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  She looked around at the assembled crowd in their dirty rags.

  “You are under my protection now,” she said loudly.

  The response was a yell of delight.

  Robin noted wryly that his wife’s promise reassured them more than anything he could have said.

  “Our children will live,” cried one of the women through her tears. “And so will we.”

  “Of course you will,” Celina said and added emphatically, “I know you will all feel grateful to his Lordship.”

  There was a brief, awkward silence. Then one or two of them raised an unconvincing cheer.

  “Don’t ask too much of them,” Robin said wryly in her ear. “Why should they want to cheer me? I have only myself to blame.”

  “No, blame Stanley Halyard, your Steward.” she retorted angrily.

  Robin said nothing, but his thoughts were uncomfortable. It was he who had left the lazy Steward in charge, never asking questions as long as the estate prospered and he was free to indulge himself in France.

  But this was something to be considered later, when he was alone and ready to confront himself honestly. For now there was work to be done.

  He was about to tell Celina that it was time for them to leave when the sound of galloping hooves made them all look up.

  A horse appeared in a cloud of dust, through which Stanley Halyard’s furious face could be seen. As he reached them he jumped down to the ground, facing his employer in violent agitation.

  “Is something the matter?” Robin asked coolly.

  “I came at once to find out what’s going on, my Lord,” Halyard gasped. “What have these people been telling you?”

  “What are you afraid they have been telling us?”

  Celina demanded boldly.

  Halyard ignored her.

  “My Lord, don’t listen to their lies. You should have let me be here – ”

  “Should?” Robin’s voice cut across him. “Are you giving me orders, Halyard?”

  “No, my Lord – I didn’t mean – ”

  Now Celina placed herself firmly in front of him.

  “What Lord Torrington and I know we have learned from our own eyes. No words have been necessary.”

  Then Halyard made his biggest mistake.

  “This has nothing to do with women,” he bawled. “You don’t know what you are talking about.”

  The next moment he was on the ground as Robin’s fist connected with his chin. The crowd watching roared with delight and roared even louder as Robin leaned over, hauled the Steward to his feet and shook him like a rat.

  “How dare you speak to Lady Torrington like that!” he shouted at him. “Now get on your horse and follow us back to the castle.”

  “My Lord, I protest,” Halyard screamed. “These people are liars – the scum of the earth.”

  Robin released him so suddenly that he dropped to the ground. But he was up in a flash and ran to Janner.

  “You were always a trouble maker,” he howled. “I’ll have you for this.”

  A nod from Robin made two of his outriders seize Halyard, dragging him away.

  “Bring him back to the castle,” he ordered. “But keep him away from me.”

  Then he turned to Celina.

  “Allow me to assist you, madam,” he said, holding out his arms.

  She accepted his help onto White Fire’s back and waited while he mounted his own horse.

  As they turned to leave the people watching them gave a loud cheer.

  Robin tried to remember when his people had ever showed such enthusiasm for him, but his mind was blank.

  But of course, he realised, it was Celina they were cheering and not himself.

  All the way home he had to ride faster to keep up with his wife.

  “Are you trying to evade me, madam?” he asked quizzically.

  “Of course not. It is just that I want to reach home as soon as possible so that I can arrange for food to be sent to those people at once. Things must be done quickly.”

  Without waiting for his answer she spurred her horse and was soon far ahead, leaving him to reflect that she was more of a surprise every day.

  Who would have thought that deep inside Celina there was such a core of steel?

  He could not help wondering whether the reason she had given for leaving him behind was the true one? Did she despise him for what he had allowed to happen while he was away, thinking only of his own pleasures?

  And if she did, what answer could he possibly give her?

  As the castle came in sight Celina urged her horse on faster. A groom appeared by the front door to wait for her and she jumped down, tossing him her reins.

  “Do we have a large cart in the stables?” she asked.

  “Yes, my Lady.”

  “Good. I want it brought round to the kitchen entrance at once,” she ordered briskly.

  Then she hurried inside and straight to the kitchens.

  Mrs. Crale, the cook and the butler’s wife, looked up in surprise.

  “A cart is coming round in a minute,” Celina said. “It is to collect food for the tenants and I would like you to fill it to the brim. Just keep enough for our needs until tomorrow and order more food to be delivered immediately.”

  “You leave it to me, my Lady,” the cook nodded.

  “Also a couple of footmen to accompany the cart.”

  “I’ll have a word with my husband,” Mrs. Crale promised.

  Luckily Crale was entering the kitchen at that moment. Celina explained the position, being as brief and businesslike as she could.

  “The footmen will need to oversee the distribution of the food,” she said. “And perhaps they should be as plainly dressed as possible. Formal clothes and powdered wigs would be out of place there.”

  “As your Ladyship commands,” Crale said respectfully. “I will choose the biggest and strongest lads we have and, with your permission, I’ll send four men, not two. I know that place and it’s bad.”

  “It’s only bad because of the way they have been treated,” Celina said. “But you are right, four would be better. Please send for me when everything is ready.”

