Trevor turned away, his hands thrust deep into the pockets of his broadcloth jacket. "Love. For God's sake, man, you can hardly tell me your name from day to day. How do you know if you love her or not?"
"I know."
As you love sherry? It's a crutch to get you through the night, or from one miserable hour to the next. The Mud truth of the matter is you wanted someone to lean on, who made you feel like a man again. You've used her despicably, Nick, and you should be ashamed of yourself." Trevor turned to face me. I continued looking at my husband, however, waiting for him to deny In-, brother's accusations. Instead he stared down into the fire, his fingers clasping the sherry glass so tightly I expected the fragile crystal to shatter at any moment. Trevor stopped by my chair. With hesitance I met his eyes. "I'm sorry, Ariel, but there are certain matters I must discuss with my brother. You'll excuse us, I hope. Perhaps you and I and Adrienne will talk later?" Before I could leave my chair Nicholas slammed his glass onto the hearth with enough force to send shards of crystal throughout the room. Grabbing Trevor by the lapels of his coat, he hissed, "Goddamn you. Have you forgotten yourself, young brother? Have you forgotten whom you are addressing?" He shook Trevor furiously. "Ariel is now my wife. My wife! And since I am still lord of this manor she is to be addressed accordingly as Lady Malham. I still have sole responsibility for Walthamstow, and if at any time I am unable to carry out those responsibilities they will revert to my wife. I will give her directives and no one else. You and Adrienne and every parlor bitch working on this asylum will answer to her. Is that clear?"
I left my chair, frightened beyond measure at the anger I witnessed before me, disturbed even more because I was the cause of it. "Please," I cried. Grabbing my husband's tightly clenched fists, I attempted to wrench them from Trevor's clothing. "My lord, he meant no offense, I'm certain. Let him go for my sake." Little by little Nicholas unclenched his fists. Trevor stepped away, his face white, his chest rising and falling with emotion as he attempted to straighten his clothing. His voice shook as he managed to respond, "My apologies. I certainly meant no disrespect, Lady Malham."
Adrienne, having left her chair, looked from her brothers to me. Her dress, being a vivid scarlet taffeta, flushed her face with color. With coldness in her voice she remarked, "I suppose this means I'll be asked to leave my quarters again. Understandably you'll want the largest and most comfortable rooms for your own." "Nonsense," I exclaimed. "Please, nothing here will change. This is your home and I have no intention of becoming a nuisance—"
"Nuisance!" Nicholas roared. "Ariel, you are my goddamned wife. If you want to tell these two to leave the grounds entirely, then they will be obligated to do so." He grabbed my arm and propelled me toward the door. Within five minutes every servant at Walthamstow was lined up across the Great Hall's wooden floor, Polly on one end, Bea on the other. Polly wrung her hands in her apron and eyed Nicholas through thin wisps of hair while Bea clutched her skirts and mumbled to herself, looking ready to spring should my husband decide to make any murderous move toward her. In truth, he looked dangerous, the light from the candles about the walls playing strange tricks on his face us he paced back and forth across the room.
The snowy ruffles down his chest were a sharp contrast to his skin, making it look as swarthy as a gypsy's. With his hands on his hips, his olive-green coat caught behind his wrists, he glared at each servant a full minute before he pointed to me and announced, "Lady Malham."
Not a servant moved, but I noted their surprise (and in some cases outrage) as they shifted their gazes to mine.
"Well," he suddenly thundered. "You have just been introduced to the new Lady of Walthamstow!"
The women bobbed up and down. The men bowed. "Very good. Now, get out of my sight." They dispersed quickly, bobbing to me again as they Irit the room. I waited until we were alone before turning to Nicholas. I watched in silence as he walked to i lie Brustolon vase stand we had laughed about only two weeks before. I could sense his mounting frustration as he stared down at the cut-glass decanter of sherry.
With no warning he swept his hand across the bottle and sent it shattering to the floor. Before I could clear my mind of its shock, he took hold of the walnut and-ebony table and sent it crashing against the wall. "Crutch! By God, I should go back and thrash him, Ariel." He spun to face me. "Now they're trying to convince me—convince you—that I don't know my I mind enough to recognize my own feelings." He frowned and his look became fiercer still. "You don't believe that, do you?" he asked me.
