Mrs Dearborne’s hat, of course! My guess is that Autolycus had a hand in it. Or do I mean a paw?’
‘You’re right, as usual. Autolycus cannot resist a nice straw hat.’
‘So I see,’ he said, eyeing the tattered straw on her own head. ‘And did Mrs Dearborne make you pay for another?’
‘I had to offer—and she accepted! It was new, of course. One of those big ones with lots of ribbon and…and feathers. It was very expensive, Hugo.’ She started to chuckle. ‘It was almost worth it just to see Autolycus running off with feathers streaming out of his mouth and Mrs Dearborne in full pursuit. She is…is quite a portly lady, and was soon out of breath. But when I caught him in the end, the hat was ruined. I must say that I think Mrs Dearborne was very severe. After all, I had taken the parrot off her hands! And—’
‘One moment. Why did you take the parrot?’
‘Well, someone had to! Mrs Dearborne didn’t want it any more and no one else would have it.’
‘And how did Mrs Dearborne, whom I am growing to dislike, come to have a parrot with such an exotic vocabulary?’
‘Her lodger, who had been a sailor, passed it on to her before he left. She thought it would be company. But then she discovered its…its…er…social disadvantages. The ladies of Maids Moreton were quite shocked by some of the things it said.’
‘I can well imagine it. Carry on.’
‘Well, even though I had helped her out with the parrot, Mrs Dearborne was very angry with Autolycus… So I paid. And that meant I didn’t have quite enough for the journey.’
‘Where was your aunt while this excitement was going on? Your father’s sister, I mean. I thought she was looking after you?’
Deborah paused for a moment. Then she said awkwardly, ‘She left. She went back to Ireland the day before yesterday.’
‘What? Leaving you to look after yourself?’ Hugo was shocked. ‘I can’t believe it!’
‘She went very suddenly. Of course, she had arranged to go back to Ireland soon, anyway. She always knew that I would eventually make my home with Aunt Elizabeth after Mama died. But why she left Maids Moreton with so little warning, I don’t know. It was very awkward. After she’d gone there was hardly any money, and I wasn’t sure if Aunt Elizabeth would be back from London after Robina’s come-out.’ Then with a lightning change of mood which was typical she said, ‘Oh, Hugo, I quite forgot to ask! Do tell me! How did Robina do? Was her début a success?’
‘You could say so. From what I observed, Cousin Robina is going to make a very good match. She’s in Brighton with the Dowager Lady Exmouth at the moment.’
‘You mean she might marry Lord Exmouth?… How wonderful! But she deserves it! She’s so pretty, and good. And I’m sure she would behave beautifully…’ For a moment Deborah looked wistful. Then she laughed and said, ‘Aunt Elizabeth will be delighted—her eldest daughter so suitably engaged! Perhaps she will let me keep Autolycus at the Vicarage, after all?’
Hugo smiled. ‘Perhaps. But I wouldn’t bet a groat on her toleration of the parrot.’ He watched Deborah’s face with amusement as her look of dismay was replaced with an expression of hopeful pleading. ‘All right! I might be able to help you. In fact I’ve thought of someone who might, just might, enjoy the parrot’s company.’
‘That would be such a relief! It’s not that I don’t like it, exactly. But I quite realise that it is not a suitable inhabitant of a Vicarage. I wouldn’t have brought it, except that I didn’t know what else to do with it. Do you really know someone, Hugo?’
‘I think so—but I won’t say any more at the moment in case it doesn’t work. Leave it with me, Deborah. I promise to find a home for it somewhere.’
‘Oh, Hugo! Thank you!’
Hugo had forgotten how Deborah Staunton’s face could light up in a way he hadn’t seen in anyone else. She was not conventionally beautiful, and certainly did not possess the sort of looks he particularly admired. His preference was for pretty blondes, with regular features, and gentle manners. Even when Deborah was looking her best—which was not the case at the moment—the combination of a mane of black hair, pale cheeks and eyes of such a dark indigo that they looked black was too dramatic for his more conventional taste. Among her cousins she was like a young falcon set down in a dovecote, with much the same unexpected consequences. Judging from his experience in the past, life with Deborah would always consist of a succession of crises, a far cry from his own calm, well-judged existence. But all the same, without feeling himself in the slightest danger, he found the manner in which her face could light up with joy very appealing.
They had been sitting with their backs to the house, taking advantage of the splendid view, but turned when they heard voices behind them.
‘Deborah! What a surprise! Where did you find her, Hugo?’
The visitors to Stoke Park had returned. Lady Perceval was hurrying over the lawn to greet her unexpected guest, closely followed by Lady Elizabeth and the rest of the family. There followed a series of huggings and kissings and exclamations as Deborah was passed from one to the other. The Perceval girls in particular greeted their cousin with the greatest possible affection. Deborah held a special place in their hearts, and though she was by no means the youngest of them they had all always regarded her as someone in need of special care and protection. It was some time since they had seen her and they exclaimed at the change in her appearance.
‘Girls, girls, be quiet!’ said Lady Elizabeth. ‘I am sure you mean well, but I think you forget your manners! Deborah has had a trying time these past years, but it cannot be pleasant for her to hear your tactless comments.’
‘But she’s so pale and thin, Mama!’ cried Henrietta, the youngest and liveliest of the Vicar’s four daughters.
‘That is quite enough, Henrietta!’ Lady Elizabeth took Deborah’s hands in hers. ‘My dear, as you can see, we are all delighted that you’ve come at last. But surely you were not due for another two days? I would never have accepted the Vernons’ invitation if I had known you were coming today. You must have thought us very remiss. How did you come? And what have you done with all your possessions?’
‘I…I’m sorry, Aunt. I…I…’
Hugo came to Deborah’s aid. ‘Deborah has been well taken care of, I assure you, Aunt Elizabeth. And Nanny Humble is looking after the rest of their goods and chattels. They should all be here at any moment.’
As if on cue, a servant came out to tell Lady Perceval that the carriage with Mrs Humble and a number of goods had arrived in the courtyard. Deborah excused herself and hurried off ahead of the others. She wished to make sure that Nanny Humble did not reveal the facts behind her unconventional arrival in Abbot Quincey before she had had time to prepare her aunt for it. Hugo had divined her purpose and she was grateful to see that he was delaying her aunt and Lady Perceval with questions about the Vernons.
Chapter Two
Nanny Humble was not in the most cooperative of moods. She was too old, she said, to be traipsing about the countryside in a dogcart, then left to while her time away in an ill-kept inn with a landlord who couldn’t wait to get rid of her, while Miss Deborah went off into the blue with that dratted dog and that heathen-tongued bird, leaving her to wonder whether she’d ever see her young mistress again… If Miss Deborah knew how much… Deborah recognised the anxiety behind the angry words, and dealt gently with her old servant. She managed to cut the tirade short without causing further offence, begging Nanny Humble to leave complaints and explanations till later.
‘I’m sorry our journey was so uncomfortable, Nanny dear. But we’re nearly at the Vicarage now, and we’ll soon be in our old rooms.’
‘Her ladyship is very kind, Miss Deborah. But it’s different now. I’m sure I don’t know what’s to become of us…’ Nanny Humble’s