The Gentle Wind's Caress (32 page)

She nodded. ‘Very well.’

‘Shall Willie and I start loading up?’

‘Yes, yes do.’ She smiled and turned back to the house. The early morning sun climbed over the bare trees behind the house and although it held no warmth, it made her feel lighter in spirit.

Inside, Doris descended the stairs with a carpetbag in each hand. ‘I’ll put these in the carriage, Mrs Farrell, and then bring down the rest from your room.’

‘Thank you, Doris.’ As the woman neared, Isabelle couldn’t help but ask. ‘Are you sure you want to go to Australia? I won’t be angry if you wish to change your mind.’

Doris shook her head. ‘No need to worry about me, Mrs Farrell. I’ve no family left now. There’s nowt to keep me here and I know a good job is worth holding on to.’

Isabelle smiled and patted Doris’s shoulder as she went outside. She looked around the sparse hall, the small rooms leading off it, the narrow staircase. It was a nice house, nothing grand, but comfortable enough for her and the boys. It had shielded them from harm in the last few weeks and she’d been grateful for it, but now it was time to go. Time to start a new life.

***

When they arrived at Bracken Hall, Brown took Doris around the back to the kitchens for a cup of tea as Isabelle and the boys hesitated on the front steps. She’d been expecting Ethan or even Hamish to welcome them, but only the butler stood in the entrance.

‘Is Mr Harrington not yet home?’ She asked him, hovering on the threshold.

‘No, Mrs Farrell.’

‘Is Mr MacGregor about?’

‘As far as I’m aware, he has gone with Mr Harrington.’ He indicated for them to go into the drawing room.

Isabelle heard Hughie gasp as he gazed around the ornate room and Bertie stood so close to her, she could feel him tremble through her skirts. She held his hand and smiled in reassurance.

‘Mrs Farrell.’

Isabelle twirled around as Elizabeth entered the room. Making small talk with Ethan’s mother was the last thing she felt capable of. ‘Good morning, Mrs Harrington.’

‘Please, won’t you and your brothers sit down and I’ll ring for tea.’ Elizabeth tugged the bellpull near the fireplace and then sat down on a chair.

Isabelle sat on the sofa between Hughie and Bertie and prayed that Ethan would return soon. She smoothed down the black silk of her skirts.

‘You are all ready to travel?’ Elizabeth asked.

‘Yes.’

A maid knocked and stood just inside the doorway. Elizabeth gave her instructions for tea and cakes to be brought in and asked for the fire to be tended. She turned her attention back to Isabelle. ‘Your brothers might like to go down to the stables? You have a long journey ahead, they might prefer to stretch their legs while they have the chance? I’m told a foal was born during the night.’

‘Oh, er, yes.’ Isabelle forced a smile to her face and looked at Hughie. ‘Would you want to visit the stables?’

He nodded, perching on the edge of the sofa, clearly uncomfortable being in the splendid drawing room.

Elizabeth rose with a smile. ‘Come, I’ll have a footman show you the way.’

The boys left and Isabelle’s heart contracted at the sight of Bertie sticking so close to Hughie. The poor boy was frightened out of his skin being here amongst strangers and the enormity of the Hall. She understood how he felt, for being alone with Elizabeth was something she hadn’t anticipated.
Where is Ethan!

When Elizabeth returned, two maids followed her carrying the tea service and a tall stand filled with sandwiches, cakes and tarts.

‘I thought you might be hungry, Mrs Farrell. I’m sure you’ve been busy this morning with your packing.’

She nodded and smiled but the thought of eating made her want to gag. Waiting while Elizabeth poured the tea, Isabelle tried to summon some form of conversation to her brain.

‘You know, I never thought you’d win.’ Elizabeth murmured, offering her the teacup and saucer.

‘Pardon?’

‘I thought Ethan would tire of you.’ Elizabeth bowed her head for a moment and then raised her tear-filled eyes. ‘I never expected to be left here, alone.’

Isabelle anticipated the woman’s anger, but not the quiet acceptance, which was tinged with sadness and regret. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Harrington. It wasn’t my intention to hurt you.’

