“I should hope not! Because of his friendship with the King, the French peasants wanted to see the Duc hung, but it seems he denied them the pleasure by committing suicide, or, as some believe, he was poisoned! This made it seem as though the King and his friends were above the law. And I heard that may have had something to do with starting the revolution and forcing the King to advocate! I hardly think my lady’s handling of her little one would bring about such drastic results, but still, I cannot help feel that things at Four Oaks are not as they should be, and like Henrietta, I fear that no good will come of it.”
Chapter Fifteen
One day, James had gone riding with Percy, Eddy was napping, and Gladys was enjoying a quiet time reading in the library. She was unaware of the stranger who had come to the open door and stood watching her. Horace was about to enter, but the picture Gladys made sitting on the widow seat with her back against the wall, her knees pulled up, and the sunlight highlighting the hue of auburn in her hair was so lovely, he found it captivating. He took her to be his stepmother’s daughter, Dolly, who his father had written about, although he had imagined she was much younger. She had a lovely profile, and he thought if she resembled her mother, he could easily understand why his father had remarried.
Finally, Gladys sensed his presence and turned her head. Although she knew there was someone there, she was still startled and almost fell off the seat before she managed to stand up.
Horace apologized, “I hope I haven’t upset you, but you looked so comfortable that I didn’t want to disturb you.”
Gladys slipped into her shoes. “Are you looking for James?” she asked.
“Yes, I am, but first let me introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “I am the prodigal son, Horace. You must be my stepsister, Dolly.”
Gladys, always apprehensive toward strangers, was relieved when he introduced himself, and she returned his smile as she took his hand. He had a mischievous air about him that she found appealing. He didn’t resemble his father in the least and looked nothing like she had imagined. In fact, she thought he looked a little like Toughie.
Realizing she had been staring at him, she lowered her eyes and said, “I’m so happy to meet you, Horace, but I am not Dolly. I am Gladys, your stepmother.”
Horace was shocked, but before he could reply, she continued, “Your father didn’t tell me you were coming. He will be home soon. He and his friend Percy went riding. Did Jenkins take your luggage to your rooms?”
Horace replied that he had taken his bag up himself.
“Oh dear, I am afraid your rooms are not ready, but I shall see to that right away. Would you care for a cup of tea while you are waiting?”
“I suppose so,” he answered rather gruffly.
“I shall have one of the girls bring us some,” she said as she walked over and pulled the bell cord. “This is such a nice surprise, but I do wish James had told me you were coming so I could have had things ready for you.”
“He didn’t know, and you needn’t worry about my rooms; I can only stay a few days, so it’s hardly worth fussing over.”
“Nonsense! Rita, our housekeeper, will see that it is ready in no time at all, but I had better tell Freda that you are here. I know she will want to make something special for dinner. I shall be right back. I am so happy you are here at last,” she said as she was leaving the room.
Horace had been so stunned when Gladys said she was his stepmother that he welcomed her absence so he could collect his thoughts. He guessed by her appearance that she was about his own age, so he couldn’t help but to be suspicious. He wondered why such a beautiful young woman would marry an old man. She was obviously well bred and, according to his father’s letters, had been married to one of the richest men in Dover. Therefore, her reason must not have been financial. He also found it difficult to believe that his father would have taken advantage of her. As far as he could recall, his father was not an affectionate man, so he was certain that it would have to be Gladys who had done the seducing.
Horace and his father were never close, and that was one of the reasons he left home shortly after his mother died. At first, his father’s letters were short and formal, but gradually they became more and more personal. In time, Horace began to look forward to them, and, for the first time in his life, he experienced feelings of fondness for the father he hardly knew.
Now, as he waited for Gladys to return, he couldn’t make up his mind whether he should be angry with her or angry with James for being such an old fool. She had seemed sincere when she said that she was happy to see him, so he decided to be civil until he learned more.
“Molly will bring us tea shortly,” Gladys said when she returned. “I thought it would be nice if we have it in the parlour.”
When they entered the room, Horace was amazed at how bright and pleasant it was. His grandmother had always insisted on the house being kept in good order, but when she died, his mother, who had no interest in household matters and whose health was declining, had allowed the servants to become errant in their duties. By the time he had left home, the entire house had become very dark and gloomy.
He was still looking around the room when Gladys remarked, “It must be nice to see the place again. Does it look the same?”
“God no! Sorry, Gladys, but I find it rather hard to believe it is the same room. In fact, none of the rooms look the same. It’s rather like walking into a different house. Dad wrote and said he had hired a new housekeeper and that she had made an improvement to the place, but I didn’t think anyone could make this much difference.”
“I couldn’t have done it without the housemaids; they are all splendid workers.”
“You surely don’t mean that you were the housekeeper father wrote about?”
“Did you not know?”
Horace shook his head. He felt disappointed. He didn’t know what he had hoped to learn, but it wasn’t what now seemed obvious—she had married his father for his money.
