by Karen Cogan
Anne read the letter carefully twice through. Bertram Tyler planned an immediate removal from London. He was to arrive within the next two days to reside at Grandfather’s house. He gave no details as to who he might be bringing with him or if Anne was invited to remain.
She frowned. Two more days. That certainly gave him little time to have seen to the disposal or packing of his property in London. Perhaps he was leaving that in the hands of a trusted servant.
She set the letter aside with a sigh as there seemed nothing more to be gleaned from the few sparse lines. She mulled it over as she finished breakfast. Then, seized by the desire to discuss it with a friend she decided to dress for an outing and take the letter to Mariah.
She ordered the carriage and had Polly help her into her mint-green cotton day dress with a shiny silk ribbon that tied just under the bust. They arranged her dark hair to be clasped at each side of her head, leaving curls to cascade from her temples. Then she chose a bonnet with green ribands that matched the dress.
She had pulled on her gloves and was preparing to depart when she saw a carriage appear from the line of trees. She squinted, trying to recognize the occupant. Her heart beat quickly with the hope that it might be Lord Westerfield. If so, she would abandon her plan to visit Mariah in favor of sharing the letter with him.
The carriage pulled to a stop and Troy stepped out. He gave her a bright smile and tipped his hat. His flaxen hair shone in the sunlight. With a glance at her carriage, he said, “I seem to have arrived just as you are planning an outing.”
“Yes. I have had a letter from Grandfather’s nephew. I was on my way to show it to Miss Sawyer.”
Troy raised a brow. His green eyes lit with interest.
“Grandfather’s nephew plans to arrive within the next two days,” she explained.
She glanced up to see her new carriage driver staring at them with interest. She gave him a disapproving frown and said, “Perhaps you would like to accompany me to visit Miss Sawyer. We could discuss the letter along the way.”
“I would be delighted to come along and offer any insight I might have regarding the note.”
“That, I would appreciate.”
She allowed him to help her into the carriage and they set off to visit Mariah.
She unfolded the note and handed it to Troy.
She watched as he read it carefully.
When he had folded it back again, he said, “It sounds as though he has not made up his mind as to what to do when he arrives.”
“I know. But it worries me that it relays so little. Is he bringing a family? And how could he dispose of his things so quickly and come here to reside?”
“Perhaps he has nothing of value of which to dispose. He may have inherited very little or spent what small amount he had.”
“I suppose you could be right. I never thought of that.”
“Your grandfather was a first son and so was your father. They inherited land. Perhaps this nephew was a second son. Not everyone is privileged to inheritance of property.”
His voice held a veiled note of bitterness that surprised her. After all, he was the only son of a wealthy man. Perhaps he simply thought the system unfair.
“Yes. It is true,” she said, thoughtfully. “Yet, even though Jeremy will inherit, I may be turned out of our home for a time.”
“How old is this nephew?”
“I do not know. I have never met him.”
“Cheer up, then. Perhaps he is old and will not live long.”
Anne stared at him in consternation. “Whatever my circumstances may become, I do not wish him ill.”
He took her small gloved hand in his own. “Of course you do not. You are far too kind for that.”
The smile he gave her did not reach his eyes. She could not imagine what reason he could have for such odd behavior. And yet, he was right about one thing. If Grandfather’s nephew was old, she would not be out of their home for long. And no matter what, Jeremy would inherit one day and things would be put right again.
They got to Mariah’s house and were admitted into the parlor while the butler sent a maid to announce their arrival. They did not wait long until Mariah swept into the room, wearing a dark pink dress with puffed sleeves. Her light curls framed her small oval face. Her eyes lit with pleasure when she saw that Troy had accompanied Mariah.
She beamed at them and said, “This is a pleasure. Please sit down and tell me why you are here.”
“Indeed we shall.”
Anne dug into her pocket and produced the letter.
“Grandfather’s nephew has written to me. He plans to arrive here within the next two days. Would you please read the letter and tell me what you think of it?”
“I shall be glad to read it. In fact, I am quite curious.”