Elizabeth stared at her for some seconds before nodding. ‘I believe you. If circumstances had been different I would have welcomed you into this house as my daughter-in-law.’

The words humbled Isabelle and, bravely, she reached over to take the other woman’s hand. ‘Thank you.’

‘None of it matters now, does it? I mean, soon you’ll be on the other side of the world.’

‘Ethan says he will return often. He has to. He won’t let Bracken Hall be without its owner for long.’

Elizabeth nodded and dabbed her eyes with a white handkerchief.

This new insight to Ethan’s mother made Isabelle want to close the gap between them. ‘It would gladden Ethan’s heart if you were to join us. It worries him very much knowing you will be here on your own.’ She smiled, hoping to win her over. ‘If you came with us, you would see your grandchild when it’s born.’

‘But it won’t be my grandchild will it?’ Elizabeth withdrew her hand and glanced at the fire. ‘The child will be a Farrell.’

‘Only in name. It’s a Harrington by blood.’ She stifled her spark of irritation. ‘The child is Ethan’s. He will be a father. Do you not want to share that with him?’

‘You don’t understand.’

‘What is there to understand? Your son, your daughter and your grandchild will be in Australia while you’ll be wandering around this great house by yourself.’

‘I’ve been the mistress of this house for thirty-four years!’ Elizabeth rose and paced the floor. ‘This house is my home, my children’s home. It was meant to be my grandchildren’s home.’ She stopped and stared at Isabelle. ‘Is it wrong for me to think this way? Is it wrong for me to want the same things any other mother wants?’

Isabelle shook her head saddened by the other woman’s pain. ‘You are not wrong to want that. Yet, I don’t see your dilemma.’ She stood and stepped towards Elizabeth. ‘You can have your family around you in Australia. However, you prefer to place this house above them.’

A blush swept up Elizabeth’s cheeks. ‘That’s a lie!’

‘Is it?’

‘You know nothing.’

‘I know I wouldn’t put a house before my family.’

‘No, you put everything else before your family! Your reputation, your vows to your husband-’

‘My marriage was a sham from the very beginning!’ Isabelle blazed. ‘Farrell didn’t want a wife. He wanted a slave!’

‘Then you shouldn’t have married him.’

‘Have you ever been hungry, Mrs Harrington, really hungry? Have you ever been homeless, friendless and so frightened that you’d do anything to make your life better?’

Elizabeth’s eyes softened and she sagged. ‘No.’

‘No. You haven’t. I wanted what was best for my brother and me. I made a mistake. But that mistake gave me Ethan and I would do it all again to have him.’

Sitting back on the sofa, Elizabeth picked up her teacup and saucer but didn’t drink. ‘I will not deny you have made Ethan happy. He was never happy with Clarice. But are you prepared to live the rest of your life in sin?’

Sighing, Isabelle walked to the fireplace and stared at the shifting logs. ‘It’s not the most ideal situation I agree. Actually, I seriously thought of giving Ethan up and going away. But I’m not strong enough. It was madness to even think I could do it.’

‘It would kill him if you left him for good.’

‘It won’t happen. I’m too selfish. I want him with me.’

‘Being a mistress will not be easy for you.’

‘True, I know. Ethan will keep returning to England to gain his divorce, as will I. But with or without it, we will be living on a station miles away from the nearest town. We will be happy on our own.’

‘And what about your children?’

Isabelle rubbed the slight swelling of her stomach. ‘We will try our best to make sure this child I carry is the first and last until we are both free.’

Elizabeth’s gaze was drawn to her action. ‘That might never be.’

She shrugged. ‘Then we’ll treasure this one all the more.’

They both turned at the sound of horses on the drive.

‘They’ve returned.’ A look of panic flittered across Elizabeth’s face. ‘Saying good bye to you will crucify Ethan.’

Isabelle smiled softly and looked through the doorway as Ethan, with Hamish behind, entered. ‘It won’t be for long and he has you to comfort him until he can join me.’

