The Road to Gretna Page 14

"The countryside is very pretty,” Penny said. “Look at the foxgloves in the hedgerow, Henrietta, and the toadflax. Is it not odd that so many flowers are named after animals?"

  The next few miles were beguiled as they added to the list: coltsfoot, cowslip, ox-eye, henbane, goosegrass, and a surprising number of others. Even Henrietta proudly came up with dandelion. Then they entered the narrow streets of the village of Kirkoswald, and Mullins drew up before the Black Bull.

  "We'll only be here a moment,” said Jason. “There is too little left of the castle to be worth a visit."

  "Another castle!” Henrietta groaned. “Then why are we stopping?"

  "It's the nearest receiving office to Newkirk. My mother only sends a servant down once a week to pick up the post, so there may be some accumulated that we can take with us."

  "Once a week!” she said in dismay. “How can your mama and your sisters bear to wait a whole week? Why, there might be a, or La Belle Assemblée, or anything!"

  "Even letters from friends,” said Penny drily, then added with a touch of anxiety, “I didn't realize you had family at Newkirk, Jason. Will they not be shocked to receive guests without warning, and such unconventional guests at that? I'd hate to discommode Lady Kilmore, or ... or to vex her."

  "Mama takes everything in her stride.” He grimaced as the familiar wave of guilt washed over him. “And my sisters are for ever begging me to bring visitors. They have a dull time of it, I'm afraid."

  Mullins knocked on the window and Jason took from him a small pile of papers.

  "Three and ninepence, mlord. I put it on your account, like you said."

  "Thank you, Mullins. You recall the directions for the rest of the way? Then we'll go straight on.” He glanced through the post. “Well, Henrietta, you are in luck: here is a new Ackermann's."

  "Will your mama not mind if I look at it? I had no time to look at the pictures at home before we left."

  He handed it over, and Hlenrietta eagerly turned to the fashion plates. The carriage started up the village street.

  "Tell me about your sisters, Jason,” Penny requested. “How many have you, and what are their ages?"

  "Megan is nineteen, the baby of the family, though she wouldn't thank you for saying so. And Thea is twenty-four."

  "I wonder that Thea is not married,” said Henrietta, looking up from the magazine. “Twenty-four is practically on the shelf. How horrid it must be to be an old maid."

  Jason was too angry to speak. She had never taken the least interest in his family, not even going so far as to ask their names. That her first comment should be a criticism cut him to the quick, especially as he knew himself much to blame for Thea's single state.

  Penny jumped into the breach. “I daresay Miss Kilmore has had little opportunity to meet eligible gentlemen."

  Though he was grateful for her intervention, it made him feel worse than ever. “No opportunity whatsoever,” he confirmed curtly, “but that will shortly change."

  He had to marry Henrietta. Mr. White had already agreed that her fortune should frank a London Season for his sisters. To let them down only because he now dreaded the thought of a lifetime of the chit's spoiled stupidity was unthinkable.

  Newkirk needed her money, too. Though he had suppressed the feeling for years, striving to emulate his father's scorn, his attachment for his lands remained strong. Edward I, Hammer of the Scots, had planted the Kilmores in this distant corner of his kingdom to guard the Eden valley against incursions from the north. After five hundred years, Jason had no desire to go down in family history as the baron who lost Newkirk.

  The road was rising out of the valley now, the green hills growing steeper, with fewer trees, hedges giving way to drystone walls. Sheep with curling horns stared incuriously at the passing carriage. Here and there a farmhouse crouched in a fold of the hills, surrounded by a cultivated acre or two.

  Nearly home. A bubble of anticipation swelled in Jason's chest, of mingled joy and foreboding.

  Oblivious of his emotion, Henrietta had returned to the fashion plates. Angus, as usual, had his head buried in a medical treatise. Penny was gazing out of the window, her face half-hidden from him.

  They slowed to cross a humpback bridge scarcely wide enough for the carriage, over a rollicking beck which dashed impetuously down the hillside in a flurry of foam. Penny glanced round and smiled at Jason.

  "That stream is in a vast hurry to get wherever it's going, tumbling helter-skelter down the slope."

  "That's Croglin Water. Not far to go now."

