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When the gentlemen came in she was prepared to make an effort to join in, but they were getting on so well that the conversation flowed quite easily without any contribution from herself and she remained beside her sister, a relieved and silent observer. Maria, however, was determined that she should participate more and when the tea tray was brought in she handed two cups to Zelah, instructing her to carry one to their guest.
Bracing herself, Zelah moved across the room. Major Coale accepted the cup with a word of thanks, adding, as Reginald lounged away and they were left alone, ‘Buckland tells me Nicky is to go to school.’
‘Yes. Mr Netherby teaches a small group of boys for a few hours each day and he has agreed to take him. It is as much for the company as anything.’
‘And when does he start?’
‘As soon as he is walking again, which should not be long now, he is making good progress.’
She sipped at her tea, trying to think of something to say. She wanted to tell him how handsome he looked, but that would be most improper, and unfortunately, everything else that came to mind was connected to their having dined together, a fact that must remain secret.
‘You are very quiet this evening, Miss Pentewan. Why is that? I know you are not afraid of me.’
The glinting smile in his eyes drew an answering gleam from her.
‘Not when I was on your land, certainly. But here …’ she glanced around ‘… I fear I am less at ease with you in these more formal surroundings.’
‘That is singular—if anything you should feel safer here, with your family.’
She smiled. ‘You must think me very foolish.’
‘Not at all. Have you found a suitable post yet, as a governess?’
‘No, and it is very lowering. Maria ascribes it to my lack of experience.’
‘She may well be right.’
‘But I am very well qualified! Papa himself took charge of my education. He taught me French and mathematics and the use of globes—and he allowed me free access to his extensive library.’ She sighed. ‘But of course, apart from my nephew I have little experience of children.’ She turned her eyes upon him as a thought occurred to her. ‘I wonder perhaps if you have a young relative in need of a governess?’
He threw back his head and laughed at that. Zelah smiled, surprised at the little curl of pleasure it gave her, to have amused him so.
‘No, Miss Pentewan, I do not. I have only one sister, you saw her portrait. She is now married, but when she was younger she was such a minx that I have the greatest sympathy with every one of the poor ladies employed to instruct her.’
‘Oh dear, was she so bad?’
‘A perfect hoyden. She ran through at least a dozen governesses. Do not look so dismayed, ma’am, the Coales are renowned for being wild to a fault. Not all families will be as bad.’
‘No-o.’ Zelah was not convinced. She gave herself a little shake. ‘I have not given up hope, Major. I have already sent off more advertisements. I am sure something will turn up.’
‘Of course it will.’ He put down his cup. ‘It is growing late and I must get back.’
He rose and crossed the room to take his leave of his hostess. Zelah felt a deep sense of disappointment that he was going so soon, which was irrational, since she had avoided his company most of the evening.
Nicky was making good progress. By the end of the week he was hobbling around the garden, showing off his heavily bandaged leg to all the servants.
Zelah watched him from her bedroom window. He was in the garden, talking to the aged retainer employed to cut the lawn. She was too far away to hear what was being said, but she could imagine him recounting the tale of how he hurt his leg. The old man was leaning on his scythe and giving the boy his full attention, even though she was sure he would have heard the story several times over. She put her chin on her hands, smiling. Nicky had such a natural charm, no wonder everyone loved him. Reginald was taking him to join the vicar’s little school next week and she hoped the other boys would take to him.
There was a knock at the door.
‘If you please, miss, Major Coale is here to see you.’
‘Is my sister not available?’
The maid bobbed another curtsy. ‘He asked to speak to you, ma’am.’
‘Oh.’
She turned to the mirror and picked up her brush, then put it down again. Without removing all the pins, brushing out her curls and pinning it all back up again, which would take far too long, there was not really much improvement she could make, save to tuck an escaping tendril behind her ear.
Zelah pulled the neckline of her gown a little straighter, smoothed out her skirts and, after a final look in the mirror, made her way downstairs to the morning room.
