Relieved, Ash nodded. “It’s Julia.”
Ash left the coach before it drew to a stop. The three passengers laboring up the incline stared at him. Perhaps the Highworth coat of arms emblazoned on the door of the coach, with the shield of azure blue sporting an eagle, and the motto, “Courage, Virtue, and Strength” on the ribbon, made a difference, for no one objected to Ash picking up the resisting girl in his arms and pushing her inside the coach where Thea grabbed her.
“My niece,” Ash said to the group watching before he joined them inside. “Such a difficult age.”
A bespectacled gentleman nodded in agreement.
“Let me go!” Julia clutched her bag to her chest and tried to leave. But Jed slammed the door shut.
“Miss Bannockburn.” Ash placed a restraining hand on her arm as the horses leapt forward. The superior animals covered the distance to the top of the hill within minutes, leaving the mail coach far behind. “Believe me when I say it is our wish to help you find your aunt. You must know you cannot do it alone.”
Thea added her warm welcome to her grandmother’s and assured the girl they were there to help her.
Julia’s angry brown eyes took them in. But it was Whisky who finally subdued her by licking her face. She hiccoughed and wiped tears from her cheeks, suddenly very young and hopeful. “Do you know where my aunt lives?”
“Not as yet.” Ash offered her his handkerchief. He watched the bright anticipation fade from her eyes. “We must stay with my grandfather at Meadows while we await news from someone who knows of your aunt. As soon as their letter arrives, we will go to her.”
She blew her nose. “But how long will that be?” she wailed.
“A few days, perhaps a week,” he said mildly. “But you have waited so long, surely you can wait a little longer?”
She nodded, looking doubtful.
Ash saw in Thea’s gaze that she thought as he did. This young lady was impetuous by nature and would be hard to convince. As soon as he received the address, he must hasten to Cambridgeshire and find the aunt. He only hoped she was still alive.
Two hours later, after they ate luncheon at an inn, the coach passed through the village of St. Albans, and eight miles farther on turned through the gates of his grandfather’s home, Meadows, an impressive medieval house of pale stone set amid ancient trees.
After they divested themselves of their coats and hats into the arms of a footman, Gregson, the butler, escorted them through the rooms to the yellow salon. They found the earl seated beside the Adam’s white marble fireplace on his favorite chair, with a rug over his knees and his gouty foot on a cushion. Pleased to see him, Ash, ushered the ladies across the patterned Turkish carpet. A quick study confirmed his grandfather wasn’t well, an unhealthy pallor on his pale cheeks. His eyes, the same blue as Ash’s, were faded and held less of the old sparkle, although he expressed what was clearly genuine delight to see them. Ash clasped his hand, sensing how weak he was. The old man’s strength seemed to be ebbing away.
“Grandfather, I believe you know Lady Trentham?”
“I do. Lady Trentham, it is good to see you again.” Grandfather smoothed his shock of white hair with a liver-spotted, trembling hand which caused Ash another rush of anguish. “This is an unexpected treat.” He smiled and struggled to his feet with the use of his cane. “Such a bevy of beauty will do wonders for a man’s health.”
“I must introduce Miss Theodosia Tothill, Lady Trentham’s granddaughter, whom I’m delighted to tell you has agreed to marry me.” Ash turned to Julia, who had fallen silent. “And this is Miss Bannockburn, Lord Farnborough’s stepdaughter, who has agreed to spend some time with us.”
“Do be seated, Highworth,” Lady Trentham said briskly. “And I shall do the same.” She sat on a sofa upholstered in cream and yellow damask. “I am rather weary. Coach travel holds little joy for me.”
“I quite agree.” He turned to Thea. “So, this is Theodosia.” The earl smiled. “Come and give me a kiss. What a pleasure to welcome you into the family, my dear.” He took her hands and kissed her cheek as Thea murmured something Ash didn’t hear, but it made his grandfather nod and smile. He turned to Julia. “Farnborough’s young stepdaughter, eh? I knew your mother, my dear. Wonderful woman. And you are so like her. I was indeed very sorry to hear that she passed away.”
Julia stiffened but made no reply, for which Ash was grateful. His grandfather might not be in robust health, but he had lost none of his charm. Ash hoped Julia would stay put until he returned. He’d prefer Thea to stay, too, to keep an eye on the girl if her grandmother agreed. Ash glanced at his fiancée. She had already charmed his grandfather, who gazed at her fondly.
Would she wish to stay, though? He never quite knew with Thea. It gave him a moment’s unease, wondering what the future might be like, once married to such a rather stubborn, independent young woman. He might have proposed to half a dozen suitable young debs who would never argue the point with him and be content in their role as mother and wife. There were other means of settling the problem with Tothill at his disposal rather than proposing to Thea. He wondered why he had seized it so eagerly. But at that moment, Thea’s green, green eyes gazed into his with affectionate warmth. It might have been because of his engaging grandfather, but Ash hoped it was for him.
He took a seat as he recalled that tug of desire when he saw her in the ballroom and his amusement as she slipped outside to avoid a gentleman’s request for a dance. She’d intrigued him, and her blonde beauty, which gave the impression she was more delicate than he knew her to be, drew him to her, at first unwillingly, but now? Now he feared she’d become essential to his happiness. And for her safety, he hoped to persuade her to remain here with his grandfather. She was smart enough and darn beguiling enough, though, to get around him if the suggestion didn’t suit her.
After the ladies went to their bedchambers to change, the door opened, and a footman led Whisky in on a leash. The earl’s cat, Mouse, stood up in his basket, his back arched, and hissed.
“This is Lord Spencer’s dog, Whisky,” Ash explained. “I hope to leave him with you until I can take him to Scotland.” His grandfather patted the dog. “I’d like to explain all of this if I may.”
The earl raised his head with an amused smile. “I think perhaps you should, Ashton. I haven’t seen you for almost two months, and now you visit me, with a fiancée, her grandmother, an unhappy child, and a dog.” He chuckled. “I fear I shall end up housing at least two of them.”
Ash laughed.
Chapter Thirteen
In the evening,they dined in the gold-papered dining room, the candelabra and a magnificent chandelier throwing dancing flames over the silverware and tureens on the white linen-covered table. A stimulating conversation between Thea’s grandmother and the earl kept them entertained as they partook of the splendid meal of broccoli soup, loin of pork, a saddle of mutton, roast chicken, and platters of croquet of potatoes, asparagus, stuffed tomatoes, and green beans. Julia emerged from her shell and chatted to his grandfather.
She invited him to play a game of dominoes with her. “If you agree to play the pianoforte and sing for us,” he said. “Most young ladies I have discovered are proficient at both.”
