Julia and the Master of Morancourt Read online

  It was as if Julia had spoken these thoughts aloud.

  “Julia, did Freddie Brandon ever mention David’s death to you? I wished at the time that he had told us more about what happened.”

  “No, Mama, he didn’t. He only knew what Dominic had told him.”

  When the next day came, her mother busied herself in making sure that all the details of Julia’s outfit were perfect, her shoes shined to the highest gloss, her hair washed and dressed in the most becoming ringlets, and everything done so that her eldest daughter was looking her best.

  Even Sophie agreed that Julia looked rather fine in the green dress—if she was careful, Harriet might agree to lend the dress to her as well. Julia was not the only person who looked good in green.

  Harriet gave Julia a big hug, and whispered in her ear, “Don’t let them make you agree to anything that you don’t want to do. He’s not the only rich young man in the world, and certainly not the nicest.”

  Julia had to laugh at her sister’s determination.

  “With you on my side, Harriet, I’m sure everything will be all right!”

  Mama looked puzzled, but her father gave her an understanding smile. Knowing Harriet as he did, he could guess what she might have said. His youngest daughter was always a person to be reckoned with in a difficult situation. It was very helpful that she had finished with school and could offer Julia some much needed support.

  Julia was just about to say good-bye to her sisters when the housekeeper came into the drawing room in great excitement.

  “Mrs. Maitland, ma’am, the Earl’s barouche is at the door for Miss Julia!”

  There was a stunned silence for several moments, and only Papa showed no surprise.

  When Julia realised this, she said, “You knew—why didn’t you tell me?”

  Papa smiled. “Because I thought that it would be pleasant news—and it appears that I was right. A message came from the castle for me last night that, if the weather were to be fine today, the Earl would send his open carriage for us to enjoy the drive.”

  Three

  There, waiting at the door, was a handsome open barouche, the gleaming coachwork painted in the deepest blue and with the heraldic crest of the Brandon family in the centre of each door. The metalwork had been polished to a mirrorlike shine, and the coachman was dressed in the Brandon livery, seated on the front box behind a pair of the finest greys.

  For once, Sophie was speechless at this magnificent sight.

  Behind her, Mama exclaimed with delight.

  “Julia, how wonderful, and how kind of the Brandons to send the carriage for you and Papa!”

  Papa looked at Julia with a quiet smile, but said nothing. Julia herself had to admit that the barouche was very impressive, and waited for the driver to assist her into the carriage. Papa followed, seating himself opposite her on the deeply buttoned leather seat with his back to the horses.

  Harriet came forward from the front door of the house and, leaning over the door of the barouche, whispered in Julia’s ear, “How very grand, but don’t forget what I said!”

  Julia laughed out loud. “No, but you must admit that we shall be travelling in style!”

  The driver gathered his horses, and they were soon on their way.

  “Papa, why do you think that the Earl has taken the trouble to send the barouche—to be so kind to me? I know that we have spoken about this before, but I really cannot think of any reason for him to single me out from all the other young ladies who would like to marry his heir.”

  “I really have no idea—I can only suggest that, if you have the opportunity, you should ask him that yourself whilst we are at the castle.”

  Julia considered the matter for a few moments. She had met the Earl before, and he was not a particularly difficult person to converse with. But it was surely not good manners to raise that subject on such a visit. On the other hand, how else was she to find out? She could ask Dominic, and maybe he was more likely to give an honest reply. Or perhaps he had had nothing to do with it.

  At least, for now, she was enjoying the drive on such a nice day, and it was not too long before the castle came into view. The high stone walls were an impressive sight, built on a rocky bluff rising above them, with no apparent entry point. The entrance towers only came into view once they had passed across the river bridge, rounded the bend in the road, and found themselves facing the portcullis and the gates into the courtyard.

  They were received with due ceremony at the main doors, and the butler led the way to the central hall, with its high domed roof painted with colourful frescoes of biblical scenes. There they were met by a footman, again resplendent in the Brandon livery, who announced them at the door of the main salon.

  “Mr. Maitland and Miss Maitland.”

  Seated on a large chaise longue on the far side of the room was the Earl himself, whilst the Countess and her son were side by side in chairs opposite him. They all rose, and the introductions were made. Polite inquiries were made about Mrs. Maitland’s health and about Sophie and Harriet.

  “I regret, Julia, that Emily is not at home,” said the Countess. “She is still away staying with friends and will not be back until next week. Freddie also asks to be excused, since he is away on military duties.”

  “I am sorry not to see them, but I hope that there will be another opportunity soon.”

  “But you know Dominic, of course,” said the Earl. “Although he is often in town, he has promised me that, now that he has left the regiment, he will spend more time here at the castle helping me manage the estate.”

  Julia looked directly at Dominic for the first time, and was relieved to see that he smiled cautiously in return. He was as she had remembered him, rather taller than Freddie, but with the same thick dark hair and strongly marked brows above deep blue eyes. His coat and breeches were appropriate for a day in the country, but so expertly cut that they could only have been made for him by one of the best tailors in London.

