In Hiding Read online

  “They’re just very strict, that’s all, and the other servants are all from this island and don’t speak a lot of English, so it’s a bit lonely. But I’m learnin’ odd words of Portuguese!

  “I have to do all sorts of work – in the kitchen, servin’ on table, cleanin’ silver. It seems the Master and Mistress are quite careful with their money. I think they were pleased to get an English servant cheaply. But I’m just so thankful that the Earl didn’t have me arrested for stowin’ away.”

  “Who’s in the family?”

  “A Mr and Mrs Simmons and her elderly parents. I don’t see them much. They keep to their rooms. Mrs Simmons is very strict, but fair. I don’t like ’er ’usband much. He’s always abrupt and rude, findin’ fault with everythin’. He’s a businessman. Owns a lot of factories in England and America. Somethin’ to do with biscuits and sweets, I think.”

  Joe wasn’t that interested in what Mr Simmons did.

  “But they will surely take you ’ome with them in October?”

  “Oh, yes. They’ve already booked passage for the first week. And I’m goin’ too. I think the Earl insisted.”

  Joe felt a wave of relief flood over him.

  “He’s a good man and I reckon that Miss Waites played a part in it all too.”

  “She was really nice to me, so she was. Now, Joe Goodall, you get back to the boat quick, afore someone comes lookin’ for me.”

  He bent his head and gave her another shy kiss.

  “One day we’ll be together all the time, Nancy. I promise!”

  She smiled at him and picking up the basket led him cautiously across the courtyard and round the corner of the villa.

  “Oh, Joe, one really strange thing. Mr and Mrs Simmons have a visitor, a Mr Newson. He arrived on a fast steamer from England the day before we got ’ere. A young gentleman in politics, so the kitchen staff say.”

  “A young man? He ’asn’t – said anythin’ to you – suggested – ?”

  Nancy waved away his words impatiently.

  “No, no, nothin’ like that. But when I was dustin’ the library this mornin’, I was down on my knees behind a big bookcase and I over’eard him talking to that Mr Simmons.

  “He said he was plannin’ to marry a rich girl because it would further his career.”

  Joe frowned.

  “What’s so strange about that, sweetheart? Lots of men try to marry rich girls to get on in life.”

  “I know that, but listen, this Mr Simmons, he said, ‘is she keen on the match?’ and Mr Newson replied, ‘no, I think she loathes me at the moment, but I have no doubt that once she has spent the night with me, she will see the error of her ways!’ And they laughed.”

  Nancy shuddered. She could still hear the menace and cold cruelty in that laughter, but knew she would never be able to explain to dear straightforward Joe, how scared it had made her feel.

  Although Joe had lived in the same poor area as her family, the Goodalls had always been in work and a little extra money had meant that their lives were not spent wondering where the penny for the rent was coming from.

  Nancy knew that because of her father’s habits of drinking and gambling, she knew more about the seedy side of life than her dear naïve Joe.

  “It was ’orrid, really nasty. I wondered just who the poor girl was that he was going to betray in such a fashion.”

  Joe sighed and gave her a brief hug.

  “I expect it was ’orrid, Nan. But that’s quality folk for you. She won’t be anyone we know, now will she? So best you just forget it. You do your work, stay quietly in the background and keep out of this man’s way.”

  “I’ll do that, don’t you fear, Joe. The family are goin’ away this evening to stay with some friends for the weekend. Mr Newson will be ’ere in the ’ouse by ’imself, but I’m not going to answer the bell if it rings! I’ll get Manuel, the footman, to go instead.”

  By now they had reached the main gates of the villa Mimosa. Suddenly the crack of a whip and the clatter of hooves on the gravel made them spin round.

  A horse and rider were coming down the drive from the house. Nancy pulled Joe into the shelter of a great tree.

  “Look, Joe! That’s that Mr Newson I was tellin’ you of.”

  Joe peered through the branches.

