Carla Kelly (14 page)

Jamie shrugged.
It was nothing new to him.

“
Jamie, only think how well you will eat here!”

“
I
haven’t heard my Uncle Byford say anything about my staying,” was
his reply. He looked at Omega for reassurance, but she could give
him none beyond a smile and a touch on the head. Omega was past
attempting to divine what Matthew Bering would do. She had no
expectations. If Omega had had the remotest knowledge of whose
estate she had so blithely led Jamie to, she would have kept
walking and put him in Alpha Chartley’s capable hands, hang the
consequences.

I may have
done the lad a dreadful disservice
, was her thought as she
carried empty bowls from Tildy’s hands into the washroom, where the
scullery maid was already elbow-deep in suds. Her instinct for
flight grew by the minute. The only thing that kept her working was
a certain determination to see a task through, no matter how
distasteful.

Hours passed.
“Dear God, will they never go?” she said to Tildy at one
point.

Tildy had taken
advantage of a rare moment and was seated at the servants’ table.
“Surely that is a good sign, Miss Chartley,” she said. “You know
how people always hurry off when they are not happy.”

I can well
appreciate that, Omega thought.

“
This
means the business is a success. I can’t wait for Hugh Owen to tell
us about it,” the maid continued. “Think what it will mean for our
village!”

“
What
will
it mean?” asked Omega. In all the bustle and the
anxiety, she had no idea what the issue was.

“
Lord
Nickle and Sir Martin Dorking are the silent backers of a carting
firm out of London,” explained Tildy as she scraped plates into a
pan. “It’s between Byford and Regis as to which of our towns
becomes a stop on the route.”

“
And
if it is Byford ...”

“
Goods
will travel that much quicker to the markets in Oxford and London.
My papa says it is the best thing to happen to us since the old
viscount died.”

Omega blinked.
“Whatever do you mean?”

“
He
was a dreadful man, always drinking and wenching. Papa would never
let me work here if the old viscount hadn’t cocked up his toes.
Matthew Bering is such an improvement.” Tildy eyed Omega. “I ... we
are all so pleased to serve him, Miss Chartley. I must admit ... I
do not understand why you seem to get a little white about the
mouth when you have to talk to him.”

“
Oh,
it is ...” How could she possibly explain what she didn’t
understand herself?

She was saved
from wallowing about for the right words by a step on the stairs.
Hugh Owens came down into the servants’ hall. Angela ran to him and
he gave her a quick hug.

“
You
look magnificent,” she said. “Much better than usual!”

“
Oh, I
like that!” said Hugh, and smiled over Angela’s head at Omega.
“There is much to be said for being a gentleman—the best sherry, a
truly masterful cigar, clothes that tolerate sitting hour after
hour. Angela, I think I will become a gentleman.”

Angela laughed
and pushed him into a chair. “Have they gone?”

“
Almost. Lord Byford is even now walking them to their
curricle. No one seems in any hurry.” He looked back over his
shoulder at Omega. “I think the issue is won, Omega. I impressed
them—and me—with my knowledge of horseflesh, our chef here bowled
them over—thanks to our wily hunters —and everyone remarked on the
sophisticated yet simple arrangement of flowers.”

Omega sat down
across from Hugh and rested her elbows on the table. “Whatever did
you come up with to explain Matthew ... Lord Byford’s
eye?”

“
I
told the truth.”

“
The
truth,” Omega gasped. “And they
stayed
?”

The door opened
and Matthew Bering descended the stairs, followed by the butler.
From the look Twinings gave the other servants as he followed his
master, Omega could tell that such condescension was not an
everyday occurrence. The servants began to rise.

“
No,
no. Stay where you are. You, too, Miss Chartley. Sit,
sit.”

The servants
looked at each other. Twinings pulled out a chair for his master.
Matthew sank into it with a sigh. He glanced at Michael, who was
leaning against the dry sink. “Michael, could I trouble you for a
rag dipped in cold water and wrung out? My eye feels like the
Cyclops’ orb.” Michael did as he was bidden. “That, lad, is
much
better. Yes, Hugh told them the truth. But it’s your
story, Owen.”