I shook my head, thinking it better to say nothing than to risk the chance of agitating him further.
He turned again and looked down at the puddles of amber liquid on the floor. Then his hand came up > and he pressed his fingers to his temple. "Crutch," he I repeated more softly, and he lightly moistened his lips with his tongue. "God, is that what it's become?"
I advanced toward him cautiously, gripping my skirt in my fingers. "Of course not," I said. "You don't need the sherry, my lord. Do you?"
He pressed the butt of his palm against his head. "No. I don't need it. It's just that . . ." His voice trailed off and again he stared at the floor. "It's what, Nicholas?" "It helps my head." "Would it help your head now?" Closing his eyes, he nodded.
Stopping beside him, I reached up and touched his face, brushed his temple with my fingers. "I love you," I said. "I don't mind being a crutch if that's what it takes to heal you. You asked me once to heal you. I couldn't then, but I'm your wife now. I think I can help if you'll let me."
A fine film of sweat beaded over his lip; he wiped it I away with the back of his hand.
Pressing my body against his, I smiled brightly and touched my finger to his lips. "Will you let me help?" He nodded, though not without reluctance.
"Good. Then we'll start with the sherry. I don't think you should drink it anymore."
"But my head—"
"We'll find something else for your head. I'm certain Brabbs has something that may help."
He scowled at that, making me laugh. "Something lethal, no doubt," he said.
"I'll drink it myself first."
Nicholas began to smile.
I had changed out of my wedding gown and back into my green satin dress, and was making my way to I he kitchen to oversee the preparation of my lord's tea when Trevor approached me. He bowed slowly, bestowed on me a lazy, chagrined smile, and said, "Lady Malham. A word with you?"
I smiled back. "His lordship may stand on ceremony, but I do not. Please don't continue embarrassing me by addressing me so. It is Ariel."
He fell in beside me as we continued down the hall. "So tell me, . . . Ariel. Understanding that every woman I us her own ideas about the running of the house, I'm certain there will be changes about Walthamstow. Where will you begin?"
"I will line the walls with girandoles. Walthamstow will never be allowed to dwell in darkness again."
"Then?"
"I may consider opening the rest of the house." His puce slowed. I looked around, surprised. "Is something wrong?"
'That may be a grand undertaking. Those rooms have been closed for nearly a century."
"You're probably right. It was only a thought." I continued down the hall, began my descent down the stairs, holding the banister tightly with my right hand. Trevor caught my arm, offering assistance.
"For what it's worth” he said, "welcome to the family”
I flashed him a smile.
"I hope you didn't take exception to anything I said earlier, but you must understand our surprise over this sudden marriage."
Reaching the first floor, I smoothed my skirt before facing my brother-in-law again. He regarded me warmly, a faint smile turning up one end of his mouth. "I understand," I told him. But as I began to turn away, he caught my arm one last time.
His blue eyes were full of concern and a measure of sadness. Clasping his hands behind his back, he stated, "I hope you realize fully what you've gotten yourself into, my dear." "Of course I do."
"Do you? You saw a glimpse of his temper with me this afternoon. Ariel, he can be extremely violent." "I'm well aware of that." "I would hate for you to get hurt." "He won't hurt me."
Trevor stepped closer, so close I could detect a faint hint of liquor about him as well as something else, a slightly floral scent that stirred a vision in my mind of a summer garden. His words, however, were not so pleasant when he finally spoke. "Jane said the same thing just before she died. Regardless whether or not they loved each other, she trusted that he would not hurt her."
I turned away, angry, and continued to the kitchen. Trevor stepped around me, blocking my path. "The man is not rational, Ariel."
"I disagree, sir."
"For God's sake, lass, open your eyes to reality."
"They are open." I attempted to step around him.
"He murdered his wife."
"Show me proof."
"He's admitted as much."
"He's admitted nothing more than striking her."
"Then how else would you explain the burning of l he stables?" As I attempted to step around him again, he caught my arm. "He struck her, then set the stables on lire to cover up the fact that he'd killed her."
