Chapter Twelve
They reached Dove Hall, which was a rather large manor house. Matthew explained to Lady Verina how he had purchased the property shortly after leaving university.
“Even back when I was a young boy and brought my mother home, I knew I would need to help other women who were in a similar situation. I had asked my solicitor to remain in touch with a local land agent so that I might buy a property in the area. Dove Hall is in a convenient location. I can reach it within a quarter-hour of leaving Redfield. It is also halfway between my estate and Hugo’s. ”
“It must have cost a great deal to purchase an entire estate,” she said. “The house and land. The cottages.”
He shrugged. “I did sell one of my unentailed estates to help pay for Dove Hall and its expenses. I can afford to take in these women.”
“Do you think Miss Brandon is going to be all right?” she asked, concern written across her lovely face.
“Miss Brandon was a bit more fragile than other women we have taken in, but I believe she has an inner strength that will surprise her in the days and months to come. Whether she remains on the grounds of Dove Hall for the rest of her life or chooses to leave will be up to her. No decision is ever final. She may enjoy a peaceful existence on the grounds of Dove Hall for the rest of her days. Then again, she might find in several years that she longs for a new kind of life. Either way, we will always be here to help guide her and support whatever decision she makes.”
As they reached the front door and entered, he asked, “Shall I give you a tour?”
“Please do so.”
He took her through the house, introducing her to Mrs. Paul, who was both housekeeper and cook and handled the administration of the women, including their placement in the cottages or elsewhere.
Once they had seen the entire place from top to bottom, which was void of any residents at the moment, Matthew took her to the drawing room, where Mrs. Hanson brought them tea.
After she left, Lady Verina said, “Both Mrs. Paul and Mrs. Hanson have spent time in asylums, haven’t they?”
“You are astute, my lady. They have. How did you know?”
“They have an air about them. A serenity. And there is something in their eyes which told me they had escaped from a different life. They both seem quite content.”
“Mrs. Paul could not boil water when she first came to us,” he revealed.
“She was the first of the doves which we brought here. She has made herself indispensable. I could not do what I do without her help. Mrs. Hanson was the second who came to us. She helps Mrs. Paul with whatever is needed, including supervising the two girls from the local village who serve as maids.”
“It is nice they can give back to women who were in similar circumstances. They have a unique perspective, one which other servants would not,” she observed.
“Mrs. Hanson also is the closest thing we have to a doctor on the grounds. Many of the women we bring here are so traumatized that they cannot be around a man. Mrs. Hanson already knew quite a bit about herbs. She has spent time learning all she can about how to tend to the women. She creates salves and ointments to put on cuts and bruises. She knows how to mend broken limbs by putting plasters around them. She is a very calming presence to the women who are brought here.”
He did not reveal to her that Mrs. Hanson also served as a midwife.
Two of the women had been with child when they had been recovered.
One had miscarried shortly after she had arrived.
The other had delivered a babe which she had wanted nothing to do with, so Larkin had seen to the child’s placement at a farm.
Matthew could not talk about the sexual abuse some of the women had suffered to this young woman.
“Have many doves have you helped, Your Grace?” she asked.
“In all honesty, I cannot give you a number, my lady. I keep no records, either at Dove Hall or back at Redfield. If anyone were to discover where Mr. Larkin and I spirit the women to, they might also want to see records of where they are now. I have a man who serves in a general capacity on the grounds here. The women rarely see him, but he is here to protect them, especially those who have remained with us in the cottages.”
His mother entered the drawing room, and Matthew rose to greet her.
“Shall I ring for some tea for you?” he asked.
“No.” She patted his cheek. “I have had my fill of tea with Miss Ross and Miss Brandon.”
“How is Miss Brandon?” Lady Verina asked anxiously.
“Surprisingly, she is doing better than I expected. I believe that eventually, Miss Brandon will become restless and wish to leave Dove Hall. She is quite bright. We could help her find a position as a governess or even a lady’s companion.
As a duchess, I have all sorts of connections within Polite Society.
