The Heir's Proposal Read online

  She drew in a sharp breath. “If you and Diana married, she would move in here. She’s perfectly capable of managing things. She could take the train to work,” she said, warming to her theme, even though she very much doubted Diana would like to live here.

  “Diana was a childhood infatuation. A brief one which she never shared.” He frowned. “I need you, Addie. Langley’s future depends upon it.”

  The estate depends on it? But did he? When she met his compelling sapphire-blue gaze, it was a sense of obligation and not love she found there. And she would never condemn him to that.

  “No, Bryce. I have plans.”

  “What are these plans? Am I to be privy to them?”

  “When I’m sure of them.” Or when Diana agreed to employ her. “As soon as I’m settled, I shall tell you.”

  The drone of an airplane brought them to the window.

  “It looks so small and fragile,” Addie said peering up into the pale blue sky. “I can’t imagine taking to the air in one. Where is it going to do you think?”

  “Returning rather. It would have been dropping messages in weighted bags. Information on troop movements. They dropped streamers during the Battle of Marne.”

  “How brave they are.” Addie watched the plane fly out of sight.

  “So many are brave, Addie.”

  “And many die,” she said with a catch in her voice.

  “Yes,” he said heavily.

  “I heard Baron Melcombe lost his only son on his first day in battle.”

  Bryce’s eyes became shadowed. “You hear far too many awful tales like that.”

  “All the men I knew growing up who competed with me at equestrian events and danced with me at balls, have signed up,” she said. “I pray they’ll return safely.”

  Bryce bowed his head. “Amen.”

  “Would you like another of Cook’s scones? She’s sweetened them with raisins,” she said with a brittle smile.

  “Don’t mind if I do.” He patted the dog’s head. “Goldie would like a bit, wouldn’t you, girl?”

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Watching Addie as she bustled about with the tea things, he thought her much changed. She’d lost that kittenish quality, the dark clothes lending her an unusual gravitas. He had hoped to find her a little more cheerful, putting the loss of her father behind her and getting on with life, and while she appeared to be making plans, she was struggling. He wanted to reach out and hug her but thought better of it. She was stiffly resistant to any mention of their marriage. He guessed the publishing business was very appealing to her. And why shouldn’t she work there if she wished?

  “You might go by train to work,” Bryce said.

  Her eyes widened. “You would agree to that?”

  “Yes of course. Might be better to wait until I return, though.”

  She shook her head. “No. I don’t want to be here while you are away.”

  “You don’t want to be here while I’m away,” he repeated slowly. “Or you are dead set against marrying me.”

  “Both,” Addie said and turned her head away.

  He had promised her father to take care of her and he would honor that promise. Encouraged that she had met no one else, it had been his intention to win her over, and set his plans in action before he left England. But Addie, as if reading his thoughts, had thrown up several objections about why they shouldn’t marry, some of them patently ridiculous, like him wanting Diana of all things. Was it she just didn’t love him? He never doubted her fondness for him, but would that be enough?

  “Our marriage makes perfect sense. As my wife, you can keep Langley as your home. Our children will grow up here, and our son, should we be blessed with one, will inherit.”

  Addie’s eyes darkened. “All this talk of marriage is because of the respect you held for my father. We both know he wished it. But really, I will be perfectly all right. Let’s accept that it won’t happen and get on with our lives.”

  Annoyed with himself, Bryce realized his attempt to woo her had been clumsy. While he planned to couch it in romantic terms with Addie, flamboyant declarations of love seemed unwelcome and out of place.

  Might she prefer to leave Langley? To put the sad memories behind her and tackle something new? “I’m confident you will grab life by the horns, Addie, but,” he reached for her small hand and enfolded it in his, his thumb stroking the delicate skin of her wrist. She was a small girl, but with such a big spirit. He despaired at the thought of losing her from his life. “Must I get down on one knee?”

  Addie gazed at him, her eyes wide. She giggled. “Oh no! Don’t, please, Bryce.”

  He gathered what dignity he had left and abandoned his chair at the tea table, somewhat ruffled by her amusement. He was a diplomat, said to have a measure of eloquence. Why did he always struggle with words around Addie?

  Addie was instantly on her feet, contrite. “I didn’t mean to laugh. You are a wonderful person, Bryce, and I adore you. But love? Ours is not the right sort of love. You know that’s true, don’t you?” Her brown eyes deepened as they sought his. “Be honest.”

  “No, dammit. I don’t know it. There’s no one else on earth I’d rather marry. Why won’t you believe me?”

  “Because I want passion in my marriage.”

  “Our relationship can be passionate. If you gave it a chance.”

  She raised her delicate dark eyebrows. “It was passion you felt for Diana when you kissed her, wasn’t it?”

  “I kissed Diana. Good grief, that was years ago!” Bryce huffed, exasperated. He hadn’t known that Addie had seen their kiss. “How many times must I tell you? What I felt for Diana was puppy love, which died an appropriate death a few months later. What you and I share is special.”

  “I’ve always thought you should pursue her. I think you should still.”

