Chapter 17
James enjoyed his swim as did his dogs. He was in his shirt and about to pull on his breeches when the dogs alerted. God – that was all he needed – an unwanted audience. He turned and saw in the distance the small shape or Eloise racing towards him.
'Othello, Caliban, see who's coming. Off you go, she wants to play with you.
' He gestured with his hand and they didn't need telling a second time.
They took off at a gallop. He waited until they reached the little girl and he was confident she was no longer looking in his direction before continuing to dress.
More or less correctly attired, only his mangled stock not back around his neck, he jogged towards the dogs and the child. Only then did he notice Haven and the carriage were rapidly approaching the house.
He lengthened his stride, running effortlessly, and paused briefly to speak to Eloise. 'I can't stop, sweetheart, more guests are arriving and I have to be there to greet them.'
'Mama isn't happy, Uncle James. She doesn't like Miss Brotherton either,' the child looked at him trustingly not worried that he'd react violently and this made him happy.
'Your mama has been unwell, I'm quite sure that once she's fully recovered, she'll be restored to her former good humour.'
Eloise nodded but looked a little unsure. 'Mama's never happy. Papa was mad.'
'Well, little one, you don't need to worry about anything now you're here. Don't go any nearer to the lake, is that clear?'
'I don't like big water.'
He left her running around in the strange way that she had, singing to herself and waving her hands in the air.
The dogs looked as if they were joining in this strange performance.
Her father had gone mad? That put a different complexion on things, maybe what had transpired at Upminster Hall hadn't been quite as he'd imagined.
He arrived at the house several minutes before the carriage expecting to find Sofia and at least one of the other girls waiting to greet their missing relatives. The hall was deserted and only one footman stood on duty outside the drawing room.
He quirked an eyebrow and the young man grinned. 'Billy's showing Miss Brotherton the other side of the house, my lord. Mrs Turnbull asked him to.'
James nodded and strode across the chequered space following the chattering he could hear. It sounded as if they were getting further away and he needed Sofia beside him when the great aunt and her final sister walked in.
With a resigned smile he put his two fingers in his mouth and whistled hoping the dogs wouldn't hear him and think they were being called back. He muted the tone somewhat but it still echoed wonderfully around the hall. He heard Jim, the footman, sniggering and he smiled.
Sofia arrived in a rush closely followed by the other two. 'What's wrong, James? I do wish you wouldn't make that frightful noise, it's most unseemly.'
'Would you have preferred that I yell your name, my love?'
'You're impossible, but I find that I am warming to you despite your many faults.'
James ignored the two girls listening closely to this exchange, stepped in and kissed her before she could complain. There was an audible grasp from behind him but he ignored it.
'I intend to do that on every possible occasion, but I don't care how shocking it is,' he whispered to her.
'Not only are you impossible, dearest James, you're also outrageous but there's no time for me to reprimand you sufficiently as my great aunt and my younger sister are about to enter.'
He slipped his arm round her waist and drew her close to him – where she belonged.
'By the way, I told Lady Charlotte that the engagement's genuine, that we love each other, and that we're getting married in September or earlier. I'm afraid she went off in high dudgeon.'
'Good for you, it saves me the trouble of telling her. I've other things to discuss with you about that situation but it must wait for now.'
He'd been expecting someone as shrivelled and bad tempered as his grandmother but a remarkably sprightly, elderly grey-haired lady stepped into the hall. She looked at him with interest and nodded.
'Lord Avon, thank you for inviting us to live with you. However, consider this a summer visit, I haven't decided if I wish to make this my permanent home. Mr Haven has taken over the financial arrangements for our property, and I thank you for that also.'
He bowed formally but she didn't do more than nod her head. 'Welcome to my home, ma'am, you may remain indefinitely or return to Hilltop House in a few weeks if that's what you wish to do.'
She smiled and only then turned to greet Sofia and Colette. 'Well, girls, you both look smart. Are you happy here? Do you like your new guardian?'
James was unfamiliar with being spoken about as if he was invisible but remained silent wishing to see how things developed before intervening.
