by Abby Ayles
Colton felt a stab of guilt at her words. Abigail wasn't the type to be shut away in a country estate all alone. Perhaps he would suggest that she return to London and stay with his sister and mother, as he thought she might have wanted to have done already.
“Do you think I could join you here from time to time?” Abigail asked before he had time to suggest another alternative to her loneliness.
“If that is what you wish,” he hesitated for a moment, “but why?”
“I can’t bear the silence any longer,” she said, always full of honesty.
“I am sorry things haven’t been to your liking here,” Colton replied.
It was an intriguing thought to Colton that, where he had relished the privacy the country home had afforded him these last weeks, it was probably miserable for Abigail.
“It’s not that. The place is beautiful. I am settling in very well actually. I just…” Abigail hesitated a minute, not sure how to put into words what seemed missing from her life now. “I suppose I need someone to talk with from time to time. I know you must be very busy, and I don’t want to interfere with that, but perhaps if we could set aside time just to visit…”
Abigail seemed to trail off in her words. She wasn’t exactly sure how to express her feelings these days as she regularly felt a jumble of emotions as of late.
“I think that might be nice,” Colton said before she could finish her thought. “The town is also not that far away. You are welcome to go anytime you wish.”
“Would you come with me?” Abigail asked, watching him hesitantly.
He opened his mouth to respond but knew it wouldn’t be the answer she was looking for. He had no desire to leave the safety of his home. He couldn’t even imagine how these country villagers would treat him. His own kind had been nothing but disappointing, how could he expect any better from those here?
“I’m not sure that is a wise decision for me,” Colton said, turning his scarred face away from Abigail. “But you are welcome to take Mildred and go on your own. I can assure you it is very safe here.”
“Yes, of course,” Abigail said, not wanting to push the subject.
Unlike Lady Louisa and the Duchess of Wintercrest, Abigail had never seen the need to push Colton out of this fortress he built around himself. She much believed that she should let others do as they wished, within reason of course. She hoped for the same courtesy and it would be hypocritical of her not to allow the same in others.
Now that she found herself completely alone and miles away from any connection or relative, she discovered her husband's protective shell was very cumbersome. If they were to stay here together, he would need to open up more, at least to her.
“What are you reading there?” Abigail asked with a nod to change the subject.
“It is a narrative on an explorer’s experiences in the new America.”
“So, you are still planning on going then?” Abigail asked, doing her best to hide her disappointment in the fact. She would be left here completely and utterly alone.
“Yes,” Colton responded, having no idea of her reservations.
In fact, in many ways, Colton thought he was doing his new wife a favor by removing himself. She would be free to attend society with his name as protection and without the necessity of his presence.
It would seem gossip-worthy for a new wife to attend events while her husband stayed back in his country estate. If he was, however, adventuring and seeing to property in other lands, it was entirely within reason that she would attend without his presence.
He thought he was restoring to her the freedom and happiness she once had. It seemed to be the only way he could provide pleasure to his bride in their new marriage.
“Would you tell me what it is about?” Abigail asked, not ready to end the conversation. “I have heard only a little bit about the separation of the territory from the Crown and what it is like there.”
“If you wish,” Colton hesitated for a second, “Abigail,” he finished, trying her name on his lips.
He relaxed into his seat as he spent the rest of the afternoon explaining to his bride all the dangers, perils, and excitements said to be found in the New World. As he spoke of all he had thus learned, he couldn’t help but feel more excited about the prospect.
The war may have changed him vastly inwardly and outwardly, but he still had that small spark of adventure within him. He wondered how his father would feel about him taking on yet another long voyage to an unforgiving front. A pang of guilt struck a chord at the thought. He would never know the answer to such a question, and it was all his fault.
“But surely you will not be where the natives are or criminals you speak of?”
“Well, not entirely. The plantation is very close to Williamsburg, which is a well-established colony. Of course, many of the people on the plantation are goodly folks as they have come from here as I said earlier. But there are a great many in Virginia who were deported from the debtors' prisons.”
“I suppose it will be very exciting then,” Abigail said with a longing look in her eye.
She couldn’t help but feel that her husband was about to embark on what seemed to be a fantastic adventure while she would be left alone in this oversized, empty castle.
Chapter 34
The following morning, Abigail did take Colton’s advice and asked Mildred to accompany her to the local village. Mildred had suggested they take the carriage for her ladyship’s comfort, but it was still a warm summer day, and Abigail rather liked the prospect of walking.
As they took the pebble and dirt road that led to the small fishing town, Mildred filled Abigail in with information on the inhabitants. Other than the fishing along the bay, and the few who were employed as part of the wool trade, there was also a large copper mine a few miles to the north of town that supplied most of the livings for the villagers.
