Sprig of Thyme

by Jenna Dawlish

  “It was my duty, and I am glad to have helped give her comfort in her last few weeks on this earth. I would do it for any of my patients.”

  They were interrupted from further conversation by Frederick, “Ah, Doctor Preston, I am glad you have arrived early. I was hoping to speak to you -”

  Frederick pulled Leonard aside, his brief conversation with Joel's father over with. Leonard looked back at the elder Mr Polwarth again, as Frederick dropped his voice to a whisper. “What do you think of the man himself then? Surprised he is here eh?” He placed his hands in his waistcoat pockets. “I didn't think he'd come all this way, but he has surprised me again. Always out to shake people up that one. I'm sure he's up to no good here in Bath.”

  “But he has just come for the funeral has he not?” Leonard said.

  “Hmph, probably, but he may well have come to keep an eye on Joel now he is single again.”

  They stood together silently for a moment, until Leonard tentatively spoke, “Do you think, he will make Joel marry again in six months time?”

  “He can try, but Joel is finally going to stand up to his father. I know you were angry at him the other day, but Adella makes no difference.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “It made Joel even more determined to get what he really wanted in life. And given a choice between his tyrant father and Adella, he's chosen Adella of course. Best not say anything to his father though. Else she'll be in danger.”

  At that, the carriage carrying the coffin pulled up and they were interrupted from further conversation as they quietly entered the chapel.

  Leonard could not stop himself from glancing at the elder Mr Polwarth all the way through the service. More especially, when he saw the man nodded in agreement at various parts of the eulogy, given by Cynthia's brother where Cynthia was described as being loved by her husbands family, and having been lucky in her marriage.

  He couldn't stomach the wake, and made his way, as he promised himself earlier, to see the only face that could lift his spirits.

  Chapter 16

  The day after Cynthia's funeral saw Joel and Frederick still in South Parade. The house was morose and quiet, marking the period of mourning, and they found it increasingly difficult to speak alone. Not only were Cynthia's father and brothers there, but Joel's own father was also staying. Joel had previously tried to persuade him to stay in an hotel, but he would have none of it.

  His father never got in the way, in fact he was the least troublesome guest anyone could wish for. But whenever he was in the same house, Joel got the strangest impression that he was listening to his conversation even when he wasn't in the room.

  Joel was still set on hiding his youngest brother, and was not sure how long he would have before his father started to demand that he married again. He knew that he had at least six months, a suitable though not excessive mourning period. But there was the chance that his father would throw that aside for his own means. If mourning rules for men were the same as for women, then he would have two and a half years of no worry. But men were expected to get on with life immediately, to show they could handle such a loss quickly and to marry again especially if they were wealthy and needed a male heir.

  And what of Cynthia's family? If he married within a year of her death, they would take great offence, but he was willing to throw away all convention, all propriety for the one thing he wanted more than anything else; Adella. His father he knew would have no scruple with the feelings of Cynthia's family. They served their purpose and he doubted whether, other than to see their granddaughter, they would be seen again by any of his family. It was a sad fact that though he never wanted to marry Cynthia, her legacy through Sarah was all that remained of the woman. He tried desperately to bury his indifferent feelings over her death; guilt that he did not really care that much about her, hated her at times and was glad to be free. It didn't help either, that when he thought about Adella, he smiled that he was free to marry her.

  Joel and Frederick walked out alone every morning following the funeral and one such day as they went out, they planned to leave Bath that evening.

  “We must pack and leave quickly if my father is not to know about it before we go. I can't stand to be around him any longer than I have to be. It will be difficult, and I wonder if any of the servants will need a bribe to keep quiet,” Joel said.

  Frederick studied Joel's face. It was set with a frown, “But surely he could have no qualm with you leaving Bath?”

  “I do not presume to have any idea what he wants for me, and I am done with guessing. I cannot stay near him any longer. His presence overpowers me still.”

  “Then leave all the orders to the servants to me. You need not worry, I will make sure he does not know. Though I cannot see any reason why he would do anything to try and stop you leaving Bath.”

  “Perhaps not. But I would rather not risk it. Who knows what he might have planned?”

  Upon their return to the house, Joel felt more optimistic about leaving. His father was out and they quickly gave instructions for the packing. Sarah was to go with them, as well as her nurse.

  At seven o'clock, Joel packed his own final items in his room, when there was a knock at the door. His heart thumped hard. It might be his father. With a croak in his voice he managed to say, “Come in.”

  The door took an age to open.

  It was the footman.

  Joel gave a small sigh of relief.

  “Begging your pardon sir, but the carriage is waiting and Mr Garner is asking if you are ready.”

  “Tell him I will be a few minutes.”

  The footman left, and Joel slumped on the bed, his head in his hands. He had to master his anxiety. He was determined that nothing should stop him leaving Bath. Confrontation with his father or not, he was going. He stood up and went downstairs.

  Cynthia's father and brothers were in the sitting room with Frederick.