Anne handed the letter to Mariah. Her sable brows puckered as she carefully read every line. After she finished she said, “I do not think it is a good letter at all. He does not say who is coming with him or what he is bringing. How shall you plan for his arrival?”
Anne nodded. “That is exactly what I thought.”
Troy stretched his legs languidly. Seeming less concerned by the matter than the ladies, he said, “Why should you go to the trouble to prepare for him? He does not tell you when he is arriving or who he is bringing. I say let him come and make the best of things as they are.”
Mariah giggled. “I say, Mr. Fletcher, that is a wicked suggestion.”
“It may be a practical suggestion. What else can I do?” Anne asked.
“Exactly,” said Troy. “There is nothing else to be done. Anne is not his servant, even if he does have guardianship.”
Mariah leaned toward Troy. “That is true. And yet, Anne does not want to give offense to a man who can either turn her out or allow her to stay.”
“He will not turn Anne out.”
Mariah’s eyebrows puckered. “How can you be so sure?”
“When he sees Anne, he will not want to turn her out.”
Mariah stiffened perceptibly. “Yes, I am sure you are right.”
“Well, I am not at all sure,” said Anne. “I am beginning to wish the whole thing was over so that I might know what is to become of us. Anything would be better than remaining in suspense.”
Mariah sat back and pretended to study her nails. “Surely you are not worried about your future, Anne. You are a lucky woman. With your beauty, you must have any number of eligible men begging for your hand.”
Anne was surprised by the peevish tone of her friend’s voice. Whatever had come over Mariah? She sounded as though she was jealous, though Anne could not fathom the reason. She saw nothing in her present circumstance to cause anyone jealousy.
“As a matter of fact, I will rent a small place in the village if I am forced from my home,” she replied coolly.
Troy sat up. His green eyes were dark with disapproval. “Surely you do not mean to live there alone. That is much too scandalous even for a woman as independent as you.”
“Grandfather has provided enough pension for a small staff of servants. I assure you that I do not intend to do anything so improper as to ruin my reputation.”
Troy maintained a stern frown while Mariah seemed to cheer visibly.
“Would anyone like tea?” she asked.
“No. Thank you. I cannot stay any longer,” Mariah said. “There is much to be done at home. The servants grow lax when I am not there. I had to chastise the downstairs maid yesterday for a layer of dust on the mantel. And Jeremy mopes about with no one to cheer him. He spent such a great amount of time with Grandfather that he misses him dreadfully.”
“Then of course we must be off,” said Troy.
He rose and offered his hand to Anne. As he assisted her to her feet, he said to Mariah, “Do you not think that Miss Tyler bears her burden well?”‘
Mariah smiled sweetly as she rose. “She is a saint, indeed.”
Anne, feeling distinctly uncomfortable, said, �
�Thank you, but I bear it neither poorly nor well. It is simply there to be dealt with.”
Troy patted her hand. “Nobly spoken.”
“Anne is always well-spoken,” said Mariah, again with a smile.
“Thank you, Mariah.”
Anne could not decipher the strained expression on Mariah’s face. However, she was beginning to regret bringing Troy along. His intrusion seemed to have cast a pall upon the latter part of the conversation. Perhaps, Mariah would be more herself the next time they spoke.
They bid her good-day and mounted the carriage.
Troy sat opposite her and watched her so intently that she began to feel discomfited.
“Mr. Fletcher, are you aware that you have been staring at me ever since we sat down?”
“Have I? Is it any wonder, when your beauty is enough to capture any man’s heart and gaze?”
She blushed furiously. “That is kind, but hardly the case. And I find such close observation quite unnerving.”
“My apologies. It is just that I admire you so intently. And I want to help you. I do not believe that you should have to carry such heavy burdens alone.”
“I am not alone. Jeremy is a great comfort to me.”
“Jeremy is a child, a responsibility for you. You need someone who can ease your burdens, someone who can give you a home and security. With that, you need not worry about what Mr. Tyler might do when he arrives.”
“I would never marry simply to escape my fears, Mr. Fletcher.”
