by Abigail Agar
Jack walked down the hallway as he told himself that his decision was made. He would return to the colonies, perhaps even meet a nice girl and settle down. Yes, Jack nodded, a nice girl with long dark hair and brown eyes. Jack sighed knowing there was little chance he would meet another girl like Gwyn.
Chapter 12
The morning sun shone through the kitchen window at Stanton Manor. The room was filled with the smell of cinnamon. The spice had been a gift from the Duke and Duchess, and Gwyn smiled as she picked up a warm bun filled with sugar and cinnamon. It tasted like mornings when she was a child.
Gwyn took the morning treat outside into the garden. Butterflies were flying to the yellow flowers that her mother referred to as simply Butterfly Bushes. The butterflies flitted and flew around the blooms. The flowers meant autumn was around the corner, and the cooler morning made Gwyn feel happy. She watched the flowers as she walked with her pastry.
Nibbling the treat, Gwyn wandered through the garden down towards the edge of the creek. She pinched off a bit of the bread and dropped it into the water. The tiny fish that swam into the creek came up to eat it. As they touched the bread, it bobbed and jumped in the water causing Gwyn to smile. “Enjoy your breakfast,” Gwyn said to the fish as she stood up.
She turned towards the bridge and stopped short. Jack was leaning against the railing watching her. Gwyn straightened and cleared her throat. “I did not know you were down here,” she said in a tight voice. She turned on her heel, but Jack’s voice made her pause.
“Worried that Henry will think you are still sweet on me?” Jack asked coldly.
Gwyn looked around at the man as she tossed the pastry away. “You must think that everyone’s morals are like yours, Captain Shelton,” Gwyn replied as she eyed the man squarely.
“I have no idea what that means, but everyone seems to think that I am some sort of monster, so let me just ask you … what is it that you think I have done?” Jack pushed off the railing and strode over to her.
Gwyn looked up at the tall man and glared at him. “I read your journal, Jack. There is literally nothing you can do that can change my mind about you. In a way, it is a relief not to have this burden of affection towards you. I just wish that I had read your journal earlier so that I would not have been so torn.”
“My journal?” Jack repeated as he gave her a puzzled look. “What is it about my journal that makes you so angry with me?”
Gwyn looked at the man in disbelief. “You are a vile man, Jack.”
“What is going on here?” Henry asked as he walked up. “I heard arguing and thought it sounded like Gwyn. What have you done to her?” Henry asked Jack.
Jack said, “I have done nothing except try to get a straight answer from her or anyone for that matter.”
“Everyone read your journal, Jack,” Henry said as he stepped over to put himself between Jack and Gwyn. “We all know about the women and your resentment of me. I cannot believe that I was ready to give up my title for you at one point.”
Jack shook his head. Henry quickly turned and ushered Gwyn away from the man. Gwyn glanced around to see Jack watching them, but she put her eyes firmly back on home and the man beside her. She whispered, “Thank you.”
“That’s my job,” Henry reminded her.
***
“I want to see my journal,” Jack demanded of his father as the man sat in his study.
Lord Shelton drew in a deep breath and eyed Jack steadily. “Why?”
“I have a right to defend myself, and some of the remarks that I have heard about my journal have left me in doubt as to whether it is the same journal at all,” Jack said as he eyed his father steadily.
Lord Shelton gave a harsh laugh. “It is your journal. The same one you have had since you were a young man. I have looked at it personally. I thought you were set to go back to the colonies. Why do you have this sudden interest in your journal when you have not asked for it before?”
“I have grown weary of people talking to me as if I am a monster. Surely if you have looked at the journal then it should be an easy task to allow me to do so,” Jack said as waited expectantly.
Lord Shelton cleared his throat and said, “Your brother insisted it be destroyed for Gwyn’s sake, but your mother kept it. You shall have to ask her for it, I am afraid.”
Jack turned on his heel and went to find his mother. The looks of even the staff were beginning to get to Jack. “Pardon me, Sir,” a female voice said. Halting in mid-step, Jack turned towards the voice. “I just wanted to say that I am glad you are back,” the young maid said.
“Thank you. You might be the only one,” Jack said with no detectable humour.
The young maid looked down and back up bashfully, the rag she had been cleaning with grasped in her hands nervously. “My sister was one of the women fired because of Lord Shelton’s indiscretions. I have never heard anyone say anything bad about you around here, Sir. I just wanted you to know,” she said softly.
“I appreciate it,” Jack said earnestly. He gave her a dip of his head before he left her to her work. His mother’s favoured sitting room was just down the hallway, and he took a deep breath to prepare himself. The bit of confidence from at least one member of the household helped bolster Jack’s determination a bit as he knocked on the door to the sitting room.
