Chapter 18
James thought to enquire at the stables first as both boys had agreed to be taught to ride by the head groom.
They'd been told that when Piper thought they were sufficiently experienced they would be given a mount of their own – not the thoroughbreds they'd hoped for but something they were less likely to break their necks on when riding.
Lucifer was now back in his box, snapping and biting as before but he whinnied hopefully when he saw James approaching.
'I'm sorry, Sofia's not with me.' He pulled the long black ears and for once he wasn't bitten. 'I'll be back later with her and we can go out together.'
He was aware that stable lads were listening to him converse with his stallion and probably thought he'd bats in his attic. Tant pis! He cared not for the opinion of these boys – the only person's opinion that mattered was his future wife.
He found his nephews just completing their lesson. Piper touched his cap respectfully.
'They're doing all right, my lord, picked it up a treat. I reckon they'll be safe to hack out with me in a couple of days and be able to ride unsupervised by the end of the week.'
'Excellent, good man, I can't have my nephews unable to ride.'
The boys rushed up to him. 'That was the best morning of my life,' Rupert said, and his younger brother grinned and nodded.
'I'm glad. A gentleman must be able to ride. When you've mastered that, I'll teach you to drive. Now, before you go in, I need to talk to you.'
He gestured that they follow him and they did so without quibble. What he wanted to ask them couldn't be done where anyone might overhear. When he was sure there weren't gardeners lurking in the bushes he stopped and pointed to a secluded summerhouse.
'There, this will do perfectly.' He waited until they were settled and then began his interrogation. 'I want to know the details of your life over the last few years. Why you're not at home mourning for the death of your father.'
He'd no intention of telling them what he suspected, what their little sister had possibly revealed, he wanted to hear it from them.
The boys exchanged a worried look and then Rupert rubbed his eyes. 'Mama said we weren't to talk about it, we were to lie to you, but you're our guardian now and we owe no loyalty.'
This was a worrying statement. James hid his disquiet.
'I'm waiting. Please tell me your story and make it brief, just the pertinent details will do.'
'My parents have never enjoyed each other's company. I believe that my father was fond of her initially but she was never happy, always criticising, and I think she drove him mad.'
'Mad? Do you mean he became angry with her? Mistreated her? You arrived here half starved, how did that occur?'
Jonathan took up the story. 'Rupert means that Papa lost his mind, that sort of mad. I don't think it was anything to do with Mama, I can remember him wandering about the place talking to himself and waving his hands in the air long before he became very unwell.'
'I see, that must be very difficult for all of you. How long was he unwell before he died?'
'I think it was after Eloise was born. I was eight,' Rupert said, 'and I can remember hearing our mother crying and thought at first that the baby must have died. From that point I think life became very difficult for our mother.'
He rubbed his eyes again and James felt a brute to press him for further details that he had to know. 'So, for the past eight years your father was a lunatic?'
'No, no, not at all,' Jonathan interrupted. 'Papa did have bouts of melancholy when he locked himself away, but he wasn't cruel to any of us, he just ignored us. When he recovered his spirits, the house was happy enough. We had tutors —.'
'You don't remember, you were still in leading strings, I'm the one who should tell the story you're just repeating what our mother told you to say.'
'Jonathan be quiet. Rupert, continue with your story.'
'Mama moved us to the Dower House, she said we weren't safe in the Hall anymore. I don't know if that was entirely true, but it was certainly quieter and more pleasant away from him.
'Over the years the things we used to have disappeared. He never came to see us, and we were forbidden to go and see him. The staff we brought with us were all we had; our tutors were dismissed a year ago.'
'And Lord Upminster? Was he completely insane by then? Who was running the estates? Why didn't your mother get in touch with me? I still can't comprehend how you come to be in such a sorry pass.'
'We were summoned to the Hall; we'd no choice but to go.'
The boy stopped and was almost too upset to continue. James put his arm around his shoulders and the boy leaned gratefully into his embrace.
'Go on, I need to hear the worst. You're doing well, I'm proud of you.'
Rupert sniffed and continued. 'He met us in the Grand Hall, raved incoherently at our mother and then instructed the servants to lock us in the attics. I've no idea why but we were bundled up the stairs and pushed in as if we were of no account.'
