Chapter 10. You’re Home Now…
The Ladies Colton finally felt fairly settled in at Wellbrook Hall. They had managed to unpack all of their trunks and satchels with Laura and Molly’s help, learning more than they had ever wanted to know about the Earl along the way. Molly knew about his first wife, how she had died and how it had grieved him and his children. She pointed out some of the portraits of Lady Abigail Tournley Edwards from around the manor, in addition to finding a hammer, nails and a spare, tall footman to hang Papa Duncan’s paintings in Lady Margaret’s suite.
While Laura unpacked Lady Margaret’s trunks in the peach suite, Molly chattered away in the violet suite as she dusted off books she pulled out of the trunks and finished placing some of Benjamin and Samuel’s sculptures and vases about both suites under the direction of the Ladies Colton. Selina and Madalene eventually wandered into the suites to help with the unpacking process. Madalene reached in an open trunk and handed Georgiana an oval, framed sketch of Benjamin.
Trembling a little, Georgiana placed the framed sketch on her night stand and sat on the edge of the bed dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
“You’re home now, Benjamin,” she said in a barely audible whisper.
Selina had been watching from near the foot of the bed at a curtained bed post. She slid onto the bed near the silently weeping governess and wordlessly placed one hand on Georgiana’s to console her. It was the most emotion and friendship Selina had been able to show her since her arrival. Little Madalene and Molly grew quieter as they absorbed the episode.
Later that evening while brushing her hair for bed, Molly said, “Beggin’ yer pardon, m’lady, but in me opinion, yer’ve hadduh breakthrough with Lady Selina! Aye! Somethin’ nobody else has done!”
“I suppose we have both shared grief,” she said, her eyes on the vanity mirror as she searched her face for signs of age and weariness. Her dark circles had almost vanished since coming to Bridesgate Park but today she had traces of a little puffiness from her tears.
“The Earl would have been pleased to have witnessed it. Selina dern’t show emotion tuh nobody, my Lady.” She set the brush back on the vanity and proceeded to pour fresh water into the pitcher for the next morning. “Aye, the Earl would be pleased indeed tuh hear of it.”
“Do you really think so Molly?”
“Indeed, ma’am I do. I surely do, indeed!” Molly had nodded profusely with wide eyes. “Lord Edwards had been real worried ‘bout her. She hain’t been the same since ‘er Mama passed away.”
“I’ll consider mentioning it to Lord Edwards if the opportunity comes along,” she replied as Molly helped her out of her robe. She would sleep well now that she and Lady Margaret were unpacked. Her eyes were drawn to the sculpture of Ruth from the Bible carrying a gleaning basket that Benjamin had made, now displayed prominently on the fireplace mantle. One of Papa Duncan’s portraits now looked serene in Georgiana’s personal sitting room… a winter scene of the Chateau de Fleurs in the setting of the Alps.
The next day Molly had even dragged an unused corner hutch down from the attic for Margaret’s dishes to be proudly displayed in her sitting room. They were finally starting to feel at home and develop a fairly steady routine.
They were also looking forward to attending a church service that coming Sunday and the Earl’s children were opening up to both of them, even Selina, though she still remained somewhat aloof and distant. The Earl promised to take them on a tour of the village before the trip to the ocean, though he had been rather busy since the day of the picnic and the tour of the gallery. He had taken the day after the picnic to show both Lady Margaret and Lady Georgiana the gallery. They had expressed their sorrow concerning the loss of his wife. He had rather rushed them on to other portraits but had lingered over those Papa Duncan had done.
They had also explored the entire house… discovered the conservatory and enjoyed a great deal of time in the vast library. They enjoyed evenings in the upstairs sitting room, walks in the garden and on the grounds and leisurely summer afternoons. The children were glad that with summer beginning they could turn their focus to only two short lessons and visits with their music teacher for piano and violin. Lady Selina began spending a great deal of time drawing at an easel in the garden in the afternoons. Madalene sometimes spent hours with paper dolls and a large, very well constructed dollhouse placed near the nursery window. She also practiced the piano more than the others while Edmund spent more time with the violin. Edmund spent most of his time in the stables, riding or meandering about the estate, being attached to his chestnut horse, Jasper, and a calico barn cat, Pickle, who sometimes ended up in Madalene’s pram.
The Earl had attended every dinner and spent all of his evenings with the family except one in which he had mentioned he had a prior dinner engagement. Georgiana assumed it might be at Rosewood Manor with Lord Barrington and his daughter and asked no questions. It really was none of her business who he dined with. She was there to be the governess… and nothing more until God made it clear to her otherwise. She noticed the Earl was doing his best to remain detached, yet amiable. They had barely spoken since the day of the tour of the gallery other than at meals and when the family gathered in the evenings around the upstairs sitting room.