  She thought he seemed on edge. Having seen from her window the high, stark fells looming to the east, she could guess why: Henrietta had vigorously expressed her dislike, even fear, of the moors. She would hardly be happy when she discovered that Newkirk was poised on the edge of the bleak uplands.

  The object of her thoughts interrupted them. “Penny, do look at this hat. Is it not a frightful quiz? As if it cannot decide whether it is a turban or a bonnet, and with those horrid stripes, too. I cannot think it becoming."

  "It is odd, but I do like that walking dress, do not you?” Penny decided the best she could do for Jason was to keep Henrietta contented as long as possible.

  A couple of miles farther on, a cluster of cottages, scarcely worthy of the name of hamlet, huddled round a tiny church.

  "Newkirk,” said Jason as the carriage turned right on a stony track.

  Henrietta looked out. “There is nothing there!” Her eyes were wide with dismay. “Not a single shop, and not even any large houses."

  "The house isn't visible from here. You can see the castle ruins, though, on that knoll. The house is just beyond."

  "Another castle! I—"

  "You have your own castle?” Penny interrupted. She leaned forward to see out of Henrietta's window. “How splendid! Is it not romantic, Henrietta? And there must be a magnificent view. I should like to see the ruins later, if I may. Is the house behind the hill? I cannot wait to see it."

  She knew she was gabbling but she did not want to give Henrietta a chance to voice her complaints. In a moment, when they passed the castle knoll, the moors would come into sight. Penn) suspected that Jason's house would not prove magnificent enough to compensate, in Henrietta's eyes, for its situation.

  The track crossed a bridge over a rill and curved round the base of the grassy knoll. The carriage pulled up in front of a long, low manor house built of grey stone with a slate roof. L-shaped, it faced south and west, enclosing in protective arms a rough lawn, a bed of superb roses, and a clump of graceful rowan trees with berries turning orange.

  Penny fell in love with it at once.

  "Is that your house?” said Henrietta. “It is not so large as I expected."

  Jason's lips thinned as he pressed them together. He opened the carriage door and stepped down, then turned to give Penny his hand.

  "Jason!” A petite, hatless girl, her dark hair in looped braids, darted up to them with an armful of roses, yellow and white. “We didn't expect you until tomorrow. Miss White ... or are you already married?"

  Flushing, he leaned over the roses to kiss her cheek.

  "Hello, Meg. No, we are not married; the road to the border is washed out. And this is Miss Bryant. My sister Megan,” he tossed over his shoulder to Penny as he turned back to the carriage. “Henrietta..."

  Penny felt her cheeks grow pink as the Honourable Miss Megan Kilmore regarded her over the roses with bright, dark eyes full of friendly curiosity. “I expect you came to keep Miss White company?"

  "Well, not exactly."

  "I'll explain later, Meg. Henrietta. my dear, this is Megan."

  Megan gasped. “How pretty you are, Miss White. Thea and I shall be so happy to have you for a sister. Do come into the house. Mama has been longing to meet you."

  Henrietta, a delightful picture in blue muslin sprigged with white, smoothed her skirts and smiled her enchanting smile. Miss Megan could have said nothing better calculated to improve her mood.

&nb
sp; "Where is Lily, Jason?” she said. “I cannot go in without Lily."

  Megan's eyebrows rose enquiringly, reminding Penny strongly of her brother.

  "Lily is Henrietta's kitten,” she explained.

  Angus emerged from the carriage, carrying the basket, which he handed to Henrietta. Megan's eyebrows rose still further.

  "Why, Jason,” she quizzed him, her eyes sparkling, “you have brought a house party at last, after we have been teasing you this age. You might have given us a little notice, however."

  "This is Dr. Angus Knox, Meg.” He looked and sounded harassed. Angus bowed and Megan nodded in acknowledgement.

  "Oh dear, are you unwell, Miss White?” she asked with instant sympathy. “Travelling always makes me unwell."

  Henrietta looked blank.

  "Dr. Knox and I are on our way to be married at Gretna Green,” Penny said hurriedly.

  After a momentary astonishment, Megan went off into peals of laughter. “I beg your pardon, Miss Bryant,” she gasped, “but what an extraordinary coincidence! Did you plan it together, or did you meet up with my wretched brother by chance?"

