Bought for Revenge

Chapter Four

It was gone noon and Lucas was helping the men to winch a particularly heavy section of the pediment into place over the main door when the sound of hooves made him look around. Annabelle was approaching, cantering out of the trees.

The rush of pleasure he felt at the sight of her surprised him. Quickly he turned his attention back to the job in hand. The stone was inching upwards amongst a complicated web of ropes, the stonemason on the scaffolding above them shouting instructions. At last the block was in place and he could release his hold and leave the others to finish the work.

Annabelle had brought Apollo to a stand well back from the bustle and disorder in front of the house. Lucas picked up his discarded jacket as he walked over to meet her. He was aware of her watching him as he shrugged himself into his coat. How must he look to her in his workaday buckskins and simply knotted neckcloth? Did she think him beneath her?

No. That was not her way. Everyone he met told him that Miss Havenham was an angel, not at all proud or disdainful. Unless one treated her with insolence, as he had done. Then she was justly indignant, her grey eyes darkening with anger and she became a force to be reckoned with. He smiled to himself. There was steel beneath that soft exterior. It would be interesting to discover just how much.

Lucas approached her, reaching up to rub Apollo’s great head.

‘You came.’

‘Yes.’ She looked a little uncertain. ‘If you are too busy it does not matter—’

He smiled. ‘No, not too busy at all. Wait there while I collect Sultan.’

The Home Wood lay at the western edge of the Morwood estate. The road to it lay through what had once been the park, but the smooth grass had been left to grow uncropped and the elegant trees now rose up amongst a mass of weeds and brambles. Lucas looked about him, frowning.

‘Did your father tell you why he bought Morwood?’ When she shook her head he continued, ‘Much of it shares a boundary with Oakenroyd. Perhaps he thought it a good opportunity to increase his property.’

‘Perhaps, although Papa has never been ambitious in that way.’

‘So he just shut the gates and left it to rot.’

She flushed. ‘He intended to build a new house and give it to my brother—’ She broke off, biting her lip. ‘I think, when Edwin died, he lost heart.’

‘He should at least have maintained the woods and the grounds.’

He heard the defensive note in her voice when she responded. ‘My father must have had his reasons for leaving Morwood as it was.’

‘Oh, I am sure he did.’ Annabelle was looking at him, a faint crease in her brows. It was not part of his plan to antagonise her, so he threw off his black mood and smiled. ‘Let us not waste time upon conjecture, Miss Havenham. You are here to show me the Home Wood and I am eager to see it.’

They picked their way across the neglected park and Annabelle led him unerringly to the remains of a path meandering through the trees.

‘My father told me this was once a carriageway here, used by the family for pleasure trips around the grounds.’

‘It leads to the lake.’

‘Yes, you are right. How…?’

‘One of the locals told me.’

‘What good memories they have, when no one ever comes here now. It is still possible to reach the water, although I haven’t ridden this way for a while and the weeds will already be invading the path. Would you like to see it?’

Annabelle turned Apollo on to the little-used track. Lucas followed, enjoying the view of her elegant figure twisting and bending to avoid the overhanging branches. the encroaching brambles snared her skirts, but she kept the big horse moving forwards. Gradually the sounds of the building work disappeared and only creaking leather and the jingle of the harness could be heard, along with the occasional trill of birdsong high up in the trees. Sunlight filtered through the young leaves and painted a fine tracery over everything, and as the hooves disturbed the soft loamy soil the pungent scent of damp earth rose up to meet them. As he followed Annabelle through this strange, unfamiliar world, an unaccustomed peace settled over Lucas. It was the most relaxed he had felt for a long time.

The path began a gentle slope downwards and they picked their way, avoiding the tree roots and the occasional stone protruding through the earth. Finally, through the trees ahead there was the glint of sunlight on the water.

‘We are nearly there.’

Even as she called over her shoulder the trees gave way to a grassy bank that ran down to the water’s edge. Before them stretched the lake, a large, serpentine expanse of water enclosed by trees that grew thickly over the slopes of the surrounding hills. It was a sheltered spot and the spring sunshine was surprisingly hot.

Belle stopped and waited for her companion to bring his horse up beside her. ‘There. Was that not worth pushing through the undergrowth?’

‘It is every bit as beautiful as I…as I was led to believe.’

‘You can still see the line of the old path around the lake.’

‘Shall we follow it?’

She shook her head. ‘Clegg took me around the lake once, a few years ago, but even then the path was barely passable in some places and we were in danger of being tumbled into the water.’ She threw her groom an affectionate look. ‘He refused to ride that way with me again and made me promise never to do so alone.’ She pointed along the bank. ‘There is a boathouse over there, but to get to it you must cross the old wooden bridge across the inlet. It has not been maintained and I have no doubt the timbers are rotted away by now.’