Jerking my arm from his grip, I demanded, "If you are so certain he is a murderer, then why have you not called in the authorities?"
"Why—" He shook his head in disbelief. "The man is my brother. Regardless of the heinous crime he's committed I don't wish to see him hanged."
"Yet you and Adrienne would rather see him interned at Saint Mary's? Sir, that is a fate worse than death. It would be a living hell—"
"I personally want nothing of the sort. But if it comes to that, I'm certain they would treat him kindly considering his status."
"Kindly!" I stepped away, unable to believe what I had heard. "They are treated little better than animals in those institutions. They are caged—"
"Only in very severe cases, I understand."
"They are beaten and starved. They are subjected to the mistreatments not only from the employees, but from patients as well. They sleep on stone floors without the benefit of a single comfort, other than a pile of straw. And that, if they are fortunate, is swept out once a fortnight, and only then because it is rank from rot and offal. Sir, do not tell me that such an existence is better than death, it is not, and I will not allow anyone to subject him to that fate when it is not necessary."
Only then did I realize that I had begun to cry. I turned my face to the wall while I attempted to regain my composure.
"Ariel." Gently catching my shoulders, he pulled me around to face him. "Pm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. Perhaps I didn't realize how much you truly care for Nick. He's a very fortunate man and I envy him." Gathering me up against his chest, he squeezed me tenderly and rocked me back and forth. "There now, everything will be fine, Pm certain. Of course I'll do our best to see Nick remains with us if that's what you want."
"It's what you and Adrienne should want as well," I said pointedly. Pushing him away, I looked him in the eye. "It is what you want, isn't it?"
His blue eyes widened slightly in surprise. Then he laughed. "That's an odd question. Certainly, if Nick were to suddenly recover from whatever irrationality is plaguing him—" "He will."
Trevor frowned. "You sound certain." "I am."
"Do you have some direct communication with God?" He smiled, but I detected a certain sarcasm in his voice that gave me pause. "If you have," he continued in a lighter tone, "I'd appreciate your putting in a good word for me."
Returning his smile, I said, "If you are as innocent as my husband, sir, then you should have no problems entering heaven when the time comes."
I left him standing in the corridor as I continued to the kitchen.
Matilda greeted me with open arms, her face beaming with pleasure. Crushing me to her ample bosom, she exclaimed, "It's right. I told me mates, That one's special. She'll bring light to this old 'ouse, y' mark me words.' And y' have!" Then, as if suddenly realizing what she was doing, she jumped back and giggled. "Saints alive, wot am I about." She curtsied. "Yer ladyship, I should be sayin', wot bring y' down in this hot old dungeon when y' should be spendin' time with yrr groom?"
Dropping into a chair before the fire, I replied, "Spare me all the formalities, Tilly. All I want's a cuppa lea and a bitta friendly conversation,"
"Well then, I’ve come t' the right place. Will y' be 'sivin' scones with yer tea?"
"Nay, I'll not. I’ll eat with his lord—my husband." Resting my head back against the chair, I smiled. "I cannot believe it, Tilly. I think I shall awaken at any moment and discover this is all a dream."
"It's real enough, lass. I take it yer happy?"
"Aye, I’m happy." Turning my head, I watched my I friend scurry to the fire, where she placed a pot of water. "I’ll make him happy."
"I know y' will, lass. Y've done that already."
"Have I?"
"Aye. Y' don't know wot he was like afore y' came,
N know."
"I low was his relationship with Jane?"
"Aw, they didn't 'ave no relationship, mum. No, mum. They lived in separate ends of the 'ouse. T' my Knowledge they were never even . , ." She bit her lip, I lien finished, "Well, you know . . . intimate."
“Did Jane have lovers?"
Tilly held the inverted teapot over the rising steam, warming the pot properly before adding tea in heaping upturns into the container. Carefully she poured the
"Well?" I said. "Did she have lovers?"
Again Tilly turned away. "Did y' say y’ wanted scones, mum? I believe we ‘ave a few left. I declare we've 'ad 'em go missin' again." "Tilly."