“Of course not.
“Yet, surely it cannot have escaped your attention how madly I adore you. I have made no effort to hide it.”
An image of Lord Westerfield flashed into her mind. She remembered how she had felt when they stood together gazing into each other’s eyes. Perhaps there would never be any more than those brief moments together. Yet she knew she could live more happily on a lifetime of that memory than a lifetime with a man who did not stir her senses.
She took a deep breath. “I am flattered, truly I am…”
At her hesitation, he hastened to say, “Please do not delay your decision any long. Please put me out of my misery by agreeing at once to become my wife.”
He took her hands and gazed so intently at her that she could no longer think. Instinct took over and she blurted, “I cannot, sir. I do not wish to offend you in any way but I cannot marry you. I have tried to summon the feelings I require for marriage, but I cannot. And while I like you very well as a friend, I do not believe we are destined to marry.”
He gripped her hands so tightly that her fingers ached. “What feelings must you summon? Surely there could be no better feeling than to own the heart of a man who has pledged to care for you and see to your comfort.”
Anne tugged at her hands, yet failed to extract them.
“I am not insensitive to the value of your offer, Mr. Fletcher. But please trust me when I say that I cannot marry you. Now, as you are hurting my hands, would you please release me?”
For a moment, he stared at her while continuing to grip her fingers. It seemed to Anne as if he was deliberately extending her pain. And then, he released her, saying, “You are toying with me. You take pleasure in forcing me to declare my feelings for you while you deny me. I warn you that I will not be patient any longer. If you refuse me today, I will not come again to throw myself at your feet.”
Anne stared at him, shocked by his accusation. “I assure you, Mr. Fletcher, that I have never toyed with you. In the past, I was not sure of my feelings, but now that I am sure, I am being completely honest.”
As they pulled into Anne’s drive, he fixed her with a cold stare. “Since you spurn me, I shall find someone who is more inclined toward my offer.”
His words piqued her curiosity into wondering if he had someone in mind. Yet, she dared not ask. The cold fury in his green eyes reminded her of a caged panther she had seen once in India. He had paced the cage, growling and striking at anyone who came near as he watched with eyes that were steely and held no mercy, a predator.
The new driver helped Anne from her seat and waited politely for Troy to alight. Then he closed the door and trod slowly back to climb aboard and take the carriage and horses round to the stable.
Troy gave Anne a fleeting look of dismissal. “I suppose this is good-day, Miss Tyler, and good-bye. I shall not call again.’
“Good-bye, Mr. Fletcher.”
Anne watched Troy stamp to the hired carriage. He spoke sharply to the driver and then settled himself inside. As they drove away, Anne found herself wondering if she had done the right thing. She knew she had thought with her heart and not her mind. Yet, what was she to do when her mind told her one thing and her heart another? To deny her heart would have felt too wrong. And yet, if Grandfather’s nephew insisted she depart, would she regret her decision?
She felt exhausted as she entered the house. The entire morning had been confusing and draining. Mariah had behaved oddly and Troy had broken off their association. She regretted his disappointment on her behalf. Until his disturbing behavior in the carriage, he had been an engaging companion. She would miss his company.
She hung her bonnet on the rack inside the door and began to climb the stairs, thinking that perhaps a nap before lunch would ease the throbbing that had begun in her temples. She had just reached the top of the stairs when she heard Jeremy screaming as though he were being murdered.
She followed the commotion to find him engaged in a tug of war with his tutor. Jeremy bore a crimson mark where the man had struck him on the cheek. Between them, they held his treasured atlas.
Anne stepped between them, took hold of the book, and ordered them to let go. Jeremy stopped screaming and stared at her with wide eyes. The tutor, a tall wiry man brought his hands stiffly to his sides as though a skirmish with a nine year old was beneath him.
Anne looked from one to the other and said, “What is the meaning of this?”
“He tried to take away my book,” Jeremy said as tears ebbed into his blue eyes.
“I caught this young man pouring through this worthless atlas when I had assigned him a whole morning’s worth of mathematics to do. I thought a few weeks without it would teach him a lesson. When I demanded the book, he refused.”
