Page 29 of Lady Controversial
‘You are in the right of it, at least insofar as Lord Brooke is concerned,’ she eventually said in a pensive tone, fallen leaves crunching beneath their feet as they walked. They continued to flutter down from the canopy of trees overhead in a rainbow of russets, reds and browns. Miss Crawley caught one before it reached the ground and held it in apparent fascination between her fingers. Fingers that were as red as the leaf she still held, her nails chipped and uneven.
‘You have heard from him?’
‘Worse. He called here yesterday, fully expecting us to fall upon him in gratitude when he offered us alternative accommodation.’ She set her jaw in a pugnacious yet oddly feminine manner. ‘He now understands that he quite mistook the matter, and that we are perfectly comfortable here.’
Ellery scowled. ‘He expected two unmarried females to live beneath his roof and assumed that you would raise no objections? Perdition, your reputations would be ruined if you did anything half so foolhardy, especially given that Brooke’s own reputation is the subject of intense speculation following the cheating allegations.’
‘It gets worse.’ She twisted her lips in a disdainful manner. ‘I had already raised that legitimate objection, using it as an excuse that even Jane couldn’t gainsay, and thought that would be the last of it. Clearly, I underestimated his determination to get his hands on this cottage.’
‘How so?’
‘He has dismissed Papa’s steward, a man who gave years of faithful service and knows the estate better than anyone. And he only did so, I am absolutely sure of it, so that he could offer us that poor steward’s cottage.’ She gave an angry hiss and blew air through her lips. ‘Contemptible man!’
‘I take it you declined his offer.’
‘Of course I did, even though it created mayhem with Jane.’
‘I am sorry that you have so many burdens resting on your shoulders.’
‘Why?’ She turned her head and fixed him with a probing look. ‘None of them are of your making.’
‘I’m not so sure about that. Whatever Brooke has planned, I am becoming increasingly convinced that his plans have been laid with the intention of causing me the maximum possible inconvenience.’ He paused. ‘You are aware, I suppose, that Brooke has not actually taken up residence in your own home.’
‘No, I was not aware. I wonder why not?’
‘I doubt he can afford to staff it. His reputation precedes him and no decent servants would work for him until they can be sure they will be paid.’
‘All the more reason to keep Dakin on so that the estate doesn’t go to rack and ruin,’ Miss Crawley replied pensively.
‘Indeed.’
She stopped walking and turned to fix him with another of her speculative looks, making him feel as if her dark eyes could see directly into his soul. ‘Do you really think he is quite that vindictive? I mean, he would have had to deliberately fleece Papa with the sole intention of gaining possession of his estate simply because it borders your own. Well, not borders exactly…’ She flapped a negligent hand, ‘but I suppose ten miles is no distance at all to gentlemen of substance. Anyway, my point is, that would have taken planning and considerable patience.’
‘He holds me responsible for the rift with his father which cost him his position in society for several vital years. Years when he was in his prime and a handsome dog in much demand socially. He would otherwise have used that time to trawl through the ranks of the eligible in search of a wealthy young wife in order to establish himself as a force to be reckoned with. He had political ambitions which he has never been able to pursue because his father sent him abroad to manage the family estates in Jamaica. I know he resented being banished and blamed everyone else—most notably me—for his situation.’
‘From what I know of his character, that does not surprise me.’
Ellery rubbed his chin. ‘His ambition to make something of himself always did exceed his ability to deliver, and as I say he holds me responsible. Even so, perhaps I have underestimated him and dismissed his grievances too readily. I am not untouchable.’
‘Surely you did not imagine he would be reduced to cheating in order to regain the position he craves?’
‘I confess I did not, but I am also notthatsurprised.’ Ellery ground his jaw. ‘The man has the morals of an alley cat. You cannot take up residence in that cottage, Isolda. I will not permit it.’
She raised a brow but whether in response to his use of her Christian name or at his proprietorial tone, Ellery was unable to decide.
‘It will create problems with Jane. It has already done so. Mind you, my sister’s tantrums have lost the ability to disrupt. That is a consequence of pulling the stunt a little too often.’ Isolda sighed. ‘Even so, her behaviour is disruptive and difficult to avoid in such a small dwelling.’
‘Which is no doubt why you prefer to chop logs,’ Ellery said, smiling at her in open admiration.
‘That and necessity. I would prefer not to freeze.’
‘I will send someone over to attend to that duty on your behalf.’
‘You will do no such thing!’ she cried indignantly. ‘What possible reason would you have for doing so? It couldn’t possibly remain a secret and it would be as damaging for Jane’s reputation as our taking up residence with Lord Brooke.’
‘Jane’s reputation?’ Ellery took his turn to flex a challenging brow. ‘What of your own?’
‘Oh, that does not signify. I am able enough to take care of myself, but Jane is a different story.’ Isolda threw her head back, closed her eyes and sighed. A tangle of hair flowed down her back and settled on her pert posterior, drawing Ellery’s attention to the mesmerising sight once again. ‘My sister is very silly and very self-centred, but her dearest wish is to marry well. She is pretty enough to achieve that ambition, despite her lack of a dowry, and I would not knowingly deprive her of the opportunity.’
