a powder without assistance and I’m sorry if I snapped, but – oh, Giles will tell you. I’ll be all right. Don’t worry.’
‘Don’t worry?’ Julia flamed when the door closed behind her mother. ‘What has upset her so? She looks as if she hasn’t slept all night. What is going on, Giles? What danger? And from which man?’
‘Do you need to ask? Elliot attacked Hawthorn last night in Brattocks. That’s why Mama’s going to Pendenys.’
‘Hawthorn! My, but he’s gone too far this time. Is she all right? He didn’t do anything?’
‘No, but it wasn’t for want of trying, I understand.’
‘My God! Is no one safe from him? He needs whipping.’
‘That he got last night. Dwerryhouse knocked him head over heels.’
‘Good for Dwerryhouse! But where is Hawthorn? I must go to her.’
‘Working in the sewing-room today, I believe.’
‘Right!’ Damn Elliot Sutton! The man was a menace, though no matter what Mama said, his silly mother would get him out of it – again. ‘You should have sent for the constable, Giles. That monster needs locking up!’ she called over her shoulder. Locking up till he’d learned sense, and a few good manners!
‘Oh, Hawthorn!’ Gently Julia touched the swollen cheek. ‘Not you, too! Goodness! That bruise is almost as bad as mine. You poor girl. I know how it hurts. How dare he do that to you?’
‘Elliot Sutton does what he likes hereabouts. It’s thanks to Morgan he didn’t do worse, though. Morgan went for him like a mad thing. Didn’t know the creature had it in him. Had him worried, Morgan did. Pinned him down till Tom got there. But I didn’t stop to see any more. Ran for all I was worth …’
‘Giles told me that Tom hit Elliot?’
‘He did, and I hope there’ll be no trouble. But Tom was real mad. Could have throttled him, he said.’
‘Then more’s the pity he didn’t. You wouldn’t believe that Nathan and Elliot are brothers, they’re so unalike.’
‘I know, miss. But Tom –’ Alice wanted the business of Tom’s hasty fist settled. ‘I’m worried, see, that he’ll be in trouble. Hit Elliot Sutton deliberate, he did. Said he hoped he’d broken his nose. And he might have, for all I know. Tom’s a big fellow. He could have hurt him.’
‘Hurt him! Wasn’t a lot of use hitting him if he didn’t, now was it? Anyway, there’ll be hell to pay this morning. Mama is going to Pendenys – unannounced – and if I know Mama, Elliot is going to be on the receiving end of her displeasure. She looked furious at breakfast.’
‘Oh, I wish she wouldn’t,’ Alice wailed. ‘I don’t want there to be any bother. I just want to get on with my work and forget all about it.’
‘But it can’t be forgotten. Elliot is evil. He always was, and he’s got to be stopped. It isn’t your fault, Hawthorn. Just be grateful that Morgan flew at him.’
‘Yes, miss, and don’t let’s talk about it any more. I’m that ashamed with all the bother it’s causing her ladyship.’
‘Then don’t be. But I must go now. Mama wants the carriage later, and I’m off to meet Andrew. And he shall come up and look at you – I insist – though what he’ll do about that bruise, I don’t know. Oh, Hawthorn dear – first me, now you. Whatever next?’
‘Whatever next?’ Alice whispered when the door had banged behind Julia and her footsteps could no longer be heard. Trouble, was there to be? Trouble for Tom, for herself? Because Mrs Clementina wasn’t going to let Elliot be taken to task, nothing was more certain. And under-keepers didn’t go punching their betters, neither.
Best for all concerned if her ladyship let it be; forgot about it. Better for her and Tom, that was, though Elliot Sutton would go on doing exactly what he wanted and no lass would be safe from him.
And how safe would it be now in Brattocks? And if she could no longer walk Morgan there, when was she ever to see Tom, except on her half-day off?
Alice blinked back a tear. She would not cry; not any more. They would find a way of meeting. And hadn’t everybody been so kind and good it had made her feel warm all over? Miss Clitherow had been like an angel of mercy last night, and Cook had sent Tilda up with an eggcupful of brandy, for the shock, and not one question had Tilda asked; not one lurid detail did she demand to know – offering a humbug and the loan of her love book instead.
But, best of all, Bess had peeped around the door to tell her that Tom had left Morgan’s lead at the kitchen door, asking anxiously how she was.
‘And he said to give you this,’ Bess whispered, handing her the flower. ‘Said you’d understand …’
The flower was there now, in a glass on the window-sill, and she had cried over the buttercup and loved Tom even more; glad she lived at Rowangarth, glad Miss Julia was her friend, yet sad that this morning there would be trouble at Pendenys and hoping with all her heart that Tom never came upon Elliot Sutton in the woods. Lordy, but it was a real worry, and heaven only knew where it would end.
‘Tom,’ she whispered to the buttercup. ‘Take care, lad; don’t do anything you’ll be sorry for.’
Clementina Sutton stood in the morning-room window, following the progress of the Rowangarth carriage with narrowed eyes. Helen was a punctilious caller, and calling time, it was accepted hereabouts, began at ten o’clock; indeed, not for another quarter of an hour, she calculated, checking the jewelled watch on her lapel with the clock on the overmantel. But she would soon know the cause of the breach in protocol, for her sister-in-law was making all haste to alight.
‘My dear.’ She smiled with genuine pleasure as the door opened, for in spite of the feeling of inferiority Helen’s presence always gave her, Clementina grudgingly admired her, though never, she sighed – not even if she tried until the crack of doom – would she acquire the ease of manner that placed Helen Sutton’s pedigree beyond question. Helen could dress in rags and mix with the motley and still be indisputably what she was. A lady.
‘Clementina.’ Briefly their cheeks touched. ‘This is not the happiest of visits,’ Helen murmured. ‘Indeed, I wish to say what I have come to say as quickly as possible, and beg your indulgence in the saying of it.
‘Giles left me in no doubt that he considered it to be his business, and was put out when I insisted it should be myself who told you, but when you have heard me out I’m sure I can safely leave the matter in your own capable hands, and we can bring this to a satisfactory conclusion,’ Helen murmured. ‘And I apologize for the early call, but what I must say is family and private, so I had little choice. Elliot,’ she said without more ado. ‘Have you seen him this morning?’
‘Why, no – but the boy was out late last evening and doubtless wishes to sleep on. Indeed, he rarely rises before ten …’
‘Then when you do see him, Clemmy, I warn you that you might be shocked by his appearance. Last night, you see, he made unwelcome advances to one of my maids who was forced to defend herself by scratching his face.’
‘Elliot? Unwelcome advances?’ Her face registered disbelief. ‘I cannot think my son would be interested in a – a servant.’
‘Then you must take my word for it that he was. What was more, the attack took place on Rowangarth land.’
‘Attack, you’re saying? Oh, come now, Helen, that is a most serious accusation. My son would never –’
‘Elliot did.’ Helen’s eyes held those of her brother-in-law’s wife. ‘He attacked a young girl not yet eighteen. What is more –’
‘Now see here!’ The mistress of Pendenys rose to her feet, all pretence at gentility gone. She was only too ready to admit to