The Mistresses of Wistmere: A Neo-Gothic Novel

by Rachel Secor

  May-Jewel sat up in surprise, the light in her deep purple eyes dancing. “You mean you have a manor? I never really thought…”

  Pressing his fingers lightly to her lips, Alex continued, “I love you and nothing would make me happier than for you to be my wife.”

  She leaned forward and caressed his face in her hands. “Yes, yes! I love you too, Alex!”

  “You may have to relinquish your claim to Wistmere. I’m not at all sure Katherine would tolerate my hands in things now. Could you give up your inheritance for me?”

  But she didn’t answer his question, for the door suddenly opened and Katherine, balancing a tray of rattling spoons, tea cups and a teapot, entered the room.

  Upon seeing May-Jewel, Katherine immediately set the tray onto the table and came to her. “Oh, I’m so glad you are up and about. Everything will be all right now.”

  Molly suddenly appeared. “Mistress,” she began as she placed a platter of muffins on the sideboard. “Mister Jameson be here.”

  “Mr. Jameson? Show him in! And, Molly, please bring another cup.”

  The solicitor entered, his inverness cape damp and rumpled from his long journey. “I apologize for my delayed arrival. I tried to come as soon as I received your letter but was unable.” He smiled and removed his coat, handing it to the cook as she left the room. “I would have been here this morning for the funeral but the roads are almost nonexistent, the mud, you know. Ah, Scotland!” He greeted the women with a deep bow, pleased to see them so calm in each other’s presence. He studied their faces and their manners. They have changed, he thought, watching Katherine pour the tea and handing a cup to May-Jewel. He then offered his hand to Alex and moved to the warmth of the fireplace.

  “It’s good of you to come,” Katherine said. “Sorry you missed the funeral.”

  “Yes, I’m sorry I missed it too. Perhaps you can explain in detail the occurrences leading to Garth’s death.” Opening his portfolio, he missed the sadness that flitted upon Katherine’s features. He pulled forth papers and money, then he moved to spread them over the low table in front of the sofa.

  Seemingly uninterested, May-Jewel leaned back, reveling in the thought of Alex’s proposal. By accepting, she would have to give up her position at Wistmere. But Alex, too, had a manor and servants! It makes no difference, she decided, one manor is the same as another! And this one would have Alex in it! But the little smile that had wound around her lips faded as her thoughts took a more serious turn. How would they live? In view of the part that Alex had played in the chaos that shook Wistmere, would he be welcomed to stay on as a partner in the shipping line? Had Katherine forgiven him for his nasty plotting against her? May-Jewel didn’t know, but she was sure of one thing, she did want to be Alex’s wife.

  “I guess before we go any further,” May-Jewel interrupted, “that I should tell you both that Alex has asked me to marry him, and I’ve accepted.”

  “What?” Neal Jameson exclaimed.

  Katherine was instantly at her side. “Oh, May-Jewel, that’s wonderful!”

  Alex stood with a stunned look upon his face until he realized that May-Jewel had actually accepted him. Then he beamed and shook Neal’s pro-offered hand of congratulations.

  “So,” May-Jewel continued, blushing with emotion, “I don’t think I’ll be needing two manors, do you Katherine?”

  “No, you don’t need two manors, although I’m sure you could handle both. But,” her smile faded, her eyes grew dark with sadness. “I’ll miss you more than you will ever realize.” Just as the atmosphere of the moment became solemn, Katherine glowed, “Congratulations!” and hugged them both. “And if you are seriously declining your part of Wistmere, May-Jewel, I think it only fair that restitutions be made to you in the form of monies, in agreement with Mr. Jameson, of course. You could call it a wedding gift.”

  “Well, if you really want to do that,” her sister purred, “I accept your offer.” She smiled lovingly at Alex, who sat next to her and took her hand into his.

  “Then it’s done,” the solicitor exclaimed, satisfied with Katherine’s solution. He pulled some other papers from his portmanteau. “If that’s the case, then Mistress Belwood will have to look over these documents first, then you, Mistress St. Pierre.”

  As the papers were read by both May-Jewel and, because she wished it, Alex, Katherine rose and stood at the fireplace, her eyes on her sister’s new beau. Except for trivial matters, she had purposely avoided speaking to him about his incriminating actions. The past, she figured, was better left forgotten.

  Alex took his eyes off the papers to see Katherine looking at him. He paused and wondered how he could approach the woman that he had tried to rob, the woman that he had cursed and wished dead? But he had changed, and now he only needed time to prove himself. If he and May-Jewel were going to marry, he would have to straighten things out between Katherine and himself as soon as possible. Now, he thought, was as good a time as any. He winked at May-Jewel, rose, and approached Katherine.

  He started slowly, “I… I know that I’ve abused my position as manager of this estate, as well as in the shipping line, and I have no right to ask…”

  But Katherine didn’t let him finish. Her words were firm and spoken quickly. “Your position in the Craig Shipping Line hasn’t been challenged, Alex. Whereas I can’t fault a man for his beliefs, I do find fault in the methods with which he serves those beliefs.”

  Distress creased Alex’s features. This wasn’t going well at all. He stared at the floor. I’ll not plead, he thought.

  “Still,” she continued, a light smile briefly filling her face, “you did a superior job before the emerald affair came up. Perhaps all you need is a gentle guiding hand to help you to rearrange your priorities.” She glanced at May-Jewel.

  Following her gaze, Alex replied, “That’s an extravagant hand to support. What I need is assured employment.”