The major was standing by the window, his back to the room and his hands clasped behind him.
‘Good morning, Major Coale.’ He turned to face her, but with his back to the light Zelah could not read his expression. She said quickly, ‘Nicky is in the garden, sir, if you wish to see—’
‘No, it is you I came to see,’ he interrupted her, his tone more clipped and curt than ever.
She sank on to a chair. He ignored her invitation to sit down and took a turn about the room. Zelah waited in silence, watching him. His right leg was dragging and he was frowning, the crease of his brow making the scar running down his face even more noticeable. Zelah clasped her hands tightly together and waited.
‘Miss Pentewan.’ His shadow enveloped her as he stopped before her chair. Then, with a slight shake of his head, he took another turn about the room, saying as he walked, ‘You may think I should have spoken first to Buckland or perhaps to your sister, to sound them out on the matter, but you are of age, and knowing how you value your independence I decided to address you directly.’
Zelah dropped her gaze. There was a slight crease in her own brow now. Her heart was hammering so hard against her ribs she thought it might burst free at any moment. She hoped he would not expect her to speak, for her throat felt so tight she could hardly breathe. He approached, his steps thudding a soft, uneven tattoo on the carpet and soon she was staring at the highly polished toes of his topboots, yet still she could not look up.
He cleared his throat again. ‘Miss Pentewan, I have a proposal for you.’
Chapter Four (#ulink_44e32310-75f4-5424-8929-d9ed7852ec1b)
Zelah closed her eyes, waiting for the world to stop spinning. After a few deep breaths she opened her eyes, but could not bring herself to look up into the major’s face. Instead she fixed her gaze on the rather poor landscape painting on the wall.
‘A p-proposal, sir?’ Her voice was little more than a croak.
‘Yes.’
She jumped up and went to the window, her hands on her burning cheeks. What was she to say? Could this really be happening? She kept her back to him as he began to speak again.
‘You have honoured me with your confidence and informed me that you are seeking employment as a governess. I want to ask—that is, would you consider a rather … different form of employment?’
The heat and colour fled from her cheeks as swiftly as it had come. She wheeled around, this time firmly fixing her eyes upon his face. Her heart was still hammering but there was such a confusion of thoughts in her head that she felt sick. She swallowed, hard.
‘Just what are you offering me, Major?’
He looked uncomfortable. She found herself praying.
Please do not let him say it. I cannot bear to think he would even ask …
‘Miss Pentewan, you will know I am alone at Rooks Tower.’ Her heart sank even lower. She clenched her hands together, closed her eyes and prepared her answer even as he continued. ‘I have been struggling for some weeks now but—madam, would you consider working as my archivist?’
‘Sir, thank you, but I could not possibly—what?’
He shrugged. ‘Archivist, librarian, I am not sure what title you would use, but I need someone to put my books in order. Rooks Tower has a large library and I intend to make use of it. I have had the room decorated, but have done nothing about unpacking the books I brought with me from Markham. I have collected a great number of volumes over the years and transported them all here, but they are in no particular order. It is the devil of a job and with the summer coming on I need to be supervising the work outside as much as possible. I just haven’t the time …’
She blinked at him.
‘You … you want me to, to arrange your books?’
‘Yes. Oh, I know it is not the type of work you were looking for, but from our discussions I received the impression that you were intent upon becoming a governess because that is the only respectable occupation available to a young woman.’
‘Respectable, yes, and … I know nothing about organising a library!’
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
‘You told me you knew nothing about children, but that has not stopped you advertising yourself as a governess. I need someone to sort out all those damn—dashed volumes.’
‘But surely you should employ a scholar to do this, someone who understands the value of your collection—’
Again that grimace distorted his features.
‘I am not interested in its value, only that the books are recorded in some sort of order and that they are on the shelves and to hand when I want them. They are, in the main, useful books that I have collected.’ He took a turn about the room. ‘Besides, I do not wish to have a stranger in my house. No, madam, I want the library organised and all the books catalogued during the next few months. I see no reason why you could not walk over there every day and continue to live with your brother and sister.’
