Twelfth Night at Eyre Hall (23 page)

I knocked on the guest bedroom door and
found Nell sitting on a chair reading to Lieutenant Kirkpatrick, who was still
looking like a bear who had survived baiting.

“Hello, Nell. How are you? Have you
coughed anymore?” I asked.

“No, Doctor. I haven’t coughed since I
took your medicine.”

“Good girl. Are you still drinking lemon
juice every day?”

“Yes, with lots of honey.”

“That’s my girl. What are you reading?”

“I’ve just finished part one of
Treasure
Island
. Jim Hawkins and his mother have unlocked the sea chest, and they have
found money, a journal, and a map. Dr. Livesey realises the map is of an island
where there is a buried treasure, so they are going to find it. I like Dr.
Livesey. He’s like you, very clever and kind.”

“Thank you, Nell. Now, could you take
your book to Mrs. Mason’s room and read part two to her?”

“Yes, of course. Is she back?”

“She is. When you finish part two, come
down with Mrs. Mason to visit Michael.”

I waited for Nell to leave the room
before addressing Lieutenant Kirkpatrick.

“How are you feeling today?”

“Still sore, but I’ll survive. How is
Jane?”

“Very upset. Understandably.”

“What happened?”

“Your suspicions were accurate. It seems
my father, Mr. Rochester, and probably Mr. Woods, all conspired to convince Mrs.
Mason that her daughter had died. The coffin was empty. Mr. Rochester had left
a message in a Bible, in case the deception was ever discovered. He asked her
to forgive him.”

“What about John?”

“He was devastated, as I am, but to a
greater degree. He held his father in great esteem. He has left Eyre Hall. He
said he needed to speak to Archbishop Templar.”

“I am sorry you found out about your
father’s implication this way, Dr. Carter. I suppose he acted out of misplaced
loyalty to Mr. Rochester.”

 “I was aware that my father had
irregular dealings with Mr. Rochester, but to tear a child away from her mother,
that is unforgivable. If there is anything I can do to repair or make up for my
father’s deed, I hope Mrs. Mason will let me know.”   

“I have found the child, Dr. Carter.”

“So I have been told. I hope she is
well.”

“She is, but I can disclose no further
details for the moment.”

“I am glad she is well, and I would be
glad to compensate her in any way I can.”

“Thank you, Doctor. No doubt Jane will
let you know if anything is required, when the time comes.”

His words were not bitter, and I felt an
immense gratitude that the child had come to no harm. A tranquil silence ensued
as I packed my instruments back into my bag. I turned back to him before
leaving.

“My name is Harold, but my friends call
me Harry.” I stretched out my hand, which he held firmly.

“Thank you, Harry. My friends call me
Michael.”

“Michael, it is my belief that Mr.
Rochester wishes to apologise to you both. On his behalf I would say that he
was blinded by his admiration for his father.”

“He need not apologise to me, but I do
not wish him to cause offense to his mother. When she becomes Mrs. Kirkpatrick,
I will not allow anyone to be disrespectful to my wife, on any account.”

I felt admiration and a measure of envy for
the love they professed for each other. I wondered if I should ever be so
fortunate.

“I will go upstairs to make sure Mrs.
Mason is well. I will be back tomorrow, Michael. Good day.”

Nell and Mrs. Mason were sitting by the
hearth. Nell was reading
Treasure Island
enthusiastically as Mrs.
Rochester stared wistfully towards the window on the other side of the room. I suggested
Nell go down to the kitchen and ask Cook for some tea and biscuits, and then I asked
Mrs. Mason how she felt.

She replied wearily. “I knew she was not
there, but I was relieved to find that she had not been replaced by another
child.”

“Can you forgive them?”

“It doesn’t matter. They must answer to
Our Lord for their crimes, not to me. I am relieved Michael has found her and
that she is well.”

“If there is anything I can do to
repair…”

“Thank you, Dr. Carter, but you are no
more responsible for your father’s crimes than my son is for his father’s. I am
greatly indebted to you. I hope you will stay on in the Rochester Estate. Is
Ferndean to your pleasing?”

“It is a very spacious, albeit old
house. My mother loves it. She wouldn’t live anywhere else.”