  Katherine looked at Alex as if truly seeing him for the first time. His arrogant expression had been replaced by the worried look of a lover, and in spite of the uncertainties of life with May-Jewel, she was sure they would be happy. “Of course you do,” she replied. “Stay with the firm. I’ve been told that long before the battle of Harlaw Hill, the Craigs and the Flemings were family, and it should remain so.”

  “Thank you,” he replied and almost hugged her.

  May-Jewel clapped her hands with joy.

  Laughing, Katherine returned to her chair.

  “There is one more thing that I must bring up.” Alex said grimly, all seriousness and sternness suddenly. “In all that has taken place in the past few days, we’ve forgotten about something.”

  Katherine frowned, worried that there was more pain and disappointment coming. “What’s that?”

  “The bones in the wine cellar. They should be formally attended to.”

  “Oh, I totally forgot about them. Of course.” She nodded, greatly relieved that that was all that he had meant. “I believe,” she continued, thinking out loud, “that was what Lady Edythe was trying to do. Which is probably why you weren’t the only one to think that the jewels were buried there.”

  “They were an irresistible temptation. I was willing to dismantle the entire place to find those emeralds.”

  “Emeralds?” Neal suddenly turned his attention to their conversation. “Are you speaking of Lady Edythe’s fortune? If that be the case, you’re wasting good time and effort searching for something that isn’t here.”

  “What?” Came three voices at once.

  “Yes, Charles brought the emeralds to my office a half-dozen years ago. Lady Edythe had left them in his keeping with a note that they were to be given to Garth on the day of his marriage. But upon the news of his ‘supposed’ death, I just kept them in the safe. I guess now that Garth has truly passed on that they should be shared by his sisters.” He gazed at them and smiled.

  “The emeralds will come to us?” May-Jewel asked excitedly.

  “I don’t see
why not,” Neal concluded quickly. “You are the legitimate heirs and there isn’t anyone left to contest that fact.”

  Alex moved to May-Jewel’s side. “Oh, Alex,” she exclaimed, “now we won’t have to worry about keeping your estate, and we can repair it and get lots more servants and have lots of parties!” Then she became serious and added, “Oh, but to think that they had been in your safe all along, Mr. Jameson. Just think of what we’ve been through because of them. The horror of Charles’ murder, the well, Selina and Garth! The total senselessness of it all!”

  Neal stood shocked by what he was hearing. “You mean that all those deaths occurred because one old man didn’t remember bringing the gems to me?”

  They could only nod in silence.

  “Unbelievable.”

  * * *

  The sound of the shovel digging the small grave mingled with the restless winds off the moor. It was the final knell for the sorrows of the Craig family. The women joined hands with Alex and Neal as David said a simple prayer over the remains of the infant who was buried beside its mother. Wistmere had given up its last ghost, and the memories of what had happened would one day fade from their minds.

  A soft wind teased at Katherine’s bonnet as she stood by the grave. It seemed to whisper to her, dree yer ain weird. She smiled, for she knew now that she did have control over her own destiny. She would do more than just carry on. She would prosper and always remain the mistress of Wistmere.

  About the author: Rachel Secor is the pseudonym for the mother and daughter writing team of Leona Callander Seaver and Belinda Barrett. They’ve collaborated on numerous writing projects over the years, and they even attended college together at one point: Leona focused on history, and Belinda obtained a BA and MA in English Literature. When not writing, they spend time seeking family connections in genealogy; Rachel Secor is one of their ancestors. The authors live in upstate New York with Belinda’s husband, three dogs, and eight chickens.

  Other works by Rachel Secor: Flight of the Great Blue Heron: A Boy’s Time-Travel Mystery

  Legend has it that if you stand under the path of a great blue heron, happiness and joy will follow you always. But that’s not how 12 year old Sam Hobbs feels when he moves with his mother to his grandfather’s isolated farm in upstate New York. Restless and bored, Sam spends his days exploring the farm. When Sam finds a mysterious magnifying glass buried in the barn, he quickly learns that it has extraordinary powers. The magnifying glass transports him back in time to 1860 and the Blue Heron Inn. But this is no ordinary inn – it’s the final station on an Underground Railroad line that moves escaped slaves over the Canadian border just to the north. And the day he arrives is no ordinary day – for the Blue Heron Inn is about to burn down, and two victims will be buried in a secret chamber beneath the rubble until their discovery sixty years later. With his magnifying glass taken from him and his life in danger, Sam must help stop the murderer, retrieve his magnifying glass, and find his way home under the path of a great blue heron.

  Also from Rachel Secor and available May 2020:

  A Most Sweet Bargain

  Victoria Storr is keeping a secret. She was headed for missionary work when her parents were killed, leaving her to raise her sister, Lily, and younger brother Mark the best she can, and this includes keeping from Lily the fact that her present admirer, Nathan, may jeopardize her future. To avoid any confrontation, Victoria fools her sister into leaving Albany for their summer house in the Adirondacks. But Lily’s beau follows.

  To complicate matters of the heart, after arriving in Bannon Falls Victoria becomes infatuated with two different man, one who promises worldly love, the other promises something deeper. But when it comes to falling in love, Victoria is on her own, for she has no experience in discerning what romantic love is. She soon realizes that the wrong choice might just pose a greater threat to her than Nathan does to Lily.

  Before long the truth about Nathan is revealed, but now he’s the one in danger. His past in England has caught up with him. He, too, has been followed into the mountains by someone seeking revenge and who won’t stop until he’s dead.

  What can the Storr family do to save Nathan? Will Victoria have the insight it takes to choose the man she is destined to marry? Only their faith in God and each other can save the sisters and the men they love.