Chapter 13
Sophia had been imagining all sorts of things about the Carlfield estate from the Duchess' descriptions of it, the history of the house itself and family, along with vast acres of land all of it occupied.
Her thoughts had wandered back to Northanger Abbey and the gothic romance stories she had read, as the carriage travelled along the country lanes of Yorkshire when the sun was setting.
Nothing had however prepared her for just how stunning her first sight of it was from the carriage window.
After Lady Cynthia had invited her to look, she had immediately put her hand across her mouth, with wonder and surprise.
The lake in front of it was surrounded by reeds, swaying gently in the warm breeze, as the mellow stones of the sprawling property and its lawns basked in the late sunlight.
Lady Cynthia had told her during the journey from London that it had been rebuilt in the sixteen hundreds after the manor house from two hundred years earlier, possibly more, had burned to the ground.
Whilst the present house was much larger than Sophia had imagined it, and again as Lady Cynthia had told her, with stables and outbuildings at the rear.
The closer the carriage came to the property, enabled Sophia to see a part of the gardens which Cynthia had described, leaving her speechless, and unable to help thinking that it was the most wonderful house she had ever seen.
As soon as the coachman slowed the horses down to turn into the grounds, Edward looked quickly out of the window to check exactly where they were, and began to get to his feet.
Eager to climb out of the confines of the carriage.
He was helping his mother alight when he noticed that the same footman who brought Sophia to Jenkins' notice, when she had arrived at his house in Belgravia, was assisting her again.
This time to alight from the other door.
Causing the Duke to feel an intense surge of jealousy flow through him.
Made worse by the great care which the footman was taking while standing far too close to her for the sake of decency, in his Lordship's opinion.
There was also the matter of the disrespectful way he had of smiling up at her.
As far as the Duke was concerned his mother's companion was a single woman under his protection, but which didn't give him the right to interfere with any other man in whom she might have an interest. Other than if this should of course affect the way she performed her duties.
Or to reprimand the young footman who wasn't presumably going about the duties which would have been assigned to him by Jenkins.
Despite his annoyance Edward certainly didn't have any wish to appear churlish in front of Sophia.
Also no doubt cause his mother to comment on his bad mood, if he put a stop to this now.
These thoughts soon became tangled in his own longing to help Sophia down, and take her arm.
Until he could no longer think straight or avert his eyes from what was happening in front of him.
He was eventually interrupted by Cynthia, asking him if he felt unwell.
When all he could do was shake his head quickly, and miserably, in response.
Knowing that he would probably not be able to make an excuse, without his voice sounding irritated and far too brusque, which would make her ask him even more questions that he didn't feel able to deal with.
Anger, and intense frustration had by then replaced his initial jealousy.
Obviously the sooner he was away from the temptations of Miss Sophia Barlow the better, he thought as he took the Duchess' arm.
Intending to greet the housekeeper and other servants who had been left in Yorkshire, and were now lined up on the circular path where the carriages stopped, before he accompanied his mother into the house.
Meanwhile the footman, Jimmy Wilson, had left Sophia to her own devices.
With her smile and delightful voice thanking him, as he turned away from her, since he did have duties to attend to.
She had noticed Florence behind Cynthia, so went to stand next to her.
To wait with the other London servants, and follow them inside through the rear entrance, if the Duchess didn't need her once she had gone inside with the Duke.
The ladies' maid whispered to her that this had been a family tradition for many years.
Dating back to before her time and the late Duke of Carlfield, the present Duke's father, who had decided that their return from the London season should in the future be done like this.
As soon as Edward and his mother had gone through the great door into the hall, Jenkins passed a sealed letter to him which was marked urgent.
Meanwhile the Duchess who had wanted Sophia to stay with her was introducing her new companion to the housekeeper, Mrs Agnes Pender.
The Duke glanced at them. Delighted to see that Sophia was back where she belonged at the Duchess' side, and wouldn't come to any harm there.
Immediately he informed Cynthia that he regretfully had a business matter he needed to attend to in his study.
A few moments later Edward was seated in the leather armchair behind a very large desk, similar to the one he had in London, reading the contents of the letter he had received.
The frown had returned to his face. It was from Lord Watson who wished to inform him that his sister had fallen ill, and he had been obliged to go to her.
For that reason he had no choice other than to postpone their business transaction in Paris.
Edward groaned. This meant that he would have to stay at Carlfield House.
Conversely he was also well aware that his mother would be very happy to hear that he wasn’t going away after all.
All the trouble he had gone to in finding her a new companion so quickly had been unnecessary!
Nevertheless the Duke didn't feel as disappointed as he believed he should be, and realised then that he was secretly relieved.
Giving him time to make doubly sure that his mother settled in properly, and dare he admit it even if only to himself, to be near Sophia?
Whatever her secret might be. While he was in residence at the house, nothing would harm either of them. He could say that for certain.