  “He would like to show you the picture gallery,” continued the Earl, “so why don’t you go there now, before we take some refreshments with your father.”

  The tone in which this comment was made did not seem to invite discussion, so Julia followed Dominic out of the room and through a series of grand salons to the gallery. Both walls were lined with oil paintings, which seemed to Julia to extend as far as the eye could see.

  “I am, you will have noticed, burdened with rather too many ancestors, Miss Maitland.”

  Julia was comforted by this remark, remembering that he shared Freddie’s lively sense of humour.

  “I suppose that applies to everyone, though not all end up in an oil painting! Are there any portraits of your parents?”

  “Not here; you can see their likenesses on the west wall in the dining room. It is a family tradition that the paintings in the gallery are only of Brandons who have moved on to the next life.”

  Julia smiled. “Some of your ancestors seem to have had very large families.” She regretted making the remark almost as soon as she had uttered it.

  “Do you like children, Julia? I fear that I will be expected to produce an heir in the next generation as quickly as possible, once I am married.”

  This reference to the underlying reason for her visit immediately removed her enjoyment of their conversation, and she was silent.

  Moving to stand by one of the tall windows, he drummed his fingertips on the sill in a nervous manner. “I must ask you—do you favour our suggested alliance with any enthusiasm?”

  Julia had considered already what her reply to this question might be. Perhaps this was her opportunity to ask why she was being considered as his prospective bride.

  “Dominic, please tell me, honestly, why should you wish to marry me? You must be one of the most eligible young men in town at present, with every fond mama keen to throw their daughters at your feet!”

  He laughed, and said, “You are right, and a damned tiresome business it is, I can assure
you. Your brother saved my life in Spain, and I had promised him when he got to Spain that I would look after you if anything happened to him. You were David’s favourite sister, you know.”

  “Thank you. But if everyone married as a result of such circumstances, there would be some very odd alliances in the world. There are other ways, no doubt, in which you could offer me assistance, should I need it?”

  “True. But consider the situation from my point of view. We know each other a little already, since you are a friend of my brother and, of course, my cousin Emily. I have to marry someone soon, to continue the family line—my parents insist on that—but so many of the eligible girls are so vapid and boring. My parents like you, and certainly prefer you to some of the other candidates for the role who are pushing themselves forward.”

  He observed her startled expression. “You may think that too cold-hearted a way of considering the matter, but I know you to be an intelligent and sensible person, aware of how family life is conducted in the highest circles.”

  He meant, she assumed, by that last remark that she would have to turn a blind eye to any liaisons that he might conduct in town outside his marriage, and the time that he might spend at the various gaming houses and in his clubs drinking with his friends.

  “I am not sure that that is the kind of life that I would like, however comfortable the financial circumstances that I might be offered.”

  “If you would prefer to spend most of your time here at the castle, I would not object to that. It is a good place to raise children.”

  Julia’s dismayed expression did not escape him.

  “That is not the kind of marriage you would want? You had hoped to marry for love? Not many people are that fortunate.”

  “No, but I would much prefer to be together with my husband for most of the time, to share common interests.”

  “Not many relationships stay like that in the highest social circles, Miss Maitland, at least in the long run.”

  “No, I accept that.”

  “I sense that you do not approve of my suggestion of your living here whilst I would be in London. My parents have been married for thirty years and seem to have found that a tolerant attitude to each other’s preferences works for them. It has been a comfortable basis for their relationship.”

  Julia wondered if that was more his father’s view than his mother’s, since the Earl had had a reputation for fast living when in town, and not only in his youth.

  “I am trying to be honest with you, if only for your brother’s sake.”

  “I am grateful to you for that, Dominic.”

  She turned away to look out of the window. She was aware that many young women would be only too happy to accept an offer from the heir to the earldom, and to be assured of wealth and a great social position for the rest of their lives. Her mother had already told her how lucky she was to be offered such an opportunity when she now had only a small dowry and no share in property or the family estate.

  “I do not need an answer now, Julia. A few weeks’ delay will make no difference. Why don’t we meet again, once you have had the opportunity to consider the matter more thoroughly? My offer still stands in the meantime.”

  Julia thanked him. She should be grateful, she supposed, for his being thoughtful enough not to rush her. Whether she wanted someone to marry her because of a promise made to her brother was quite a different matter.

  They returned to the salon, where her father was apparently enjoying his conversation with the Earl and Countess.

  “Well, Miss Maitland, what do you think of all those past Brandons?” said the Earl in a friendly tone. “Some of the earlier ones would make good brigands, don’t you think! We are lucky that they are not still alive, in my opinion!”

  Matching his mood, Julia said, “No more than many families may have had in their past history, sir. But I was glad to have been able to see more of the castle. On my visits to see Emily and Freddie, we usually spend most of our time in your family’s private quarters.”

  “Yes, these rooms here are shown to visitors when we are not in residence. We spend most of our family time elsewhere in the castle.” Then, turning to her father, he said, “Lewis, shall we go and look at those bank papers now, so that I can sign them for you before we leave?”

