Heirs of Deceits by Elizabeth Reinach

Author:Elizabeth Reinach [Reinach, Elizabeth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781984589859
Publisher: Xlibris UK
Published: 2019-05-30T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 4

Love Tangles

Lady Anne Stanley was alone. Lady Anne Acton had been alone. Married, she rarely saw her husband. She did not want his company. She had no friends. Sir Gilbert wanted her to visit and receive visitors, like other married ladies. She sent out cards and arranged tea dates, but these were not a success. The hostess sat almost mute and plucked threads in her dress, and if she was spoken to, tears came in her eyes. Her lady guests were embarrassed and ceased to return the invitations.

‘Is she shy?’ they asked each other. ‘Is she simple minded?’

‘She is a lord’s daughter. Surely she was instructed properly.’ So went the conversation at future tea gatherings, to which Anne Stanley was not asked.

As a lonely child, with only imaginary friends for company, Lady Anne Acton had found salvation in the broom cupboards where she met the servant, Henry. She dreamed of him, of the animals on his grandfather’s farm, of his caresses and his sex. He had been her saviour and was now banished. Sir Gilbert Stanley was not Henry, not her chosen lover; neither was he a young man she could feel near to.

Jane the servant girl was also alone and without much to occupy her mind or body. Her little sister, Sarah Ann, had started to annoy her with her puzzles and conundrums. The other two maids did not like her. Mary was jealous of her privileges, and Susan followed her sister’s lead.

Jane had little to do, but she was trapped on the first floor. She arranged the flowers and put back the ornaments when Sarah Ann had polished them.

In her vacant time, her mind reverted to her past, her life in the workhouse and her brother’s death, and her deep depression that followed his lonely burial. Her friend and sympathiser had been Henry Stanley, who had taught her to read. Henry had said you always had friends if you can read books, but Jane was not a great reader. She preferred to see Henry as a knight errant, a romantic figure fashioned for her.

Jane’s eyes followed Henry when he came up to the first floor and went to the library.

Anne made sure she was not fully dressed when Henry came up with her pitcher. Her eyes also followed him round the first floor.

Had Henry noticed this female attention? Yes. He played a waiting game, hoping for the biggest prize.

Sir Gilbert had seen the women ogle Henry. Surprisingly, he favoured the wife rather than the maid.

During the boring sessions he had to attend in Parliament, he thought about this conundrum.

Henry was his son. Jane was his daughter. They did not know this, but they could not wed. Anyway, he admired Henry. He did not like his involvement with this insipid girl, Jane.

Anne, of course, was his wife, but she was tedious, nothing but trouble. He had not had, or wanted, the time or energy to get her pregnant.

If she preferred Henry, his son could get her pregnant. The child would be his grandson.

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