After half an hour, in which time Hamish changed his clothes and they all drank tea and ate cakes, it was time for the travelling party to leave. Hamish gave instructions for his trunks to be stowed on the carriage, while Ethan spoke with Brown about the journey to the Halifax train station.

Nervous, Isabelle hovered behind with Hughie and Bertie.

Elizabeth touched her arm. ‘Will you write to me?’

The request struck Isabelle dumb. ‘Write to you?’

‘Yes. I would like to know about my grandchild. I know Ethan will write once he’s over there but a man can never say the same things, the important things, like a woman can.’

Isabelle leant over and kissed Elizabeth’s soft cheek. ‘I will write.’

Relief shone in Elizabeth’s eyes. ‘Good. Take care.’

‘Remember, you will always be welcome in my home.’

Nodding, Elizabeth stepped back as Ethan came to Isabelle’s side. ‘Ready, my love?’

She nodded. ‘I guess so.’

‘Well isn’t this a merry sight!’

They all turned as one and stared.

Farrell stood on the lawn beside the drive. He grinned as though it was a huge joke and sauntered towards them.

Isabelle expected her heart to stop beating any second. She couldn’t believe she was looking at him, not now just when she was to be gone from here in mere minutes.

‘So, Wife.’ Farrell smirked and licked his lips. ‘Yer’ve done well for yerself I see.’

Ethan stepped in front of her. ‘Take another step, Farrell, and it’ll be your last.’

Holding his hands up as if in surrender, Farrell stayed where he was. ‘No need to be all protective, Harrington. I’m not here to cause trouble.’

‘Then why are you here?’

Farrell shrugged. ‘Simple really. I want me wife.’

Isabelle moaned and clutched at Ethan’s sleeve. She’d been a fool to think it was all at an end. It would never end. Farrell would never let it.

Hamish strolled over to Farrell. ‘I suggest, my man, that you leave. Your presence isn’t wanted. There is nothing here for you.’

‘Really?’ Farrell’s eyes narrowed and he stabbed his finger into Hamish’s chest. ‘And I’m not yer man.’

Leaning closer, Hamish’s voice dropped. ‘There are twenty men all within calling distance. Still willing to try your luck?’

Farrell chuckled. ‘Bring on all yer men, if that’ll make yer happy, but there’s no court in the land that will disagree with me when I take my wife home.’

‘Home?’ Ethan scoffed, his eyes had nearly darkened to black. ‘You don’t have a home. It’s burnt to the ground. Meadow Farm is no longer yours. I’m taking it back
and
I have the law on my side!’

‘Have the stinking farm. It ain’t no use to me in America now is it?’ He grinned, showing missing teeth. ‘I just want what’s mine.’ His gaze centred on Isabelle.

She lifted her chin, confident he could do her no harm with Ethan and Hamish around her. ‘I will never willingly go with you.’

Farrell’s eyes narrowed to slits. ‘If that’s how you want to play it.’ He strode up to her, but before he had the chance to grab her, Ethan and Hamish reacted. They both lunged for him, yet, Farrell, anticipating them side-stepped and ducked. His years of running from the law gave him an advantage of knowing how to dodge and weave.

He made it look so easy that Isabelle felt a distinct urge to laugh. Only, it wasn’t funny when his large hand grabbed her wrist and flung her away from the group. She stumbled on her long skirts and fell to her knees.

‘Leave her alone!’ Hughie yelled, hitting Farrell on the back.

Elizabeth screamed. Men rushed from around the side of the house.

‘Isabelle!’ Ethan rushed to her side, but with a roar of madness Farrell shook off Hughie and Hamish and charged for Ethan, knocking him to the ground.

They rolled together on the grass. Ethan aimed a few good punches while astride Farrell’s chest before they rolled again and Farrell was on top.

‘Stand up, Belle,’ Hughie said, assisting her to her feet as they both watched the two men try to get the better of the other.

Dazed, she let him hold her around the waist. The strength had left her. The scene played out in front of her was like something from a stage comedy. This couldn’t be happening. It was all a joke; a nightmare and she’d wake up in a minute.
Stop it!
Stop it!
She’d had enough. No more. ‘Stop!’ she screamed. ‘Stop it I say!’