by Aria Norton
"I believe so," he said slowly. Abigail could tell that was the last thing wanted, though. "What is your hurry to get back to London. Should not we take a few days to recover?"
Sarah shook her head. "We have already imposed long enough. I need to go home and beg my parents’ forgiveness. Perhaps when they find out that I am carrying their grandchild, they will be merciful. I have nowhere else to go."
Thomas nodded, letting out a long breath. "Of course. We can be ready to leave on the evening stage if you like?"
"Yes, I think that would be best." Sarah looked at Abigail and took her hand. "Thank you for everything you have done. Will you be coming back to London with us?"
"I will need to speak to my brother on that account. Please excuse me," she said, and started towards the house.
"Abigail, wait," Thomas said, but she would not stop, her path blurred by the tears. She hurried inside before he could stop her and went to the guest room, closing and locking the door behind her. She had been so close. Why had Sarah interrupted them! Now, she would never have another chance to tell him how she truly felt.
A soft knock came at the door a few moments later. "Abigail? It's me, Sarah. Please let me in."
Abigail let out a breath and wiped at her tears. She opened the door and quickly closed it again.
"My dear, whatever is the matter?" Sarah took her hand, but Abigail took it away.
"Nothing. I am quite well, thank you," she said coldly. Why had Sarah ruined everything? She would not be in this position if it were not for her. Sarah let her hand drop to her sides.
"Have I done something?" Sarah tried to come closer, but Abigail turned her back on her.
"Of course not. I am only a little tired, that's all. Excuse me; I need to talk to my brother about our journey to London."
She left quickly, going in search of her brother. She found him talking with their mother and aunt. They all quieted when she appeared at the door. "What are you all discussing?"
They all looked around at each other like they didn't want to be the first to tell her. Finally, her brother stood and spoke up for all of them. "Has Lord Brampton proposed?" Hope filled his voice.
"Proposed?" Abigail raised her brows, shocked at the question. "Why would he propose?"
Joshua screwed up his face, growing angry. "This afternoon on our walk, he asked me for your hand. He said that he was going to ask you right away. What's happened? Have you refused him?"
"My goodness," Abigail said, sinking into a chair. He had meant to propose to her before Sarah had interrupted them? She covered her mouth with her hands.
Her mother came to her side and placed an arm around her shoulders. "We cannot pretend that this is not a fortuitous turn of events. He could save the family from ruin if you were to marry him."
Abigail scowled up at her mother. "This morning you wanted him thrown out of the house."
"That was before I knew who he was. Your father would have been so proud! Married to an earl!" She gushed and walked around the room as if she were pretending to be a duchess.
"I told you who he was before all this mess started and you still wanted him thrown out!" Abigail said, angry with her mother. She didn't care about what Abigail wanted. She was only concerned with the family's reputation and wealth.
"Abigail, Mother is only trying to say that if you did marry Lord Brampton, you would get everything you've ever wished for. A life in London, a wealthy husband, a family of your own..." her aunt cajoled, gently stroking her back.
"You don't know anything about my dreams. That is your dream for me. Father's dream. I'm not going to marry anyone just so that it will save the family. I'd rather work as a housemaid for the rest of my life than think about accepting a man simply for his wealth." Abigail turned on Joshua. "And what have you to say about all this?"
Joshua shrugged. "He has promised to find me a parish, Abby. I doubt he will be so inclined if you are to refuse him. You hold all of our lives in the balance."
Abigail stood back, understanding dawning. "So it is up to me to save the family. I am to be offered on an altar of matrimony to rescue all of you! Well, I don't care what you all say. I will not marry someone because that is what you want. I will marry because it is what I want. I cannot believe Lord Brampton would bribe you into giving him your permission to ask for my hand."
"That's not how it is at all, Abby. You're being emotional. Now, come and sit down and I shall explain the whole thing."
"No, thank you." Abigail turned and started to leave the room. "Oh, Lord Brampton and Mrs. Filmore would like to leave this evening for London. Will we be joining them? I'm sure we will need to close up the house and collect our belongings."
"Abigail, you're being unreasonable..."
"Well? What shall I tell him? Or shall I leave that to you to discuss with him?" Abigail was done talking to them. She wanted to go off and take a walk by the shore, to be alone.
"I'll speak with him. Would you like to go back with me?" Joshua asked, knowing that he was going to get nowhere with her now. She was too stubborn.
"I would like to help clean up the house and say goodbye to Mazzie and Betsy."
"Very well. We'll go along with them this evening then." Joshua looked back at his mother, who seemed relieved that they would have the house to themselves again.
