Sam reached for her hand, squeezing it gently as he willed her to look at him. “Susanna, can you really see yourself with me? I’m not good enough for you.”
“I’ll be the judge of who’s good enough and who isn’t,” she said, finally smiling. “I just want to be with you, Sam, and I think somewhere deep inside you feel the same.”
Sam didn’t say anything; he just pulled her close and kissed her with all the tenderness and joy he felt.
“Let’s go then,” Sam turned the cart toward the Jenkins farm, praying that Abbie and Finn were safely away by now.
**
Abbie set the basket of laundry on the bank, kirtling up her skirt so it wouldn’t get wet. She could have done the laundry in the yard, but she wanted a little time away from the house and Finn. They’d barely spoken the past two days, and although she could understand Finn’s feelings, she was still angry. He’d never told her what to do, but this time he was adamant. As her husband, he had the right to command her, but as her love, he should know better. How could she leave without finding out what happened to Sam? Even if they got word that Sam had died, it would be preferable to this terrible not knowing. She prayed day and night that someone took pity on him and tended to him, but most likely he was buried somewhere in a grave they’d never find. What in the world would she tell her parents? She knew her father would side with Finn and tell her that he’d done the right thing, but in her heart it felt wrong to go.
Finn was right, of course. Staying at the farm was no longer safe, and they had to leave before it was too late. They were very deep behind enemy lines, their situation precarious. Abbie wiped away a tear as she concentrated on Finn’s shirt. She tried to keep busy, but her mind wasn’t so easy to fool. All her thoughts were of Sam. After her twin, Luke, Sam had always been her favorite sibling. He was so much fun, unlike Martha, always playing pranks and taking her fishing instead of doing his chores. Oh, Sam, may God keep you safe if you are out there somewhere, she thought.
“Abbie! Come here.” Finn was waving to her as he ran down the hill toward the stream. “Abbie!”
She turned away from him as if she hadn’t heard, intent on her task. She wasn’t ready to forgive him just yet. What could possibly be so important anyway?
“Abbie, come here,” he cried. “Sam’s here.”
Abbie dropped the clean laundry onto the muddy bank, racing up the hill toward Finn. Had she heard him correctly? Could it really be true? Finn grabbed her hand and they ran back together, suddenly united again, all anger forgotten.
“Oh, Sam,” Abbie cried as she flew into his arms. He was still wearing the red tunic, but his head was uncovered, his hair falling into his eyes as he held her close. “Are you all right? We thought you were dead.”
She finally looked up at him, taking stock. He was thinner and his face was pale under the bronze tan he’d acquired over the summer. His forehead was covered with a sheen of perspiration, and there were dark circles under his eyes, but otherwise he looked well enough.
“What are you still doing here?” Sam asked, looking at Finn over Abbie’s head. “You should have left two weeks ago. Haven’t you heard about Washington’s defeat? It’s not safe for you here.”
“Never mind that for now,” replied Finn, grinning at Sam. “Tell us where you’ve been all this time.”
“I was picked up by a British patrol and taken to the fort. I would have died otherwise, but I’ll be all right, Abbie. I’ll be all right.” He held her close, letting her absorb the fact that he was really there. “Abbie, there’s someone I want you to meet,” he said once she calmed down. Abbie hardly noticed the young woman who stood off to the side, not wanting to interfere with their reunion. She came forward as Sam smiled at her, holding out his hand. In a strange way, she reminded Abbie of herself. Her wide brown eyes were flecked with gold and her dark blonde hair escaped from her bonnet, curling around a heart-shaped face. The woman smiled shyly as she came closer, her eyes never leaving Abbie’s face.
“Abbie, Finn, this is Susanna Freeman — my future wife,” Sam announced, taking Susanna’s hand in his own.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both,” she said, searching their faces for a reaction.
Abbie turned in surprised as Finn giggled behind her. He looked from Sam to Susanna, his shoulders quaking with mirth. Susanna looked mortified, but Sam just glared at him, willing him to stop.