Gladys noticed his look of disapproval and was going to say something when Molly entered with the tea. When Gladys introduced her to Horace, she didn’t know how to respond so just nodded then gave a small and awkward curtsy and left.
Horace had never been introduced to a kitchen maid before, and he found it embarrassing.
“Do you always introduce your servants to your guests?”
“Oh, no, but then you are not really a guest, are you? You are family, and the girls will be waiting on you from now on, so I think they should know who you are, don’t you?”
“I have no idea, but I suppose it does make sense.”
“I am afraid your father and I have different ideas on how the servants should be handled, but then, I was one of them for a time, so perhaps that explains why I like to treat them like fellow human beings instead of slaves.”
Horace had never met a lady who spoke so candidly before, except for the woman he was planning to marry—one of the reasons he had fallen in love with her. “They must enjoy working for you,” he replied.
“I think they do, but don’t let your tea get cold, and you must have some of this currant cake; it is one of Freda’s specialties.”
“I know.”
“Oh, that’s right! I forgot that she was here before you left.”
“Yes, and father wrote that Jenkins is still with us as well. I look forward to seeing them both again, but I am most anxious to meet Edward. It’s hard to believe that I actually have a sibling.”
“Eddy is sleeping right now, but as soon as he wakes, I shall let you know.”
When James returned, he was delighted when Gladys told him Horace was home and insisted Percy stay to meet him. Leaving Percy with Gladys, he practically ran up the stairs and into his son’s apartment.
Horace had taken off his coat, washed his hands and face, and had a towel in his hand when James burst through the door.
“Horace, my boy!” he exclaimed giving him a hearty embrace.
Horace was so surprised, he unintentionally backed away. He had no memory of ever being touched by his father, and this show of affection was unexpected. “Hello, Father,” he stammered.
Not realizing how atypical his enthusiasm must seem, James ignored Horace’s reaction and went on to welcome him. “My God, it is good to have you home at last. I do hope it is for a good long visit.”
“Sorry, Father, but I only have a few days. I have bought a home in Antwerp, and I have some carpenters remodelling it, so I should be there to keep an eye on them.”
“Well, at least Antwerp is much closer than Africa. I am glad you decided not to settle there after all.”
“I really like South Africa, Father, but I found there were more opportunities for my business in Belgium. Besides, my betrothed lives in Antwerp.”
“You didn’t write to me about this,” James complained.
“I just asked for her hand before I left.”
“Well, this is great news. Congratulations, son,” James said, once more giving Horace a hug.
Horace was ready for it this time and hugged him back.
“Sarah is Jewish, Father.”
James frowned, but only for a second; then his face lit up again, and he remarked, “Your grandmother was Jewish too, before your grandfather married her, and she had no trouble becoming a Christian.”
“Grandmother never converted to Christianity, Father. Did you know she sent for a Rabbi to circumcise me eight days after I was born?”
The news stunned James, and his answer was brusque, “No, I did not, or I would not have allowed it.”
“But you did know that Grandmother insisted that I attend Cohen’s Hebrew Academy in Dover for two years before I went to London?”
“Yes, I did, but I thought that was because the man had such a notable reputation as a scholar. As soon as I found out what he was teaching, I put a stop to it. However, that is all in the past. As I wrote you, I am sorry I was not a more attentive father, but now I would like to try to make up for it if you will allow me to. I do care for you, Horace, and I would like us to be close from now on.”
“You may not feel that way when you hear what I have to tell you.”
“I cannot imagine anything you can say that will change how I feel.”
“I hope not, Father. You see, I am considering converting to Judaism.”
James couldn’t hide his dismay, but all he could think of to say was, “We shall have to talk about this later. Now, hurry and put on your coat. I have a dear friend who is waiting to meet you.”
When Horace entered the parlour, they were all waiting for him: James, Gladys, Percy, Dolly, and Edward. James introduced him to Percy, Dolly, and finally Edward, whom Horace was most anxious to meet.
Percy seemed a likable chap, and although Dolly lacked her mother’s beauty, Horace thought she had a pleasant personality. When he came to Edward, he smiled and said, “We meet at last, my little brother, and what a handsome lad you are. I shan’t be here for long, but I hope your mother will allow me to spend most of my time with you, so we can get to know one another. I quite like the idea of having a brother, don’t you?”
Eddy wasn’t quite sure what the nice man was talking about, but he politely smiled. Horace reached into his vest pocket and pulled out a little leather pouch before addressing Gladys, “Here is a little keepsake that I would like Edward to have. My grandmother gave me a pouch of gems similar to these when I was a young boy. I found them fascinating then, and still do. If she was alive today, I am sure she would want me to do the same for my brother. I shall give you a list of their names as well, so you can keep it for him.”
He untied the cord on the pouch and spilled the contents onto a little table. Everyone gasped as they looked at the assortment of sparkling stones, stones that were obviously very precious. Gladys said it was far too generous a gift, but Horace only laughed and, looking up at James, said, “What do you think, Father?” He caught James off guard, and the look on his father’s face brought back unpleasant memories.
