The Mistresses of Wistmere: A Neo-Gothic Novel

by Rachel Secor

  “You killed May-Jewel’s mother by setting fire to her house,” she accused in a hard voice. “My mother died by fire. Was that your doing also?”

  Brice snickered at her, as if it amused him to see how her mother’s death affected her. His cold almost inaudible reply came from deep within his throat. “Nay, her dyin’ ‘twere by the hand o’ God, a bolt of lightning.” Then he added spitefully, “I would hav’ been glad to do it, but fate struck first.”

  The callousness of his words struck her tender heart, and she retreated from him, anxiously resuming her wait at the bottom of the steps for the men to find Selina. The minutes passed slowly. It seemed like hours before they returned, and she could see as they descended the stairs that they had been unsuccessful in their attempts to find the woman.

  “I told ye,” Brice touted to them all, “that ye’d nair find her!” Suddenly looking up to the top of the stairs, he jerked free of the officers relaxed grip and raised his chained hands. “Selina, m’ beloved,” he cried out. “Coom see what they be doin’ to ye lover!”

  In shocked silence all attention was again focused on the small, dark form who reappeared, leaning on the banister above them.

  Constable Reed’s men started up after her again.

  “Nay, men stay where you are,” he cried, realizing that the woman had little strength left. How she had evaded their search for her before, he had no idea. But he was sure that she hadn’t much time remaining, and he wanted to hear what she had to say.

  Clutching her side, Selina inched toward the steps. Her bruised lips, though pursed to speak, remained mute as she looked over the stilled group below her.

  When Selina’s eyes came to rest on Katherine, Garth suddenly moved to her side as if to protect her.

  “Selina, why have you come to this country? To Wistmere?” He demanded of her in Hindi.

  “To do my husband’s bidding,” came the whispered answer.

  Katherine didn’t understand what was being said, but Selina’s raspy voice sent a shiver through her, and she attempted to move back away from the stairs. But Garth, grasping her arm, held her to him. His steel grip tightened as he spoke again.

  “He told you to murder his children?” He demanded in Hindi again.

  Near faint, Selina clutched the banister, her black eyes raking Garth’s face. “I would have killed you first,” she hissed, “if I had known that you were still alive. No one will take my husband’s wealth from me.”

  Garth’s face tight with anger, he shouted, “Death will!”

  Selina’s wicked expression suddenly turned into a questioning frown as if hearing those words reminded her of something, and she released the banister. With a resurgence of purpose overriding her injuries and pain, and not taking her eyes off of Katherine, she made her way unsteadily down the steps. All the while, she clasped a small vile that hung by a cord at her throat.

  “I will embrace death,” she sneered this time in English. “But I will take this one with me!” Ripping the tiny glass tube from her neck, Selina hurled herself and it at Katherine.

  “No!” Garth’s cry filled the air as he jumped between the attacker and her prey.

  Several things happened at once. The force of Garth’s movement pushed Katherine to the floor. Constable Reed and two of his officers ran forward in an attempt to stop the inevitable. And Vicar Hawes materialized as if from out of nowhere.

  Selina’s propelling form crashed into Garth, the vile in her hand smashing into the side of his face. As Selina’s lifeless body slipped to the floor, Garth felt the small trickles of blood and a strange burning sensation. Though the wound seemed no more than a few small, harmless punctures, his legs began to weaken. Garth reeled around in search of Katherine, his hands outstretched, his eyes unable to focus.

  The realization that he had been poisoned slowly enveloped Katherine. In horror, she screamed as she watched Garth collapse to the floor.

  “Katherine…” Her name came weakly from his lips. Then in Gaelic, he whispered his last words to her, “Dree yer ain wierd.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Garth!” Katherine fell to her knees and pulled him into her arms.

  “Get the doctor!” Constable Reed ordered, and one of his men ran up the stairs.

  Worried hands pulled at Katherine as she cradled Garth close to her. But none could tear her free from him. Turning his ashen face up to hers, blood trickling from the wounds, he shuttered for a final time.

