Chapter 20 #2
'Can I ask you to oversee the girls in my absence? I've no wish for Charlotte to take charge of them – I'm afraid I cannot like her. I don't think that James is overly impressed either.'
'There's little you can do about that, my dear, but fortunately this house is vast and she and her progeny can live quite happily without you ever having to interact with them unless you wish to.'
'James intends to move her into the East Wing with his grandmother. I think they deserve each other. As long as I don't have to see either of them, I don't care where they are.'
'Run along, child, you have to get your belongings packed. I wish I could be there to see you married but I'm hoping you'll have a service in the family chapel sometime in the future.'
'That's a wonderful idea; I'm sure James will want to have his marriage blessed here even if it takes place elsewhere.'
She kissed her aunt who for once didn't recoil but returned the embrace.
'I might be a crotchety old besom, my dear, but I love all of you and will make a perfectly splendid grandmama for any children you might have.
' She pointed at her reticule. 'Please hand me that, Sofia, there's something in there I'd like to give you for your nuptials. '
She rummaged in the capacious interior and eventually removed a faded velvet box.
'This was your mama's; she asked me many years ago to keep it safe for when you married. It's all she had left from her family in France.'
Sofia opened it, her eyes brimming, and saw a beautiful sapphire and diamond necklace which must be worth a small fortune.
'It's beautiful, I'll wear it when we marry. She never spoke about what happened but I can imagine the horrors that she saw. I always thought that was why she was so quiet. I expect my father would have sold it if he'd known it existed so thank you for keeping it safe.'
'I won't mention the true reason for your hasty departure to the girls, better they don't know the truth.'
Sofia could hear the girls talking quietly in the sitting room as she flew past to her own bedchamber. Sally understood immediately the urgency.
'I'll have your trunks packed in no time, Miss Brotherton, but first would you allow me to help you change out of that gown?'
'Of course, I'd quite forgotten that I'd ruined it looking after the dog. I believe that there's a travelling ensemble in my wardrobe. I'll put that on. For the first time since I arrived I'll also wear a bonnet.'
Freshly garbed in a jaconet gown of primrose yellow, the matching spencer neatly buttoned over her bosom, her new half-boots on her silk stockinged feet, she was ready to speak to the girls and explain what was happening.
Her only concern was that Annabel, who was very indiscreet, might well reveal what was going on inadvertently.
'Girls, I've the most exciting news. James and I are going to Bath to spend a couple of days buying any extra bride clothes that I might need, any furnishings and new items of furniture that I want to make this house my own.
We'll only be gone two or three nights and Aunt Jemima, you'll be relieved to know, will be taking charge of you and not Lady Charlotte. '
'I'm so sorry about James's dog,' Annabel said, 'such a wicked thing to do. I'm not surprised he needs to get away for a day or two.'
'I knew you'd understand. He's asking his nephews to look after Othello in his absence. Eloise is now well taken care of upstairs, and I'm sure I can trust all three of you not to cause any problems for our aunt.'
Colette nodded as did Lucille.
'We'll behave, I promise. We could have lost you if you'd come off when your horse bolted, that frightened us. We couldn't manage without you, you're like a mama to us,' Lucille said and rushed across to embrace Sofia.
'Will Madame be coming with the samples so Lucille and I can choose new gowns?' Colette asked.
'I imagine so, but I'm tempted to cancel after your behaviour last time. Do I have your word that you'll behave as young ladies ought? That you will choose only what Madame thinks suitable?'
Both her sisters agreed immediately and Annabel looked embarrassed as she'd been the instigator of the incident.
'James has said that he might hold a garden party next month to celebrate our arrival. I'm not sure we should do that as we should be in full mourning. What if anyone of note was to hear about our lack of respect?' Lucille said.
'Well, if Lady Charlotte thinks it acceptable not to wear black and her husband only died a week ago then I'm very sure nobody will care about us – they'll all be gossiping about her,' Colette pointed out quite rightly.
'Then, if you behave, I believe I can persuade him to go ahead with the event. Why don't the three of you start making plans? It would be wonderful to have stilt walkers, fire eaters, and other fairground attractions, also a marquee with a laden buffet and dancing in the evening.'
She now had their undivided attention. 'I think it's likely to be an event for everybody not just the wealthy members of society.
All his tenants, workers and villagers will wish to attend.
I think they should have their own dance in the evening in one of the barns,' Sofia ended.
She thought she'd given them enough to think about in her absence and with so much at stake they were unlikely to misbehave as they had before.
'Sofia, will the family curate be holding a service in the chapel for us tomorrow?' Lucille asked. She was the only one of them who felt bereft if she couldn't commune with the Almighty every Sunday at least once.
'I don't know if he does when James isn't here, I'm sorry we've only had prayers in the hall so far, but I'm sure a full service can be held if you'd prefer that.'
An hour after making the decision to depart for the Royal Crescent, Sofia was sitting beside her future husband on the way to Bath. Her maid and his valet had departed already in the smaller carriage with the trunks and other necessities.
'How did your sister take the news that she was being abandoned so soon after her arrival?'
'I didn't speak to her; I just told the boys to give her the news. I like those two lads and I'll not let them be infected by her malice and greed. They spoke to me at length about her extravagance and blamed her for their father's eventual madness as she'd drained his coffers dry.'
'In which case I think it wise that you decided not to leave her in charge. There's something I must show you; my aunt has kept it safely for me all these years.'
She handed him the velvet box and he flicked it open.
'This is exquisite, of the highest quality, your mother must have come from a very good family.' He held it up to her face and his smile was blinding. 'The stones match your eyes exactly; I couldn't have found anything better at the best jewellers in London.'
'Will you keep it for me? I'm not comfortable carrying something so valuable.'
'Will you wear it on our wedding day whenever that is? Do you have something suitable amongst your second-hand wardrobe?'
'James, that's a horrible thing to say. My garments are unworn by anyone but me. They were ordered by someone else but never left madame's premises.'
He chuckled pleased with himself for having got her to rise to his teasing. Deliberately she shuffled to the far side and looked out of the window as if he wasn't there.
She held her breath waiting for his reaction. Seconds later he pounced and she was somehow sitting on his lap, her new bonnet hanging drunkenly over her shoulder, and being thoroughly and quite disgracefully kissed.
If they hadn't been approaching a tollgate where they could be seen she dreaded to think what might have occurred.
The coachman blew his horn as they arrived but as there were several carriages in front of them they had to wait their turn.
Fortunately, she was already sitting demurely on the other side of the carriage trying hard not to look at him as she knew that with the slightest encouragement he'd continue his lovemaking.