“How is your mother?”

 “She is very well, thank you. She has aches
and pains pertaining to her age. She is well over seventy–eight.”

“Seventy–eight? I have not seen her very
often, but I had no idea she was so advanced in age. You were…?”

“Yes, I was adopted, Mrs. Mason, like my
four cousins. My parents were not able to have children. My aunt, Mrs. Banks,
looked after abandoned children in London. I was one of them. I gather you
thought your missing daughter was also in her care. Now I understand your
distress when I told you she was dead.”

“I had no idea. When did your parents
tell you?”

“Never. My aunt told me while I was at
St. Thomas’s hospital. My parents told me I had been a gift from God because my
mother had given birth to me when she was fifty–two years old.”

“The first time I saw you, you must have
been about ten years old. Your father brought you to play with John who was a
few years younger. You were such a shy and serious boy, and John was too lively
and boisterous. I am afraid you did not get on very well, so you didn’t return
to play. I never saw you again until last year. Your father spoke very fondly
and proudly of you.”  

“My mother doesn’t know I am aware of my
adoption. I see no benefit in upsetting her by telling her the truth.”

“Yes, the truth can be a dangerous
weapon indeed.”

“Mrs. Mason, I believe you have taken
the right path in telling Adele, Annette, and John the truth. It is their
responsibility to accept its implications. They will recover from the shock.” 

“I hope so. Tell me, are you planning to
stay in this area?”

 “I won’t be leaving for the moment. I cannot
abandon my mother, and she would not live anywhere else. In the future, I might
consider moving back to London.”

“We will miss you if you leave.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Mason. There is a
matter I have been meaning to discuss with you for some time. I would like to
marry. Not right away, but in the future, I would like to have my own family.”

“I am sure you will find a suitable
wife, in time.”

“I have.” She looked surprised. “I mean I
have found the woman I would wish to be my wife.”

She surveyed me closely. “Are you in
love with anyone I know, Dr. Carter?”

“Miss Annette Mason.”

She was speechless. Her silence alarmed
me. If she didn’t approve, I had no chance.

“Mrs. Mason, I know I am no match for Miss
Mason. I have no right to expect that such a wonderful lady should even
consider marrying me, but I am besotted.”

“But you hardly know her.”

“I have known her for over six months. I
have not thought of anything else since the first time I saw her. She greeted
me in the drawing room, when I was called to Eyre Hall at the end of June, due
to one of Nell’s coughs. She was like an apparition. I have never seen a more
beautiful woman before or since. I think about her every day.”

“Have you spoken to her?”

“Not on those terms. I dared not proceed
without your consent, or at least without knowing your opinion.”

“It seems to me she is not inclined to
marriage at the moment.”

“With respect, Mrs. Mason, she is not
young. I mean she has not had a coming out, and she is past the age to have
one. She cannot remain, I mean, such a beautiful woman, should not remain
unmarried. She will have beautiful children.”

“Dr. Carter! You have already thought of
having children with Annette?”

 “Please forgive my boldness, but I fear
if I do not approach her, someone else will.”

“I promised Annette I would never impose
a husband she did not approve of. She will make her own decision.”

“But she trusts and respects you.”

“I will not influence her, but I give
you permission to court her. You must approach her yourself and tell her of
your feelings. She knows I think highly of you. I will not oppose your
courtship.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Mason, but I require
your help.”

“What kind of help?”

“I would like to spend more time with Miss
Mason. I want her to know me and to know more about my profession. I believe
she is already interested in my work at the hospital.”

“Proceed.”

“I know she has kind inclinations and I
have heard her say that she would like to occupy part of her time doing some
social work. She said she was interested in teaching, and she is fond of
children, so I thought that if she could spend some time with me at the
hospital at Millcote, in the children’s ward, perhaps teaching them to read and
write, we could spend more time together.”

“She would like to keep busy. A few days
at the hospital might be a good idea. It will be very quiet here once everyone
leaves.” She stopped to think and then added, “Very well, if you bring up the
conversation, I will encourage her to accompany you to the hospital and see
what work can be done there. The rest is up to you.”

“Thank you, Mrs. Mason.”

“I must warn you that she may love, or
think she loves, another person.”