  “You are the most annoyingly stubborn girl, Addie,” he growled. “You always were!”

  She stood, arms akimbo, drawing his eye to her rounded hips in the slim fitting skirt. “I’m a grownup with a mind of my own in case you haven’t noticed! And yes, I am stubborn. You should thank your stars you don’t have to put up with me as your wife.”

  A decided coolness had crept into the air, which worried him. Whenever they’d quarreled before, they both knew it would blow over in a day or two. But he wouldn’t be here much. This was far more serious. It could cause a rift if she thought he was trying to browbeat her and disrespect her views. And he would hate to leave England on bad terms with Addie. He picked up his hat from where he’d thrown it on a wicker chair. “I have no idea how to convince you my feelings are genuine. I’ll say no more. But I hope you’ll give some thought to the advantages of our match.” He shrugged. “Will it suit if I move in next week?”

  Chagrined, she leaned forward to kiss his cheek. “Of course, Bryce. Any time. I intend to go straight up to London after we’ve settled matters with the estate.”

  “I’ll take Goldie for a walk and speak to the gamekeeper. Come on girl.”

  The spaniel followed him out tail wagging. “At least you’re one female that’s not too hard to please,” he said to the dog, striding down the path to the woods where the gamekeeper’s cottage was located.

  Chapter Three

  Goldie came back an hour later covered in mud. Addie bit her lip and watched from the front door as Bryce strode down the gravel drive to where he’d parked his motor. With him went her last chance of remaining at Langley. All you had to do, Bryce, was take me in your arms and kiss me. And convince her he wanted her. His insistence they should marry came from a deep sense of honor, and she admired him for it. She’d always looked up to him because he was older. And sought his advice over the telephone since her father died. Did he dislike relinquishing control of her? An uncharitable thought, but it freed her from the unsettling feelings which threatened to swamp her. While she refused to cling to him, she also feared he might disappear completely from her life. Suddenly fighting tears, she shut the front door. T
rouble was that Bryce had always been there to turn to in times of trouble. It would be his advice she would seek. And she couldn’t in this.

  She shrugged as she went to find a cloth to wipe the dog. So be it. She would now embark on her new life. London next week, Diana and hopefully, the publishing world awaited her. She waited for that kick of excitement to cause her to catch her breath and banish what had just happened between them. But it failed to lift her mood, although she was sure that once settled in London, she would embrace it wholeheartedly.

  ~ ~ ~ ~

  Carrying her two cases, Addie took the train to Charing Cross. With Diana’s directions in her head, she walked to the street where Diana now lived. Addie passed the Lewisham Hospital’s infirmary, now a military hospital with white flags flying. In front, nurses assisted wounded soldiers from canvas-sided ambulances which had pulled up to deposit more patients. News from the front grew more shocking by the day, as the lists of those dead or wounded climbed to breathtaking proportions. Some had been acquaintances, others she knew indirectly. It was so heartbreaking she couldn’t bring herself to care about what should be an exciting new adventure.

  Men in uniform walked past her on the pavement, some whistled, others called out invitations for a drink. Addie smiled and waved and kept on walking. They plastered hoardings with recruiting posters, and Lord Kitchener’s face stared down at them, his finger pointed, urging men to enlist.

  Diana lived in a two up, two down cold-water flat. Downstairs comprised a small parlor, a kitchenette with a toilet outside the back door. She explained how they must bathe in the kitchen, in a hip bath filled from the kettle heated on the coal-fired stove. “I will find us something better, but the war makes everything difficult,” Diana said. “We can afford to move up now you’re paying half the rent.”

  Addie knew that Diana’s father had withdrawn her allowance. She wondered how her friend found the money to rent something even as modest as this, but she didn’t ask.

  “I think it’s wonderful!” She walked around taking in her new home. Upstairs were two small bedrooms, Addie’s room looked over narrow backyards intersected by fences. It was only big enough for a small wardrobe for her clothes, a narrow iron bed, a small table with an electric lamp and a wooden chair. Gaslight lit the steep, narrow staircase. It flickered and popped, throwing crazy shadows over the walls. A small coal fire in the parlor was the only heating.

  “It guzzles enormous amounts of coal and does little to take the chill off.”

  “It’s cozy after Langley,” she said. “You know how drafty and impossible to heat that house is. Remember kneeling close to the wood fire to toast crumpets?”

  Diana grinned. “Oh, I miss the crumpets dripping with honey. Everything’s in short supply here. The hotels close at five now and some of the stores have shut their doors. We’ll get our glad rags on and go out. There’s always a good crowd at The Plough.”

  Addie laughed. “Glad rags?”

  Diana laughed. “Learned it from an American.”

  “What’s the Plough, a pub?”

  “Yes, a historic place right next to the bridge over the Quaggy River,” Diana said as she helped Addie carry her two monogrammed leather suitcases up to her room. “You must send some of this back, my duck,” she said, wiping her brow with the back of her hand on the landing. “You barely have enough room for the necessities here.”

  After Addie changed, they stepped out into the smoky London air, not as fresh as Kent. The pub was busy, filled with army and navy uniformed men. Some seemed to know Diana and greeted her boisterously.

