by Phoebe Conn
"Is the babe sickly?" he asked. "If you don't expect him to live more than a week or two, then we all ought to hurry on over to see him, rather than wait until he's dead, too."
Alanna glanced around the room, started toward the chair at the desk, and then decided she would rather stand. "Christian appears to be a healthy little boy. He is small, of course, but that's to be expected, since he was born a month early."
"I thought he was due in January, not December."
"Oh, yes, I'd forgotten you and Elliott were never told about Melissa and Ian's elopement."
"What elopement?"
Byron now had his hands on his hips and looked ready to wring the truth out of her, if she didn't hurry up in telling it. She explained the secrecy about the elopement had been his father's idea, and that Ian and Melissa had agreed to go along with it and have a second wedding. The rest of her tale was far more difficult to tell.
"I know you loved Melissa."
"I asked you to tell me about the baby, Alanna, not my sister."
"First you must promise me not to tell Ian what I'm about to tell you, until he's far stronger than he is now. Will you give me your word?"
"I thought you said the baby was healthy?"
"His health isn't the issue. Now will you give me your word, or not?"
"You should know better than to have to ask."
"Forgive me then, but this is too important a subject to be bandied about."
Byron crossed the short distance between them, and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are you never going to satisfy my curiosity? Must I ride into Williamsburg and have a look at the child?"
Feeling as trapped as Melissa must have, Alanna tried to state the facts calmly, but when she revealed that Christian was Hunter's child, Byron reacted even more emotionally than Elliott. For several seconds he simply stared at her, too shocked to speak, but then he shoved her away and bolted from the room. She ran to the door and watched him sprint down the stairs and out the front door. She didn't have to wonder where he was going, she knew, and she couldn't let him go alone.
Chapter 14
The black taffeta gown Sally Lester had provided for the funeral was far too expensive and elaborate an outfit to wear on horseback, and Alanna went to her room to change into one of the comfortably worn dresses she wore for riding. The earlier rain had gradually diminished to a heavy mist, and while her cloak was still damp around the hem, it would keep her warm and dry. With the hood drawn up to cover her curls, she thought she could succeed in leaving by the back door without being observed, until Graham Tyler called her name.
Obviously concerned about her, he was frowning slightly. "Surely you're not going out again?"
Alanna had seen Graham among those at the church, but she hadn't spoken with him. She had been at Charity Wade's the morning he had come to the house after learning of Melissa's death, but Ian hadn't felt up to seeing anyone and he had been sent away. He had made the effort to console his friend, however, and she admired his thoughtfulness.
"I have to go back into Williamsburg. Byron's gone to see the baby, and I need to be there."
"I have a carriage for the day, I'll take you."
"That's very kind of you, but then you'd have the bother of bringing me back home. I'd rather ride, and then I can return home with Byron."
"There's no reason for you to risk falling ill by riding in the rain. I'm free for the whole day, and it will be no trouble for me to bring you back here."
Alanna was in too great a hurry to argue with him. "All right, thank you. Can we leave right now, please?"
"Of course." Graham turned to gesture toward the front door, and Alanna hurried by him. Outside more than a dozen carriages were parked in a single row, and while he found his immediately, it took him several minutes to locate the driver who, along with the other drivers, had been invited into the kitchen to keep warm.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting," he said. "It's a shame Byron has already left, or we could have all ridden together."
"It was a hasty decision on his part. I'm sorry to have drawn you into it."
Graham had taken the place beside her and reached for the blanket lying on the opposite seat. "Here, let's wrap this around ourselves, so we don't become chilled. It will do little good if I keep you out of the rain and then still allow you to fall ill."
"I'm seldom ill." Alanna wasn't used to being fussed over, but she soon realized what Graham had really wanted was an excuse to cuddle up close. He was a sweet man, but his timing was so incredibly poor she couldn't abide it. "We buried Melissa only this morning, and I'd rather not be fondled."
Mortified that he had offended her, Graham moved aside several inches. "Forgive me if I seemed too forward, but it's been difficult for me to keep my feelings to myself all these many months. We met last spring and—"
Graham had recently been promoted, and Alanna remembered to use his new title. "Captain, please. I've never encouraged your affections, nor misled you in any way. Perhaps you ought to tell your driver to turn around, and I'll get into town on my own as I'd originally planned."
"No," Graham responded too sharply. "I'll behave myself."
He looked thoroughly miserable, but Alanna was more concerned about how Byron might behave at Charity's house. Byron had a temper, but she prayed he would not vent his anger on a helpless babe. "Melissa's death is not our only problem," she explained. "There's also her son's welfare to consider. I shall undoubtedly be preoccupied with his care for several months, if not years, and you ought to find yourself a young woman who can devote herself solely to you."
"I'll decide what's best for me. Besides, the babe is rightfully Ian's responsibility now, not yours."
"You saw how he looked today. He doesn't even remember he has a son."
"He loved his wife dearly, so his grief is natural, but it will lessen over time, and he'll take more of an interest in their child."
"A young widower with a commission in the King's army? It's unlikely."
