Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
ASHTON WAS A TYPICAL English village, small and quaint, the shops proudly maintained, freshly painted with flowers in the window boxes.
The carriage drive from the village to Ashford Hall was but ten minutes, along a charming country road, high, clipped hedges offering the slightest view into the stately homes of the local gentry.
But the moment Cliff’s coach turned into the sparsely graveled drive leading to the hall, passing two chipped brick pillars, the engraved plaque so worn it could barely be read, he knew the manor was in dire straits.
The grounds alongside the rutted drive were overgrown in places, bare in others.
Ahead, a grim gray stone house awaited them.
He glanced at Amanda with a frown, but she was leaning toward her window, her face flushed with excitement.
He silently cursed, wishing he’d had the foresight to come and inspect the estate alone, before ever allowing her to see it.
He’d sent word, however, and they were expected.
Amanda sat beside him, fidgeting as she had ever since they’d been a few miles from Ashton.
Ariella and Anahid followed in another coach, with Michelle, Cliff’s valet and Amanda’s new maid.
Alexi had begged to stay at Harmon House, as he and Ned were now inseparable, and upon swearing fervently to behave and obey his uncles and grandmother without question, he had been allowed to remain behind.
Cliff allowed himself to glance at Amanda again.
Every time he looked at her, he thought about the two times he had been in her bed and then he thought about Garret MacLachlan.
He was not happy with himself, as he was introspective enough to know that a certain degree of jealousy had caused him to deny MacLachlan his suit.
Had the Scot called on any other ward, had he another one, he would have allowed the courtship, dismissing the man’s strained finances, for his other attributes far outweighed the lack of economy and wealth.
In fact, a man with MacLachlan’s obvious character was exactly the kind of suitor he wished for Amanda.
He turned away, staring at the gray stone house, noting the roof needed extreme repairs. As it was about to rain, he would undoubtedly learn whether it leaked or not. He was glad to be distracted from his previous thoughts and the fact that, deep within himself, he was ashamed of his behavior.
“We’re here,” Amanda whispered, so excited her tone was hoarse.
“The grounds are terribly neglected,” he commented as the coach halted.
She met his gaze, her eyes sparkling. He realized she wished to fly out of the coach and into the house.
Before he could caution her to prepare herself for the worst—and to tell her he would find her a far better property—their door was opened.
Amanda leaped from the coach, forgetting her new manners, and he smiled, his heart turning over hard, as it was so often doing these days.
He followed her more slowly as their second carriage also halted, the front door to the house now opening.
A servant came out, wearing a shabby, ill-fitting suit.
As Ariella, Anahid and Michelle alighted, he and Amanda walked up to the hall.
He already knew it had been built in the previous century and had once been walled, but he saw no sign of the original walls.
The house was two stories, mostly rectangular, and as melancholy as a home could be.
He hated it—it would not do, even if there were three tenant farmers. Amanda deserved far better.
“My lord.” The servant came quickly forward, bowing eagerly. Instantly, Cliff thought him inebriated, and a moment later, he smelled the ale on the man’s breath.
“Miss Carre, this is Watkins, I believe.”
“Yes, I am Watkins, and I have prepared rooms so you may all stay overnight, rather than go to the village inn. My wife is preparing a small supper. My lord, I hope that meets with your approval?”
“That is fine,” Cliff said curtly, aware of Amanda standing breathlessly beside him, almost incapable of restraining herself. “Why are these grounds in such a state of neglect?”
Watkins’s face fell. “As you know, the previous owner has passed, sir, and the heir resides in town. He only wishes to sell, not to repair.”
Cliff was not impressed; he gestured the servant to precede them inside. As they followed, he took Amanda’s hand. “Do not be discouraged,” he said softly.
She beamed at him, broke free, and hurried after Watkins.
He realized she was not in the least bit discouraged and he was surprised.
He followed the pair into a moderately sized great hall, a rusting coat of armor beside the front door, a pair of swords over the stone hearth.
He scowled, looking up at the cobwebs hanging from the rafters and in the corners of the room.
The walls needed cleaning and whitewashing, two of the beams overhead were obviously rotten, and the wood floors were heavily scarred and had not been waxed in years.