  “Oh, no!” she cried, pressing him closer. She nestled her cheek into the soft waves of his dark hair and wept. Blinded by tears, she couldn’t see his gray eyes close, but she did feel the inevitable release of life as his hand slid from her arm.

  Suddenly David was by her side. He knelt next to her and placed his arm around her. “I’m so sorry, Katherine,” he whispered.

  Tears cascading over her cheeks, she looked at him.

  “Oh, David, he did it to save me!”

  “I know,” he uttered looking at Garth’s crumbled form. “I know.”

  The doctor came running down the stairs but slowed as he saw Constable Reed shake his head. He understood then that his services would be of no use now to either form that lay upon the hall floor.

  Unbeknownst to Katherine, who was lost in moments of grief and not aware of anyone but Garth, the constable then had his men remove Selina’s body from the hall. They stood back and waited for Katherine to release her hold on Garth. When it didn’t look as if she would ever let him go, Alex approached David.

  “Vicar,” he began quietly, motioning to Katherine, “The men want…”

  “Yes, of course.” David moved to stand. “Katherine,” he said gently. When it appeared that she hadn’t heard him, he repeated, “Katherine, let the constable have him now.”

  Dazed with grief, she nodded and slowly released her hold on Garth. The men lifted him from her lap. Assisting her to her feet, David guided her away from the scene and into the drawing room.

  “I’ve only really known him a short time, but he wasn’t at all what they accused him of being,” she sobbed.

  “I know,” David replied, holding her closer. “And he performed a heroic and noble act in saving you.”

  The vicar’s soothing voice and gentle manner was a comfort and, although her tears flowed freely, her trembling ceased. No one had ever done for her what Garth had done. He had awakened love and affection in her and, even though she knew she could never return that love to him, it opened her heart that had been closed to any other emotion but hate. Of that she would be ever grateful to him.

  David led her to the settee. “Can I get you anything?”

  She shook her head. “No, but I think I would rather be alone, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course not. I’ll be just in the hall if you need anything.”

  She nodded and watched him leave. Now alone, Katherine let all the anguish and pain, not only of the last few days but of a life spent without love, pour forth in a torrent of tears.

  “Oh, Garth!” she cried. Her heart ached more at that moment than at any other moment in her life, including at the time of her mother’s death. For she had been younger when her mother died, and the young don’t understand completely the separation of death. Katherine’s thoughts moved to the past when she lived with her mother at the bottom of Wistmere. Then suddenly in all those remembrances came an unclaimed recollection of Garth from her youth. Katherine sat up in surprise as this memory unfolded.

  She might have been seven at the time. She had been sitting on the stone wall that divided her small yard from the fields when a group of village boys started throwing sticks and clumps of grass at her. One hit her and knocked her from the wall. Too proud to cry in front of them, she turned her back to them and their verbal taunts. Suddenly a black pony raced down upon the scene and, with a whip in hand, the rider, a husky lad with a grim expression, chased the boys away. Katherine looked up at the boy as he turned his pony and came back to her. His stormy grey ey
es bore into hers with seemingly great understanding. Then he grinned and, as quickly as he came, he turned and wordlessly raced off across the moor.

  Strange that she just now recalled that incident. Then she wondered if that brief encounter had set Garth so permanently in her mind that when they met again, that kinship was born anew. They shared only moments together but he would forever be closed in that secluded chamber of her heart where pain and love often co-exist.

  * * *

  Upon hearing of Garth’s death, May-Jewel knew that it would be a long time before Katherine would be able to hear his name without tearing up. But May-Jewel also knew that with her and Vicar Hawes’ help and attentiveness, the day would arrive when the horror of what her sister experienced would lessen and only the revered memories of Garth would remain. Time alone would heal that wound.

  May-Jewel’s wounds, however, were healing, and she felt strong enough to confront Alex and his part in all that had transpired. Hadn’t he led her to believe that he had known her mother, implying that their acquaintance was much more than casual? And hadn’t he tried to steal the emeralds and take Wistmere away from her? There are many wrongs for which he had to ask forgiveness.

  When he was summoned at last to May-Jewel’s side, Alex’s hand shook as he placed it on the door latch of her room.

