A Victorian Love Affair

By Jean Wyld

Young Sophia Latimer’s beauty immediately attracts the attention of rich aristocrat Sir Robert Drysdale when he visits Latimer Hall to buy horses for his stables. When his cousin finds out, he is determined to seduce Sophia himself and bring about her public ruin as he knows any suggestion of marriage would then be out of the question. His actions lead Sophia into danger and she is forced to experience the seamy secret life led by the Victorian upper and lower classes until she is able to find true love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hornbeam Press
• Release date: Jul 29, 2016
• ISBN: 9780993289132

Book preview

Four

Copyright

ISBN: 97809932891

Copyright © 2016 by Jean Wyld

Published by Hornbeam Press, London

Jacket design by Geoffrey Waring

About the Author

Jean Wyld reads extensively before writing an historical novel and her stories have well-researched backgrounds. Her novels feature an adventurous hero and a lively heroine in fast-moving plots in which the heroine is caught up in a passionate love affair with many twists and turns of her life before love prevails.

Chapter One

1885

Sophia rode into the stable yard of her home Latimer Hall to see that Sir Robert Drysdale was already viewing the horses he had come to buy from her father Sir John Latimer. A groom came forward to help her dismount and take her horse to its stable. Sir John beckoned her over and introduced his tall, handsome young visitor to whom he hoped to sell at least three horses from those being walked around the yard for inspection. If Sir Robert could be persuaded to take four then that would ease the burden of debt he was now facing from his creditors.

Your servant, Miss Latimer.

As Sir Robert bowed politely over her extended hand, Sophia felt her heart leap in her breast and an overwhelming torrent of emotion rage through her body. A confused blush rose to her cheeks.

Did you enjoy your ride, Miss Latimer? Sir Robert asked.

Sophia found all her lessons in social conversation completely deserting her as she strove to regain her composure and there was a momentary silence. Her father, however, had not missed the fact that his visitor had not taken his eyes off Sophia from the moment she had ridden into the yard.

You must stay to luncheon, Sir Robert, he said.

Sir Robert shook his head. Regretfully on this occasion I must refuse, he replied, his gaze still on Sophia taking in her rounded breasts and small waist so admirably shown off by her fashionable riding habit.

At that moment Sir John's second and much younger wife came into the yard.

Sophia! she cried impatiently. Johnnie is waiting for his lesson. Go up to the nursery at once and see to him.

Sir Robert's eyes narrowed as her manner confirmed to him the truth of the rumours that were circulating about the ill-bred harridan Sir John had married after the death of his first much-loved and respected wife.

Sophia curtseyed to him and hurriedly retreated from the yard.

You have a very beautiful daughter, said Sir Robert, looking after her. He could not remember when he had seen such a lovely-looking girl. Such innocent blue eyes and peach-like complexion. Her hair reminded him of ripened corn on his country estate. He found himself wondering what it would be like to have her curls flowing freely on the pillow next to his own in his great four-poster bed and to kiss those cupid-shaped lips.

No doubt she is engaged to some local gentleman, he hazarded.

Not at all, Sir John replied and added with some truth. My circumstances being as they are, I am afraid Sophia has not as yet had a chance to take part in the social scene. We live a very quiet and retired life here in the country.

Indeed, that is only too true, Lady Latimer broke in, her voice showing her low opinion of this state of affairs. My poor husband has been taken advantage of by tricksters, Sir Robert, who persuaded him to make disastrous investments. His bad luck on the Stock Exchange has been beyond belief.

Ah yes, Sir Robert murmured. The Stock Exchange has caught us all out at some time or another, Lady Latimer.

He wondered how on earth this raddled-looking woman had ever managed to capture the heart of Sir John after he had known life with the beautiful Anne Howard, descendent of an illustrious line of aristocrats. Perhaps she had once had a certain flamboyant style that he had found exciting for a time after the quietly elegant Anne.

I really must be taking my leave, he said.

No, no, I insist that you stay. Lady Latimer fluttered her eyelashes at him confident in her power of attraction to make him change his mind. I will not take no for an answer.

Sir Robert Drysdale was over six feet tall and he used his height to now look down at her unsmilingly. I am dining at the Palace, Lady Latimer, he told her. The Queen is a stickler for punctuality.

