Chapter Twenty
“I must pay a call on Mrs. Penhollow,” I announced at the breakfast table the following morning, Christmas Eve, to a rather disinterested group including everyone except Gregory and Grace. For some reason, perhaps simply habit, they preferred to eat breakfast in the schoolroom.
“She must be informed that the undertaker will be coming to collect Dr. Penhollow’s body, so she knows to expect it,” I added.
“May I go with you?” Rose asked. “I could bring Cloud to cheer her up.”
The thought that Cloud was now safely in someone else’s hands might actually bring her some measure of cheer, though I wasn’t sure she needed to see the dog himself. Still, why not? “I’d be happy to have you with me,” I said.
Fiona gave me a look from across the table. “Robert and George ought to be home today, but I rather expect them this afternoon, so I am free this morning. I, too, feel obliged to go.”
“Excellent,” I said. “I plan to leave right after breakfast if you can be ready.”
Our time of departure was agreed upon, and everyone except Aunt Hetty left to get started on their days. Before I could join them, she placed a hand over mine to stop me. “I heard from Gilliam yesterday,” she said, her face as solemn as any I’d seen at a funeral.
“It does not look as though he gave you good news, Aunt. What is wrong? Will he be coming on Christmas?”
Hetty heaved a sigh and, pulling a letter from her pocket, gave me a tentative glance.
“Aunt Hetty, what is it?”
She turned her gaze back to the letter. “Friday, when we all returned from the village, you said that you suspected Gilliam had asked me to marry him and that I didn’t know what to do.” Her gaze returned to me. “You were correct.”
I couldn’t restrain a gasp of excitement. “That is wonderful news!”
Her expression told me it was not.
“Or it’s terrible news.” I waited, hoping she’d give me a sign. “Aunt, I don’t know whether to be happy for you or devastated.”
Hetty lowered her gaze again. “You’ve been asking me if something is amiss between us, and while I wouldn’t put it exactly that way, there is a complication.”
I clasped my hands in nervous anticipation. “What is the complication?”
She paused long enough to make me wonder if she would tell me or not.
“Now that you have me on tenterhooks, Aunt, I hope you plan to share it with me.”
“Gilliam has written to say that he will be coming on Christmas,” she said at last.
That was underwhelming. “Somehow, I don’t think that’s the entire story.”
“No. He tells me that he is bringing someone with him.”
“I’m certain Fiona would have no argument with that. Who is it?”
Hetty raised her head to face me. “His son.”
I stared at her, certain I must have heard wrong. “Gilliam has a child?”
“Technically, Daniel is no longer a child. He’s sixteen years old.” Hetty looked relieved at having shared her secret.
With the confirmation that there was nothing wrong with my hearing, my heart began pounding heavily out of fear that my beloved aunt was about to reveal that she had no possible future with a man I knew she loved. “And the boy’s mother?” I squeaked.
Her head bobbed. “She is alive and well.”
If Hetty meant that as a sort of reassurance, it hadn’t worked. “Are you telling me Gilliam is married?” I nearly choked on the words. If Gilliam had misled my aunt all this time, he was the worst sort of villain.
Through a fog of tears, I saw Hetty reach toward me, then felt her squeeze my clenched hands. As if she had to comfort me! “He is not married, Frances,” she said. “They were never married.”
I was truly failing as a confidant. “Forgive me, Aunt. I fear I am making this more difficult for you.”
“You are not,” she said. Heavens, she actually smiled. “I am touched that you care so much for the state of my heart, I almost wish I had confided in you sooner.”
Sooner? I blinked until my vision cleared. “How long have you known?”
Hetty sat back and seemed to be thinking about it. Really? I believe I would remember the precise moment something so monumental had been sprung upon me.
“At least six months. Perhaps longer.” Noting my expression, she patted my hand. “It was never something he kept secret from me.”
“Why did you keep it secret from me?” I mentally gave myself a shake. “Forgive me. That isn’t fair. There was no reason for you to share something so personal.”
“You are right,” she said. “There wasn’t.
Gilliam was a young man when he and an even younger actress conceived their son.
He offered her marriage, and in his words, she refused him out of hand.
She had a career to pursue.” Hetty held up a finger.
“Also, his words. I doubt she put it quite so bluntly, but the result was that they never married. She kept Gilliam appraised of his son’s life.
He saw the boy whenever possible. And he was financially responsible for him.