"Good. I'll pack my things and be ready to leave within the hour," Abigail said, then turned and left the room. But instead of going to do the packing, she retrieved her shawl and went outside. Making her way to the cliff's edge, she almost wished she could throw herself over and be done with the whole mess her life had turned out to be.
Chapter 40
A week later, Thomas, Sarah, and Abigail sat in on Filmore's trial. By all accounts, it had taken Sarah much persuading to get to Abigail to come along. Thomas had tried to see her every day since they had returned to London, but to no avail.
He remembered the carriage ride home from the coast. It had been nearly unbearable. Abigail spoke to no one, not even her brother. She simply stared out of the window at the dark landscape as they bumped down the road.
He was sure that she had been about to tell him that she loved him too, as they talked out in the garden. Sarah's interruption had come at a most inopportune time. He had asked Joshua if he could ask for Abigail's hand in marriage, sure that she would say yes. He knew how she looked at him, with the same longing he had for her. However, when he had come back inside, she was different. What had he done to deserve her coldness?
Joshua had finally explained the evening before when he had come to invite them to the trial. "I cannot, I'm afraid. I have an interview with the parish you found for me."
"That is wonderful. Congratulations." Thomas tried to be happy for him, but all he could think about was Abigail. "Do you think you might convince her to come along with us to the trial then? She will listen to you. All I know is I have to see her again."
Joshua shook his head. "She won't listen to me anymore. She thinks I gave you permission to ask for her hand in return for finding me a parish."
"But I didn't," Thomas argued. "I want to help you because you are a good man."
Joshua smiled. "Thank you. That means a lot." He saw him to the door. "I will see what I can do to convince her to go to the trial with you and Sarah."
In the end, whatever Joshua had said to Abigail had worked. She sat with him and Sarah on the balcony as the trial got underway. Sarah twisted her handkerchief, nervous at what the outcome of the trial would be. If Filmore was found guilty, he would go to jail, and her future would be safe. If he was found innocent, he would be free to come for her again. And who knew what retribution he would visit on her.
"Your Honor, may it please the court to submit the first piece of evidence against Sir Filmore?"
"Proceed, Counselor."
"Thank you, Your Honor. This man is not who he says he is!" his voice rang out over the courtroom. Murmurs filled the room, and the judge called everyone back to order. "T
his man has been masquerading as Sir Ezra Filmore. His real name is Jedediah Graham, a simple thief from Bath."
"Go on," the judge said, after another burst of murmuring from the crowd.
"Jedediah Graham was caught trying to steal from Lord Tilbury three years ago, a very wealthy earl from Bath. When the authorities went to arrest him, he escaped and was never seen again. Six months later, Sir Filmore appeared on the scene in Bath. But you see, Your Honor, the real Sir Filmore is dead. He passed away in France ten years ago. Graham thought he could pass himself as the dead man. And he got away with it for a while. But now your sins have caught up with you, Graham."
Filmore sneered. "You can't prove that."
The counselor walked away from the stand, smiling confidently.
"He's going to get out of this and then I'll be ruined for sure," Sarah whispered, teetering on the brink of hysteria.
Abigail took her hand." Just wait, Lady Sarah. We don't know that yet."
Thomas looked over Sarah's head and tried to catch eye contact with Abigail. However, she had already turned her gaze back on the scene unfolding in the courtroom below.
"Jedediah Graham was in a bar fight in his early twenties, during which he sustained an injury. His left shoulder was caught by a piece of glass, leaving a very distinct scar in the shape of a triangle.”
Thomas watched Filmore's face lose all its colour. He baulked, stammering an excuse. "Anyone can have a scar…"
"Not this scar. This picture was drawn for us by an eyewitness of the fight. I believe you know him well. A Mr. Abernathy. I believe he still keeps in contact with you, doesn't he Graham?"
"I have never heard of the man in my life! This is all a setup, Your Honor," Filmore pleaded with the judge.
"Quiet." The judge turned to the barrister. "Proceed, please."
"Abernathy was brought in for questioning and said that you tried to kidnap your wife and nearly killed a man in the process. I believe Lord Brampton is here listening in the balcony."
The judge looked up, and Thomas nodded.
"Franklin Abernathy is a liar and a cheat," Filmore bellowed.
The counselor turned around with a satisfied grin on his face. "Ahh, so you do know Abernathy?"
"No…" Filmore looked around, realising his mistake.
