Free Fenella J. Miller by A Debt of Honour Page A

running with water. ‘Are you mad? It’s tipping down out there, you will be drowned in an instant. Far better to stay in and play spillikins with Sarah.’
           Eliza sighed, she had not realized the rain had worsened. It would indeed be foolish to venture outside. ‘Very well, I shall remain indoors until the rain lessens.’ She smiled at Sarah who she could see staring anxiously from face to face wondering what had upset the adults in her life. ‘It’s all right, darling, there’s nothing wrong. Shall we go into the back parlour and draw some pictures?’
           ‘I should like that, Liza. I’m quite puffed out with playing hide and go seek upstairs.
    Poor Jane says she will need to have a lie down.’ Chatting happily she led the way into the small room on the other side of the house and Eliza followed her. She glanced back and saw her mother and Edmund enter the library. She smiled, it would do him no harm to receive a bear-garden jaw. It was time he faced his responsibilities and time that she relinquished hers.
           She stopped, amazed at herself for thinking such a thing. She had been dreading the time and she would be obliged to hand over the running of the estate to her brother believing that she would have no life worth living, but that of a dutiful daughter, granddaughter and older sister. Even the prospect of running Hockley House did not fill her with excitement.
           How could she have suffered such a volte face in less than twenty-four hours? The image of a huge bear like man, with smoky blue eyes and a smile that turned her insides over, slid into her mind.
           It seemed that after five long empty years she had finally met a kindred spirit, a man who could perhaps replace the void that Dickon’s death had left in her life.
    Sarah tugged at her hand impatiently. ‘Liza, you’re not listening to me. Where are the chalks and slate, I can’t find them anywhere?’
    The drawing things were soon unearthed in the massive oak sideboard and she was content to while away the morning helping Sarah draw pictures, whilst her mind drifted happily over interesting possibilities.
    * * * *
    The following day her grandmother was given Sarah to entertain whilst Edmund, Mrs Fox and Eliza waited impatiently in the library for the arrival of Mr Firmin.
           ‘I do hope his clerk was able to return from Town in time, Mama. The roads must have been awash after the rain we had yesterday.’
    * * * *
    Edmund was staring morosely out of the window. Since his conversation with his mother the previous day he seemed to have sobered up and accepted responsibility for what he’d done. He spoke no more of suicide, or running away to sea, but had spent two hours writing notes in the library of possible ways of raising money. ‘It’s sunny enough now, Liza. The roads would have dried out by this morning. I’m sure he will have the news we want.’
    They did not have long to wait before there was the distinct sound of a carriage trundling down the drive.
    ‘It is strange, Mama, that Papa never discussed the matter with you. Are you sure he never told you about this investment he made on my behalf?’
    ‘No, my dear. At least we can be sure he will not have put it in slaves. However much money was to be made he never invested anything in that loathsome trade.’
    This time Eliza sat with her mother to one side of the desk and Edmund took his rightful place. She smiled slightly, thinking how much had changed and in such a short time. Less than three days before she had been galloping around the place dressed as a man and Grove House had been safe. Now, she had no wish to wear anything but female attire and Wydale almost had possession of their precious home. All that stood between them and eviction was Mr Firmin and whatever his clerk had discovered in London.
    ‘Edmund, what do you know of Mr Reed? Is he wealthy?’
           ‘I’ve no idea, Liza. I imagine he has