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‘You are so very kind,’ Amy said, because Selina was still turned away, her hands clenching at her sides as she struggled against her emotions. ‘But truly Selina speaks for us all—we shall be independent if we can.’
‘If you can, of course,’ he agreed, much mollified by Amy’s sweet smile. ‘I am not made of stone, Miss Amy. I could not see my cousins starve or be deprived of all their precious things. I know some of the furnishings belonged to your mama, and I’ve already told him he will have to furnish part of the house himself.’
Selina turned, her eyes wide and startled. ‘Whom do you mean? Have you already let the house to a tenant? It is only a few weeks until Christmas. I did not think you would expect us to move so soon, cousin.’
‘Well, I shouldn’t, of course—except that I think you would all do better staying with me for the festivities. This house is expensive to keep up, you know. Your mama could scarcely afford it these past few months, and some of the necessary repairs have not been done.’ There was a hint of reproach in his voice. ‘I did offer to do them for her, but she said she would not trouble me and intended to see to them herself—though we both knew she could not afford the iniquitous prices these builders charge. Ladies will have their way, but now that the house has passed to me, I shall, of course, be sending someone to do the repairs quite soon.’
Selina looked at her sister. Neither said anything, but they both knew that this was their cousin’s way of making it impossible for them to stay in the house, despite his earlier claim that they could remain for at least another month. Selina was about to reply when the housekeeper announced the arrival of their family lawyer. He was early, but being a punctilious man had no doubt set out early lest the roads were bad.
‘Well, at least we shall know the truth now,’ Selina said, but her heart sank as the lawyer was announced, and she saw from his face that the news was far from good.
‘Good morning, Mr Breck,’ she said, and went forward to meet him with outstretched hands. No matter how heavy her heart, she would not forget her good manners. ‘It was so very kind of you to come out on such a cold day, sir.’
‘It is cold for the time of year, though we have less than two months until Christmas, Miss Searles. I must tell you at once that I have been looking into your dear mama’s affairs, and the outlook is not good—but I think I may have solved one of your problems at least temporarily.’
‘Oh … I think you must tell us what you mean,’ Selina said. ‘Please, come and sit by the fire, sir. You have been a good friend to Mama, and we shall not stand on ceremony, even if you are the bearer of bad news.’
Mr Breck flicked out his coattails and sat on a substantial chair close to the hearth. He had chosen their late father’s chair, and the sight of a man sitting there brought a lump to the girls’ throats, but neither of them said a word. They were breathless, their eyes betraying their fear as they waited.
‘As you know, your father had secured the house to your mother for her lifetime, but he was never able to break the entail, which would have cost him too much of his slender capital. That part of the estate which was entailed bears a mortgage, and all the land your father owned personally was sold before his death to pay his debts.’
‘Yes, sir. You told Mama when Papa died,’ Selina said. ‘But Mama’s jointure was safe, and we think she had a little money of her own—is that not so?’
‘Yes, she did have a little of her own, and she was left a thousand pounds by her aunt, but most of that has been spent. The dear lady honoured me with the care of her slender funds, as you know, and I did manage to invest a small amount, which will bring you in two hundred pounds a year, but besides that you have only seventy-five pounds in capital …’
Selina gave a little gasp. ‘So little …’ She swallowed hard as she saw her sister’s stricken expression. ‘We had hoped it might be two hundred pounds or so.’
‘Your dear mama spent quite a bit on clothes and the things she wanted to give you and your sisters. Of course all her furniture and jewels belong to you, and I daresay they may fetch a thousand or two—if you care to sell them.’
‘We may have to if we are to find ourselves a new home,’ Selina said, and glanced at her cousin, who had the grace to look ashamed. ‘We are determined to be independent of Cousin Joshua, even though he has kindly offered us a home in his house.’
‘Well, I thought you would say that, Miss Searles,’ the lawyer said, and looked pleased with himself. ‘Which is why I have taken the liberty of arranging something—if you could bring yourself to accept?’
