The return of Dr Hawley from his promenade around the deck put an end to the ribaldry. Joshua was glad of the respite, and sensed Charlie learned as much as he did about strong drink and the former soldier’s strange humour. No doubt, they would become accustomed to that when in uniform.
Heeding the captain’s advice, the travellers arose early to restrict their exposure to the searing heat of the day, and retired to their cabins until well after the sun passed over the yardarm. The humid air lasted into the night, making sleep difficult. Nightshirts were an encumbrance, so they draped a sheet around them, toga style.
In the early hours of the fourth day, Joshua felt the blessed relief of a freshening breeze and movement of the ship as the wind filled the sails ready to take them around Sardinia and on to a safe harbour in Naples.
Linmore Hall, Shropshire
Within a few weeks of Joshua and Charlie’s departure, boredom was driving Sophie to distraction. She had nothing to anticipate – not even the fun of plaguing haughty Caroline Norbery. She could not understand how a man who sat a horse as well as Richard Shettleston could choose to marry such a prissy miss as her cousin. He was far too good looking for her, but she supposed there was no telling with men. They did the strangest things.
Lucy and Julia Norbery were insipid. She hated their dainty feet and nimble fingers. Dancing the minuet came effortlessly to them, as did pianoforte scales. Most of all, she detested the endlessly neat seams of embroidery they produced, and it was unnatural for both of them to write in a neat hand.
How dare that silly governess, Miss Finchley, commend their meticulous attention to detail and ignore the fact that Sophie could write sentences faster than either of them? True, her penmanship might not as legible, but Charlie wouldn’t mind a few ink-blots on the paper, and once he had learned the trick of turning the letter sideways to read in the margins, he could work out what she intended to say. It wasn’t as if he had letters from anyone else.
What did it matter if her handwriting was distinctly her own style, or her stitches looked crooked on a puckered piece of cloth? Such things did not concern her when she knew that she could ride to hounds as well as any man. It was not worthwhile teasing the twins about their paltry horsemanship, for they ignored her and comforted each other.
She needed comfort as well and there was no one to give it. Why had Uncle Tom sent Charlie and Joshua away? He should have known she would miss them. Even the horses could not compensate, so she looked around for things to do – and found mischief.
No one could be sure when Sophie’s passion for horses waned, and her interest in grooms began. But it could have been about the time when she was discovered watching the stable lads having their weekly dip in the deep river pool, and laughingly told she was too young to participate. As a result, she gathered up their clothing from the riverbank, cast it into the water and ran away.
Of course, they chased after her – and she let them catch her…
She might have known Lucy and Julia would tell Aunt Jane, which was how Squire Norbery came to hear of it. Sophie laughed when he questioned her, and it seemed he shared the joke.
“You need company of your own age, Sophie. I will see what I can do.”
Accordingly, he arranged for her to share lessons with the daughters of a neighbouring landowner, spending a week at a time with the family and returning to Linmore at weekends.
The arrangement worked well for almost two months, but one day when the groom travelled to collect her, he discovered Sophie had been missing for a week. Nobody knew where she had gone.
After searching for several days, they eventually found her in a gypsy encampment at the edge of the big wood on Linmore Hill. Although she was unharmed, Sophie claimed the gypsies abducted her. A charge for which, two young gypsy men were convicted and transported to the penal colony in the southern ocean.
Tom Norbery sensed it was unfair to evict the rest of the gypsy families from the land, but he could not take the chance of being wrong. What the deuce could he do with Sophie now?
With Jane’s help, he explored every academic avenue, and discounted one school after another. Finally, after long deliberation, they decided to send her to Miss Pepperslade’s Seminary for Young Ladies in Bredenbridge, which had the reputation for strict discipline, excellent refinement and achievement. Knowing how well Sophie responded to firmness from the head groom, Tom was optimistic of a good outcome, but Jane was less sanguine.
October 1799
“In flagrente delicto – what the deuce does she mean?” Squire Norbery was in his study, perusing a newly delivered letter when his sister-in-law entered the room.