James offered a weak smile and tried to sound pleased when he answered, “I think Edward is a very lucky little boy. That is very kind of you, Horace.”
After a lovely dinner, which Freda had prepared with Horace’s favourite dishes, they retired to the parlour where Gladys impressed her stepson with a medley of songs.
Horace would have enjoyed the evening more if he hadn’t had such a perceptive mind. It was obvious to him that James was not fond of Edward. Horace didn’t like to think of the child suffering the same neglect he had endured as a young boy. He also noted that the relationship between his father and Gladys lacked affection. In fact, James paid much more attention to his friend, Percy. There was something amiss, and Horace intended to find out what it was before he left Four Oaks.
James was disappointed during the next two days when Horace spent more time with Gladys and Edward than he did with him. Therefore, the day before he was to leave, he confronted him. “Son, I think we should go riding this afternoon. Just the two of us. We have a lot of things to talk about.”
“I agree. I am sorry I have neglected you, but I promise that the whole day is yours.” After suggesting they do a little fishing, he and James rode out to the lake, stopping to visit with two of their tenants whom Horace remembered. Freda had made them a hearty picnic lunch and said she would expect a dozen trout for dinner.
They set their lines, then sat on a log by the lake before Horace broke the silence. “My God, I had forgotten how beautiful this place is!”
“You have been away far too long, my boy. You will own it all one day so you should visit more often, and if you are set on marrying this girl of yours, you must bring her home, so she can see where she will be living for the rest of her life.”
“It will not all be mine, Father. Edward shall have his portion too.”
“Of course, I shall see that Gladys and the boy are provided for, but you are the firstborn, and you shall be the sole owner of Four Oaks when I am gone.”
Horace decided to be blunt. “Why do you dislike Edward, Father?” James began to protest, but Horace interrupted him. “No, please don’t deny it; I am not blind. I do not think we can ever have a close relationship if we are not honest with each other.”
James knew Horace was right, so he decided to tell him Gladys’s story and why he had married her. At first, Horace couldn’t understand how his father could be so stupid, and he said as much, but when James explained what a phenomenal difference her presence had made to both his home and his life, Horace had to agree.
“However, Father, none of this is Edward’s fault, and since you have declared him to be your son, I think you should treat him a little more civilly. You have said yourself that you wish you had been a more attentive father to me. You don’t want to make the same mistake with Edward.”
James promised to try to change his attitude toward the boy. Then he said, “Now what is this about you converting to Judaism? I hope you are not doing it just to impress your future in-laws.”
“Not at all. I had made up my mind long before I met Sarah, although talking to her father helped convince me that my decision is the right one. He is a Rabbi and a very learned man. I don’t know if you want to leave Four Oaks to a Jew, Father, but whether I inherit this land or not, I am determined to be Jewish.”
To have a Jewish son was almost unimaginable for James, and he said, “I find it difficult to accept your decision, Horace, but you shall always be my son and heir no matter if you are Jewish, Buddhist, or any other faith you adopt for yourself. I only ask that you accept me for what I am as well and try to love me as I have learned to love you.”
“I will, Father. I promise, and I know that Sarah and her family will feel the same.”
Horace left
the following day, promising to bring his bride home soon after they were wed, but he didn’t invite James and Gladys to the wedding. James, feeling offended, complained until Gladys reminded him that Horace didn’t expect to be married for at least a year and was probably waiting until they set the date before inviting any guests.
After he had left, James told Percy and Gladys about Horace’s plans to convert to Judaism. Gladys didn’t think anything of it, but Percy knew full well how prejudice often showed its ugly face where it was least expected.
James and Percy played on the same cricket team in Sandwich. James, a fairly good batsman, usually took the position as tail-ender while Percy, who was adept at both batting and bowling, was the team’s all-rounder. They only played once a month, but they thoroughly enjoyed it.
One Saturday, they won a match against a Scottish team that they had never beaten before and returned to the club in high spirits. More rounds of drinks were bought than usual, and it was dinner time before Percy and James took their leave.
They decided to dine in one of the pubs before James left for home. He had left his horse and buggy at Big John’s, a blacksmith shop close to Percy’s home, but because it was a clear night, they were in no hurry to end their celebration.
As they ate and drank, they discussed books they had read by the author Alexandre Dumas. James owned copies of The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, The Vicomte de Bragelonne, and Louise de la Valliere, but he didn’t have The Man in the Iron Mask. Percy informed him that he had two copies and would be happy to give James one. They had a few more drinks after dinner, and by the time they left the pub, they were walking with such drunken leans that they would have toppled over if each one hadn’t supported the other.
“That was indeed a fine roast dinner, was it not?” Percy asked James.
“It most certainly was! Now how does that song go?” James asked, but before Percy could answer, he began to sing.
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