Page 24 of Scandal at Greystone Manor

‘You mean Jeremy, your coachman?’ Isabel queried.

‘Yes, he has grown into a fine man and would do anything for my husband and for Mark, too.’

‘That is why his lordship listened to my tale of wanting to set up a home for war orphans,’ Jane said. ‘He understood.’

‘His promise will be honoured, Jane,’ Mark said quietly.

She turned to him and noticed the sparkle of tears in his eyes and her heart went out to him. The pity of it was that she could not tell him so. ‘Thank you, Mark, but you have more important matters to deal with, I am sure.’

‘Have you decided on the funeral?’ Lady Cavenhurst asked him.

‘Yes. It is to be in St Peter’s in Hadlea next Thursday. The Bishop of Norwich and the Reverend Caulder will officiate. There will, of course, be refreshments here afterwards and the reading of the will.’

‘I shall mourn for the rest of my days,’ Lady Wyndham said. ‘But we will not keep Mark and Isabel waiting too long for their wedding. I want to see grandchildren playing about the place before I leave this world. I think six months will be enough for the official mourning.’

‘Thank you,’ Isabel said. ‘You are very kind.’

‘I have no doubt you have much to do,’ Lady Cavenhurst said, rising. ‘We will take our leave. Please do not hesitate to send for us if there is anything we can do for you.’

As they were leaving they met Drew on the gravel in front of the house. He was about to climb into the gig which was to take him to the Fox and Hounds. He bowed to each of them. ‘Ladies, I regret I cannot stop and talk. The mail is due in twenty minutes.’

‘Are you leaving?’ Isabel asked with something like dismay in her voice.

‘Yes, Miss Isabel. I would not intrude on the household grief, but I shall come back for the funeral. Lord Wyndham was very good to me, when I was struggling to make my way.’ He bowed again, climbed into the gig and was driven away.

The pony and trap in which Jane had driven them to Broadacres was waiting for them at the door. It was just big enough to seat four comfortably. She was a competent driver and enjoyed bowling about the village in it, though her mother and Isabel much preferred the coach.

‘It was considerate of Lady Wyndham to think of you, Issie,’ Jane said, skilfully turning the pony towards the entrance gates. ‘In the midst of her sorrow, she is still thinking of others. Six months is not so long to wait and the time will soon pass.’

‘I knew spilling that ink on my gown and letting Mark see it was a bad omen,’ Isabel said. ‘And I have been proved right.’

‘That is just a silly superstition,’ her mother told her. ‘Do not think of it.’

‘It is not the only one about weddings,’ Sophie piped up. ‘It is said a postponed wedding never takes place.’

‘Sophie, how could you?’ Lady Cavenhurst remonstrated as Isabel burst into tears. ‘There was no call to repeat such nonsense. You have upset your sister, for no good reason.’

‘Sorry,’ she mumbled.

But nothing would comfort Isabel and she continued to weep all the way home.

* * *

‘Issie, do dry your tears,’ Jane said as gently as she could, though she was fast losing patience with her sister. ‘If Lady Wyndham and Mark can bear up, so should you. Their loss is the greater.’

‘It’s all right for you, Jane,’ her sister grumbled. ‘You have not had your wedding snatched away from you.’

‘Isabel, it has not been snatched away,’ her ladyship said. ‘It has merely been postponed for six months. It is to be hoped that by that time you will have learned how to be more dignified. Think of the position you will have as Mark’s wife. You will be Lady Wyndham and mistress of Broadacres. Everyone will look to you to set a good example. Mark does not want a wife who bursts into tears at the slightest setback.’

Isabel did not answer and Jane pulled up in front of the stables and they all dismounted, leaving Daniel to unharness the pony and rub him down. They met Teddy in the hall, as they were going upstairs to take off their bonnets.

‘Teddy, where have you been?’ his mother asked him. ‘We have just been over to Broadacres to offer condolences. You should have been with us.’

‘I had business in Norwich. I will go over later.’

He did not elaborate on what the business might be. Jane had little hope that he had been looking for a way out of his dilemma. She knew their father had spoken to him about the need to make savings, but she had no idea what her brother’s reaction had been. She sighed as she continued upstairs to her own room. She must write to the bank manager to ask him to release her savings. And then what? Would Teddy turn over a new leaf?

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