Esther’s eyes swam with unshed tears. ‘I know, and I’m trying to keep the worst from them. As if it isn’t bad enough to lose the husband and father that we love, it seems inevitable that we will lose our home as well.’
‘Surely it can’t be that bad, Mama?’ Caroline said dazedly. ‘We’ve always been well off.’
‘What happened to the fortune that you brought home from the goldfields in Australia?’ Sadie asked, frowning. ‘You must still have your investments, and the business seemed to be going well.’
‘That’s all you know.’ Esther’s full lips tightened into a pencil-thin line. ‘Jack did his best to keep it from us, and I’ve only just discovered the true state of affairs. My brother must have known that the business was in a bad way when he sailed off for the Americas, but he didn’t think to confide in me. It was only when I went to the office and demanded to see the books that I discovered the parlous state of our finances. George should have said something before he went away.’
‘That’s not fair, Essie,’ Sadie protested angrily. ‘George was only doing his job. When he’s offloaded the cargo he’ll find another one to bring home, doubling the profit. You know as well as I do that that’s how it goes in business.’
Esther held up her hand, tears seeping between her closed eyelids. ‘Please, that’s enough. I don’t want to hear any more. Just leave me alone. My head is pounding.’
Caroline sat back in her seat, staring out of the window at the sun-drenched fields and hedgerows as they flashed past. Dog roses, buttercups and dandelions made bright splashes of colour against the dark green of hawthorn leaves and the pale gold of ripening cornfields. Cows grazed on patches of grass beneath shady trees and woolly white sheep clustered together on the hillsides. It was all so serene and peaceful, but Caroline had a feeling that they were heading for trouble at home, and without the solid backing of her father the future loomed before her engraved with a huge question mark.
The house in Finsbury Circus was an impressive five-storey building fronted with iron railings and a columned portico. The servants, who had been allowed to attend the funeral, had gone on ahead to ensure that everything was ready for the mourners when they arrived home. A liveried footman hurried down the steps to open the carriage door, and Ingram, the butler, stood in the doorway, waiting to usher the family and friends into the vast cathedral-like entrance hall.
Caroline drew Max aside. ‘Take Jimmy to the schoolroom and I’ll send up some food. This is going to be deadly dull.’
Max nodded. ‘Thanks, Carrie. I’m starving, so don’t forget.’ He turned to his brother and whispered something in Jimmy’s ear that brought a smile to his sad eyes.
Caroline watched her brothers take the stairs two at a time. They were young and resilient, and would have to return to Rugby School very soon, where they would continue their education, but it was Mama who concerned her the most. At the moment Esther appeared pale but calm, and in control of her emotions as she greeted her guests. Caroline and Sadie stood at her side, acknowledging the hesitant commiserations, awkward silences and set smiles as friends and acquaintances filed past. Housemaids relieved the visitors of hats, parasols and tightly furled umbrellas, while Ingram directed them to the Chinese Room where refreshments had been laid out on sparkling-white tablecloths. Caroline had checked everything before they left for Brookwood, and she had personally supervised the flower arrangements, refusing to stick to the convention of funereal white lilies by the addition of bowls spilling over with tea roses and honeysuckle from the garden. She drew one of the maids aside and gave her instructions to take two generous plates of food upstairs to the schoolroom. Satisfied that her brothers would be looked after, Caroline went to join her mother and Sadie.
‘It will soon be over,’ Sadie said in a whisper.
‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ Esther answered in an undertone. ‘Reality will set in, but I’m not sure how I can face life without Jack.’
Caroline squeezed her mother’s cold hand. ‘We’ll help you, Mama. There’s nothing so bad that we can’t overcome it if we’re together.’
Esther’s lips quivered into a semblance of a smile. ‘Thank you, darling girl. I know I can rely on you.’ She looked up at the sound of hurrying footsteps and her smile broadened. ‘Alice, you came.’
Caroline turned to see Lady Alice Bearwood, dressed in the latest Paris fashion. Her pert bonnet was decorated with silk roses and satin bows, and the frilled skirts of her gown were drawn back into a large bustle. She exuded an aroma of expensive French perfume as she embraced Caroline before turning to give Esther a hug.
‘My dear Essie, I am so sorry I wasn’t able to attend the funeral, but I had to support Bearwood, and I must say he addressed the House in the most impressive manner.’ She held Esther at arm’s length, gazing into her face. ‘Can you forgive me?’
‘Of course. I understand how important Sir Henry is now.’
Despite her mother’s brave smile, Caroline knew that she was close to breaking point, and she squeezed her hand. ‘It’s been a difficult day, Aunt Alice.’
‘I know, and I would have attended the funeral had I been able. Your father was a good man and will be much missed.’
Caroline looked over her shoulder, frowning. ‘Is Cordelia with you, Aunt?’
‘No, I’m afraid not. She was at a ball last evening and she was still in bed when I left. I didn’t want to disturb her beauty sleep.’ Alice smiled and shook her head. ‘The season is quite exhausting, and Cordelia is much in demand.’
‘Essie, you should rest now.’ Sadie stepped forward, acknowledging Alice with a curt nod of her head. ‘It’s been a trying morning, Lady Alice.’
Esther opened her mouth to reply, but Alice slipped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. ‘Nonsense, Sadie. Essie will survive this terrible blow, but what she really needs is company and something to take her mind off things.’
‘Thank you, Alice, but I’m quite capable of speaking up for myself. I will do my duty. These people have come to pay their respects to Jack and I owe it to them to show my gratitude. It must be done.’ Esther started towards the Chinese Room, pausing to look over her shoulder. ‘I’m afraid I can’t face taking the boys back to school, Carrie. You will have to travel to Rugby with them.’
‘I will, Mama. We’ll leave first thing in the morning.’
‘I’d like you to go with her, Sadie,’ Esther said firmly. ‘They have only a short time before the term ends, and maybe you could persuade the headmaster to allow them to return home with you. I could simply keep them away, but that would be bad form.’ She continued across the hall to join the rest of the mourners with Alice at her side.
Caroline stopped outside the Chinese Room, barring Sadie’s way. ‘Just one thing, Aunt. I don’t think we should wear black tomorrow.’
‘Why ever not? It’s the custom, Carrie. We must observe the niceties.’
‘Well, I wasn’t suggesting you should wear your beloved red boots,’ Caroline said, chuckling. ‘I remember how you used to sport them on every occasion possible.’
Sadie pursed her lips. ‘I was younger then. I wouldn’t dream of doing such a thing now.’
‘You were more fun then, Aunt. Anyway, that’s not what I’m saying. I just think it’s hard enough for the boys without us looking like a pair of carrion crows. I’ll wear my grey poplin, and you have a pretty lavender silk, if I remember rightly. We can change back into mourning when we return home.’
‘I think you’re right, Carrie,’ Sadie said slowly. ‘Lavender silk it shall be. Now we’d better go and support your poor mother. She’s being very brave, but I’m afraid she might find it all too much.’
Next day at Rugby School, the headmaster’s study smelled of old books, beeswax