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paper and folded it neatly, sealing it with a blob of red wax.
He had no intention of commissioning any artist to paint landscapes of his estate,
However, spending an evening in the company of Miss Fox was something he was eagerly anticipating.
Chapter Seven
The smell of burning feathers roused Eliza. She opened her eyes to see her mother’s face bending over her, of Mr Reed there was no sign. She realized she was stretched out full-length upon the chaise-longue which stood at the far end of the drawing-room under a row of family portraits.
‘My dear, whatever is the matter? I have sent for Dr Smith and he will be here directly. I do hope you are not sickening for the fever; I have heard that there is some in the next village.’
Wearily Eliza pushed herself upright, swinging her legs down to the ground as she did so. ‘I’m fine, Mama. It was shock, nothing more.’
Her mother stared at her as if she had just emerged from Bedlam. ‘Shock? Good heavens, child, what did Mr Reed do to you? Shall I have Edmund call him out?’
This ridiculous suggestion did much to restore Eliza’s sang froid . ‘No, Mr Reed is a gentleman; it was nothing that he did upset me. I think it’s time that I told you the whole truth, Mama. You had better sit down, I’m certain the shock of what I’m about to say might make you swoon as well.’
She waited for her parent to draw up the same curved backed chair she had used earlier and then begun her sorry tale. She left nothing out, told Mrs Fox the whole, including the astronomical amount of vowels Edmund had so foolishly signed and the slight chance that there was enough to save them invested in the funds.
‘It’s no wonder, my dear, that you fainted. How could you have kept this from me? The burden is for all of us to share. If we’re to remove from Grove House in a matter of weeks, arrangements have to be made, staff have to be told. You cannot expect things like this to be arranged at short notice.’
Eliza could hardly believe what she was hearing. She had expected her mother to wail and wring her hands, but she had misjudged her. ‘I apologize, Mama. I thought to save you, Grandmamma and Sarah from the worst until I actually knew how bad things were. I realize now that whatever Papa invested for me, it will never recover the amount that we owe that hateful man.’
‘Hockley House, I suppose that will have gone as well?’ Eliza nodded sadly. ‘Then I must write at once to your Uncle Benjy; you have never met him, he is two years my senior and never married. He lives in the home in which I grew up, a comfortable estate in a village near St Albans. He will take us all; indeed he has asked me several times since your father died to join him at Cranston and be his housekeeper. It’s not as comfortable nor nearly as pretty as Grove House, but it is large enough to accommodate us.
‘Why have you never mentioned this uncle before? He has never visited; or to my certain knowledge sent gifts for our name days or at Christmas. How can you be sure, after so long, that he will wish to have his privacy invaded?’
Her mother smiled. ‘He’s not an easy man to live with. If I am honest, he has a miserly turn of mind. Living there, on his charity shall not be pleasant, but at least we shall have a roof over our heads’ Mrs Fox stood up, her normal languid style forgotten.
‘Edmund is his heir, you know. Whatever happens here, he will not be penniless. When your uncle dies your brother can restore Cranston to its former glory and make it a happy place once more.’
Eliza was determined not to cavil at this opportunity that her mother had produced from nowhere. She felt of shiver disquiet at the thought of living with someone where every penny was counted and every mouthful watched. Poor Sarah, she would shrivel under such an austere
He had no intention of commissioning any artist to paint landscapes of his estate,
However, spending an evening in the company of Miss Fox was something he was eagerly anticipating.
Chapter Seven
The smell of burning feathers roused Eliza. She opened her eyes to see her mother’s face bending over her, of Mr Reed there was no sign. She realized she was stretched out full-length upon the chaise-longue which stood at the far end of the drawing-room under a row of family portraits.
‘My dear, whatever is the matter? I have sent for Dr Smith and he will be here directly. I do hope you are not sickening for the fever; I have heard that there is some in the next village.’
Wearily Eliza pushed herself upright, swinging her legs down to the ground as she did so. ‘I’m fine, Mama. It was shock, nothing more.’
Her mother stared at her as if she had just emerged from Bedlam. ‘Shock? Good heavens, child, what did Mr Reed do to you? Shall I have Edmund call him out?’
This ridiculous suggestion did much to restore Eliza’s sang froid . ‘No, Mr Reed is a gentleman; it was nothing that he did upset me. I think it’s time that I told you the whole truth, Mama. You had better sit down, I’m certain the shock of what I’m about to say might make you swoon as well.’
She waited for her parent to draw up the same curved backed chair she had used earlier and then begun her sorry tale. She left nothing out, told Mrs Fox the whole, including the astronomical amount of vowels Edmund had so foolishly signed and the slight chance that there was enough to save them invested in the funds.
‘It’s no wonder, my dear, that you fainted. How could you have kept this from me? The burden is for all of us to share. If we’re to remove from Grove House in a matter of weeks, arrangements have to be made, staff have to be told. You cannot expect things like this to be arranged at short notice.’
Eliza could hardly believe what she was hearing. She had expected her mother to wail and wring her hands, but she had misjudged her. ‘I apologize, Mama. I thought to save you, Grandmamma and Sarah from the worst until I actually knew how bad things were. I realize now that whatever Papa invested for me, it will never recover the amount that we owe that hateful man.’
‘Hockley House, I suppose that will have gone as well?’ Eliza nodded sadly. ‘Then I must write at once to your Uncle Benjy; you have never met him, he is two years my senior and never married. He lives in the home in which I grew up, a comfortable estate in a village near St Albans. He will take us all; indeed he has asked me several times since your father died to join him at Cranston and be his housekeeper. It’s not as comfortable nor nearly as pretty as Grove House, but it is large enough to accommodate us.
‘Why have you never mentioned this uncle before? He has never visited; or to my certain knowledge sent gifts for our name days or at Christmas. How can you be sure, after so long, that he will wish to have his privacy invaded?’
Her mother smiled. ‘He’s not an easy man to live with. If I am honest, he has a miserly turn of mind. Living there, on his charity shall not be pleasant, but at least we shall have a roof over our heads’ Mrs Fox stood up, her normal languid style forgotten.
‘Edmund is his heir, you know. Whatever happens here, he will not be penniless. When your uncle dies your brother can restore Cranston to its former glory and make it a happy place once more.’
Eliza was determined not to cavil at this opportunity that her mother had produced from nowhere. She felt of shiver disquiet at the thought of living with someone where every penny was counted and every mouthful watched. Poor Sarah, she would shrivel under such an austere
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