Chapter Ten
Chapter Nine
With her mind full to bursting, Farrah barely felt the cool breeze and persistent drizzle touching her face as the duke drove her away from her aunt’s residence.
She was conscious of him sending her frequent sideways glances, but he concentrated on his driving and left her to her cogitations without speaking, as if he sensed her emotional turmoil.
‘Thank you,’ she eventually said, her words accompanied by a deep sigh. ‘You went out of your way to be of service to me, and I was not very polite to you, for which I apologise.’
‘No apology necessary. You have had a lot to take in.’ He paused. ‘What did you make of Lady Bartholomew?’
‘I was apprehensive, unsure if I would be welcome and frankly not sure what to expect. If my mother ever mentions her name, one is left with the impression of a selfish, grasping individual who thinks only of herself. In that respect, I’m afraid it was immediately obvious to me that Mama could only have been describing herself.
’ Farrah smiled. ‘I liked my aunt instantly and I am so very glad to have finally made her acquaintance. The warmth of her greeting was both instinctive and generous. Given that Lord Bartholomew is so very ill, it was kind of her to receive us at all, much less spare me so much of her time.’
‘You are clearly very important to her. Meeting you at last appeared to bring her a great deal of comfort.’
‘Then I am glad to have been of service to her.’ She sighed.
‘I suppose I had steeled myself for a mirror image of my mother, too stubborn to let the past go and mend fences. But in actual fact the two ladies are as different as Sophia and me, and my aunt would clearly love to bring the dispute to an end. Mama is the guilty party insofar as she instigated the estrangement, but now that I know the reason for it I rather think she enjoys playing the martyr. There is nothing Mama enjoys more than being a victim.’
‘My mother would approve of Bartholomew marrying for love,’ the duke said, chuckling.
‘The duchess is a romantic?’
‘With every fibre of her being. She pretends not to notice that most people of marriageable age cannot afford the luxury of following their hearts.’
‘What has Papa got himself involved with?’ It was a rhetorical question, and Farrah didn’t expect a response. ‘It’s all well and good knowing that he might be in Liverpool, but that doesn’t get us much further forward.’
‘Bear in mind that a lot of ships come into Liverpool from far flung places.’
Farrah felt her pulse quicken. ‘You think he may have left the country?’ she asked sharply.
The duke shook his head. ‘I doubt it. If he had intended to go to America, or India, or anywhere that distant, he would have been aware that he couldn’t get there and back before you all left London.’
Farrah nodded. ‘And he would not have wanted us to ask awkward questions, or leave us to juggle with his debts, even though that is precisely what he has actually done. Papa is very secretive about his affairs. Perhaps I better understand why now that I am aware of his long-standing association with the Bartholomews. He would never dare let Mama know that he is still intimate with his old friend; it would create havoc within our household. He doesn’t care to be questioned about his activities at the best of times anyway, and especially not by me.
’ Farrah puffed out her cheeks. ‘It’s all well and good my aunt saying that he speaks of me with pride, but he has never shown me an ounce of affection that I can recall and looks at me only to criticise. ’
‘I am sure that isn’t the case. My own father adored my sister and indulged her shamelessly.’
‘Then I rest my case.’
‘Charlotte and her governess have been away for a month on an educational tour of museums.’ The duke smiled.
‘An excuse, I have no doubt, to enjoy themselves and visit the warehouses rather than admiring ancient relics. In fact they are due back today. I think you will like Charlotte. The two of you have a lot in common. She cannot hold her tongue either.’
‘I am not sure whether to be more flattered or offended by that comment,’ Farrah replied, chuckling.
‘Believe me, it was intended as a compliment.’
‘Your father could afford to indulge his daughter, I suppose, given that he had two sons to continue the family line. My aunt is right to suggest that Mama deeply regretted not presenting Papa with a son. She bore two, neither of whom survived their infancy. I think she would have much preferred it if I had not been the one to thrive.’
Farrah glanced at the duke’s noble profile, briefing wondering what reason such a powerful man could have to show so much interest in her problems. When she asked for his assistance, she had not expected him to attend to the matter personally.
Presumably he had minions who would have made perfunctory enquiries about her father’s activities and then let the matter rest. She wondered too why she herself was being quite so forthcoming about her private affairs.
