Helen Dickson - The Foundling Bride

‘I have to agree, but I wish things could have been different.’

‘So do I. Edward’s behaviour towards me and then you hurt your father deeply. But he left you and Juliet well provided for. He was not a frivolous man, and as you know he made shrewd investments in coal mining in the North and banking in London. He died an extremely wealthy man.’

‘Nevertheless, Edward deeply resents the fact that Father left me the mine.’

‘It’s what you always wanted. You won’t mind living here, will you, Marcus? When I have gone to London you will have the cottage to yourself.’

‘You are going to stay with Juliet?’

‘Your sister is always asking me to go to her. I miss Juliet and the little ones. I would ask you to come with me, but I know you have no liking for the city.’

His mother was right. London held no delights for him, but he was impatient to see his sister. They had always been close. Now she was married to Lord Simon Mallory and had left Cornwall to live in London. They had two children Marcus had not yet seen. He was impatient to rectify this.

‘You are right. London is not for me, but I would dearly like to see Juliet again. I will consider accompanying you—although if we are going then we must do so soon if we are to return to Cornwall before winter sets in. The roads—which are bad at the best of times in Cornwall—will become unpassable. I hope you don’t mind Lowena coming to the cottage too?’

‘Not at all. There’s always room for another pair of hands in the house.’ She gave Marcus a thoughtful look. ‘According to Mrs Seagrove, you didn’t arrive until the middle of the night. What made you bring Lowena with you?’

‘You may not know about it, but last night there was a smugglers’ run. Edward had her on the clifftop, manning the beacon, and I came across her. Edward also has an eye for her. I thought she would be safer here at the cottage with you.’

‘Oh, dear!’ Lady Alice said, deeply troubled to hear this. ‘I didn’t know—but then her duties are as a kitchen maid, so I rarely see her. Tregarrick is large, and we have such a large number of servants it’s difficult keeping track of them all. I leave that to the housekeeper. Edward has his own ideas, and it suits his needs as a gentleman to employ a large number of staff.’

‘It is also common practice for the gentry to take advantage of young women in their employ. My brother is no different—but why must he cast his eye on Lowena, who is little more than a girl?’

Lady Alice laughed softly. ‘If you think that then your eyesight is sadly impaired, Marcus. Lowena is a beautiful young woman.’

‘She is also a rare jewel and quite unique—as Izzy was always telling me.’

Marcus fell silent, recalling the night before and how Lowena had so boldly stood her ground and spoken her mind. Marcus cursed beneath his breath as he realised what those impressions had extracted from him—admiration and desire.

His awareness of the latter left him both outraged with himself and shaken by its swift encroachment on his life at a time when he had vowed never to become enamoured by another woman. But, try as he might to dismiss them, those thoughts gave birth to an impractical possibility that he would not let himself consider just then—for to do so would unleash the pain and heartache he had locked away when Isabel had betrayed him with Edward.

But he would not allow himself to think for another moment that the young girl he had teased and laughed with, who had enchanted and amused him, was romantically entangled with Edward. Such an idea was insane. It was obscene. He would not believe it—because he couldn’t bear to believe it.

But if there was no truth in it then why had she not come right out and said so?

‘When I said she is a girl,’ he went on, ‘what I really meant was that she is a child compared to Edward and his vast experience with women.’

‘Then we must keep an eye on her and keep her away from him.’

‘Yes, I intend to do just that. Much as I applaud Edward for his good taste, I can’t help thinking that if we let Lowena find herself in his clutches it would be like feeding her to the wolves.’

‘I think you underestimate her, Marcus. I strongly suspect that she has the courage to pit her will against any man—including you,’ Lady Alice said quietly.

Marcus’s face tensed and he gave his mother a sharp look. ‘Rest assured, Mother. Lowena is quite safe from me. Now, tell me what you have been up to since you were removed from Tregarrick.’

‘I’ve been to Devon to stay with my dear friend Anne Holland and her family—she thought some time away after the funeral would be a comfort to me. But never mind that. We must make arrangements for Lowena.’

‘Very well. What do you suggest?’

‘I shall see that she is given responsible work. In fact Dorothy, my personal maid, is not as young as she was, and I have noticed that she is slowing down of late—not that I would say anything...the last thing I want to do is upset her. Lowena is a bright young thing, and if she is in agreement—even though I think her talents would be wasted—I will train her as a lady’s maid. I’ll give her a few days to settle in and then I’ll discuss it with her. Leave it with me. I will deal with it.’

‘Thank you—that is a relief. Although I worry about what will happen to her when we leave for London. Would you think of taking her with you?’

‘Certainly, if she accepts the position I offer her. Without Izzy, and with Hester and Kenza married now, and Annie having gone to live with Hester, she is quite alone in the world, poor girl. I often wonder about her—who were her parents and where did she come from?’

She sighed.

‘I’ve always had a fondness for her—and I know you have too, and that because you were the one who found her you have always felt responsible for her. However, for all her provincial ways, I feel she is not of the servant class. My heart goes out to her, for I cannot imagine what it would be like to be without family.’

‘Lowena always considered Izzy’s family her own.’

‘I know, but it’s not the same, Marcus. After all this time I don’t suppose we will ever know where she comes from. She’s such a bright girl, with an intelligence I have not witnessed before in a young lady. Not even Juliet. Izzy taught her well—although a great deal of what she has learned she’s gleaned from the books she borrows from the library at Tregarrick. Izzy was disappointed that her own girls did not have the same enthusiasm for learning.’

Gazing at her son she smiled.

‘You really do look very handsome in your red coat, Marcus, but I imagine you’ll have to discard it now you’re no longer a soldier.’

‘I intend to. But I’ve worn uniform for so long that I’ve outgrown most of my clothes. I thought I’d ride into St Austell and visit the tailor. I intend to call at the mine on the way.’

* * *

Sheltered in the protective folds of low hills was the Tregarrick estate. It dated back several centuries, and each generation of the Carberrys had made its mark on the house with some addition or alteration. It was a beautiful house, with an air of permanence and importance about it. Built of Cornish granite, its very solidity gave it an air of solemnity. Large mullioned windows allowed light to pour into the interior, the gardens were beautifully landscaped, and the high surrounding walls and tall iron gates concealed the private lives of those within.

Lowena put her hand on the gate at the same moment as a skein of geese left the lake and took to the air overhead in a V formation, and she did not see the curtain that was let fall to cover a window as the watcher moved to follow the girl.