Chapter 34 #4
‘What an unfortunate turn of events for you,’ said Martha to both Fletcher and Doctor Herbert after the door thudded shut.
‘It seems that there has been no malicious intent, only a hope from many that the duke might have a slightly more peaceful sleep and that the ladies involved might be a little safer, temporarily at least. An overabundance of kindness in the house, perhaps.’ She gave them a sweet smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Doctor Herbert stepped towards her. ‘There has been collusion here. We will ensure that it is found through a thorough investigation and that the abhorrent behaviour is made public for–’
He stopped as Thea stepped between him and Martha.
‘I wonder if your customers would be interested to know about your relations with Miss Bellegarde, Doctor?’ she said, and watched as his eyes widened.
‘You say a man has needs, but it seems some are a little more specialist than others?’ He ground his teeth so tightly that she was afraid he might break one, but to his credit, he didn’t look away.
‘I am sure the Doctor will not let that get in the way of–’ said Fletcher, but Thea rounded on him too.
‘Before you go on, Fletcher,’ she said with all the menace that the last hour had roused in her.
‘I would advise you to consider your next course of action carefully in the full knowledge that I know that it was you who killed my footman.’ It made sense, that that would have been the case if it was him that sent the letters.
She couldn’t prove it, but he didn’t know that.
His panicked look confirmed that yet again, he was another man who had underestimated her. And he was one who should certainly know better.
‘James was professional and showed promise,’ she said. ‘And you curtailed all of that because he was, I assume, becoming uncomfortable with your shenanigans and would have told me, before long. Thankfully for you he was easy to pin it on because of the handwriting?’
Fletcher only stared at her, but she saw his jaw was clenched.
‘I thought so,’ she said. ‘While Knatchbull and George were engaged in their petty games, and George clearly wished to limit me, you were behind the whole thing. I suspect you were in his ear telling him I was getting above my station, that I would be an embarrassment? Fuelling his rage and playing on his insecurities while you undermined me at every opportunity and ensured my success never exceeded that of the men?’
‘It could not be borne,’ said Fletcher quietly, but his tone told her that he was defeated.
‘We will have to agree to disagree on that point, Mr Fletcher,’ said Thea. ‘Perhaps we could all agree that this has simply been an unfortunate misunderstanding?’ She stepped back and flashed a broad smile at them all. He glowered, but she could see that he knew he was beaten.
‘It only proves that women are dangerous when left unchecked’. She took a breath, and then stepped closer to him.
‘And I would advise you never to forget it,’ she said with a smile.
‘Can I play with father’s guns now?’ asked Edward as the group trouped down the long Hawkdean driveway back into the house. Thea looked horrified.
‘Edward! We are only just on the way from your father’s funeral. And anyway no, they’re dangerous.’
‘What about me?’ asked Samantha. ‘I’m older.’
Thea tutted at them both. ‘And neither of you are grown up enough. Guns are dangerous.’
‘Aw,’ they said in unison.
Abigail was still in Frankie’s arms, the occasion being a little overwhelming for a three-year-old.
She had insisted that Frankie accompany her to the chapel and Thea was not about to deny her children anything at this time.
From now on, they wouldn’t have a father, but Thea was determined that they should not want for any love or care.
Now Edward and Samantha looked woeful, gazing up at her from their little black outfits. They had just interred their father in the family chapel on the estate, Thea thought. Even though they seemed relatively unmoved by the event, she felt she should offer them something.
‘I was thinking,’ she said, tapping her finger on her bottom lip, ‘that we might start to build a menagerie in the garden. What do you think?’
Both of their eyes widened. ‘With animals?’ asked Samantha. ‘Aunty Martha, are we going to have animals?’
Martha put her hands on her hips. ‘Well, it would be a funny menagerie without animals, now, wouldn’t it?’ Samantha looked to her mother for confirmation.
‘I think I will need your help to decide which ones to choose first. Perhaps we could look in the book you wrote with Annie?’
‘A rhinocerot!’ shouted Samantha.
‘A lion,’ exclaimed Edward, with his hands over his mouth in excitement.
‘A uncorn,’ stated Abigail, perking up from where she still clung to Frankie.
Thea smiled, despite the sombreness of the day. ‘Why don’t you go with Mr Fenwick and make a list? You can use the book that Annie wrote.’
Frankie popped Abigail on the floor. She seemed to have forgotten the sombre occasion already as she ran towards Mr Fenwick in anticipation of planning the arrival of her unicorn.
The tutor guided the chattering siblings towards the nursery.
‘Joan will help,’ she heard Samantha say as they trotted into the house and through the marble hallway, past the bust of their father without so much as looking up.
‘She told me about all sorts of animals she used to see in India.’
‘I think they will be alright,’ said Frankie, as Thea watched them go.
Thea turned back to her, seeing Martha talking to The Dowager Duchess over her shoulder. She had turned out to be a fierce ally over the past week.
‘I think you’re right,’ she said. ‘The Dowager Duchess has agreed that we can stay at Hawkdean as a family. It is fixed.’
‘That is good,’ said Frankie. ‘But the children will be fine anywhere, with you and Lady Foxmore.’
Thea smiled at her. ‘That is kind, thank you.’
