Page 43 of The Colonel's Ungovernable Governess
“My father . . . would not . . . hide,” the boy said, though his voice wavered.
Mr. Darcy did not disagree with the child nor deny the boy’s request. “Then, permit me to go ahead and assist my cousin in settling matters before your arrival. I will have Mr. Farrin ride beside your coach as an outrider.”
Jocelyn wished to argue with the man, for she seriously feared for Vincent’s safety, but she equally admired how a young boy, previously afraid of his own shadow, was prepared to stand against those who wished harm on his family. “Then we shall follow at first light.”
* * *
Edward stepped down before Babbington Hall. He had paused at the gate house to learn whether Lady Annabelle was inside or not. “Arrived late yesterday, sir. Mr. Jennings’s nephew escorted our young mistress home from her school.”
Edward slipped a coin in the man’s hand and thanked him for the information. At least, Jennings had put out the beginnings of a tale to cover Annabelle’s foolish nature, but Edward did not expect anyone involved would welcome his interference. Therefore, when he stepped down from his horse, and no one greeted him or came to claim the animal, he was not completely surprised.
“Lazy or presented orders not to respond,” he grumbled as he released the knocker to wait and wait and wait. At length, a footman responded. “Yes, sir.”
“Colonel Fitzwilliam for Lady Annabelle.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I will also require someone to tend my horse.”
The footman frowned. “I will take the horse to the stables once I fetch the young mistress. Please step in, sir.”
Before Edward could hand off his hat and gloves, the servant darted away, leaving Edward alone in the foyer. “Unbelievable,” he muttered as he looked upon the condition of the house. There were several paintings removed, leaving an outline on the well-worn paper. “Sold or taken down for repairs?” he murmured. He was considering looking for the girl himself when she appeared at the top of the steps.
“Uncle!” she called as she rushed down the stairs to greet him. “I am pleased to see you.”
“I would not be, if I were you,” he warned. “You have worried both your immediate family and your extended relations. You have put all of us in great distress.”
“Please do not be angry, Uncle. I simply wished my family’s return to our home,” she argued.
“You may tell yourself what you did was acceptable, but you are in error. Your brother and sister, along with Miss Lambert, set out on the road at night, without an escort. On England’s roads, where highwaymen and a variety of riff-raff pollute every mile of it. You demonstrated only that you cared for no one but yourself.”
“I wished Vincent to claim the earldom,” she asserted.
“Your brother is already the earl. The moment your father took his last breath, Vincent became Lord Babcock. Plans—those made by your mother, my brother, and my father—are already in place to have Vincent recognized by the Lords. The three I just mentioned serve as his guardians. There is nothing you could do to further his ascension to the earldom. It was all out of your hands. If you had approached your mother with genuine fears of the earldom being ripped from Vincent’s hands, you would be made aware of how much in those corners has occurred during your absence at school.”
A door opened along the hall, and Philip Jennings came forward. “I thought I heard angry words being expressed. What is amiss, Annabelle?”
“My uncle is upset with how I came to be at Babbington Hall,” the girl said with a practiced pout.
“To the best of my knowledge, I am your only uncle,” Jennings said with a swagger.
“You may choose to recall the facts to support your suppositions as you will,” Edward countered. “What brings you to Babbington Hall, Mr. Jennings?”
“I could not permit our Annabelle to reside at her family home alone,” Jennings declared.
“As my niece has gone to a great deal of trouble to lead her Lincolnshire family to her location, she would not be alone for long. I will gladly stay with her until she can again be returned to my brother’s estate, along with her brother and sister. It was kind of you to think of staying with her in this house instead of housing Lady Annabelle in your home, but now that I am here, you may return to your own abode. I imagine you do not wish to be long removed from your family.”
“All is well,” Jennings assured. “My wife and children are housed within Babbington Hall.”
“And I assume so is your nephew, Bartholomew. That is the correct name, is it not? It took us a bit of time to realize there was no ‘Mr. Bartholomew,’” he said in warning tones. “Yet, I suppose such was purposeful on everyone’s part.” He continued, “Perhaps it would be a good idea if you asked someone to prepare a room for me, Annabelle, and then we might sit and discuss how best to proceed.” Edward did not think much would be accomplished until there was a contestation between Philip Jennings, and, he supposed, him. He would be required to stand between Jennings and a boy of ten tender years.
Annabelle looked to Jennings for orders. “It was not necessary to keep a full staff without the family in residence,” she said, while Mr. Jennings nodded his appreciation of the girl’s response.
“Are you telling me there is not enough in service to provide a room for all within? If not, perhaps we should remove to Mr. Jennings’s home instead. I am assuming you are not living under such conditions there, are you, sir?”
“Nonsense,” Jennings said with a fake smile. “Assuredly a room can be arranged and a meal provided as is appropriate.”
“Is your nephew also being housed at the manor?” Edward asked the man. “I would have a word with the young gentleman. He has caused my brother’s household great sorrow.”
