sort of relationship she could have had with her own mother had she lived.
They had spoken again about their favourite poets. Before Cynthia had asked her about the verse she wrote and Sophia found herself able to talk about it. Even the frustration she felt as a writer in not being able to finish a poem when she was called away to do something else. Quickly realising her mistake, and that her time still wouldn't be her own at Carlfield, she blushed and begged the Duchess' forgiveness which touched the older woman’s heart. So much so that Cynthia told Sophia, quite categorically, that she must stop saying how sorry she was. Both Ned and her wanted her to be very happy, living with them. Whilst the Duchess would ensure that she had more than enough time to finish all of her poems, but on one condition. Sophia had paled then not daring to imagine what it might be. However it was only that she should share her words with her, since she was very keen to hear them.
Meanwhile Sophia was beginning to find the Duke a little intimidating. Sitting opposite them asleep, which she had thought until then people only did in the privacy of their bedchambers. However, as always, it might be easier if only he wasn't quite so handsome! Irrespective of how many times her imagination mightexplore the possibility of a romance he was still her employer, and according to the social rules he followed, she could only ever be his servant.
Even more importantly she also couldn’t take the risk of Lucas finding her, and forcing her marriage to Lord Dilley to go ahead. She needed to concentrate on that. The silly mistake she had made in mentioning Hannah by name definitely couldn't happen again. She was far safer simply staying as she was, a humble lady’s companion, without having any illusions of grandeur concerning a romance with the Duke of Carlfield. Not forgetting of course the impropriety of such a situation, and disgrace, should it be discovered.
Sophia shuddered then. Imagining that she could feel Lucas and Lord Dilley reaching out to her from a distance. They would both know by now that she had gone, and Lucas would be furiously questioning everyone about her whereabouts. Any suffering they had to endure because of it was all her fault. How much she wished now that wasn't the case. A stray tear escaped from her eye, and she brushed it away quickly before anyone else should see.
Nevertheless it didn't escape the Duchess' notice, who put it down to Sophia being homesick. Wishing immediately to put a stop to this she asked her if she was getting cold. Before Sophia could reply, she passed her the extra shawl she had brought, which was lying idle on the seat next to her. As it was a warm day, Sophia thanked her very much and tried to refuse such a kind offer, saying that she was fine. Cynthia though insisted that she make use of it. The shawl was only light, and she wouldn't have Sophia feeling the cold draught from the window.
Sophia was taken aback by her kindness, and put the shawl around her shoulders straight away. Strangely enough, having it there did feel comforting and it wasn't too warm. Owen had always cared for her as well as he could, but Sophia hadn't received small gestures like this while she was growing up, and it reminded her again of how much she had missed because of not having a mother for most of her life. She couldn’t help wondering then what her life would have been like if her mother had still been alive. She certainly wouldn't have been in the Duke of Carlfield's carriage in a compromising situation.
This train of thought was interrupted by the carriage coming to a halt, so that the horses could be changed again. Sophia glanced at the Duke who had opened his eyes, seemingly startled by being woken suddenly, and quickly averted them from looking at her face. Quickly she turned to Lady Cynthia who was smiling to herself, and already making preparations to alight. The journey progressed in much the same way, with innumerable stops when they left the carriage and returned to it. Until everything became a blur to Sophia, with her senses bombarded by new experiences, so much so that she stopped counting the times they alighted.
Meanwhile Edward continued to have reservations about what was now happening directly in front of him. Apart from how he felt personally about the proximity of Miss Barlow, he remained concerned that his mother was in the process of making too much of their relationship too soon. Sophia wasn't Ruth, and the appointment might not work out. He still wasn't sure what it was, but he couldn't help feeling instinctively that she was hiding something. Even if he was wrong, and he wasn't usually about someone else's character, it still took a lot more than just a few hours to get to know that person properly.
As a result he took Cynthia to one side when they stopped on the second evening, and insisted that Sophia eat with the servants. To which his mother immediately objected, as he expected her to. When Edward told her quite clearly that he wouldn't have it, she relented, and decided not to press the point. Not wishing to antagonise him, also fully appreciating the need to wheedle sometimes to get what she wanted. However, it was a shame. Sophia was a lovely, young woman. Exactly what Ned needed, if only he could see it!