"I think you're underestimating Ian. He's not one to shirk his responsibilities. He'll want to provide for his son. He's kept up the rent on the house he and Melissa lived in briefly. He can well afford to live there, and hire a housekeeper and nanny to make a home for the boy."
Reluctant to spin a web of lies as intricate as Melissa's, Alanna nodded rather than argue. She had given the driver Charity's address on Nicholson Street, and when they reached her house, Byron's horse was tethered to the gate. "Would you mind waiting here?" she asked. "Mrs. Wade wasn't expecting us, and I don't want to trouble her."
"I'll do whatever pleases you."
Alanna was merely exasperated by his abject adoration and hurriedly left the carriage, as soon as the driver had opened the door. The front door of Charity's house was slightly ajar, and Alanna could see her children playing on the rug in front of the fireplace. Hearing adult voices coming from the back room, she rapped lightly and then entered.
"Hello, children, where's your mother?"
The eldest boy ran to get her, and Charity appeared almost immediately. She was holding Christian in a frantic grasp. Byron was right behind her. "This man claims to be the babe's uncle. Is that true?"
"Yes, Melissa had two brothers, Byron, whom you've just met, and Elliott."
"I know I told you I'd be happy to have visitors, but I'd expected them to display better manners."
"I've not been rude," Byron contradicted.
"That, sir, is a matter of opinion."
"May I hold Christian?" Alanna asked.
"You sure may. Do you want to hang your cloak on a peg?"
Alanna left the long garment hanging by the door, scooped Christian from the wet nurse's arms, and then nodded toward the bedroom. "May we use the back room for a few minutes, please?"
Charity nodded and stepped aside without glancing in Byron's direction. "I'd just finished feeding Christian, when this gentleman arrived. If you rock him, he'll go right to sleep."
The small
bedroom held a double bed, a cluster of small beds for the children, and the cradle where Christian slept. Alanna sat down in the rocking chair, and looked up at Byron. "There was no need to upset Charity. She's been very good with Christian."
Byron looked around for another chair, but there wasn't one. Too weary to stand, he sank down on Charity's bed. "How long do you plan to allow this farce to continue?"
"I wouldn't describe what we've done for Melissa's son as a farce."
"Just who is 'we'?"
"Dr. Earle, Polly, and Elliott. They were the only ones who knew this is Hunter's son rather than Ian's, before I told you."
"You'd not have told me if I hadn't insisted upon seeing him though, would you?"
"You would have been told today, after all the guests had left."
"How thoughtful of you. Did you intend to tell my parents then, too?"
"No. This was as great a surprise to me as it is to you, Byron. I knew Melissa seemed troubled, but I didn't even suspect that she could have such a terrible secret. If I've not handled things as well as I should have, it's been because there's been no time to plan. Elliott and I wanted Melissa to have a proper burial, before we took anyone else into our confidence. We were only trying to help you ease Ian's grief, not exclude you."
Byron raked his hand through his rain-soaked hair. "You must realize there are some who will say she ought not to be buried in hallowed ground."
"I know people can be cruel."
"Good, then you'll be prepared for whatever gossip will surely come. As for a christening, that's out of the question. The babe's a bastard, and no priest will welcome him."
"Melissa was a married woman, Byron, and a married woman's children are considered to be her husband's, are they not?"
"No one is ever going to believe that's Ian's child."
"The lace-trimmed christening gown your mother showed us before Christian was born has a matching cap. If he wears that, it will cover his hair, and if he's asleep, no one will see the color of his eyes. He's a very pretty child. That's all anyone will notice."
"You intend to lie to the priest?"
Alanna had not thought about the christening until now, and she needed a moment to perfect her plan. "No, it won't be necessary to say anything more than that we want Melissa's son baptized. The priest married her and Ian, and he'll assume this is Ian's child. We needn't disabuse him of the idea."
"No, I'll not stand for it. We have to tell everyone the truth—my parents and Ian, today."
"But Byron—"
"Yes, I know, they are already heartbroken, so how can I even suggest we add to their burden with the truth about the child? Look at it this way, they could not feel any worse, so there's no reason to delay revealing what we must. My sister died giving birth to an Indian's bastard. If that destroys anyone's love or respect for her, then so be it. As for the babe, I'm going to send for Hunter. If there's anything left of him after Ian and I get through with him, then he can take his son and go."
Alanna wrapped her arms more tightly around the tiny babe. "No! You'll not give Melissa's son to Indians to raise. How could you even make such a vile suggestion?"
"After what happened to your family, how can you want to raise an Indian's brat?"
"He's Melissa's child," Alanna repeated.
"A moment ago you were insisting that legally he's Ian's son. I think you're right. As Melissa's husband, the boy is his." Byron paused a long moment. "But Ian's so sick with grief, I'm not certain he'll even understand what we're saying when we try to tell him. It would be better for all concerned if we let everyone think Christian had died. There are childless couples who would adopt him. Perhaps Dr. Earle knows of a good family."
"Now who's sanctioning lies? How can you want to give away Melissa's son? I know she would have willingly raised yours."
"My son would have been white."
Alanna felt sick. "I won't let you give Christian away. I never intended to hide the truth from Ian indefinitely. He loved Melissa. He may find it in his heart to raise her son as though he were also his."
