Page 30 of Bluebell’s Fate

Nathaniel dipped his head to his mother. “Thank you. Would you join me in the parlor for a moment. I’d like to give Bell the opportunity to make adjustments to the place settings.”

His father turned abruptly and left, his mother close on his heels. Nathaniel spun Bell to face him. “Bell, I’m so sorry for my parents’ lack of manners.” He clenched his jaw. “Would you inform Mrs. Carter to add two more place settings to the table? I’ll go entertain our guests.” He said the last word with a hint of derision.

An ache in Bell’s chest opened anew. This was not a happy family she’d married into. It seemed there were far too few of those, her own included. Without thinking, she reached up and cupped Nathaniel’s jaw with her hand and rubbed the pad of her thumb along the tense muscles until Nathaniel relaxed. The air between them seemed to be thick with unspoken words. “I won’t be long, Nathaniel.” She wanted to stand by him, show him support like he’d supported her. She swallowed, and dropped her hand, warm from his touch.

Nathaniel reached out and grasped her fingers. “Thank you,” his whisper rumbled through her like thunder.

Bell pulled away slowly, not wanting to break the connection they had and certainly not wanting to leave him alone with his parents. She gave him a small smile and slipped from the room. Mrs. Carter was helping the cook finalize the meal. “Mrs. Carter, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but we have just added two to our company this evening. Mr. and Mrs. Payne have just arrived.”

Mrs. Carter pursed her lips. “Oh, you poor dear. Don’t you worry, I’ll see to it, my lady.” She waved a wooden spoon at Bell as she spoke. “You go be with Nathaniel; he’ll need you.”

Bell doubted that. No one needed her. She had always been the Gardner that could be spared for hours at a time to play in the woods. Rose was the leader, Lavender was the peacemaker, and Ash was the title—no, Bell was not needed. She did as she was told. She was good at following directions…most of the time.

Admittedly, she was equally proficient at avoiding situations where she would be caught doing something wrong. She’d felt like she broke an unspoken rule when she’d entered the blue room earlier today. Linda. Who was Linda? The letter beneath Bell’s pillow called to her for answers. Had Bell imagined Mr. Payne’s alarm when Nathaniel had mentioned the room? Or was it just a slight for the couple to be put there for the night? Either way, now was not the time to be thinking about the letter.

The door to the parlor stood ajar, and Bell wondered if the family had moved somewhere else to wait for dinner to be ready. The floor creaked as she entered the room, and three sets of eyes flew to her face. “Dinner will be ready shortly.” Bell moved to stand next to Nathaniel. “How were your travels, Mr. and Mrs. Payne?”

Mr. Payne puffed out his chest. “It was a bother we needed to travel at all. In fact, the entire past month has been a bother.”

Rose stepped into the room ahead of Frederick and laughed, but there was no humor in it. “I hope you do not intend to slight my sister by implying that her marriage was a trial to endure. I myself am upset that travel from Italy was not faster. I would not have missed the event for the world.” There was something about the way Rose spoke that commanded respect; Bell never knew if it was her confidence or her beauty that silenced people.

Mr. Hastings followed his wife’s lead but addressed Nathaniel. “Indeed, I was very sorry to have missed the happy day. I am so glad you’ve allowed us to stay for a time and share in your joy.”

“Allow me to introduce you to my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Payne,” Nathaniel said. “They live at Cairnsby Hall, where you will be staying.” He turned to his parents. “Mother, Father, this is Lady Rose Hastings, and Mr. Frederick Hastings.”

Rose dipped the perfect curtsy. “Do not be overly concerned with us. I am sure your home is at least half as charming as Cairnsby Cottage.”

Mrs. Payne looked around the room with an upturned nose. “I suppose for the less refined, this humble setting could be termed charming. If you prefer this over the finery of Cairnsby Hall, perhaps the study could be relocated in order for you and your husband to stay here.”

Rose scoffed. “Oh, I would not encroach so closely upon a newly married couple. However, I do not wish to make you feel inferior in your housekeeping; if you do not have the means available to situate us, Mrs. Payne, we will go into town.”

Mr. Payne looked immediately affronted. “We did not say we did not have the means.”

Rose beamed, and Bell struggled to see through the charade, as her sister was such an impressive actress. “Oh lovely. It is situated then.”

Wilson appeared in the doorframe, bowing at a precise angle at the waist. “Mr. Payne, dinner is ready.”

“Thank you, Wilson.” Nathaniel turned to the rest of the room. “If you would follow us.”

Nathaniel took Bell’s arm and led the group from the room. Bell looked back to see Rose, her eyes pinched in the corners, daring Nathaniel’s parents to precede her and Nathaniel into the dining room with her haughtily arched eyebrows. The Paynes, none too happily, took up the rear of the party.

The first course of white soup arrived, and Bell searched her mind for a topic of conversation. Nothing came. It was as if her brain didn’t work properly anymore. She looked to Rose out of habit. Her sister tilted her head slightly toward Mrs. Payne as if to encourage her. Bell took a calming breath. “I am excited to become better acquainted with you, Mrs. Payne.”

Mrs. Payne set her spoon down with a tiny clink. “I’m certain that with time we shall know each other a little, but Nathaniel keeps so busy, I expect you won’t often be able to visit.”

Rose coughed. “Oh, but certainly there will be changes now that Nathaniel is married. What utter ridiculousness…the idea of not sacrificing some time to know your own daughter-in-law. I’m sure that is not at all what you meant.” Rose put a hand to her heart and adopted a false smile. “No person in their right mind would neglect their own family or demean a lady of high standing.” Rose set down her fork and raised a haughty eyebrow and then continued. “But if family is not a priority to you, I’m certain between Frederick’s holdings or even the Duke of Gilfordshire’s connections, we could find a place more welcoming for my beloved sister and Nathaniel.” Rose’s verbal threat was quite clear, but if Mrs. Payne missed it, the fire that blazed behind her sister’s eyes likely had Bell’s mother-in-law squirming inside.

The color drained from Mrs. Payne’s cheeks. “Of course not, Lady Rose. I…” She looked to her husband for help.

He looked back at her with venom in his stare. “What my wife means to say is that with how busy Nathaniel is, Bell is likely to take on more responsibilities here at Cairnsby Cottage. It is Lady Bluebell who will likely not have the time to visit us,” he said with a dismissive tone.

If Bell could hide under a rock, everything about this conversation would be better. To be so forwardly dismissed by her closest family was demoralizing. She glanced down at her pale-green gown and sat on her hands to hide their trembling beneath the table before looking up again.

Nathaniel speared his father with a look and then turned to Rose. “If Bell is not welcomed to Cairnsby Hall with open arms, Lady Rose, I assure you we will not remain in the area. I do not intend for her to be lonely. Besides, most of my work in the past has been at Cairnsby Hall. Now that my father has returned home to manage his affairs, I will be at my leisure to fulfill my responsibilities to my wife.”

Bell looked up to see Nathaniel and his father locked in a silent battle of wills. The elder Mr. Payne harrumphed. “We’ll talk about all this business later on. Let’s not let our meal get cold.”

The rest of the meal was met with general silence, and mostly polite comments on the fare provided, unless it was Mr. Payne giving them. Every word out of his mouth was somehow an insinuation of how frustrated he was with the fact that Bell had married his son. Rose and Frederick took turns steering the uncalled-for comments to more pleasant ideas. But Rose was losing her patience with Nathaniel’s parents by the second; her measured calm told Bell that a storm was brewing beneath. Yet, without their support, Bell would likely have excused herself to go cry in her room.