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Chapter Twenty-Two
The wedding breakfast passed to Mrs Fulgrave’s entire satisfaction. Whilst she could not suppress an entirely worldly disappointment that such a prestigious event should be witnessed by only the family and Major Gregory, she still felt that she had contrived an entertainment fit for an Earl.
The Earl in question also behaved to her complete satisfaction. There was no sign of the imperious, severe man she had confronted such a short time ago. Alex, as he begged she would call him, was amiable, co-operative and entirely charming.
‘I do hope he remains so,’ she whispered to Mr Fulgrave on her way up to help Hebe change from her wedding dress into the black walking outfit she was wearing for the journey to her new home. ‘I am sure he will be a wonderful husband unless crossed, but I really would not wish Hebe to risk crossing him in any way.’
The bride herself was all too aware of her new husband’s forbearance and wished fervently she could find some way of undermining it. She was quite sure that if she set out to seduce him, she could do so, despite her lack of experience. But what was she about, to want to seduce a husband who was in love with another woman? He might desire her body, but she wanted more than that. Still, she consoled herself, surely after a few months he would begin to forget Clarissa, or at least become accustomed to her loss and would turn to Hebe.
It was not a very cheerful prospect though, to be ‘turned to’ as second-best. Her sigh as she thought it made her aunt look at her sharply. ‘Are you all right, my dear? You are not too tired? I do wish you did not have to make a journey this afternoon.’
‘I am perfectly fine, Aunt Emily.’ Hebe smiled. ‘It is all just rather overwhelming and this…’ she gestured at the unrelieved black of her skirts ‘…this is somewhat lowering to the spirits.’
‘Never mind, dear,’ her aunt replied with what Hebe could only interpret as a wicked twinkle. ‘Think of the nightgowns.’
Hebe was positively shocked by the realisation that she was now counted as a married woman and such things might be said. If only Aunt Emily knew that the only person likely to be seeing those filmy garments or the exquisite lingerie was her new maid, Charity, who was self-importantly guarding Hebe’s somewhat unimpressive jewellery box. Charity was already jealous of Anna, who she was sure would want to take responsibility for such matters, and was not looking forward to a journey with the formidable Spanish lady.
They all trooped downstairs to find the carriages drawn up. The first one for Hebe and Alex, the second, laden with Hebe’s trousseau, for Anna and Charity. Mrs Fulgrave shed a tear, Grace and Joanna kissed Hebe, Alex, and, in Joanna’s case, a startled Major Gregory, who returned the salutation with interest, sending Joanna into blushing confusion. Mr Fulgrave vanished into a large pocket handkerchief with an unconvincing mutter of ‘Something in my eye, dear,’ and, before Hebe could catch her breath, they were off.
Warily she eyed her new husband, who was watching her with some amusement. This was a relief, for she was afraid he would become distant once they were alone. ‘Well, Circe, how does it feel to be a Countess?’ he enquired.
So, he was calling her Circe again. Hebe clung to this pet name with what she knew was probably the self-deluding hope that it meant more than simple affection. ‘Very strange,’ she said lightly. ‘I have not the slightest idea how to go on in a big household, you know. Mrs Fitton will despise me, Starling will look superior and the staff will think their master has run mad.’
‘Nonsense. Mrs Fitton will adore you. Starling looks superior about everyone, including me, so I do not know how you will tell what he thinks about you.’
‘And the staff?’
‘Well, they definitely think I have run mad already, for I am not at all their idea of an Earl. I am relying upon you to re-establish my credit.’
If their journey was to be confined to a discussion about the household, then it would be far less trying than Hebe had feared. ‘But how?’ she persisted. ‘I have never had to do more than cope with three maids at a time—and then Mama was really running things anyway.’
‘It struck me,’ Alex remarked, ‘fairly early on in our acquaintance, that you were born to be mistress of a great estate. In fact, I can recall thinking it was a pity that my brother William had not met you, for you would be just the one for Tasborough Hall.’
Oh. Hebe digested this. So he had wanted to marry her off to his brother, did he? Unable to decide just how that did make her feel she persisted, ‘But why?’
‘Because you are interested in people. I can see how it will be: within weeks you will know every servant, every tenant. You will know about their families, their illnesses, their hopes and dreams, weaknesses and failings. And they will all be enchanted by you, except for the rogues who will rightly be afraid of you.’
‘Afraid of me?’ Hebe laughed out loud. ‘I cannot imagine anyone being afraid of m
e.’
‘You terrify me,’ Alex said. His voice was dry, but Hebe, who was beginning to be able to hear every nuance of his speech, even when she could not read it aright, could sense some other meaning behind the teasing words.
‘You must tell me all about the servants,’ she said firmly. ‘Then I will make a good start with them. And everything you can about the house and estate.’
‘I know very little,’ Alex said with a shrug. ‘I did not grow up there as a boy, for my father inherited from his grandfather, not his own father. They were not close and we rarely visited. I am having to learn very rapidly myself, which is why I will value your help.’
Hebe turned a glowing smile on him. ‘Of course, I will do everything I can. It is such a pleasure to know there is something I can do. I was afraid you would feel that nothing might be touched or changed—not that I would without asking your permission, of course—and I would find myself having to live up to doing everything as it had been done before.’
He smiled at her enthusiasm. ‘You may do as you wish. I am only glad you look forward to being busy.’
They fell silent as the miles slipped by. Hebe let her head fall back on the squabs and closed her eyes.
She must have dozed, for she awoke with a start as the carriage wheels rumbled over cobbles and out of her window she saw the King’s Arms in Berkhamsted go by.
‘I am so sorry,’ she said apologetically. ‘I have been poor company.’
‘Not at all. You were tired.’ Alex watched her for a while then said, ‘Have you not been sleeping?’
