“I think I’d better let you go back to the house. I can find my own way from here,” I said to Terrence and Eliza who were watching with expressions both pained and embarrassed. “I had tried to avoid meeting the family in this disheveled state. I’d prefer not to come face-to-face with Alderman Hannan himself, so if you don’t mind…”
And without waiting any longer I took my leave.
Nine
As I approached our cottage a procession was coming down the drive—a cart piled high with boxes, valises, and baskets—followed by an open carriage full of male and female servants. An automobile was sitting outside the front door. It appeared that the family had arrived in force.
Daniel had been sitting in the bay window and jumped up as I opened the front door.
“Where have you been? You’ve been gone for hours. I’ve been worried about you.”
“I’m sorry. I thought you’d be sleeping. I was on the seashore and then I met some family members and joined in a search for two little boys, whom I found hiding in a tree.”
“Such adventures,” Daniel said. “I’m sorry I missed them. So these boys—they were the alderman’s grandsons?”
“They were. Thomas and Alex. Nice little chaps from what I could see. Their mama was most distressed.”
“Well, she would be, wouldn’t she? If she’d already lost one child over that cliff. So did you meet the alderman too?”
“No, thank heavens. I wouldn’t have made too good a first impression with my skirt in this state, would I?”
“You’re soaked. What have you been doing to yourself?” he demanded.
“Only got a little wet while I was wading in the ocean. Nothing serious,” I said. “So stop scowling like that. I’d better get to work right away sponging out the salt water or it will leave a mark.”
Daniel shook his head. “Who else’s new bride would spend her first day on a great estate getting herself half drowned in the ocean?”
“It was nothing like half drowned. I was looking into a tide pool and I was caught unawares by a particularly big wave.” In his current state of agitation I thought it wiser not to let him know that I had allowed myself to be cut off by the tide.
“Now that you’re back, I’d like some hot tea,” he said. “And could we maybe light a fire? This place is cold and damp. I’m shivering.”
“It doesn’t feel that cold to me,” I said, going over to feel his forehead. He actually felt quite warm to my touch. “But I’ll light a fire if you like. There is a log basket all ready and we’ll have a nice cozy evening.”
Half an hour later we were sitting by a crackling blaze with hot tea and toast. I looked across at Daniel and the thought struck me—this is what I have to look forward to—cozy afternoons doing nothing in particular, just enjoying each other’s company. It was a pleasant prospect.
“So I told you that I met some of the family, Daniel,” I began brightly, because I wanted to cheer him up.
“Did you?” he asked without great enthusiasm.
“I did. The alderman’s daughter, Irene—very lovely and dressed in the height of fashion, and her equally suave and dashing and upper-crust husband, Archie. I also met their cousins Terrence and Eliza, who are Joseph’s children. Terrence is a likable rogue, I suspect. Typical Irish gift of the gab with an aversion to work, and his sister is quite the opposite—looks like a Salvation Army lass and does good works. So does their mother, I understand, which might explain why she’s not here.”
“And why Joseph brings a younger diversion with him.” Daniel chuckled. The chuckle turned to a hacking cough. I looked at him with concern.
“That cough sounds terrible. You really have caught a bad chill.”
“And I always pride myself on my strong constitution.” He put his handkerchief up to his mouth as he coughed again.
I got up. “I’ll go up to the big house and see if they have a chicken or stewing beef,” I said. “You need a good strong broth,” I said.
“Don’t bother. I’m sure I’ll be right as rain in a day or so,” Daniel said. “It’s just a question of letting these things work their way through the system.”
“Nonsense. I want you back to your normal self as quickly as possible,” I said. “I’m missing out on my honeymoon. It’s no fun without my husband to share it with me.”
“It’s almost dark. Go carefully then,” he called after me.
The temperature had dropped with the sunset and I grabbed a shawl for my shoulders before I set out across the lawns. Lights were now twinkling from the big house, making it no longer so intimidating. Nevertheless, I had no wish to encounter the alderman or any of the family members again without Daniel present so I veered around the side of the house, looking for a servants’ entrance. As I made my way past the fountain, I heard the click of a lock and turned to see someone coming out of one of the French windows that ran along that side of the house. In the half darkness all I saw was a tall slim shadow of a man. He hesitated, looked around, then strode purposefully away from the house and into the darkness. Terrence slipping out for a drink before dinner at a local watering hole, I thought.