‘Marriage!’
Of course. He dropped his razor and dried his face quickly. Maria Buckland had already thought of an excellent plan. It was up to him now to carry it out.
When Zelah set off for another day at Rooks Tower, the sky was a blanket of unbroken grey and a freshening wind promised rain later. Spring was refusing to give way to summer. However, the lowering weather did not affect her spirits. When she thought of what she had achieved in the library she was pleased, but when she reached the house and walked through the salon, its window shutters now folded away to allow the light to fill the elegant space, her heart swelled with pride. She was pleased to think she was playing some part in Major Coale’s rehabilitation, encouraging him to see that he need not lock himself away and live a solitary existence.
She must face up to the fact that she had grown fond of the major. Too fond. He could be overbearing and irascible, but she knew much of his ill temper sprang from the horrific injuries he had suffered, not just to his face, but to his mind. She had seen a softer side to his character and now her day was not complete unless she saw him—Zelah shook her head. Heavens, what was she thinking? She must not allow herself to become attached to Dominic Coale. It would be foolish to dwell upon his many kindnesses to her. They meant nothing, and if she should betray her feelings—she knew only too well how easily a man could succumb to temptation. It had almost destroyed her once, it must not happen again.
It was therefore a very cool and formal greeting that she gave the major when he marched into the library the following morning, before returning her attention to her work. He appeared not to notice.
‘You will leave off your interminable cataloguing, Miss Pentewan. I have another job for you.’ He strode about the room as he spoke, his hands clasped behind his back. ‘I want you to compile a list of all the families in the county. Those with the rank of gentlemen and above, naturally.’
She paused, her pen caught in mid-air.
‘A list, sir? Very well, if that is what you want...’
‘It is, and I want it complete by tomorrow. You may need to consult your sister on this.’
‘Yes, I think I shall have to do that.’
She stared at his broad back, wondering if she dare ask him why he wanted these names. He swung round, catching her glance.
‘I am going to hold a ball.’
Zelah dropped her pen.
‘A—a ball?’ She hurriedly blotted the ink that had splashed on to the ledger.
‘Yes. Now we have opened up the salon it seems a pity not to use it.’ He began to pace up and down the room. ‘My sister will be coming down to play hostess. I have already written to her. You and I will compile a list and then you will write to everyone, inviting them to attend.’
‘And...and when is this ball to be?’
‘At midsummer. Three weeks from now.’
‘Three weeks! So little time.’
‘I know, but it cannot be helped. I have asked Mrs Graddon to let me know what is required to make all the bedrooms habitable and I will be sending someone to buy what is necessary—give me a list of your requirements, pens, paper, seals and so on and they shall be fetched for you.’
‘Th-thank you,’ said Zelah, her head reeling. She listened as he explained the steps he had already taken to prepare for the event and drew a sheet of paper towards her to write down a few notes.
‘I think that is all,’ he said at last, rubbing his chin. ‘I must be off to find Phillips and ask him if Old Robin has been back yet to finish removing the moles from the south lawn.’ He strode towards the door and stopped. ‘Oh, and remember to put your own name on the list. You and your sister and brother-in-law will be my guests at dinner beforehand.’
‘Me? Oh, I do not think I could—’
He turned to glower at her. ‘You will do as you are bid, Miss Pentewan. If I am going to all this trouble, then I expect you to make a little effort, too!’
Chapter Nine
Zelah was still dazed when she returned to West Barton that evening and it was a relief to unburden herself to her sister.
‘Do you not think it odd,’ she mused, ‘that a man who so very recently lived as a recluse should suddenly take it into his head to hold a ball?’
Maria was inclined to be complacent. ‘That is the life he has been used to.’
‘But up until a few days ago he could not bear to look at himself in the mirror. He kept the salon in darkness.’
‘Yes, until you showed him how nonsensical it was. You are a beneficial influence, Zelah. Think how much he has changed since he has met you.’
‘He would have come about, even without me, but a ball! That is most unexpected.’
‘He appeared to be enjoying himself at the assembly,’ returned Maria, her eyes twinkling. ‘Perhaps someone gave him the hint.’
‘Yes, but the worst thing is, he insists that I should be there. I suppose that he feels he cannot leave me out, since you and Reginald are invited. We are all to dine there, too, beforehand. And I am to tell you, sister, that he will have a suite prepared for you and the children, because he knows you will not stay away long from Baby.’
‘Well, I consider that to be exceedingly kind, and beyond anything I was expecting.’ She cast a shrewd look at Zelah. ‘Major Coale must think very highly of you, my dear.’
‘I think he values the work I am doing.’
‘Are you sure that is all?’
‘Of course. What else should a viscount’s son think of a parson’s daughter?’ Zelah forced herself to speak lightly and she was glad to see the speculation fade from Maria’s eyes.
‘Oh well, at least this will give you the opportunity to mix in society.’
Zelah shook her head. ‘But I don’t want to mix.’
‘Well, you should. Who knows? There will be many gentlemen there, and dancing has been known to lead to greater things, like an offer of marriage.’
‘Maria, you know that is impossible.’
‘Not so,’ said Maria stoutly. ‘You have many qualities that an honest man would look for in a wife—’
‘Not if he knows of my past. Would you have me deceive an honest man?’ Zelah bit her lip and fixed her eyes upon her sister’s dismayed countenance. She said gently, ‘I should not be attending this ball at all. I am a fallen woman, Maria. If anyone should discover that—’
‘They won’t. No one outside Cardinham knows what happened to you—why, even Reginald and I don’t know the whole!’
No, thought Zelah, sadly, she had never told anyone about the man who had stolen her heart and her virtue. She thought back to that halcyon summer. She had been in love and thought herself loved in return. She stifled a sigh.
‘Well,’ she said brightly, ‘at least it will give me the opportunity to find out if anyone requires a governess.’
Two weeks before the ball, the major’s sister arrived. A handsome travelling carriage bowled up the drive and Zelah, watching from the tower room, saw a lady alight. She was elegantly attired in a travelling dress of olive green, her dark hair caught up under a stylish cap from which a number of curling ostrich feathers nodded in the breeze. Even as she shook out her skirts Dominic came striding out of the house and caught her up in his arms, swinging her around. Zelah turned back to her books. She had no right to feel jealous of the major’s lovely sister.
Down on the drive, Dominic hugged his sister. ‘It is good to see you, Sal. How was your journey?’
‘Tiresome. If only all the roads on Exmoor were as good as this last mile!’ She pushed herself free of his arms and stood looking him over. ‘Hmm, a vast improvement, Dom, I would not have recognised you. The last time I saw you was at Markham and I thought then you bore a strong resemblance to a bear. And you are no longer limping.’