  “What will Mr. Halyard say?” one of the kitchen maids mused in awe.

  “You mind your tongue, my girl,” the cook said sharply. “It’s nothing to you what he says.”

  “In any case, you can leave me to deal with Mr. Halyard,” Celina added and departed, unaware of leaving her audience bereft of words.

  In the hall she found an elderly footman and asked him, “Has his Lordship returned yet?”

  “Yes, my Lady. He and Mr. Halyard went to the library.”

  “Excellent,” Celina said crisply, and swept on to the library at such a pace that the footman had to hurry ahead to open the door for her.

  To her disappointment Celina found Robin completely alone.

  “I thought Mr. Halyard was with you,” she exclaimed.

  “He was, but I sent him about his business. At this very moment he is on his way to his cottage, accompanied by my secretary and two armed men. They will secure all his books and receipts and see him off the premises.”

  Accurately reading her expression, he remarked with a gleam of humour,

  “I appreciate that you wished to engage him in mortal combat yourself, but it seemed better to be rid of him as soon as possible.”

  “Oh, well, never mind,” she said with a shrug. “I admit I would have enjoyed throwing him out, but I don’t suppose it matters which of us does it.”

  Her husband did not answer this, but his face was reflective.

  “I hope you engage a new Steward soon,” she said. “There is so much to organise, not just the repair of the cottages, but urgent medical attention for the people. In fact, a doctor should visit them this afternoon.”

  “You want to send Dr. Everard to that place?” he asked, startled.

  Celina considered for a moment.

  “No, I have little faith in Dr. Everard. To my mind he i
s nothing but a pompous, social climbing creature, more concerned with acquiring important patients than with being a good doctor.”

  “That is just a little harsh since you hardly know him,” Robin observed mildly.

  “I know that his diagnoses tend to be in line with what his wealthy clients wish to believe,” she replied at once. “Robin, have you never wondered why he didn’t see through your mother’s ‘illness’?”

  “What?”

  “If he had been doing his job properly, she could not have fooled him for a moment.”

  She gave a wicked chuckle.

  “And if he had spotted the truth, you would have been spared the dreadful fate of having to marry me. That alone should make you annoyed with him.”

  For once Robin was totally speechless. He had almost forgotten his grudge about the way he had been fooled, but now he realised that everything Celina said was right.

  All he could think of was how unimportant it all seemed now. His mind was full of the shocking sights he had witnessed today. Which was, he realised, exactly what his alarming, unpredictable and thrilling wife had wanted.

  “So you do not think that Dr. Everard is good enough?” he managed to say at last.

  “Not for my friends.”

  “Just good enough for the Torrington family?” he asked sardonically.

  “That, of course, is for you to say,” Celina replied demurely. “You are the Master here.”

  “Am I?” he could not resist asking.

  “Of course. How could anyone doubt it?”

  “Are you making fun of me, madam?”

  “Do you think I am?”

  “I no longer know what I think about anything, except that I do not think I would dare argue with you.”

  Celina gave him a charming smile.

  “Excellent. That will save time. I really cannot entrust this mission to Dr. Everard. I will call in Dr. Landon, who has been my doctor and Uncle James’s for many years. I had better write him a note now, asking him to call on the tenants quickly and promising that I will pay his fees.”

  She looked around for paper, but Robin was ahead of her, ushering her into the chair at his own desk, pushing a sheet of Torrington headed writing paper towards her, dipping his pen in the ink and handing it to her, like a dutiful secretary.

  “Everard will have a fit when he finds out,” he observed.

  “That cannot be helped,” she said, beginning to write. “I prefer Dr. Landon because I know him and have considerable faith in him.”

  She was unaware of the effect she was producing on Robin, but the cool way she said “I prefer” made him gaze at her, eyebrows raised.

  He was seeing a new woman, a clear-headed, decisive woman who did not look to him for authority, but coolly overrode him when it suited her.

  She finished the letter, signed it with a confident flourish and put it in an envelope. With a smile Robin handed her the Torrington seal.

  “You may find this effective,” he suggested.

  “Thank you,” she agreed, affixing the seal and ringing the little bell on his desk.

  A footman appeared and she gave him the letter with directions where it was to be taken.

  “And I have been asked to inform you, my Lady, that the cart is ready, as you required.”

  “Thank you. Tell them I am coming at once.”

  “You are going out again?” Robin asked in consternation as the footman left the room.

  “I must. I need to be there when the food arrives and I want to talk to the doctor as well.”

  “I think you should stay here and talk to me. We have much to discuss.”

  “Have we? I would have thought it had all been said.”

  “Upon my word, madam, you are a cool one.”

  “Well, a cool head is what is needed in a time of crisis. Is that not so?”

  “And just how long do you intend to stay away?”

  “As long as it takes.”

  “May I remind you that we are guests of honour at a dinner tonight?”

  “Heavens, so we are! Thank you, I had forgotten.”

  Robin ground his teeth.

  “I am happy to have been of service. Please hurry home. You will need at least two hours to be ready.”

