Chapter Nine
Freya would have liked to remain longer at Thom Manor, but as soon as it was reasonable to do so, she set out with Miss Whitchurch and Mrs. Thompson to her aunt’s house on the other side of the village.
Lord Thompson’s mother had insisted on going along to introduce her future daughter in marriage and to assure the tale upon which they had all agreed would be believed, one vicar’s wife to another’s.
“This is your coach?” Freya had asked Miss Whitchurch once they were settled within.
“Yes, it is a wedding gift from my dear Lord Thompson. I do not deserve it,” the young woman said with a blush on her cheeks.
“You do,” both Freya and Mrs. Thompson said together.
“My son is happy, at last,” Mrs. Thompson declared with a smile. “All he has known for the past twelve years will be quickly forgotten now that he can name his future.”
“I am happy for both my new friend and your son, ma’am,” Freya said dutifully.
In a bit over a quarter hour, they reached the village of Pavian and its cobbled thoroughfare.
Mrs. Thompson pointed out her late husband’s former church.
“This is where Benjamin was born,” she said with pride as she gestured to the house behind the churchyard.
“As my Ernest was brother to the then Lord Thompson, the 9th Earl was generous to provide us with more than a small cottage.”
“It is lovely, ma’am,” Freya replied, belatedly realizing she meant her words. She thought she could be happy with Lord Graham in such a place.
The carriage continued on until they reached another smaller village, perhaps a mile past Pavian. This one was called Hawkins. Soon her uncle’s vicarage came into view. “How long have your aunt and uncle lived in the area?” Miss Whitchurch asked.
“Some six years, I believe, if I recall correctly,” Freya said with a slight frown. “They were closer to Dover for a number of years, but being associated with the barony provided Uncle Philip with more prestige than did his previous position.”
“I always loved the Hawkins church,” Mrs. Thompson said with a wistful smile. “A square-towered stone church appropriately situated on an eminence in the otherwise relatively flat landscape. Quite picturesque.”
“Is that the vicarage?” Miss Whitchurch asked. “My father’s was an ivy-covered multilevel house built of pale stone. Odd, that our memories overlap when it comes to our love of country churches, Mother Thompson.”
Before more could be said, the carriage turned upon the graveled pathway that led to the reddish-toned front door.
Freya did not recall the path being quite so long.
Moreover, she was becoming more concerned with the lies she must present her aunt, though Freya was excessively glad Lord Graham had offered her an excuse.
Whether her aunt’s reception would be joy or dismay would be hard to predict.
As the carriage rolled to a halt before the house, the door opened and her Aunt Felicity stood in a very majestic stance, prepared to greet them.
As Freya stepped down from the carriage, followed closely by Miss Whitchurch and Mrs. Thompson, her aunt called out, “Oh, my dear heavens! It cannot be that you have brought me the new Countess Thompson, Freya! If I had known…”
“No sense to stand upon propriety, Mrs. Turner,” Mrs. Thompson declared. “You and I have known each other for more than a handful of years. Now, we may celebrate the connection of my new daughter-in-marriage to your niece. Shall that not be grand?”
“Grand, indeed!” Freya’s aunt declared. “Come in. Mr. Turner will be glad for company. Your uncle was worried for you, Freya.”
“It is my fault, ma’am,” Freya’s friend said before Freya could form a response.
“I was later leaving London than expected and then we had a bit of trouble with a wheel. I fully intended to see your niece to your door last evening, but neither she nor I wished to wake you in the night’s middle.
My father, who was, until recently, a vicar in Devon, would never consider calling upon a godly home after ten on the clock in the evening, unless it was an emergency. ”
“I do appreciate your thoughtfulness, Miss Whitchurch, though I admit I was terribly worried also,” Mrs. Turner said.
“But all is well now.” Her aunt embraced Freya again.
“You look more like your maternal grandmother every day you walk this earth. Even the color of your hair can be found in her portrait.”
“I wish there was a painting of her in Father’s home, for we rarely visit your and Mother’s family these days,” Freya said wistfully. “I would like to look upon it and find my features elsewhere.”
“Do not permit me to list all your father’s faults, girl,” her aunt declared as she turned their steps to the inside. “I would not wish it to be off-putting before your new acquaintances.”
After a reasonable period for a morning call, Miss Whitchurch and Mrs. Thompson left Freya with her aunt and uncle, and Aunt Felicity asked the question Freya had been expecting. “All of Lord Duncan’s sons are at Thom Manor, are they?”