She was in no way put off by his manner.

The palace! she gasped. Did you hear that, Sir John? He is going to dine with the Queen! She stared at Sir Robert with open-mouthed astonishment. No one in these parts has ever done that! I must tell everyone of our acquaintance that we have actually met a gentleman who has the entrée to Buckingham Palace and that he thought so highly of your horses that he came here in person to see for himself what you have on offer.

Neither Sir Robert nor her husband made any comment but they met each other's eyes and the younger man was left in no doubt that Sir John was very well aware of the mistake he had made in marrying this prattling woman so very different to the dignified, much-loved Anne.

After Sir Robert had left the Latimers returned to the drawing room, a room now crammed with potted palms, screens, small tables and shelves loaded with figurines and a multitude of small boxes and curios. All the Chippendale furniture had been specially designed for the room had been declared hideously old-fashioned and consigned to one of the attics.

The butler came into the room with a letter on a silver salver. Sir John opened the seal. At last a letter from my brother-in-law William! he exclaimed.

About time too Lady Latimer cried. You wrote to him months ago.

India is a long way off, Sir John replied mildly. From the date I think he must have written this reply on the same day he received my letter asking if he could see his way to giving me some financial assistance.

He kept you out of debtors' prison while his sister was alive, his wife replied tartly. And little enough it meant to him. Why, we know for a fact that he must have made millions out there from his trading and ships.

Sir John for once did not give her his entire attention and continued to read and then looked across at her as if half-afraid of her reaction when he told her of the letter's contents.

My dear, he says he cannot see his way to any further financial help, he said and held out the page he had just read so that she could see for herself.

Cannot see his way to help! Lady Latimer shrieked and snatched the page from him. We are ruined! How could he do this to us?

Sir John continued reading the second page and reread it as if he could not believe what he was reading.

He says he wants us to send Sophia to live with him in India. He could hardly bring himself to speak. He wants to treat her as if she were his own daughter. He will see to her education and eventual marriage to a suitable husband.

Let him have her, Lady Latimer cried uncaringly. It will be one less mouth to feed and you will have her off your hands. You know you have no money for a dowry and no man will take her unless she is provided for.

Her eyes darkened.

Write at once and say he can have her by the first tide but he must pay you compensation for our loss.

Sir John finished the letter.

There will be no need for me to do that, he said. William says if I agree to him having Sophia he wil1 contact his man of affairs in London and have him sort out my financial muddle once and for all.

He will clear your debts! Are you sure?

That is his intention, Sir John replied unhappily. But to lose Sophia is asking too much. I cannot let her go so far away no matter how much in debt I am.

Not let her go! Lady Latimer shrieked. Are you mad? Of course she must go!

My dear, please control yourself, Sir John pleaded. The servants will hear you and you know how they gossip.

As if I care anything about them, she retorted and flung herself petulantly into a chair. It is obvious you think nothing of Johnnie, your son and heir. Without William's help you will not be able to provide him with anything like a decent education and money to live like a gentleman.

Sir John held his head in his hands. If only I had the resources to do right by Johnnie, he said.

Then do as your brother-in-law proposes, Lady Latimer said, seizing the moment to press home her point. Her tone became more conciliatory. He will see that Sophia has everything in the world that a girl could want and you will be able to give your son the start in life that he deserves.

I suppose you are right, Sir John conceded reluctantly, accepting the situation. William is as rich as Croesus and Sophia will inherit everything. He would make sure she was not married to some wastrel who would marry her only for her fortune. He would see to it that she was properly taken care of.

Of course he would, Lady Latimer replied, wishing with all her heart that the rich brother-in-law had seen his way to doing something for Johnnie instead of Sophia. Still, the girl always had a soft spot for her little brother. In the future, no doubt, she could persuade her uncle to make a generous settlement on him.

She nestled up to Sir John and, taking his hand, laid it one of her ample breasts.

Shall we go to bed, my love? she whispered in his ear. Let me please you in the way you like best.

The next day Sir John wrote to The Times and asked them to insert an item requesting that a respectable family sailing to India in the near future would take responsibility on the voyage for a young girl. A generous remuneration would be paid. All replies to be directed to Latimer Hall.