‘Anything,’ Selina said fervently, and then realised how rude she sounded. ‘Within reason, of course. I feel we must not be a burden on others.’
‘I’ve told you—’ her cousin began but swiftly closed his mouth as the lawyer began to speak again.
‘Well, this might suit you. I have an elderly client who owns an estate. He recently became ill and has gone abroad for his health. He is hoping that his nephew will take over the estate, for it is entailed on him. However, the nephew currently lives in Italy, and though I have told him his duty is to return to the estate, he has informed me that he is content for now to leave it entirely in my hands. I am to manage the estate—and to install a housekeeper in the house, with a few servants to keep it in reasonable condition. However, the nephew does not wish it to be let to a tenant because he may one day choose to live there—though he thinks not for some years yet.’
‘Are you offering me the position of housekeeper?’ Selina stared at him in surprise.
‘Well, yes, in a way,’ her lawyer said. ‘What I thought was that you and your family could live there—and take with you the servants you intend to keep. I shall pay their wages and make you some small remuneration—say three hundred pounds a year.’
‘Nonsense!’ Cousin Joshua was outraged. ‘How dare you suggest that my cousin become a paid servant? She and her sisters will live with me, as I told them right from the start.’
‘No, cousin, we shall not.’ Selina’s voice was cold and proud, and all eyes turned on her. ‘I am three and twenty, and you are not my guardian. Mama left the care of my sisters to me, because she trusted me to care for them—and I shall.’
‘You will not consider becoming a housekeeper?’ He looked shocked.
‘I think it may be the perfect solution,’ Selina said, and turned with considerable relief to the lawyer. ‘However, I could not accept the wage, Mr Breck. What I can accept is that you allow us to live there as your client’s tenants in return for keeping the house in good order. I shall undertake to help you with the estate, for I was used to helping Papa, as you know. I am well able to do bookwork, and to supervise the maintenance of property—and if you have good bailiffs and farm managers, I can liase with them and report to you.’
‘Well … it is not exactly what I intended … but I see no reason why it should not work. However, I must insist that you allow me to pay the wages of the resident servants at least. It is a big house, and you could not afford to keep enough staff unless I contribute—as my client’s agent, of course.’
‘How many servants are there?’
‘Just two outside men and an elderly butler, Trent, who was too old to travel with my client. He wishes to remain at the house until he can no longer work. You will need at least two maids and a cook if you are to live there comfortably.’
‘Yes, I think we shall,’ Selina said. ‘Mama’s maid, Jane, Betty, our maid of all work, and Cook all wish to come with us and have declared they will work for nothing but their board. Also Papa’s groom, Jeremiah. He says nothing shall make him leave us but death, and I cannot kill him, so I must keep him. I shall, of course, pay them something—but you must leave that to me, Mr Breck. I shall contrive somehow—even if I have to sell Aunt Mabel’s pearls. Mama gave them to me, and if need be I shall sell them.’
‘Oh, Selina, you love those pearls,’ Amy protested tearfully.
‘Yes, I do, but this is a solution for us, dearest. Do you not see how perfect it is? We shall live quietly but we shall still be ladies, even if we have very little money. We may entertain occasionally—and we shall meet people living nearby. It is possible that one of us might—’
‘You cannot possibly live on two hundred pounds a year,’ Cousin Joshua cut in rudely, looking annoyed. ‘If you refuse my offer of a home, I shall wash my hands of you. You will get nothing from me—not a penny.’
‘Sir, that is not necessary,’ Mr Breck remonstrated. ‘I am more than willing to pay Miss Searles a retainer for looking after the house if she wishes.’
‘I shall remember that, and if I become desperate, I may reconsider,’ Selina said with a smile. ‘You have been very kind, Cousin Joshua—however, I must decline your offer of a home. We shall be packed and ready to leave within three days. I should appreciate it if you will not send your builders in until after we have left,’ she added dryly.