It hadn’t been there in the past, but with the late Earl of Gilchrist, two generations ago, deciding to remove all tenant farms, a wealthy man, Sir Edward Blanchard, had come and provided the jobs necessary. Though Mildred spoke of gratitude for the mine, her own father worked it; it didn’t seem to Abigail that the conditions were more desirable judging by Mildred’s tone of voice.
Abigail had seen her fair share of country villages both small and large over the course of her life. She couldn’t help but gasp when she finally found this one coming around the bend. It was nothing more than a few little shacks all stacked near each other.
Mildred informed her that the fields surrounding the small town on three sides were communal. The barley growing there was the main source of sustenance for the residents outside of what was caught in the bay. Abigail knew little about farming but she could easily see by the sickly-looking crops that this land was in fact very poor for growing.
In a way, Abigail understood why Colton’s grandfather had removed the farmland and given it to pasture. It was certainly a better use of it. She couldn’t, however, understand how he could have left these people so destitute.
“I know there is not much here, m’lady,” Mildred said, seeing Abigail’s crestfallen face. “But we do have a small general store that has some supplies that might interest your fancy. And the big village is only a half day's walk away. I suspect, in m'lady's carriage, it would take not but a half hour. We could inquire of a cart here and continue on if this doesn’t suit you, ma'am?”
“I think this will do for now,” Abigail said, doing her best to hide her shock for the sad state of the town.
She wondered if Colton had any idea. She was sure he didn’t. He may have been shut up into himself, but that didn’t affect his charity. Her thoughts were confirmed when Mildred continued her chatter as they walked.
“You wouldn’t believe how grateful we all were to have his lordship return to the big house. You wouldn’t believe how much things have already improved in the short time your ladyship has been here.”
“What of the local parish? It seems that there i
s much work needed to be done here. Perhaps I should contact him to help.”
“Unfortunately, the nearest parish is in the other village I spoke of,” Mildred replied. “In times past, I've been told, the Earl would have patronage at the estate parish and allow all the townspeople to attend it. I believe it was one of the things done away with when the Earl’s grandfather made his changes.”
Abigail felt bitter about her house and comforts. It seemed that it had all been bought at the expense of these people here. She would bring this first to Colton’s attention and make sure that patronage was found again.
They made their way into the small shop that connected to what seemed to be the only tavern. They both sat on the main strip of road that ran straight through the town. It appeared any and all other shacks and homes stemmed from this main road.
Already there was a small crowd of people standing in front of their houses to watch them come into town. The children looked overly thin and sickly, though their eyes were lit with excitement.
Abigail donned the sunbonnet that she had been holding in her hand as they walked. She detested wearing such a thing when the warm sun could shine freely on her skin, but she knew for the next several hours she was really the Countess of Gilchrist and would have to present herself as such.
A small blonde girl ran up to her with a small handful of forget-me-nots in her hand. She handed them up to Abigail with a scared smile.
“For you, your ladyship,” the little girl said.
Abigail knelt down to the girl’s level, not caring if the hem of her dress was ruined in the dust and dirt. She took the small token out of the child's hand.
“Thank you,” Abigail said. “What is your name?”
“This is Ester, my little sister, m’lady,” Mildred responded for her.
“Well, it is very nice to make your acquaintance, Ester,” Abigail said to the little girl who looked away shyly.
They made their way into the small general store. For the most part, the humble shelves were neatly stacked with the necessities of life. Abigail's eyes, however, fell immediately on the jar of peppermint sticks at the front table. She would make sure to buy them all with the small bag of coins in her gown pocket. The children would be so thrilled for the treat.
She walked the shelves as Mr. Smith, the proprietor introduced to her upon entrance, stood tall and proud. She found a few things here and there like some small sewing notions. She thought she might start right away to make some simple items for those most in need.
She suddenly wished the ladies of her small charity group from London were here with her. They would certainly do a much better job at the work. She was determined to take whatever time was needed to see that needs were quickly met in this little fishing town. She certainly had no shortage of time to give.
“What is this?” Abigail asked the proprietor.
She was pointing to a shelf of some small mismatched items in jars. They seemed to be all sorts of concoctions.
“Why that is the small medicine cabinet, m’lady,” Mr. Smith responded. “It is just some cough drams, for a cough is very prevalent amongst the miners, and some various salves.”
“Perhaps do you have anything for pain from an injury?” Abigail asked, thinking of Colton.
He had not used his cane for some time, but she could still see the injury to his left leg hurt him. Perhaps he didn’t know that she noticed in the few moments they were together, but he would seem to massage it more in the evening and even begin to walk with a limp as the day wore on.
The merchant looked over his shelf before settling on a small round-shaped jar that seemed to be filled with thickened cream. The paper that sealed the top crinkled when he removed it from its place.
“You're in luck, your ladyship. This is Mrs. Smith's own making. Scarce can keep it in stock. Many of the menfolk use it to massage out the pain in their muscles after a hard day’s work. I’m afraid it is the only type of pain treatment I have. I don’t know if it will work well on any other ailment other than stiffness and sore muscles.”
