Chapter Fourteen
Halwell strode from Alvord Castle for the second time in a state of perturbation. He mounted his horse and rode out of the castle grounds, wondering if Miss Lee were the spawn of Miss Hickstrom. Both women had managed to anger him in the same day, and he was generally very slow to anger.
He had planned to leave for London in a few days but contemplated moving his departure up to the following day—anything to put distance between himself and a countryside filled with heartache, confusion, distress and references to the supernatural.
Upon approaching the gate, he saw Phelps emerge from the gatehouse. He raised a hand in passing, but Phelps flagged him to stop.
“Lord Halwell!” Phelps said. “You look pale. Are you well? Have you been at the castle again?”
“I have. I was asked to call,” he clarified lest the estate agent thought he had forced himself upon the household once again that day.
“Yes, of course. Good day!”
“Phelps!” Halwell called out as the agent turned away.
“Yes, your lordship?”
“Do you know Miss Hickstrom?”
Phelps hesitated and seemed to think before he spoke. “I have not met her personally, but I know of her. Why do you ask?”
“I need to speak to someone about her. I need a confidant, and it cannot be my mother. May I confide in you? I know this is most irregular, but I am a man under great duress.”
“Yes, I can see that, your lordship,” Phelps said in a kindly voice. “Would you care to come in for some tea...or something stronger?”
“Yes, I would, thank you!”
The notion of returning home to his mother’s inquiries regarding his whereabouts did not appeal. She would not desist asking until he was forced to reveal he had gone to Alvord Castle. No doubt she would have already had it from one of the servants that a note from Alvord Castle had been delivered to him.
Halwell dismounted and led his horse to the gatehouse. Shaded by large trees, the gatehouse was only partially visible at the gate. He tied the horse up outside and entered the small lodging.
“Please step into the parlor,” Phelps said, leading the way to a room just off the entrance.
“This is a fine house!” Halwell exclaimed in surprise. “Very small and cozy. I should much prefer quarters such as these.”
“Would you, your lordship?”
“Yes indeed!”
Halwell studied the room, which seemed to serve as library, study and parlor. A dark-green velvet sofa and chairs centered the fireplace. Peaceful pastoral landscapes dotted the walls, and a warm green carpet covered the dark mahogany floor. Stacks of books rested on shelves and on several tables.
“Brandy?” Phelps asked, turning toward a small table holding a decanter and glasses.
“That would be lovely,” Halwell said.
Halwell seated himself on the sofa and accepted the glass Phelps offered him. The estate agent seated himself in a worn brown chair that looked remarkably comfortable. A window allowed ample light into the room.
“How can I help you, your lordship?”
Halwell could not measure his words. He told the agent everything, even his heartbreak over the loss of Mary. Phelps stopped him at that point.
“Your lordship. You do understand that Lord St. John is my closest friend and that my loyalties lie with him. You are not about to ask for my help in interceding with him, are you?”
“No, no, not at all. I know Mary loves another and is now married. While that may take some time for me to come to terms with, it is not what drives me mad at the moment. It is that woman, Miss Hickstrom. And perhaps Miss Lee. I cannot understand why Miss Hickstrom must set herself to interfering in my life. You will remember I told you that she insisted I must find the love which was before me? Miss Lee tells me that love, that person, is her, that Miss Hickstrom told her I must fall in love with Miss Lee or become ‘doomed’ to be nothing more than my mother’s son, that I will never marry if apparently not to her. Can this be a ploy on Miss Lee’s part, perhaps in concert with Miss Hickstrom? Come, man, you know I am a wealthy man! Is this what young women have resorted to in order to secure a husband these days?”
Phelps tried to speak, but Halwell warmed to his newfound suspicions.
“How could I not arrive at that conclusion earlier in the day? No, of course I could not have. Miss Hickstrom only stated that I must find the love before me. She did not name Miss Lee. Very clever, I might add. Then Miss Lee sends me a note and expands on the topic, telling me that it is she with whom I must fall in love...or else.”
“But your lordship, you stated you wrote to Miss Lee first.”
“To apologize! Nothing more. I certainly did not extend her an offer of marriage! My mother has warned me to be careful of such scheming, but I chose not to listen to her. She is proven correct!”
“Oh, no, your lordship. I think you are misinterpreting. There are things about Miss Lee that you cannot possibly know. She is not here willingly.”
“How so?” Halwell snapped.
“I...I am not able to say, but please believe me when I say that she is no scheming miss indeed. I have no experience with such, but I can assure you that she is no more desirous of marriage than you.”
The agent’s words struck a blow to Halwell’s chest. He coughed, as if he could somehow loosen the discomfort.
“Well, of course,” he muttered. “Naturally.” He looked at Phelps. “Truly?”
“Yes, your lordship. I heard Miss Lee say so herself. She wishes to return home.”
“Home? To America?”
Phelps raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I believe so.”
“How very odd! And she said she wished to return to America before today?”
“Yes?”
Halwell could not fail to hear the agent’s unspoken question.
“It is simply that I hope I am not instrumental in her desire to leave England.”
