Regency Romance Collection From Christina Courtenay (7 page)

‘
Eliza, Miss Downes has left for good and from now on I would like you to assume the role of nanny to the children. I will see about finding them a governess soon, but for now you’re in sole charge. Can you manage that?’

‘
Why yes, my lady, I’d be delighted to. I … thank you, thank you so much.’

‘
And there will be no physical punishments, is that clear?’

‘
No, I would never hit them, I swear.’

‘
Good, that’s all settled then. I shall come every morning to give the girls some lessons until I find a governess.’

She spent the rest of the afternoon in the nursery, taking tea with the children and playing
with them and reading stories. They all had a very jolly time and she was almost sorry when it was time for her to go and change for dinner.

During the night, Amelia was awakened by a soft knock on her door. When she called ‘Enter’, a very timid-looking Eliza came tip-toeing in, her hand shielding a candle from draughts. She stammered excuses for having woken her ladyship.

‘
What’s the matter?’ Amelia sat up in bed, alarmed.

‘
It’s Miss Chloe, my lady, she had a nightmare and now she’s crying and keeps asking for you. She says as how she won’t go to sleep without you.’

Amelia put on a wrapper and followed th
e girl at once to the nursery. Chloe was indeed in a state and would only stop crying if Amelia stayed near. In the end, it seemed easier to simply carry the child to Amelia’s bedroom and let her sleep with her. Mathilde, who didn’t want to be left out, came too.

‘
It’s just as well I have a huge bed,’ Amelia muttered to herself before sleep finally claimed them all, but deep inside she was pleased to have won the girls’ trust. Somehow, she no longer felt so lonely.

CHAPTER NINE

The next day being Sunday, Amelia decided to attend the service at the local church with the girls
. After a leisurely breakfast taken in her bed amid much joking and giggling, she sent them off with Eliza to put on their Sunday best.

‘You too please, Eliza, I may need your help.’

‘Yes, my lady.’

As she was unsure what kind of reception she would have from her new neighbours, after what James had told her about being ostracised by polite society, she took great c
are with her choice of outfit. She selected a prim walking dress of dark blue shot silk, with little white ruffs at the collar and cuffs and a matching Spencer and bonnet. It was elegant, but understated, and she thought it would do very well.

In the hall she encountered a worried-looking Mrs Flint, who asked whether her ladyship was really set on going to church. Amelia smiled confidently.
‘Don’t worry, Mrs Flint. His lordship warned me things might be a trifle … difficult, shall we say. It doesn’t worry me in the least. Anyone has a right to worship in their local church, and so I shall tell them if they dare protest.’

‘Oh, well if you’re sure?
I wish you luck, my lady. If you should have need of assistance, we’ll all be among the congregation.’

The little party arrived at the church in good time, and Amelia sailed up to the door regally,
holding the girls by the hand. She was greeted by a very surprised and flustered vicar, who had no doubt recognised the grand carriage.

‘Er, good morning, ma’am.
I’m the Reverend Mr Denning.’

‘
And I am Lady Demarr and these are my step-daughters.’ Amelia inclined her head to him, staring him straight in the eyes as if challenging him to deny her the right to enter.

‘
Ah, you’re very welcome, my lady. If you will come this way, I’ll show you to the Winholt family pew.’

This proved to be at the front of the church and Amelia swept past everyone, pretending to be unconcerned that they were
all staring curiously at them. She sat down and waited for the service to begin.

James, in the meantime, was already regretting his self-imposed exile, and could see that he had nearly driven the grooms and workers at Westfield insane with his demands and counter-demands. His lordship was definitely not himself, he heard them mutter to each other, something was eating the man.
If only they knew
, he thought. He was sure it was with a sigh of relief they greeted the news that he was going to ride over to Marr Place to see that all was well.

James had begun to feel guilty for leaving Amelia so abruptly and wanted to speak
to her to try and make amends. Although he still felt they should spend time apart, he realised now that he should perhaps have stayed a few days first to help ease her into her new role. Whether she was eventually to remain as his wife or not, he owed her an apology.

He arrived at his home early and was greeted by Jamieson as usual.

‘Where is Lady Demarr?’ James demanded without preamble. ‘I wish to see how she is going on.’

‘
I’m afraid she is not here, my lord.’