  He could see the man clearly – young, fair-haired and good-looking, but he was using the whip on his horse too much and Joe reckoned he had a cruel streak in him.

  They watched as he kicked the poor animal into a canter and vanished down the road towards Funchal.

  “Nasty lookin’ bloke!” said Joe. “You mind you steer well clear of ’im, Nancy, my girl. You’re right – I feel sorry for the young lady who he means to trap into marryin’ him but, then, there’s nothin’ we can do about it, now is there?

  “Now, give us a kiss and I’ll be getting’ back to the old boat. His Lordship has been explorin’ the Flower Market today, but ’e’ll want me to be back on board to ’elp him get ready for dinner, I reckon.”

  And he clasped her in his arms wondering when he would see her again.

  *

  Tamina decided this was the happiest time of her life.

  For three days she had been so busy. Once the Blue Diamond had reached Funchal, she had been involved in the tricky problem of Nancy’s presence on board.

  This problem had meant an interview with a rather irate Captain, but luckily the Earl’s position in Society had meant that on payment of a steerage class ticket, Nancy officially became a passenger.

  Then Tamina had been proud and thrilled when the Earl had wanted her advice as to the suitability of the young girl for a position working for an English family on the island.

  She had been swift to assure him that Nancy would make a good kitchen maid and had a natural intelligence that could, with training, be put to use in a higher position still in a large household.

  This morning the Earl had been discussing the outcome of the problem and laughed as he finished signing the letters he had dictated to Tamina earlier.

  One of them had been to the Agency that had placed Nancy in her new job with a family called Simmons who were renting a villa in Funchal for the summer and were keen to employ an English-speaking maid.

  “You seem to have a good knowledge of how these domestic affairs are conducted, Miss Waites?”

  Tamina had felt a blush rise into her cheeks. She had forgotten for the moment that she was only a secretary and not a lady of means being groomed to run her own household.

  “I have – observed in various large houses where I have worked – how these things are done, my Lord.”

  “You have observed very well indeed and I must compliment you on the way you have dealt with Joe’s young woman. I feared hysteria, a lot of crying and some dreadful scene when she had to leave the ship.”

  Tamina had shaken her head.

  “No, my Lord, you were mistaken. Nancy is young, I admit, but very much in love with her Joe.”

  “You believe in the power of love?”

  Tamina’s dark blue eyes grew large and dreamy.

  “Oh, yes, my Lord. I truly do.”

  There was a long silence and she realised she had been staring up at him without guarding her expression.

  She was horrified to think what emotions he had seen written on her face and carried on hastily,

  “Nancy is also well possessed of a great deal of common sense. She knows that Joe will marry her one day and will wait patiently for that time to arrive.

  “She also realises just how lucky she has been that you persuaded the Captain not to take any action against them. She is thankful for your Lordship’s forbearance, as indeed am I.”

  The Earl frowned.

  A moment ago he had looked into her eyes and believed he saw a depth of feeling for him from a woman he had only ever dreamed would be his.

  Then she had controlled herself and now he glanced at Tamina, his dark eyes serious.

  For a moment he lo
oked almost hurt.

  “Surely you did not believe I would have cast the poor young woman ashore without a thought?”

  Tamina took an impulsive step forward, her hand going out to him.

  Then swiftly she pulled it back. It was not her place to offer sympathy.

  “Of course not, my Lord. I was never in any doubt as to the course of action you would take.”

  The Earl sighed.

  “Because of my rank and position in the world, I suppose.”

  “No, because you are a good man,” whispered Tamina, the colour deepening in her cheeks.

  A warm smile broke across the handsome serious face in front of her and, for a moment, she thought the Earl was going to reach out and clasp her hand.

  But the moment passed and instead he said,

  “I think after our hard work this morning we are entitled to an afternoon at leisure, Miss Waites. I have given Joe the time off and cannot see that we should work while others play. Would you care to explore Funchal a little? I think you will find it extremely interesting.”

