He was waiting for her when she arrived. She was pleasantly surprised to see that he had poured them both a glass of sherry, which helped ease the tension.
James cleared his throat and broke the silence, “Have you arranged for Ruby to take your luggage to the train station?”
“Yes. Jenkins has offered to take us down to the station in the buggy as well.”
“What time tomorrow do you plan on leaving?” he asked.
“I’d like to be at the station early so that I can see to our luggage and secure a compartment on the train. I think we should leave here around six.”
“Then I shall say my goodbye tonight. I am certain Dolly and the others will be up to see you off.”
“I had a long talk with Eliza this afternoon. She was so sweet! She said that she would write to us as soon as she learned her letters. I do love her, James, although I know you find that hard to believe. I shall miss her and Dolly so very much.” With a grin, she added, “I’ll even miss you. In spite of our differences, we’ve had some good times together, haven’t we?”
“I shall never forgive or condone what you are doing, Gladys, but yes, we did have some enjoyable times.”
“And, James, don’t be upset with me, but I wish you would please go and see Percy. He misses his friendship with you so much.”
Instead of resenting her suggestion, James surprised her by saying, “I just might do that. I should like to ask his advice about getting a divorce.”
“A divorce?” Gladys exclaimed.
“As far as I am concerned, our marriage is over. I know you love this Angelo and want to be his wife, and besides, contrary to what you may think, I do feel responsible for Edward’s future. It would save him a good deal of embarrassment if his parents were married.”
Gladys couldn’t stop the tears of joy. “Thank you, James. That’s so very kind of you, but divorced or not, I do intend to return to Four Oaks inside of a year.”
Not letting on that he had heard, James said, “And I shall consent to Edward’s adoption after your marriage. It is only right that he has his father’s name.”
Gladys was very relieved to know they were parting on speaking terms, if not as friends.
All the residents of Four Oaks except James were on hand to say goodbye early the next morning. Cook had made some sandwiches and a bottle of lemonade for them to have on the train.
Eliza had wrapped a string of beads, which Dolly had given her, up in a piece of pretty paper for Eddy. He would have laughed if he weren’t so sad. When she handed it to him, she said in a serious tone, “These are for you to remember me.”
Although Dolly loved her mother dearly, she didn’t agree with what she was doing. She had made up her mind not to give her mother the satisfaction of seeing her cry, but when the time came to say goodbye, tears ran down her cheeks. She wasn’t alone—there wasn’t a dry eye amongst the assembled crowd.
Dolly watched until the buggy was out of sight. As everyone walked toward the manor, the last verses of the song, “The Gypsy Laddie,” ran through her head.
“It’s I can leave my house and land,
And I can leave my baby,
I’m a-goin’ to roam this world around,
And be a gypsy’s lady.
Oh, soon this lady changed her mind,
Her clothes grew old and faded,
Her hose and shoes came off her feet,
And left them bare and naked.
Just what befell this lady now,
I think is worth relating,
Her gypsy found another lass,
And left her heart-a-breaking.”
She picked up Eliza, kissed her, and promised, “I shall never leave you, my little princess.”
Later that afternoon, James asked Eliza if she would like him to read her a story, but when he picked her up and carried her toward the library, she started to cry.
“Whatever is the matter?” he asked.
“I do not want to go there,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Eddy said I am not supposed to.”
“Well, Eddy was mistaken,” he answered as he carried her into the room. “I have some nice books in here that I had when I was a child.”
“Papa?”
“Yes?”
“Did Eddy go away because I smudged your book?”
James could hardly believe what he heard. “You mean to say it was you who soiled the book?” he asked.
“Eddy told me not to tell, Papa, but I don’t want him to go away.”
“Oh, Eliza, how I wish you had told me this before. It was not your fault he left, my darling, it was mine. And for that, I shall never forgive myself. Eddy is a good boy, and I am certain he will write to you with all the news of his adventures in America. It shall be something to look forward to. And I shall even help you write to him.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Eddy said very little on the train going to London.
When Angelo met them at the station, he noticed the change in the boy’s personality. He did his best to cheer the lad up during the two weeks they spent waiting for their ship to sail, but it was Angelo’s grandmother, Isabella Rossini (Nonna), who brought back Eddy’s beautiful smile. The old lady had been as cheerless as Eddy until they met each other, but as is often the case among children and the elderly, they seemed to have a language of their own.
Angelo had found a man who would sell them forged identification papers stating that Gladys was his wife and Eddy their son, but Gladys didn’t want to use them. She didn’t want to begin a new life in America built on lies, but she was unable to purchase a cabin in her own name, so she had no choice.
The day they were allowed on the ship, Gladys had been waiting on the dock for Angelo to find out if they could go aboard when a wagon loaded with baskets of vegetables, fruit, and cages of live chickens came onto the wharf and stopped beside their ship. A heavy-set man came running down the gang plank, calling out in a deep and commanding voice, “Hold up there! I’ll have a look at those before you unload them, and they had best be fresh or you can bloody well take them back and bring me some that are.”
