‘The what?’
‘Haven’t you heard of the Wild Hunt?’ Nicky was practically shimmering with excitement, her ills and aches forgotten. ‘It is said that when the dark huntsmen come riding through the night with their hounds, everyone should hide in their homes or be swept up in the hunt.’
‘Is that what your uncle does? It sounds very tiring.’
‘No, silly, those are just tales. But Uncle Alan and his friends were known as the Wild Hunt Club because they were all very wild and excellent riders and it was said that no woman’s heart was safe around them and no man could win a race or a wager against them because they made a pact with the devil so they would always win. Not that I really believe that silly thing about the pact. That is just what people say when they are envious.’
Lily schooled her smile, a little envious herself—she knew all about the challenges of a girls’ school.
‘I am not the least bit surprised your friends at school are in love with him. I could definitely have used an older brother like him to smooth my path at the Kingston Academy for Young Ladies.’
‘Were the girls horrid to you?’
Oh, God, how did one explain such things to a child? And why was she trying to? It wasn’t like her to share her stories and to do so with a girl half her age...
‘Not horrid, really. My mother had just died, you see, and my father sent me to a school where I knew no one. I was very used to being on my own and I was just a little...well, perhaps more than a little defensive. Like a cornered cat. I even tried to run away several times.’
Perhaps this was a little too much. Nicky’s eyes were wide and compassionate, more like her mother now.
‘That sounds sad.’
‘It was, but it passed. Then I started making friends and it wasn’t so lonely any longer.’
‘I like school. I don’t know any children my age here and at school I have lots of friends who like the same things I do.’
‘Like novels with things that creak and groan and lots of swooning.’
Nicky grinned.
‘Especially novels.’
‘Shall we read some more, then?’
‘Yes, please. And could you do those funny voices? The story is so much better that way. I can almost imagine I am there...’
‘You’ll come by again tomorrow, Master Alan?’ Nanny Brisbane struggled to keep her eyes open.
‘Tomorrow,’ Alan assented and her eyelids sank on a long childish sigh and her worn hand relaxed in his.
There was nothing for it. He could stay in Keynsham for another night, pay a visit to the Hollywell solicitor and come by in the morning before he continued to Bristol. It was the very least he could do for the woman who had all but raised him and his sister and almost lost her life doing so.
Even in sleep Nanny had the face of a devout elf, caught between mischief and adulation. She should have married and had a dozen children instead of being saddled with two sad specimens of the breed. The love that would have spread easily among her potential brood had been concentrated on them and his parents whenever they chose to come out of their little scholarly world and until their deaths from putrid fever when he and Cat were young.
Cat was waiting for him in the low-ceilinged parlour, tidying up the remains of the tea she had prepared for Nanny. He waited until they left the cottage before speaking.
‘Are you certain she will be all right?’
Cat smiled and tucked her hand in his arm.
‘She is over the worst of it and one of the tenants’ wives, Mrs Mitchum, comes to tend to her every few hours.’
‘She looks so frail...’
‘She is getting old, Alan, but she is still strong. It is just this fever. Practically everyone in the region has fallen ill these past weeks, but it often passes as swiftly as it comes, sometimes as briefly as a day, and there have been very few deaths.’
‘Few... Albert was one of them, though. Were you ill as well?’
‘Grandmama and I were, at the same time. She was quick about it, but I was quite miserable for three days. Thank goodness Lily...Miss Wallace was here to help.’
‘The heiress?’ He couldn’t keep the incredulity out of his voice.
‘Why, yes. She may not be very easy-going, but she is utterly unshakeable, which is useful in a household descended into chaos.’
‘Unshakeable. I noticed that. From my meeting with her I would have guessed you would dislike her thoroughly.’
‘Well, you are not as clever as you think, Alan dear. Is it strange being back?’
‘I’m not back, Cat. A visit to Nanny Brisbane is my concession to childhood debts. That is all.’
‘Still, I thought you swore never to set foot on Rothwell territory as long as Grandmama is alive.’
‘I was never a reliable fellow; why expect me to stand by my word now?’
‘That’s not true, Alan.’
‘You’re too soft, Cat.’
She sighed.
‘I won’t be so obvious as to say you are too hard. I’m still glad you came to see Nanny. She misses you. What did you think about your meeting with Miss Wallace?’
‘Meeting isn’t quite the word I would use. The only thing I nearly met was the business end of a mace. What on earth is someone like her doing at Ravenscar and how is she Albert’s heir? This family is altogether too complicated. Is she another dreaded Rothwell? I thought they were all safely tucked away north of the wall.’
‘Goodness, no. Her mother was a distant cousin on Grandmama’s side and made what initially was a mésalliance with an impoverished young man, only to have him become one of the wealthiest men in South America. He died a year ago and now Miss Wallace has returned to England to marry... Oh, dear, I shouldn’t say anything because it is not yet announced. You mustn’t repeat that.’
‘I couldn’t be bothered to, Cat. It is no business of mine.’
‘Well, it might not happen anyway. Mr Marston is...’
‘Marston? She is to marry Philip Marston?’
‘You know him?’
‘Very well. We share ownership of several loom manufactories. This is a small world indeed. I had no idea he was contemplating marrying again, but I’m not surprised he has set his sights on an heiress. He is one of the savviest businessmen I know.’
‘I believe he is truly fond of her.’
‘Of course he is, Cat.’
She sighed.
‘You would do well to take a page from his book. Perhaps if you married, Grandmama would relent and change her will in your favour.’
‘We all know Jezebel won’t leave me a crust of bread, married or not. She and Grandfather were clear enough about that when I left.’
‘She might if you only tried to...to be conciliating and mend your ways. She has become much less rigid since Grandfather passed.’
He stopped for a moment, raising his brow, and Cat flushed.
‘Sorry. I know it is none of my concern. Well, it is, but it isn’t. But I think