  An hour later they were walking down the gangway into the exciting and colourful expanse of Funchal harbour.

  Tamina had dressed simply for their expedition in a crisp white and lemon dress that was reserved and respectable with a high neck and long sleeves.

  But in the rush to leave England and get away from Edmund, she had quite forgotten to pack a sensible parasol and was unaware that the frilly white sunshade that she carried cast enchanting patterns across her face.

  As Tamina walked by the Earl’s side, she tilted back the parasol so she could glance up at him.

  The Earl caught his breath.

  Her deep sapphire eyes were sparkling in the bright sunshine and when the shadow fell across her forehead, he had the oddest notion that he had seen that charming gaze somewhere before – in quite another place –

  “You approve of Funchal, Miss Waites?”

  “Oh, it is just quite marvellous, my Lord. The picturesque buildings, the many quaint cobbled streets, the lemon trees – and the flowers! I cannot believe the amazing colours and scents.”

  She gazed around in thrilled delight at the cascades of roses and lilies. Strange orange and blue blooms that the Earl told her were bird of paradise flowers. And everywhere great trailing bunches of bougainvillea and hibiscus.

  Every shape and colour and scent was present and Tamina felt giddy with the beauty surrounding her.

  “This is the famous Flower Market. It is at its best early in the morning, of course, but still magnificent.”

  Tamina gasped and ran forward to a stall selling huge bunches of a small fluffy yellow flower.

  “Oh, look, mimosa. I adore mimosa!”

  The gnarled stall keeper gave them a toothless grin and broke off a piece.

  With a sweeping bow he presented it to the Earl.

  “Um presente para sua esposa bonita!”

  Laughing the Earl took it. He definitely was not going to tell the old man that Miss Tabitha Waites was not his wife!

  Then with all the force of a sudden lightning strike, he realised that that was exactly what he wanted her to be!

  He did not care that she was only a simple working girl. She was honest, brave and loyal and he loved her.

  He was certainly aware that marrying his secretary would cause a huge scandal, but the rest of the world could go hang. Regardless of her station in life, he wanted Tabitha Waites to be his wife.

  Tamina turned from where she was examining a stall covered in tiny pots of violets and pansies.

  “What did he say?” she asked cheerfully. “I fear his accent is far removed from the classical Portuguese I know.”

  The Earl shook his head. Now was not the time to speak. He would wait until they were back on board the Blue Diamond.

  He would plan a dinner for the two of them and then perhaps during a moonlit walk on the deck, he would propose.

  “A gift for the beautiful lady,” he said and wove the short stems of the mimosa between the lace panels of her parasol.

  “Thank you, my Lord.”

  She smiled up at him, thinking how lovely it was to see his stern face relaxed and happy.

  The lines of grief and worry were now fading from around his eyes and when she saw the warmth of feeling in his gaze, a tremor of love and desire shot through her veins.

  Could the Earl possibly be thinking of her in the same way she thought of him?

  Oh! Life could not be so good, so perfect. For her to win this man’s love and trust would be so amazing.

  “I have a few small business transactions to attend to,” the Earl was saying as they left the Flower Market. “Will you wait for me here?”

  Tamina nodded her head, wishing she could tell him that she would wait for him forever.

  She sat on a low stone wall overlooking a pretty little fountain in the centre of a square.

  The Earl walked across to a bank to obtain more currency.

  As he was leaving, he stood for a moment, gazing across at the slim graceful figure of the woman he loved.

  She was leaning across to look down at the pool, dabbling her fingers amongst the pink and yellow water lilies.

  Suddenly he was aware of a man in riding jacket and breeches walking in great haste across the square towards Miss Waites.

  And before he could move, the man had taken her by her shoulders and seemed to be trying to kiss her!

  With a shout, the Earl covered the ground in three great strides and pulled the man away.

  “What the devil are you doing –?”

  The man shook himself free and glared at the Earl.

  “Sir, I would suggest it is no concern of yours how a gentleman greets his fiancée!”