It wasn’t but a week after the picnic that Georgiana, at her bedroom window seat, finally caught a glimpse of the recently elusive Lady Juliana on a horseback ride with the Earl. That particular morning she had decided to have breakfast in her room on a tray and sleep in a little later than usual. At about nine o’clock, Molly had brought a tray up as she had instructed her to do the night before. She helped her into the blue brocade dress with the mauve trim from Paris. As Molly arranged her hair she casually remarked that the Earl was off riding with Lady Juliana that morning.
She chose to let the subject pass with no indication of remorse concerning the matter. “Have you heard from your Walter yet, Molly?”
“No, my Lady and it breaks my heart,” she answered somberly as she finished placing the last few ringlets around Lady Georgiana’s face in a becoming manner.
“Well, try not to worry. We’re all praying for your beloved’s safe return.”
“Thank ye, ma’am,” Molly bobbed and was soon headed in the direction of Lady Margaret’s room, leaving her with the breakfast tray on a small table pulled up to the window seat.
Georgiana lifted the lid on the plate and revealed a boiled egg, a warm buttermilk biscuit with honey and a small bowl of fresh cut squares of melon, quartered strawberries and blueberries. She had finished her breakfast and glancing out of the window past the garden toward the rolling meadows that lay beyond, it was then she spotted the Earl and what must have indeed been Lady Juliana.
Something in her heart rather melted with despair but she calmly sipped her steaming cup of tea while looking out the window. The pair continued to ride until they crested a small hill and were then too far away to be seen from her window any longer. She had not been prepared at all for how seeing the couple together would make her feel and was somewhat baffled by her thoughts and emotions. She prayed: Lord, I know you haven’t brought me this far to leave me now. I have the oddest feeling that the Earl is the man you want me to marry. I trust you in this situation. If I’m wrong, then show me what your plan is.
She pushed the Earl from her mind and spent extra time in the solace of her room that morning, glad for the reprieve, taking time to read from the gospel of John, chapter fourteen. She always felt God’s peace and comfort when she read that chapter.
By the time she joined the children in the garden a little later, she knew what she had to do. She needed to talk to the Earl but he seemed to have disappeared for the day. There was no sign of Juliana either, for which she was greatly relieved. She helped the children through their French and Bible lessons. Each of them settled into their own agenda for the day after a ligh
t luncheon of a potato soup with a cream base. Bradley had offered a platter of hearty rolls with butter and another footman served smaller plates of crisp salad of greens topped with radish slices and crushed walnuts to accompany the soup. Lady Margaret had remarked upon Lord Edward’s absence but no one really knew what had occupied his day since his early morning ride with Lord Barrington’s daughter. Again, Lady Georgiana found it somewhat disheartening to discuss or think about. She pushed her feelings aside and determined she must not ever again let feelings for the Earl rise in her heart. She felt rather foolish for having let her guard down since arriving at Wellbrook Hall.
Madalene had informed the family that she had a tea party in the nursery planned with her dolls and excused herself from the table, allowing Nurse Lottie to lead her and an armful of dolls upstairs with a look that said, “Time for a nap!”
Selina had a headache and planned to take an afternoon lie down, as did the Ladies Colton, minus the headache. Edmund said he planned to go riding for about an hour and would return to spend time labeling the butterflies he’d added to his growing insect collection. He was meticulously preserving the insects between two layers of framed glass Henry Trenton had produced for that sort of thing. Apparently Trenton was trying to earn the Earl’s good opinion and favor ever since the meeting they’d had the day of Georgiana’s tour of the estate.
Georgiana wearily trudged upstairs to her room and was glad to have a restful nap since it seemed the Earl wasn’t going to reappear anytime soon. All she knew for certain from her morning prayer time was that she had to tell him as soon as possible that she wasn’t going to the ocean with the family after all. She was glad that he would probably appear at the usual supper hour.
He did appear on time for the evening meal. When supper was finished, the family gathered around the upstairs sitting room. Edmund brought out his violin and entertained everyone for about the space of half an hour before he retired the instrument to its case and resumed the reading of “Gulliver’s Travels.” Lady Margaret contented herself with needlework. Selina continued her attempt to instruct Madalene in the art of sewing a dress for her doll from scraps of fabric they’d collected from Briggs.
Georgiana found a book and sat quietly beside the fireplace. She still hadn’t found a moment alone with the Earl to speak her mind. He seemed preoccupied with a letter he was constructing at the writing desk. Occasionally a footman, Simon, looked in on the family to fill their cups with tea and offer a platter of raspberry tarts and cookies. Lottie finally came to fetch Madalene for bed and her father dutifully set his quill aside and kissed her little cheek.
“Sleep well Maddie Muffin.”
“Sleep well Papa.”