‘You will be unstoppable now, Your Grace, without Fletcher and Knatchbull doing you down.’
Thea laughed a little. She felt far more secure in her immediate surroundings, but the world without a husband was a whole new proposition, and her old insecurities still pricked.
‘Both you and Lady Foxmore will be,’ she said, looking over at where Martha laughed with the Dowager.
‘I know she says she is settled, but it won’t be long before she is itching to travel again, and I would be happy to support her to go.
And you – you could achieve a job anywhere in the country with your skills.
’ Anxiety hit at that point, as she realised that it was true.
‘Although I would hope that we could convince you to stay?’
Frankie grinned. ‘Just try and make me leave. You took me out of London and this is the best place I’ve been for the plants.’
‘We can remodel the stove range,’ said Thea, feeling that glimmer of possibility. ‘And you can grow anything within it.’
‘We can grow anything within it,’ clarified Frankie.
‘You don’t have to be kind about it,’ said Thea with a slightly admonishing look. ‘You have achieved all the success with the rarities yourself. I was floundering before you arrived, but I am sure, that in time, I will find my specialism.’
‘Why do you need one?’ asked Frankie.
‘I’m sorry?’ asked Thea, not following.
‘Why do you need a specialism?’ said Frankie.
‘You struggle to apply yourself in detail to one discipline, and yet, because you have the passion and the means you have a little of natural history and physics and botany and even chemistry. Why limit yourself because that is how some others prefer to work?’
‘Then what do you suggest?’ asked Thea, not quite understanding. ‘If I do not have a specialism, I am simply a virtuoso like Grimston.’
‘Certainly not,’ said Frankie, ‘because you are generous and you recognise talent in others without keeping glory for yourself. You have the means and the space, both indoors and out. If you use that to help others to do what they do, that’s powerful.
’ Thea remained silent. She had never considered that she didn’t need to be the one to do the work.
She looked up at the house and then turned to regard the extensive parkland in which it sat.
‘Huh,’ she said, not considering that she could manage anything more eloquent.
‘You do not have to be good at everything,’ said Frankie.
‘I have built my skills because you invited me here and gave me seeds and materials and time. But I shall need more staff if we are to do more. You have helped Crumpacker to do the same and have encouraged Cecily to study and Lady Foxmore to explore. This way you can achieve anything, now he’s gone. ’
‘Huh,’ said Thea again, wondering how it was that the girl she took out of a brothel knew more than she did about who she was able to be.
Thea found Martha in the fledgling arboretum, feeling more exuberant than she should be on the day of her husband’s funeral. Martha turned and smiled at her.
‘I hoped you would find me here.’
‘The Dowager Duchess informed me where you were’ she said. ‘Says she’s delighted what we’re doing with the estate.’
‘She was kinder to me earlier than she has been in the past,’ said Martha. ‘I think she understood, despite everything.’
‘She is some woman,’ said Thea. ‘I was always scared of her, but now I suspect that one has to be formidable to survive in the Hartford family.’
‘And you have joined their ranks,’ said Martha. ‘You were absolutely impressive with the constable and when you put Herbert and Fletcher in their place.’ She paused a little. ‘I am devastated at what Fletcher did, but I am proud of you.’
‘You figured it out,’ said Thea. ‘About the letters. You always knew there was more to it than George and Knachbull.’
‘I did,’ said Martha. ‘And you provided a conclusion and made it impossible for them to pursue their case. We make quite the team.’ Her arm encircled Thea’s shoulders, no longer worried to be seen together on the estate. Thea took hold of the hand over her shoulder.
‘I suspect that there will be more teamwork required as this household gets nurtured into a new way,’ said Thea.
‘I wondered how you might feel about joining the team permanently?’ She looked up at Martha, hoping that she would understand her meaning.
Martha stared back at her. For a second Thea feared that she was going to kiss her, right there amongst the trees. That, they couldn't risk anyone seeing.
‘Are you asking me to move in with you, Your Grace?’ Martha asked, her eyes intense and a smile flickering at the corner of her mouth.
‘We already split ourselves between the country and London,’ said Thea. ‘It doesn’t make sense for us both to go between country houses too. Here or Denbury, I don’t mind.’
Martha seemed to think about it. ‘Here. The estate needs more management. And I’ll need my own water closet.’
A chuckle bubbled from Thea. She felt a little awkward on what was supposed to be a solemn day, but she didn’t feel solemn. She felt liberated. ‘Naturally. And I’ll build you a new glasshouse. A really big one.’
‘Can I have Frankie?’ asked Martha.
‘Don’t push your luck,’ said Thea.
‘We could use Foxmore Square as our London residence?’ suggested Martha in a hopeful way that almost broke Thea’s heart.
‘Perfect,’ she said. She was about to pull Martha into the shade of a tree and steal a quick kiss, but then she heard a dull thudding. ‘What’s that?’ she asked.
‘Footsteps?’ asked Martha.
‘Surely not out here,’ said Thea. ‘I thought we might at least get a little privacy?’
They turned to see Frankie running through the long grass, looking left and then right until she spotted Thea and Martha. Then she made straight for them. Thea’s heart skipped – surely nothing else was on fire?
‘Your Grace, Lady Foxmore,’ gasped Frankie, evidently having run all the way. ‘You are going to want to come and see this.’