You are quite right, my dear, Sir John said, laying down his pen. This way Sophia will have the life she deserves and I know her mother would approve the fact that her brother William has taken on the responsibility for her future.

Lady Latimer's lips tightened at this mention of the late Anne but she comforted herself that the first hurdle was over and she would at last be rid of the stepdaughter who so remarkably resembled her late mother and whose presence was a constant reminder to Sir John of the wife he had lost. She also would have the added pleasure of being able to tell Sophia she would be leaving Latimer Hall for good.

She waited impatiently for letters to flood in offering to chaperone her stepdaughter during the voyage to Bombay. When the replies began to arrive it seemed very few people wanted the responsibility of caring for Sophia. Two letters from optimistic bachelors proposed marriage before they had even set eyes on Sophia. Both wanted remuneration paid in advance as they had plans to set up as traders. The sums required were far beyond Sir John's pocket so they were discarded as totally unsuitable. He did read and reread a proposal from a clergyman going out to start a school but from the poor grammar it was obvious this was from a confidence trickster and Sir John cast this missive on the fire despite Lady Latimer's pleadings to at least meet the man. No, my dear, he replied. It would be a waste of time. I could not possibly put Sophia in this man's charge. I would never be able to look myself in the mirror again.

Then, when it seemed there was no one willing to accept Sophia, a letter came from a Captain and Mrs. Parker sailing in the near future to Bombay, where he was to join his regiment, at present in a nearby hill station.

So it seems at last we have found just the right sort of people to whom we can entrust Sophia, Sir John said. I dread having to tell her what is planned. She loves England so much and it will be a wrench for her to leave her home and in particular little Johnnie. I know how much she loves him.

I will tell her myself, Lady Latimer said, relishing the prospect of how upset Sophia would be at the news.

Oh, perhaps I should do it, Sir John began but she silenced him with an angry gesture. If she starts to cry you are quite capable of changing your mind and deciding to allow her to stay, she told him. And what good would that do? Debts would remain unpaid and you, Sir John, would be facing a debtors' prison.

Unhappily, Sir John knew this to be true. Although he had gone over and over in his mind some way of keeping Sophia in England and still be able to support his young son, he had failed dismally to come up with an answer. From the tone of the letter that William had sent him, he knew he meant what he said. Sophia's non-arrival meant no more money would be paid into the Latimer account. He did his best to persuade himself that he was doing the right thing by Sophia. After all, she would become a great heiress. And if she did not go, then William was quite capable of leaving all his money to charity and Sophia would become a pauper, probably eking out a living as some lady's companion for the rest of her days.

I will leave all the arrangements to you, my dear he sighed. Although I beg you to break the news gently and assure her we only have her very best interests at heart.

He had always intended to tell Sophia himself but now, seeing his wife's combative expression, he weakly decided it would be all too exhausting for him to engage in argument at this late stage. After all, Sophia would soon be gone and he had to live in some sort of harmony with his wife, who to his horror always seemed to enjoy combat with him and anybody else who dared to cross her.

Write at once to William and tell him we accept his offer and Sophia will soon be on her way to join him, she ordered. I think we should invite this Captain and Mrs. Parker to Latimer Hall at their earliest convenience and they can take Sophia with them on their return to London.

She handed him his pen. Write to William and I will see to it that your letter is sent on its way immediately. Write to the Parkers at the same time with an invitation to come here as soon as possible.

Sir John thought of the stack of bills lying unpaid in his desk drawer. Very well, my dear, he agreed. We must not stand in Sophia's way to riches.

Lady Latimer waited with him until he had written to his brother-in-law and sealed the letter with his monogrammed seal. She then urged him to pen the necessary lines to Captain Parker and took both letters to the stables herself.

Ride into town, she said. Here is the money for postage. Be sure to bring back the correct change and a signed receipt.

After that she hurried to the nursery, where Sophia was sewing a button on one of Johnnie's coats while he was laboriously copying a sentence into his lined copy book.

Go away and play, Lady Latimer told him brusquely and he scurried away, glad to be able to leave his boring task for the bright sunshine outside.

"Put your sewing