here!’ he said at last, clearly puzzled. ‘I do not like to criticise, Sarah, my dear, but I do not feel it is at all the way for a young lady to go on! Why, like as not you will find yourself with your reputation in tatters! I do feel you should show a little more concern!’
Sarah dropped a meek curtsy. ‘I am persuaded that you are correct, cousin Ralph! Mama always said that I had no decorum! I am so very sorry if I have shocked you!’
Now it was Sir Ralph’s turn to appear lost for words. ‘I do not expect that you will be staying long…’ he said hopefully.
‘Oh, no!’ Sarah agreed with a blithe smile. ‘It is simply that Frank asked me to conduct a little business in the neighbourhood, but I expect that I shall be gone directly! And do not worry that I will disturb you, cousin Ralph! I shall be so quiet you will scarce know I am here!’
She heard Guy laugh and smother it with a cough.
‘Well, then…’ Sir Ralph seemed a little at a loss, clearly uncertain how to deal with his unorthodox relative. ‘Well, then,’ he said again, lamely, ‘you will need rooms, I suppose, and refreshment…’ His shoulders slumped as though the thought of it was almost too much. ‘I will call Marvell. Marvell is my general factotum…’ he glanced at the clock ‘…if he is from his bed…Pray excuse me! No way to greet ladies…If you would care to wait in the drawing-room, I shall see you are served with coffee! Join you shortly…’ And he hurried off, bellowing for the servants.
‘What an odd man,’ Amelia said, casting another doubtful glance at the statues as she followed Sarah into the drawing-room, ‘but he seems quite harmless! Perhaps we shall find that the Blanchland revels have been quite overrated!’
Sarah would have liked to agree, but she had seen the wry look that had flashed between Guy and Greville, a look that said louder than any words that their troubles were only beginning.
‘It’s quite disgusting!’ Amelia said indignantly later, throwing herself down on Sarah’s bed and causing a huge dust cloud to rise into the air.
‘I know, Milly—’ Sarah sneezed and averted her eyes from the garish painting of naked nymphs cavorting in a stream that hung above the bed ‘—but you were aware of what it would be like here.’
Amelia looked blank. ‘Oh, no, I did not mean the picture! No, the dust! Everywhere! These curtains are filthy and my room cannot have been cleaned for an age! I shall speak to the housekeeper immediately after luncheon!’
‘I feel we may be fortunate to have any luncheon,’ Sarah said drily. She thought about unpacking her trunk and decided against it. There really was nowhere clean to put all her clothes. ‘I doubt that Sir Ralph’s guests will arise before this afternoon and I am not even sure that there is a housekeeper here any more! Certainly Mrs Lambert left after my brother died and I do not imagine Sir Ralph finds it easy to keep servants…’
‘He certainly does not keep any good ones!’ Amelia opined, running her finger along the dust on the bedhead. ‘Look at this, Sarah! I would have plenty to say to my servants if this was the state of my house! And as for that undrinkable coffee…’
‘It is still a beautiful place, though,’ Sarah said, a little wistfully. She was standing at the window, looking out across the rolling Somerset hills. Beyond the ring of woodland, the fields tumbled away towards the village and beyond. It gave one the impression of standing on top of the world.
‘Yes,’ Amelia said, her tone softening, ‘it is indeed a lovely house and it is a crime that it should have been allowed to become so neglected.’ She brightened. ‘I was wondering what I should do with myself whilst you were about your mysterious quest, my love! Well, now I have my answer! I shall bring order and cleanliness to Blanchland!’
Sarah raised a mental eyebrow at the thought of Amelia sweeping through the house like a new broom. She rather thought that Sir Ralph would be terrified at the prospect.
‘You will tell me what all this mystery is about once it is resolved, will you not?’ Amelia asked, a little plaintively, tracing the pattern on the bedspread. ‘I know it is a personal matter, but I do so dislike secrets!’
‘Of course!’ Sarah touched her cousin’s hand. ‘I am sorry to be so secretive, Milly—it is only the fact that the tale is not really mine to tell that holds me back!’
‘Sir Ralph did not seem very curious,’ Amelia observed thoughtfully. ‘I am surprised he did not press you more on the reasons for your presence here!’
‘I think he was too embarrassed,’ Sarah said, with a giggle. ‘Poor Ralph, I believe he thinks we will put a blight on his revels!’
‘Well, we may try!’ Amelia got to her feet. ‘Sarah, I have been thinking about Lord Renshaw’s purpose in accompanying us. I know that you said that the Earl decreed it, but are you sure that it is not also because Guy wishes to be near you? It seems to me that his lordship is intent on pursuit—of one description or another!’
Sarah knew that a telltale blush burned her cheek. She was not sure whether it would be worse to tell Amelia the truth about Guy’s proposal or distract her by sharing what she had overheard the previous night. But that would involve too many explanations; besides, she knew that Amelia’s real interest lay in the romantic aspect of the case.
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