Talk of the Ton - Mary Nichols Mills & Boon Historical

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always been understood.’

      ‘Would it not be better to forgo the come-out and let me earn a living?’

      ‘Good heavens, no! Whatever made you think that? It would not look well at all, especially for your uncle. He would not have it said he was too close to look after his sister’s children.’ She paused suddenly, a small frown creasing her brow. ‘Has Toby been filling your head with nonsense about working for a living?’

      ‘No, not at all, Toby’s not like that. He has always behaved properly. But, Mama, he has to work, so does his father and all the servants and they seem content enough.’

      ‘I doubt it. And it is not the same thing at all. They were born to it, they know that is their lot in life, but you never were. I am beginning to wish I had said nothing to you…’

      Beth flung her arms about her mother. ‘Oh, Mama, we have always been able to talk to each other and I would hate it if you felt you could not tell me things.’

      Harriet kissed her daughter’s brow. ‘Then let us be thankful for what we have. And, Beth, there is no need to say anything to Livvy…’

      ‘No, of course not. Our secret.’

      Her mother left and Beth blew out the candle, but she did not fall asleep immediately. She could not stop thinking about her mother’s confession and wondering how much of a difference it would make to her life. Would she have to accept an offer of marriage simply because it came from a rich man who could maintain Beechgrove in the old way? And if she did not, did it mean that some of the servants would have to be let go? Mama had not replaced the last chambermaid who had left to be married. Would Toby have to go? Her private dream, the one in which she offered to finance his plant-hunting trip on condition he took her with him, was no more than that: a pipe dream. It made her want to cry, not only for herself but for Toby too. Would a rich husband serve the same purpose? She thumped her pillow angrily. The time had not yet come when she would stoop to that.

      The Duke, after riding round the estate with Mr Kendall, left about midday and in the afternoon the girls accompanied their mother to the dressmaker in Sudbury, their nearest town, and bespoke travelling gowns and accessories for their journey to London, which they were promised would be ready in good time.

      It was the following day before Beth was able to escape to the potting shed where she expected to find Toby at work. He was nowhere to be seen.

      She was about to turn back to the house, but changed her mind. She had come to talk to Toby about the latest developments in her life and she did not want to go back without unburdening herself to him. She set off for Orchard House, where he lived with his father on the edge of the estate.

      ‘Is Toby here?’ she asked when Mr Kendall answered the door himself. He was a well-educated man who had been estate manager since before her father died, and Beth knew her mother set great store by him, trusting him implicitly. In his turn, he worked assiduously to keep the wheels of Beechgrove turning. Beth had assumed it was an easy task, but, since her mother’s revelation, she knew he must be finding it increasingly difficult. Poor Toby would never set off on his travels unless a miracle happened. She was as sad for him as she was for herself having to go through the charade of choosing a husband.

      ‘No, Miss Elizabeth, he’s gone.’

      It was then she noticed the bleakness in his grey eyes and the downturned mouth. What had happened? ‘What do you mean, gone?’ she asked.

      ‘Left. Gone on his travels. To Calcutta.’ It was obviously not something that pleased the man who faced her.

      ‘But how could he? The day before yesterday he was saying he did not know how he was ever going to manage it. What has happened?’

      ‘Miss Elizabeth, I think you should go home.’

      ‘I will when you have told me what this is all about. How can he have packed up and gone at a moment’s notice? There are any number of things waiting to be done in the garden and glasshouse, he surely would not have left them to someone else.’

      ‘He has. Pershore’s lad has been given instructions.’

      ‘I don’t believe it. He wouldn’t go like that, certainly not without saying goodbye to me. And his instruction would have been to me. He would trust me to follow them implicitly.’

      ‘It’s all for the best,’ he said wearily.

      It was then that enlightenment dawned. Toby had been banished; it was not his choice. ‘Who sent him away?’ she demanded. ‘And why?’

      ‘Go home, Miss Elizabeth, please. It is not fitting you should be here. Put your questions to your mama.’

      What did her mother know of it? A little seed of suspicion began to grow in her mind. ‘I will. Thank you, Mr Kendall.’

      She could hardly wait to see her mother and dashed up to her boudoir and flung open the door. Her mother looked up from the letter she was writing to confront a daughter whose dark eyes blazed angrily. ‘Beth, what is the matter?’

      ‘Toby has gone.’

      ‘Yes, I know. He has always wanted to travel to find new plants and the opportunity arose—’

      ‘Very suddenly it seems,’ Beth interrupted her. ‘So suddenly he was not even allowed to say goodbye to me.’

      ‘It was for the best.’

      ‘That’s what Mr Kendall said. I want to know what he meant.’

      ‘Sit down, Beth, and calm yourself.’

      Beth took a deep breath and sank on to a stool close to her mother’s chair. ‘I am calm.’

      Harriet smiled. Calm her daughter certainly was not, but she was waiting for an answer and deserved one. ‘You know Toby has always said he wanted to go plant hunting?’

      ‘Of course I do, I was the one who told you that.’

      ‘Well, he has been given the opportunity to go and it was too good to miss.’

      ‘But, Mama, he’s gone without me.’

      ‘Of course he has. You did not seriously think you would be allowed to go with him, did you?’

      Beth stared at her. ‘He’s been sent away from me, hasn’t he? I wondered what you meant when you asked me if he had been filling my head with ideas about working for a living. You were afraid I might…What exactly did you think I might do, Mama? Elope with him?’

      ‘No, of course not,’ Harriet answered so swiftly that Beth knew that she had unwittingly hit the nail on the head. ‘But you must admit you have been seeing a lot of him and I believe it is because of him you are so against having a come-out…’

      ‘That has nothing to do with Toby.’

      ‘Nevertheless, a little time apart might be beneficial…’

      ‘And what did Toby say?’

      ‘He understood.’

      ‘The traitor!’

      Harriet smiled. ‘No, he was being sensible.’

      ‘Why didn’t he say goodbye to me? Did you forbid him to?’

      ‘No, that was his decision. No doubt he will write frequently to his father and Mr Kendall will give us all his news.’

      Beth’s thoughts suddenly took a sharp turn. ‘But where did the money come from? After what you said…’

      ‘Beth…’

      ‘Uncle James! The Duke of Belfont is rich enough to buy people.’ She laughed harshly, a sound that made her mother wince. ‘It was all so unnecessary. I did not need separating from Toby. There was nothing untoward going on, or likely to. I have known him since I was a tiny child and he is like a brother to me. Did you not understand that?’

      Harriett

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