Gladys could scarcely believe her eyes: the man was her old friend, Sandy, the cook from The Whale’s Tail restaurant in Dover. She was so pleased to see him that she rushed over to greet him.
Sandy threw his arms around her and began asking questions without waiting for answers. “Gladys Pickwick! Is it really you? How many years has it been? Why in heavens name did you run off without saying goodbye? Was it because of Andrew’s useless stepson? That scoundrel did his best to tarnish your name, but I don’t know of a soul who believed him. How are you, my girl? What are you doing down here on the docks?”
He finally wound down and let Gladys answer. “I’m very well, Sandy. Don’t tell me you are now a ship’s cook. What about The Whale’s Tail?”
“I left there a week ago. My friend, Rob Rawlins—he’s the captain of this here ship—well, he’s been trying to get me aboard for a long time, and I finally decided I should give it a try before I get too old to enjoy it. This will be my first voyage, and if I like it, I may never return to The Whale’s Tail. Besides, it’s never been the same there without your father-in-law sitting at his old table every day. I still miss the old boy and his lad, your dear man, Tom, as well. I don’t suppose you are going aboard are you?”
Just then, Eddy ran up and took her hand. “Do come, Mother, we are going on the ship right now!”
“Of course, dear, but this is a dear old friend of mine, and he will be cooking some of our meals on the ship. I’m married again, Sandy, and this is my son, Edward. Maybe we shall get a chance to talk on the ship.” Sandy gave her another hug and promised to spend as much time with her as he could.
Instead of being afraid to have someone from her past nearby, Gladys
welcomed it. It was wonderful to be able to talk to someone who remembered Tom, her first husband and Dolly’s father, and all the people she had known while living in Dover.
That day some of Eddy’s enthusiasm returned. He had almost outgrown his sailor suit, but he insisted on wearing it. As he set foot on the deck, he honoured the captain, who was standing on the bridge, with a military salute. When the captain returned the gesture, Eddy’s grin spread from one ear to the other.
Although Angelo had purchased first-class cabins, the rooms weren’t made to accommodate the latest style in ladies apparel. With only one foot of space between the bunks, Gladys and Angelo’s grandmother found it far more convenient to navigate without their cumbersome hoops. Fortunately, there was ample space at one end of the room for luggage, a wardrobe, a small table, and two chairs. Although it wasn’t as roomy as a hotel room, both of the women thought it adequate.
Gladys would have been thrilled with it if only Dolly and Eliza were with her. There had been no satisfactory solution to her predicament, so she had done what she thought was right, but the promise she made to return in a year or less did little to ease her conscience. Now she wondered if Isabella would still like her if she knew that not only was she married to another man, and not her beloved grandson, but she had deserted two daughters as well. She needed Angelo to reassure her, but he and Eddy had to share the adjoining cabin with his Uncle Victor.
Angelo was having similar thoughts. He had looked forward to sharing a cabin with Gladys as well. They had only been alone once since she had arrived in London, and that was when his uncle was kind enough to take his grandmother and Eddy for a short walk to have a dish of ice cream. Now they wouldn’t be together until thy landed in New York. “I’ll be damned if they keep us apart after that!” He had vowed to Gladys.
The ship left London on June 15, 1860, and they all went out on deck to wave goodbye to the crowd of people standing on the pier. It was quite chilly. After a short time, Angelo’s uncle suggested that they return to their cabins, as he was afraid Nonna might catch a chill. Gladys wanted to remain on deck, but Eddy was so eager to explore the rest of the vessel that Angelo offered to be his guide and left her on her own.
While she could still see England, her sorrow over leaving the girls wasn’t coupled with remorse, but as the last speck of land disappeared from her sight, she reached out, as though to grab it back, and cried out, “God, forgive me!”
Part Two
Chapter Twenty-Six
On the second day at sea, the weather was more favourable, and they all went for a stroll along the small promenade. Isabella took note of the admiring glances she and Gladys received from some of the other passengers, and she felt a sense of pride for the first time in years. For decades, she had worn nothing but black, until Gladys had taken her shopping in London. Gladys had insisted that she buy three new outfits. She had dressed as though in mourning ever since she had disowned Angelo’s mother, Maria. Maria had left home to marry an Englishman who was not only a protestant but a commoner as well.
Victor and Angelo, Isabella’s remaining family, had travelled from Italy to England and America before deciding to leave the theatre and begin a business in America. Isabella, afraid she would never see them again, insisted on going with them.
They were all waiting in London for their departure when Gladys and Edward arrived, and Angelo introduced them as his wife and son. Isabella could tell by the likeness that Edward and Angelo were indeed father and son, but she instinctively knew that Gladys was not his wife. Nevertheless, she realized they were deeply in love. It brought back memories of her dear Maria and the Englishman, and she thought that her daughter might still be alive if only she had accepted their relationship.