Hugh nodded
graciously. “I told ’em I had struck my best friend Matthew a
mighty blow when he attempted to wake me from a sound sleep. Forgot
myself. I thought I was on the battlefield at Waterloo.” He
grinned. “Not that anyone was sleeping at Waterloo, but sudden
shocks, you know ... So we have been refighting the battle for the
last two hours, Angela. Who would have thought Waterloo would
become a dinner-table diversion so soon?”

Matthew shrugged.
“It must have sounded plausible to Lord Nickle and Sir Martin. Of
course, my good friend Major Owen had already made serious inroads
on their affections at the horse judging. Again, Hugh, it is your
story.”

Hugh smiled
modestly around the table. “That was the easiest part, my lord ...
and lady,” he said with a nod in Omega’s direction. “It was a mere
matter of follow-the-leader. I hung back from the lord and the sir,
nodding when they nodded, patting where they patted. Oh, Angela, I
could read those two like Señora Muñoz read her tarot
cards!”

His words were
boastful, but accompanied by such a grin that everyone at the table
smiled. “I was so agreeable. Happens we made some good choices.
There are some devilish fine horses in this country, my
lord.”

“
There
are. ‘Happens’ I own some of them.” Matthew took the cloth from his
eye. “And thank you, Miss Chartley, for your role in this evening’s
events. And you
,
too,
Angela and Jamie. Angela, what’s this? Are you
drooping?”

Angela rested her
head on her arms. Matthew reached across and touched her head,
shaking it slowly from side to side. “And thank you again, child,
for surrendering your battlefield souvenir for the good of
Byford—and the viscount.”

Angela mumbled
something but did not open her eyes.

“
Tildy, find a bed for Angela ... and for Jamie and
Hugh
,
too. It appears I
have houseguests.” He pushed his chair back from the table and
crossed his legs, giving himself over to an enormous yawn that
stopped almost before it started.

“
The
devil, my face hurts,” he said. “Friend Owen, please tell me that
I’ll feel better in the morning.”

“
You
might, my lord,” replied Hugh. He rose to his feet and prodded
Angela. “Come along,
muñequita.
Let us follow where Tildy
leads. You
,
too, Jamie.”
He followed the maid up the stairs, pausing at the top step, his
face suddenly serious, the smile gone. “I don’t really have any
regrets about drawing your cork, my lord. Good night, Omega. Don’t
stay up too late. Tomorrow may be even more trying than
today.”

“
He is
a quixotic combination of parts,” murmured Matthew. His face was
red with embarrassment, and he made no attempt to look her in the
eye. “You have obviously found yourself a champion,
Omega.”

“
It is
of no consequence,” she replied, taking off her apron and draping
it over the chair. “And, Matthew, I will apply to you for that
loan. I need only enough to get me to Durham. I’ll repay you after
the first quarter. I just wanted to see Jamie situated.”

Matthew reached
out suddenly and took her by the hand, compelling her to sit down
again. “Omega, you know I can’t keep him here.”

She jerked her
hand away, but she did not rise. She leaned toward him across the
table. “I know no such thing, Matthew Bering! He’s been beaten by
that ... that man who is his guardian. Surely you do not
countenance such things!”

He shook his
head, and she could see, despite her own impulsive fury, how very
tired he was. And there was something more, something she could not
explain, but which sent shivers down her spine.

“
I do
not look with favor on such things, Omega, but there is the matter
of the law. Lord Rotherford is James Clevenden’s legal
guardian.”

“
Can’t
you fight for him? Defend him? God, does your nephew have no
friends?”

His voice was
level, rising a little to compete with hers. “I cannot keep him.
And I cannot tell you why.”

“
I
suppose you cannot tell me why you left me at the altar, either,
can you, Lord Byford?” she lashed out.

