“I will go tomorrow to Scarlett Hall and call upon the mercy of Lady Lambert,” he said to the empty room. “What can I lose for trying?”
Chapter Thirty-One
Eleanor sat at the desk that once belonged to her husband as she had many times before. Across from her sat the man who had spirited her Annabel away from Scarlett Hall—the second time her daughter had been taken from her. The first had been when the child was less than an hour old; however, at least Silas and Joanna had kept the girl in Eleanor’s life. This man had meant to take her away for good.
A letter arrived two days earlier, seeking an audience with Eleanor one last time to right the wrong he had done. He had come with some strange story about losing his estate only to have it returned to him, or something of that sort. She was uncertain whether or not she should believe any word he spoke. Yet, she would reserve judgment until he finished—or at least attempt to do so.
“I have also brought with me a letter from one Clark Elwood, confirming everything I have told you is true.” He placed a parchment with an unfamiliar seal on the desk. “He is held in the highest esteem by those in Portsmouth, as well as London, and he is known throughout all of England as a respectable man.”
Eleanor waved him off. “That will not be necessary, my lord. Either your story is true or it is not.”
“You believe me?” He seemed surprised.
“I do,” she replied. There was an earnest look in the man’s eyes, one she had seen in others. And it confirmed he was telling the truth. “An unlikely story, to be sure, but one I do believe.” She clasped her hands together on the desk. “It appears good fortune has come to you again. May I suggest being more careful this time?”
The man smiled. “I certainly will.” He shifted in his chair. He had something more he wished to say, that much was clear, and she had a suspicion she knew what it was.
She sighed. “We had an agreement. My forgiveness for your promise never to return. Yet, here you are again. Are you not a man of his word?”
“I did make the promise to you, but if I may take just a few more moments of your time, I believe I may be able to convince you to reconsider. If you do not, I will leave.”
Eleanor held back a snort. “You have two minutes.”
He smiled. “That is more than enough time.” He straightened his coat and squared his shoulders. “It was Annabel who convinced me that, if I truly wished to begin my life anew, I must return to where it went wrong. That is why I returned to my village. I have already told you of my good fortune, but what I came to realize—and very quickly, I might add—was that even with all that I had returned to me, I was empty.”
Eleanor nodded. “What we possess certainly does not bring us much joy, does it?”
“No. And that was exactly what I learned sitting there alone in a large house surrounded by wealth. You see, I have grown to care very deeply for Annabel, and even if my fortune and standing were to grow ten fold, it would never be enough without her.” He took a deep breath and placed his hands on his knees. “I know I have disgraced myself, hurt you and others, and I do not even deserve to be welcomed in your home.”
“And yet, you are here,” Eleanor repeated.
“I will do anything to prove I am sorry and that my ways have truly changed.”
Eleanor rose from her chair and walked to the window. Annabel stood beneath the large tree of which her daughters were fond. “What is it you want, Lord Wolcott?”
“I would like permission to court Annabel. To prove that I am a gentleman worthy of her heart.”
Eleanor nodded. Just as she suspected. As she watched Annabel, she thought of the many talks they had shared since her return, talks of this man and, more specifically, Annabel’s feelings for him. Yet, although she believed her daughter loved him, and knowing the man had changed even before the return of his inheritance, what he had done was inexcusable. To see her children happy had always been Eleanor’s dream, but could she truly rationalize allowing a courtship between Annabel and a man who had fallen so far he had agreed to abduct a woman?
“Annabel is leaving in two days to visit my daughter Juliet. She may be gone for some time, and it is my hope that she will meet a gentleman worthy of her.”
The room grew quiet for a moment. “I thank you for allowing me to speak with you despite our agreement,” he said, his voice breaking. “I hope Annabel finds that worthy gentleman, for it is no more than she deserves. I only wish we could have met under different circumstances.” He rose and gave her a bow. “I will take my leave. If she does not know I have come, perhaps it would be best if she does not know.”
Before Eleanor could respond, a knock came to the door. Forbes entered and said, “Lord Agar requests to speak to you.”
Eleanor clenched her fists. She had nothing more to say to that man! And why had Forbes not sent the man packing rather than allowing him into the house.
She went to say as much, but Forbes said, “He has something I believe you should see.”
Sighing, Eleanor said, “Send him in.”
Lord Wolcott bowed again. “Good day to you.”
“No, please, stay.”
The man gave her a confused look but nodded his acquiescence.
The door opened again and Lord Agar entered, his usual pompousness surrounding him. “Ah, Lady Lambert,” he said, wearing an oily smile that sent a shiver down Eleanor’s spine, “I am glad you were able to see me. I have come to see my fiancée.”
He took a document from his pocket and held it in the air. “And before you deny my request, know that her father and I made a binding agreement, as you can see here.”
She would not take the man’s word for it. “Let me see it.”
Without hesitation, he handed the paper over to her, and she scanned it, each word tearing at her heart. According to the document, Silas had indeed sold Annabel’s hand in marriage to the man and signed and dated it. She turned to the window and watched Annabel pluck a rose from one of the bushes and place it to her nose.
