Untitled

by Wendy Bayne

Another carriage appeared from around the side of the house with Meg, Beth and Aunt Mary’s companion Louisa already inside. Samuel’s valet Dalton had ridden ahead to make suitable arrangements at the Inn where we would be spending the night. He had announced at breakfast that provisions for our stay each night would be made in advance at the Inns along our route to London and that we would not deviate from our route without his permission. It seemed that we wouldn’t be wasting any time in getting to London.

  Samuel collected Aunt Mary and Irene and assisted them into the carriage. Then he turned to me just as I was gazing longingly at Jewel. He stopped me as I made to climb into the carriage. “I promise that you’ll be able to ride her before the day is done.” I smiled and kissed him on the cheek then got in with his assistance. I resisted the urge to look back at the Abbey, it was no longer my home, I could feel the tears threatening but I was able to hold them back. I tried hard not to think about the fact that I was leaving behind everything I had ever known.

  We made our way down the road and through the village. The people there stopped and stared as we drove past, some even waved. As we passed Ford’s I saw Becky standing there with tears running down her cheeks; she fled back into the store when Samuel rode by without even acknowledging her. Mrs Ford remained outside of the store, smiling, and when Samuel turned to look back, he doffed his hat to her and she curtseyed. I chuckled a bit since it was obvious that they must have plotted this snubbing of Becky, it was for her own good. As we came to the smithy I saw Russell Biggles standing there with his arms crossed across over his broad chest and a grim expression on his face. But he nodded to Samuel and as we passed by Samuel yelled to him, “I wish you well, Russell! Feel free to name your first born after me!” Russell broke out in a smile, laughing heartily, and raised his hand in farewell.

  Once we were on the open road Aunt Mary kept up a steady stream of conversation, listing the names of all the people we would have to visit when we reached London, including all those that we would have invite to luncheon and dinner, what kind entertainments we should host and so on. My opinion was not asked about the planning of these events, so I hoped that my participation would be minimal.

  Irene was madly taking notes while occasionally glancing at Aunt Mary with a look of considerable concern as the list continued to grow. Aunt Mary finished just as Samuel signalled for the carriage to halt. We pulled over into a meadow to allow the horses some rest and for us to stretch our legs and take care of the necessities. There was a creek with some shade trees close to the roadway. The horses were watered as picnic hampers were distributed and blankets were spread beneath the trees for us to dine el fresco.

  Samuel was in a better humour now as he stretched out, regaling us with stories of his last time in London. They were mainly about the theatre, balls and parties he had attended and how much Irene would enjoy them. He told me about the menagerie at the Tower and how he would take me there to see the exotic animals and that we’d go riding in Hyde Park every morning. I smiled that he still thought of me as a child or perhaps, he had no idea what a young lady of sixteen may or may not be interested in; especially when he was extolling the talents of an extraordinary doll maker he knew. “His dolls have porcelain faces that are so life-like you’d swear they could talk.”

  I shuddered at the thought of dolls talking. I hadn’t fancied dolls since I had been given a French doll at the age of five with glass eyes that would open and close if you tipped the head back and forth. It had been very unsettling to my over-active imagination. “Don’t you think I’m a little too old for dolls, Uncle?”

  His eyes widened as he glanced at me like he was seeing me for the first time. “Hmmm…yes I suppose you’re right. I stand corrected, Lissa, you are past the age for dolls. Perhaps a bracelet would be a better gift.” Then he was off on a story of how he knew the perfect jeweller.

  I rolled my eyes at him and changed the subject. “Now that I’m Mr Turner’s daughter do you think that he will still be willing to teach me to shoot?” Samuel started to laugh, falling backwards, holding his hat over his face. Our aunt and Irene just looked at me with the most horrified expressions.

  “He most certainly will not!” Aunt Mary was very flustered, almost forgetting the glass of wine in her hand that was in danger of spilling onto her skirts.

  At the same time, Irene said, “Wherever did you get that idea, Lissa?”