“
No, I
cannot.” His voice was barely a whisper now.

“
Damn
you, Matthew Bering,” she said, her voice as low as his.

He raised his
eyes to hers then. “That’s already been done, Omega, rest assured.
Good night.”

Without another
glance at him, she ran up the servants’ stairs, and resisted the
urge to slam the door behind her. Twinings had put out the lights
and the hall was dark except for two candles on the table under the
mirror. Jamie stood beside the table, waiting for her.

“
Jamie,” she exclaimed, “I thought you were in bed.”

He shook his
head. Omega touched his shoulder and felt him tremble. “I came back
down for a glass of water,” he whispered. “Omega, he’s not going to
let me stay here? Is that what I heard him say? Oh, I didn’t mean
to eavesdrop, but I couldn’t help it.”

She put her hands
on his shoulders and drew him close. “Oh, Jamie, I wish I knew what
was wrong here. But please, please, don’t worry. Go to bed now, and
sleep, and in the morning Hugh and I will think of something.” She
paused and thought of her brother. “There may be someone who will
help us.”

“
But
it’s not going to be my Uncle Matthew.” His voice was the voice she
had prayed never to hear again, flat and devoid of hope.

She sighed and
hugged Jamie. “We’ll ... we’ll think of something. Things always
look better in the morning.”

Jamie let go of
her and stepped back, looking into her eyes. “Do you
really
believe that, Omega?”

There was nothing
she could say. She steered him up the stairs and into his room. She
sat beside his bed a moment, but when he would say nothing else,
but only stared at the ceiling, his lips tight together, she rose
and quietly closed the door.

Tildy met her in
the hall. “Here, Miss Chartley, you forgot your candle.”

She took it.
“Where am I to sleep, Tildy?”

The maid looked
surprised. “Why, in the room with all the beautiful
clothes.”

Omega shook her
head. “I wouldn’t sleep in there for anything. Just ... just let me
get a nightgown and show me where Angela is sleeping. Surely there
is room with her.”

Omega darted into
the room. A fire glowed in the hearth and the chair had been pulled
up close to it. The bed had already been turned down and a
nightgown lay across it. She snatched up the gown and followed
Tildy to Angela’s room. Angela was already asleep. Omega blew out
the candle and undressed in the dark, crawling in beside the little
girl, who sighed and tucked herself close. Gradually Omega felt
herself relax. She closed her eyes and slept.

Rain was falling
when she woke. The room was still dark, and she feared she had
overslept. Angela was already gone. Omega threw back the covers and
then hugged them to her again. The room was chilly. She wiggled her
toes under the blanket and sank down deeper in the feather
bed.

She was drifting
back to sleep again when she heard Angela crying in the hall. Omega
sat bolt upright, listening. She leapt out of bed and threw open
the door.

Angela stood in
the hall with Matthew Bering. His hand was on her shoulder, and he
was talking earnestly to her, but she was not listening. She raised
her face to Omega’s wide eyes.

“
Jamie’s gone,” she sobbed. She ran to Omega, who grabbed her
and hugged her. “Hugh went to look for him. I wanted to
go
,
too, but
he
wouldn’t let me!” She raised stormy eyes to Matthew’s face and then
looked away from him.

“
It’s
too rainy outside, and besides, the river rises when it’s like
this.”

“
Angela’s not afraid of rain, Matthew,” Omega chided, “and she
probably swims better than you do. Come, child, let me get dressed
and we’ll go look for him
,
too.”

“
No,
Omega.”

Matthew grasped
her shoulder, but she shook him off. “If there ever was a time you
could tell me what to do, Matthew, it’s gone.” Her eyes clouded
over. “I can’t believe you are so unfeeling. Maybe I never really
knew you.”

She went back
into the room with Angela and locked the door behind her, dressing
quickly, dragging a comb through her hair. She thought of the warm
cloaks in the pretty bedroom next to the viscount’s room, and then
dismissed them. It was only an August rain. She wouldn’t
melt.