“Come in,” called his mother’s voice.
Jack turned the knob and went into the room prepared for any number of admonishments. “Mother, I am sorry to disturb you.”
“I hardly expected to see you,” Lady Shelton said honestly. “I thought you would be off harassing Gwyn against our wishes.”
Jack had expected the woman to be angry, but Jack had never had her be this openly hostile with him. The anger was hard to take coming from his mother, but he carried on. “Father said that you had my journal. I wish to see it.”
“Now you are concerned with the allegations against you?” Lady Shelton asked with interest.
Jack took a calming breath. “Some of the things people have said make me wonder if it is truly my journal as I do not remember some of the things I am accused of writing. Surely I have a right to defend myself.”
“Of course, you do,” Lady Shelton said reasonably. She pointed towards the writing desk. “It is there.”
Jack went over to the table and pulled open the drawer. His journal was lying inside looking innocent of all the harm it had caused. Jack picked it up and glanced over at his mother who was eyeing him with interest still. “May I take it back to my room?”
“I would prefer if it stayed here,” Lady Shelton said. “It would be better for you if it did. That way no one can say you tried to alter it.”
Jack could not disagree with his mother’s logic, so he took a seat in the desk chair and flipped the book open. Right away he saw scribbled notes in the margins. “This is not my handwriting,” Jack said in disgust. “It does not even match anything else on the page.”
“People will just say that that you were upset,” Lady Shelton countered.
Jack frowned at the page. He forgot to breathe as it got to the night where Gwyn had failed to come to see him, and he learned she was going to India. “Mother,” Jack said. “Gwyn read all of this?”
“Yes,” Lady Shelton said. “Are you beginning to understand how your journal could cause such strife?”
Jack nodded. “I am,” he said softly. Before Lady Shelton could say anything, Jack had stood up and quickly made his way to the door. She called out behind him, but Jack was gone before she could say anything else. Jack swiftly made his way out of the house before he could be stopped by some of the staff at his mother’s request.
Jack took the quick route towards Stanton Manor. He stuck his journal into his jacket pocket before he scaled the fence along the property line. When he got to the manor, there was only some of the staff in the kitchen. They gasped as Jack entered the building. “Sorry,” he apologized. “Is Miss Stanton in?”
The ladies looked
among themselves and shook their heads. An old woman spoke up, “She’s gone with her mother. The only one in is Lord Stanton in the sunroom.”
Jack nodded. He quickly thanked the ladies and made his way out of the kitchen. If he could just get a note to Gwyn, then he could get her to meet him perhaps. Jack found Lord Stanton sitting in the sun and looking out at the garden. The man looked around at Jack and broke out in a grin. “Jack!”
“Lord Stanton,” Jack said with a smile as the man eagerly clasped Jack’s hand. Jack wondered if the man would greet him so warmly if he were in his right mind. “I came to see Gwyn, but I hear she is out.”
Lord Stanton frowned and said, “Must be then. I have not seen the ladies much this morning, just that nice maid that brings me tea.”
“I was wondering if I could leave this book and a note with you,” Jack asked hopefully.
Lord Stanton nodded and agreed, “I do not see why not.”
“Thank you,” Jack said as he went over to a desk and got some stationery. He jotted down a quick note,
Dear Gwyn, my journal has been sabotaged. I think you know in your heart who has done this and why. Please meet me at the bridge this evening.
Jack tucked the note into the book and held it out to Lord Stanton. “It is very important that Gwyn gets this book as soon as she gets home.”
“You can count on me,” Lord Stanton said as he took the book with an air of importance. “Will you stay as well?”
Jack sat down and said, “I can stay for a bit, but I am sure that I will be needed at home before long.”
“Your father is very lucky to have a son like you,” Lord Stanton said as he gave Jack a smile.
Jack smiled back and wondered if his father really would agree with Lord Stanton. He felt a bit guilty that he had been remiss in visiting the older man. Jack asked, “How have you been, Lord Stanton?”
“I have been just fine. It is nice of you to ask. I have really taken to watching the birds lately,” Lord Stanton said then he frowned. “I think Gwyn got married.”
Jack frowned and said, “Actually she did not. Do you remember that at all?”
“Not really,” Lord Stanton said with a shrug. “Clarisse says that when I cannot recall something that I should just not worry over it. It probably was not that important after all.”
Jack agreed, “That sounds like a good way to go about life.” It certainly was nice for the man at any rate. Jack wished it were that easy for him as well.