‘You will regret this,’ he said, giving her a furious look. ‘Just remember that this arrangement is only temporary. The nephew could return at any time. Just don’t come crying to me when you’re homeless and destitute.’
‘Now, that is not called for, sir.’ Mr Breck looked outraged. ‘If such a thing should happen, Miss Searles must apply to me, and I shall find her a cottage she can afford to rent until such time as she is married.’
‘And who will want to marry a woman with no fortune and two sisters in tow?’ Cousin Joshua said harshly. ‘Only a fool would consider it.’
With that he strode from the parlour, leaving silence behind him.
Selina recovered first. ‘I fear I have upset our cousin,’ she said calmly. ‘Do not judge him too harshly, Mr Breck.
He has little from his inheritance but the house, and you cannot blame him for wanting it to be free of occupants who pay nothing.’
‘Mr Searles is a warm man. It would not have hurt him to allow you to live here free of charge as his tenants.’
‘No, it would not,’ Selina agreed. ‘However, he has long held a ridiculous notion that we shall marry, and I think he hoped to force my hand—but nothing would make me consider it.’
‘It was not what your mama hoped for,’ the lawyer said. ‘She believed you would marry well once you had your chance at a proper come-out.’ He hesitated, then, ‘I suppose you would not allow me to advance you the money for a season?’
‘How good you are!’ Selina exclaimed warmly, shaking her head. ‘Really kind—but I could not allow it. I might never be able to repay you. No, do not say it doesn’t matter, because it does. We may be poor, but we are honest, and we have our pride, sir.’
‘Yes. I was afraid you might not accept—but your own idea is better than mine. Though I wish you would allow me to pay you for looking after the estate. An extra three hundred pounds might have provided enough for Miss Amy to have a come-out in a year or so …’
‘No, Selina must not be made to feel guilty on my account,’ Amy said instantly. ‘She is the beauty of the family. I am confident that something wonderful will happen. Before you arrived we had nowhere to go—now we have a new home. What is the name of the house, sir?’
‘Banford Hall,’ he replied, and smiled at her. ‘It is an old property, Miss Amy—gothic, some might call it, and rather beautiful in my opinion. The family has lived there for centuries, and parts of it are medieval.’
‘How exciting!’ Amy exclaimed. ‘Does it have a ghost?’
‘Any number of them, I should imagine,’ Mr Breck replied with an indulgent smile. ‘I doubt they will bother three intelligent young ladies like yourselves.’
‘I am becoming more excited by the minute,’ Amy said, and gave him a sparkling smile. ‘Mama always said she did not know how she would have managed without your help, sir—and you have gone to so much trouble for us.’
‘Not at all, m’dear.’
The lawyer looked ridiculously pleased, and Selina smiled inwardly. Amy always said that she, Selina, was the beauty of the family, but her younger sister was herself a very charming, not to say fascinating, young woman. Given her chance she would no doubt marry well.
‘As a matter of fact, it will suit me admirably to have you installed as a family rather than leaving it to a housekeeper—for sometimes, you know, they tend to neglect a house if the owner is abroad.’
‘You can rely on us to keep it in good order. If I should discover some necessary repair, may I apply to you for the cost?’ asked Selina.
‘Certainly, certainly. His lordship—my client’s nephew, that is—was explicit. He wants everything as it ought to be, especially for his tenants on the estate—but for the moment he is content in Italy and does not wish to live there. I believe he thinks his uncle, the old earl, may recover and wish to return home, though for myself I think there is no prospect of it happening. He has gone to a warmer climate to spend his last days in comfort and will not think of returning.’
‘Well, if he does he shall find his house in good order. Should he be pleased with what we have done, he might offer us a home—if I continued as his housekeeper.’
‘Would you consider it?’
