2. Chapter Two

CHAPTER TWO

"W here is she?" Ruby was aware that shouting at the maid was neither fair, nor likely to accomplish anything, but somehow, she couldn't stop herself.

"I'll find her ladyship!" The young girl fled from Ruby's bedroom, her expression terrified.

Ruby sat back against the pillows, already exhausted from her outburst. She'd woken up alone in her bed and panicked when she couldn't find Nora. Had Sidney appeared at night and taken her?

Caroline came in and rushed over to the bed. "Whatever is the matter? You've made Bridget cry."

"Where is Nora?"

"She's sleeping comfortably in the nursery. Where else would she be?"

"Here with me? You promised?—"

"I asked you to trust me to take care of her, and that's what I've done," Caroline said firmly. "When she wakes up, and after she's been fed, I'll bring her to you."

"I don't even know what day it is," Ruby said as she glanced out of the window. She knew she owed her sister an apology but didn't seem to have the ability to offer one.

"That's because we left you to sleep. You've been oblivious for almost two full days." Caroline started opening drawers in the cupboard. "I've left some of my clothes here for you. We're of a similar size. If you want to get up and walk to the nursery, I'll help you dress."

Ruby's stomach growled, and Caroline smiled. "Or you can have something to eat and join me when you're ready?"

The lure of hot food fought with Ruby's desire to see her baby.

"Can someone bring me something to eat in the nursery?"

"Of course." Caroline placed a pair of pantaloons, a shift, some stockings, and a corset at the end of Ruby's bed along with the gown. "Come along, then."

With her sister's competent assistance, Ruby was soon dressed in a dark blue gown and on her way upstairs.

"Will you apologize to the maid for me?" she asked as they went into the nursery.

"You can do it yourself." Caroline pointed toward the fireplace where a very young and anxious face looked back at them. "Bridget is one of the nursery maids."

Ruby went forward and stopped in front of the girl. "I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologize."

"That's all right, miss." Bridget bobbed a curtsey. "You probably woke up in a bit of a fright because of the baby."

"I did, but that was no excuse for my behavior."

Caroline came to stand beside them. "Is Nora still sleeping?"

"Nurse just took her to the wetnurse to feed, my lady. She'll be back in a tick." Bridget had a hint of an Irish brogue. "Would you like me to fetch Miss Louisa for you?"

"Yes, please. And after you've done that, can you go down to the kitchen and ask Cook for a tray of food for my sister?"

Caroline turned to Ruby, her smile soft. "My daughter is not much older than your Nora. I do hope they can be friends."

"I doubt that. Louisa is the daughter of a viscount, and Nora is a bastard."

"They are still cousins." Caroline held Ruby's gaze. "Surely that is the important thing?"

"Not to society, and probably not to your husband."

Caroline chuckled. "You of all people know that Francis has no time for such nonsense. He married me for goodness' sake—the woman who was his mistress and managed his books."

Ruby wasn't sure why she had to be so disagreeable to the people who were providing her with shelter. The bitterness that had entered her veins after Sidney's betrayal affected everything and kept seeping out.

When Bridget departed to fetch Louisa, Ruby touched Caroline's arm.

"I'm sorry."

"You've obviously had a difficult time." Caroline set her hand over Ruby's. "Perhaps when you feel better, you will tell me what happened?"

"And why I ended up begging on your doorstop?"

"You hardly did that. You are my sister. You are always welcome here."

Ruby nodded even though she was aware that on her previous visit to celebrate Ivy's wedding she had done nothing to endear herself to anyone. In truth, she'd gone out of her way to be dismissive and insulting to her sister's guests. She'd been filled with a sense of righteous indignation about the inequalities of the world and had been more than willing to share her radical opinions with the gentry and the factory owners, whether they wanted to hear her or not.

Since Nora's birth and Sidney's departure, all her certainties had disappeared…

"Here she is, my lady." Bridget returned with Louisa in her arms. "Bright and bonny from her nap."

Caroline took baby Louisa in her arms and lightly kissed the top of her head. "Good afternoon, my darling."

"Mama." The baby patted her face and beamed.

Ruby leaned in closer to get a better view of the child. She had her father's dark hair and fixed Ruby with a piercing blue stare.

"She looks just like Francis," Ruby said.

"I know." Caroline sighed. "She even has his beak of a nose. I suspect she'll be quite formidable when she comes of age. Neither of my children look like me, whereas your Nora is a mirror image of you."

"Apart from her hair." Ruby pictured Nora's little face. "I can't see it myself."

"Perhaps it's because I remember you and Ivy when you were young and can see it more clearly." Caroline went to sit by the fire and placed the baby on her lap. "What is Nora's birthdate?"