***
Gwyn stretched and yawned. It had been a long day out with her mother. They had to go meet up with the clerk and the church founders to explain the situation. Gwyn had been thankful that her mother had come along to serve as a chaperone and to help her stay calm. She was so frustrated by all of it that she could have told Jack a thing or two all over again if the man had been handy.
A soft knock at her door made Gwyn frown in puzzlement. “Yes?” she called.
Instead of the gentle voice of Adrienne, she heard her father call, “Are you in there?”
Gwyn rushed over to the door and opened it up. “Papa, what are you doing wandering around?”
“It is my house,” Lord Stanton said. “I can wander where I choose.”
Gwyn said apologetically, “Of course you can. What I meant was … what are you doing outside my door? Did you need something?”
Lord Stanton said, “Nope, I do not need a thing. I have something you need. I was told it was very important that you get this.” Lord Stanton held out a leather book to Gwyn.
“I do not understand,” Gwyn said as she took the journal from her father. “Where did you get this?”
Lord Stanton frowned. “Odd thing is that I cannot remember. I just remember that it is important that you have it.”
“Well, thank you,” Gwyn said still puzzled. Her father nodded and then wandered away. Gwyn looked after the man then back down at the book in her hands.
Once she was back in her room, Gwyn stared at the book for a moment. She sat down at her desk and placed it down apprehensively. Her hands trembled as she opened the journal. It looked the same as she remembered it. As Gwyn flipped the pages, a note fell out on the floor. “What’s this?” Gwyn looked down at the paper curiously.
She scooped it up and unfolded it. Gwyn held her breath anxiously as she read the words. Her brows furrowed together. “Oh, who does he think he is?” Gwyn asked aloud. “There is no way I am going to meet him.” Gwyn folded up the parchment and put it back into the journal which she pushed away from her.
***
Jack had endured a lecture from his mother and father. He had tried to tell them that the journal had been tampered with, but everyone seemed intent on not listening to him. Jack stalked down the hallway towards his brother’s room, but when he knocked on the door, he got no answer. Jack checked the room and found it empty. He knew that Henry had returned a bit ago, but the man was simply nowhere to be found.
Putting Henry in the back of his mind, Jack went upstairs to get ready to meet Gwyn. His certainty that she would meet with him was low, but he had to take the chance. If he could convince Gwyn that he was innocent, even partially, then he could get his parents back on his side. At the rate things were going, Henry would have Gwyn back to the altar. Jack had no delusions that as soon as Henry was handed the title of Duke, that Jack would be sent packing to one of the family’s lesser holdings if he was lucky and disowned if he was very unlucky.
The amount of time and energy Henry had put into all of this took Jack utterly by surprise. Jack frowned as he slid his long overcoat back on. He had no idea what Henry was playing at, but he would figure it out.
Right now, he was going to concentrate on ruining at least part of Henry’s plan by sowing doubt into Gwyn. The woman had made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with him, and after reading over the journal that had been given to Gwyn, Jack could not even blame her. Surely, though, she had to see that he did not write that. Most of it sounded nothing like him.
He checked his reflection and then peered out of the door to see if anyone was in the hallway. He did not really want Henry interrupting again before he could get Gwyn to at least entertain the possibility that perhaps Henry was not the man he was portraying himself to be. As soon as Jack saw the hallway was clear, he set off as quickly as he could to get through the house.
When he finally managed to get out of the house, Jack was already in a foul mood from having to duck into rooms and tiptoe around his own home. The garden was fairly open, and Jack knew that until he made it to the tree line, he ran the risk of being seen from the house. He went as quickly as he could through the winding paths. It would be easier to simply cut through the bushes, but Jack had not attempted that since he was a child, and frankly he did not need his mother to also be angry at him for uprooting half her garden.
The moon was at least hidden behind the clouds tonight. Jack was thankful for at least that small blessing. As soon as he was under the trees, Jack breathed a sigh of relief. He made his way carefully through the trees in the direction of the property line towards the creek and the bridge. The birch trees swayed with a breeze that Jack could not feel; the shadow patterns danced under his feet giving him a slightly dizzy feeling.
The bridge was empty when Jack finally spotted it, and his heart sank. She had not come the last time he had sent a letter to her. Why had he thought she would come this time? Jack sighed and leaned against a tree near the bridge.
There was a noise that made Jack look around. He spotted Gwyn moving through the trees. Jack watched her as the woman was unaware of him as of yet. As soon as he broke free of the trees that bordered the creek, Gwyn stopped. She looked at the bridge and looked like she might turn to leave. “I did not know if you would come or not,” Jack said honestly.