Regency Collection 2013 Part 1. Louise Allen

France is a notable businesswoman, and an example to you to pay attention to your lessons.’ Jack sounded infuriatingly pious and earned himself a scowl from his youngest sister and a laugh from everyone else. Lily found herself relaxing into the warmth of this close, loving family.

      It was only later, as she climbed into the high, curtained bed, and snuggled down to sleep, that she was conscious of the small ache of envy. What joy to have sisters to share with, how wonderful to grow up with a mother to guide you, what a pleasure to have an elder brother to tease and look after you. All the money in the world could not buy her those treasures.

      Lily woke the next morning with the disconcerting feeling that she had been dreaming, but with no recollection of the night at all. She had left strict instructions for Janet to wake her in plenty of time to be down for breakfast.

      She had been only half-joking when she had told Jack she was worried about getting lost. She was also distinctly nervous that she did not know how one went on in a castle. Luncheon and dinner had appeared reassuringly normal, but for all she knew, breakfast was different up here in the north. She was sure she had heard something about porridge, which did not sound very appealing. Or perhaps that was Scotland.

      To her relief, breakfast at Allerton could have been taking place in any London house containing three lively young ladies. Porridge did not make an appearance and Jack was reassuringly untalkative, remaining immersed in his newspaper and apparently content to allow the chatter about modes and bonnets to wash over his head.

      Only when he was drinking his second cup of coffee did he remark, ‘You will be uncomfortably tight with five in the carriage, Mama. I need to visit Newcastle. I was going to take my curricle and there would be room for—’

      ‘Me!’ Penelope was bouncing up and down in her seat. ‘You promised me you would take me in the curricle next time we went into Newcastle.’

      ‘I was going to offer the seat to Miss France. She is our guest, Penny.’

      ‘And a promise is a promise. I am more than happy to travel in the carriage, Lord Allerton. But thank you for the offer.’ Goodness, an hour alone in a curricle with Jack, even with a groom up behind, would be terrifying—in fact, even more so with a groom, when one would have to watch every word one said.

      ‘As you wish, Miss France.’ The twist of his lips told her he knew perfectly well that she was nervous of travelling with him. ‘I will take you up on the return journey.’ Lily opened her mouth to protest, realised just in time that it would sound most ungracious to do so, and shut it again with a snap. He was smiling now, the exasperating man, although what he hoped to achieve, other than to infuriate her, she had no idea.

      Expecting a somewhat workaday team, Lily was surprised at the sight of the four matched bays harnessed to Lady Allerton’s rather shabby travelling carriage and the neat pair in the curricle.

      Her wonder changed to suspicion as they bowled down the drive and on to the road and they remained surrounded by unbroken grazing and coppices. ‘Caroline,’ she said, low-voiced, while Lady Allerton was busy discussing a distant cousin’s impending wedding with Susan.

      ‘Yes, Lily?’

      ‘Where exactly were these horses ploughing yesterday, Caroline?’

      ‘Um …’

      ‘They were nowhere near a plough, were they? And the pair in the curricle did not have new shoes either.’

      ‘Oh, dear, you have caught me out—I am afraid I kidnapped you.’

      ‘But why? I mean, I am a complete stranger, I was obviously at outs with Jack …’

      ‘I liked you. And it seemed so inhospitable to let you drive off all the way back to Newcastle in the rain after Jack had been such a grouch.’

      Lily regarded her doubtfully. It appeared to her that there was rather more to it than Caroline was saying. She had recognised Lily from Jack’s description of her, and she obviously knew about the duel and his wounded arm, unlike the rest of her family—but that ought to have made her hostile, not welcoming.

      But Lily could hardly dispute the point or probe further with the others in the carriage, so all she could do was smile and accept it. It was not until they had driven a further three miles and there was a lull in the conversation that Lily recalled that Jack had said nothing about Caroline’s transparent fabrication. Had he really wanted her to stay? Lily watched the passing countryside abstractedly while she wrestled with the problem—and the unanswerable question: what good will it do me to know?

      ‘Where is your agent’s office, Miss France?’ Lady Allerton broke into her thoughts and she realised they were coming into Newcastle.

      ‘I have it written down.’ Lily flipped through her notebook and offered it to Lady Allerton. ‘I am afraid I have no idea where it is.’

      ‘Very conveniently placed, as it happens. We can leave the carriages at the Maid’s Head, which is what we usually do. I have some calls to make and Lovell can escort you to your agent’s. With Caroline, of course.’ Lily managed to keep from blushing. What Lady Allerton would think if she knew what had taken place yesterday in her own picture gallery she shuddered to imagine, but now she thought it correct for Lily to be chaperoned in public with Jack. For which one could only be grateful.

      ‘We can meet for an light luncheon and you can all do your shopping after that, while Jack sees to his own business,’ Lady Allerton continued, satisfied she had organised everyone’s conflicting needs to a nicety.

      The agent’s office was so commonplace to Lily that she was amused at the well-bred interest Caroline was showing at being in such surroundings. A clerk came forward with a polite enough greeting, which turned to positively obsequious grovelling when he realised with whom he was dealing. They were ushered into an inner office with much ceremony. Lily kept an eye on the clock and was not surprised to see Jack doing exactly the same thing.

      ‘Taking a suspiciously long time,’ he observed. ‘Do you think they are digging out the second set of books?’

      ‘I sincerely hope not,’ Lily said with feeling. ‘I really do not want to spend a week going through everything with a fine-tooth comb … Good day, Mr Lovington. I imagine you are surprised to see me.’

      As soon as she saw him Lily thought she could see the problem: Lovington was a worrier. Appointed by her trustees several years ago, he had seemed a straightforward, cautious and reliable man, but now he looked ineffectual and indecisive. Unless he was a first-class actor, Lily could not imagine he had the wit to defraud her.

      ‘Miss France! What an honour! I had no idea! Is something wrong?’

      ‘Nothing, I am sure, Mr Lovington.’ He was not going to recall his manners without a prompt, so she introduced her companions. ‘Miss Lovell and Lord Allerton accompany me, as you see; I am staying with them and thought I should not let the opportunity pass to drop in and see how you go on.’

      Now she had met him again, she certainly did not want to find herself a guest in his house. It had not occurred to her just how uncomfortable that might be, given that she wished to scrutinise the books. Could she continue to stay at the castle? Caroline and Lady Allerton had both been most pressing. Lily fought a brisk battle with her conscience and lost. She wanted to stay at the castle, for several reasons; not least was the completely unacceptable one that she wanted to be near Jack. Well, she had spent her entire life doing more or less what she wanted; while her hostess appeared to enjoy her presence, she would stay.

      Half an hour later, Lily emerged with a clerk and a boy trotting at her heels, both laden with ledgers and the keys to the warehouse, which Mr Lovington had obviously been dithering about—should he visit it himself? Could he make a decision without further guidance? Lily had firmly removed the keys and assured him she would assess it.

      Her trustees were certain that a location nearer the waterfront would be advantageous, and pointed out that the current warehouse was too small. Lily was not so sure they