AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Nancy walked to the door. ‘You may do as you wish, but I suggest you see Mr Mounce first.’
It was late afternoon by the time Nancy and Freddie arrived at Dorrington Place. It had taken Mr Mounce a long time to convince Christina of the facts, but eventually she had flounced out of the room and Mr Mounce had finally been able to leave for his office in Exeter. Felicia, Violet and Claude had travelled in Bertie’s carriage, driven by Ned Hudson, as Jim Gurney was getting too old to handle the reins on long journeys.
Pickering showed them into the drawing room where Lady Dorrington was dozing over a piece of embroidery. Her lapdog, a small pug, jumped up and barked shrilly, and Lady Dorrington awakened with a start.
‘Freddie? You’ve returned.’ Her smile faded as she recognised Nancy and her jaw dropped at the sight of Felicia and Claude. ‘I don’t recall requesting the entertainers?’
‘Mama, Mr and Mrs de Marney are our guests, as is Nancy. You remember her, of course.’
‘Yes, how could I forget the little foundling?’
‘Mama, that is v-very impolite.’ Freddie faced her angrily. ‘If that is how you feel, perhaps we ought to leave right away instead of tomorrow morning.’
Nancy laid her hand on his arm. ‘Lady Dorrington, might I speak to you in private, please?’
‘I don’t know what you could have to say to me, but yes, I suppose so. Freddie, take these people to the conservatory and give them tea, or whatever they wish for.’
Freddie leaned towards Nancy. ‘Are you sure about this?’
‘Yes, of course. Please do as your mama asks.’
‘I will, but I trust you will treat Nancy with the respect she deserves, Mama.’ Freddie ushered Felicia and Claude out of the room, closing the door behind them.
‘Well now, miss. What is this all about? I believe you know my opinion on your relationship with my son.’
‘Yes, my lady. You made that very plain at our last meeting. I am not here to beg for your approval. I want to tell you that I love your son more than I could ever imagine loving anyone, which is why I won’t allow him to propose to me unless you and Lord Dorrington approve.’
Lady Dorrington’s eyes narrowed. ‘Are you trying to blackmail me into saying something that I will regret?’
‘Of course not. I respect the bond between parents and children. I was denied that myself because I was a foundling, but that doesn’t mean that I have no respect for the feelings of others. I’ve recently discovered who my parents were and where I belong, but the truth is that my real family are the people who took me in as a child and brought me up. They have shown me love and understanding. Things that are sometimes missing in people who are actually related.’
‘Are you saying that my husband and I lack empathy with our only child?’
‘No, but perhaps you are not listening to Freddie. He is a wonderful person and I love him dearly, but I also love him too much to break the bond he feels for you and his papa. I might not be good enough for him in your eyes, but I am no pauper and I find I have a family pedigree just as good as your own. Not that it matters to Freddie, but he does care what you think.’
‘Do I understand you properly, Miss Sunday?’
‘Actually my name is Greystone. Nancy Greystone of Greystone Park in the county of Devonshire.’
‘Really?’ Lady Dorrington eyed her thoughtfully. ‘Well, Miss Greystone, would you be willing to give up all claim to my son’s affections if I told you that he must choose between you and his family?’
‘It would break my heart, but yes, if you and Lord Dorrington cannot accept me as being part of Freddie’s life, then I will tell him that we can never be together.’
Lady Dorrington leaned towards Nancy with a hint of humour in her smile. ‘Are you sincere or are you just saying that?’
‘On my honour, I mean every word.’
‘I admire honesty and courage. I can see that you have both, Nancy Greystone, and you have my blessing, but there is one condition.’
‘A condition, my lady?’
‘That you take the singing woman home with you when you return to Rockwood Castle. I will allow her to entertain us after dinner this evening, but tomorrow you will take her away from here. Do you agree?’
‘I do, my lady,’ Nancy said, smiling.
That evening after dinner, Lady Dorrington went out of her way to make Nancy feel at home, although Lord Dorrington remained slightly aloof. However, Felicia was invited to sing, which she accepted graciously, and everyone made their way to the music room. Nancy took her seat at the pianoforte, flexing her hands nervously. She had not played for a while but when she began the music came back to her fingers and they flew over the keys.
Felicia sang three arias and accepted the applause as if she were on the stage of the grandest opera house in the world. Claude proffered his arm and led her to her seat where she was plied with glasses of port wine and praise for her wonderful voice. One of Lord Dorrington’s guests happened to know Mr Chart, the manager of the Theatre Royal in Brighton, and he promised to recommend Felicia for the leading role in their next opera.