“What’s funny?” Abbie elbowed him in the ribs, but Finn only laughed harder, waving her away.
“What’s funny?” he asked, laughing even harder. “Only Sam could manage to find a wife while languishing in a British fort with a near-fatal wound. Well done, brother.” Abbie gaped at Finn in shock, but then saw the humor in the situation and joined in the laughter, smiling at Susanna who blushed to the roots of her hair.
Finn finally stopped laughing and looked at Sam. “Sam, now that you’re here, we need to leave as quickly as possible. The British are heading toward Philadelphia, so we will need to keep to the back roads and keep out of their way.”
“Let’s go home then,” Sam said, taking Susanna by the hand.
Finn and Abbie nodded in agreement. “Let’s, but I think you need to lose the uniform first.”
October 1624
London
Chapter 70
Heavy raindrops plopped on the roof of the coach, the pitter-patter beating a soothing rhythm that made Valerie drowsy as the coach swayed from side to side. Despite the dreary weather, she was glad to be back in London and eager to see everyone, especially their daughter. Alec had fallen asleep, his head against the side of the coach, a look of serenity on his handsome face. It was nice to see him at peace for a change.
Being a shrewd man, Cardinal Neuville had decided to comply with Alec’s demands, naturally turning the whole situation around to benefit himself. Valerie couldn’t help smiling as she remembered his speech to the congregation at Sunday Mass nearly two weeks ago. No one had been more stunned than Alec, but he was willing to accept the Cardinal’s explanation as long as he fulfilled his promise of having Rose reburied in consecrated ground. The Cardinal had taken the pulpit, a look of profound grief on his face as he surveyed the parishioners whom he’d know his whole life. His own father, the Mayor, sat in the front pew, his blue eyes cold and calculating as he stared down his son, unsure of what he was about to do. Cardinal Neuville threw his father a reassuring look before raising his hands in a plea for silence.
“Madames and Monseiurs, Father Rene has kindly allowed me to address you this morning, as I have some information that will help right a terrible wrong done many years ago to a young woman we all knew. New evidence has come to light concerning the unfortunate death of Sister Rose, who we all believe to have taken her own life. Please forgive my decision to keep the source of the information secret as it was shared with me under the seal of confession. A young boy had seen Sister Rose fall into the river and get carried away by the current. He saw her flailing her arms and heard her screams for help, but was powerless to save her despite his best efforts. He’s carried this terrible guilt with him for over twenty years, unable to come forward and tell the truth. Now as a grown man he can see that God, in his wisdom, would not hold him responsible either for not having been able to save our sister in Christ or for being afraid to come forward.
In view of this, I will personally oversee the exhumation of Sister Rose’s body and rebury her at the Convent cemetery. We are very fortunate indeed that Sister Rose’s brother is here with us to see her laid to rest. I know I’m not alone in my unspeakable joy in knowing that Sister Rose’s eternal soul will be with our Lord at long last.”
The congregation remained utterly silent as Cardinal Neuville left the pulpit, wiping his eyes dramatically as he took a seat next to his father who looked as if Sister Rose herself had just risen from the grave and winked at him. Valerie nudged Alec in the ribs unable to contain her indignation at the performance at the pulpit, but Alec just took her hand and sm
iled, shaking his head.
“What matters is the end result. As cardinal, he knows something of politics and the benefit of a good show. Let it be, Val.”
“Will you really let him get away with it?” Valerie hissed, livid at the blatant distortion of facts.
“As long as he keeps his promise – yes.”
He had. Rose’s body had been exhumed the following day and buried in the Convent cemetery with all the pomp and circumstance of a Catholic funeral. Cardinal Neuville performed the service himself; doubtlessly sending tongues wagging for the next twenty years as he openly shed a tear, begging for Rose’s forgiveness. Alec stood quietly by the grave, lost in his own thoughts and memories of his sister. He got his way and since the Cardinal made the entire thing such a public spectacle, there’d be no way for him to go back and change his mind once Alec left Loudun. Now they could finally put the whole thing behind them and return to London.