“I would have thought the expression was self-explanatory,” she said with a smile. “But to whom do you refer?”
“I know what it means, Jane,” he growled. “The letter is from Miss Pepperslade, about Sophie.”
“Ah,” she said. “Couched in those terms, it can only mean more trouble of the same kind that we encountered before. I suppose we’ve been lucky to have a few months’ peace from her antics, but it was too good to last.”
“You’d better read the letter for yourself, and tell me where we go from here, for I’m dashed if I know.”
Jane took the proffered sheet of paper and read the full page through twice before responding.
“We must go to the school at Bredenbridge, of course,” she said. “The letter is a masterpiece of creativity if we ignore the underlining. Miss Pepperslade actually hints at a compromising situation with a member of staff, whilst remaining coy about the details. I thought all the teachers were female, although that doesn’t guarantee anything.”
“So did I, but from the way it is written, it would not appear so. How on earth did the wretched girl find a man in a girls’ school?”
“I have long suspected Sophie has hidden talents in that direction.”
Tom was not amused. He had sighed with relief when Sophie’s first term at school passed without incident, but the autumn term had hardly started.
“Drat the girl,” he said. “I hoped the episode with the gypsies was the last of such problems. Now I will have to see the headmistress and try to persuade her to let Sophie stay. It’s a blessing the boys are not here, because Charlie would come out, fists flying in her defence.”
“Would you like me to come with you for support?”
“For me, or Miss What’s-her-name?”
“Both,” she said. “I think the presence of another woman could prove helpful, because you will also have Sophie with which to contend. I will tell Kate I am going to the cottage for a few days, so we can set out from there with no one apart from Jessie and the coachman being any the wiser.”
Some of the tension eased in his face.
“This matter must be settled quickly, because I need to be back in the House, early next week for the latest debate. Sometimes, I wonder if it is all worthwhile. When I am in London, I long to be here at Linmore; and yet when I see Kate, I cannot bear to stay. Her mind seems to be getting worse and more twisted with hate against Joshua, even when he is not here. I was afraid when he was a boy that she would do him harm.”
“So was I,” said Jane, “and it was most unpleasant.”
Two days later, having informed the headmistress of their intention to visit, Squire Norbery and Miss Littlemore travelled in their coach to the county town of Bredenbridge, a distance of twenty-five miles. On their arrival, they went straight to a tall, red brick building in the town square – a former rectory, which was now a school for young ladies.
At twelve o’clock precisely, a maidservant admitted them to the building and conducted them to an ante-room next to the headmistress’s study. Two minutes later, the interlinking door opened and a thin wispy person, clearly a secretary of some kind, appeared and bobbed her knees.
“Miss Pepperslade will see you now, sir,” she said.
Tom entered the room and stopped short in amazement as a tall figure arose from behind the polished oak desk. His previous recollection of the headmistress was of a short, grey-haired woman of mature years, whereas this person was younger and of statuesque proportions, more suited to wearing a tailored, superfine coat, pantaloons and a pair of Hessian boots, than the black twilled silk gown and lace cap, which proclaimed her status as a teacher.
“Are you… Miss Pepperslade?” He could not keep surprise from his tone.
Fierce brown eyes met his gaze, as if daring him to challenge her authority.
“I am indeed, sir,” the woman said. “I assumed the running of the school in September, when my aunt was taken ill. Previously, I was her deputy.”
That explained the difference. The older woman maintained discipline with a firm hand in a kid glove. This person had yet to make her mark, but at least she remembered her manners.
“It is good of you to come, Mr Norbery,” she said, and looked enquiringly at Jane.
Tom responded accordingly. “Permit me to introduce my wife’s sister, Miss Jane Littlemore.”
After the women exchanged greetings, he said, “We have come a long way, ma’am. I would appreciate if you could put us in possession of the facts.”
The headmistress indicated they be seated, and took the straight-backed chair behind her desk.
