by Jerri Hines
“Issues?” Cathryn asked, confused. “Why would there be issues?”
“Cathryn, Philip knew well that there will be a battle between you and his father. I want to be in-between the two of you. In your condition, it will be for the best,” he answered. “Promise me you won’t do anything rash.”
“Jake, I don’t have the strength to do anything,” she replied honestly. Her eyes welled with tears, a few escaping down. “I don’t want to fight, Jake. I am well aware that I have to care for my child. I will do whatever it takes to care for the babe. No matter what I have to do...”
“Cathryn, are you okay?”
She reached over to grab Jake’s hand for her head spun again and her legs weakened. She could feel his arms around her as she fell back. He called for help and carried her back to her room. Tacy rushed in, followed closely by Mary. From the corner of her eyes she saw Jake leave the room when the Duchess rushed in and called for the doctor.
* * * *
Again the doctor recommended bed rest. “It is necessary. With all that you have gone through, my Lady. If you want to keep the child, you will have to stay in bed at least a week if not more. I understand that the funeral is supposed to be at Longwood. I hate to inform you that I strongly recommend no traveling and not in this weather as of late.”
“Not to attend the funeral?” Cathryn cried. “I can’t. I have to go.”
The Duchess sat by her bed. “No, my child. Philip knew well how much you loved him. You said your good-byes. You have his hope inside of you. You must do as the doctor recommends. Please, for Philip.”
Cathryn cried into her pillow, but she wanted more than anything to deliver a healthy child. She stayed within her bed as everyone left. She was left alone in her despair, except again for Mary and Tacy.
Chapter 12
Each day her strength returned. She had well known the doctor had been correct and she would do whatever it took. She hadn’t cared for herself, not with the stress of Philip’s illness, but the pieces of her heart broke in two not being able to say the final goodbye.
Early morning on the day Philip was to be buried, Cathryn woke. Tacy opened the curtains. The sunlight shone in brightly, slightly blinding Cathryn, who stirred and sat up among her pillows.
“I have your breakfast, Miss Cathryn. Strict orders to eat everything. Got to get you back upon your feet,” Tacy ordered. “Spring is coming. I saw a tulip bloom the other day.”
“Oh, Tacy,” Cathryn cried. “Tacy.”
Tacy ran to her side. “Do I need to call for the doctor, Miss Cathryn?”
“No, no, feel,” Cathryn exclaimed. Taking Tacy’s hand, she placed it upon her growing stomach. “Do you feel it?”
Tacy said nothing for a moment and then her face broke into a smile. “Miss Cathryn, it moved!”
Cathryn’s face covered with tears. “Oh, Tacy, Juriah said it was a sign that it was a healthy babe. Do you think it will be?”
“Yes, Miss Cathryn, it is a sign that all will be all right,” Tacy said, but Cathryn could see worry within Tacy’s eyes.
“What is wrong, Tacy? Don’t try to tell me nothing! You can’t lie. I see it in your eyes,” Cathryn said, moving away from her maid. “Is it the babe? Did the doctor say?”
“Oh, no, Miss Cathryn, it has nothing to do with the child. It’s just...”
“Oh, Tacy,” Mary said when she entered. “You can’t keep anything from anyone. Cathryn, it has nothing to do with the babe, but it is wonderful.” She walked around and took Cathryn’s hand. “You will deliver a healthy child. We’ll make sure of it. Will we not, Tacy?”
“Yes, Miss, but...”
“What Tacy is trying to tell you, which I wouldn’t have on this day, especially,” Mary shot Tacy a look, “is that His Grace has given certain orders.” She hesitated, and then continued. “He has ordered that as soon as you are well enough, we will be evicted from his townhouse. Quite encompassing orders. You aren’t allowed to use anything of his or have use of the carriage. I believe he tried to take the clothes you had off your back, but Tacy told him he couldn’t because you had bought all your own clothes.”
“I want nothing from him,” Cathryn said, determined, holding tight to her stomach, but no sooner had she said the words than a thought ran through her mind. She had taken it off because her fingers had swollen so. “My ring, the ring that Philip gave me. No, he didn’t take that from me.”
