The River Maid. Dilly Court

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СКАЧАТЬ her hand to her forehead and closed her eyes as if in pain.

      Essie glanced around and spotted a table laden with decanters and crystal glasses. This seemed to be the right time for a tot of something stronger than tea, and she picked one at random, pulled out the stopper and sniffed. Pa only drank brandy on special occasions, but this was purely medicinal and she poured a small measure into a goblet and pressed it into Lady Alice’s cold hand. ‘Sip this, ma’am. It will make you feel better.’

      ‘Thank you, Essie. I’ll be fine in a moment. He caught me unawares, and unfortunately he saw the paper from the solicitor’s office.’ Lady Alice sipped the brandy and colour flooded her thin cheeks. ‘I don’t know how much he read, but it was enough to alert him to the fact that Raven is in the country. If only I’d had the sense to set light to it and turn it to ash.’

      ‘He had no right to read your private correspondence, my lady. He’s no gentleman.’

      A faint smile curved Lady Alice’s lips. ‘Sir Henry is one of the richest men in England, so he behaves as he pleases and gets away with it, or at least that’s what he thinks.’

      ‘But you don’t like him.’

      ‘I used to find him amusing and he can be very charming, but I enjoy my life. I don’t need a man to make it complete, but Henry isn’t the sort of man to take no for an answer.’

      ‘My pa has his faults, but he would kill any man who took advantage of me.’

      ‘My father died several years ago, and my only male relatives are Raven and Freddie. I can take care of myself, or so I thought, but Henry Bearwood is another matter.’

      ‘Do you want me to tell Raven, my lady? He’ll come to your aid, I know he will.’

      A smile flitted across Lady Alice’s face and she swallowed another mouthful of brandy. ‘I can normally handle Sir Henry, but this is a different matter altogether. You must go now and warn Raven to be extra careful. You mustn’t come here again unless it’s absolutely vital. I don’t think Henry would stoop so low as to have my movements watched, but he’s a very determined man.’

      ‘He must love you very much,’ Essie said thoughtfully.

      ‘He loves my pedigree more than he loves me. His family fortune was made in the sugar trade and that means it was founded on the misery of others. I abhor slavery, as any sane person must.’

      ‘Surely he doesn’t have slaves now.’

      ‘Of course not, but Henry has a reputation with women, and I don’t intend to be one of his conquests. The fact is that he’s reached the age of thirty-five, he’s decided to settle down and he wants a son and heir to carry on the family name. That is where I come in, or at least that’s what he wants.’

      ‘But you don’t?’

      Lady Alice shook her head, holding out her empty glass. ‘I do not. Anyway, I shouldn’t be telling you all this. Pour me another drink and go home. Warn Raven that Sir Henry knows that he plans to appeal, although I doubt if Henry will do anything about it. Tell Raven I said bon voyage. I won’t see him again until he returns a free man, and I hope still to be a free woman.’

      Essie added another small measure of brandy to the glass and placed it on a table by the sofa. ‘Will you be all right?’

      ‘Of course. I’m used to looking after myself, Essie. Get along home and thank you for everything you’ve done.’

      Essie arrived home to find Raven and her father seated in the front parlour sharing a jug of ale. Raven looked up and smiled. ‘How did my cousin take the news?’

      Baffled, Essie stared at him. ‘What news?’

      ‘I don’t suppose she would have shared it with you, come to that. Did she give you a message for me?’

      ‘She said to say bon voyage, whatever that means. She won’t be coming here and I’m not to return to Hill Street.’

      ‘Such goings-on,’ Jacob said crossly. ‘You should know your place, Esther. It’s here in White’s Rents with the rest of us. I need you to help me on the river, so don’t get ideas above your station.’

      ‘Hold on a minute, Jacob.’ Raven fixed Essie with a penetrating look. ‘Why the sudden change, Essie? Not that I think there will be any need for you to continue to work for Alice, but I can see you’re disturbed. What is it?’

      ‘Nonsense!’ Jacob reached for the jug and refilled his glass. ‘Girls like to make a fuss about things. That’s what they do, leaving it to us men to sort out the mess they make.’

      ‘I’m going to put the kettle on.’ Essie curbed her tongue with difficulty. Sometimes Pa was impossible to deal with, and this was one of them. She went into the kitchen and slipped off her shawl, placing it on the back of a chair before taking off her bonnet. She was hot and thirsty after walking the length of Fore Street and Lady Alice’s predicament was still fresh in her mind. She picked up a bucket and opened the back door, intent on visiting the communal pump, when Raven emerged from the parlour. He took in the situation with a single glance.

      ‘Give that to me and I’ll fetch the water for you.’

      ‘No, certainly not. You mustn’t be seen outside. You know that.’

      He pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. ‘All right. Now tell me what’s happened to upset you? Have the servants been difficult? I can’t imagine that Alice would have said anything untoward.’

      Essie was silent for a moment, wondering how much to tell him. ‘Do you know Sir Henry Bearwood?’

      ‘He’s not the sort of man I’d associate with normally, but how do you know him?’

      ‘I don’t. It’s just that he was trying to take advantage of Lady Alice and she was having none of it.’

      ‘The devil he was! But on the other hand I’d like to meet the man who could get the better of my cousin.’ Raven’s smile faded. ‘What are you trying to tell me?’

      ‘I’m not supposed to say anything,’ Essie said slowly.

      ‘But you’re dying to tell me, so out with it.’

      ‘Lady Alice wants you to leave the country as soon as possible and you’re not to try to see her.’

      ‘That wasn’t what you were going to say. You’re hiding something. What is it?’

      Essie noted his set expression and the hard lines of his jaw and she knew that he was not about to give up until he knew the truth. ‘Sir Henry was making a nuisance of himself, if you know what I mean. He wants to marry Lady Alice and she isn’t interested, but he saw the document you sent her.’

      Raven stood up abruptly, pushing back the chair so that it almost toppled over. ‘I’ll soon sort him out.’

      ‘No, you mustn’t,’ Essie cried anxiously. ‘I shouldn’t have told you about him. Lady Alice will be furious with me, and you’ll only get yourself into trouble. She doesn’t think he’ll let on that you’re here.’ She clutched Raven’s arm and she could feel his muscles СКАЧАТЬ