  “We are a little shocked at your sudden departure,” his father-in-law said, “but I suppose you want to be alone to grieve. . .” The old man smiled sympathetically. He never disliked the man, except that he had been one of the many people who approved and pushed him into marriage with Cynthia.

  “Thank you, yes, I would prefer to leave Bath immediately,” Joel said.

  “I hope you were not leaving without bidding your own father farewell?” said a cool voice from the doorway.

  Joel's heart almost stopped as he instantly recognised who had spoken.

  His father.

  He turned around, flushed and tried to hide the surprise in his voice, “Of course not. Frederick and I are going away for a time,” Joel said.

  “So it seems.” His father stood in the doorway with a hard piercing look in his eyes.

  “Yes, well goodbye father. I thank you for attending Cynthia's funeral,” Joel said as he stood up. But as he approached the doorway, his father made no move to get out of the way.

  “Goodbye father,” he said more loudly.

  Their eyes met for a moment; Joel's in stern determination, as he desperately tried not to betray his growing fear, and his father's in cool detachment.

  His father stepped out of the way. But as Joel went to pass by, his father grabbed his arm. It was a strong grip, and as he looked down at the hand he heard his whispering cold voice say, “You had better return home by the Midsummer Fair.”

  Joel nodded slowly, then finally after a few moments, his father loosened his grip and let go.

  He was unable to think of much else than his father's last words as the carriage pulled away. He looked out of the window to watch the house disappear, and only sat back when he could no longer see it. Relief washed through him. He was away and free. For now. But before they headed for Scotland there was one more call to make; Horse Shoe Walk.

  He hoped that Dr Preston would be at home, though he had doubts that he might be, he was sure the doctor may be at an appointment. As the carriage stopped a few minutes later, Frederick leaned
out of the window, and said, “It is the one on the left, the house with the dark green door.”

  “You are not coming in?” Joel asked.

  “No. I think you best go alone,” he replied,”'But give Dr Preston my best regards.”

  Joel stepped out and looked up at the building, and rang the bell. Two stories high, with a slate roof, one of many terraces in the area built smaller for the middle classes. The door was soon answered by Dr Preston.

  “May I come in?” he asked.

  “Of course. What a surprise.”

  Joel stepped in as Leonard looked out and saw the carriage waiting outside.

  “You are leaving Bath?” Leonard said after he closed the door.

  “Yes, how did you know?”

  “Your carriage is loaded with luggage.”

  “Ah!” Joel relaxed. For a moment he thought word about his departure reached Dr Preston.

  “Please come through,” Leonard led Joel through to the sitting room.

  “I am sorry you find it somewhat untidy. Without Adella here to keep house for me, I am afraid I am liable to let it slip into disarray.”

  Joel replied in a serious tone, “I am leaving Bath and I have come to pay your bill.”

  Leonard raised his eye brows, “Yes, I suppose you have. But I have not prepared it yet. So I should forward it onto you?”

  “That will not be possible, I am going away for several months, and I cannot divulge where that will be. So I would be obliged if you would prepare the bill now. I can wait.”

  “Certainly,” Leonard said. He stood up and opened the bureau.

  He went through his papers, “Why are you going away? Are you hiding from your father?”

  “In a sense yes. I still intend to hide my brother, and Frederick and I will be planning what to do,” he said, “so, I hope that in time. . .” his voice drifted off.

  Leonard looked up, “You hope that in time you can marry Adella?”

  “Yes.”

  Leonard sighed. “You better make sure she is not under any threat from your father. I will not have her in danger.”

  “I promise you, that will never happen.”

  Leonard's shoulders relaxed and he continued writing the bill. “I am sure you would not. . .intentionally. But I do rather wonder whether she would have you now at all, even though she knows the truth.”

  Joel stood up and chose not to hear Leonard's words. Such talk was not to be contemplated. Looking around the room, he tried to take in what he could of what Adella once called her home. It wasn't an unpleasant room, much plainer and smaller than what he was used to, he expected the furniture to be tatty and worn, but it wasn't too bad.

  Leonard saw him looking round, “If you are wondering; Adella did not particularly like this room. She thought it a little poky.”

  “It is comfortable enough though,” Joel said. “Much better than the rooms we had at Brayfern together.”

  “Indeed. It will never be grand, but it is sufficient.”

  “Have you heard from her?” Joel asked.

  “No. Though our mother says she is well enough.”

  Joel said nothing, but went on walking slowly around the room, he picked up an object he found on the table and turned it over in his hand.

  “Is this is one of Adella's hair combs?” he said and ran his fingers over the intricate flowers carved into the wood.

  “Yes. She only took with her a few basic items. I haven't sent her other clothes and such because I'm hoping she'll come back to Bath now that you are leaving.”

  “Did she wear it much?”

  “Sometimes. On more formal occasions I think.”

  A few minutes later, and Leonard completed the bill. He handed it to Joel, who, without questioning it, looked at the total and left a modest pile of bank notes on the table.

  “I must thank you again for all your assistance with Cynthia,”

  “I was just doing my job.”

