Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
S arah stood up, brushing the dirt off her skirt.
“Sorry.” Nora winced. “I don’t remember this hill being as steep as it is.”
Sarah shook her head. “Don’t worry about it. A little dirt won’t hurt anyone.”
Nora reached up and pulled a small stick out of Sarah’s hair. “Yes, but this might.”
Sarah laughed. “Oh goodness, I guess I took quite a tumble, didn’t I?”
Nora’s face reddened. “Are you sure you’re all right?” Sarah could tell the girl truly did mean no harm and was embarrassed that her memory of the grounds wasn’t as good as she thought.
“Yes, I’m fine. I’ve gotten into far bigger messes with my sisters when I was your age. This is nothing a good cleaning won’t fix. I’m fine.” She raised her arms wide and waved them around. “See? No rips or tears.” Sarah twisted her body as she looked over her dress. “I don’t see any bruises on my arms and legs. I am truly all right, no need to worry.”
Nora didn’t look convinced but dipped her head nonetheless. “If you say so.”
Sarah looked at the small pond in front of them.
“Now, let’s just make sure we watch our footing, we want to make sure we don’t fall into the water.” Sarah took Nora’s hand as the two gingerly walked closer to the water.
Nora released her pent up shoulders with a small laugh. “It would fall in line with the rest of this evening.”
Sarah raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Other than this slight mishap,” she nodded to the small hill now behind them, “I feel as though we’re getting along well. Is there something amiss with our conversation?”
Nora shook her head. “No, not at all.” The young girl dipped her eyes in avoidance. “I just sometimes feel as though I’m a burden, that’s all.”
Sarah’s heart sank. The poor girl hunched her shoulders, trying to appear as small as she possibly could.
“Has your brother made you feel this way?”
Nora quickly looked up in horror. “Oh no! My brothers have made it their life mission to make sure I’m well taken care of and tolerated.”
Sarah wrinkled her nose at the girl’s choice of words. “Tolerated? A young woman is not to be tolerated. She should be worshipped and appreciated for all of her wonderful attributes.” Sarah leaned into Nora. “Which I hear you have many. Who just ‘tolerates’ you?” Sarah stuck her nose in the air and puffed out her chest. “I must speak with them at once and put them to rights.” Sarah said with candor. There is no one who should be making this girl feel small.
Nora lifted a slender shoulder. “No one in particular. I guess it’s just due to my circumstances.”
Sarah’s eyes widened. This was it. She could sense the girl was willing to give some of the sought out details Sarah needed to piece together the anomaly that was her husband and his family.
“Circumstances?” Sarah tried to keep her tone conversational while inside her mind was screaming for the details to come fast so she could finally put this mystery to bed.
Nora stepped over a rock and pointed to it so Sarah wouldn’t trip.
“My mother’s death.” Nora said nonchalantly as she stopped to look at the waning light reflecting in the pond’s water.
Sarah’s heart began to beat faster. Finally! Someone was going to give her some information. She made sure to tread lightly, not only when walking around the rocky ground, but with the girl. She didn’t want to scare Nora out of giving the details of Charles’s family.
“How did she pass?” Sarah prodded gently.
Nora didn’t raise her eyes, but kept her eyes trained on the ripples in the water caused by the jumping frogs. “There’s not much to say. She died shortly after I was born. Charles rarely talks of her or her passing so I don’t know much.”
“Does Eli not speak of her?” Sarah took a chance mentioning Eli. She knew Charles and Eli had a tempestuous relationship, she was hoping the same could not be said of Nora’s relationship with him.
Nora once again shrugged. “I seldom see Charles. I see Eli even less.”
Disappointment settled in Sarah’s bones. She was hoping for some light to be shed on that corner of the family tree as well.
“I see. Was Eli not around when you were younger?” Something was poking Sarah in the back. She reached around and found another stick lodged in the waist of her skirt. She yanked it out before Nora noticed.
Nora shook her head. “It was more like I was not around.”
Sarah cocked her head to the side. “How do you mean?”
“As long as I could remember I lived with relatives outside of London. I visit here every so often, but never for long.” Nora’s eyes drifted off towards the horizon.
Sarah’s eyes followed Nora’s to see what she was looking at but all she saw was the small village on the distance.
“Do you like living outside of London?” Sarah brought Nora’s focus back to her.
“I do,” Nora admitted. “I just wish I had siblings, or more people my age. I’m constantly surrounded by adults.”
Sarah looked back towards the house. Or, at least, where she thought the house was. Now that Sarah was looking, she wasn’t sure from which direction they came.
“Well, it’s not like you’d be around many children your age here. Although, I suppose there is the town you could visit to be around peers your age.”
Nora’s shoulders tightened. “I’m not sure that is better.”
“How so?” Sarah asked.
Nora was quiet for a moment. “It doesn’t matter.”
They stood in compatible silence for a few minutes. Sarah wracked her brain to come up with a way to get back to the conversation about Charles’s family without it sounding like she was prying.
“I, um, wish I knew more of Charles’s family. I know of Eli, and now you, but not much is said about the rest of your family. I found your mother’s room the other day.” Sarah inwardly cringed. She felt as if she was parading around a sign that said, “Tell me every family secret.”
Nora still didn’t look up from watching the frogs. “I wish I knew of her. I’ve heard the servants talk of her.” Nora supplied, her voice small and distant.
Hope once again rose within Sarah. “Oh?”
“I’ve heard Mrs. Bates say that she was one of the kindest people she’s ever met. She would go out of her way to help the people in the village. Once a week she would go down to the village and help tend to the sick, children and adults alike. Mrs. Bates said she was good with medicine.”
Nora’s voice was full of reverence and wonder when she talked of her mother.