‘
Not here? What do you mean?’ James was seized by a sudden fear. Had she left him already, angered by his behaviour towards her? The butler hastened to reassure him.

‘
She has merely gone to church, my lord.’

‘To church?’
James almost added, ‘Is she mad?’ but thought better of it. He was astonished that she would brave local society so soon after her arrival, and alone. ‘Good grief,’ he muttered. ‘I’d best go and help her face the tabbies.’

He realised he’d uttered the final sentence out loud when Jamieson gave a small cough and said, ‘Excellent idea, my lord, if I may say so.’

James nodded and headed back out to his horse. Even though he had warned Amelia, he was genuinely concerned over the treatment she might receive from his uncharitable neighbours, who had snubbed him for the last few years. What on earth had possessed her to brave them alone?

He need not have worried
though, as he soon found out. He entered the little church, only to stop dead in his tracks. There, in the front pew, was not merely his wife, but also his daughters. They all appeared totally unconcerned with everyone else in the church. Amelia was singing the first hymn in her beautiful, clear voice, virtually on her own, aided only by the vicar’s light tenor and Mathilde in her untrained fashion. Everyone else was staring at her with an open mouth, not uttering a sound.

With a small smile, James walked up the aisle and sat down calmly next to Amelia, who looked up with surprise and a
lmost faltered in her singing. He joined in the second verse with his strong baritone and after her initial astonishment, Amelia smiled at him almost conspiratorially. Together they sang the last verse as if no one else existed. When they had finished, there was complete silence for almost a full minute before Mr Denning cleared his throat and began the service.

Upon leaving the church, the vicar stopped them to thank them for coming.
‘It is not often we have the benefit of such a lovely voice in our congregation,’ he added to Amelia. ‘I hope you will join us every Sunday from now on, your ladyship?’

‘
That is my intention, certainly,’ Amelia replied, and James suppressed another smile. He could see that he need not have worried about her in the slightest.

The vicar introduced his wife, and after a slight nudge from her husband, Mrs Denning asked Amelia if she would care to come to tea at the vicarage one afternoon.

‘I’d be delighted, thank you.
Just send a note round to inform me which day would be suitable.’ With a gracious smile, she swept back to the waiting carriage, again holding the little girls by the hand. She ignored everyone else, who stood in groups whispering and nodding in their direction. James handed them into the carriage, but when Mathilde begged to be allowed to ride on his horse, he let her sit in front of him in the saddle instead all the way home. Amelia wondered what local society would make of that – the reviled viscount showing himself to be a kind and caring father, as well as a supportive husband. No doubt there would be much speculation about this turn of events.

Amelia was uncomfortably aware of James’s presence next to the carriage and whenever he looked in her d
irection, she felt overheated. She wondered what had brought him back so soon, but dared not ask.

‘
That was very brave of you, my dear,’ he commented as he handed her down from the carriage. ‘I think you were a success and if Mrs Denning invites you to tea, then the rest might follow. I congratulate you. I can see that there was no need for me to worry that you would come to regret our bargain.’

‘
Thank you, it was kind of you to come and lend me support. And of course I don’t regret it. You told me what to expect and it is a great deal better to be a shunned viscountess than an unpaid housekeeper.’ He nodded, acknowledging the truth of that. ‘Have you tired of life at Westfield already?’ Amelia couldn’t resist asking.

‘
No.’ He frowned. ‘If you must know I came to see how you were getting on and to apologise for leaving you so abruptly the other day, but I see you are doing splendidly, so there was no need for me to come after all.’

‘
Well, I hope you will find time to join us again next week. It was much nicer to sing a duet with you than with the vicar.’ On impulse, Amelia stood on tiptoe and kissed his cheek. ‘Thank you, James,’ she added, before turning to mount the stairs.

As she reached the top, she glanced over her shoulder and saw James standing transfixed, staring after her, with one hand holding
the cheek she had just kissed. Mathilde had to pull on his coat sleeve twice before he came out of his trance enough to say goodbye to the girls, and Amelia smiled to herself.

She rather thought she had given him something to think about.