"I think he'd sooner kill himself."
"Then you can't tell him the truth tonight! One tragedy is more than enough for our family to bear."
"What do you call that brat in your arms, if he isn't an even greater tragedy than losing Melissa?"
Recoiling from his malicious tone, Alanna looked down at Christian, but she saw another baby boy with the same name and choked on her tears. "You didn't see what the Abenaki did to my baby brother, Byron. You didn't see how they killed him, or the others."
"Oh God, Alanna." Byron had never heard the manner of their deaths described, but he had been twelve years old when she had come to live with them, and his imagination had painted the horror she had witnessed in sickening detail. He slid off the bed and knelt beside the rocking chair. Alanna had seemed the strongest of them all since Melissa's death, but he now understood her love for the infant had inspired the bravery he had admired.
"That's not your little brother, Alanna. He's Ian's responsibility, or if he refuses him, Hunter's. He doesn't belong to you."
Alanna understood Byron's reasoning, but it didn't matter to her. She might not have given birth to Christian, but she loved him as a mother would. He was sound asleep, and she didn't object when Byron picked him up gently and placed him in the crib. He then gave her a hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Let's just go home. Neither of us feels up to handling this disgrace today. What we need is something to eat, and a good night's sleep. You and Elliott and I can decide which course to follow in the morning."
Alanna nodded, and Byron slipped his arm around her waist and led her into the front room. Charity had been seated, but she rose and hastily straightened the folds of her apron. She was attractive, but her mouth was set in a firm line that readily conveyed her lingering displeasure. Byron had to admire her pride, when her circumstances were obviously humble.
"I'm sorry if I seemed rude, Mrs. Wade, but burying my sister was the most difficult thing I've ever had to do. Thank you for all you're doing for her son. If you need anything, for yourself, or your own children as well as Christian, be sure to let us know."
Surprised by that burst of generosity, Charity thanked him and hurried to fetch Alanna's cloak and helped her on with it. "Be careful on your way home. A wet road is a treacherous one."
"We're always careful," Alanna replied absently, but truly, the dangers of a slippery roadway were infinitesimal compared to the impossible situation in which Melissa had left them.
When they reached the carriage, Graham swung open the door. Alanna entered on her own, but Byron didn't want her to be alone with the English officer. "If you've no objection, I'll tie my horse to the back of the carriage and come with you," he said.
Knowing he had wasted his opportunity to impress Alanna on the way into town, Graham welcomed his company. "Please do," he replied, but he found the journey back to the plantation with two silent companions an equally difficult trip.
* * *
Hoping to avoid being overheard, Byron, Elliott, and Alanna met after breakfast the next morning in Byron's room. As the eldest, Byron considered it his duty to take charge of matters. "I won't pretend that I'm not disappointed in Melissa, because I am. She wasn't raised to behave in such an immoral manner, and her shame will undoubtedly taint the whole family. The question is how to minimize that damage."
"I disagree," Alanna was quick to interject. "The only question worth asking is what is to become of Christian?"
"Just hear me out," Byron asked. "I don't have the slightest doubt that Melissa loved Ian. Do either of you?"
"No," both Elliott and Alanna agreed.
"Fine, then what we've got to do is convince Ian to raise Melissa's son as his own. Perhaps he has relatives in England to whom he can send the child. Having never seen Melissa, they'll believe whatever they're told, and assume Christian resembles his mother."
"He does!"
"I c
ertainly don't see it," Byron said, "but whether he does or not doesn't matter, as long as Ian's family believes that he does."
"And when he's grown?" Alanna inquired. "What if he comes to visit us? Will we tell him the truth then?"
"No, of course not," Byron declared.
Elliott was growing increasingly uneasy. "Ian isn't up yet this morning, but I doubt he'll feel any better than he did yesterday. How are we going to broach such a delicate subject with him?"
"I thought of little else all night," Byron admitted. "I think I should talk to him about the boy in general terms, and see if there is someone to whom he can entrust his care. Then, in a week or two, when he's used to the idea of raising Melissa's son, we can explain the truth, and ask him to accept Christian out of love for her."
"I don't think Ian should be misled another day," Alanna argued. "Melissa's affair with Hunter had to have been brief, and she married Ian so shortly thereafter, he was clearly her first choice."
"Wait a minute," Elliott cautioned. "Maybe we're all worrying over nothing. Ian might already know the truth. He and Melissa seemed so close. Isn't it possible that he's known all along that her child wasn't his?"
Byron dropped into a chair and stretched out his legs. "Is that possible, Alanna? Could Ian already know the secret we're all so afraid to reveal?"
Alanna needed only a moment's reflection before she shook her head. "No, I think that's too remote a possibility to consider."
They were all startled by a knock at the door, but Byron quickly recovered. He called out, and his mother peeked into his room. "What are you all doing in here?" she asked.
Rachel was dressed in black, and the stark contrast between her gown and her fair coloring heightened her prettiness. That Melissa had resembled her so closely now seemed an eerie coincidence. Byron rose to welcome her to his room. "We're all worried about Ian, Mother, but we didn't mean to neglect you."