Sarah’s heart broke for the child. “She sounds like she was a wonderful woman and a noble Duchess.”
Nora’s eyes flashed up, bright and shining. “I like to think so.”
The two shared a sober smile.
Sarah thought back to the painting studio she found in the home. She chewed her lip, conflicted as to bring it up or not. Nora mentioned she liked to paint and perhaps learning her mother liked to paint, too, would help bring her closer to her mother’s memory.?However, when she mentioned finding the rooms earlier Nora ignored it. Sarah didn’t want to upset her any more than she was.
“It’s getting dark. Perhaps we should go back.” Nora’s voice cut through Sarah’s thoughts. “Charles doesn’t like when I’m out for long.”
Sarah looked around and saw the darkening sky. “Oh my. I didn’t realize we’ve been out for so long. We should definitely get back.”
They turned to make it up the hill they came down to get back onto the main path. Sarah was grateful that it didn’t seem as steep going up as it did going down. She was beginning to think she would manage to get back to the road without causing another scene.
“Be careful,” Sarah started. “There is a divot around here somewhere. I remember seeing it on the way down.”
The words hadn’t left her mouth when Sarah’s foot landed in the exact divot causing her to tumble.
“Oh gracious,” she said from the ground. “I am in a state tonight.” She laughed.
Nora’s giggles filled the air. It’s light melody reminded Sarah of her times with her sisters when they would just enjoy each other’s company and they didn’t have to worry about the pressures of the ton . Her heart ached for simpler times.
She looked up at Nora who was holding her stomach from her laughter. In that moment, Sarah made it her mission to see that Nora had more laughter in her life. She was a completely different girl out her than in the parlor when they first met. She no longer seemed closed off or shy.
Nora’s face was flush from exertion and laughter but there was a calmness in her that Sarah hoped would continue. This girl was far too young to carry whatever burden had been placed upon her.
Nora reached down to help Sarah stand. “Are you good to continue? I could go get help.”
Nora looked up the pathway and then down the other way. Her brows furrowed. “Although, now looking, I’m not sure which direction we came from.” They heard rustling in a nearby bush. “And I’m not sure I want to venture out alone.”
Once Sarah righted herself she looked at the path. “Hmm, I’m not sure I know which way we came from either.”
Nora’s features began to tighten which worried Sarah. She wanted nothing more than to give this girl a sense of security.
“No need to worry, Nora.” She reached out and took Sarah’s hand in hers. “We are still on the estate. All roads lead to Rome and all that, right? Let’s just pick a way and I’m sure it will lead us back to the house.”
Nora smiled in relief. “Very good point.”
“Your choice, my dear. Which way shall we go?” Sarah asked.
Nora worried her lip. “Do you really want me to pick? Do you remember how you fell down the hill? That was on my direction.”
Sarah laughed. “That was bad footing on my part. I trust you. I have all the faith in the world no matter which way you’ll pick you’ll get us back home.”
Nora pushed out a breath and pointed. “That way.”
Sarah nodded and slipped her hand through Nora’s arms. “Then that way it shall be.”
Nora’s eyes scanned the brush on either side of the pathway. “Sarah, do you believe in monsters?”
There was a slight rustle in the bush next to Sarah. She swallowed. “No. I do not and neither do you.”
“I don’t?” Nora did not sound convinced.
Sarah shook her head resolutely. “No, you do not. If you believe something you give it power and no one holds power of you, Nora. Remember that.”
The rustling grew louder.
Nora tensed but Sarah decided to use this time to prove her point. She took a stick from the ground and prodded the bush.
“Who’s in there?” She chastised the trembling bush.
The bush began to shake more violently and Sarah had the immediate fear that she may have made a grave miscalculation.
She looked back to Nora whose face was drained of color.
Sarah took a deep breath and straightened her back. She needed to show this young girl that she could be capable of taking care of herself and she was no burden to anyone.
Sarah pushed the stick farther into the bush and wiggled it around. She said a silent pray that it was just a small forest creature and not a man eating beast biding its time until two women unknowingly crossed its path.
Just then a rabbit jumped out of the bush causing screams to escape from both Sarah and Nora.
The two watched as the agitated bunny hopped further down the path before disappearing into another bush.
“Ah, see,” Sarah said while trying to catch her breath from her scream. “Just a rabbit.”
Nora’s hand was resting on her chest. “I thought you said there was nothing to be scared of?”
“There wasn’t. It was just a rabbit.” Sarah noted as she tossed the stick down.
“Then why did you scream?” Nora rose an eyebrow, taunting Sarah.
Sarah bristled in jest. “Well, I screamed because you screamed.”
Nora giggled. “I’m sure that was the reason.”
Both laughed at their fright.
“Regardless, I proved my point. If you give into fear, the fear will control you. We could have run and told your brother there was a monster in the bushes when all it was was a tiny bunny. How silly is that?”
Nora pondered that for a moment. “Ah, or we could tell him that there was a monster and we took it on and came out victorious!”
Sarah laughed freely. “What an imagination you have. You remind me a lot of my younger sister, Beatrice. She reads a lot and comes up with the most fantastical stories.”
“Do you think I would be able to meet her one day?” Nora sounded hopeful.
Sarah pulled Nora closer to her. “I would love for that to happen. And one thing you must know about me, Nora, is that when I want something, I will do whatever it takes to make it happen.”
Nora smiled. “Well, now you sound like my brother Charles.”
Sarah wrinkled her nose. “You are now the second person to say that to me. I find great offense in that sentiment, take it back.” She teased.
Nora erupted in a fit of giggles that warmed Sarah.
“Come on, you. I don’t want your brother mad at me for bringing you in after dark.” Sarah pulled a laughing Nora on towards what was hopefully the house.
The two set off into the night, the rising moon their only light.