Chapter Six
After a week in London, the family prepared to return to the country for Harrison’s funeral. Sketchy details about his murder had been sent to Harriett’s father. She managed to hear most of it by eavesdropping on her parent’s hushed conversations. There had been no sign of a break-in, or theft. The fine collection of paintings,Sèvresporcelain, antique gold clocks and other exquisite objects d’art owned by Elizabeth’s family for generations were left untouched, along with her jewelry that Harrison had kept. It was a mystery how the murderer had entered the house. It was securely locked for the night. Apparently, Harrison had always insisted on it. None of the servants claimed to have heard a thing. The magistrate expressed the view that the murderer was long gone.
Leonora, delighted by the success of her first ball, where she’d danced every dance, had become sulky when informed she had to return to Pendleton for the funeral. She brightened once she’d extracted a promise from Father that she could return to London in time for Almack’s and was to have a new gown.
Harriett, her mother, and Leonora poured over silks, muslins, brocades and satins in Harding, Howell & Co, in Pall Mall.Mama purchased a black crepe mourning gown for herself, but told the girls they need only dress in sober fashion. She held up a gown she considered suitable for Harriett.
“But Mama!” Harriett stared at the sober, pearl-grey cambric in dismay. “That color doesn’t suit me.” The colors her mother chose never looked good on her.
“Allow me to know best, Harriett,” her mother said. “This is a solemn occasion.”
Harriett knew she couldn’t compete with her beautiful sister whatever she wore, but she was keen to look her best. She wandered about and discovered an evening gown that made her heart beat faster.
“Look, Mama. This is lovely.” She held the Cossack green silk evening gown against her. In the mirror, she looked different, older and more elegant.
“Mm. That is nice,” Mama said. “A little mature for a girl of your years.”
“I’m sure I saw Lady Susan Quigley wearing something similar,” Harriett said, hopefully. Young unmarried ladies routinely dressed in white during the evening. She disliked being one of a crowd.
She moved on and discovered a softer green satin with a net overlay with green satin ribbons tied under the bust and puffed sleeves. “How about this?”
“Mm. Better. It’s not as though you are in your first Season.” Mama turned back to Leonora.
“And, may I please have this?” Harriett waved a pearl-handled parasol of a pretty sea green.
“My goodness, Harriett,” Her Mama raised her head from discussing a lavender muslin with Leonora, “I’ve never found you to be so interested in fashion!”
They returned home with their packages. They were to leave for Pendleton early the next morning.
Harrison’s funeral service at the church drew quite a crowd, but only twenty people came to see him laid beside his wife, Elizabeth, in the small family plot on the estate grounds.
At the graveyard, Gerard stood apart from the rest. Harriett wanted to go to him and offer some measure of comfort, but sensed he wished to be alone.
No one but Gerard seemed moved by Harrison’s death. It made Harriett sad, until she noticed the stricken faces of the tenants and staff, huddled in a small group at the back. Pleased that there were some who cared about him, she banished the ungenerous thought that they were more concerned about their futures.
Gerard had vanished by the time they walked back to the house. Her stomach churned with nerves. Was she right to trust him? Would her father ever forgive her if she were proven wrong? She could only follow her instincts. Or might it be her heart that told her Gerard wasn’t capable of murder?
“Harrison would have been pleased with such a showing,” Mama said.
They dawdled back to the house with her mother and her aunt locked in conversation.
Father greeted them at the door. “Mr. Jarvis is ready, and everyone is seated in the Red Drawing room, my love.”
A little more than a handful remained for the reading of the will. None were closely related to Harrison, for all of his immediate family rested below ground. Some members of the staff clustered toward the rear of the room, in hope of some remuneration for long service, while the solicitor, Mr. Jarvis read the legal jargon of the lengthy document in sonorous tones. Harriett found it difficult to pay attention, particularly when Gerard came in and leaned against a column. He nodded to her, looking far too dashing in black, his boots polished to a high shine. It touched her that he’d taken extra care out of respect for Cousin Harrison. She wanted to go and stand with him, but sensed he wouldn’t welcome it.
Mr. Jarvis announced small annuities for the staff and one or two of the distant relatives. He read out her mother’s name. “To my dear cousin, Rebecca, Lady Edgerton, I bequeath the sum of two thousand pounds and my wife’s jewelry. To my cousin Georgina, Lady Dalrimple, two thousand pounds and the Rubens she likes that hangs above the staircase in the Grand Hall.”
“How nice that he thought of us,” Mama murmured, laying a black glove on her husband’s arm. The room erupted as everyone chatted. The solicitor paused and shuffled his papers.
When silence descended to the point where they could hear the inner workings of the clock on the mantle, he continued, “The bulk of my estate; the house, furniture, paintings and sculptures, lands and investments, go to my nephew and friend, Lord Gerard Everard, fifth earl of Foxworth.”
With a collective gasp, all heads swiveled to Gerard. He stood ramrod straight, looking as shocked as everyone else. Then he turned and left the room.
“Well I never.” Jacob Smithson, a hopeful, but tenuous connection of Cousin Harrison’s, bounded up and departed. Everyone else filed out after him to take tea in the salon.
Harriett searched the group who sat around drinking tea, but Gerard had not seen fit to join them. It was obvious the contents of the will were a surprise to him.
“Only fancy. Gerard,” Mama murmured to Father and Georgina. “Harrison’s better instincts allowed him to rise above the family feud.”