“Mrs. Mason, I assure you I love her
enough for the two of us. I will win her love.”

“You said you fell in love with her at
first sight; if she has not fallen in love with you already, are you sure love
can grow?”

“Yes, I am. Aren’t you?”

“Perhaps you are right, Dr. Carter. You
are a good man. I wish you luck, but promise me you will be patient and good to
Annette.”

“I love her. I will wait for her to love
me.”

“I hope you’re fortunate. I wouldn’t
like to see either of you hurt.” She sighed. “It is indeed joyful to be
surrounded by couples who are in love. Eyre Hall was in need of happiness. I
hope to fill the house with love and children. It has been sad and solemn for
too long.”

She drifted into the daydreaming mode I
had come to recognise, so I stood to leave. As I walked to the door, she spoke.

“Perhaps Ferndean could do with some
renovation. I will send the architect to evaluate what could be done to make it
more comfortable for you and your mother. Please give her my regards.”  

I thanked her and left, full of hope and
optimism.

***

Mrs. Mason came down to my drawing room,
an event that occurred more rarely than a blue moon. I wondered if something
grave had happened, yet again.

“Leah, I would like to discuss some
household matters with you. Do you have time now?”

“Of course, Mrs. Mason. I will tell Beth
to bring us some tea.”

She nodded amiably and made herself
comfortable by the hearth.

“How are you coping with all the extra work?”
she asked.

“Very well, madam. The new staff are
excellent workers. Claire, Cook’s new help, is making life much easier for her.
She is cooking four times as much food for the workers. I’m afraid they will
never finish if we feed them so well.”

“Then she must stop cooking so well, because
I want it all finished before Christmas.” Her spirits were high lately, in
spite of the solitude of Eyre Hall.

John had returned to Oxford. Adele, Mr.
Greenwood, Dante and Susan had travelled to London. Only Annette and Michael
remained. I had never liked Michael or his high and mighty sister, Susan. I
found them too ambitious for their station in life, and I was obviously right.
They had both bettered their positions well beyond their expectations, causing
havoc as they did so.

“How is Christy?” Mrs. Mason enquired.
Her concern seemed genuine, although she had not asked about any of the
servants for over a year, since she had left the housekeeping to Miss Mason.

“She seems much recovered. She is
helping in the kitchen, but she still refuses to go out of the door. She won’t leave
the house under any circumstances.”

“Dr. Carter said we should be patient.
Let’s hope he is right. At least she is sleeping, eating, and working, at last.
That is a start.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Poor girl. Please let me
know if there are any changes in her behaviour.”

She stared at me gravely. “I wish you
had told me about Mr. Mason’s misconduct.”

“I didn’t wish to trouble you, madam. Jenny
did not object, neither did Beth, at first, but matters spiralled in a few days
on his last visit. He had lost interest in Jenny, Beth was attached to Simon,
and Christy could not comply. I thought I could handle the matter without
bothering you, but I was wrong.”

“I trust you to run the household
efficiently, Leah, you have always done so, but I wish to be informed of any
personal problems below stairs in the future, please.”

“Of course, madam.” 

We drank our tea in silence, and I was
wondering what she had really come to say, because she seemed to have no
intention of leaving yet.

“Leah, you are the only person I know
who is still alive and was at Thornfield Hall before I arrived.”

“That is so, as far as I know Mrs. Mason.”

“There is a private matter I would wish
to discuss with you.” I nodded.

“I would like you to tell me about the
men who entered Thornfield Hall as guests, or visitors, in the months prior to
my arrival. Specifically in August.”

“Twenty–three years ago, madam?”

“Yes, Leah. Was Mr. Rochester at home in
August 1843, twenty–three years ago?”

“Let me think. I started working at
Thornfield Hall in 1840, when I was ten. I could hardy read. Good Mrs. Fairfax
taught me. Mr. Rochester was very rarely in residence. I remember 1843 because
it was the year Adele came, and shortly after you arrived. It was our last year
at Thornfield before the fire. Mr. Rochester had returned from France. It was a
short visit. He informed Mrs. Fairfax that he would soon be bringing a child to
Thornfield, his ward. He came back with Adele and Sophie a month later, in
September, and later Mrs. Fairfax advertised. Then you arrived in October.”