He jumped down and handed his reins to Clegg. ‘I shall go and find out.’

She watched him stride off, torn between wanting to remain aloof and curiosity. Curiosity won. Kicking her foot free from the stirrup, she slid to the ground.

‘Wait for me!’

‘Now, Miss Belle—’ The groom’s remonstrance had little effect, save to make her smile at him as she had done so many times in the past when she wanted her own way.

‘Pray, look after the horses, Clegg. We will not be long and I will be careful.’

Lucas waited for her to catch up with him.

‘Are you sure you will be safe?’

‘We are only going to the bridge. Clegg will always be in sight.’

‘But he will not be in earshot. I might insult you verbally.’

‘You might, of course.’

‘You do not think I will?’

‘You have shown no inclination to be so ill-mannered since that first meeting.’ She slanted a glance at him, a slight frown in those clear grey eyes. ‘Why were you so rude to me then? We had never met, I had done nothing to deserve such treatment.’

Nothing, save be the daughter of a man I am sworn to destroy.

Lucas could not tell her as much, especially now he had decided her affection would prove a better weapon than her disgust.

‘Perhaps you were fatigued,’ she offered helpfully. ‘That can make one irritable.’

By heaven, she was even giving him his excuses! Looking into her eyes, he saw a faint, shy smile lurking there and he was obliged to squash a slight prickle of unease at making use of her in this way.

‘Yes, that was it.’

They were approaching the wooden bridge. Lucas could now see just how poor a state of repair it was in. The side rails had broken away and the boards looked grey and rotten. He stepped on to the bridge and tested one of the boards with his foot. It crumbled beneath his weight. He exhaled impatiently.

‘Sheer foolishness to leave it in this state. If it is so dangerous, it should have been rebuilt or removed.’

‘It should, of course, but no one ever came here to use it.’

‘You came.’

‘Not for years. Not since…’ She looked about her, and Lucas had the impression she had withdrawn from him. It lasted only a moment, then she shook off her reverie and said in a robust tone, ‘If you are going to reinstate the lakeside drive, then a stone bridge would look very well here.’

He replied absently, ‘Yes, I have always thought so.’

She laughed. ‘Now I know you are teasing me, Mr Monserrat. You have but this minute seen this place.’

He recovered quickly. ‘But I have studied the plans, and this point faces due west, into the sunset.’

Come, Lucas, let us go down to the lake and watch the sunset from the bridge.

‘Are you mentally landscaping the lake, sir? Perhaps you want to return it to its former glory. I am afraid that is not something I can help you with, since I have only seen it as a wilderness.’

It took Lucas some time to realise she was talking to him. ‘I beg your pardon, I was…dreaming.’

She waved aside his apology. ‘It is your home now, sir. Of course you want to take it all in.’

He looked across to the boathouse. ‘I wonder if the boats are still there.’

‘No. My brother and I looked in once. Papa said he had them broken up because they were unsafe. But the oars were on the walls then and there were some old fishing rods upstairs…’

‘There were?’ His eager response caught her attention and he was quick to explain. ‘I mean, I am surprised that they should have been left there, that no one would have taken them away.’

‘From what I understand Mr Blackstone was very severe with trespassers and the local people learned to stay away from his land. After he died they said he had left a curse over it.’

‘More ghosts, Miss Havenham?’

She gave a little shrug and a smile. He tested the bridge again.

‘What are you doing?’

‘The thick timbers spanning the inlet appear to be strong enough. I am going to have a look in the boathouse.’ He looked back to find her watching him, a wistful look in her eyes. ‘Will you come with me?’

‘The water is not deep here. I suppose the worst that can happen is we would get a ducking.’

‘Come along, then.’ He held out his hand. ‘Keep your weight over the main beams…that’s it.’

Her fingers clung to his as she carefully followed him across the bridge. He wanted to tease her, to say something about having to trust him, but he did not want her to withdraw again. She was clearly aware of their situation, for she kept her eyes lowered and a delicate flush painted her cheeks. As soon as they reached the far bank she disengaged her hand and began to stride ahead of him.

The boathouse was built out over the lake on the southern side of the bridge. The waterside opening yawned black as they approached, but when they drew closer they could see the water lapping gently against the stone walkways inside. The sturdy walls of the building were intact and a set of stone steps ran up the outside to the upper floor.

The wooden door to the lower part of the building had long since parted from its hinges and lay almost hidden in the long grass. The double glass doors in the gable end over the boathouse entrance had fared better and were still in place.

‘I suppose that is where they would have fished from,’ remarked Belle, gazing up. ‘The iron railings across the opening would have prevented anyone from falling into the lake.’