Freya attempted to answer with as much innocence as she could infuse in her voice. “I would imagine so. It would be odd for any not to attend His Lordship’s marriage to Miss Whitchurch.”
“Meaning also Lord Graham?” Aunt Felicity asked.
“Lord Graham is standing up with Lord Thompson at the wedding and arrived just as we were leaving to come here,” Freya shared, “while Lady Beaufort will stand with Miss Whitchurch.”
“You are familiar with Lord Beaufort’s wife?” her aunt inquired.
“Oh, yes. I took Lady Beaufort’s acquaintance when we were all returning to Scotland after Parliament recessed.
Father’s coach broke an axle near Dumfries.
Lord Graham’s and Lord Beaufort’s coaches overtook us and provided us transportation.
It was very kind of both. Lord Graham had escorted Lady Annalise Dutton to Scotland for her marriage to Lord Beaufort.
They were marrying in Scotland so they could travel more efficiently to Ireland.
Lord Beaufort’s maternal grandmother was ill and not expected to live long.
They had thought to marry in the spring, but he wanted his grandmother to know his life was settled and there would be the promise of children.
Apparently, according to Lady Annalise, it was heartbreaking for His Lordship when he discovered Lady Klare has lost most of her memories.
Remember, very much as your and Mother’s great-grandfather did.
Anyway, Lord Graham hosted us until the repairs could be made, and I spent many happy hours with the lady.
Lord Graham even paid for the repairs, as my father is not so well known in the area. ”
“I am sorry to learn of Lord Beaufort’s troubles, but what I meant to say is Lord Graham’s stepmother is now Lady Rayland.
I must warn you to be aware of your obvious admiration for Lord Thompson’s family in Lady Rayland’s presence.
We cannot afford to offend Lord Rayland. He is your uncle’s benefactor.”
“I understand,” Freya said obediently, but her aunt’s edict did not sit well with Freya’s plans.
Aaran managed several hours of sleep before he faced his full family. He held no doubt that Thompson and Miss Whitchurch had shared what they knew with the others.
“Good to see you safe, boy,” Duncan said as he looked up from the tray where cheese, bread, and wine had been set out for the gentlemen. “I was not aware of the debacle regarding Bankstone being pulled away until a courier caught up with my carriage on the way here.”
“Yes, Bankstone said they had thought to have found Jonas Betts’s killer,” Aaran said as he accepted a glass of wine from Duncan.
“Might I prepare you a plate, my lord?” Mr. Boone asked.
“Thank you, Boone. Whatever you consider best,” Aaran instructed Thompson’s butler.
“Lady Freya arrived safely?” Lady Annalise asked in tones of concern.
“Barely,” Aaran admitted. “I arrived at the coaching inn just as some stranger had stolen her reticule,” Aaran shared.
“What do you think of the woman setting her cap for you?” Marksman asked with a frown.
“What did you think when you first realized Theodora wished to be your wife?” Aaran countered. He did not yet know what he planned to do with Lady Freya Cunningham, but he would not have her name disparaged by anyone, especially one of his brothers.
“At least Duncan did not object,” Marksman countered. “Lord Cunningham will refuse his permission.”
“I would not have minded if you and Theodora had waited a bit longer,” Duncan admitted.
Thompson said with a shrug of what could only be embarrassment in openly admitting his thoughts, “At a minimum you know the lady favors you. That is something many of us learned late.”
Aaran said, “There is much to learn of both the lady’s wishes and those of her family.
For all I know, Cunningham could change his mind and make arrangements for his youngest daughter to marry into the Graham family to Lord Rayland’s stepson, my brother Boyde, who is also a Graham.
The new Lady Rayland would approve of the Cunningham connection.
There were rumors before they both married elsewhere that their parents briefly favored a joining.
Lady Freya would assuredly accept Boyde.
My brother, though still quite immature, would treat her better than would Sir Patrick Hodge, and she, perhaps, could lead Boyde along a more mature path. ”
Freya managed a few hours of sleep, but she made herself rise and rejoin her aunt. She knew she must win over Aunt Felicity to the idea of Lord Graham if Freya’s hopes were to know fruition.
She bent to kiss her aunt’s upturned cheek. “May I assist you?”
“Your father would have a fit of the vapors if he thought I asked you to prepare the vegetables for your evening meal,” her aunt said with a chuckle.
“I do not mind,” Freya said as she sat across from her relation and took up the bowl of peas.