She stopped in her tracks and slowly turned to face me. "Why is it so important for y' t' know, mum? Y' know how I feel about gossips. It ain't my way; I leave all that up t' Polly and Kate and such. Not t' say that I don't listen, y' understand. There's nowt that goes on in this owd house that Tilly don't know about, but—"
"I take it she did. Did Nicholas know about them?"
"His lordship knew, or at least suspected that she was seein' another man on the sly. I heard 'em arguin' over it enough. Yer husband demanded a divorce, but she wouldn't 'ave it, y' see, 'cept on one condition."
"And that was?"
"Walthamstow. She wanted it all: house, grounds, money. 'Course he wouldn't give it to 'er. Walthamstow has always belonged to the Wyndhams. It always will, I reckon."
"Did you see or hear anything the night of Jane's death?" I asked as Tilly disappeared into the larder. She reappeared with a china cup and saucer in her hand, then began to pour out my tea.
"We all heard the row. It were awful. I get the shakes just thinkin' of it. His lordship had been drinkin' the afternoon in the Great Hall. He were on his way back j to 'is quarters when he run into Jane. She were dressed for ridin' and smellin' like a rose garden. He accused her of meetin' her lover and she didn't deny it."
"And he followed her to the stables?"
"Aye. After she wagered he didn't have the backbone t' stop 'er. It were almost as if she were purposely taunting him into a lather. Ooo, it were awful. The woman was screechin' like a banshee the entire way t' the stables."
"But you say no one actually witnessed the confrontation in the stables."
"No one but Samantha. Aye, I'm certain she seen it. That’s the only explanation why she buggered off like she did. Not a word to no one, just disappeared sometime durin' the night, takin' her few belongin's with ‘er”
I thought a moment, then asked, "Why are you so certain Samantha was at the stables? Did you see her afterwards?"
"She told me she were goin', that's why." Tilly placed the tea in my hands before plunking her fists on her hips. She shook her head. "She were dallyin' with one of the grooms, y' see, but 'is lordship let 'im go the week before for mistreatin' one of 'is horses. She got a message to meet Billy there at eight sharp,"
"Then there should be two witnesses. If Billy—"
"Billy never showed, but that ain't unusual? ‘e weren’t reliable, y' see. 'e were down at the tavern boozing at the time. When Jim went down to question 'im ‘e ever sendin' a note to Samantha. But it'd be just like 'im to have sent it and forgot that 'e sent it. ‘e liked 'is ale, y' see, and on more than one occasion left Samantha waitin' on the green for 'im t' show.
Samantha were a lovely girl and too good for that lad, but she continued t' see 'im, regardless."
Tilly must have sensed my disappointment. Fondly she placed her hand on my shoulder. "Wot's done is done” she said. "Ain't it best t' forget it?"
"Perhaps," I responded. "But I can't believe Nicholas, no matter how provoked he was, would murder his wife in cold blood."
“’is lordship ain't 'imself, luv. Y' know that."
"Aye, and he never will be until the truth is known." I placed my cup and saucer on the table, then left the chair and faced my friend. "I have to know the truth, Tilly. Somehow I must learn how Jane died, for my own sake as well as my husband's. When Nick is cured well have to come to grips with the tragedy in one way or another."
"Then yer sayin' y' won't be lettin' the doc and Miss Adrienne send 'is lordship off to Bedlam?"
"Certainly not. Nicholas is no more insane than you or I."
Her round eyes widened in surprise. "Then you don't believe that 'is accident caused 'im to change?" she asked.
"Accident? No, Tilly, I don't think his accident has much to do at all with my husband's behavior."
"Then wot's 'appened to 'im, mum?"
"I can't be certain, Tilly, although I have my suspicions. Perhaps later, when his lordship is better, I'll look into the matter more thoroughly. Until then would you do me a small favor?"
"O' course, mum. Anythin' you want, mum. Tell Tilly wot it is."
"For the next few days I would like you to bring my husband's food tray directly to me. Allow no one else to seize it."
"That sounds simply enuf."
"Do not let anyone else tamper with his food or drink in any way."
"No one gets by me, mum, when it comes to preparin' yer meals. But does this mean y' won't be dinin' with the others?"
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