AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When Lady Wexley reached the hall, Jameson was waiting beside the parlour door.
“It’s His Grace of Summerfield, my Lady. He’s come about young Edward’s widow. The baggage in the gatehouse refused to let him wash and apparently planned to attack him. If you’ll pardon me for saying so, I told you that young Jasper’s choice for gatekeeper was not suitable.”
Lady Wexley gave him a nod, but said nothing. Lifting his nose, Jameson opened the door to the parlour for his Lady.
Lady Wexley was a formidable woman, tall, severely dressed in black, with grief shining from her face. She had lost a son and heard nothing about her daughter in law. She turned to Jameson and mimed a cup to her lips. He nodded and closed the door.
“Your Grace, you are welcome here. Jameson tells me that you have news of dear Edward’s widow?”
*****
Bowing over her hand, Daniel was aware of his travel-stained appearance and appreciated her ignoring that, in search of information about the woman he loved. When she gestured to the chairs near the fireplace, he bowed slightly, and they sat at once.
“Your son’s widow, Verity, is well, and resting comfortably in a cottage on my estate. She has written several times, as have I, and is distraught at receiving no reply. Especially as she received a letter when she was already on her way here which was supposedly from you, but signed by your son Jasper, asking her not to come.”
Lady Wexley’s hands flew to her mouth, and she exclaimed with vigour.
“She has written? I knew it! Jasper did not want us to receive her here. I’ll wager that my younger son has blocked all communication, taking her letters before I could discover them. That he even wrote to her, to tell her not to come! I am shocked at how far he has stepped beyond his place! I began to suspect it some time ago, but I did not want to believe…”
She began fanning herself with a small hand.
“Please don’t vex yourself, Lady Wexley. Verity is most anxious to know your true feelings. And to tell you that she is expecting your grandchild within the month.”
“G… grandchild?”
“Yes. Whilst she only had a few weeks of married life with Edward, it has borne fruit.”
The good woman was still staring, wide-eyed, a few minutes later when the maid brought in the tea. Someone had made certain to include sandwiches and cakes – he suspected Jameson, and was grateful. Daniel made himself busy with the food to give Lady Wexley time to recover herself.
With the application of a cup of tea, Lady Wexley recovered so well that it was only a few minutes before she had risen and gone to the small escritoire at one side of the room.
“Please forgive me, but I must write these at once.”
Fifteen minutes later, armed with several notes, all folded and sealed, she rang for Jameson.
Interested, but not wanting to interfere, Daniel watched, ate, and waited. After his long and hurried journey, he was glad of the tea, and the food – it was no hardship to wait.
When she returned to him, she explained her missives.
“I have asked Jameson to find a trustworthy gatekeeper and arm him. He is to evict the current man, and make sure that the local militia are aware of the need to watch the reprobate. I have also asked Jameson to lock up the family accounts until I, and my husband, can go over them with our man of business, without my son’s interference. Jasper will be sent off to finish his year at Oxford, with a very much reduced allowance. I will make it clear to him that his activities are inappropriate, and that such behaviour will not ever be accepted again, if he wishes to have any allowance at all. If he cannot accept that stricture, then I will purchase him passage to the Americas, and he can make his own fortune there.”
Daniel nodded as she spoke, impressed by her vigour and organisation.
“My Lady, what do you wish to do now?”
“I will inform my husband, who spends most of his time sitting before the fire in the library, of the coming event and tell him that I am intent on tending to my daughter by marriage, to reassure her of our affections. I plan to leave first thing in the morning, if you are willing to have me as your guest at Summerfield Park?”
“Indeed, I will be happy to have you as a guest, and I am sure that Verity will be delighted by your presence. But… will your husband not be concerned at your absence for so long?”
Lady Wexley laughed softly.
“Lord Wexley never objects to my decisions. He long ago decided that life is easier that way. Lord Wexley is in perfect health, if less inclined to activity than he used to be. I am sure that he will see this as an excellent opportunity to have several months of quiet, all by himself. He will find that quite wonderful.”
Lady Wexley helped herself to more tea, and poured another cup for Daniel.
Daniel smiled broadly.
“You will be welcome at my home, Lady Wexley, and I know that Verity will be most pleased to see you. You may wish to know also, your Ladyship, that when her mourning, and mine, is finished, and the child well-adjusted to life on this earth, I intend to ask Verity to marry me. She will make an excellent Duchess. She is a lovely woman, and I have come to love her deeply - your son made a marvellous choice. I am sorry for your loss, but I hope that you will accept me as her husband.”
