Authors: Ellen Gable
He exhaled and
closed his eyes. “I had the fleeting notion that you were going to say no
because I wouldn’t take you to be with that servant girl.”
He took hold of
her hand and led her around to the far side of one of the trees to allow the
trunk to block their view from Patsie, who was standing on the porch. He
placed a soft, gentle kiss on her forehead and pulled her to an embrace.
“Your uncle was
reminding me that a young lady should never be alone with a young man before
they’re married.”
Caroline pulled
away. “What about a young girl who promised to help a servant since the man
who made her with child wouldn’t?”
“Look, you don’t
have to tell me about David. When it comes to women, he treats them very
badly.” He paused. “But I don’t regret not taking you to be with that servant
girl, Caroline. I’m saddened that she died, but it was the right decision.”
“The right
decision for whom, Liam? For you? Do you think it was the right decision for
that poor girl?”
“Whether you were
there or not, she would have died. You couldn’t have saved her life.”
“But I should
have been there for her, like I promised.”
He let out an
exasperated sigh. “Caroline,” he said softly, “do you think that your uncle
would have given his permission for your hand in marriage if we had spent the
entire afternoon alone?”
“I trust you and
I know that nothing would have happened.”
“Of course
nothing would have happened, but just the idea that we spent the afternoon
alone. Well, it’s scandalous.”
He pulled her
again to his chest. “I’m sorry. I know that you wanted to be with her, but we
can’t change what has happened.”
“No,” she
answered, “I suppose we can’t.”
Chapter 12
A month later,
Uncle Edward assisted Caroline as she stepped out of the carriage in front of
their mansion. She noticed the small O’Donovan buggy and a horse tethered to
the front hitching post.
“Mr. Edward,” the
black servant called.
“Yes, Ben?”
“Mr. O’Donovan’s
in your office.”
“Is Liam here,
Ben?” Caroline asked.
“No, Miss. It’s
Mr. David.”
Caroline stepped
back. She hadn’t seen David in over a month, and for that she was grateful. In
a few months, she would be his sister-in-law and, of necessity, have to live
under the same roof. Caroline was dreading that particular aspect of her
marriage with Liam.
“Ben, would you
take the buggy to the stable?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Excuse me,
Caroline.”
Uncle Edward went
inside while Caroline remained at the front of the house. She had no desire to
see David today, or any day, for that matter. She decided to take a stroll in
the woods. By the time she returned, she hoped that David would be gone.
Fifteen minutes
later, she emerged from the forest, refreshed. She groaned when she saw
David’s carriage was still there. She sighed, then went toward the front of the
house. Perhaps if she quickly made her way to her room, she might avoid him.
In the foyer,
Patsie was on her hands and knees, scrubbing the floor by the staircase.
“Good afternoon
ta ye, Miss Caroline. Were ye after enjoyin’ t’exhibition t’day? Were there a
lot of folks ‘bout?”
“It wasn’t as crowded
as the first day we went, which made it all the more enjoyable.”
She started up
the steps, then heard voices behind her. She thought about rushing up the
stairs, then she reconsidered.
“It’s quite a
good deal, sir, and one that I think you should feel comfortable investing
in.” David’s tone sounded uncharacteristically serious.
“I’m not sure,
David. The last time I invested in a project you recommended, I lost a pile of
money.”
“This is almost a
sure thing.”
“What does your
brother think?”
“He’s cautious.
Then again, you know my brother.”
“Allow me to
think about it.”
“Of course, Mr.
Martin. Good day,” she heard David say.
Caroline cringed
as she heard the door shut, then he said, “Miss Martin?”
She slowly turned
and glared at him as she stood above him on the stairs.
“To what do I owe
this great pleasure, my dear future sister-in-law Caroline? May I call you
Caroline? After all, we will be related in but a few months.” She stared at
him with no hint of a smile on her face.