  “I’ve been such a fool that I don’t think I can face her,” he confessed to Katherine.

  “She’ll see the change in you. Go on in.”

  As they entered the room, Alex, still thinking his presence might upset May-Jewel, lingered just inside the door.

  “She’s been askin’ for ye,” Molly whispered to Katherine.

  Tears welled up in Katherine’s eyes as she beheld her sister’s battered face but cheered to see her outstretched hand. Taking it, she sat next to May-Jewel on the bed.

  “Oh, thank God. I’m so happy that you’re going to be all right,” she said, brushing away her own tears. “I thought you would never regain consciousness.”

  May-Jewel’s voice was small but clear as she answered, “The doctor told me some of what happened to me. But I still don’t understand how I ended up in the well.”

  Briefly her sister told May-Jewel the details pertaining to her accident and all that had transpired since then. But as she spoke of Garth’s death, Katherine’s eyes filled with tears again, and she turned from her sister’s gaze.

  “Oh, Katherine, I’m deeply sorry about Garth. But as I was poisoned too, how is it that I’m still alive?”

  “It obviously wasn’t the same kind of poison. They haven’t yet found out what it was that took Garth’s life, and I don’t think we’ll ever know.”

  They sat in tearful silence. Suddenly May-Jewel’s face darkened and the familiar pout appeared. “They should have arrested Alex, too!”

  Quick to respond, Katherine put her right. “But Alex didn’t kill anyone. It was Brice! He was responsible for the deaths of Sir Robert, Charles and your mother. It was he and Selina who plotted against us.”

  “My mother? But Alex said he…”

  “I know,” Katherine whispered, looking toward him. “But he’s innocent.” She leaned closer to her sister. “He’s just inside the door. Give him a chance to explain and defend himself.” She rose, motioning Alex to approach. “I want to speak with the doctor. I’ll just be over there if you need me.”

  Alex, his eyes moistening as he looked down on May-Jewel, brushed a lock of hair from her bruised cheek. “You don’t know how relieved I am that you’re going to get well.”

  In spite of Katherine’s words on his behalf, Alex’s previous actions were still very vivid in May-Jewel’s mind. She turned her face from him.

  “Please,” he begged, kneeling beside her. “Don’t turn away from me. I can’t tell you how sorry I am,” he continued, a break in his voice. “Forgive me. I’ve been such a fool, such a cad.” He gently brushed his lips across her cheek. “Forgive my crudeness and insulting advances. Forgive me for letting greed blind me to the love in my heart.”

  Turning her eyes to him, she whispered, “In the garden, you implied that you knew my mother…” Her words faded.

  “All lies! I tried to… to raise myself in your esteem by implying it.” Alex hung his head and whispered, “I’ve been such a fool.”

  May-Jewel touched his cheek gently. “Yes, you have.” Then pushing his tangled hair aside, she added, “But you have a fair face when it’s not flushed with wine or ambition. And a fair face will get you far.” She smiled weakly.

  Alex cradled her hand in his and kissed it. “If only you’ll forgive me,” his voice ached with remorse, “I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make you happy.”

  “And will you again wear your kilt and dance with me?”

  Lightly pressing his cheek to hers, he whispered, “Aye, every day. And with each step, I’ll tell you how much I love you.”

  Another issue came to mind and May-Jewel asked him, “Are you truly a Papist?”

  Alex wouldn’t slink away from this issue and freely admitted that he was. “Does that matter so much to you?” he asked.

  “No, not really… but I’ll have no more secrets between us.”

  He kissed her hand again and said, “Aye, no more secrets.”

  Smiling, May-Jewel sank back upon the pillow and drifted into a healing sleep.

  * * *

  Stubborn showers and a thick fog shrouded the countryside with a gray moroseness the morning of Charles and Selina’s funerals. There weren’t any friends nor relatives gathered at the grave site to mourn them. The only one in attendance besides Vicar Macailean and Vicar Hawes was Alex, who felt he owed it to Charles to come and pray for the old man’s soul. May-Jewel, though recovering, was by doctor’s orders, restricted to the manor. Katherine couldn’t bring herself to attend the service of Charles as there were too many memories involved, and she wouldn’t attend Selina’s who had been responsible for Garth’s death and so much horror.

