collected.’ He took a turn about the room. ‘Besides, I do not wish to have a stranger in my house. No, madam, I want the library organised and all the books catalogued during the next few months. I see no reason why you could not walk over there every day and continue to live with your brother and sister.’
‘I—I am not sure …’
He waved an impatient hand.
‘You need fear no impropriety. Mrs Graddon and the housemaids will be present and I spend most of my time out of doors. I am willing to pay you a total of fifty guineas for the work: twenty-five when you begin, and the rest once the library is complete. It should not take too long, two months, perhaps three at the most.’
‘Then the remuneration you offer is far too generous.’
He shrugged. ‘I want it to be done, and soon. The cost is not important.’
Zelah shook her head, trying to think clearly. In the space of a few minutes her spirits had experienced ecstatic heights, deep despair and a fury of indignation, and all for nothing. He was offering her nothing more or less than a job of work.
The major picked up his hat.
‘Perhaps you would like to consider it. Talk it over with your sister.’
‘No,’ she answered him quickly. ‘No, I have made my decision.’
If she discussed this with Maria or Reginald they might well try to dissuade her, but here was an opportunity to earn her keep, albeit for a short time, and remain with her family. She squared her shoulders, raised her head and met his gaze.
‘I accept your offer, Major Coale.’
For a long, breath-stopping moment his eyes searched her face, then he smiled and she found herself responding, until he looked away from her.
‘Thank you, that is excellent news,’ he said crisply. ‘I see no reason for delay. Report to Rooks Tower on Monday morning!’
‘My dear sister, have you lost your wits?’
Zelah gazed up at her brother-in-law, a laugh hovering on her lips. ‘Why should you think that? I have merely accepted a very lucrative engagement.’
She had kept the news of the major’s proposal until they were sitting together in the drawing room after dinner. She had hoped that a good meal would put Reginald in a more mellow mood, but her announcement was still met with a mixture of indignation and amazement.
‘You cannot accept,’ declared Maria. ‘It would be most improper.’
‘But I have accepted and there will be nothing improper about the arrangement. Major Coale has already informed me that he spends his days out of doors.’
‘For an unmarried lady to be alone in his house—’
‘I shall not be alone, Reginald, I shall be surrounded by servants. Besides, who will know of it?’
‘The whole of Lesserton by the end of the week,’ replied Reginald drily.
‘But it is a job of work. I shall continue to advertise for a position as a governess, but until then it will give me a measure of independence, and if the task takes only three months then I should be able to save a good proportion of my money against hard times.’ Zelah looked at her sister, begging her to understand. ‘I have been here long enough, Maria. I told you when I came I would not be your pensioner. Major Coale has promised to give me half my fee in advance. I intend to give some of it to you, to pay Nicky’s school fees.’
‘But there is no need of that, Reginald and I have already agreed—’
‘To sell the seven-acre field, I know.’ Zelah interrupted her. ‘I would much rather you took my money.’
‘Never,’ cried Maria, pulling out her handkerchief. ‘I would not dream of taking your wages—’
Reginald held up his hand.
‘I think Zelah has a point,’ he said slowly. ‘To sell off the field would mean less return at harvest. If we keep it, we may well be able to repay your sister by the end of the year.’
Maria did not look convinced. She reached across and took Zelah’s hands.
‘Oh, my dear, for any young lady to take such a position, in the house of a man like Major Coale, would be to risk her reputation, but in your case—’
‘In my case I have no reputation to risk.’
An uncomfortable silence followed Zelah’s bald statement. She withdrew her hands from her sister’s grasp and rose.
‘I made up my mind when I left Cardinham that I would support myself. I have caused my family enough sorrow and will not compound my guilt by allowing you to keep me.’
‘But you might marry—’
‘You know I have set my mind against marriage.’
‘Oh, sister, pray do not say that—’
Reginald put up his hand to silence his wife’s protest.
‘My dear, Zelah is right,’ he said heavily. ‘Any man who formed an attachment would have to be told of her … unfortunate past.’
Zelah winced.
‘But if a man truly loved her—’ cried Maria, looking beseechingly at her husband.
Zelah shook her head.
‘Of all the requirements a man may have when looking for a wife three things are paramount: good birth, good fortune and a spotless character. I am afraid I have only the first of those requirements. So you see, it is much better that I should learn to make my own way in the world.’ She smiled at them, knowing tears were not far away. ‘If you will only allow me to continue living here while I work at Rooks Tower, then I shall consider myself truly blessed.’
‘Of course you may.’ Reginald came forwards to kiss her cheek. ‘We could not countenance you living anywhere else.’
‘Good day to you, Miss Pentewan. The master said you was coming. I am to show you to the library.’
Despite having told herself that she did not expect the major to be at Rooks Tower to greet her, Zelah was disappointed. She followed the housekeeper through the hall, heading away from the main staircase and towards a pair of ornate double doors. Zelah expected to pass through into a grand reception chamber, but she was surprised to find herself enveloped in shadows. When her eyes grew accustomed to the gloom she could see that it was indeed a large room with a magnificent marble fireplace and intricate linenfold panelling on the walls, but each of the long windows was shuttered to within a few inches of the top, allowing in only enough light to see one’s way between the furniture.
‘The master instructed that these shutters should remain closed,’ explained the housekeeper. ‘This is the yellow salon and everything here is just as it was when Major Coale bought it, but he never uses it. One soon gets used to walking through the gloom.’ There was a tiny note of regret in the older woman’s voice. She had reached the far end of the room and