  The Earl felt the blood in his veins turn to ice.

  “Your fiancée?”

  He stared at the slender girl who had turned very pale.

  “Edmund Newson at your service, sir. Yes, I had heard that my fiancée, Lady Tamina Braithwaite, was travelling to Madeira and hoped we would meet up. I am thrilled to have done so in such an unexpected fashion.”

  “Edmund! I am not – ”

  “Lady Tamina Braithwaite!” the Earl blurted out.

  Edmund appeared to look puzzled.

  “Why yes. Lady Tamina is the daughter of Lord and Lady Braithwaite. And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?”

  The Earl could hardly hear him for the roaring sound in his ears.

  He stared down at Miss Waites – no, Lady Tamina! – And suddenly knew without a doubt that what this man was saying was the truth.

  She looked white and guilty, but even as he gazed at her he could see that of course she was a lady of quality.

  He remembered that he had thought once that she must have come from a good family, perhaps one that had fallen on hard times.

  It was there in her every move, her bearing, the way she spoke.

  But lady or not, she had deceived him, lied to him, pretended to be someone she was not.

  Just like Lady Eunice!

  He could not believe that he had allowed himself to be tricked once again in this fashion.

  And what was worse – he had lost his heart to someone who was completely false.

  Why he had been about to propose marriage this evening to a Miss Tabitha Waites, someone who did not even exist! How ridiculous he would have looked.

  He was aware that the fair-haired man was waiting for his reply.

  “My Lord – ” Tamina started to speak piteously, but then stopped with a gasp as he threw out an imperious hand.

  “I am Ivan, Lord Daventry.”

  He then made a short curt bow towards Edmund, centuries of breeding and manners now coming to his aid.

  “And now I must take my leave of you, sir. My ship is sailing on the evening tide. Obviously I can leave this young lady, whom I thought was a Miss Waites, my secretary, in your capable hands. Sir! Madam! Your servant!”

  And turning on his heel,
he strode off towards the pier.

  “My Lord– wait! Listen to me!”

  Tamina called after him in desperation, but it was no use.

  Within seconds he had vanished from sight and she was left, feeling sick and devastated, aware of Edmund’s hot clammy hand holding hers.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Tamina felt a great wave of despair flood over her as she watched the tall figure of the Earl swiftly walk away and vanish down a narrow alleyway leading to the Funchal docks and the Blue Diamond.

  She knew she would never forget the look in his eyes when he had learnt of what he considered to be her betrayal of his trust.

  She turned to Edmund her eyes blazing.

  “Edmund, what are you doing here in Madeira? And why did you name me as your fiancée to Lord Daventry? You know I no longer wish to have anything to do with you! I have sent you a letter breaking off our engagement.”

  Edmund brushed a finger slowly across his thick moustache as he stared down at the beautiful and angry Tamina. His bland, boyish face concealed the rage that was building inside his head.

  He had indeed received her letter and had seen all his plans for a moneyed future vanish into thin smoke. Marrying into the esteemed Braithwaite family had seemed like the answer to all his prayers.

  Even though he had prospects as a Member of Parliament, Edmund knew his passion for the card tables was going to ruin him unless he could have the use of a great deal of money very quickly.

  His relationship with poor Rebecca – the governess who worked for the Mercer family – was also making his life complicated.

  He had promised marriage to the silly girl and although he had sworn her to secrecy – as he had Tamina – he was worried that she would tell Lord and Lady Mercer of what she thought would be her future as wife to a politician.

  They were rich powerful people and not ones he wanted to alienate before he could make his marriage to the daughter of the Braithwaite family a reality.

  Desperate, he had used all his considerable contacts, paid bribes to a few dishonest servants and discovered that Tamina was travelling out to Madeira on board the Blue Diamond under an assumed name.

  He had intended to send a message to her on board the ship, asking her to meet him.

  His plan had been to hurry her away to the Villa Mimosa, to ruin her reputation and force her to marry him.