How often had Eleanor wished to tell Annabel that she was her mother? Now that they were reunited, she would soon have to let her go. However, it was Annabel’s happiness that Eleanor sought, and now there was a way to give it to her.
“Where is she?” Lord Agar demanded. “I wish to tell her the good news.”
Eleanor continued to watch Annabel. She had vowed to protect her daughter at any cost. Therefore, she took a deep breath. It was time to do just that.
“This document is dated nearly a month ago.”
Lord Agar gave her a triumphant grin.
“What a shame.” She returned the paper to him. “I am afraid you are too late.”
“Too late? Do not play games with me!”
Eleanor smiled. “Lord Agar,” she said before turning to the younger man who had remained behind, “may I present Lord Edward Wolcott, Viscount Wolcott, of Portsmouth.”
Lord Agar gave Lord Wolcott a quick glance but otherwise ignored him. “I do not care for formalities.”
“I believe you should care,” Eleanor replied with practiced ease. “For this is Annabel’s husband. They were married nearly two months ago.”
The earl’s jaw dropped, and as if he had been in on the charade, Lord Wolcott added, “I must admit that it is quite flattering that a man would wish to buy my wife’s hand, but I am afraid I wish to keep her for myself.”
Face red with anger, Lord Agar managed to sputter, “This is a lie! I have a legally binding document that says she is mine!” He was nearly apoplectic, and Eleanor wondered if he would have some sort of attack of the heart right there in her drawing room.
Eleanor smiled. “That agreement was made between you and Silas and has nothing to do with me. Now, please, leave my home. And I do not wish you to return.”
The man shoved the document into his coat pocket and leaned over the desk. “I will return with the magistrates to get what is mine.” Then he turned and stalked out of the room.
Eleanor looked at Lord Wolcott. “It seems we have much to discuss,” she said as she returned to her seat behind the desk and offered him the chair he had recently vacated. “Rules that must be put in place for the coming weeks.”
Lord Wolcott smiled. “Yes. I will do whatever it takes.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Annabel inhaled the sweet fragrance of the rose as she held it to her nose. Twisting the stem in her fingers, she walked over to a bench and sat. Since her return, she had few respites from thoughts of Edward. How she wished to see him again! She had so much more that she wished to tell him, to share with him the strange feelings that had taken residence in her heart.
Sighing, she stood and walked to the gate that looked over the vast rolling hills of green beyond the garden. Somewhere over that horizon Edward was attempting to right his wrongs, to set straight the warbled path he had taken all those years ago. She hoped he would see success, for his heart was right despite the choices he had made.
She recalled the poem Don Ricardo had recited for her, and she closed her eyes to speak the words aloud.
The hour draws to midnight
And I stand alone at the gate.
The passing of a new season is at hand.
Will my love arrive?
She could not continue, for her heart ached. Her silent dream of happiness had come, yet the man who had shown her the very thing she desired was now gone. Would another man be able to take his place?
The sound of a familiar voice made her turn about, her skirts swishing around her ankles, to find Edward walking up to her, finishing the poem for her.
The stars will join as one
As my heart wishes for her.
Do I wait for her arrival?
Or do I do as the coward would do
And retreat?
No! I shall wait for eternity
To lay my eyes on her again.
“Edward?” she asked. Was he an illusion brought about by her despondency of believing she would never see him again?
“I am here,” he said.
Annabel rushed to him and threw are arms round him. “I cannot believe it is you!” she said as he held her close. The old feeling of comfort and protection in his arms washed over her.
“I have so much to tell you,” he said as she pulled away from his embrace, wishing he could simply hold her for the remainder of her life.
“Please,” she said. Glancing past him, she saw her aunt—no! Her mother!—standing a discreet distance away. Why had she allowed Edward to return to Scarlett Hall after forbidding them to see one another? With great curiosity, she led Edward to a bench and sat beside him.
“I kept the promise I made you and returned to Portsmouth. It was a strange experience walking through the village and having people stare at me as if I were some attraction at the circus.” He chuckled, but it was more a nervous sound than an expression of mirth.
“And what did you do?”
“As it turns out, and you may find this difficult to believe, my home has been awaiting my return for ten years.”
Annabel’s eyes widened. “How is that possible?”
“Well, apparently, in my delusional state, I signed not my name but rather that of my father’s, which in turn invalidated the document. My accountant has been searching for me ever since.” He shook his head as if not believing his words himself.
She placed a hand on his arm. “I am happy for you,” she said. “Now you have everything you want.”
“Not quite,” he said with a smile. “When I was ill and you had left the cottage to return home, I was left with an emptiness inside. I knew that, without you, I would never be complete.”
“I admit that I felt the same.” She looked down at the ground. “I still do.”
“Yet, I knew that if I were to keep you with me against your will, even if I returned my life to what it once was, I could not live with myself. A man cannot force a woman to love him.” He lifted her chin. “It was only recently that I came to the realization that everything I wished for had been returned to me. All but one thing.”
