Chapter 29

CHAPTER 29

S till feeling shaken, in spite of Mama's routing of the Bengroves, Jo was glad to go to her room with Mama. But to her dismay, Catherine Bengrove was waiting outside her bedroom door.

"What do you want?" Mama snapped as she approached. "Hasn't your family done enough harm?"

Catherine's gaze fell to her clasped hands. "I wanted to apologise. I had no knowledge of what Alfred planned."

"I don't suppose you could have stopped them if you had known," Mama said, a little more kindly.

"Bengrove—my husband, I mean—insisted I accompanied him on the shooting party."

"Did your husband also encourage you to befriend me in London?" Jo asked. Catherine must have known the family needed money.

Catherine nodded, miserably. "I did enjoy your company, Miss Stretton. That was not pretence."

That was something, Jo supposed, but wasn't enough to make their friendship survive. "I accept your apology, but you will understand, I hope, that I do not wish our association to continue. Excuse me."

Catherine stood to one side and Jo entered her room. Mama followed and closed the door as Jo sank into a chair and put her head in her hands. Mama laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"It is lowering, I know, to find that someone you thought a friend had an ulterior motive. It may not feel like it at the moment, but you are better off without any of that family. I'm sorry, Jo, that my foolish wishes led us to this."

Jo lifted her head, and grasped her mother's hand. "You certainly gave them a piece of your mind just now!"

"I have to admit that it felt rather good. That such people consider themselves our betters only because your father doesn't have a title…" She shook her head.

"Mama, are you still cross with me about the letters?"

Mama sat down. "I should be, but as your father did not object, and no harm seems to have been done, we will put it behind us."

"And you do not hold it against Captain Delafield that he continued to write to me?" That felt more important than gaining forgiveness for herself.

"He has not taken advantage, has he? He seems a very polite and considerate young man."

Yes, he was. One with a sense of humour, who would listen to her and respect her opinion. Whose smile made her feel warm inside. Who had run to her rescue, in spite of his damaged leg.

"The weather is still fine, Jo. Shall we have the picnic after all?" Mama peered into her face. "We could have the servants bring the food back and picnic in the park. Then we will be out of the house until the Bengroves have gone."

"Yes, let us do that. The children will enjoy it." And now she was free of Alfred she could spend some time trying to work out exactly how well she cared for Captain Delafield. And how much he liked her; she thought—hoped—that he regarded her as more than just a friend.

Rob toyed with his mug of ale as George Yelden quizzed Chadwick about his time in Spain, recalling how Yelden had sprung to the defence of his cousin. Did Yelden think of Miss Stretton as a sister or as something more? He'd been quick enough to offer marriage when confronting Lord Bengrove, and his previous restraint might have been because Miss Stretton was betrothed. A gentleman would not let his own preference show in that case.

That was irrelevant, Rob told himself. Even if Yelden did wish to be more than a cousin to her, Miss Stretton would have to reciprocate his feelings.

He tried to concentrate on what Chadwick was saying, but his thoughts kept returning to Miss Stretton. Jo. The feel of her leaning into him as he helped her into the library, the delicate fragrance of her hair.

Part of him wished that her father were not wealthy, so he could court her without people thinking his motives were mercenary. But he did not wish to deprive her of the advantages that wealth could bring—including, in her case, the interest she took in choosing investments. A man should support his wife, and he did not like the idea of living off her wealth. However, being without her was an even less attractive prospect. He could support her in ways beyond the purely financial.

The important thing was that Jo herself did not think that money was his motive for courting her. His friends would not think it, and what other people believed should not be allowed to constrain his future happiness.

Or hers. If he were in any way necessary for her happiness.

"Sir?" A man in groom's clothing interrupted his thoughts, but he was addressing Yelden.

"Have they gone, Evans?" Yelden asked.

"Yes, sir. Followed them to the second toll gate. Both carriages."

"Which road?"

"Towards Andover."

"Thank you." Yelden flicked a coin towards the groom, and Evans caught it, touched his cap, and left.

"Good thinking," Rob said. "What's the significance of Andover?"

"If the Bengroves are intent on spreading gossip, I think they would have gone to London. The Andover road means they're probably going back to Staffordshire."

That wouldn't stop them spreading gossip later. And if Alfred Bengrove hadn't been Rob's enemy before, he certainly was now. Although Rob had done little enough, Bengrove could still want revenge for being thwarted.

"Good riddance to the whole family," Chadwick said. He contemplated his empty mug. "Another, or shall we head back now the coast is clear?"

"Back, I think," Yelden decided. "I need some food, and this isn't the best place to get it."

Rob wasn't sorry—the air inside the taproom was thick with pipe smoke and the smell of spilled ale. He limped outside to the gig and Yelden took the reins.

Yelden dropped them off by the front door and drove the gig around to the stables. Chadwick turned to Rob. "Now the Bengroves have gone, I need to go and see my father. I'll take my leave tomorrow. You'll be staying on, though, won't you?"

Rob hesitated. "Does our invitation still stand? You suggested that we were asked to stay on because the Bengroves were here."

"I can't see Yelden asking you to leave," Chadwick said as the butler let them in. "Don't you want to stay?"

Of course he did, as long as there was any chance of spending time with Miss Stretton.

"Tell them your ankle is too painful to travel," Chadwick suggested.

"Don't be daft. I'm walking on it, aren't I?"

"A foolish effort to ignore your injury, which will result in a need to rest your foot for the next few days," Chadwick countered, with a grin.

The butler cleared his throat. "Gentlemen, Mr Stretton would like to see you in the library. At your convenience, of course."

Chadwick's hand went to straighten his cravat, and it was Rob's turn to grin. Then he wrinkled his nose—the smell of smoke and ale clung to his coat. "Please let Mr Stretton know we will be with him as soon as we have changed."