He looked her over, not ever imagining that a lady such as herself would have need of a salve made for hard-working men.
“That is actually exactly what I am looking for. You say that Mrs. Smith makes it? Your wife, I would assume."
"Yes, your ladyship," he responded with a proud nod.
"How regularly do you get the product? I would love to buy more. It is for his lordship, you see,” Abigail finished by way of explanation.
She wondered if he would, in fact, know her meaning. Certainly, Mr. Smith had never met or even laid eyes on Colton. Perhaps it was just as curious to him that a gentleman of the peerage would need a working man’s treatment.
He nodded his head in understanding, however. Perhaps the talk of Colton’s injury had already traveled to town.
“I will speak to Mrs. Smith today. I can ensure that she will deliver regular amounts as needed if it would suit you.”
“Yes, that would be very fine,” she said, taking the precious jar presented to her.
She was excited to have found something to bring back to Colton other than the news of the sad state of living here.
Before leaving the shop with her parcels in hand, she made sure to buy the gentleman out of peppermint sticks to hand out to all the children before returning home.
As she passed out the candy to the happy and grateful children, she replayed over and over in her head the list of things that would need to be done first to see these people settled right. Of utmost importance would be to discuss matters with Colton tonight over dinner and ensure that a vicar was procured for the estate parish.
When she had woken that morning, she had felt the same despair and loneliness that had prevailed in her heart since arriving. Now she seemed to have found her purpose here at Cumberton Park.
Chapter 35
“How was your trip into the village?” Colton asked over dinner that night.
Abigail was glad that he brought the subject up as she wasn’t sure how to do so herself without sounding as if she wanted to critique him.
“It was very eye-opening,” Abigail responded over their meal of roast pheasant.
“In what way?” the earl asked as he casually sipped his glass of wine.
Abigail spent the next thirty minutes of their meal explaining all that she had seen and experienced that day in the village. With each sentence she spoke, she saw the earl’s face become more and more grave. It was clear he had no idea of such things.
“I am aware of a Sir Edward Blanchard. He came to call on me shortly after our arrival. He seemed an honorable gentleman. I am sorry to hear that he has not treated his employees as well as it would seem. Though I suppose I must be equally ashamed of my family’s own treatment of these people.”
“I am sure your father was not aware of such matters. I couldn’t imagine he would allow such poor living circumstances to continue if he had known,” Abigail responded.
Colton wasn’t sure if this was true, however. His father, like himself, had become accustomed to a certain standard of living. He may have been a kind man for the most part, but Colton wasn’t entirely sure his father would have been willing to give up his own comforts.
“I suppose the first thing to do,” Colton said as his mind worked, “would be to acquire a vicar. I wasn’t going to originally since I plan to leave soon and assumed you would do the same. I can see now that having one on the premises is of the utmost importance.”
“Why would I leave too?” Abigail asked, surprised by his words.
For just a moment she had an idea that he planned to take her to America as well. It wasn’t one she had considered until this second, but now that it came into her mind it was a little bit of an exciting prospect.
“To return to London, of course. I assumed you would return to the society you are used to once I left for the New World.”
“Oh, yes. Of course, that makes sense,” Abigail said softly.
/> It was strange the hurt and disappointment his words created in her. She had known that this marriage was nothing more than convenience for the both of them. Even with that knowledge, she had hoped that they would not spend their whole lives separate from one another.
If Colton planned to send her back to London, she knew that would be the case. She was sure there was no reason on earth that would cause Colton to return to town and the ton.
“Perhaps I might stay though,” Abigail said, surprised at her own words. “There is much help that is needed here. The village and people in it have not recovered from the changes. I feel it is my duty to stay and help create the change needed.”
Colton looked his wife over. He felt great admiration for her at that moment. She was not the type to idle away while painting fans; she meant to use her title and influence gained to help those less fortunate.
“I had planned to leave before the winter storms, but now knowing about the condition of this area, I cannot leave in good conscience. I will plan to leave next year instead.”
“What about your land in Virginia?”
"It has kept these last two years without a visitation. I am sure it is fairly self-sufficient. It will keep well enough until I can make plans to get there.”
“So you will stay here with me?” Abigail asked, an unsure tone in her voice.
His wall softened just slightly at her words. Perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing to have Abigail here with him. By his side, Abigail could do the things that he was not able to on his own. In fact, without her presence, he would have never known how much the area was in need of recovery.
Things had indeed been better for him mentally. Though he still had regular nightmares replaying the events leading up to his injury, and a constant smell of burning flesh was never far from him, at least he had calmed in personality.
His uncontrollable fits of rage had lessened since leaving the city. He was sure the peace and tranquility of the country was just the medicine he needed to restore his mind.