'Great Aunt Jemima, I hope you had a pleasant journey. Your rooms are being prepared for you, refreshments will be served in the blue room which is to the left of you. Lord Avon and I are engaged and will be married very soon.'
Lucille's mouth dropped open and the old lady fixed him with a less than friendly glare. 'I can think of only one reason, my lord, for so sudden an arrangement to have been made. You must have compromised my niece and been obliged to offer for her.'
He straightened and returned her icy look. 'I suggest that you think more carefully about what you say, ma'am, if you wish to remain here even one night. You will not impugn the good name of my future bride. Do you understand me?'
Sofia slipped a hand in his and squeezed it gently. He understood her request. He was to say no more on the subject.
'Aunt Jemima, we have much to discuss and here is not the place to do it.
Nobody was compromised. Lord Brotherton's offer was a genuine one and I accepted it in the same way.
We might only have known each other a short while but sometimes you know instantly that you've met the person you wish to spend the rest of your life with. '
The old lady cackled, a most peculiar laugh, but it was heartfelt. 'That's all I wanted to hear, child, if your affections are already engaged then that's something to celebrate. If you say that his are also then that's nothing short of remarkable.'
The old lady looked at him her expression almost friendly. 'I apologise if I misspoke, my lord, but these girls are my life. They might think that I'm a curmudgeonly old besom, but I love them all as if they were my daughters.'
Who was the more astonished of the three young ladies by this revelation he couldn't be sure as they all looked quite overwhelmed.
As one they enveloped their aunt professing their love and affection for her in equal measures.
James decided that he rather liked this outspoken old lady but sadly realised the chances of her becoming a bosom bow to his appalling grandmother were unlikely.
His grandmother was also outspoken, but she didn't have a kind thought in her head, thought only of herself, and even his less than pleasant father had barely tolerated her.
Turnbull rustled up and curtsied to the group. 'Welcome to Avon Court, ma'am, I am Turnbull the housekeeper here. Allow me to conduct you to your apartment.'
'Thank you, Turnbull, I wish to remove the grime of the journey from my person and then I hope you'll send a footman to conduct me to this blue room where refreshments are to be served.'
'Yes, ma'am, I have that in hand. Two footmen are already taking your maid and your luggage to your chambers.'
Their voices faded as they disappeared down the passageway that led to the far end of the main section of the house. Satisfied this had gone better than he'd expected he turned to speak to his youngest ward.
She dipped in a curtsy. 'Thank you for inviting us here, my lord. You will be my brother-in-law as well as my guardian – I think that highly peculiar as we didn't even know you existed a few weeks ago.'
James grinned. All the Brotherton ladies were direct, and he liked that about them. He hadn't wanted a house full of simpering misses, and he certainly hadn't got them.
*
Sofia sent Annabel and Colette upstairs with the new arrival as she needed to speak to James urgently. 'Your study, or the blue room?'
He was still holding her hand and led her towards the room that was for her sole use now she was to be lady of the house. As soon as they were inside the door, he encircled her waist, she tilted her head inviting his kiss.
This time it was gentle, tender, she returned the pressure on her lips, loving every minute of it. He was the first to raise his head and stepped away to sit on an armchair making it abundantly clear she was to sit elsewhere.
'I think it would be safer for both of us to be somewhere we might be interrupted.'
'I agree absolutely. I don't trust either of us to behave as we should.'
His smile was wicked. 'I'll have to move to Bath or we must get married as soon as I can have the banns called. I've no wish to pre-empt our wedding vows but fear that will be the case. In fact, I would say it was inevitable.'
She glowed from head to foot under his gaze. 'Actually, that brings me nicely to what I want to say to you.' Immediately she made her suggestion. 'You said that you could move to Bath, does that mean you already own a property there?'
'It does, sweetheart, 23 Royal Crescent to be exact. The family bought it when it was first built and I use it occasionally during the winter season.'
'Then Lady Charlotte and her children could live there? I think she'd be a lot happier in the city.' She didn't add that having his sister and the children gone would certainly make life easier for them all – he understood.
He slapped his hands loudly on the wooden arms of the chair making her jump. 'There are things I must tell you that Eloise revealed to me.'