Jeremy caught at her hand. “Please, Anne, do not let him take it. It is Grandfather’s book. Please say that he cannot have it.”
Anne fixed Jeremy with a stern look. “Is it true that you have neglected your studies?”
Jeremy shook his head vigorously. “I finished my assignment. The papers are on the schoolroom desk. He told me to go and read while he corrected them.”
“What do you have to say, sir? It seems he has finished his work.” Anne demanded of the tutor.
“He did not want to come away from the atlas when I called him to correct his papers.”
Jeremy shook his head. “It is not true. He did not call me.”
The man stared coldly at the child. “You should not allow him to contradict his elders. It is a very bad habit in a child.”
Anne spoke with rigid control. “But you have already contradicted yourself.
She glanced at the beautiful gold embossed illustrations on the cover of the atlas. Truly it was a remarkable book. Without a doubt, she knew who was telling the truth. She wondered if the tutor had intended to ever return the book.
She handed it to Jeremy. “Go into your room and read. I wish to speak with Mr. Ames.”
“Thank you, Anne.”
Jeremy took the book and fairly flew to his room.
Anne turned on the tutor. “You are perhaps the most unfeeling man I have ever known. This is Jeremy’s most treasured possession, a gift from his grandfather and a memory of the man he loved. Yet you would take it from him on a whim. Pack your bags and be off immediately. We are no longer in need of your services.”
“You have quite mistaken the situation. And you will ruin the boy by indulging his defiance.”
�
�It is you who are mistaken. Jeremy is not and has never been a defiant child. He is obedient when the request is reasonable.”
The man glowered. “Have it your way then. May it be on your conscience when he grows up wild and undisciplined.”
He turned and strode briskly toward his room at the far end of the hallway.
Anne turned for her own room, suddenly feeling shaken by the confrontation. Her knees felt as wobbly as a new colt as she pushed open her door. Tears burned behind her lids. At times like this, she hated the responsibility of being both mother and father to Jeremy. She worried constantly about making mistakes in his upbringing, mistakes that might ruin him forever. It did not help to be accused of just such negligence. And yet, it was obvious that Mr. Ames had coveted the book.
She fell across her bed and closed her eyes. She would not think about it anymore just now. She needed a rest badly. Perhaps everything would look better when she awoke.
Anne felt a light tapping on her arm. She groaned and shut her eyes tighter. Perhaps whoever was there would leave. She heard Jeremy say, “Anne, wake up. Mr. Ames has gone away.”
She opened her eyes. “That is as it should be. I told him to do so.”
“I am glad he is gone. He was a very nasty man.”
Anne sat up. “You must not give your opinion unless it is asked for.”
“But he was wicked. He always slapped me when I made mistakes in recitation.”
Anne sighed. She could see that Jeremy was going to take a great deal of attention now that he had no one else to occupy his time. Perhaps she should look for another tutor. Yet, she had neither the time nor energy at present. She would wait until their future was settled and then see to a proper upbringing for her brother.
She glanced groggily at the mantel clock. It was nearly six-thirty, much later than she had realized. She must have slept for hours.
She gave Jeremy a gentle shove. “Go and dress for supper and you may eat with me tonight.”
“All right.”
Jeremy jumped off the bed and sprang for the door. “May I stay up late since I have no lessons tomorrow?”
“Perhaps a little late if you behave yourself very nicely.”
“I shall.”
He scurried off and Anne rang for Polly to assist her in her preparations.
Betsy came instead. She was wiping her eyes. “I hope you do not mind my coming, miss, but that no account little Polly took off with Mr. Ames. I thought they might have been carrying on with each other, but I hated to say anything until I was sure. And now it is too late and they have gone away.”
Anne felt a moment of shock. “Polly? She has been with me for over two years. How could she do such a thing?”
“I do not know, miss.”
A sinking feeling settled in Anne’s stomach. Things were going all wrong since Grandfather had died. If only he were still here, he would have known how to best deal with Mr. Ames.