  She found them a quieter corner in the ladies’ lounge and bought them each a glass of sherry. Addie gazed around, suddenly feeling extraordinarily free. Through the glass partition, most men’s eyes were on Diana. And that suited Addie just fine.

  Finally, able to catch up, both talked at once, then they stopped and laughed. “You first, Addie,” Diana said.

  “Bryce has moved into Langley, although I don’t think he’ll be there long. He speaks of leasing the house and lands, and he’ll get in a manager soon. He’ll need him when he’s sent to the Continent.” Addie felt the warmth of a friendship of long-standing spread through her, easing the cold anxiety and grief of the last few months. “I can’t tell you how good it is to be here. You’re looking wonderful, Diana, as usual.” And as usual, her friend took the compliment with indifference. It seemed to Addie that Diana’s good looks had never given her much pleasure. But with her blonde hair in a chignon at her nape baring a swan-like neck, her classic profile and tall willowy frame, she attracted men like bees to the honeypot. Even the plain shapeless olive linen dress she wore couldn’t diminish her beauty.

  Diana’s green eyes rested on Addie with concern. “Bryce intends to manage Langley himself? His job would be demanding.”

  “He’s keen to do most of it. We had a long talk before I left. The business manager will take over financial matters, and the staff will help a lot. Bryce already knows a lot, though; because he was to inherit, he has always taken an interest in the estate's running. It’s his home now.” That it was no longer her home hit her with force. She gulped as a pull of loss twisted her stomach, then took a deep sip of her drink.

  Diana reached over to pat her hand. “You must feel frightfully sick about leaving.” It wasn’t a question; she knew how Addie felt.

  “It wasn’t as if I didn’t know what was coming. Bryce was always to inherit. It’s been common knowledge since his father died.”

  “Knowing in advance doesn’t always help, darling.”

  “Perhaps not. But knowing it’s Bryce, who will love Langley as I do, helps a lot. He will keep on the servants who wished to stay, although there’s a few who’ve already left, and I suspect more will go before long.’

  “What about Grace?”

  “She wanted to come to London with me. She feels she should keep an eye on me, but it’s better she remains at Langley. It’s been her home for many years. She and Lionel Stuart, the head gardener, plan to marry. He’s wanted her to tie the knot for ages. I suspect she refused him because of me, so I’ll be thrilled should she marry him. Lionel has a cottage on the grounds gifted to him by my father. He will continue his work in the gardens for as long as he can. They will be all right. He’s too old to fight.” Addie looked down at the drink in her hand. “She will take care of Goldie too.”

  “Always tidying up other people’s lives, Addie?” Diana raised an eyebrow. “What about your own?”

  She frowned, wishing Diana would stop digging. “That chapter of my life has ended hasn’t it.”

  “So, it would seem,” Diana said enigmatically.

  “Let’s talk about your new business.” Addie said. “What’s happening with Star of Venus Publishing?”

  Diana smiled proudly. “Our little magazine has hit the stands. I’ve got some paid advertising for Pear’s soap from Thomas J. Barratt. He’s very modern in his thinking. But it won’t be enough. The magazine comes out monthly, so it’s not about to make us a fortune, but I find it rewarding. We’ve already a large female readership who can’t get enough of us, because of the woman’s news column. We want to cover any problems women face which are being swept under the carpet. Oh, and we plan to add a section on poetry written by soldiers.” She paused and a wrinkle creased her brow. “There is some hostility from men. The girls get harassed delivering the magazine to newspaper shops — we had a brick thrown at our street door last week. Fortunately, being on the second floor makes us feel a little more secure. Tom, who runs the bakery, keeps an eye out.” She shrugged. “Later on, I plan to add articles about the war: people’s experiences, letters from the front which will appeal to men. Personal rather than political. The magazine will be something new for people to read. A distraction, but also informative when so many fear what lies ahead.”

  You can’t expect to change men’s way of thinking without some backlash,” Addie said. “They fear the changes to their lives because of
the war. I think it sounds marvelous, but I hope no one gets hurt.”

  “It’s important,” Diana said. “We can’t give up while women don’t get to vote and suffer because of a raft of other issues. Violence towards women, for instance. We must keep fighting for women’s rights, their independence and ability to raise their children in peace. We need time to change society’s views.” Diana raised her voice, passionate about her cause. “Women must not remain subordinate to men. Since Darwin, surely no one believes God created women out of Adam’s rib as inferior creatures. You know how we talked about how early Celtic tribes had equal social status? But then it changed in the past. Equal status and equal pay, that’s all we want.”

  “The war will change everything. It is changing it.”

  Diana nodded, her eyes alight. “Our magazine needs to become known. We might be small, but our stories will be informative. Once we gain respect, people will buy it for a modest sum. We plan to reach a large section of the public, but because we are mostly women writers, that’s difficult. I need to get more men onside. But those of an age to tackle fresh ideas are away at war.” She stood. “Shall we go back and have something to eat? I’ll pay.”