A Traitor's Tears by Fiona Buckley

Author:Fiona Buckley [Fiona Buckley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2013-10-15T16:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

Terror by Night

Wyse did not linger after that. I accompanied him into the courtyard to see him off and before he mounted his horse, he bowed over my hand and urged me to think over his proposal. He hoped with all his heart that I would change my mind. Might he visit me again before too long?

I said, as politely as I could, that there would be no point; that my decision would not alter. ‘Either about remarriage, or about Brockley,’ I said. ‘He is innocent, and I do believe that I shall soon be able to prove it. Please don’t go about smearing his name.’

‘I wouldn’t dream of such a thing. It would offend you – and I still have hopes.’ said Wyse. He then gave a gratuity to Simon, who had saddled the horse – a good-sized gratuity, judging by Simon’s widened eyes and appreciative thanks – and took his leave with dignity.

I, however, was trembling as I went back indoors. In the East Room, I found Sybil, Gladys and the Brockleys all waiting for me. Sybil had presumably collected the others. They looked at me with anxiously questioning eyes – except for Gladys, who said candidly: ‘What did that man want? I don’t like him. He smells wrong. I’d curse him if you’d let me.’

‘Don’t talk like that, Gladys. Sit down, everyone.’ I sat down myself, thankful to do so because I felt so shaken. ‘He came to propose marriage to me.’

There was a silence. Until, once more, Gladys took it upon herself to comment. ‘That one? Asked you to wed with him, did he? There’s impertinence for you!’

‘No impertinence,’ I said. ‘It was an honourable offer, made in a perfectly respectable way. He told me he had good health, a good position, hope of advancement, and was willing to lift all burdens off my shoulders, be a father to Harry and provide him with brothers and sisters.’

‘But what did you say?’ cried Dale, while Sybil’s compressed features seemed to buckle further still, as if she were about to weep.

‘I said no, of course,’ I told them. ‘What else? If I were to marry Roland Wyse, he’d take us all in charge, as if he’d arrested the entire household. I know he would. He’s pushy among his colleagues at court and I expect he’s the same in private life. He would decide everything. He would call Withysham and Hawkswood his. He would buy land – or sell it – without reference to me. After Hugh, how could you possibly think I would marry Roland Wyse?’

‘It would be pleasant, ma’am, if you did marry again, a good man, and have more children,’ said Dale. ‘But somehow … not Mr Wyse.’

I smiled at her. I knew, because Dale had told me, that when she and Brockley were first married, they had wondered if they would have any children. It was still a reasonable hope at that time. I also knew that when they realized that it was no longer even remotely possible, they had decided that they were content without.

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