  Samuel stopped laughing, removing his hat from his face and rolled onto his side, so he could see us all. Then he cleared his throat. “I think I can answer that my, dearest sister, it was Colin that gave Lissa the idea and I wouldn’t be the least surprised if he intends to keep his promise. Be prepared to be shocked, Aunt Mary, Colin has always been unconventional, and I expect he will remain so.”

  Aunt Mary was able to right her glass of wine just in time to avert a spill, tossing the remaining contents onto the grass as she sputtered, “But—but surely he can wait until he has a son!” Irene choked on her wine and turned crimson.

  Samuel was smiling with an impish grin at the scene. “Oh come now, Irene, surely you know that Colin wants more children and so do you as a matter of fact. Besides he has the responsibility of begetting an heir and a spare, doesn’t he? When his grandfather passes away, Colin will inherit. Don’t you fancy being a countess?”

  Aunt Mary tried to cover my ears unsuccessfully during this exchange, however, I escaped her attempts through a combination of her own restlessness and my squirming.

  Without stopping to think for which I blame my youthful exuberance, I blurted out, “An heir and a spare? Why can’t I be Mr Turner’s heir?” Later I deeply regretted asking that question, mostly because Irene looked hurt and once we were back on the road I received a lecture from Aunt Mary about hereditary primogeniture and a woman’s place in society. It was enough to scare me into silence for the next several miles. And after giving it all careful consideration it seemed to me that unless you were widowed or wealthy and eccentric, a woman’s place amounted to little more than the privilege of being a man’s possession. I was determined that I would have to find a way to be wealthy but not married.

  I spent the better part of an hour just watching the scenery go by as my aunt napped and my mother appeared lost in her own thoughts. Then Samuel suddenly called a halt to our procession. He rode up to the carriage window, “Would you care to ride, Lissa? I think Jewel is a bit restive, she needs a good gallop and you should learn how to handle her under those conditions.” I readily agreed and to my aunt’s horror the groom Jacob helped me out of the carriage then assisted me to sit astride, then I raced off down the road with my Uncle Samuel.

  He slowed to a trot while we were still visible to our companions but out of earshot. “I couldn’t help but overhear parts of the lecture you were receiving from our aunt.” I raised a brow and pursed my lips glaring at him but we both grinned. “Her voice tends to carry when she’s in a high dudgeon. So, I thought I’d rescue you before you made up your mind to be a confirmed spinster.” He was chuckling then went on to say very seriously, “Lissa, you should know that there’s nothing better in this world than a man and woman bonded by love. Believe me when I say that Colin and Irene will want you to marry for love.”

  I looked at him askance. “So I won’t be bartered on the marriage mart?”

  He grimaced. “You, my dear, will never have to worry about that. When Aunt Mary was talking about your season she was reflecting on how some marriages are arranged by an individual’s parents. Basically, it amounts to two people being told who they will marry by their fathers, usually for the benefit of wealth or position. The individuals themselves may have some small choice in the matter but only in regards as to who has the most money, power or the best pedigree. Love in such matches is rare and when there’s no love, neither party is ever happy.” He looked very sad and I wondered if his own parents’ marriage had been arranged or perhaps he’d been told who he could marry and could not marry. He broke out of his revere and c
ontinued, “Husbands and wives in those marriages will do their duty to keep the line going by having children but sadly it’s often only the children that are loved.”

  “If that’s an arranged marriage; then what kind of marriage do Mr Turner and Irene have?”

  He smiled and looked over his shoulder to see that the carriages were still a distance away. “The best kind, Lissa. They have a love match. I have never seen, the like of their devotion to each other and you. Irene thinks she was weak by not following Colin to the continent. But Colin, Aunt Mary and I believe she did the noblest thing anyone could do, she gave up being with the man she loved to see that you were raised with all the privileges that were your birth right. It hurt her more than you know not to tell you that she was your mother or who your father really was. But until now I don’t think you could have understood why they sacrificed so much. They love you a great deal, Lissa.” He leaned over to look me in the eye. “Is any of this making sense to you?”