Nevertheless she was prepared to concede that maybe he was right up to a point, in suggesting that this would be a good opportunity for Sophia to get to know some of the other servants in his household, before she met those who had stayed at Carlfield. As a result Cynthia asked her maid, Florence, to look after her companion for a short time. Telling Sophia that Ned and her had a private matter to discuss over dinner, so she wouldn't be required.
Sophia was a little alarmed by this at first, but soon took to Florence's warm manner and friendliness which reminded her of Amy. There were refreshments in the carriage, which the Duchess had instructed her to serve not long after they had set off from the London house, telling Ned and her that she hadn't had the inclination to eat her own breakfast earlier, due to being too excited about returning to Yorkshire. Sophia had intended to try to eat Amy's bread and meat when they stopped, as she was feeling very hungry by this time, but which hadn't in the end proved necessary.
She devoted her attention instead to scribbling notes in her journal which she kept on her lap, and intended later to turn into verse. Reluctant to lose any of the new experiences, or her thoughts about them and knowing that she wouldn't be able to remember everything if she didn't do this. What she didn't realise was how impressed Lady Cynthia was by her dedication, and taking the opportunity to learn everything she could about a world with which she wasn't yet familiar. Sophia’s passion was reflected in her eyes when she wrote, and Cynthia had been particularly annoyed with Ned since he was once again pretending to be asleep so had missed it. What a foolish young man he was at times, she couldn't help thinking in frustration! Sighing inwardly, after realising it was precisely why he needed her help in matters of the heart.
Meanwhile Sophia was describing her impressions of the last inn they had visited. The animation in her voice made her face appear even more beautiful, and Cynthia felt that she truly was a breath of fresh air in their lives.
Chapter 13
Sophia had been imagining all sorts of things about the Carlfield estate from the Duchess' descriptions of it, the history of the house itself and family, along with vast acres of land all of it occupied. Her thoughts had wandered back to Northanger Abbey and the gothic romance stories she had read, as the carriage travelled along the country lanes of Yorkshire when the sun was setting. Nothing had however prepared her for just how stunning her first sight of it was from the carriage window. After Lady Cynthia had invited her to look, she had immediately put her hand across her mouth, with wonder and surprise. The lake in front of it was surrounded by reeds, swaying gently in the warm breeze, as the mellow stones of the sprawling property and its lawns basked in the late sunlight.
Lady Cynthia had told her during the journey from London that it had been rebuilt in the sixteen hundreds after the manor house from two hundred years earlier, possibly more, had burned to the ground. Whilst the present house was much larger than Sophia had imagined it, and again as Lady Cynthia had told her, with stables and outbuildings at the rear. The closer the carriage came to the property, enabled Sophia to see a part of the gardens which Cynthia had described, leaving her speechless, and unable to help thinking that it was the most wonderful house she had ever seen.
As soon as the coachman slowed the horses down to turn into the grounds, Edward looked quickly out of the window to check exactly where they were, and began to get to his feet. Eager to climb out of the confines of the carriage. He was helping his mother alight when he noticed that the same footman who brought Sophia to Jenkins' notice, when she had arrived at his house in Belgravia, was assisting her again. This time to alight from the other door. Causing the Duke to feel an intense surge of jealousy flow through him. Made worse by the great care which the footman was taking while standing far too close to her for the sake of decency, in his Lordship's opinion. There was also the matter of the disrespectful way he had of smiling up at her. As far as the Duke was concerned his mother's companion was a single woman under his protection, but which didn't give him the right tointerfere with any other man in whom she might have an interest. Other than if this should of course affect the way she performed her duties. Or to reprimand the young footman who wasn't presumably going about the duties which would have been assigned to him by Jenkins.
Despite his annoyance Edward certainly didn't have any wish to appear churlish in front of Sophia. Also no doubt cause his mother to comment on his bad mood, if he put a stop to this now. These thoughts soon became tangled in his own longing to help Sophia down, and take her arm. Until he could no longer think straight or avert his eyes from what was happening in front of him.
He was eventually interrupted by Cynthia, asking him if he felt unwell. When all he could do was shake his head quickly, and miserably, in response. Knowing that he would probably not be able to make an excuse, without his voice sounding irritated and far too brusque, which would make her ask him even more questions that he didn't feel able to deal with. Anger, and intense frustration had by then replaced his initial jealousy.