“Cathryn, if he could have, he would have thrown you out the door. The Duchess had already left for Longwood, when he came into the ante room. He would have woken you if not for Tacy and me,” Mary said angrily. “He took everything, even the ring. I’m sorry. I couldn’t stop him.”
Cathryn stared out blankly in front of her. “I need to make plans and quickly. I’ve had enough of this place. If he wants me gone, I will comply. Tacy, send a message off to Mr. Hamilton. I need to see him immediately. Mary, I need you to send for my cousin, Reggie. He’s probably at the funeral, but he won’t stay. Tell him Lady Tinsley has need of him. He will come...and once you return, Tacy, pack. We are going to leave.”
* * * *
“What are you telling me, Mr. Hamilton? I thought I was all set.” Cathryn’s irritation grew. She hadn’t left the bed and had had him escorted within the chamber. “I don’t believe I like what you are saying.”
“It’s rather simple, Lady Tinsley,” he said patiently. “I don’t want to add worry to you on this day.”
“I’ve gone through the worst, I can assure you, Mr. Hamilton. I have to leave this house. My father-in-law is evicting me in his goodness.”
“I have never heard of such,” Mr. Hamilton gasped. “In your condition, Lady Tinsley, of course, you shouldn’t worry about money. I will myself set you up at a lovely inn outside of London that I know of until we can get this all settled.”
“If it’s as simple as you say, I shouldn’t have to do so. I have been at this moment making plans. I want to return to my home and leave England.”
“That may present a problem, my Lady.” Mr. Hamilton hesitated. “It was a concern of your husband’s.”
“Then he should have taken care of his father. I was leaving before I married Philip,” she said. “I know he wanted me safe within England, and his child, but my home, where people love me, is in Charles Town, Mr. Hamilton. I don’t want anyone to know where I’m planning on going. Do you understand?”
“Yes, my Lady, but it will have an effect upon the will.”
“I don’t understand, Mr. Hamilton. The way I understood, being a widow, my inheritance...I should have full control of my money,” she said, confused.
“You do as long as you stay within England. Your husband, Lady Tinsley, understood he didn’t have much time left. He, also, didn’t want you to leave England. He tied up your inheritance into his in an ingenious way which he tied to your living within England. If you leave, the money will stay in a trust until your return or the child reaches maturity. If you leave, he set up a guardian for your child and an executor of your estate.”
“If I leave, I have no money?” Cathryn cried.
“No, I didn’t say that. Your brother had requested enough money to run the plantation if it was called upon with the threat of war. I had set aside a substantial amount for such. Obviously, it is yours.”
“Go over the figures with me, Mr. Hamilton. I don’t have time to think of an alternative,” she demanded. “It is my money. How could Philip do such to me?”
“He said he wanted to keep you safe.” Mr. Hamilton stopped with the look she shot at him.
He went over everything again. She had a headache, but she calmed herself. The situation could be handled. Thank goodness, Sumner had requested the money for Elm Bluff or she wouldn’t have had the money to make her escape. She would be fine, she told herself. She hadn’t need for much. She needed only to go home.
* * * *
Reggie smiled smugly. “I don’t understand you, Cousin. You want to leave? Now you are
Philip’s widow you will have everyone at your feet no matter what the Duke of Eversleigh tries. People will invite you only to see the sparks fly between the two of you. I knew life would never be boring around you.”
“Do shut up, Reggie,” she said plainly. “I’m not asking for advice, especially from you. Don’t think I will ever forget your part in my abduction.”
“Reluctantly, I can assure you, Cousin. But, pray, continue. I always listen where money is concerned. What do you want?”
* * * *
Barely two weeks had passed and Cathryn had readied to depart back to Charles Town. Warnings of the war and losing her money hadn’t served as a deterrent. The carriage ride to Plymouth had been uneventful, thankfully, to Cathryn. She found herself feeling better, at least physically. Her mind concentrated upon her only objective, leaving England. She was to meet Reggie at the Coat of Arms Inn. He was to have arranged everything.