“Did my brother
tell you that it is essential for a happy marriage that you at least act
civilly to your brother-in-law?”
“Future
brother-in-law. We’re not related yet.”
He leaned close
to her and whispered, “Besides, I did you a huge favor just a month ago, if
you’ll recall.”
“A favor for me?”
she almost yelled.
Patsie shouted
from across the room, “Miss Caroline?” She was putting her finger to her mouth
and pointing toward Uncle’s study.
“And,” he
whispered, “we have not yet spoken of the reason your hands are so callused,
have we?”
Caroline’s eyes
widened as she remembered him looking at her bare hands when he brought her
home the night Selly died. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“Could it be that
perhaps you were not born in wealth? Or maybe despite your wealth, you’re an
equestrian who forgets her riding gloves?”
She regarded him
bitterly.
“Ah.” He leaned
close and again whispered, “My guess is that you were not born in wealth.
Well, not to worry.” He winked. “Your secret is safe with me. I have not as
yet told my brother of your, shall we say, humble beginnings.”
“You. . .”
Caroline tried to think of some distasteful name she could call him, but in her
anger no name seemed insulting enough.
“Now, Miss
Martin, why do I get the distinct feeling that you don’t like me?”
“Because I don’t.
Now, if you will excuse me, Mr. O’Donovan.”
“Come now. Can’t
we be less formal? Please do call me David.”
“Good day, Mr.
O’Donovan,” she said, drawing out the ‘O’Donovan.’
Caroline brushed
past him. She followed Patsie along the right side of the staircase and
through the doorway down to the kitchen.
“Sure an’ ye
don’t be likin’ Mr. David, do ye, Miss Caroline?”
“I certainly
don’t hide my emotions, do I, Patsie?” Caroline laughed.
“Sure an’ ye be
tellin’ the truth there, now,” Patsie let out a loud belly laugh and moved
beside Caroline. “Tch. Where has that Missy got ta now? She’s bein’ gone ten
minutes ta fetch me eggs. Where’d she go for ‘em? New Jersey?”
“I would be happy
to go to the chicken coop and get her.”
“I’ll be thankin’
ye, but no, Miss Caroline. I’ll be goin’ out ta get her,” Patsie said, then
gasped when she saw smoke coming from the oven. She rushed across the kitchen.
She swung open the oven and removed the muffin tins.
“Oh, the divil
take ‘em. Beg pardon, Miss Caroline. They be charred now and no good fer
naught but the dust bin. I’ll be havin’ ta make ‘nother batch.” Patsie put her
hands to her ample hips and stared at the tins.
“I’m certain they
will be fine, Patsie. They don’t look burnt.”
“Sure an’ now
Himself don’t be likin’ cornbread muffins overcooked. I’ll jest be havin’ ta
make a new batch, but I’ll be needin’ them eggs now.”
“Allow me to get
Missy, Patsie.”
“Sure an’ I’d
‘ppreciate that, Miss Caroline. She’d be in the newer coop, Miss, not the one
that be near the stable. That one’s not after bein’ used no more.”
“Yes, of course,
Patsie.”
Walking outside,
Caroline passed by the newer henhouse to the left and heard some chickens
clucking but when she peered inside, no one was there. Noises to the right
beyond the stable caused her to glance in the direction of the smaller, older
henhouse. Didn’t Patsie tell her that one was no longer used?
As she walked
closer, she heard an unfamiliar noise. It sounded like someone was moaning,
perhaps stifling a cry for help.
Who is hurt
?
She hurried to
the small open window of the henhouse. Leaning down, she stared at the
spectacle before her, then quietly gasped. She stood still, paralyzed for the
moment. Inside, David stopped moving, and lifted his head to listen. Caroline
stepped back and around to the side of the small house. She held her palm to
her chest to quiet the pounding of her heart.
“Mr. David,” she
heard Missy say, “I heard someone out there.”
“It’s fine,”
David whispered.