‘I notice you have not denied that possibility,’ she added with asperity, thinking she might as well be herself and continue to treat him with irreverence.
Unless she mistook the matter, he appeared to enjoy her unorthodox behaviour.
Besides, it gave her something to think about and distracted her from her constant concern regarding her father’s wellbeing.
‘I have seen how your mother favours your sister and barely glances in your direction,’ he said, giving his team their heads. ‘It cannot have been easy for you.’
‘Good heavens!’ She arched a brow. ‘Is it that obvious?’
With the horses now cantering, it was difficult to maintain a conversation, so Farrah did not speak again until the duke had slowed his team to a trot and then a walk.
‘Presumably Papa’s investment has something to do with goods coming into Liverpool,’ she said. ‘But how should I narrow the search down?’
‘I see little point in furthering that line of enquiry. In less than six weeks your father will have to return to Dalton House. Considerably less than six weeks, one imagines, if he wishes to disguise the signs of neglect.’
‘There isn’t enough time to achieve that ambition, even if he comes back tomorrow. Anyway, what if he does not come back?’ Farrah could hear the anguish in her own voice. ‘What if he has decided to walk away from his problems? What if he is in trouble and requires help?’
‘If that were the case he would presumably have applied to his old friend Bartholomew.’
Farrah shook her head. ‘He knows that gentleman is on his death bed and would not have imposed. Well,’ she amended, ‘the father I thought I knew, the honourable gentleman who understands the rules, would not have. But I am starting to think that I don’t really know my father at all.’
‘Because he remained friends with your aunt?’
‘Yes, partly because of that. If he had imposed his will then Mama would have had to give up her grievances, and I could have met my aunt years ago.’ Farrah flashed a wistful smile.
‘I would have liked that. But he took the line of least resistance and never stood up to Mama.’ She paused.
‘He must have realised, I suppose, that Mama accepted his proposal on the rebound but was always dissatisfied with her lot. Although she no longer spoke to her sister, she would not have been able to avoid seeing her in society and hearing about her felicity, which would only have added to her dissatisfaction.’
‘None of this is your fault, Farrah.’
‘Then why do I feel disloyal for meeting my aunt.’ She flapped a hand. ‘No, don’t bother to offer up platitudes ?’
‘Platitudes?’ He sounded faintly amused by the suggestion.
‘Dukes don’t placate, I suppose, since their word is gospel.’
He responded with a deep throaty chuckle. ‘Your forthright opinions are certainly refreshing.’
‘I am glad you approve.’ Farrah was flummoxed by his calm acceptance of what Mama would describe as rife impertinence. But there again, they would not have been conducting this conversation if Farrah’s mother had been within earshot.
‘You are entirely welcome,’ the duke replied.
‘In the past I’ve sometimes come upon Papa unawares and he has looked so distant, so unhappy.
Perhaps now I better understand why. I think he was perhaps a little in love with my aunt too, and probably hoped to win her affections after Lord Bartholomew married Mama.
’ She flashed a wan smile. ‘It is strange how things turn out.’
‘I am sure your aunt will try to discover what ventures in Liverpool her husband entered into and pass that information on. That’s the best we can hope for as things stand.’
Furious that a tear had sprung to her eye, Farrah impatiently brushed it aside.
‘Pray don’t upset yourself, Farrah.’ He removed one hand from the reins and briefly touched her arm. ‘I can call you Farrah?’
She gave a cynical little laugh. ‘Since we have spent the entire afternoon alone, I think we are beyond observing the formalities. As to Papa’s whereabouts, upon reflection I think I shall not try to find him.
My time would be better spent attempting to repair some of the damage done to the estate by Papa’s neglect of it.
And, of course, studying the estate books, which Freeman has reluctantly agreed to let me examine. ’
She fully expected him to protest, claiming estate management was no work for a lady and that she couldn’t be expected to understand it.
Instead, he surprised her by simply smiling and agreeing with her.
She sent him a suspicious sideways glance, convinced that he must be patronising her, but could see only approval reflected in his expression.
‘I will leave you as close to Dalton House as I can,’ he said as they drove into the village. ‘Closer than where I collected you from, but you will still be in for a bit of a walk, I’m afraid.’