**
The parlor was lost in shadow despite the early hour, rivulets of rainwater streaming down the leaded windows and gushing loudly from the gutters. The maid was on her knees in front of the fireplace, blowing onto the kindling under the logs to help the fire take root and chase away the chill of early October. The house seemed unusually quiet, making Valerie uneasy. The children would be taking their afternoon nap, but where were Louisa and Kit as well as their daughter and Genevieve? Normally at this time of day everyone would be downstairs, reading, sewing or playing a game of cribbage since the weather wasn’t suitable for much else. Alec sank into a chair in front of the fireplace, happy to be home at last.
“I’ll just go see where everyone is,” Valerie announced, turning to leave the room just as Louisa walked in, closing the door behind her. The expression on her face was enough to make Valerie sink into a chair across from Alec, her stomach twisting into a knot. Judging from the look on Louisa’s face, this was not going to be a joyful homecoming.
“Lou, what is it? Is it Kit?” she asked, noting the surprise on Louisa’s face.
“Ah, no,” she answered, confused. “It’s Louisa, actually, but she’s all right,” she added hastily.
“What’s happened?” Alec asked, his face tense as he leaned forward to hear the news. Louisa sat down, twisting her hands in her lap as she avoided looking at either Alec or her sister.
“I don’t know how to tell you this, so I might as well just come out and say it. Louisa was married to Theo two weeks ago. We would have waited for you, but under the circumstances, there was no time to lose.”
“What circumstances?” Alec looked ashen as he tried to catch Louisa’s eye.
“Louisa is pregnant and we weren’t sure how soon you would be back. She’ll be starting to show soon.” Louisa finally looked up at Alec, needing his understanding. “Kit did what he had to do to avoid scandal. He knew you’d want him to do the right thing.”
“Ah, of course,” Alec said, still processing what Louisa had said. “Are you certain she’s with child?”
“We are certain she’s with child, Alec, but we are not certain who the father is.” Louisa threw an apologetic look at a stunned Valerie.
“What do you mean? I thought you said she married Theo.” Alec looked at Valerie clearly confused. She’d grasped what Louisa said, but he was still grappling with the fact that his little girl had slept with more than one man.
“Alec, Louisa had been seeing Thomas Gaines on the sly. The child might be his.”
“Does Theo know that?” Alec ran his hands through his hair, making it stand on end. “How could this have happened under our noses?”
“Theo doesn’t know and we’d like to keep it that way. He believes the baby is his and he’s smitten with Louisa. This might just all blow over.” Louisa smiled sadly at Alec, obviously sorry for his shock.
“What about Tom? What if he is not discreet?” Alec still looked abashed, trying to come to terms with the fact that his daughter not only surrendered her virtue before marriage, but had done so with two men, either of whom could be the father of her child.
“Tom died several days after Louisa found out she was pregnant. No one knows what happened to him. He was found by a neighbor who noticed the smell coming from next door. He was to be married in a few weeks.” Louisa stood up and began to pace the room, suddenly anxious.
“Tom died a few days after Louisa found out? How? Was he ill? Has anyone written to Annabel?” Valerie jumped to her feet unable to believe that so much had happened while they were gone. “She’ll be devastated. He’s the only family she had left.”
“Yes, I’ve written to Annabel, but she won’t get the letter for some time though. As far as Tom, I have no idea. He didn’t appear to be ill and there were no signs of violence. He was found dead on the floor of some rooms he was renting in Blackfriars. He had been dead for several days by the time he was discovered.” Louisa stopped pacing and faced Alec and Valerie, waiting for them to react.
“Does Louisa know?” asked Alec carefully.