  “But that does not lessen what you did,” Joel said.

  Joel left immediately afterwards and it wasn't until a few days later that Leonard noticed the hair comb had gone.

  ***

  Adella sat herself in the window seat of the sitting room in her parents' house and looked out at the unceasing rain outside. It was now two weeks since she arrived back to her parents and long enough for her to grow weary of having little occupation. Her mother did not need much nursing now. The house, with three bedrooms, was modest and set amongst a row of town houses built for artisans and clerks, twenty years before. Adella grew up there, and little was changed in the street since the time she ran up and down playing with the other children.

  She missed Bath and her brother, despite his sins, but she missed being useful the most; having a daily purpose. The daily chores of keeping house for her brother had been at times tiresome, but now, the lack of physical exercise made it harder for her to get to sleep at night. She did help with the daily tasks, but many of the chores were now done by the scullery maid, employed since her father's promotion a few years ago. Most of the time, there was something domestic to keep her occupied, but there was always several times during the day when she was left to dwell on her own thoughts.

  Her mother entered the room and sat down in a nearby chair. “I am feeling much better today. I think getting up out of bed has done me a great deal of good.”

  “I'm glad.”

  “You might feel better if you went out and saw a few of your old friends,” she said.

  Adella turned and looked at her. “I saw Mary Matthews yesterday and all she did was talk about being married, and about the single men in town who might have me. She was so condescending. Made out that I would be lucky if any man would have me! All she did was talk about how wonderful being married was, then, a few minutes later all she did was complain about her husband. I do not think I could bear to sit through it all again. Why do married women look down on single women?”

  Her mother smiled. “I am not willing to pursue that argument, dearest. You will get more angry if I tell you why. How about visiting Reverend Buyers and seeing what you can do to help the church?”

  Adella sighed. “Perhaps.”

  “You must try and get out. Sitting about here brooding will not help in the long run. Idleness is not a worthy attribute.”

  “I know mother. I promise, I will try and make myself more useful.”

  Over the last few weeks, her thoughts had been full of Joel. She did not regret leaving Bath. She had questions though, questions about his family and his father. If it was true that he had been locked up as he said then it was truly terrible. What he must have suffered! She thought back to when they first met; when they were governess and tutor; his pensive nature. The distant look in his eyes. He had changed his name to hide from his father. What pains he must have suffered.

  One thing was certain. They had both changed and five years apart could not be ignored. She thought she knew him then, but she knew nothing of his past. She knew nothing of his struggle with his father. For that alone she must be careful. She would not throw herself away in marriage even to the man she once loved without sober thought. Did she love him now? Could she love a man who chose his brothers over her however desperate the circumstances?

  She stood up, suddenly frustrated at turmoil in her mind. A walk, rain or no, was what she needed.

  The fresh air helped her clear her mind a little, though the rain was persistent, it was refreshing to be outside. She looked around at the houses and streets. She was haunted by the memory of the last time she returned home, five years before when she had been disgraced. Her parents hid the truth. They had told friends and neighbours that she returned from Sidmouth because the child had been sent to school. Adella was not sure if they all believed the story.

  As she walked, she held her umbrella carelessly so that the droplets fell on her face, but she did not notice. She walked on in any direction her whim took her; to several places through the town, past shops, to the church
, until she returned home, emotionally and physically exhausted.

  The next morning, as Adella readied herself to call on Reverend Buyers, a letter arrived from Flora. It was the third one she received in as many weeks, and she was both dreading and longing to read it.

  Instead of sitting down and reading it there and then, she took it out with her to find a quiet spot. She found the perfect place as she approached the rectory. She passed through the church grounds and stopped on one of the wooden benches near the entrance. Looking around, the grass was greener from the previous day's rain, and with only a faint sound of birds and the occasional distant carriage, it was the perfect spot. There was no one else around, so she opened the letter, her eyes slowly taking in its contents.

  My dearest Adella,

  I trust this letter finds you in good health. I was so very glad to receive your letter the other day and I was eager to reply, except that I have had so much to do lately I have little time to myself.

  Not that I am unhappy. I know that I am fulfilling only one part of your duties, and that you would be able to complete them much better than me. I am only a small help compared to you, but I think Dr Preston is happy with my efforts.

  He still misses you greatly. He is sanguine, I cannot deny it and I know he would rather have you here in Bath than miles away. But, oh dear, I have written too much, I do not wish to pressure you into feeling guilty, sometimes when I write I get carried away. Forgive me.

  Be assured that I am still doing as you ask and am looking after your brother. He dines with us now every evening. Helen thinks it is because he loves her! I laugh, though I would not presume to know your brother's feelings, Helen still has enough conceitedness to believe that she can win any man she lays her cap at! I am not sure Dr Preston will bend to pick it up.

  Besides that news, I am still having lessons with Uncle in the shop. Everyday I learn something new, though I know I still have much more knowledge to acquire, Uncle is patient with me. I must say, I do wish I visited them before, though I dare say mother could not have spared me. Helen was a bit of a handful as a child.