A Rational Proposal (Furze House Irregulars Book 1)(61)
“What he wanted, he got,” said her mother bleakly. “He had decided on me for a second wife. I wasn’t interested. So he removed his rival.”
“You were the most beautiful woman in the county,” said Mr Tweedie. “Anyone would have fallen in love with you. I know I did.”
“Oh George, you are so sweet, but Mr Bowman didn’t love me. He wanted to possess me. He played on my feelings by saying his two children needed a mother, then wouldn’t let me spend time with them when I should have been attending to him. He demanded my compliance and beat me to make his point. After the first time, I was shocked and terrified into obedience. I couldn’t leave him, I had nowhere else to go for my parents would simply have returned me to Kennet End.” She smiled tremulously at Kitty. “And I should have had to leave Kitty behind. I would never have been able to do that.”
Tears were running down Verity’s sister’s cheeks. “And I repaid you by running away.”
“Hush, you were mine for thirteen years, and at the time we thought you were running from Mr Prout. That must have been another of his machinations - to force you to go.”
“I wish Papa had not been my father,” said Verity fiercely.
Mama exchanged a glance with Mr Tweedie. “He wasn’t,” she said composedly.
Verity was not the only person in the room who looked at her in amazement.
“George knows this, but I have never told another soul, though I believe my mother guessed and it was why she married me off so fast. Will and I were very much in love and so young that we knew we had a wondrous happy life in front of us. We anticipated the wedding, as many couples have done before. I can never be sad about that, for it gave me the memory of that joy to sustain me. It gave me the knowledge of how love should be. And you, Verity. It gave me you.”
And while Verity was still reeling - and revelling - in this knowledge, Mr Tweedie polished his spectacles and cleared his throat.
“I believe this might be an appropriate moment to announce that Mrs Bowman has done me the very, very great honour of agreeing to become my wife. I have no confidence in the sort of husband I will make, never having been one before, but I do know that my only object is to make my dear Anne happy for the rest of her life.”
He was looking so anxious, but proud at the same time, that Verity immediately sprung up and embraced her mother. “Oh, Mama, I am so pleased. I said if you married again it should be to someone who adored you and I can see this is the case. My goodness, Julia will be outraged to have missed all this when she and Godmama return.” She then embraced Mr Tweedie for good measure, from which he emerged looking even pinker.
“We are to live in the Kensington villa,” said her mother. “George does not at all object to the longer journey to the Temple. I hope to prevail upon Cook and the others to come with us as I do not think they will want to stay in the dower house with whoever John rents it out to. I am afraid it ruins your plans for Furze House.”
Charles spoke. “Not necessarily. First, may I wish you both every happiness. Secondly, with regard to Furze House, we have often said, have we not, sir, that it would be advantageous to have a base in Newmarket, as we have so many Suffolk clients. I have associates who are willing to take a share in the expenses for the convenience of having somewhere to stay in the town. I also believe, very strongly, that Mrs Eastwick should not remain in London. Until we unravel more of her late husband’s affairs, I cannot deem it safe for her here.” He tapped the memorandum. “This statement shows clearly to me that the ‘F’ Captain Eastwick refers to had reason and more not to trust him in the hands of the magistrates. I believe it is he who had your husband killed, Kitty. You must not go back to Henrietta Street. Nor must you attempt to retrieve any of your possessions. He may well be watching and try to silence you as well, in case you were in your husband’s confidence. My friend who brought you here is to travel to Newmarket for the racing tomorrow. I propose he leaves this very night and takes you and Ann with him. It is the last meeting of the season, so half the ton will be on the Newmarket Road. It will not be thought strange for Nicholas to be among them. Furze House is ready for possession though I cannot answer for the state of it.”
Kitty had grown so pale while Charles was talking that Verity moved across and held her hand. “Then please send him word,” said Kitty. “I do not wish to remain in London. I should like nothing more than to return to Newmarket with Ann and bring her up safely away from all this.” She swallowed. “But Simon had debts, I have no money...”
“His debts died with him,” said Charles. “You are a free woman. As to money, I hope you will not take this amiss, but certainly in the first instance, we will need someone of experience and good character to run Furze House, someone who will be flexible about Verity’s irregular proposal for it as a communal endeavour. Would you consider taking on this role for an annual allowance?”
Kitty’s face lit up. “I would be your housekeeper in effect? Yes - oh a thousand times, yes. If there is one thing I have learnt over the past seven years it is how to make a small budget stretch to unbelievable lengths.”
“It will not be as small as all that,” said Charles.
Verity applauded and hugged her sister, but uppermost in her mind as the others rushed off to assemble travelling bags and raid household equipment was just one question. What of me?