She put her foot on the first of the stone steps, but Lucas caught her arm.

‘No, let me go first. It may be dangerous.’

She followed him. There was no handrail, but the steps were wide and caused her no problem. The old wooden door at the top of the steps was swollen and Lucas had to put his shoulder to it to push it open. He moved inside, carefully testing the boards as he went.

‘The floor here is in better condition than the bridge,’ he remarked.

‘The roof is still intact. That has protected it.’ Belle followed him into the room. ‘I haven’t been here since Edwin was alive. It must be ten years and it is just as we left it.’

Belle looked around, remembering her excitement when they had found this miniature house with its little table and chairs, the wall sconces on the wall still bearing half-burned candles although their brass reflectors were pitted and dull with age. Now she could imagine the gentlemen—and perhaps ladies too—sitting at their ease on the chairs by the open doors, fishing rods draped out over the railings.

‘You discovered this place all those years ago, but never came back?’

‘I gave Papa my word,’ she said simply.

‘I do not think that would have prevented me.’

‘Then you have a more rebellious spirit than I,’ she replied, smiling. ‘Papa is a loving parent who rarely demands my obedience. When he does I am happy to give it.’

‘My parents died when I was ten years old.’

‘I am so sorry.’

Impulsively she put her hand on his arm and squeezed it. It was a friendly gesture, but too intimate for their fragile acquaintance. Blushing, she drew back. Looking for distraction, she turned to the fishing rods fixed to the wall. They rested on their hooks as if they had been placed ready for another day’s fishing, which had never come. Now they were grey with age and dust. One rod was much smaller than the rest and she pointed to it.

‘That must be for a child.’

‘Yes.’ He took it down and weighed it between his hands. He looked towards the glass doors. ‘Father and son, enjoying a rare moment of peace together, fishing.’

Belle smiled at the image. ‘Is that how you see it, sir?’

‘Oh, yes. They would sit here in companionable silence…’

You and your father should spend more time together, Lucas, so I will not come with you. But be sure to bring me back a fish for my dinner!

‘I do not think my father ever enjoyed the sport. He certainly never took my brother fishing. Edwin liked that little rod. He was going to take it home and put a new line on it.’

Lucas pushed aside the memories that were crowding him and carefully put the rod back in its place on the wall.

‘So why didn’t he take it?’

‘I said we should ask Papa before we disturbed anything here.’ Belle shivered and went back to the door. ‘We should go. Clegg will be growing anxious.’

‘And did your father object to your brother taking the rod?’ he asked the question as he followed her down the steps.

‘No.’

‘Then why is it still there? Belle?’ she began to hurry away from him, but he ran to catch up with her. He saw the tear on her cheek before she dashed it away. He said gently, ‘What happened?’

She stopped. ‘We were caught in a heavy shower of rain that day, on the way home. Edwin became ill. Inflammation of the lungs. He never recovered.’

‘I see. How old was he?’

‘Just eleven years old.’

He watched as she looked into the past, such desolation about her that he wanted to reach out and pull her into his arms, but that was impossible. He of all people could not give her sympathy.

‘I am very sorry,’ he said at last.

‘It was such a time ago, but I still feel his loss, greatly.’

‘I know. The pain never goes away.’

‘I am sorry,’ she said. ‘About your parents.’ She stood for a moment, looking out over the water. Then with a sigh she tucked her arm in his. ‘We have become very maudlin, Mr Monserrat. Let us move on now. There is still a great deal to see, including the hermitage.’

He recognised her attempt to distract him and responded in kind. ‘A hermitage? That is something I did not know about. That will put me in the very kick of fashion!’

She chuckled. ‘Unfortunately, it is not a grotto but a natural formation of the rocks, but Edwin and I thought it would be the perfect habitat for a hermit.’

‘Then take me to it, Miss Havenham!’

He helped her back across the bridge and this time she did not pull her hand away, but allowed him to draw it onto his arm as they strolled back to where Clegg was waiting with the horses.

‘Let me help you to mount.’

Belle met his eyes for a fleeting moment, remembering the first time he had thrown her into the saddle. Did he recall it, too? How differently she had felt then. It would not be wise to mention it in front of Clegg, however. He was already looking disapproving about her being alone and out of sight with Lucas for so long, and if he knew of that first encounter he would most likely deliver a long homily upon the consequences of a young lady’s venturing forth without her groom. So she allowed Lucas to assist her and tried to look unconcerned while a storm of conflicting thoughts and feelings raged inside her. His touch, his nearness, both frightened and excited her. Instinct told her to beware this man, yet some power beyond her control drew her to him. He seemed to understand her love for this place and she wanted to share with him her memories, the happy days she had enjoyed running free in the woods and glades. She tried to explain it as they rode away from the lake.