‘I—I am not sure …’
He waved an impatient hand.
‘You need fear no impropriety. Mrs Graddon and the housemaids will be present and I spend most of my time out of doors. I am willing to pay you a total of fifty guineas for the work: twenty-five when you begin, and the rest once the library is complete. It should not take too long, two months, perhaps three at the most.’
‘Then the remuneration you offer is far too generous.’
He shrugged. ‘I want it to be done, and soon. The cost is not important.’
Zelah shook her head, trying to think clearly. In the space of a few minutes her spirits had experienced ecstatic heights, deep despair and a fury of indignation, and all for nothing. He was offering her nothing more or less than a job of work.
The major picked up his hat.
‘Perhaps you would like to consider it. Talk it over with your sister.’
‘No,’ she answered him quickly. ‘No, I have made my decision.’
If she discussed this with Maria or Reginald they might well try to dissuade her, but here was an opportunity to earn her keep, albeit for a short time, and remain with her family. She squared her shoulders, raised her head and met his gaze.
‘I accept your offer, Major Coale.’
For a long, breath-stopping moment his eyes searched her face, then he smiled and she found herself responding, until he looked away from her.
‘Thank you, that is excellent news,’ he said crisply. ‘I see no reason for delay. Report to Rooks Tower on Monday morning!’
‘My dear sister, have you lost your wits?’
Zelah gazed up at her brother-in-law, a laugh hovering on her lips. ‘Why should you think that? I have merely accepted a very lucrative engagement.’
She had kept the news of the major’s proposal until they were sitting together in the drawing room after dinner. She had hoped that a good meal would put Reginald in a more mellow mood, but her announcement was still met with a mixture of indignation and amazement.
‘You cannot accept,’ declared Maria. ‘It would be most improper.’
‘But I have accepted and there will be nothing improper about the arrangement. Major Coale has already informed me that he spends his days out of doors.’
‘For an unmarried lady to be alone in his house—’
‘I shall not be alone, Reginald, I shall be surrounded by servants. Besides, who will know of it?’
‘The whole of Lesserton by the end of the week,’ replied Reginald drily.
‘But it is a job of work. I shall continue to advertise for a position as a governess, but until then it will give me a measure of independence, and if the task takes only three months then I should be able to save a good proportion of my money against hard times.’ Zelah looked at her sister, begging her to understand. ‘I have been here long enough, Maria. I told you when I came I would not be your pensioner. Major Coale has promised to give me half my fee in advance. I intend to give some of it to you, to pay Nicky’s school fees.’
‘But there is no need of that, Reginald and I have already agreed—’
‘To sell the seven-acre field, I know.’ Zelah interrupted her. ‘I would much rather you took my money.’
‘Never,’ cried Maria, pulling out her handkerchief. ‘I would not dream of taking your wages—’
Reginald held up his hand.
‘I think Zelah has a point,’ he said slowly. ‘To sell off the field would mean less return at harvest. If we keep it, we may well be able to repay your sister by the end of the year.’
Maria did not look convinced. She reached across and took Zelah’s hands.
‘Oh, my dear, for any young lady to take such a position, in the house of a man like Major Coale, would be to risk her reputation, but in your case—’
‘In my case I have no reputation to risk.’
An uncomfortable silence followed Zelah’s bald statement. She withdrew her hands from her sister’s grasp and rose.
‘I made up my mind when I left Cardinham that I would support myself. I have caused my family enough sorrow and will not compound my guilt by allowing you to keep me.’
‘But you might marry—’
‘You know I have set my mind against marriage.’
‘Oh, sister, pray do not say that—’
Reginald put up his hand to silence his wife’s protest.
‘My dear, Zelah is right,’ he said heavily. ‘Any man who formed an attachment would have to be told of her … unfortunate past.’
Zelah winced.
‘But if a man truly loved her—’ cried Maria, looking beseechingly at her husband.
Zelah shook her head.