“How would that be, your lordship?”
“I fear that I angered her a short while ago—though I am not particularly certain how—but if you say she already wished to leave, then I can feel confident that I am not the reason she wishes to...leave.” He stopped. “I fear my tongue is twisted, or has become twisted. My thoughts as well.”
“Yes, you do seem distressed, sir.”
“Indeed.”
“By...”
“Women!” Halwell exclaimed.
“I see.”
“Not the least of which will be my mother when I return to Alton House. You do have such a cozy setup here.”
“Yes, I am fortunate.”
Halwell sipped his brandy. “If I may disclose one other very odd comment by Miss Lee...” He paused.
“Yes, your lordship?”
“Miss Lee called Miss Hickstrom a fairy godmother.” Halwell allowed himself a small smile at the absurdity of his words.
Phelps did not laugh. He did not even smile.
“How unusual,” he said blandly.
“Well, certainly it was an unusual comment. Why would she call Miss Hickstrom such?”
“I cannot say, your lordship.”
“Do you imagine such a term is common in America when referring to a lady of indeterminate age?”
“I should not think so. I do not see a correlation with age.”
“Then why would Miss Lee call her such?”
“Did you ask Miss Lee?”
“I did not. I believe at that point Miss Lee was already angry.”
“Perhaps I missed your explanation as to why Miss Lee was angry with you, sir?”
“I am not able to say. I remember that I told her that I could not possibly transfer my affections to her, as I had given my heart to...” He paused.
“Lady St. John.”
“Yes. Forgive me for the awkwardness. I told Miss Lee that a gentleman cannot love one woman one moment and then another in the next moment. Something to that effect. The conversation was a difficult one for me.”
“I can only imagine. You told Miss Lee then that you could not fall in love with her?”
“I hope I did not say so in such plain terms, Phelps!”
“Forgive my impertinence. That is what I thought I heard you say.”
Halwell drew his brows together.
“I am certain Miss Lee understood my true meaning.”
“Which was?”
“That I could not fall in love with her...given the circumstances.”
“Ah! Yes, I do believe that is what I understood you to say as well.”
“She asked the question, ‘Am I really so awful?’ I reassured her she was not at all awful and that any number of my bachelor acquaintance would be honored to offer her his heart.”
“If I may recap, your lordship. You believe that Miss Hickstrom is attempting to coerce you into falling in love, if not marrying, Miss Lee. You believe Miss Lee may or may not have joined forces with Miss Hickstrom for that purpose, but that thwarted from her goal—marriage with you, presumably—Miss Lee is now angry with you. Have I accurately represented your concerns?”
Halwell pursed his lips. “I cannot like the way it sounds when repeated back to me, but I do believe the facts remain. Miss Hickstrom has cursed me—or attempted some such nonsense—and Miss Lee is angry with me. My mother will discover from the servants that I came to Alvord Castle in response to a note, and she will harangue me to no end until I disclose my mission. Lady St. John is happily wed.”
“Goodness!” Phelps said. “It is too much for one man to bear.”
Halwell finally smiled. “Perhaps a bit much, but London beckons. I mean to remove myself from this place, from all women until the dust settles, as it were.”
“I understand,” Phelps said. “Perhaps that is for the best.”
“You say Miss Lee is returning to America? When?”
“I do not know, sir. Soon, I believe, if you intend to leave for London.”
“Why would she leave sooner if I go to London? Ah! You agree with me then! This has all been a plot to ensnare me!”
“No. I spoke out of turn, your lordship. I do not know when Miss Lee will leave, nor do I believe she was ever set on ‘ensnaring’ you.”
“But you do believe that if I leave the area, she will leave.”
“I think I can no longer speak on this with any relevance. I simply cannot say.”
Halwell rose. “Thank you, Phelps, for listening to my improbable tale of fairy godmothers and curses. I did not feel I could take this information to Alton House, nor did I wish to keep my own counsel. I thought I must go mad!”
Phelps joined Halwell at the door. “You are welcome, your lordship.”
Phelps pulled open the door, and on the other side stood Miss Lee, her hand raised as if to knock.
“You!” she exclaimed, her expression severe.
“You!” Halwell exclaimed. “Who accompanies you, Miss Lee?” He looked beyond her and saw that she was alone. “You cannot mean to call upon Mr. Phelps without another lady present, can you?”
Phelps ushered Halwell out the door and closed it behind him.
“I am certain Miss Lee has been sent to fetch me to the house on Lord St. John’s behalf. Is that not so, Miss Lee?”
“No! I came to see you myself. I needed to talk!”
“That is impossible! Quite extraordinary,” Halwell insisted. “That is not how things are done here in England, Miss Lee. Tell her, Phelps!”
“This is none of your business, Lord Halwell. Are you still here?” Miss Lee retorted, with her arms crossed in the most belligerent fashion.
“I am not!” Halwell said. “I am leaving. I am leaving this castle. I am leaving Hertfordshire. Good day, Miss Lee. I wish you well. Safe travels. Goodbye!”
Halwell turned, snatched up the reins of his horse, mounted and trotted away without a backward glance.