Working Man, Society Bride. Mary Nichols
Читать онлайн книгу.
they are going to cross my father’s estate after all.’
‘So they are. There is Gorridge land, then a strip of Luffenham and then Moorcroft’s grounds. After that there are several small holdings before it reaches Peterborough and joins up with the proposed line to Grantham.’
‘But I do not think Papa will agree to it. He is against the railway going over his property.’
‘Oh, he will change his mind. My father will persuade him that it makes sense. We need the railways to carry freight as well as passengers and having to avoid the Earl’s strip will cause no end of problems and put the cost up.’
‘You sound as if you know a great deal about it.’ Now they had touched on the subject of railways, she began to ponder the navvy again, just when she thought she had put him out of her mind. Would it remind Mr Gorridge of him, too?
It was Victor who laughed and said, ‘We had a lesson in railway building last evening, didn’t we, Teddy?’
He looked daggers at his cousin. ‘From Mr Masters, the engineer, yes. I met him to discuss progress.’
‘Is that what it was?’ Dorothea put in. ‘I thought it was to enjoy a convivial evening with the hoi polloi. I cannot think why you like to frequent that common alehouse. It is full of peasants.’
‘Why should I not go there?’ he demanded. ‘It belongs to our father and the men I see there owe him their living and they know their place. And they know mine, too.’
Lucy wasn’t sure what to make of that statement. ‘But the railway engineer wasn’t one of those,’ she said.
‘No, of course not, but he’s working in the area and so decided to stay there.’
‘What about the man who brought you home last night?’ Dorothea posed the question Lucy did not like to ask.
‘His assistant, I think, some sort of jumped-up navvy. I cannot be sure, for we were not formally introduced and then I was taken unwell.’
‘Are you fully recovered?’ Lucy asked him.
‘Yes. It is a weakness I have that occurs now and again, but nothing to concern yourself with, my dear. I am, as my physician will confirm, hale and hearty.’
‘Goodness, I wasn’t questioning the state of your health, Mr Gorridge, simply making a polite enquiry. I suggest we change the subject.’
‘I could not agree more. Shall we ride on?’
They walked their horses in silence for a moment, not at all sure what subject would be acceptable, then Edward suddenly said, ‘My horse is getting lazy. I’m going to give him a gallop.’ And with that he set off across the moor, followed by a determined Victor.
‘You must forgive my brother, Lady Lucinda,’ Dorothea said as they followed at a more sedate pace. ‘He knows he ought to be thinking of marriage and he has said how much he favours you, but he is perhaps a little anxious as to your reply and that makes him behave in a silly fashion. He has always been the same, ever since childhood. I suppose it is a kicking over the traces, a way of showing he is not to be coerced and will make up his own mind, even when it is what he wanted in the first place.’
‘I hope he does not think he is being coerced into marrying me. If I thought that, I should never entertain the idea.’
‘But it would be such a good match. You would be good for him, I think. Mama thinks so, and of course Papa and the Earl have so much in common, both from ancient families with adjoining estates.’
‘I cannot see how having adjoining estates matters. I am not an heiress—I have a brother, you know, so no advantage would come to Mr Gorridge through that.’
‘Yes, I know. I heard your mama talking to mine about him. She is devoted to him, isn’t she?’
‘Of course she is, but she has no favourites and loves us all.’
‘How fortunate you are. I think I should like to have you for a sister-in-law.’
‘Thank you.’ She did not want to continue with the conversation. Even if Edward was not being coerced, she felt as if she was, and, like Edward, she wanted to rebel. How could two people who had been pushed into a marriage expect it to be happy? She pointed at the men, who had stopped and dismounted a little way ahead. ‘Shall we join the gentlemen?’ She spurred her horse and this time he responded a little more enthusiastically.
Edward and Victor were standing on the highest point of the hill deep in conversation, but stopped when the ladies rode up. Lucy noticed they were standing with their backs to a large boulder, which was a shelter from the wind that blew across the moor, and were facing a second valley. Here, too, were white stakes, but they stopped short on the opposite slope. ‘More of the railway surveyors’ work?’ she queried.
‘Yes. They are down there, can you see?’ Edward said.
Her heart jumped into her mouth when she saw where he was pointing. The tall navvy and his two companions were pacing the ground, quite oblivious to the people who watched them from the opposite hill. ‘So I see.’ She tried to sound indifferent.
‘I want a word with that fellow,’ Edward said.
‘I must go back,’ Dorothea said. ‘My horse is tiring and I promised Mama I would visit Nanny this afternoon.’ To Lucy, she explained, ‘Nanny is our old nurse and lives in a little cottage in the village and Mama likes to keep an eye on her to see she wants for nothing.’
‘Would you like me to come with you?’
‘No, you enjoy the rest of your ride. Victor will keep me company, won’t you, Victor?’ The young man was addressed with heavy emphasis. He looked surprised for a moment, but a meaningful look from Dorothea stopped him protesting and he chuckled and remounted. ‘Delighted, my dear.’
Before Lucy could say a word, they had ridden off and she was left with Edward.
‘Not very subtle, are they?’ he commented. ‘But no matter, we will continue our ride. You will not mind if I stop and speak to those railway people, will you? You need not speak to them yourself, or even approach if you think it will be distasteful. I shan’t be above a minute or two.’ He did not sound like a man with marriage on his mind, though he undoubtedly realised why Dorothea had inveigled Victor away.
Lucy smiled. ‘I shall not mind in the least, Mr Gorridge. With you to protect me, what have I to fear?’
He looked sharply at her, but decided to take her words at face value and began the downward descent to where the men worked.
Myles heard the horses and looked up as they approached. ‘Hey up,’ he said to Joe. ‘Here’s our friend of last night.’
‘I said we hadn’t seen the last of him,’ Masters said. ‘And he’s got the Earl of Luffenham’s daughter with him.’
‘So he has,’ Myles said, as if he had only just seen the man’s companion, though she was the one he had noticed first.
‘Good afternoon, gentlemen,’ Edward greeted them and dismounted.
‘Good afternoon. My lady.’ Myles spoke guardedly.
‘You know Lady Lucinda?’ Edward queried.
Myles saw Lucy shaking her head behind her escort. ‘No, sir, I have not had the honour of being presented.’
‘Nor will you have,’ Edward said. ‘Lucy, my dear, take no notice of him. Wait a little way off. My business will not take long.’
Lucy had no intention of being dismissed in that fashion and she resented Mr Gorridge’s condescending attitude towards her. She dismounted and stood beside her horse. He started to nibble the grass, while both she and Myles waited to see what would happen next. He was looking at Edward, but he was all too aware of Lucy. She was wearing the same elegant habit she had worn