  I nodded yes, and he patted my arm self-consciously then he suggested we turn back and join the carriage once again. As we walked our horses back I brought up the one question that was burning a hole in my heart. “I understand, but Samuel, Mr Turner, I mean my father, he left me, he stopped visiting and Irene never took me with her when she went to see him. How is that fair?”

  He shook his head. “Colin never left you. After the General had forbidden him in our home, he came to the neighbourhood whenever he could and stayed at the Sickle or with Lord Gromley. He watched you from afar as you grew and bought you many of the gifts that I gave you, including Lotus and Jewel. He bought most of your books, writing and drawing materials. In fact, he would have me fetch your journals and drawings for him to see.” Giving me a devilish smile, he said, “Why do you think I volunteered to hide them from the General? I want you to know that my best friend and your father loves you very much.” He leaned towards me and lowering his voice mischievously said, “Now, not a word to your mother or our aunt but he will keep his promises to you, Lissa. He has never broken a promise that I know of. Not only that but he’ll assure that you’re better educated than most debutantes.” Baron took a side step and tossed his head, Samuel calmed him with a word and sat up again, continuing in a more serious tone, “But more than anything he will always love you, never doubt that no matter how many brothers and sisters you might have.” He turned and looked back the way we had come. “You should know too that Irene did take you to see Colin when you were a baby. But once you started to talk, she couldn’t risk taking you anymore. It would have hardly been fair to expect you to keep such a secret at such an early age, it could have been disastrous for them.”

  Samuel reached out to swat my hat forward, covering my eyes, then he galloped off leaving me to straighten it and trot back to the carriage. Once there I was forced to dismount at my aunt’s insistence and climb back into the carriage.

  Samuel had made it very clear that we would be on the road for several days, a fact that our aunt was not at all happy about. She would have liked to break our trip in Lincolnshire for a few days with the Marquess of Exeter, an old friend of hers. Much to her annoyance Samuel insisted that we would be pushing through to London. He was emphatic that there would be no visits with old friends along the way. I thought that perhaps he was worried that the General would come after us.

  We reached the Inn at dusk; road weary and hungry. Our grooms and footmen split into two groups, one group followed us into the Inn and the other went with the carriages and luggage. Samuel’s valet Dalton met us at the door with the Innkeeper who took us immediately upstairs. Samuel effectively blocked my view of the common room as we climbed the stairs, but it sounded rather busy if not exactly boisterous for a public house in an insignificant town. The Innkeeper was in awe of Aunt Mary and kept bobbing like a robin as he showed us to our rooms. I would be sharing a large comfortable room with my aunt and mother while our maids and Aunt Mary’s companion would share a similar room across the hall. Samuel and Dalton took the smallest room at the head of the stairs. The rest of the servants had accommodations next to the common room and in the stables.

  In the private parlour, a table was already set for us to dine and a roaring fire was in the hearth, taking the chill out of the room. In a nook near the hearth, I spied a large feather bed stored to keep it warm for weary travellers. I thought it rather curious that Uncle Samuel immediately arranged at a significant cost for the parlour to remain empty for the entire night. The innkeeper was only too happy to accommodate us at a price I’m sure was well above what he would have normally expected from other overnight clients. With the arrangements made, he assured us that once we had washed off the dust of the road our repast would be ready.

  Aunt Mary huffed at the little man as she slowly looked around but before she could start ordering people about Samuel jumped in and requested that as few of the Inn’s staff as possible have access to our rooms or the parlour. They were to just bring the food up and we would serve ourselves. He also insisted that we all remain above stairs and talk to no one. The innkeeper nodded and seemed not the least affronted. Indeed my uncle seemed to be on familiar terms with him, but it was obvious that he didn’t trust him completely. Samuel was worried about something and it was about more than just getting us to London.

  After removing my pelisse and washing my face and hands I returned to the parlour to find Samuel standing by the hearth staring into the flames. He caught me watching him from the doorway and beckoned me to join him, then he whispered, “You, young lady, see far too much. I hope you have the good sense not to say anything to our aunt or Irene about what you suspect. It is of the utmost importance, Lissa, that you not say anything. I don’t want them to be afraid, so not a word about anything. Do you understand?”