Ruby took the seat opposite her sister, glad of both the warmth of the fire and the chance to sit down. Her legs were shaking. "She'll be a year old on September the first."

"And Louisa will be one and a half in a week." Caroline smiled down at her daughter who was standing on her lap clutching onto her mother's sleeve. "They are only a few months apart in age."

The door opened and Bridget returned with a covered tray she placed next to Ruby.

"Cook says to eat up, and if you want more, she'll be happy to provide it for you."

"Thank you."

Ruby's stomach growled as she contemplated the bowl of chicken soup, bread, and cheese. She couldn't remember the last time she'd had fresh bread, having been reduced to buying the stale ends and leftovers from the baker at the corner of her street. He allegedly put chalk and ash in his dough.

"Don't eat too fast," Caroline said quietly.

"I haven't forgotten the lessons we learned when we had very little, sister," Ruby said. "They've stood me in good stead over the past few years."

She sipped the soup and almost groaned at the richness of the broth. The tender chunks of chicken were even better. She forced herself to slow down and savor each bite as Caroline played and sang with her daughter. She still had a sense that she was living in a dream—that at any moment someone would click their fingers and she'd be transported back to her bedroom in Leeds where there was no fire, nothing to eat, and a baby who cried constantly with hunger…

"Ruby?"

She looked over at Caroline who was frowning. "What?"

"Are you feeling well? You seem very… faraway."

"The soup is delicious."

"I'll tell Cook." Caroline smiled. "Perhaps if you continue to eat well, you can feed Nora again yourself."

Even the thought of trying to do that made Ruby anxious, so she concentrated on eating. Her head came up as she heard Nora chuckling. She watched Bridget come through the door carrying Nora.

"Here's your little one, ma'am." Bridget handed Nora over. "Wet nurse says she's doing very well now."

"So I can see." Ruby smiled at her daughter, aware of the differences a few good meals had made. "Please thank her for me."

"I will, ma'am." Bridget turned to Caroline. "I'll just go down to the kitchen and fetch the young master's milk and biscuits, my lady."

"Please do. He'll be back from his ride with his father at any moment. You haven't met Joseph yet, have you, Ruby? He's somewhat of a whirlwind."

As Joseph announced his presence by shouting as he came up the stairs, Ruby immediately knew what Caroline meant. She stiffened in her chair as Francis followed his son into the nursery.

"Be quiet, young man. You'll frighten your sister." Francis looked over at Ruby, his expression as inscrutable as ever. "Good afternoon. You look much better."

"Hard to look worse." Ruby made herself meet his gaze. "Thank you for allowing me to stay with you."

"If I hadn't, Caroline would have taken my children and followed you down the lane."

Despite his pleasant tone, Ruby was reminded once again that only his fierce loyalty to Caroline made Francis tolerate her family.

"I had a message from your mother, Caroline," Francis continued. "She and Ivy are coming to visit Ruby at three o'clock on Friday."

Caroline frowned. "Who told them she was here?"

Francis shrugged. "I have no idea, but as half our staff have relatives who work at Grovedale Hall, I suspect the news traveled fast."

Ruby fought a grimace. The last thing she wanted was for the rest of her family to descend on her. They were all sympathetic to her plight right now, but soon questions would be asked about how she'd allowed herself to be brought so low. Her mother would declare she'd told Ruby not to leave Grafton Hall and, whether they said anything to Ruby's face or not, everyone would silently judge her.

And perhaps she deserved their condemnation, but she'd done what she'd believed was right, and she refused to be ashamed of that.

"You don't have to see them if you don't want to," Francis said idly as he reached out to hold his daughter. Ruby reminded herself that he missed very little. "You can retire to your bed. Caroline and I will guard your door from any unwanted intrusions."

Ruby shot him a look, and he raised an eyebrow. "Your mother in full flow is somewhat overwhelming, and Ivy does have an unfortunate tendency to speak her truth with great disregard as to the effect of her words."

Ruby sighed and sat up straight. "It might be better to get it over with."

"I admire your optimism that maman would ever let anything be over." Caroline smiled as Louisa patted Francis's face. "She's still annoyed that Alice married Mr. Hepworth."

"Why would she be annoyed about that?" Ruby asked, glad for the distraction.

"Because Alice was supposed to live quietly at Grovedale Hall for the rest of her life and support Ivy."

"Then Alice made a wise decision to choose her own path," Ruby said. "I met Mr. Hepworth at the wedding. He is something of a character."

"He is indeed, and he does love Alice with all his heart." Caroline looked over at her husband. "And he helped make Francis even richer by bringing the railway to Millcastle."

Ruby opened her mouth to pour scorn on such a decision and remembered that her brother-in-law and sister had given her shelter when no one else would.

