Page 25 of Mr Winterbourne's Christmas
Chapter 9 - Adam
When Adam and Altheareached the Abbey, a flurry of servants were milling about, unloading a great quantity of luggage from a sumptuous and very new-looking carriage.
“I see Father’s arrived,” Althea said, her tone a little dry.
They entered the great Abbey doors and walked through the portico into the main house, where they found the earl in the hallway removing his greatcoat and handing it to his valet. He appeared a little alarmed to see Adam, as though he hadn’t invited him himself.
“Althea, my dear,” the earl said, holding out his hands. Obediently, she went him and dutifully kissed his cheek.
“How was your journey, Father?” she asked solicitously, adding sweetly, “Your new carriage looks wonderfully comfortable!”
The earl pinkened and murmured something about having had the carriage for quite a while now, shooting a guilty glance in Adam’s direction.
“Really? It seems quite new,” Althea said. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I really must change. The hem of my walking dress got quite soaked in the snow.” And with that, she sailed away, leaving the two men alone.
“Lord Winterbourne.” Adam nodded at the earl.
“Mr. Freeman,” the earl replied with a nervous smile. “I’m sorry I was not here to welcome you to the Abbey yesterday.”
“That’s perfectly all right,” Adam said coolly, “Lady Winterbourne has been an excellent hostess, as always. And I must say, the Abbey is looking very fine—though I was surprised to see that the estate cottages still appear quite run down...and rather fewer in number than I expected.”
The earl’s flush deepened. “Yes, well, I do plan to talk to you about that,” he said. “Perhaps after dinner?” His smile was ingratiating but there was a spark of hostility in his eyes too. He hated having to be civil to a man he considered his social inferior.
The earl had never liked Adam. He’d expected to be handed a fortune for the great honour of Simon being permitted to marry Althea and had been most put out to discover that Adam wanted to be sure the money was used to pay off the creditors who’d already waited far too long to have their debts settled. It seemed though, that despite the efforts made to safeguard the money set aside for the estate works, the earl had managed to divert those funds to himself. Worse, by the looks of things, he’d run up substantial additional debts. The signs were everywhere: new furniture and decorations in the Abbey, new carriages and horses, new clothes. Adam wouldn’t be surprised if the man was back in the same financial straits as when Adam had first met him.
Well, if he thought Adam was going to dip his hand in his pocket again, he had another thing coming. Simon and Althea were married now. Adam would happily make over to funds to them directly if they needed them—though he already knew Althea was a hundred times better at managing money than either of her feckless parents—but Adam was damned if another brass penny of his hard-won money would find its way into Lord Winterbourne’s coffers.
“Very well,” Adam said. “After dinner.”
“I was actually thinking that the three of us should talk,” the earl said.
“Three of us?” Adam frowned, puzzled. “You mean you and I and Lady Winterbourne?”
Lord Winterbourne laughed. “Good God, no! Mimi wouldn’t have the slightest interest. No, I meant for Lysander to join us.”
“Lysander?” Adam couldn’t imagine what possible reason the earl would have for including Lysander—the earl had never deigned to involve his youngest son in any of their previous discussions.
Just then, some of the rest of the walking group arrived back at the Abbey, excusing the earl from answering him. Adam turned to find Lady Arabella perched on her brother’s back, a very cross-looking Sir Edmund standing beside them. Sir Edmund—who was generally very polished—was rather the worse for wear, the knees of his trousers quite filthy.
“Are you all right, Lady Arabella?” Adam asked.
“I’m fine—” she began, only for Sir Edmund to interrupt.
“She hurt her ankle.” He looked furious about it.
“I had to carry her,” Cavendish said, inclining his head backwards in his sister’s direction. “Lysander’s bringing the greenery,”
Lord Winterbourne hurried towards the newcomers. “Welcome to Winterbourne Abbey, Sir Edmund,” he gushed. “I’m so pleased you were able to join us.”
Sir Edmund allowed his hand to be pumped by the earl, smiling with slightly frosty politeness. Lord Winterbourne gave no sign that he noticed the man’s discomfort.
“I must go and get cleaned up,” Sir Edmund said at last. “If you’ll excuse me.”
“Of course,” Lord Winterbourne said. “I look forward to speaking with you further at dinner.”
As Sir Edmund stalked off, the Cavendish siblings close behind him, Lysander arrived with Miss Greenhill. They were both carrying large stacks of holly and ivy, which they handed over to the waiting footmen.
Miss Greenhill greeted the earl politely, and he offered her a small distracted nod before she excused herself. His attention, however, was all on Lysander.