“Could you think back his first visit,
in August, before he returned with Adele and Sophie? Who stayed at Thornfield
Hall?”

I hesitated, wondering where this
strange conversation was leading us. “I’m not sure I remember. It was a long
time ago.”

“Try, Leah. Please. Close your eyes, and
think. Remember the house, the kitchen, and the bedrooms. When Mr. Rochester
was home, there were guests, and parties. Surely, you would remember them.”

“Yes, there was a party. A group of
friends came to stay. They were noisy and unruly. I remember Grace Poole spent
the night with me, because she was told to get out of the attic.”

“The guests went into the attic?”

“I didn’t see them. I never went up
there, but they must have. Grace was frightened of them. She said they were
rowdy and drunk, and wanted to poke the lunatic, for fun.”

“So of course, you all knew about Bertha,
didn’t you?” I nodded. “I must have seemed so naïve.”

“We pretended not to know, but Grace
would tell us all about her when she was merry, which was more often than not,
as I remember.”

“Who were the guests?”

“I am afraid I don’t remember.”

“Please try harder, Leah. Close your
eyes again. Go back to that night and try to see them. It will come to you.”

“Well, I remember there were no ladies
on that occasion, because the ladies always made more work for us, or brought
an array of noisy maids. Lord Ingram and Sir George Lynn must have come. Let me
think.” I tried to visualise the occasion. “Yes, they came, and Dr. Carter was
there, but I think he had come to see the lunatic. I don’t remember how long the
doctor stayed, but he wasn’t here the next morning. He never stayed overnight
at Thornfield.”

“Anyone else?”

“Mr. Briggs was there too.”

“And Mr. Cooper?”

“No, not Mr. Cooper. I met him years
later, at Eyre Hall. The others were frequent visitors.”

“Lord Egham?”

“No. Lord Egham and Colonel Dent never
visited without their wives.”

“So, there were no women?”

“None on that occasion,” I said and Mrs.
Mason sighed.

“They’re all dead, except Mr. Briggs.”

I swayed gently on my rocking chair in
an effort to evoke more memories.

“I remember they drank too much and had
an argument the next evening.”

“Strange you should remember that, Leah.”

“I remember because I had to clean up
the drawing room. They had thrown wine glasses and decanters all over the room.
They must have had a big disagreement.”

 “Who had the disagreement with Mr.
Rochester?”

“Most of them left after lunch. I
remember John, the coachman complaining. There had been a thunderstorm, which
had damaged one of the best coaches.”

“When was the disagreement?”

“It must have been in the evening. We
were in bed and saw the mess in the morning.”

Suddenly I remembered another familiar
face. “I have just remembered someone else who was there. I had forgotten about
Archbishop Templar. Of course he was only archdeacon at that time. Much later, he
replaced the bishop he was working for and became bishop himself.”

“Archbishop Templar?”

“The very same. He used to visit
occasionally. I am almost certain he left the next day. He must have had the dispute
with Mr. Rochester.”

“Mr. Rochester strikes again with more
secrets,” she whispered.

“Mrs. Rochester, you must know that from
the moment he met you he was a different man.”

“For a time, Leah. Only for a time.”

“Men like him are difficult to tie down
forever. They are free spirits.”

“Perhaps,” she said and drifted into
deep thought.

“Mrs. Rochester, am I right in assuming
that you believe that one of those men may be Annette’s father?”

“You are.”

“May I ask the purpose of this
discovery? I mean, without proof, will you ask him to fulfil his obligations?”

“I am not sure what I will do. I think I
ought to try to find out who it is, or could be, and if I am sure, and not
before, I’ll inform Annette. What happens after is unknown at present. Mr. Briggs
is an old man. He may welcome the chance to put his mind at ease and rest in
peace.”

“He may deny it ever happened.”

“Of course he could, but he might repent
and wish to unburden himself by telling me the truth. But the archbishop, I
cannot believe he also knew about my husband’s secrets, and even took part in
such shameful entertainment.” She shook her head.

I did not see any advantage in reopening
Pandora’s Box once more and disclosing any more of the Rochester secrets, but
Mrs. Mason seemed determined to do so, yet again.

***