  Penny grinned at her. “Pure chance. Henrietta is my neighbour in London and we just happened to choose the same night to elope.” Fol]owing Jason and Henrietta into the house, she made Megan laugh again with the tale of her first meeting with Jason. Angus trailed behind.

  "Enoch!” shouted Jason, setting his hat and gloves on a hall table.

  "He's carrying coals, I think.” Megan pushed hat and gloves aside and dropped her roses beside them revealing a rather shapeless round dress of yellow jaconet. She opened a door. “Miss Bryant, Miss White, pray come into the drawing room. If you will excuse me a moment, I'll fetch Mama from the still room. Thea is picking peas but she will be in shortly."

  "Have you no servants?” asked Henrietta, her delicate nostrils curled.

  "Yes, of course, but the maids are all busy above stairs, and Cook—I must warn her that we shall be seven for dinner! And I expect you will like tea, will you not? And more bedchambers to be prepared. Heavens, you can see we are unused to company.” She laughed. “Dr. Knox, I'm sure Jason will give you a glass of something when he has organized Enoch and Mullins to bring in the luggage."

  Angus smiled at her. “Thank you, Miss Megan, tea will suit me very well if you are ordering it anyway."

  "How obliging of you, Doctor. Do sit down, Miss White. I shall only be gone a moment."

  She whisked out of the room. Henrietta stared after her. “Did you notice her gown, Penny? Shockingly dowdy! I wonder that the daughter of a baron should wear such a dowdy gown."

  "She was picking flowers, not dressed to receive visitors,” Penny pointed out

  "An amiable young lady,” said Angus, to Penny's surprise. She would have thought Megan far too lively to meet with his approval.

  But perhaps he was simply trying to reconcile Henrietta to her future family. It was not going to be an easy task.

  "This room is horrid. So shabby! This chair cover is so worn I hardly dare sit down for fear of splitting it."

  "Then sit on the sofa,” Penny advised sharply. The afternoon sun, shining in through the leaded windowpanes, pitilessly illuminated every detail of faded brocade curtains, threadbare carpet, and old-fashioned, well-worn furniture. A bowl of red roses stood on a side table. She crossed to it and buried her nose in the fragrant blooms, shutting out Henrietta's petulance.

  There was no longer any doubt in her mind that Jason was marrying for money.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  "Miaow."

  Penny swung round as Lily sprang out of her basket and began a tour of exploration. At that moment Jason came into the drawing-room, followed by a pair of brown-and-white sheepdogs. One moved with the stiff dignity of age, reminding Penny of Angus after his lengthy ride. The younger dog frisked up to her, gave her outstretched hand a friendly lick, and then noticed the kitten.

  He paused a moment, sniffing the air, before going to investigate. Lily arched her back, hissed and spat. The young dog stretched out his front legs and laid his head between them, grinning, tail waving, begging for a game.

  Henrietta screeched. Lily swarmed up the nearest curtain. Jason swore.

  "Hell and damnation, I'd forgot the cat. Here, Champion!"

  Champion looked at him uncertainly, ears cocked, then stood up on his back legs, his front paws pinning the curtain to the wall and looked round again with a questioning bark.

  It was too much for the fragile curtain. Ripping from the rail, it descended on top of the dog. With a terrified wail, Lily leaped to Henrietta's shoulder. Henrietta yelped in pain. Champion yelped in excitement, struggling with the curtain which had wound itself round his head. Angus rushed to Henrietta's aid and Jason dived at his dog. Penny was too helpless with laughter to do anything but hold her sides.

  Someone shared her mirth. Glancing round, she saw Megan clutching the doorpost, tears of merriment running down her gleeful face. Beside her stood a grey-haired lady, so like her she could only be her mother. Lady Kilmore looked sadly distressed.

  Penny sobered at once. She hurried across the room, narrowly avoiding tripping over the older dog, who had found a patch cf sun to sleep in and was ignoring the fun.

  Feeling enormous beside the two diminutive ladies, she bobbed a quick curtsy. “I'm so sorry, my lady. It is unforgivable to cause such a fracas in your drawing room, to ruin your—"

  "My dear child, pray think nothing of it.” Lady Kilmore gently clasped both Penny's hands. “The damage was entirely Champion's fault, and the fracas Jason's, for he must have known you had a kitten and he ought to have shut the dogs out. I hope you will forgive him, Miss White?"