Caroline returned
in haste to the kitchen, breathing heavily, hands trembling. When Patsie
noticed her crimson face, she asked, “Whatever’s happen’d? What’s the matter
with ye? Ye be lookin’ like ye seen a. . .”
Caroline remained
still, her eyes downcast. “In the older henhouse. . .” she whispered.
“What ‘bout then,
Miss Caroline?”
“Missy, David. .
.”
“Oh, heaven
preserve me! Was that there Mr. David with Missy? Oh, no, and Patsie sent ye
out back to. . .”
“He was. . .they
were. . .”
“He’s jest after
doin’ what comes naturally t’im, me lamb.”
“What are you
talking about?”
“Sure an’ ye
know. . .well that there’s jest. . .they was after doin’. . .that’s, ye know,
what married people do.”
“Oh.” She began
wringing her hands. “I feel stupid, Patsie.”
“Now then, Miss
Caroline, don’t ye be thinkin’ ye are ‘cause y’ain’t. Ye be innocent like.
That’s a much different thing.”
“How can he be
doing that again after what happened to Selly?”
“Some men, Miss
Caroline, they jest be after havin’ no thought t’all that it’s wrong. Ta them,
it be jest ‘nother itch ta scratch. Most o’ these colleens’ll be after knowin’
that. Selly was diff’rent. She was young and believin’ Mr. David loved her.
I was tellin’ her all the time he didn’t, but she wouldn’t be listenin’.”
“Patsie?” Missy
rushed into the kitchen. “I’m so sorry I took so long with the eggs. Here
they are.” Missy, her olive skin flushed and sweating, her long dark hair
pulled back with a few strands hanging down, placed the basket of eggs on the
table and was buttoning up the top of her dress. “Miss Caroline, good
afternoon.”
Caroline
awkwardly kept her eyes focused on the floor. “Good afternoon, Missy.” She
avoided eye contact and awkwardly remained in the kitchen for a few moments as
Patsie and Missy began to prepare the evening meal.
She walked
upstairs to the front hall. She heard muffled voices out front and wondered if
Uncle had come out of his office.
Stepping onto the
porch, Caroline could see David unhitching his horse. She glanced at him and
he winked at her. She immediately turned away.
“My dear future
sister-in-law, wait. I must speak with you.”
“I have nothing
to say to you,” she said, lowering her head.
He quickly came
onto the front veranda, then whispered, “I’ve been told that if one applies
butter to callused hands, it will soften the rough spots.”
“Leave me alone.”
He stopped and
leaned close to her ear. “So what did you think of my. . .what shall we call
it? Exhibition in the henhouse?” Caroline gasped and her face reddened. She
tried to walk away, but David grabbed her arm. She yanked it away, but he
reached for her again and held on firmly. “Now, now, please.”
“Let go of me or.
. .” she looked him right in the eye. “Or I swear I will kick you so hard down
there, you shall be limping for days,” she spat at him.
His eyes widened,
he dropped her arm, then he bellowed a hearty laugh. “Now, I didn’t just hear
that out of the mouth of a proper young lady. Oh, right, you’re not really a
proper young lady, are you, Miss Martin?” He winked.
She glared at
him. “And if you don’t think I’ll do it. . .”
“Oh, no, no, no.
I think you’ll do it.” He stepped back.
Caroline faced
him squarely and shot him a scorching look.
His expression
was one of amusement. “Miss Martin, you certainly are a spirited young lady,”
he laughed.
Caroline gritted
her teeth, then lowered her head.
“Excuse me,
David, Caroline, I heard loud voices. Is anything wrong?” Uncle Edward asked
from the doorway. Both glanced in the older man’s direction, with Caroline
lifting her head and David attempting to take on a serious expression.
“No, sir,
there’s. . .there’s nothing wrong. Your niece and I were having a disagreement
about. . .animal behavior.”
“Caroline?” Uncle
Edward asked.