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‘How close everything looks,’ Jane said. ‘Why, I can see the sailors on the deck of that ship and its name quite clearly. It’s called Morning Star.’
‘That is the vessel that brought me home from India,’ Drew said. ‘It is a very good ship, well run and fast. It is something like that I have a mind to purchase.’
‘And then Mark and I will go to India on it,’ Isabel said. ‘Three more weeks to go. I can’t wait. Will you be sailing on her, too, Mr Ashton?’
‘It depends on what turns up,’ he said. ‘Perhaps.’
‘I think it is time we made our way back to the coach,’ Jane said. ‘Mama will be wondering what has become of us.’
* * *
The coach deposited them back at the Manor at five o’clock. Jane and Isabel said goodbye to their escorts and carried the parcel of crabs into the house. They were tired but happy, ready to regale their mother with what they had seen and done. No one that evening thought about tragedy and Isabel had ceased to moan about bad omens and suchlike fancies.
* * *
They had not expected to see Mark again so soon, but he arrived at an unheard-of hour next morning, looking so sorrowful that Jane immediately wondered what was wrong. Sir Edward had gone out to the stables to check on one of the horses that seemed lame, but the ladies were still seated at the breakfast table.
He bowed to them all. ‘I am sorry to disturb you so early,’ he said. ‘But I am afraid I bring dreadful news and I did not want you to hear it from anyone else.’ He paused and gulped, then went on. ‘My father passed away in his sleep last night.’
Lady Cavenhurst was the first to recover from the shock. ‘Oh, you poor man,’ she said. ‘What a dreadful thing to happen. His lordship seemed so well when we dined with you the other evening.’
‘His valet found him when he went to wake him this morning and immediately alerted me,’ he said. ‘I sent for Dr Trench, though I knew it was too late to do anything for him. His heart just gave out, the doctor told me. As you can imagine, my mother is distraught.’
‘Poor Lady Wyndham,’ Jane said. ‘Is there anything we can do?’
‘I do not think so. Later, perhaps, she might appreciate a visit.’ He turned to Isabel, who was staring at him as if he were an apparition. ‘Isabel, I am so sorry, but the wedding will have to be postponed while I am in mourning.’
‘Postponed,’ she echoed, then burst into tears.
Jane ran to comfort her. ‘Hush, Issie, you must be brave for Mark’s sake. He will have a great deal to do in the next few weeks.’
‘That is true,’ he agreed. ‘And I am afraid I must go. I will let you know about the arrangements for the funeral later. Isabel, will you accompany me to the front door? That is if her ladyship agrees.’
‘Of course. Go along, Isabel. And please offer my condolences to your mother, my lord.’
He managed a wry smile. ‘I suppose I will have to get used to that, but please don’t stand on formality, my lady. I was Mark, I remain Mark to you.’ He reached out a hand to Isabel. ‘Come, my dear, I wish to talk to you.’
Isabel took the hand and together they left the room. Jane and her mother were left looking at each other, not knowing what to say.
‘This is dreadful news indeed,’ her ladyship said. ‘I feel for poor Lady Wyndham. Theirs was a true love match. I wonder how long a period of mourning there will be?’
‘A year is usual, Mama.’
‘I know. We shall have to help Isabel bear up. And I suppose I had better make a start on cancelling the wedding invitations and ask Cook to cancel the orders for the banquet.’ She smiled suddenly. ‘At least your father will be spared the expense of it for now.’
Jane supposed someone had to think of the practicalities, but she was more concerned with how Mark and his mother were feeling and her heart went out to them. To lose one so dear so suddenly must be very hard to bear.
Chapter Four
Mark returned to Broadacres, overwhelmed by misery and the weight of responsibility that now rested on his shoulders. There was so much to do and a wedding was the last thing on his mind. Isabel had been upset, which was understandable, he supposed, but he had managed to calm her before he left, telling her the time of mourning would soon pass and then they would have the wedding she dreamed of.
‘We might not be able to have the long wedding trip we planned,’ he had told her. ‘There will be much to do on the estate. But perhaps we will be able to go later when I am settled into my new role. It has come so suddenly, I cannot take it all in.’
