24 Lemons #2
When she explained what had happened, Cal said, “I think Souter may be right, Cora love. These merchants know that we buy the best of everything, and they’re tired of our patronage going to Brinchester shops. Profit counts for more than principles, it seems.”
“That seems very cynical,” she said. “They have set their faces against us for weeks but now suddenly they open their doors to us. It is very strange.”
“Well, perhaps there’s a more subtle explanation. Perhaps the duke has expressed some displeasure about their behaviour. The whole village would spin like a top to please him.”
Cora pondered that. “It could be so, but I never knew him take the slightest interest in the village shops before. He certainly never buys anything there himself. When he wanted shirt buttons once, which can be had by the score from Tasker’s, he sent Stephens into Brinchester for them.”
“He might take no interest in the village, but he certainly takes an interest in you,” Cal said. “He would throw his weight around if you were upset about it.”
“Would he? Yet I am not upset about it, not in the least. I rather enjoy our expeditions to Brinchester in the gig. Oh heavens, it is coming on to rain again. As if we had not enough rain already. We had better get a move on.”
They half ran the rest of the way home, hand in hand and giggling like children, bursting into the kitchen in a shower of raindrops flung off their clothing.
“Oh, madam! Mr Richard’s here,” Souter said. “He’s been waiting for an hour or more.”
“Richard? What on earth does he want?” Cora said fretfully. “I suppose there is no time to change into dry clothes.”
“Best not keep him waiting any longer,” Cal said. “He’ll just not have to mind us being a bit damp.”
Richard made no comment about their dishevelled appearance. His hat sat on a side table, but he still wore his outdoor coat and his gloves were clutched in one hand, slapping restlessly against his thigh.
“Richard! This is a surprise,” Cora said, in as bright a manner as she could contrive. “What brings you here?”
“Have you been offered refreshments?” Cal said. “A glass of something? I can open a bottle of claret.”
“Not on my account. Mother, since it seems that this… arrangement of yours is set to become permanent, I am minded to accede to your request to transfer the management of your jointure to the lawyers. It so happens that they will be passing through Brinchester this evening, and I have arranged to take you there to sign the relevant papers.”
“This evening!” she said, startled.
“Why can’t you sign them?” Cal said.
“I shall be doing so, but they want to be sure that this is in accordance with my mother’s wishes. You know what lawyers are like. Mother, I shall collect you at seven o’clock sharp.”
“You won’t object if I come along too?” Cal said.
Richard turned to him thoughtfully, the gloves slapping more forcefully. “This does not concern you, Garford. It is Merrington family business, nothing to do with you. Seven o’clock, Mother. Do not keep me waiting.”
“What time will you bring her back?” Cal said. “In case I want to pop over to the Dog and Duck for a while.”
“Oh… let me see… I imagine it will take a while. These lawyers are so long-winded. Eleven… perhaps midnight.”
Cal’s eyebrows rose but he said nothing more, leaving Cora to escort Richard to the door. When she returned to the parlour, he said, “What is that young man up to?”
“What do you mean?”
“I never heard such a cock and bull story! Have you ever heard of lawyers who make a future duke come to them? And in the evening, too?”
“Well… they are just passing through… a fleeting visit.”
“So they prefer to stay in a coaching inn in Brinchester instead of driving three miles out of their way and spending the evening being wined and dined in a ducal residence?”
“If their objective is to see me, I am not within the ducal residence.”
“So they could call in here first thing in the morning and be on their way without losing more than half an hour or so. The whole thing is very smoky, Cora.”
She laughed and shook her head. “This is Richard, Cal, the world’s most straightforward man. Of what do you suspect him?”
“I’m not sure, but whatever papers these lawyers put in front of you, read them very thoroughly.
Most likely he wants to make sure you don’t interfere with his children in the future…
something of that sort. Or he might try to persuade you to move away somewhere, so you can’t be summoned back to Staineybank every time one of the children throws a rash.
And he doesn’t want me there, whispering in your ear. ”
“That is true,” she said thoughtfully. “I will be careful.”
She was ready in good time, sitting in her pelisse and bonnet, awaiting the carriage. Richard was never late, and whatever his purpose in this strange outing, there was no point in antagonising him.
“If I’m not here when you get back, send Timmy over to the Dog and Duck for me,” Cal said, chewing his lip anxiously.
“Stop worrying,” she said, kissing him lightly. “If I am uncertain about it, I shall not agree to anything, you may be sure. Ah, here he is now.”
Another quick kiss, and she was out of the door and hurrying down the path to the carriage as it drew to a halt.
“Good evening, John,” she called up to the coachman.
“Evenin’, Ma’am,” he said, touching his whip to his hat.
Henry the footman leapt from the back of the carriage to open the door for her, and she climbed in. Richard was checking his watch.
“Good. You are punctual.”
She barely had time to settle herself on the seat before he was rapping on the roof, and the carriage moved off.
Richard seemed disinclined for conversation, but the oddity of the situation rendered Cora restless and she could not be entirely silent.