  Before I could ask him any questions Aunt Mary walked in. “Good heavens, Samuel, are you trying to roast the child alive? Come here, Clarissa, and sit beside me. I’d like to talk to you about age appropriate activities for young ladies of your position.”

  I sighed, Samuel squeezed my shoulder, but I went reluctantly and sat with her. She patted my hand as she looked me over from head to toe. “You’re a very pretty child and I think you’ll blossom into a very beautiful young lady before too long.” She took my chin turning my head from side to side. “Yes, you seem to have inherited the best features of both the Hughes and Turners. It’s too bad that your eyes aren’t blue; with your colouring, they would have been stunning. Well, we must all work with what God gave us.” She had a faraway look in her eyes and I wondered if she was looking back at her own youth. Then she suddenly refocused on me, “Yes, I do believe you will be one of society’s great beauties.” I looked to my Uncle Samuel for help, but he only smiled as I grimaced.

  Samuel went to the table and poured out a glass of wine then came over and handed it to her. “Aunt Mary, with all due respect, Lissa is only sixteen. She hardly needs to have her qualities evaluated just yet.”

  Our Aunt took a cautious sip then another, she seemed pleased with the wine. “Rubbish, my dear boy, it’s never too early to start looking out for the girl’s future.” She held the glass up to the light. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear that this wine was French.”

  Samuel poured himself a glass and drank deeply, then filled his glass again. “It probably is, Aunt. Smuggling is one of the few vocations left to the people that is still profitable these days.”

  She grunted in disapproval, yet she took another sip. “Always has been, my dear boy, it always has been. Might I impose on you to ask our host if I could purchase a few bottles of this marvellous vintage before we leave?”

  Samuel chuckled. “Consider it done, milady.” He drank off the rest of his glass then poured another.

  At that moment, Irene walked in hand in hand with a tall, dark-haired gentleman with a chiselled jaw and laughing brown eyes just like mine. It was Colin Turner, my father. He was looking exceptionally nervous as he stopped in front of me and in a vo
ice full of emotion, said, “Hello, Lissa, it’s so very good to see you again.”

  He turned slightly, taking Aunt Mary’s hand and kissed it. “Lady Alford, thank you for watching over my family all these years. It’s a debt that I can never repay you.” She blushed as she looked at me then back at him. I felt a flutter in my chest…he had referred to me as family! His eyes were so like my own but his were filled with combination of fear and hope. No one seemed to breathe, and I could feel that everyone was waiting. He didn’t touch me, but I could feel myself wanting him to hug me and never let go. Instead we just stared at each other, neither of us wanting to break the spell by moving.

  My self-control finally broke and I threw myself at him. He caught me to him, hugging me close, rocking us back and forth, telling me all the nonsensical things I had dreamed a father would tell a beloved daughter. When he let me go, I realised that I was crying, he was crying, Irene, my mother, was crying and everyone else had tears in their eyes. He hugged me again then kissed both of my cheeks and called me his darling girl repeatedly. I felt like my heart would burst. Irene came to stand beside us then suddenly my father was hugging us both and laughing.

  Aunt Mary cleared her throat and Samuel moved to pour wine for everyone just as Aunt Mary coughed again more loudly. “Good Heavens, Irene, Mr Turner, would you please try to control yourselves! Samuel gave me the distinct impression that we were to be circumspect and not draw attention to ourselves.”

  There was a sharp knock at the door just then. Samuel put down his glass as he pulled a knife from his boot with his other hand then he went to answer the door. My father turned quickly, facing the door, pulling me and Mother behind him. We all watched as my uncle opened the door cautiously. It was the innkeeper, his wife and daughter carrying in trays of food. Samuel stooped down, hiding his knife once again in his boot. Colin approached the man with a smile and laughter as they set the trays down. He patted him on the back, whispered in his ear then gave him some coins. The innkeeper smiled, nodded and left with his wife and daughter; but not before the daughter and Samuel had fully assessed each other’s qualities much to the chagrin of her mother. Father locked the door after them, then turned around, smacking his hands together. “Well, I don’t know about all of you, but I’m famished.”