"I beg to differ. I never said his given name was Franklin." The counselor turned back around. "Show us your shoulder if you are innocent." When Filmore did not move, the bailiff came up behind him and pulled his sleeve down. There on Filmore's shoulder was a sizeable triangular-shaped scar.
One could have heard a pin drop in the courtroom. Filmore was sweating, looking around for someone to save him. But there would be no salvation for him. "This is entrapment!"
"Your Honor, Graham has coerced at least two women into marrying him, one which he left before they could elope. Her name was Lady Elisa and she had a child by him. He died shortly after being born. The other was his current wife, whom he tricked into marrying him. She is suing for divorce today since he kept his true identity from her."
"Granted," the judge said. Sarah let out a sigh of relief, taking Thomas's hand.
"You can't do that!" Filmore exploded.
"Shut up, man." The judge banged his gavel on the desk. "In view of the evidence, I sentence Jedediah Graham to twenty years in prison, in which time he will be responsible for paying retribution to Lady Elisa and his wife. Mrs. Filmore will receive control of her dowry and any property belonging to her husband. Case dismissed." The gavel echoed around the courtroom, and a buzzing of voices filled the air. Sarah turned to Abigail and hugged her, crying tears of relief.
"Congratulations, Sarah. I am glad everything has turned out well for you."
Thomas finally caught Abigail's eye, hoping to talk to her privately as the courtroom emptied.
"Thank you. I've made amends with my parents. It seems I have my life back!" Sarah beamed. She turned to Thomas, noting the longing look in his eyes. "I… think I'll go home and tell them the good news. It was wonderful to see you, Abigail."
"Likewise, Lady Sarah. Do give my regards to your family." Abigail moved to follow her out of the courtroom. Thomas started to panic.
"Abigail, wait, please. I wanted to talk to you," Thomas said, reaching for her hand.
"I'm afraid I can't stay. My brother and I are closing up the house."
He followed her out of the balcony and down the stairs. "Yes, I had heard he is interviewing to take over his own parish."
"Hhhmm," was all she said. He grabbed her arm before she could escape the stairwell and into the prying eyes of others.
"I beg you, Abigail. Please just allow me to explain myself. Your brother told me that you thought I'd bribed him into giving his permission for us to marry…"
Abigail spun around, fire in her eyes. "How dare you. You know that you did. I will not marry just to save face. Since you cannot have Sarah, you want me now? I will not be your Leah!” Thomas cringed at her reference to the Biblical account of Jacob, Leah and Rachel. Rachel was the one that Jacob wanted all along, but was tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah.
That was not how he saw Abigail at all, but she wouldn’t listen. “I will not be second choice!" She turned back around and stomped down the stairs. He tried to catch up to her but knew that doing so would make a scene. "Abigail, please… I love you," he whispered. But she didn't hear. She was too far away, and not just physically. Her heart was too far away for him to grasp now.
***
Joshua met Thomas in the club the next day. He knew Joshua was watching him, but he didn't care. He had lost Abigail, and there was nothing he could do about it. "She loves you, you know."
"Irrelevant. She thinks I coerced you into giving your blessing."
"You think that is what she's upset about? I guarantee you that's not it. My sister may be a forward thinker, but she is still a woman." Joshua took a sip of his Scotch and clicked his lips together as he set his glass down on the table. Thomas and Joshua had become close after returning to London. Joshua had been trying to help him regain Abigail's favour.
"Then what is she upset about! I've tried countless times to try and win her back. Letters, talking to her at the courthouse. Nothing seems to work," Thomas lamented. He took a swig of his drink, even though he had vowed never to touch the stuff again. Thomas had hit the lowest point of his life. If he could not be with Abigail, what joy or meaning would his life hold?
"My sister is stubborn as a mule, Lord Brampton. You need to go to her and tell her how it will be. She is waiting for you to show some resolve. Will you fight for her no matter what obstacle she puts in your way?"
Thomas growled in frustration. "I thought I had made that abundantly clear. I fought Filmore, nearly to the death. I was going to ask her to marry me in the garden at your mother's cottage, but she ran off after Sarah interrupted us."
"Abigail believed that you were going to marry Sarah after the trial. She thinks that you were waiting to propose to her until he knew whether Sarah would be free of her vows to Filmore."
"That's ridiculous. I told her that I love her and no one else."
"You have to show her, Brampton. Like I said, she is a woman, and when they get emotional, there is no rationalising with them." Joshua put his hand over his heart in a very melodramatic gesture. "They are creatures of the heart."
Thomas laughed weakly. "Aye, therein lies the rub. Why can't women think more like men?"