Eventually Simon came to collect teacups and the platter of cookies. The older children were yawning. They and Lady Margaret rose to retire to bed, talking excitedly of the upcoming journey to the ocean even as they filed out of the sitting room.
“Are you coming along, ma petite fille?” ¹ On the way out of the sitting room, Lady Margaret paused at the door. Georgiana usually retired when she did.
“I’ll be along in just a little while,” Georgiana said without looking up from her book.
Lady Margaret decided against remonstration and simply bid her a restful sleep. Nathaniel kept writing after wishing the others a good night, only the sound of his quill filling the room from time to time. She forced herself to read a few more paragraphs of Daniel Defoe’s “Robinson Crusoe” but when she had read the same paragraphs several times and still hadn’t any idea of what she’d read, she snapped her book shut loudly with a sigh, drew in her breath deeply and announced that she had decided not to accompany the family to the ocean. The Earl had by this time finished his letter and had seated
¹ma petite fille = my little daughter/girl
himself in his usual chair by the fireplace near the chair she was sitting in. He now wore a look of astonishment.
“What will you do all day in this empty house while we are away on holiday?” He thought to tempt her into changing her mind.
“If you don’t mind, my Lord, I would like to spend a few days in London shopping for suitable garments in the latest English fashions. As you know, in addition to dressing for mourning, I’ve been in France for a long time. I feel as though I am long overdue to visit a proper English seamstress. T hen, after a week in London, I plan to visit my sister and family in Yorkshire. She has been rather beside herself with concern for my welfare since the passing of my husband.” She kept her eyes on her hands, folded in her lap.
Why he hadn’t thought of asking his new household members if they needed to travel to London for a shopping excursion had been terribly inconsiderate. He chided himself inwardly. How could he even consider declining her request? And of course her sister would like to see for herself that she was in good health. Recovering his good manners quickly, he said, “Of course! Please forgive me for not considering a trip to London before now. It should have been among my first concerns for your wellbeing and that of your mother. I will be most happy to make the travel arrangements for you.”
“Please don’t consider yourself at any fault in this matter. I only recently came to the conclusion that this would be in order. Lady Margaret may want to travel to London later, but I think she would certainly benefit from a trip to the ocean for health reasons.”
“Absolutely, yes, I am inclined to agree…”
“I am so very thankful for your benevolence to us. You have been nothing but generous in every possible way.”
“May I mention, there is no need for a hotel? It is not an expense we desire to incur. You may use the London townhouse while you are there. We have an extra coach and footmen who will see to your safe arrival and return trip. One of the stable hands will drive you… and I will assign a cook and maid to accompany you as well. Are you quite sure you would not rather be at the seaside? Perhaps we should delay the trip until your safe return…”
“Yes, I am certain,” she said. “It seems like a great deal of trouble …”
“Not at all! I would do no less for Selina or Maddie.”
Did he really consider her like a daughter? “You are most gracious, My Lord. I do hope you will all have a splendid holiday and please do not delay it. The children would be terribly disappointed and I would be the subject of their blame, which is not the way to have a desirable start as their governess. And I hope you will be so kind as to look after Lady Margaret while I am away. We mustn’t let her talk herself out of a journey to the seaside!”
“Of course,” he said. Why did he feel so disappointed?
“Have you settled on which seaside?”
“Yes, I believe we have. The children and I have taken a vote. Everyone is of a mind to avoid Brighton and Bath and the popular seaside resorts. I’ve decided on a house we’ve stayed in before along the sandy shores in a small village called Holland-on-Sea. It’s located southeast of Colchester -- not terribly far; a few hours by coach. We’ve had a number of other holidays there over the years and the children and I have enjoyed the privacy.”
“It sounds perfect. Perhaps next year I will be able to accompany you, but I have had a letter from my sister since my arrival at Wellbrook Hall and she insists that I come as soon as possible.”
“Yes, well, the war with France has probably loomed in her mind heavily-- in addition to your circumstances.” He said, looking at her thoughtfully.
“Then you understand more than most might,” she perceived, standing to her feet. “For that I am filled with inexpressible gratitude. I wish you a good night, my Lord.” She curtsied.
He rose to his feet with her and nodded slightly. “We’ll work out the details tomorrow …or within the next day or two, then.” As she left the sitting room empty without her soft voice and sweet smile, he pondered the predicament. Perhaps he would write to Lord Cole Barrington, the Baron of Rosewood Manor, tomorrow, since J
uliana had said he was still in London. He would ask him to look in on her when she arrived… and maybe Maxwell… the only two friends he could say he might trust in his absence. Maybe …Lady Caroline Sturbridge? She could introduce Georgiana to a number of suitable friends or companions of the right sort… and perhaps Lady Georgiana had some friends of her own living in London.
…Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth… Deuteronomy 5:24, Authorized King James Version
The Redemption of Lady Georgiana Page 11