“I do not want to worry you, miss, but I caught Mr. Ames coming out of your grandfather’s room. When I asked him what he was doing he told me it was none of my business.”
She picked up a brush to brush out Anne’s hair.
“He was in Grandfather’s room?”
Betsy nodded. “Just before he left. I thought he might be getting something for the young master.”
“That is not likely.”
Anne leapt to her feet and scurried down the hall. She had not been inside Grandfather’s room since he died. The memories were too painful. Yet she knew where he had kept everything of value. She checked the wardrobe, where nothing seemed to be amiss. Then she opened the drawers of the tall bureau that stood between the windows. The folded cravats were lying neatly inside the top drawer. She felt for the small velvet-lined box that held the diamond wedding ring that had been worn by her grandmother and then her mother.
She sighed with relief as she found the box. She drew it out and lifted the cover. The box was empty. She felt the blood drain from her face at the painful discovery. The ring that Jeremy was to have given to his future bride was gone.
She sank onto Grandfather’s bed and burst into tears. Betsy caught up with her and stood miserably wringing her hands. “What is it, miss? What has happened?”
When Anne could choke out an answer, she showed Betsy the empty box. “I should have shown the wretched man out myself. This ring has been in our family for generations. And now it is gone.”
Betsy began to sob, too. “I am glad your Grandfather is not alive to see this day. Oh, miss, what will you do?”
“What can I do? I do not know where he has taken it.”
They sat thusly until Jeremy appeared, dressed for dinner. “Why Anne, you are not ready,” he reproved.
She wiped her eyes and said, “Did Mr. Ames ever ask you to show him around this room?”
“Yes. Once he followed me when I came to get a book. He was very nice to me and asked to see the things that were special.”
“What did you show him?”
“I showed him Grandfather’s books and pipes and cans of tobacco. Sometimes I come in here to smell them. They remind me of Grandfather.”
“Did you show him anything else?”
“I showed him mother’s ring and the tiny white elephant Father sent Grandfather from India.”
Anne frowned at Jeremy. She felt like shaking him. “You should never show someone’s personal possessions to another person without permission.”
Jeremy stared at her, his face confused. “But Grandfather is gone, Anne. How could I get his permission?”
Anne sighed in defeat. “I wish you had asked me. But it is too late now. You go down to supper and I will join you in a few moments.”
Betsy helped her dress and quickly arranged her hair.
Jeremy was waiting at the table when she arrived. He arose like a proper young gentleman and her heart went out to her young brother who had not meant to do wrong.
“Why were you crying, Anne?”
She smiled sadly. “It seems you were right. Mr. Ames was a very bad man. He took Mother’s ring today before he left.”
Jeremy jumped to his feet. His small hands were clinched. “I told you he was bad. I will ask the ‘ostler to saddle my pony and go after him. I will make him give it back.”
Anne’s blue eyes shot him a warning. “You will do no such thing, Jeremy Tyler. Do you think getting yourself killed will bring me any comfort? You sit down right this minute and promise me that you will not do anything so foolish.”
Jeremy stood stubbornly, wavering against making any such promise. Finally, his respect for his sister overpowered his desire for justice. “I promise I will not go right now. But sometime, when I am grown, I will find Mr. Ames and make him give back the ring.”
“When you are grown, you may do as you please. But for now, you must do as I tell you.”
Jeremy sat back down to supper. Yet neither of them had much appetite. They gave up and Anne took Jeremy into the parlor to read while she played on the pianoforte.
They had just seated themselves when a commotion arose from the kitchen and drifted toward the parlor. Someone was sobbing so dreadfully that Anne went to investigate.
She found Betsy supporting Polly. The girl was sobbing so uncontrollably that Anne ordered the butler to fetch her a brandy.
“What has happened, Polly? Why are you back?”
“I told her she had the nerve,” said Betsy. “But all she does is cry.”
Polly took the brandy and gratefully took a sip. When she had quieted a little, she fixed a watery gaze on Anne and began to explain.
CHAPTER FIVE