“Yes, Kit told her. She just nodded in understanding and left the room. She hasn’t mentioned it since.”
Alec poured himself a glass of brandy and sank back into the chair, closing his eyes. He clearly didn’t want to hear anymore.
“Was I wrong to tell you?” Louisa asked, her face full of regret. “I thought you should know the truth.”
“You did the right thing, Louisa,” Alec replied, “it’s just a little hard to swallow.”
“How are the children, and Genevieve?” Valerie asked in an effort to change the subject.
“The children are fine, but Genevieve seems a bit off. Maybe she misses Louisa now that she’s gone, or perhaps she wishes it had been her. She seems so lonely. I don’t suppose she’s had many opportunities to meet young men and she’s getting up there in age. You know how people are. Aunt Maud has already referred to her as a spinster several times.”
“Do you think she’s worried about her age? She’s a beautiful girl and will have no lack of suitors in Virginia; although I’m not sure how many of them will be Catholic. That might be important to her, considering the fact that she grew up in a Catholic convent,” Valerie mused.
“To be honest, I don’t think Genevieve is very concerned with marriage right now. She’s longed for a real family for so long that she’s just basking in the knowledge that she’s no longer alone in the world. She’s still uncertain of her place here, and I think that worries her a great deal. She practically blends into the walls in her effort not to draw attention to herself,” Louisa replied.
“Poor girl,” Valerie said. “None of this can be easy for her, but at least she might be happier to know that her mother hadn’t killed herself.” Valerie poured herself a drink and gave one to Louisa.
“What did you find out?” Louisa took a sip, her face alight with curiosity.
“I’ll fill you in later. I think I’d like to go see my daughter now. Alec, will you come?”
“Valerie, let’s go see her tomorrow. I don’t think I’m ready to face her just now. I need some time to come to terms with these revelations and speak to Kit. Where is Kit?”
“He had a meeting with Buckingham. That man always wants to meet about something,” Louisa replied annoyed. Alec just looked into the fireplace to hide his reaction to Louisa’s words. So it wasn’t over.
Chapter 71
Valerie had just a moment to notice how radiant Louisa looked before her daughter flew into her arms, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder. “Oh, Mama, I’m so glad you are back. So much has happened. Did Aunt Louisa tell you about the wedding? It was simply beautiful. You should have seen my gown. It was magnificent. Theo’s brothers are so dashing, and they thoroughly approve of his choice. Theo told me so.”
Louisa tended to babble when she was nervous, and this was no exception. She was addressing her comments to Valerie, but her eyes were on her father, full of apprehension and shame. Alec just stood quietly in front of the fireplace, his hands behind his back
. He gave Louisa a quick peck on the cheek, but not the usual warm embrace that she’d come to expect from him.
“Do sit down. Should I call for some refreshments? Theo is out at the moment, but I would be happy to show you the house. Mama would you like to see it?” Louisa sat down, her eyes darting nervously between her mother’s face and her father’s back.
“Dad, was your trip productive?” she asked quietly, finally realizing the depth of Alec’s anger. “Dad?”
Alec finally turned around, but remained where he was, studying his daughter with an expression that made her blood run cold. He didn’t answer her question about the trip, but came closer, standing in front of her so that she had no choice but to look up at him, their eyes meeting.
“I am only going to ask this once and I hope you will tell me the truth, because I will know if you aren’t being honest with me. Did either Theo or Tom coerce you into lying with them or did you do it willingly?” Alec held Louisa captive with his gaze, her face turning an alarming shade of red as she tried to look away from her father. She opened her mouth to lie, but she simply couldn’t. He’d know, and then it would be worse.
“They didn’t coerce me,” she whispered.
“Did they hurt you or threaten you in any way?” Alec asked, his voice flat and cold.
“No.”
“So, you made a conscious choice to lie with two men, neither of whom you were married to?”
Louisa just nodded, an ominous cold spreading through her body until it reached her heart, chilling her to the bone.
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