Reggie, as agreed, waited within the Inn. He greeted her warmly. “Settle in your room and meet me back down here in two hours.”
Cathryn lay down until the appointed time. Mary and Tacy seemed concerned, but both wanted to depart as badly as she did. She walked steadily down the stairs, hoping her condition could still be hidden, but those days were passing quickly.
“Cousin,” Reggie acknowledged. “Come join us. Let me introduce to you Jean-Louis Renton.”
Cathryn greeted the stranger, caught by surprise. He didn’t have the rough look she had expected, but the look of a gentleman. Tall, good-looking to the extreme, his clothes were immaculate, his eyes shone with adventure.
“It is my pleasure, Madam Blankenship,” he said with a distinguished French accent. He took her hand and kissed it. “I understand you are in need of an escort. You want to go to Charles Town?”
“Is that something that can be arranged, Mr. Renton?”
“With ease. I understand you can pay well for such escort.”
“If my companions and I arrive safely home. I need to leave quickly,” she stated. “I will pay half now and half when we arrive.”
“Are you in condition to leave?”
Cathryn blushed. “I have no choice, but it is the reason why I need to leave quickly. I don’t want questions, Mr. Renton. I only want to go to Charles Town. Do I make myself clear?”
“As long as I get paid, it won’t be an issue,” he responded. “I take it you need a cover to travel. I will come up with such. If you want to go to Charles Town, we will need to cross over to France for the ease of travel to the Colonies...well, it’s much easier.”
“How long will I have to wait?”
“I will have all arranged within the week. Is that soon enough?”
“Yes, please. I can’t stand to be here much longer than that.”
* * * *
A week had passed. Mr. Renton had been slightly mistaken in his calculation of how long it would take, but he had sent word to be ready to leave as soon as he appeared. Cathryn lay upon her bed, staring blankly out the window. Doubts had begun to creep in about whether or not this was indeed the best course of action.
Philip hadn’t wanted her to leave England. He had gone to great lengths to insure she didn’t run. Would he understand? No, she imagined he would not, not this...no one here could. She wanted to be home. If Philip had lived, she would have felt anywhere he was would have been home as long as she was with him. But as she had been after the incident with Lyttleton, she was alone, so totally alone.
But the child was Philip’s. If it was a boy, he would one day be the Duke of Eversleigh. Maybe she had been rash. Her temper...one day she would have to learn to control it. She rubbed her eyes. With all that had gone on, she hadn’t had time to grieve. She now found it came in waves, so encompassing that at times she didn’t know if she would survive it. Sadness, loneliness overwhelmed her.
Tacy had found her drawings. She opened them. They were of Jake on board the Victoria, ones of her Grandmamma’s house, a few of her Grandmamma and Grandfather, but where were the ones of Philip? She had made a whole sketch book of him.
“Tell me, Tacy, the Duke didn’t take them as well? They weren’t his!” Cathryn cried. She burst into tears, which had become a common occurrence lately. “I have nothing left of Philip, as if he didn’t exist for me.”
“He’s an arrogant son of...” Tacy’s voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, Miss Cathryn. I didn’t realize he had taken them until after he had left.”
A knock upon the door startled Cathryn. Mary had ventured out to collect some items they would need upon their journey, but she wouldn’t have knocked to enter back within the room. Cathryn exchanged glances with Tacy. Both were scared to open the door. The knock came again.
Tacy motioned for Cathryn to stay in bed. Not the bravest of people, but there were none left. She slightly opened the door. Cathryn from her bed could hear a faint voice of a woman saying, “I’m sorry to bother you, but the man down stairs said that you may be who I am looking for.”
“I don’t believe so, ma’am. We aren’t expecting any visitors,” Tacy replied. She looked back at Cathryn. Relief filled her face.
“I don’t think the one I’m looking for would be aware of the fact. My son sent me a note requesting that I look into the inns in the area. I’m looking for Lady Cathryn Tinsley.”
Cathryn could have slapped Tacy for she flung back the door. If ever anyone needed to think before her actions! Tacy well tried to cover her tracks by grabbing the door back, but it was too late.