Until recently, they were not much involved in each other’s lives, and there was no reason for any concern on my part. ”
“Until recently?” I asked.
Hetty nodded. “It appears that Kitty—that’s her name—is finding that Daniel is more in need of a father than a mother at this point in his life.”
“Is he?”
“Indeed. She would like Daniel to live with Gilliam, and she’d like Gilliam to see to Daniel’s further education, something she feels at a loss to manage on her own.”
“How does Gilliam feel about this turn of events?”
Hetty looked away, but I saw a smile light her face. “Gilliam was born to be a father. I can’t imagine anyone better equipped to give a child, particularly an older child, a loving and supportive home.”
There had to be a catch. “Then it sounds as though Gilliam is willing.”
“Daniel arrived at Gilliam’s home, bags in hand, two days ago.”
That explained why he had only now mentioned bringing his son. “And you have some concerns about that,” I suggested.
Hetty’s fingers nervously toyed with the lace at her collar. “Daniel and I have never met. What if he dislikes me? What if he doesn’t want us to marry?”
My first thought was to assure her that Gilliam’s son would adore her, but I didn’t want to discount her concern.
“While that is a remote possibility,” I said, “meeting him here at Christmas might be the best introduction you could have. You will meet Daniel while in the bosom of your own loving family.”
Her expression registered such doubt, it was almost comical, but there was nothing humorous about Hetty shying away from a relationship that made her happy because she feared this shift in Gilliam’s life.
“I know this is a sudden change for you, but please tell me you won’t turn your back on Gilliam because his son is now a part of his life.”
“Herbert Gilliam is the best of men. I would expect nothing less of him. Daniel is not just his responsibility but someone he loves.” She heaved a sigh. “What do I know of raising children?”
Was she serious? “Allow me to point out two obvious facts. First, Daniel is sixteen. Yes, he still needs to be nurtured and guided, but he is not a child to be raised. Second, and you may not recall this, but I certainly do, you had a hand in raising me, Alonzo, and Lily. After we moved to New York, Frankie worked so much, it was as if we didn’t have a father.
And can you imagine how we would have turned out if the only adult in our lives was Mother? ”
“I suppose you have a point,” she said.
“We turned to you for guidance more than to either of our parents. All three of us would vouch for your abilities as a parent.” I watched my aunt wringing her hands, as if her situation were hopeless, and wondered if I could return the favor of some guidance.
I scooted closer and took her hand. “It is difficult to know how to advise you. The thought of marrying Gilliam must be new to you. Now you find you will have a second person to become used to and live with.” I patted her hand. “That is much to consider.”
“The thought of marrying Gilliam is not as new as you may think,” Hetty said.
“Not only have we discussed it between us, but I will shamelessly admit I also thought of it from the very first.” Her expression was full of wonder.
“I never imagined I’d marry again. I never wished to do so.
But meeting him felt as if I had met my match. ”
“You’ll hear no argument from me,” I said. “He is quite perfect for you.”
She squeezed my fingers, then pulled her hand away. “That he is.”
“Tell me,” I said, “if Gilliam’s son were not going to live with you, would you have agreed to marry him?”
She sighed and gave me a sad smile. “The better question is, would Gilliam have asked me to marry him if his son were not coming to live with him?”
“Oh.” The single word dragged itself past my lips like the sound of a creaking door. “Do you believe he asked you to be his wife in order to make a home for his son?”
“The thought has crossed my mind.”
“Did he ask you before or after he knew Daniel would be living with him?”
“Before, but Kitty’s request came right on the heels of his proposal.” Her eyes grew dreamy. “He was so nervous, Frances.”
“I can imagine. You are a very independent woman. I’m sure he had no idea what your answer would be.” I gave her a closer look. “By the way, what was your answer?”
“I wanted to say yes, but even though we’d talked about marriage before, I still needed a little time … just to be certain. Then the issue came up about his son. And I still haven’t given him an answer.”
“I have no doubt that Gilliam loves you,” I said. “Though I can see the two of you need to discuss this, and you need to understand his motives for asking you to marry him.”
“What if he isn’t aware of his motive?”
“He spoke to you of marriage before he knew Daniel would be living with him. It sounds like he would have asked you to marry him no matter where his son was to live. Nevertheless, you must have that conversation for your own peace of mind.”
Two lines appeared between Hetty’s brows. “It sounds like a great deal of work.”
I patted her hand. “That’s marriage.”