The
next few days were very busy. Amelia went to the nearest town to choose the materials for the new curtains and cushions she wanted to have made, and work began almost straight away. There was furniture to rearrange and the girls to teach, as well as such things as flower arranging and choosing the daily menus. She also went to have tea with Mrs Denning, and impressed this lady to the extent that some of their other neighbours began to leave their cards at Marr Place. Amelia decided to let them remain curious for a while and merely left her card in return instead of inviting them in, but there was one neighbour who was not content to be fobbed off in such a manner.

On the Friday morning, a booming female voice echoed round the hall.
‘I demand to be taken to Lady Demarr at once. I am reliably informed that she has not gone out, so don’t try to bamboozle me, my good man.’

Jamieson came to find Amelia, who was just taking tea in the morning room, and informed her that the local squire’s wife
and son would like to see her. Amelia, who had heard the loud exchange in the hall, smiled and asked him to show them into the small salon.

She tidied her hair quickly, then went to join her guests, a young
man who looked to be a year or two older than Amelia herself, and a rather large matron. She noticed the young man first as he was wearing an embroidered waistcoat of a particularly loud shade of turquoise. This was teamed with an impossibly tight coat, high starched shirt points sticking out at the top and a cravat tied so intricately it must have taken him hours. Amelia deduced that he was trying to ape the fashionable dandies, but with his sandy hair and youthful features, he didn’t really carry it off. Hiding a smile, Amelia turned to his mother instead.

‘
Lady Briggs, how nice of you to call.’

‘
Not at all, it was the least we could do after you regaled us with such fine singing last Sunday. This is Justin, my firstborn,’ Lady Briggs announced grandly. ‘Quite a nice boy, really, but a deplorable taste in waistcoats. Don’t mind him.’

Young Mr Briggs did not look at all discomfited by his mother’s remarks and Amelia
guessed he must be used to them. He managed to bow over her hand with some grace, despite the tight coat, and as he smiled up at her she decided she rather liked him. He had a frank, open countenance, and the look of admiration in his eyes, although blatant, was not in the slightest bit lecherous. Relieved, she felt herself relax.

‘Will you take some refreshment?’
Amelia asked.

‘
A dish of tea would be very welcome, thank you. I am pleased to find that you are not at all high in the instep, my lady,’ Lady Briggs confided, making Amelia smile inwardly again at her frankness. ‘It’s been many years since there was a viscountess hereabouts, but I remember hearing that the last one was an insufferable snob. I am referring to your husband’s late mother, of course, not his wife. I don’t believe she ever set foot here.’

This was an interesting snippet, but Amelia resisted the temptation to enquire further. She
resolved instead to ask James about his mother at the earliest opportunity, but made no comment. She rang for tea, which soon arrived accompanied by scores of different cakes and some scones. It would seem that Cook was trying to impress her new mistress, as well as their guests, and young Mr Briggs in particular was very pleased with the offerings.

‘
I say, your cook must be a capital fellow,’ he commented before tucking in with gusto.

‘I believe “
he” is actually a “she”,’ Amelia replied with a smile, ‘but yes, she is indeed very good.’

Mr Briggs beamed at her and said over a mouthful of sponge cake,
‘Do let mama know if you ever wish to part with her.’

‘
Really, Justin, there is nothing wrong with our cook,’ his mother protested, ‘and we didn’t come here to discuss food.’ She turned to Amelia. ‘I came to discuss parish business, your ladyship. Have you heard about the church fête next week?’

‘No, I haven’t.
I take it this is a yearly event?’

‘Yes, indeed.
I am used to organising it, since my husband is the Squire, but now that you have taken up residence here, perhaps you would like to take over?’ Lady Briggs looked as if this last sentence had had to be squeezed out of her and Amelia concluded that she didn’t like her lofty position being usurped.

‘Oh, no, Lady Briggs,’
she said smoothly, ‘I would be very happy if you could continue to run things. Everything here is very new to me, but perhaps you could be kind enough to assist me to learn, become my mentor as it were? I would deem it a great kindness.’

‘
Why of course, I would be only too pleased to offer you a few pointers.’ Lady Briggs visibly preened herself. ‘I’m sure you’ll soon find your way around our little community.’

‘I hope so.
Tell me, do you think perhaps I ought to invite all the local ladies for tea one afternoon in order to become acquainted with everyone? If so, could I ask you to draw up a list of those I should invite?’ Amelia felt sure that if Lady Briggs ordered them to come, then come they would.