Isabella adored five-year-old Edward right from the start, and it only took a week before she began to like and respect Gladys as well. Now, when she saw the admiring looks they received as they strolled up and down the deck, she began to look forward to her new life in America with enthusiasm and not with regret.
Gladys was so busy seeing to Isabella and Eddy’s needs that it helped to keep her mind off Dolly and Eliza. She missed them both terribly, but Dolly the most. Dolly was now fifteen, and they had been through so much together. She was such a level-headed girl, but now Gladys couldn’t forget the look on her face the day Gladys said that she intended to leave Eliza and go to America without her.
At first Dolly looked like she didn’t believe it, then she had given Gladys a look of utter disdain before declaring that she intended to remain in England with Eliza. Gladys had almost changed her mind then, but she knew Dolly would watch over Eliza while she was in America. Instead of making her feel better, the thought just made her feel sick with guilt.
Even though Dolly had been present when James had struck Eddy and called him a bastard in a fit of anger, she didn’t think it was reason enough to leave Eliza when James refused to allow her to go with them.
Now, aboard ship, Gladys kept going over it all in her mind. She kept wondering if there was anything she could have said or done to make Dolly understand why she had to take Eddy to be with his father, but there seemed to be no answer.
On the third day at sea, they were all in the dining room having tea when one of the crew came running in with the announcement, “Captain said everyone on deck what wants to see the Great Eastern go by.”
“What on earth is the Great Eastern?” Isabella asked Victor.
“She’s the biggest steamship ever built, Momma. Shall we all go and have a look?”
They all ventured up on deck to see the marvel, and what a sight it was! Although the ship was about half a mile away, it made their ship feel like a rowboat in comparison.
“It’s like an island,” Gladys said.
“From what I’ve heard, the inside is like the inside of a palace,” Angelo replied. “Look at the size of her paddles, Uncle Vic. And I think I can count six masts, but I can’t make out if there are four or five funnels.”
“For all her power, she doesn’t seem to be moving a great deal faster than we are,” Victor commented.
They watched the giant ship off and on all that day, but the next morning she was out of sight.
Gladys wrote to both girls every day, telling them everything about the voyage. Seeing the Great Eastern steamship sail past on her first visit to America was an exciting happening to report.
She was sitting at the table writing about it when Eddy came bursting through the door, and, jumping up and down, he excitedly announced, “Mother, Sandy asked me if I wanted to meet the Captain. Please, may I?”
“Shh! Your Nonna is trying to rest. And, Eddy, didn’t I tell you not to call Mr Sandlund Sandy?”
“But, Mother, he said that he would like me a damn sight more if I was to call him Sandy.”
“And what did I tell you about using profanity?”
“But that is precisely what he said, Mother.”
Gladys raised an eyebrow and suggested in a friendlier tone, “You don’t need to quote him word for word.”
“I know, Mother. I am sorry, but please may I go with him to see the Captain steer the ship?”
“As long as he is with you at all times. And make sure you behave and don’t touch things unless you are told to.”
“Yes, Mother.” As Eddy went by his great-grandmother, who was lying down in one of the bunks and had been enjoying listening to the conversation, he stopped, patted her arm, and whispered, “Sorry, Nonna.”
Eddy had been unusually quiet since leaving Four Oaks, and Gladys was worried about him. Although he had seemed happy to learn that Angelo was his real father and had even begun calling him that, having never addressed James as anything but sir, he still missed his sisters and his pony. But when he returned from visiting the Captain, there was no doubt that he had enjoyed himself.
“Momma, you should have seen me. Captai
n Bob even let me steer the ship with the big wheel. And you know what he said?”
“No, dear, I have no idea. What did he say?”
“Well, when I told him I was going to be a captain someday, he said that he thought I should be a very good one, but that first I would have to do well in school and then I could work my way up to captain.”
“I imagine he is right, Eddy. Do you think you can do that?”
“Oh yes, Mother, because Captain Bob also told me that when I am old enough, he will take me on as a cabin boy and start training me. Isn’t that wonderful?”
Gladys wasn’t sure she agreed, but she didn’t want to spoil his dream so she nodded.
“Where is Father? I want to tell him. Do you think he shall be proud of me, Mother?”
“I’m sure he will, Eddy. You had better write to Dolly and Eliza and tell them all about it too.”
The weather was lovely for four days, but on the fifth, a wind blew up that developed into a storm lasting for two days, delaying them severely. Gladys and the rest of her party didn’t suffer with sea sickness, but many others weren’t as fortunate. Sandy was one of those stricken. For the first four days, his wonderful meals were the talk of the ship, and he even spent time getting acquainted with Angelo, his uncle, and his grandmother.
When they had time alone, Gladys explained to Sandy what had happened to her after she left Dover. They also talked about the wonderful wedding feast he had prepared for Tom and her at the Watt’s inn and how sad it was when Tom had been killed in India before he was commissioned and had a chance to return to England to meet his infant daughter.
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