Jonathan now chimed in. 'We were given meagre rations, lived like vagabonds for three weeks and then he died. We heard the shot. He killed himself.'
'I climbed out of the window and made my way downstairs. I am now Lord Upminster; they had no option but to follow my orders. I had my family released, our belongings packed, and we fled that place.'
'And your father's funeral? Who arranged that?'
'I don't know, he might well still be lying on the floor in his study. I saw him there, a pistol in his hand. If it becomes known that he died by his own hand then we'll all be in disgrace, my good name will be ruined,' Jonathan said.
'Thank you for telling me, boys, but now try and put it from your mind. I'll take care of everything.'
They looked relieved to have shared this appalling news with him. James changed the subject.
'Why don't you return to the stables and get Piper to show you the horses he thinks will suit you? In a few weeks I'll buy you something better, but not until you're more experienced.'
They needed no further urging and ran off laughing as if they'd not just told him about their father's suicide.
God knows how he'd sort this out, but he'd send Michael to Upminster Hall to arrange the funeral. The man had been dead for more than a week now, hopefully a member of his staff had at least put him in a coffin.
Now he had the full story he could speak to Charlotte.
Eloise was a dear girl but needed her own nursemaid, she couldn't be allowed to wander about alone.
James thought it likely the girl would never be able to live an independent life, marry, or have a home of her own.
He'd willingly keep her safe, make sure at least she was content.
Eventually he located his sister in a little used room on the other side of the house, the windows here faced the woodland not the gardens, but were nonetheless pleasant to sit in.
'Charlotte, where's Eloise?' James asked as soon as he stepped into the room.
Her expression was sullen. 'I've no idea, she does as she pleases, that makes things easier for both of us.'
'That won't do. Your daughter's not safe to be alone, she must be with an adult at all times.'
'Good heavens, James, why the alarm? She's eight years of age, quite old enough to keep herself safe here. What could possibly harm her?'
'She's a simpleton, Charlotte, we both know that. Pretending she's not, isn't going to change things. Where is she now?'
'In the park somewhere. If you came merely to berate me then you may go away. Why don't you go and find her yourself?'
James ground his teeth. He'd not been close to his sister when he was a boy but had hoped now he was an adult they might find more in common. His sister was a difficult woman, but she was family, and it was his responsibility to take care of her and her children now her husband was dead.
'I shall do that. You're an unfeeling mother; you make it very difficult for me to offer my help.'
He didn't wait to hear her reply as he was more concerned about his niece. He met Sofia coming out of the blue room.
'Have you seen Eloise?'
'Don't look so worried, dearest James, she's safe and with Colette. She's taken her to her room to change her clothes as she was wet through, as were your dogs. She said that she fell in and they pulled her out.'
'God's teeth! I told her not to go near the lake and thought at the time that she was capable of understanding my instructions.'
'Such a shame as she's a delightful little girl. She needs her own retinue, but my sister will take care of her until she does.'
'Turnbull said she'd have candidates for us to meet today. Has she said anything to you?'
'No, we only discussed the arrival of my Aunt Jemima who's retired to her room and will rejoin us at dinner. Lucille is now upstairs with Annabel – they seem delighted to be sharing. We'll have to call the seamstress back for my aunt and my sister.'
'Speak to Smithers, he's got to go into Bath tomorrow to collect some legal documents for me to sign.'
'We need to talk, join me in the blue room before you rush off again.' This time she half-closed the door. 'Did you have the opportunity to speak to your sister about her moving to your empty property in Bath?'
'I didn't, I was too angry about her lack of interest in her daughter.
To be honest, my love, I no longer feel inclined to give her my Bath property.
She'll remain here, and if she continues with her unacceptable attitude then I'll banish her to live with our grandmother. The children will remain with us.'
'I think the two of them deserve to be under the same roof. If your dogs hadn't been there then Eloise might well have drowned. That's quite unforgivable. Tell me, did you learn anything pertinent from the boys?'
He told her everything and she was horrified. 'So you see, sweetheart, I must abandon you again. I might have to go to Upminster Hall myself. Can I ask you to deal with everything else?'