  Two days later Garth William Craig was laid to rest. After his funeral, Katherine sat pensively in the garden that encompassed the mausoleum. There wasn’t any need for her to enter the Craig vault for she knew Garth’s spirit had long left the brooding frame that housed his soul. It eased her sorrow to think him set free in death, freer than he could ever have been in life. It didn’t seem likely that he could have overcome all the hate that speared him into manhood. She wept quietly, framing his noble image forever in her mind. His last words to her were ‘Dree yer ain weird’. But how could she ‘Face up to her destiny’ now that so much had changed? Now that Garth was dead? How could she think about life at Wistmere where so much evil had taken place? Could she find the courage to continue to live each day to the fullest? Did she have what it took to claim her destiny? Yes, she admitted to herself, straightening her back and sitting tall. And Garth had helped her to see that she did.

  Once these thoughts were finally formed, Katherine felt a sudden surge of freedom rush through her. She felt she could now release Garth to the past and go on with the future.

  She was brought back to the present as the vicar came up beside her. “I don’t mean to intrude on your privacy, but may I sit beside you for a moment? Comforting is my job, you know.”

  With a small smile, she replied, “I could use some comforting.”

  After a few minutes of silence, she stated, “I believe I’m ready to leave this place of death now, David. Thank you for all you’ve done for us… for me.”

  “Good,” he said rising, “and you’re welcome. Shall I accompany you back to the manor?”

  Rising, Katherine accepted David’s offer and his arm.

  * * *

  Alex greeted them when they arrived at Wistmere. “I was just about to search for you, Katherine. Vicar Hawes, won’t you come in?”

  “I shouldn’t. I have a sermon to prepare.” He looked to Katherine. “But may I call on you later?”

  “Please do.” She lingered at the doorway as he walked aw
ay.

  “Perhaps,” Alex started, drawing her attention from the vicar’s vanishing form, “the doctor will allow May-Jewel to leave her room and join us down here for tea.”

  “Yes, that would be perfect. I’ll go to the kitchen and maybe Molly has some biscuits as well.”

  Alex smiled and headed up the stairs while Katherine disappeared down the hallway.

  The doctor gave his approval but declined to stay for tea himself. “Mind you, now,” he warned as he followed them into the sitting room, “not to overtire my patient.”

  “It’s the furthest thing from my mind,” Alex told him as he led May-Jewel to the settee and carefully wrapped a throw about her shoulders.

  “I’ll be off then. Until tomorrow.” The doctor nodded and left.

  The gloominess of the day couldn’t suppress the glow in May-Jewel’s face. Like a princess, she leaned back into the cushions as Alex attentively covered her legs with another throw. She smiled. It was good to be alive and to be free from the horror that had, for the last few weeks, plagued them and Wistmere. She felt cleansed too, untethered from her past. A letter from Jeremy, delivered while Alex and Katherine were at the funeral, released her from all unspoken promises between them. “I’m unable to come,” it read, “and have made other plans for the future.” It was a hard hitting and direct way to let her know that he had found another to replace her. Oddly enough, May-Jewel wasn’t crushed and didn’t seem to mind so much after all.

  She handed Alex the letter, and said, “Burn it. It’s from a previous beau.”

  “Well, whoever he is, he’s a fool to have let you out of his sight,” Alex said, crumbling the stiff paper and tossing it into the fire. Sitting beside her, he continued, “I’ll never make that mistake.” Casting his eyes to the floor, he became quiet and thoughtful. Arched eyebrows formed into a painful frown as he haltingly began to speak. “I… I have a small estate, of sorts, the other side of Lanarkshire. Though it’s not as old nor as large as Wistmere, it does have an abundance of furniture and a small staff. There wasn’t much of an inheritance left to me from my father, only a modest house and a small tract of land. But I can offer you a very old and respected name. I am the last of my line of Flemings in Scotland, and this experience has taught me that wealth isn’t as important as how, and with whom, you share your life.”