  Her father answered Julia’s unspoken question before she could say anything.

  “I brought them with me at the Earl’s suggestion—it is just some unfinished business,” and he left the room with their host before she could reply.

  “Come and sit next to me, Julia,” said the Countess. “And Dominic, please go and find Annette, and ask her to bring down the blue silk shawl that I have set aside for Miss Maitland.”

  To Julia she added, “Annette Labonne is my personal attendant. She was born in northern France and, before she became my dresser, Annette was our nursery maid when Dominic and Freddie were young.”

  Julia hesitated after he had gone out of the room, but only for a moment.

  “Ma’am, would you find me presumptuous if I asked you a personal question?”

  “If I did, I need not answer you.”

  Julia took this as being an affirmative.

  “Dominic said just now that you had spent part of your married life living here with the children whilst the Earl was more in town—were you happy with that arrangement?”

  The Countess did not answer immediately, but then said, “I would prefer to reply by saying that Dominic is, in some respects, very like his father. I would expect that he would want to adopt that pattern of life—yes, my dear. If that would make you unhappy, you should not marry him. But if you fear that he would in any way be disrespectful to you in public if you were to become his wife, you can put that idea out of your head!”

  “Thank you for answering. I apologise for any intrusion.”

  The Countess took Julia’s hand and held it firmly. “Marriage is not always a happy state, my dear, but I am sure from what Emily and Freddie have told me that you would make Dominic as happy as anyone of our personal acquaintance.”

  Anyone of our personal acquaintance—that struck Julia as being a rather unusual expression.

  The Countess smiled at Julia. “I never had a daughter of my own, so the untimely death of Emily’s parents gave me an opportunity to care for the daughter that I would have otherwise been denied. I would be happy to welcome you also into our household.”

  It would, Julia thought to herself, be so very much easier to reject the idea of marriage with Dominic if she disliked him, or either of his parents, more.

  Dominic returned with the shawl, which the Countess insisted on giving to Julia, saying that it would flatter her colouring. As she gratefully accepted this generous gift, her father returned to the salon with their host.

  The Earl summoned the footman to have the barouche brought round to the front door, and Julia and her father said their farewells and were escorted to the carriage.

  They had travelled some distance on their return journey in silence before Julia said, “Papa, there is no connection between your signing those papers and the suggestion that I should marry Dominic—is there?”

  “No, my dear, I promise you that there is none. The documents relate to guarantees that were offered by the Earl to help me when I had difficulties following the failure of the bank in Derby. He also had losses, but they were minor in the context of his overall investments. He assisted me by giving the guarantees, which I have now been able to discharge.”

  “Papa, I cannot understand the reason that Dominic gave me for his proposal that I should marry him.”

  “What reason was that?”

  “That he had promised David in Spain that he would look after me.”

  “I would agree that a proposal of marriage would certainly be an extreme reaction to such a request. It is not as though you are in very reduced circumstances, or have no one to look after you.”

  “Exactly, Papa. It does not make sense. I am going to speak to e
ither Freddie or Emily as soon as they get back, for surely one of them can tell me more.”

  “It is not that you really dislike Dominic, is it? He is really quite a pleasant young man.”

  “Yes, indeed he is. But he is also used to doing exactly as he pleases, and living the high life in town. That is not unusual when you have been the heir to such riches all your life. No, it is not that. I just do not want to live in London, or move in the highest circles, where people are competing with one another all the time. Not everyone is as pleasant as the Earl and Countess. I’m sorry, Papa, but I do not wish to be in that kind of gilded cage for the rest of my life.”

  Her father looked rueful, and then replied, “Say nothing to your mother as yet. She has pinned such hopes on that alliance, and indeed would much prefer it to your marrying Jack Douglas. Let’s wait and see what happens.”

  Sophie and Harriet ran out of the house to greet them as soon as they heard the carriage enter the drive at home. They were both full of questions about how the day had gone, of what Julia had seen, of who had been there, and about every detail of who had said what to whom.

  Mama also wanted a full description of how the Earl and Countess had received Julia and her father, and what the outcome of the visit had been.

  Between them, Julia and Papa gave what explanations they could, although she decided that it was best not to communicate all the details of her conversation with Dominic Brandon to anyone.

  “Mama, the Countess told me that Emily will be back from Bath quite soon, and I have left a message asking her to come over here as soon as she is ready to do so.”

  Meanwhile, her mother had not forgotten that Papa and Julia were to make a return visit to see Mr. Douglas and Jack on the following day. Sophie was still sulking about not being included in the party, but Harriet promised to let her try on some of the new garments given to her by Aunt Lucy, which was some consolation.

  This time, the journey to Norton Place did not seem to Julia to take so long, and the carriage wheels were soon rolling up the drive towards the mansion. They were greeted in a friendly fashion as before, and this time Jack was waiting with his father at the top of the steps. He was dressed more smartly in a tweed jacket above dark green riding breeches and well-polished boots.