Annie Burrows - Four Regency Rogues

‘Why, everyone, especially if you invited the Earl. It would gain you an entrée into society if he were to accept.’

Charlotte laughed aloud. ‘If I know his lordship, he will not consent to be used in that manner. He is not a fool, you know.’

‘I did not say he was. But he seems to accept almost every other invitation. You are the only one who has not entertained him.’

It was obvious to Charlotte that her ladyship did not know about the party at the mill or else she discounted it. ‘I will think about it.’

Having succeeded in her aim, her ladyship took her leave, and Charlotte sat on, thinking dreamily of making her name as a hostess, of being accepted in society, of being beautiful and sought after. And then she pulled herself up short. It was only a dream and dreams had no substance; she would do better to go over the report the mine engineer had sent her about the new level. She would never have begun it if the Earl of Amerleigh had not come back, poking his nose into her business. His long, handsome nose. Why could she not get him out of her head? Why did everyone have to keep talking about him, reminding her that he had kissed her hand and gazed into her eyes and something had passed between them that she could not define, something that kept her awake at night and would not go away?

She stood up and began pacing the room. It was a very large room, tastefully decorated and furnished. A collection of valuable paintings graced its walls and a display cabinet in the chimney alcove was full of the porcelain her father had collected. At the end of the marble-floored hall was a huge ballroom and opposite that an oak-panelled dining room. The dining room was only used when she gave dinner parties for her managers and other business people, otherwise she ate alone in a smaller room nearer the kitchens. As for the ballroom, that had never been used for its intended purpose that she could remember, though Mrs Cater had once said her mama used to give balls in the days before she was born. ‘And very grand affairs they were too,’ the cook had said. ‘Your mother was so beautiful, so gentle and kind, everyone loved her, God rest her soul.’

‘I wish I had known her,’ Charlotte had said wistfully.

‘’Tis a pity you never did, but there, it was God’s will to take her from us. You are very like her, you know.’

‘Am I? How?’

‘In looks and on account of caring for those less well off. She could not bear to see a child with bare feet and would buy up a whole shop full of shoes and boots and take them to the village for everyone to help themselves. Your papa used to laugh about it, but he always let her have her way.’

Papa laughing! That was something Charlotte had rarely witnessed. For the first time in her life she felt utterly alone. Catherine Brandon had unsettled her, as if she had not been unsettled enough as it was! She left the room, walked along the hall and entered the ballroom, all of eighty feet long and thirty wide, and stood looking round her. Empty. Huge and empty. Nothing but emptiness. Was that symptomatic of her life? Hurriedly she turned on her heel and went back to that mine report.

Roland was inspecting the new carriage horses, which had just arrived. Travers, who was knowledgeable about horses, had helped him choose them, a couple of well-matched sturdy greys with white tails and manes. The family carriage had been cleaned and repainted black with the Temple crest on the door, and now the horses were here, he could go out and about in a manner befitting an Earl. He did not mind so much for himself, but his mother had missed being able to order out the coach and pay calls and he wanted to please her. He had just watched the horses being led to their stalls when the sound of a rider trotting into the yard made him look up. A man in the uniform of a Captain of Hussars was entering the yard.

‘Miles Hartley,’ Roland said, coming forward to shake his hand as he dismounted. ‘Why did you not tell me to expect you?’

‘I was unsure of being able to leave until two weeks ago and then I decided to take my time and see a little of the countryside on the way.’ The Captain was tall, though not as tall as Roland. His face was tanned and his hair black. He had curly side whiskers and dark, humorous eyes.

‘You are very welcome. Come indoors and I will order refreshment for you. Corporal, see to the Captain’s horse, will you? And then ask Mrs Fields to come to me.’ He led the way, taking his visitor in through the front door, across the wide hall and into the drawing room. They had barely seated themselves on the new sofas when his housekeeper appeared.

‘Your man said you wanted me, my lord.’

‘Yes, we have a guest. Please bring him some refreshment, then make up a bed in one of the spare rooms.’ He turned to Miles. ‘You will stay?’

‘It will be a pleasure.’ He gave Mrs Fields a smile that crinkled up his eyes and revealed perfect white teeth. She flushed with pleasure and bobbed a curtsy before leaving to obey her instructions.

‘Tell me, what news?’ Roland asked, as she disappeared. ‘What have you been doing?’

‘Administration work in the War Department, transporting troops home for discharge, bringing back unused supplies and armaments, making arrangements for Lord Wellington’s return to the capital. He is in Paris at the moment, but there’ll be a great to-do when he comes home, you can be sure. But until he does, there is a lull in the business and I decided to take advantage of it to come to see you.’ He looked about him, taking in the newly refurbished room. ‘Didn’t know you had a place like this, Temple,’ he said.

‘I have only recently come into it. It has been run-down, but is coming round now. Still a lot to do, though.’

‘What’s this about deaf children?’

Roland told him about Tommy Biggs and his idea for teaching him signs. ‘He was born deaf so I do not think he can be cured, but if only he could learn to communicate, his life would be so much better,’ he finished. ‘That is why I thought of you. I know you dealt with soldiers, but surely the principle is the same?’

‘Yes, but a great deal depends on the receptiveness of the child. I should need to see him before I decide.’

‘Of course. When you have eaten I will take you to meet him.’ He paused, wondering how to go on. ‘I have no idea what remuneration you would require. The family is very poor, but I could undertake a small salary.’

‘Let us talk about that later,’ Miles said as Mrs Fields returned.

‘I’ve put everything in the dining room, my lord,’ she said, bobbing.

Roland conducted his guest to the dining room. This was furnished with a table, six chairs and a sideboard and little else. They looked lost in that huge room. ‘As you see, there is still much to be done,’ Roland told him.

The food, though, was good and Miles did it justice before the two men set out on horseback for the village.

They had dismounted and were approaching the Biggs’s cottage when they met Charlotte. She was wearing her strange riding habit, but as she was on foot, the wrapover skirt covered her breeches. She had a basket on her arm, evidently making for the same destination. They stopped and eyed each other warily, each wondering what the mood of the other might be. Avoiding the Earl of Amerleigh when she ventured into the village was almost impossible, she had discovered, but then why should she need to? Stiffening her shoulders, she smiled. ‘Good afternoon, my lord.’

‘Miss Cartwright, your obedient. May I present Captain Miles Hartley. Captain, Miss Charlotte Cartwright, a neighbour.’

‘Captain Hartley. Are you the gentleman who might be able to help Tommy?’ Charlotte smiled and offered her hand, more the gesture of a man than a lady, who would have bent her knee and lowered her gaze.