it,’ Paul said thoughtfully. ‘I have been wondering if perhaps I ought not to offer her marriage—Bellingham’s girl, you know. I’m damned if I wanted her father’s estate, but perhaps I ought to offer her a home. I could only do that if I married her...’
‘I should think about it for a while if I were you,’ Adam advised. ‘You haven’t seen her yet—and she is a little young for you, is she not?’
‘You are quite right, which is why my words were mere idle speculation. No, I shall not marry unless I find the right woman...’
‘You at least do not need to look for a fortune,’ Adam said and there was the faintest trace of envy in his voice. ‘You have more than enough for any man.’
‘Yes, I have been lucky,’ Paul agreed, ‘but it was honestly earned—and I have not yet decided where to settle...’
‘You won’t return to India?’
‘I do not know.’ Paul sighed. ‘It has been my home for several years—I am not sure there is anything to keep me here. You came home to settle your affairs, Adam—shall you return after you have done so?’
‘I am in two minds,’ Adam said and his eyes stared at a point beyond Paul’s shoulder. ‘It depends on many things. Not least whether I have sufficient funds to live decently here...’
‘Surely your father has not left anything away from you? You were his only son.’
‘No, but the question is—has he actually left me anything but debts?’ Adam asked wryly. ‘I did not earn a fortune out there as you did, Paul—and, for all I know, I may be a pauper...’
‘This is so very kind of you,’ Melia cried, looking round the pretty bedroom with delight. ‘My aunt is very good to me, but, poor dear, she could hardly be expected to bring me to town. Such a delightful room...’
‘My brother was concerned that you should have the best guest room, Miss Bellingham,’ Jane said, smiling at the girl’s pleasure. ‘It is a lovely room. I have stayed here myself many times in the past.’
‘Oh, you should not have given me your room,’ Melia said. ‘I do not wish to put you out, dear Lady March.’
‘No, you have not,’ Jane said, shaking her head. ‘This was my room as a girl, but now I have a permanent suite of three rooms at the other side of the house. At least, it has been mine since...for a while now. Of course, when my brother marries I shall take a house of my own. I am thinking of making my home in Bath.’
‘You will not desert the viscount?’ Melia cried involuntarily. ‘I know he is so fond of you, relies on you for advice in almost everything.’
‘He will turn to the lady he marries once he becomes a devoted husband and I should not wish to interfere with her way of running the household.’
‘Oh, but perhaps she would rather leave it to you.’ Melia’s face was an open book. Jane held back her smile because it was obvious that the young woman had no interest in the duties of a chatelaine, but thought only of the amusement of being a bride and being spoiled by a devoted husband. ‘If his wife is young and knows little of household management. I hate dealing with servants; they are always so superior if they think you don’t know—don’t you find?’
Jane’s merriment left her and she answered seriously. ‘It is important that one does know what one wants. The first rule is to make your people respect you. It is good if they also like you—but a calm, firm manner when giving instructions is always best. You must have observed it in your aunt’s house.’
‘Oh, no,’ Melia said ingenuously. ‘Aunt is so lazy. Her butler rules the household and arranges everything as she likes it. He has been with her since she was a girl and treats her as if he were a benevolent uncle. She never seems to give orders. Benson just does everything without needing to be told.’
‘How fortunate is Mrs Bellingham to have such a devoted man in her service.’
‘She is always complaining about things, but never to Benson, of course. She might have everything as she likes if she stirred herself, but she can never be bothered and just leaves it all to him—and then she grumbles if the meals are not quite what she wanted.’
‘Well, at least you know how not to conduct your household,’ Jane said, amused by this description of the indolent Mrs Bellingham. ‘Now, my dear, I want you to settle in first and come down when you are ready. I shall order some tea in half an hour in my sitting room downstairs, but you may have a tray brought up if you wish to rest.’
‘I am not in the least tired,’ Melia declared. ‘I shall come down and join you... Do you mean that very pleasant sunny room at the back of the house?’
‘Yes, it was Mama’s until she remarried,’ Jane said. ‘Now, of course, she has a dozen pretty rooms she may choose from, and if she wants anything different she has only to ask Porky.’
‘Is that what you call the duke?’ Melia’s eyes sparkled with mischief as Jane nodded and laughed. ‘Oh, it does suit him—but it is a terrible thing to call such a lovely man. He was so kind to me when I attended the wedding as one of your mama’s bridesmaids—and he gave me a beautiful gold bracelet as a gift.’
‘Roshithe is a lovely man, and so kind to us all,’ Jane said. ‘I assure you, the name was given him years ago and stuck. He does not regard it, because he knows it is used with affection. His enemies are more likely to call him Roshithe in a supercilious manner, and that he does resent—though you should probably address him as sir, unless he gives you permission to use the name.’
‘I would not dare. I shall probably address him as Your Grace...’
‘He cannot abide that sort of toad-eating, as he calls it, Miss Bellingham. Much better just to use the simple sir.’
‘I’ll try to remember,’ Melia promised and gave Jane a small shy smile. ‘Will you not call me Melia?’
‘Yes, of course, if you wish it—and you must reciprocate. I am Jane to my family and friends.’
‘Yes, I know. Viscount Salisbury always speaks of you that way. He is very fond of you, Jane.’
‘We have always been close,’ Jane said. ‘I shall leave you to change if you wish.’
She left the bedchamber, which was indeed the prettiest in the house, its curtains pink and white striped silk, which matched the décor of pinks, cream and a deep crimson. Jane had ordered some pink roses to be placed on the dressing stand to complete the welcome offered to a lady who might, if she chose, become the next mistress here.
It would mean a big change in Jane’s life, she thought as she made her way down to the sitting room she favoured. She would miss playing hostess for her brother and it would be an upheaval making the move to Bath, but she intended to make way for her brother’s wife, despite Melia’s hints that she would be welcome to stay on to run the house for her. No, that would eventually lead to resentment and perhaps unkind words between them; Melia might need help at first but once she found her own confidence she would not wish for another woman in her home.
Jane