  “Two hours? Surely not. What can possibly take two hours? I have never taken two hours to dress in my life.”

  “You were not the Countess of Torrington before. At the height of her social life my mother always took at least two hours.”

  “Why?” she asked, genuinely puzzled.

  “Because she was Lady Torrington,” he said, his voice rising.

  “I am Lady Torrington and one hour is enough,” she retorted, also speaking more loudly. “I shall be home in good time.”

  “Celina, will you please – ?”

  But he was talking to empty air.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Celina scurried out of the library and down the steps to where the rest of the party was ready for her.

  She paused for a moment to check that all was as she had commanded, and was pleased to see that the cart was full with four plainly dressed footmen in attendance.

  “Excellent,” she said crisply, leaping into her saddle. “Let us be on our way.”

  She would never forget the cheer that greeted them as they came in sight of the village. It confirmed what she already knew – that the people there had not expected her to return. Now that she had done so they were overwhelmed with joy and relief.

  To increase her pleasure Dr. Landon arrived, driving his little carriage that was filled with medical supplies. Celina advanced to him with her hand outstretched.

  They had a serious talk which culminated in her guiding him into a disused cottage.

  “It will have to be restored, but then it would be suitable for a weekly clinic. I believe you have recently taken on an assistant. Once you have seen all these people and made the initial diagnoses you might feel able to delegate routine visits to him. But, of course, I leave those decisions to you.”

  “You do?” he asked, unable to contain his surprise.

  He did not realise it, but he was reacting exactly as Robin had done, a couple of hours earlier.

  She gave him her most charming smile.

  “I am sorry if I seem to be simply marching over you,” she said, “But it’s so – ”

  “Please don’t apologise,” he replied quickly. “If you only knew how good it is to see someone prepared to do something for these poor creatures – ”

  Out of the corner of her eye Celina became aware that a man on horseback was watching them. It was Robin, sitting there very quiet and still. She wondered how long he had been there and how much he had heard.

  He greeted the doctor pleasantly, declared himself glad that the estate was to employ his services and pronounced all the arrangements excellent.

  “Now, my dear, it is time for us to be going home,” he said.

  “You came to fetch me?”

  “I was afraid you would become so absorbed in your work that you would forget me altogether,” he replied smoothly. “Let us hurry now or Mama will be anxious.”

  On reaching the castle Celina ran straight up to her room where she found a positive entourage of maids and dressers waiting for her.

  “You have been longer than I expected, my Lady,” Nora sniffed. “And your clothes are in a dirty state. Where have you been to get in such a mess?”

  Celina envisaged the children who had been sitting on her lap and who had to endure dirt and rags every day.

  But then she forced herself to concentrate on the evening ahead. She had a job to do. It was called being Lady Torrington and there was more than one way to do it.

  She had a bath, scrubbing away the stains of the tragic village from her body, although not banishing them from her mind. Then she concentrated on clothes.

  Her gown was ivory, made of satin with lace flounces, tailored in the latest fashion. When she was dressed everyone stood back and rega
rded her with awe.

  “Oh, my Lady!” Nora sighed. “You look so – so – ”

  “Yes, indeed she does,” agreed a voice from the door.

  They all whirled to see Robin standing in the doorway, resplendent in evening dress. He advanced into the room, his eyes fixed on Celina.

  “It needs but one more item to complete the picture,” he said, opening the jewel box he was carrying.

  Celina gasped at the sight of the magnificent Torrington pearls – a tiara, a necklace and ear-rings.

  “I have so looked forward to seeing these heirlooms adorn my daughter-in-law,” said the Dowager, just behind her son. “And now my dearest wish is fulfilled.”

  Celina turned to view herself in the long mirror and was overcome by the sight. Now she truly looked like the Countess of Torrington.

  And she was beautiful. There was no doubt about it.

  She wondered if Robin thought so. He was smiling but in a way that gave nothing away.

  He gave her his arm and they walked downstairs, followed by the Dowager. There, waiting for them, was the grand Torrington carriage, with the family crest on both panels.

  Beresford Manor was only a couple of miles away and soon they were turning into the main gate, from where they could see the big house flooded with light.

  It was an evening out of her dreams. She was the bride of Torrington, the guest of honour whom everyone wanted to see. And if only she could have been bathing in her husband’s love, everything would have been perfection.

  Everyone for miles around had come to see the new Countess. Although Lord Beresford was a mere Viscount, his wife was more highly connected and all the local nobility had assembled to welcome the new couple.

  “And my dear brother absolutely insisted on joining us,” Lady Beresford simpered.

  For a moment Celina’s mind became blank as she struggled to recall who her brother was. It was Robin’s muttered, “oh, good grief!” that reminded her.

  “It will be a pleasure to see Lord Delaine,” she said with a forced smile. “I have such happy memories of our acquaintance.”

  “Well it’s more than I do,” Robin growled as they turned away. “He had better behave himself.”

  “Don’t be so stuffy,” she whispered back. “He is more likely to make a clown of himself than be offensive.”