“I will endeavour to do so, Mr Norbery, but this is an extremely delicate situation. My letter stated the facts, as they were known at the time. Since then, I have investigated the matter further.” She stopped to consult a paper on her desk. “I mentioned one lapse… but have discovered there were three separate occasions when your niece indulged in clandestine assignations: with the music teacher, a young dancing master and… one of the under-gardeners. I have never, in all my years in teaching, had recourse to…”
Tom interrupted. “Indeed, ma’am. I trust you have irrefutable proof of this?”
“Mr Norbery.” The woman visibly bristled. “I do not make such claims lightly to any parent or guardian. I have to consider the welfare of all my pupils, and protect the reputation of the school.”
“Of course you do, Miss Pepperslade,” Jane interceded. “We quite understand you have to think of what is right for everyone… including Sophie.”
Tom sighed with relief when he saw the tension ease in the headmistress’s face. He too felt the soothing effect of Jane’s voice.
“I presume Sophie has provided you with some kind of explanation for these… um… untoward occurrences?”
The headmistress turned gratefully in her direction.
“She denies everything, Miss Littlemore, but I have to consider what other parents would say if they were aware their daughters were being placed in the company of someone with…” she moistened her lips, “such… potentially… loose morals.”
Jane covered her eyes with one hand. “Oh dear,” she said, her voice trembled. “My poor cousin, Charlotte, would have been horrified to think of her motherless daughter being in this situation. I trust you are aware that Sophie and her brother were left all but orphans whilst in their formative years.” She looked towards Tom. “We have done our best, but it appears we may have failed…”
“Whilst I do not condone such behaviour, ma’am,” Tom said, “I think it would be helpful to see Sophie, and hear her explanation.”
“Of course, sir, it will be done immediately.” The headmistress nodded and reached for a bell pull.
Within minutes, Sophie entered the room accompanied by a female member of staff, who remained standing by the door.
“Uncle Tom, it is so good to see you…” Sophie rushed into the room, hands outstretched, then stopped and scowled. “Aunt Jane, what are you doing here?”
“Like your uncle, I am here to see you, at Miss Pepperslade’s request.”
“Oh, yes… of course.” She turned back to Squire Norbery. “This is the most appalling situation, Uncle Tom. I am being unjustly accused of… of… lewd behaviour.” Her voice disintegrated in a flood of sobbing, as she clutched at his hands. It took a few minutes for her to recover her composure.
“It’s not true,” she sniffed into the handkerchief, which Tom provided for her use. “I only asked for extra music and dancing lessons, because I didn’t want to disgrace myself at Linmore. It is not easy to compete with Lucy and Julia, because they do everything well. I did so want to make you proud of me, Uncle Tom… and… I miss Charlie,” she wailed.
While Tom patted Sophie’s hand, the headmistress blinked and looked away. Jane was the only person unmoved by the affecting display of emotion.
“Sophie is devoted to her brother,” she murmured. “He is currently touring Europe with my nephew; Mr Norbery’s younger son.”
Knowing he could not leave the matter unresolved, Tom found overnight accommodation in the town and returned with Jane to the school the following morning. To his surprise, Miss Pepperslade’s demeanour had changed.
Gone was the haughty assertion of authority of the previous day, and in its place a tremor of emotion. Tom could not tell what effected the change, but it was evident from her restless hands, fidgeting with her quill that the woman was struggling to compose herself.
“Mr Norbery,” she said. “There has been a… development since you were here yesterday.”
Tom sensed Jane’s eyes on his face as they waited to hear the headmistress’s next words.
“It seems I was precipitate in my assertion that your niece was complicit in the events that befell her. I apologise for my presumption, and the fact someone took gross advantage of her innocence. I would quite understand if you felt obliged to remove her from the school.”
The woman took a deep breath. “Since we spoke yesterday, the father of one of Sophie’s friends has interceded in her defence, and indicated he would be extremely displeased if she was blamed in any way. He said if you were agreeable, she would be most welcome to visit his family during the weekends and holidays.”
Tom was astonished. “That is extremely generous, ma’am. Am I likely to be acquainted with the gentleman?”
Miss Pepperslade preened herself as she said, “He is the owner of Onnybrook’s Iron Foundry, and Chairman of the Board of Governors.”