  Once again Penny felt the colour rising in her cheeks.

  "This is Miss Bryant, Mama,” Megan said patiently. “I did explain to you."

  Her ladyship's smile was vague. “Oh yes, dear, I remember. I am happy to make your acquaintance, Miss Bryant. But Miss White is Jason's betrothed, is she not, Meg? I must welcome her. Oh dear, she seems quite overset."

  Henrietta, clasping the kitten to her bosom, was berating Jason. “It is too bad of you to frighten Lily so. How could you bring that horrid dog in here!"

  "Champion wouldn't have hurt her."

  "Indeed he would not,” Megan seconded him. “He only wanted to play, Miss White. He is gentle as a lamb."

  Champion, his collar firm in his master's grasp, grinned and wagged his tail.

  Henrietta regarded him fearfully. “Look at his teeth! A big dog like that ought to be kept out of doors. I wonder that you let him in the house."

  Lady Kilmore stepped forward. “My dear, I regret that you have had such a sorry welcome to Newkirk."

  After one dismissive glance, Henrietta turned back to Jason. Penny realized she thought Lady Kilmore was a housekeeper, as indeed she might have been in her dowdy grey gown. Henrietta was too absorbed in her own wrongs to note the strong family resemblance.

  "My mother, Henrietta,” said Jason. “Mama, may I present my future wife, Miss Henrietta White."

  "You are Lady Kilmore?” said Henrietta incredulously, looking her up and down.

  "I am, my dear Miss White.” Her ladyship appeared to notice nothing amiss, though Penny doubted she could be quite so vague. Henrietta's hands being fully occupied with Lily, Lady Kilmore patted her arm. “Jason will put Champion out and we shall sit down with a cup of tea and have a comfortable coze. I have been longing to meet my new daughter and to welcome her to her new home."

  "Home!” She glanced around the drab room, her disdain all too obvious. “But I cannot..."

  "You are tired, Henrietta.” Penny hoped she appeared calm, though she was furious inside, hurting for Jason's hurt. “My lady, it has been a long journey. I believe Miss White will be the better for a rest."

  Megan backed her up. “Was I not saying just a moment ago how tiring travel is? Pray let me show you your chamber, Miss White. It is all ready for you."


  "I want some tea,” said Henrietta mutinously. “See, your maid has just brought it. I daresay you have no butler?"

  In the doorway stood a tall, slender young woman, nearly Penny's height, in a plain blue gown and white apron, with a white cap on her dark hair. The tea-tray she carried added to the impression that she was a servant, but even before she noted Jason's mortified expression, Penny was not for a moment deceived.

  "You must be Miss Kilmore.” Moving forward, she curtsied. “I'm Penelope Bryant. How kind of you to bring us tea. Perhaps I might take a cup upstairs for Henrietta? She is quite exhausted by the journey."

  Miss Kilmore smiled shyly. “Yes, of course. Let me pour some for her.” She set the tray on a nearby table and busied herself about it.

  Taking Henrietta's arm, Penny said quietly to Jason, “I think the rest of the introductions can wait. She really is tired, you know. She will be much more herself after lying down for a while."

  "Yes,” he said with an enigmatic look, “much more herself. Thank you, Miss Bryant."

  Penny picked up Lily's basket and urged Henrietta towards the door, where Megan was waiting with a cup of tea in her hand. As they went up the stone stairs, Megan chatted about the time she and her mother and sister had ventured as far as Ullswater, beyond Penrith.

  "The lake is very beautiful, but rattling about so long in the gig, the three of us squashed in together, made me feel quite ill. Usually we go no farther than Brampton or Carlisle."

  "You have never been to London?” asked Henrietta with pitying amazement. “It is the finest city in the world. I wonder that Jason has never taken you to London."

  "So do we,” said Megan drily. “Here is your bedchamber, Miss White."

  She opened a door and stood aside. Entering first, the first thing Penny saw was a magnificent view of the moors behind the house. She rushed to the window and closed the faded chintz curtains, worn thin with age.

  Henrietta had fallen into one of her abstracted cogitations. She let Penny put Lily in her basket and submitted docilely to her aid in taking off her gown and slipping between the holland sheets. She didn't even complain that her tea was cold. Sitting up in bed, sipping it, she looked delicately lovely.