"The railway does offer the working man a great opportunity to travel beyond his usual existence," Ruby said instead. "It has certainly helped spread the word about universal suffrage."

"Indeed." Francis winced as Louisa pulled his hair and Joseph tugged on his coat sleeve. "I think my son is getting jealous of his sister having all my attention." He handed Louisa back to her mother and took Joseph's hand. "Come and sit at the table and have your milk."

His ease and obvious familiarity with his children were quite unexpected. Ruby had assumed he'd be a cold and distant father like most of the aristocracy—seeing his progeny only when necessary.

Nora gave a tiny snore and Ruby eased the blanket away from her face.

"Does she need a nap?" Caroline asked as she beckoned to Bridget. "She looks very peaceful."

"Yes," Ruby said softly.

"Shall I put her down to sleep for you ma'am?" Bridget asked.

"I'd prefer to do that myself if you can show me her crib."

Ruby stood up, aware that she was extremely tired herself. Letting Nora remain in the nursery and not by her side was a way of showing Caroline how much she trusted her. If her mother and sister were truly coming to visit at the end of the week, she'd need to gather all her resources before she could face them.

* * *

"Then, if you're agreeable to my terms, Dr. Nash, I'll get my secretary to draw up a contract between us."

Mr. Hepworth looked inquiringly at Charles, his pen in his hand. He was a broad, harsh-faced man who made no pretense of being a gentleman and ruled his rapidly expanding commercial empire with an iron fist. He happily displayed his wealth and made no concessions to the nobility or those he considered corrupt. He was also one of the most honest and straightforward men Charles had ever met, and they'd taken to each other immediately.

"Totton will take you to see the building I own near the new railway station. It has room for your consulting rooms on the ground floor with two further levels above for your personal use." Hepworth dipped his pen in the inkwell and scribbled something on the paper in front of him. His office was a symphony of dark mahogany, tall glass bookcases, and the smell of new leather. "Here's a draft on my bank for your use."

"You don't need to do that." Charles frowned.

"Aye, I do." Hepworth's light blue gaze fastened on Charles. "I didn't make this offer without doing some checking up on you, Dr. Nash. You might have a fancy accent and an aristocratic family, but you've no funds of your own and a rather spotty past."

"What exactly did you find out about me?" Charles asked carefully.

"Enough to know that I'll be watching the books." Hepworth winked as he held out the bank draft Charles wished he could refuse. "I'm willing to overlook youthful mistakes and offer anyone a second chance. But don't try and fool me, Nash, or I'll kick you out on your arse."

Charles took the draft, blinking after the unexpected ripping away of his carefully constructed fa?ade.

"Do you really investigate all your business partners so thoroughly, or was there something about me that stuck out?"

Hepworth sat back and contemplated Charles, his gaze shrewd. "I always do my due diligence, but I had to wonder why a gentleman such as yourself was willing to work with my navvies when no one else would."

"I see."

"I'm not the kind of man to spread gossip about my partners, so your secrets are safe with me." Hepworth paused. "And I haven't forgotten how hard you fought to save my wife and baby daughter."

"How are Mrs. Hepworth and Amelia?" Charles asked, grateful for the change in subject.

"Doing very well, thank you."

Hepworth smiled for the first time. Having been at the difficult birth, Charles was aware how much value Hepworth placed on his wife Alice and how devastated he would've been if she'd died. The baby had been breech, and the labor had exhausted Alice Hepworth to the point where Charles had feared he'd have to sacrifice one or the other.

"My wife is quite recovered now."

"I will make sure to call on her in the near future and see how she does," Charles promised.

"She'd appreciate that." Hepworth hesitated. "She does worry about the bairn."

"Is there anything in particular she should be worrying about?"

"Not that I've noticed, and I have some experience in this matter." Hepworth looked down at his hands. "I've grieved for children of my own before."

"Then perhaps I should come sooner and make sure Mrs. Hepworth's worries are set to one side."

"Aye, you can come to lunch with me at the end of the week and see what you make of the state of things. I'll be going home early to celebrate Dan's birthday. You can tell me what you think of the new premises then." He stood and held out his hand. "Now, I'll wish you good day, doctor. You'll find Totton in his office down the hall."

Charles accepted the strong handshake and went out, the draft from Hepworth's bank clasped in his fingers. He paused outside Totton's door to secure it safely in his pocket. He'd set up a new bank account in town to avoid his creditors in London and save his money. At least he now had the funds to travel and see his father, but that could wait until he'd established himself in Millcastle.

He knocked sharply on the secretary's door and went in. "Good morning, Mr. Totton. I understand that you are going to show me the new premises near the railway."

"Good morning, Dr. Nash." Mr. Totton was already rising to his feet. "I have the keys. Shall we proceed to the newly refurbished accommodation?"