“And what was that?” Annabel asked, her chest tight and her breathing short.
“You.”
Tears filled Annabel’s eyes, and her cheeks flushed with pleasure. “I?”
He nodded. “I found myself being honest with someone for the first time in a very long time, for you were honest with me, an open and honest book. However, I kept back one secret I must tell you today.”
“I am listening.”
“For ten years I wandered as a man lost, filled with hurt and caring for no one save myself. I believed that the man I once was would bring me happiness once again. Then I met you.” He took her hand in his. “You showed me that true happiness comes from one’s heart. Even in the most dire of situations in which you found yourself, you never surrendered your hope, your dreams. You never gave up on yourself, nor on me. Every day that passed us by, I understood that you have a fire inside you so great that it can never be extinguished, a fire that spoke to me. It burned down a wall around my heart that I built years before.”
Annabel wiped a tear from her cheek. “That is beautiful.”
“But that is not all. I have told you that all has been returned to me, yet now I wish to tell you what I have come to realize. I thought I would never again experience what I feel for you.” He brought her hand to his lips and placed a light kiss on her knuckles. “I love you, Annabel Lambert. Perhaps from the first moment I saw you, I fell in love with you, and I cannot imagine another moment of my life without you.”
Annabel struggled to bring moisture into her dry mouth. She had experience happiness twice in once week! First, to learn that Aunt Eleanor was in reality her mother and now to find that the man who had captured her heart returned her admiration. It was as if she were walking in a dream!
“For so long I have wanted nothing more than to meet a gentleman, one who could make me happy. When I met you, when I believed you were Don Ricardo, the exotic and handsome man from Spain, I thought my wish had come true. Despite the fact Don Ricardo does not exist makes little difference, for all that was he proved to be all that was you.” She giggled. “Well, besides the fact you are not a Spanish diplomat.”
He chuckled. “No, that I am not.”
She gazed upon the man and smiled. “However, you taught me that happiness was inside me all along.”
“It was,” he replied. “You simply had to find it.”
“Oh, Edward,” she lamented, “if I learned anything since you returned me to Scarlett Hall, it is that I need you in my life. I love you.”
He brushed a tear from her cheek, and for several moments, she gazed into his eyes. How strange to have him here beside her. Must she pinch herself to be certain she was not dreaming?
“I have something more to ask you,” Edward said. “And your aunt has already given her approval. May I court you?”
Annabel gaped. “She has given permission for us to court?” When Edward nodded, she threw her arms around him. “Yes! Of course, yes!” She giggled and lowered her voice. “I cannot believe she has given permission!”
“I believe it would be best if she explains what happened,” he said, and then laughed.
Frowning, she said, “No, you may tell me.”
“Well, typically a couple courts and then are wed. However, due to other circumstances, we shall do the opposite.”
“The opposite?” Annabel asked. “You mean we are to be married?”
He gave her a hurt look. “I thought you would be pleased.”
“Oh, do not worry,” she replied. “I want nothing more than to be your wife.”
***
It was so overwhelming all that happened in such a short period of time. The woman she had always wished to be her mother was indeed so, and because she had wanted it to be so for all of her life, seeing her now as her mother had come easily. She spent a great amount of time practicing the new label for the woman she ha
d called Aunt Eleanor for so long, but naming her ‘Mother’ had come much easier than Annabel could have imagined.
Edward had left earlier that afternoon, and Annabel sat with her ‘mother’, learning all that had transpired, including the arrival of Lord Agar. They then turned to discussion of what was to come.
“After the ceremony,” her mother said, “Edward will return to Portsmouth to finish getting his estate in order. He will return to Scarlett Hall once a fortnight to call on you, which would make for proper courting. When the time is right and when I feel confident that you are ready, you may join him as his wife. And before you say that many women join their husbands before they truly know them, allow me to say that it was the only way I would agree to this union, so I do not want to hear any argument about it.”
Annabel had no intention of arguing. As long as she and Edward could be together, she would agree to any condition the woman made. “Thank you, Mother,” she said. How she enjoyed using the moniker! “I will remain here until you deem the time is right for me to leave.” She hugged her mother and then sat back with a sigh. “I wish to share something with you.”
“You know you can tell me anything,” her mother said, giving Annabel’s hand a gentle squeeze.
“It has always been that way,” Annabel said with a smile. “And for that I am happy.”
“That is all I ever wanted for my children. Their happiness and good health.”
Annabel nodded. “You spoke to me of your silent dreams that one day I would know I was your daughter.”
“That is true. It was a day I longed for.”
“One of my dreams has always been that my mother would love me. Now I know she always has.”
Her mother smiled as tears glistened in her eyes. “Indeed, I have and I always will.”
“Edward taught me that happiness must come from within, and I realize that he was right.”
With a nod, her mother said, “He is correct. How can we be happy with others if we are unhappy with ourselves?”
Silent Dreams Page 23