Rob had some time to think while he tied a fresh neckcloth and donned his other coat. He wanted nothing more than to court Jo, but was this the time to do it? She had been attacked, and then freed of her betrothal, only this morning. It would be better, perhaps, if she had time to get used to being unattached again before he made any attempt to deepen their relationship.

"Ready?" Chadwick asked, and the two of them descended to the library. Mr Stretton sat in a chair by the window.

"Excellent timing, gentlemen. You have missed the Bengroves departing. Do sit down."

"How can we help you, sir?" Rob asked, when Mr Stretton did not immediately continue.

"It is more the reverse, I'm afraid. After you left us, Captain Bengrove was rather vociferous in his objection to what he called your interference, Captain, although I think he had some ire reserved for you as well, Lieutenant. It is not impossible that he will try to take revenge on one or both of you, but I have done my best to reduce the possibility. However, if any of that family does attempt to harm you, in any way, please let me know."

Rob shared a quick glance with Chadwick. "Of course, sir. May we ask what action you have taken?"

Mr Stretton sighed. "Blackmail, I'm afraid. Bengrove—Lord Bengrove, that is—has just discovered that I hold most of the mortgages on his unentailed properties. I informed him that I will foreclose if I find that anything has been said against my family or friends. That includes you."

"Er, thank you, sir."

"In addition, I have useful contacts in the East India Company. Given his financial circumstances, I feel sure Lord Bengrove will readily agree that Captain Bengrove's joining their Bengal Army would be of great benefit to all concerned. That should remove him from the country for several years."

"Poor buggers," Chadwick muttered .

Mr Stretton's lips twitched. "Indeed. Now, I hope you will both stay on for some time? I should say that Lord and Lady Yelden would be delighted for you to do so."

Rob had a moment to think while Chadwick made his excuses, then gave his own. "Thank you for the invitation, sir, but I am not yet sure of my plans."

If he were to absent himself for a while, he should explain his reasons to Jo first.

"Thirty hits, that's the best yet!" Jo bent to pick up the shuttlecock, smiling at the flushed faces of the younger Yelden children. "Time to rest in the shade for a while, I think, and have some lemonade." She was as warm as they looked, and a little out of breath.

The children ran off, dropping their battledores. The game had done her good, she reflected as she gathered them up. The exertion of trying to keep the shuttlecock in the air, and the children's chatter, had cleared her mind of this morning's fear and the unpleasant argument afterwards. Now she'd seen the Bengroves' coaches leave, and Papa had told her he would take steps to ensure they made no more trouble, she was beginning to feel that hoped-for freedom. She was beginning to understand what was meant by taking the weight from one's shoulders.

Taking a chair into the shade near the edge of a belt of trees, she sat and sipped her lemonade. In the middle of the lawn, Mama and Aunt Sarah were talking, with Lydia on the grass beside them helping the younger ones to make daisy chains. All calm and peaceful.

A figure came around the corner of the distant house, identifiable only by his limp and stick. Was it telling that she knew, even at this distance, that it was Captain Delafield and not his friend?

But his limp was more pronounced than before; had he damaged his leg further this morning? Papa had said the captain had set off at a run when he'd learned that she might be in danger. Before he got close enough for her manoeuvring to be obvious, Jo brought another chair close to her own.

Unfortunately, the captain's way took him past Mama, who beckoned him towards her. Jo was too distant to hear what was said, but she did detect a fleeting grimace on the captain's face before Mama let him go.

He turned his head in her direction. She gestured towards the empty chair, feeling suddenly shy.

"I think your mother knows about our correspondence," he said as he sat down beside her. "She wishes to talk to me later."

"I told her last night," Jo admitted.

"I hope she was not too displeased."

"She was shocked when I first told her, but Papa's approval and your suggestion about the laudanum helped. After this morning's events, I think I am forgiven."

"That is good. I never intended to land you in trouble."

"I made my own decision," she said, crisply, then wished she could take the words back. To her relief, he was amused rather than offended.

"I know. It is one of the things…" He broke off, then leaned forwards, his smile giving way to concern. "Miss Stretton, are you truly well?"

Very well indeed, sitting here with him. She almost said so, but that would seem too forward. "Will you not use my name, Captain?"

"If you wish. If you will call me Rob."

She nodded.

"But my question still stands… Jo." He frowned. "You are not obliged to answer, of course. But as a friend, I am naturally concerned."

A friend? He was that, of course. But she could still recall the feel of his arm around her this morning, when he had helped her into the library. She had felt safe, protected.

"Yes, I am well. In fact, I feel better now than I have for some time. I have been happier since your suggestion led to Mama's recovery. However, I must have known within myself that marriage to Alfred was not what I really wanted, and it is such a relief to be rid of him. I have not felt so light and free since Mama's illness began. It is unfortunate that it had to happen in such a way, but it is done."

"What will you do now?" He shook his head. "I'm sorry—you will have had no time to think about it."

"I suppose I will go on much as before. There will be a few assemblies in Winchester we might attend while we remain here. Mama has given up the idea of my marrying into the aristocracy, but she still wants me to find a husband."

"I suppose that is the case for most mothers. Or sisters-in-law," he added, with his attractive wry smile. "When I visited my brother, his wife had all but arranged a marriage for me with the daughter of a neighbouring landowner. Your father's invitation to dinner arrived at a most opportune moment."

The irrational stab of jealousy told Jo a great deal about her feelings.

"But it did cut short my visit before I had time to see my sisters, who live near Gloucester, and I have yet to visit my brother in Herefordshire."

That sounded ominous. "Are you planning to visit them soon?"

"I thought to leave tomorrow."

Her reply came out without thought. "Don't go."