A single trestle table was in the room, and the six chairs did not match, the various types of upholstery faded and torn.
He was furious with his agent and with Watkins.
“You have had two days notice that we would be here this afternoon. Why is this room not clean?”
Watkins cringed. “My lord, there are no housemaids. I oversee the property, that is all.”
“I see bones in the corner there,” he said. It appeared someone had thrown their leftovers on the floor a very long time ago.
“The previous owner left a dog, sir. He comes and goes.”
“I will not be requiring your services tonight,” Cliff said.
Watkins drew himself up, clearly about to protest.
“You and your wife may take the evening off. I suggest you vacate these premises now,” Cliff said softly in a tone that was unmistakably dangerous.
Watkins fled and Ariella skipped into the room, then wrinkled her nose. “Pew! It smells in here, Papa!” She glanced around. “You will buy this for Miss Carre?”
Cliff realized Amanda had already rushed down the hall and was in one of the adjacent rooms. “Of course not,” he said. He smiled at his daughter. “Maybe you should play outside while I fetch Amanda. We will be staying at the village inn after all.”
Ariella hesitated. “Papa, she was so happy to come here today! She told me so…she will be so unhappy if we leave.”
He went to Ariella and hoisted her into his arms. “Darling, I believe she will be thrilled to leave,” he said, hugging her.
Ariella shook her head. “This estate means everything to her, Papa. She told me how her home in Jamaica was taken away from her. Papa, she has no real home of her own!”
Cliff stared at his clever daughter. “But she lives with us now,” he finally said.
Ariella brightened. “I know that, so why can’t she just stay with us? Why can’t Harmon House and Windsong be her homes?”
He tensed. “I am certain you are aware of what a dowry is, Ariella. I am providing such a dowry for Amanda.”
Ariella’s brows knit. “So she can marry someone…I know what a dowry is. Papa, doesn’t Miss Carre make you happy?”
Surprised and even uncomfortable, he set her down. “I am very fond of her.”
Ariella smiled. “You are always watching her and smiling. You seem very happy.”
Cliff became still. Did his own small daughter guess at his feelings for his ward? “You make me happy, darling,” he said, hoping to distract her.
But she tugged his hand. “Do you love Miss Carre?”
He was aghast. “What kind of question is that?”
“Alexi and I were wondering if you should marry her, instead of finding her a husband like the Scot, whom you so hate.”
“Have you been eavesdropping?” he asked, stunned.
“I can’t help it if everyone in the family talks about you and Miss Carre in front of me,” she said with a grin. Then she sobered. “I wouldn’t mind.”
He tugged at his collar, opening it. “You wouldn’t mind what?”
“I wouldn’t mind Miss Carre being my mother, and Alexi wouldn’t mind, either.”
He stared, at a complete loss for words.
Ariella stared back, clearly waiting for a response on his part.
He knelt, so they were eye to eye. “Darling…. do you wish to have a mother? Haven’t I been a good father? Isn’t Anahid exactly like a mother?”
Ariella shook her head. “I love Anahid, and I know she loves me, but she is not my mother. She is my friend—and even so, you employ her, Papa.”
He touched her cheek. “Am I failing you?” he asked, stricken over the possibility.
She shook her head again. “You are the best papa in the world! But I so like Miss Carre and you seem to love her! I couldn’t help thinking how nice it would be if we were a real family.”
He stood, thinking about Garret MacLachlan. He couldn’t help his next thoughts. If he would not allow her to marry Garret or a man like him, then he should do the deed. Otherwise he must allow her a man of strength, will and character.
But he did not want to marry, not ever! He felt real panic at the thought. “I am not planning to marry Amanda or anyone, Ariella,” he said firmly, but even as he spoke, his heart leaped in a protest he refused to comprehend.
Her face fell. “Oh.”
“Why don’t you go outside and wait for us?” he suggested.
When she was gone, he took a moment to compose himself, wishing his daughter had not spoken up as she had. As for MacLachlan, he owed it to Amanda to seriously rethink his position in regards to the Scot’s suit.
“Cliff! Come quickly!” she cried.