‘Only if it is a choice of that or going to my cousin for help.’ Selina shuddered delicately. ‘I would prefer to be independent—unless I find someone I would care to marry, of course. We are not quite destitute, sir. As well as our two hundred a year, our aunt left each of us fifty pounds and a small token of jewellery. The jewellery is not worth selling, except for the pearls Mama passed to me, of course. Mama’s jewels may be worth as much as five thousand—’ She broke off as she saw the lawyer’s frown. ‘You think I overvalue them?’
‘Most of your dear mama’s jewels were sold to pay your father’s debts, Miss Searles. Your father had copies made. I believe there is one pair of genuine diamond drops that remain, and the pearls you mentioned which were left to her by her aunt.’
The two girls looked at each other aghast. Selina was the first to recover.
‘We have even less than we thought,’ she said grimly. ‘At least we need not part with what we have of Mama’s. You have the diamond earbobs, Amy. Millie has a gold bracelet and I have the pearls. Even if the rest of what we thought heirlooms are just fakes, they look well enough to pass for being genuine if we have to wear them to a ball. Still, we are not destitute. We shall manage, but we must be very careful.’
‘I am sorry to be the bearer of more bad news.’ Mr Breck looked upset. ‘I had thought you knew.’
‘We had no idea things were so bad. I wondered why Mama did not sell something when she needed to repair the roof in the west wing. Now I understand. At least we have her furniture and her clothes …’ She paused. ‘Unless they are earmarked for a bill?’
‘No such thing,’ Mr Breck assured her heartily. ‘You may take everything that was particularly your mama’s when you leave.’
‘You can be assured that we shall take nothing Cousin Joshua is entitled to think his own.’
‘I should like Papa’s duelling pistols,’ Amy said. ‘He taught me to use them and I have a fondness for them.’
‘Well, since they are personal property and not part of the estate, I see no reason why you should not take them—his clothes belong to you, and any other small personal items.’
‘So we can take his hip flask and his signet ring?’ Amy asked. ‘That would mean each of us had a small keepsake.’
‘I can see no reason why you should not take everything that was personal to your father. The estate consists of land, houses, furniture, important silver, books and pictures.’
‘Then we shall take as much as we can,’ Selina said. ‘I shall hire a cart to move our belongings, for I should not wish to use anything that rightly belongs to my cousin.’
‘Our riding horses are our own,’ Amy said, ‘but the carriages and the carriage horses belong to Cousin Joshua. I think we must hire a carriage to take us to our new home, Selina—and Jeremiah must bring the horses.’
‘I have thought about that,’ Mr Breck said. ‘I think it may be possible to buy a chaise and a pair of horses cheaply for you—but I shall enquire into the matter. It may be best to hire something for now. I will visit you at Banford Hall soon to see how you are settling in.’
‘At least we shall have time to settle before Christmas,’ Selina said. ‘I am feeling much better for your visit, sir. Please, will you dine with us—and stay the night?’
‘I should be delighted to dine,’ Mr Breck said. ‘However, I think a room at the inn might be advisable—now that the three of you are alone. It was different when your dear mama was alive.’
‘Yes, very different,’ Selina said, and the tears caught at her throat.
She blinked hard, because weeping would not help them. Her sisters were relying on her to make a life for them. It would be hard for them all, moving to a new house and leaving their friends behind. Her youngest sister was upset enough as it was.
‘But Mama is at peace now, sir. She would not want us to break our hearts for her. Mama loved us dearly. She would want us to be happy—and that is what I intend. I shall do my best to make it a good Christmas. I know I speak for my sisters when I say you and your family would be welcome to visit with us this year. We may have a few guests—for I am sure we shall make friends with some of our neighbours—but I should be honoured if you would come to stay for a few days, sir.’
‘Well, if that isn’t handsome of you, Miss Searles.’ The lawyer beamed his pleasure. ‘I shall ask Mrs Breck her pleasure and be sure to let you know what plans she has—but I am truly honoured to be asked.’
