‘Do not look to me for that.’ His tone made her frown and he gave an exasperated sigh. ‘However good your work has been, you must be all about in your head if you think any respectable family will consider you upon my recommendation.’
‘Then I shall find others to recommend me,’ she said stiffly. ‘I cannot afford to miss this opportunity.’
‘But you will still come to the ball.’
‘If you wish it, sir.’
‘Damnation, it has nothing to do with my wishes!’ he exclaimed wrathfully. ‘I want you to come and dance. I want you to enjoy yourself. As you did at the assembly.’
She turned an indignant glance upon Dominic. ‘You cannot order me to enjoy myself!’
‘I can, and do.’
The glinting smile in his eyes set her heart bounding in her chest as if desperate to break out. Her mouth was dry. Somehow she tore her eyes away. Somehow she found the strength to speak. ‘Absurd, Major. What an arrogant thing to say.’
When they reached West Barton he jumped down and ordered Cloud to stand. He reached up and plucked Zelah from the saddle. For one dizzy moment she was suspended in mid-air, then she slid down into his arms. Her eyes were level with his mouth and she found herself wondering what it would be like to be kissed by him, to have those firm lips gliding over her skin. Her body went hot at the thought. She pushed away from him and thrust the reins into his hand.
‘I must go. Thank you for allowing me this holiday, Major Coale. I shall work extra hard tomorrow, to make up for it. There is one final crate of books from Lydcombe that I must unpack, ancient books that might be of interest.’
She knew she was gabbling but she dare not stop, fearing a silence between them. Looking anywhere but in his face, she gave a little nod, picked up her skirts and ran into the house.
Since Reginald was still in Lesserton, Maria had not heard of Robin’s death and Zelah passed on the few details she knew. Nicky had been invited to spend the day with one of his school friends and when he returned the news had already reached him. He had been sad, of course, but, as Zelah had predicted, school and his new-found friends occupied so much of his time that he had not seemed overly disturbed and when she peeped into his bedroom before retiring for the night she was relieved to see that he was sleeping peacefully.
Zelah envied Nicky’s slumber when she eventually lay down in her own bed, for sleep eluded her. She had enjoyed her day, but riding out with Sally Hensley only served to highlight what she was giving up. But what choice was there? She could not marry any man unless he knew of her past, and what honest man would want her then?
Tossing restlessly in her bed, she glanced towards the window. There was no moonlight to disturb her sleep, but a star twinkled brightly and she remembered just how she had felt all those years ago, dishonoured, betrayed, her life in ruins. She had been fooled by one man—who was to say it couldn’t happen twice? Gazing out at the distant star, Zelah renewed her vow never to put herself in any man’s power.
Chapter Ten
Life at Rooks Tower was very different with Sally Hensley in residence. She carried Zelah off for long walks or to go riding with her and set the household by the ears with her arrangements for the forthcoming ball.
‘We really must use the orangery, now it has been painted and reglazed,’ mused Sally, as she toured the gardens with Zelah. ‘I will leave that to you, my dear.’
‘We will need lamps, then. Perhaps a few coloured ones would look pretty—I could paint some of the glass lanterns.’
‘You could? How clever you are, Zelah! We will move some of the statues in there from the house, too, and you can arrange them. And that reminds me,’ Sally continued. ‘We will need to use the tower room as a bedchamber.’
‘No!’ Zelah stopped, appalled. ‘Surely that is not necessary? It—it is far removed from the rest of the accommodation.’
‘Well, I have thought and thought about it, but we have invited so many cousins and uncles that even if we send the servants into Lesserton we will be overflowing, and I need to keep a room spare for Jasper.’
‘But I moved all the clutter from the library up there when you said we would need to open up the library,’ objected Zelah. ‘I can work up there while all the guests are in residence without being in anyone’s way.’
Sally took her arm and urged her to walk on. ‘There is one solution...’ she said thoughtfully.
‘Yes?’ Zelah looked at her eagerly.
‘We could use it as your bedroom. That would free up another bedchamber.’
‘If that is all, we could make up a truckle bed for me in Maria and Reginald’s suite.’
‘No, that will not do. I have already crammed in a bed for the children’s nurse. It will have to be the tower room.’ She laughed suddenly. ‘Do not look so downcast, Zelah. It will only be for the one night and you will not object to being surrounded by your books and ledgers, I am sure.’
‘All this effort for one night,’ exclaimed Zelah. ‘I wish to goodness I did not have to attend.’
‘Nonsense.’ Sally patted her arm. ‘It will be quite delightful. Now let us go indoors and we will decide which of the marble statues we should move to the orangery.’
With three days to go to the Rooks Tower ball it seemed that the event was all anyone could talk about. Nicky was thrilled when he was told they would all be staying at the house overnight and Maria spent hours deciding which gown she would wear. Only Zelah refused to show any enthusiasm. She declined a new gown, declaring that she would not waste her money on something she would never wear again.
It was almost impossible to think of working when everywhere was in such upheaval, but Zelah did her best. When she arrived at Rooks Tower the following day she was informed that Mrs Hensley had gone into Lesserton and would not be returning until dinnertime, so she hurried off to the tower room, determined to catch up on some of her work. The room was far more cluttered than when she had left it. The small writing desk and the remaining crate of books still stood by the window, but the rest of the furniture had been moved up to make room for an oak tester bed, one of several old beds Sally had discovered dismantled and stored in the nether regions of the house. There were no fluted footposts, no light-as-air draperies. The headboard and canopy were elaborately carved and the two supporting posts were as thick as young trees. She was thankful that the bed-hangings had long ago disappeared and when she peeped beneath the scarlet-and-gold bedcover and cotton sheets, the mattress looked to be quite new. Sally had thoughtfully provided a stepping stool and Zelah climbed up on to the bed. She gazed out through the leaded windows and felt a little frisson of excitement at the thought of waking up there and seeing the moors in the early morning light.
Another memory to be locked away.
Zelah slipped off the bed. She must not worry about the future. Her work here was as yet unfinished.
Having windows on three sides made the tower room very light, it also made it very warm with the June sun beating down. Zelah opened all the windows before setting to work, listing another set of books in the ledger. She was writing in details of the last volume when she heard a hasty step on the wooden stairs. She smiled. It was Major Coale. There was no longer any hesitation or unevenness in his step, but no one else moved about the house so quickly, or entered any room with such a burst of energy. He came in now, wearing boots and buckskins and the old jacket she had seen on him the first time they had met, his restless presence filling every corner of the room.
‘So this is where you are hiding yourself.’
‘Not hiding, sir. The library has been prepared in readiness for your guests’ arrival tomorrow. I can as easily work up here.’