Page 36 of A Winter’s Romance
L ouisa had never seen such joy expressed by two people when they eventually received Miles’s letter about their daughter. Both had laughed and cried, embracing each other. She had given them privacy and sought Billy out in the kitchen.
“Hello, Louisa,” Billy said as soon as he spotted her. He was eating a buttered slice of bread, and Louisa could not help the smile on her face. He never seemed to stop eating, yet he was as slim as he had been when they first arrived, although no longer gaunt and pale.
“Hello, Billy. How are you?”
“Rosie has gone.”
“I know, but she hopes you know that she cares about you.”
Billy nodded. “She told me she is going to be rich one day.” Louisa did not know how to continue, but it seemed Billy did not notice her slight discomfort as he continued happily. “Cook said I am to live in a cottage, and I will have my own servants!”
“Really? That is wonderful.” Louisa was aware of the Hindleys’ plans for Billy but was surprised that they had told him so soon after Rosie had left.
“When Lady Florence stays at Hindley Hall, I will be able to see Cook. I like Cook and was sad that I was leaving her, but I will still see her, and someone else will cook for me. Does that mean I will be rich like Rosie?”
“I think it does,” Louisa said, a lump in her throat. “When are you going?”
“Soon, but I can’t go until after Christmas. Cook says there’s to be boar head for dinner, and I don’t want to miss that.”
“I am not surprised; it sounds delicious.” Louisa kissed Billy on his head, and he smiled up at her after stuffing the last of his bread in his mouth. He was so young and always would be, but he would be happy, of that Louisa was sure.
Two days after the news of Melissa being found, Lord Hindley came into the drawing room, a letter in his hand and a frown on his face. “Miles has sent me a note saying that we need to remain by your side at all times, Louisa. He will be returning on the morrow, but stresses that you are not to be left alone.”
“What is amiss?” Lady Florence asked, looking between Louisa and her husband.
“We have to be on the alert in case a Mr Simmerton makes an appearance, either by knocking on the door or by more sinister methods.”
Louisa felt the colour drain from her face. “He has found me?” She did not know whether to run or to hide, but panic was in danger of overwhelming her.
Lady Florence crossed to Louisa and took hold of her hands. “You are under our protection; nothing is going to happen to you.”
Louisa turned fearful eyes to her. “I am not of age, and there was an agreement between him and my parents.”
“That does not matter.”
“How did he find me?”
“Rosie has been entertaining people with her escapades. She is quite a hit for the moment,” Lord Hindley said with a hint of sadness. “Miles says that Simmerton was present at a party she was at. Miles only found out because he had sought Rosie out to try and persuade her to return home, but she refused and took great delight in telling him of the arrangement Simmerton claims to have with you.”
“Not with me.” Louisa shuddered. “My parents sent me away to school the moment my uncle offered to pay for me.” It was time to explain everything. “They did not want me back until they had met Simmerton and arranged a marriage between us. There must have been something to their benefit, but I do not know what.”
“Could you not seek the help of your uncle?” Lady Florence asked.
“He died,” Louisa answered sadly. “He paid for my siblings to be schooled too. It is upsetting, but I have never met some of the younger ones.”
“You never went home?”
“No. That was probably for the best, or I might have been married at sixteen. They sent for me once Uncle’s money had run out, and by that time, I had turned eighteen. Within hours of arriving home, I was faced with Mr Simmerton and the information that the banns had already been read in church. I was to be married two days later. ”
“I presume he was not the eligible man you would have been willing to marry?” Lady Florence asked drily.
“No. I would have hated to marry a stranger, but this man was ancient and had children older than me. Everything about him repulsed me, and I just knew I had to get away. That was the start of my long walk into London.”
“You poor child, that is a shocking state of affairs! He will not get to you while you are under our care.”
“But can you really stop him?” Louisa asked, not daring to hope that they could prevent Simmerton from claiming her.
“There are ways and means of achieving success,” Lord Hindley said to her with a wink. “You will not be alone until Miles returns. A footman will be assigned to follow you around and guard your chamber, and two maids will sleep in your room. Try not to worry. All will be sorted soon.” He smiled at his wife before leaving the room.
“No visits for us today,” Lady Florence said. “The weather is not very nice, so I think sitting before a roaring fire will be preferable.”
“Please do not stay in because of me,” Louisa said. “I hate that, yet again, I am causing you trouble.”
“Rosie has caused this, the foolish chit, but it will be sorted to all our satisfaction. Have faith, my love.”
Louisa knew it would be a very long day and did not really expect Miles to have a solution once he arrived. She cursed herself that she longed to see him when it was likely that Simmerton would claim her in some way, if not today, then soon. She had finally confessed to herself that despite a rocky start, she was attracted to Miles far more than she should be .
He was protective of his family, and she could not criticise him for that. In fact, it was one of the things she liked most about him. It also helped that he was very handsome, had a wonderful smile and treated Billy so kindly that it made her think he would be an excellent father when he eventually settled down. Those few minutes they had shared in the library had meant so much to her, even to the point of allowing herself to dream of a future she knew was unattainable.
He would inevitably marry a diamond of society, which left a bad taste in her mouth and a lump in her stomach. She wanted to be the one who made him smile, but she knew that even though she had been brought up as a gentlewoman on the lower edges of society, she was no longer respectable. If anyone learned about her background, she would be laughed out of society. With Rosie already telling their stories, it would soon spread; Louisa was aware of how fast gossip travelled.
She could dream of Miles, but that was as far as it could go. If she was very lucky, some decent, respectable man would take her on if Simmerton did not get his way. One thing was certain, she could never marry a man who would inherit an earldom.