“I’m sorry, ma’am.” Tacy tried to recover.
“Oh, Tacy, let her in now that you have let her know that I’m in the room, you goose,” Cathryn said, irritation clear in her voice. “If you ever thought for one second...”
A short, slightly dumpy woman entered the room. Her gray hair was pulled back into a bun, but she had gentleness within her face. Cathryn knew the eyes. Before the woman introduced herself, Cathryn well knew it was Jake’s mother.
“I’m Martha Pennington,” she said warmly. She walked in, taking a seat by Cathryn’s bed. “I have so looked forward to meeting you, Lady Tinsley. Not in these circumstances, of course, but I’m glad that I was able to find you. I hope you realize that people are searching for you.”
“I wish, too, it was in better circumstances, Mrs. Pennington. But I don’t understand your visit. I don’t wish to seem rude, but my actions are of no concern of anyone’s now.”
Mrs. Pennington stood up again and walked over to the side of the bed. Sitting slightly on the edge of the bed, she eyed Cathryn with a certain tilted look. “I know, my dear. I do. I lost my husband at an early age. One does not understand until it happens to you. It may well not have been in the same circumstances, but I understand your hurt and pain you must be feeling now. I know well how one feels in your condition. Yes, I’m afraid, I know.”
She reached over and squeezed Cathryn’s hand in a gentle manner. “Jake is worried that you are ready to do something foolish. I know that I have no business telling you what to do, but I do know that you shouldn’t do anything rash at the moment. Not while you are hurting so.”
“You have me at a disadvantage, Mrs. Pennington. I’m still confused as to why you are here and how you knew where to look,” Cathryn said bluntly. “Know also that I’m uncomfortable talking with you.”
“Of course, you are. You have to forgive me, but Jake made it sound so urgent that I detain you if I found you. I know no other way than to be honest,” she answered. “And if you feel it better I go, I will, but I would like to offer you another alternative to the course you are about to undertake for I believe you are attempting to cross the ocean once more.”
“I don’t know why everyone is trying to keep me from going home, Mrs. Pennington.”
“My dear, how can you say such? There is a war going on and you must realize that the child you carry could be heir to a dukedom. I don’t think you have much of a choice,” she said earnestly. “I don’t mean you harm. Far from it. I
know the Duke of Eversleigh. Even though I hold him in great respect, I can’t excuse his behavior toward you. I can only theorize that in his hurt, he has lashed out at you. His behavior has been inexcusable.”
“I only want to go to a place where I’m loved,” Cathryn said and broke down. All the frustration and sense of loss again overwhelmed her. She cried.
Martha Pennington took her in her arms and held her gently. She patted her back and talked to her smoothly. “Now, now. It hasn’t been easy; I know much that has happened, but all will get better, once you hold the small one in your arms. You will see.”
“I have to go, Mrs. Pennington. You don’t understand. His Grace...he threw me out of his home...he took all that I had of Philip...everything.” Cathryn choked out the words. “He took my wedding ring...the only thing I cherished. He took my drawings of Philip. I’m left with nothing.”
“Well, now. I won’t let His Grace push me around, my dear. I want you to come home with me. You will find peace along the ocean shore if ever you can find peace again. We live high above the cliffs. A lovely spot.”
“I couldn’t impose upon you,” Cathryn said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Impose? How could you think such after what Philip did for us? Not that Jake was happy, I know, but he will get over it, eventually.”
“Philip did what?”
“He didn’t tell you. Of course, why would he have? When I lost my brother, Franklin, last September, the estate was in such chaos. We were about to lose everything. Franklin wasn’t much of a manager. Jake was out of his mind. He knew well he could be deployed at any time and if we lost the estate, we had nowhere else to go. Besides, poor Julia, she has never known another place. It would have been hard on her. She knows the estate so well that even with her blindness at times one would never know,” Mrs. Pennington rambled on.
“What exactly did Philip do?”
“Well, he paid off all we owed and more. He sent a Mr. Hamilton down in December. He set up an account and had Mr. Hamilton hire a manager for the estate,” Mrs. Pennington answered. “Of course, Jake was livid. I can’t...”