‘Mr Breck is very kind,’ Amy said after their guest had left that evening. ‘I should not have dared to take Papa’s pistols had he not said I might. There are several things that Papa thought of as his own, and if we take all of them, we might sell one or two if need be.’
‘Do not take anything of real value, Amy, or anything that Cousin Joshua might think is his by right. It would only bring him down on us, and although he might not actually demand we return it, he would certainly make us aware that we had something of his,’ Selina warned.
‘He is such a beast,’ Amy said, and set her mouth in a mutinous line. ‘There is a picture in Papa’s study that I should love …’
‘Please do not be tempted, dearest. I know the one you mean and it is quite valuable. Father inherited it himself, so it was not his personal property. Cousin Joshua would be sure to notice that—and I really do not care to have him preaching at me again.’
‘Oh …’ Amy sighed. ‘It is so hard to leave things we’ve known all our lives.’
‘Be grateful we have as much as we have,’ Selina replied. ‘It has been a long day. I am for my bed. Tomorrow we begin packing. I am determined to leave nothing behind that is ours—and I want to be ready within the three days.’
‘Supposing the earl’s nephew decides to come home to Banford Hall from Italy sooner rather than later?’
Selina frowned. ‘We must pray that he does not,’ she said. ‘Should he return we must take Mr Breck up on his offer to find us somewhere to rent, as we cannot afford to purchase even a small cottage. Or there is the possibility that I may be offered the position of housekeeper at Banford Hall for real.’
‘You wouldn’t truly take it?’
‘Only if we were desperate—and we are not that yet.’ Selina smiled at her. ‘Go up now, dearest. If you are not tired, you may begin your packing.’
‘What about the books?’ Amy asked. ‘I suppose all the books belong to the library and are therefore part of the entail?’
‘Mama’s own books are ours—but, yes, I suppose the others do belong here.’
‘I cannot leave my favourite poets!’ Amy wailed. ‘There are three books that never leave my bedside.’
‘I daresay Cousin Joshua will not notice those,’ Selina said with a smile. ‘Take them, but do not pack a trunk with books, Amy. I assure you he would notice if you cleared an entire shelf.’
‘No, just those three. After all, Mama did buy them for Papa—so in a way they are hers, or at least his personal possessions and therefore not part of the estate.’
Selina did not argue with her sister further. She was quite sure that Millie would also claim two or three books, as she might herself, but she could not truly deny any of them. Only an insensitive brute like Cousin Joshua would insist that they must leave their home so soon after Mama’s death. A kinder man would have allowed them to remain until Selina married and made other arrangements for her sisters.
She was thoughtful as she went to her own bedchamber and closed the door. Tears had been hovering all day, but she’d kept them at bay for the sake of her sisters. The prospect of leaving her home was tearing her apart inside, though she’d tried not to show it to her cousin or the lawyer. She knew that she was taking a huge risk by accepting Mr Breck’s offer. Here in her home, with all her familiar things about her and the servants who had known her all her life, she had managed very well, taking over the reins when her father died and her mama went into a slow decline. Being the mistress of an old house with just a handful of servants—some of whom she did not know—was a very different affair.
Selina’s head came up, and her expression was one of pride and determination, even though her eyes sparkled with the tears she still refused to shed. She would manage. Even if the nephew returned and they had to move to a tiny cottage, she would manage somehow.
She would contrive to give Amy a season next year, and with any luck, her vivacious sister would marry well and solve all their problems. With judicious economy, and by asking a favour of one of Mama’s friends, she might manage something for Amy, but it would be too much to expect the same for herself.
No, she must give up her hopes and dreams of a man she could love and respect—though if a presentable widower were to ask for her, she might just take him. All she asked was that he should be good-natured, and not a pompous prig like her cousin.
The thought of her cousin’s face when she’d accepted Mr Breck’s offer made her smile. Joshua had been so sure she would cave in and marry him that his indignation had been almost amusing—except that she knew he would find some way of paying her back if he could.