We have helped a few of our doves find gainful employment, usually as a governess.
They live far from town, so there is no chance of them being discovered by the relative who had committed them to the asylum. ”
“We ask that they write to us once a year,” Matthew explained. “We want to know how they fare. If they are happy. If they wish to return to Dove Hall or if they seek a different position.”
“So, Lady Verina, what do you think of Dove Hall and my son’s work?” asked Mama.
He watched her carefully, wondering how she would respond after all she had learned.
“I think His Grace is most heroic. I have heard of the existence of asylums, but I thought it was truly those who were mad who were placed in them. I had no idea that men put away their loved ones in those places, especially for such petty reasons. Frankly, it has caused me to lose a bit of faith in my fellow man.”
“That is because you are from a loving family,” Mama told the young woman. “Be grateful for that—and be very careful of the gentleman whom you wed.”
“The men in my extended family have looked after the women, especially when it comes time to take a husband. I have all sorts of cousins and their husbands, as well as my own brother, who will look into any suitor who shows interest in me. They will help me in making the most important decision of my life.”
“It is quite obvious by watching Lord and Lady Merriman that they are a love match,” Mama noted. “I have also witnessed others in your family making the same kind of marriages. Is that what you are interested in seeking?”
Lady Verina said, “While I am happy for my cousins, Your Grace, I do not see myself in a love match. I am a woman with a practical nature. As long as I wed a man of good reputation, one who will devote himself to our children, I will be happy and view my marriage as a success.”
“What of his title?” Mama asked.
“I have never been one to be swayed by titles, Your Grace. After all, I have a cousin who is a duke, and Millbrooke is as down to earth as any fellow you might meet. No, I am looking for a man of good character. Character is what is most important to me.” Lady Verina smiled. “And perhaps a sense of humor.”
“Laughter is important in a marriage,” Mama agreed. “That is, in a successful one. I was not so fortunate as to have that for myself.”
Lady Verina reached and took his mother’s hand in hers. “I am sorry you suffered as you did, Your Grace. Thank you for raising a son who not only was willing to do everything it took to bring you home, but a man who is interested in removing other women from such an abominable situation.”
With her words, Matthew’s heart told him that Lady Verina Fulton was the one for him.
The doors to the drawing room flew open, and Larkin raced across to them. Matthew was not scheduled to meet with the Bow Street Runner, and so he knew there was something of grave importance by this sudden appearance.
“Have a seat, Larkin.” He saw the investigator glance to their guest. “You may speak freely. Lady Verina is privy to our work and that you are a part of it.”
“Very well, Your Grace.” Larkin turned to the duchess. “I have finally found Lady Adams, Your Grace.”
“Oh!” exclaimed Mama. “Thank you so much, Mr. Larkin.” She looked to Lady Verina.
“Lady Adams is a good friend of mine. Her husband passed a little over two years ago. I sent a letter of condolence to her in Cornwall when she wrote to me of the news, and I did not see her the following Season since she was in mourning. I wrote to her several times, but she only responded to the first letter, which was certainly not like her. When the Season began this past April, I confronted the new Lord Adams regarding her absence. He was the nephew and gained his title because Lady Adams never bore an heir.”
Mama’s face turned to stone. “He was most brusque with me, saying his aunt had no reason to attend the Season ever again. That she had moved to the dower house on his estate and wished to lead a quiet life. When I asked if my letters had been delivered to her, he shrugged.” She paused.
“I knew he was lying. From that moment on, Mr. Larkin was tasked with finding my friend.”
She turned her gaze back to the runner. “Where is she? I would like to go with you and Matthew to bring her back to Dove Hall. Even better, I will have her come to Redfield.”
A pained expression crossed the investigator’s face. “She is actually nearby, Your Grace.” He hesitated a moment. “I found her. At Throckmorton.”
A sound of distress came from Mama, an eerie keening which wounded Matthew to his very soul. She began weeping profusely, and Lady Verina wrapped her arms about his mother, trying to comfort her.
“Go and tell my coachman we leave for Throckmorton at once,” he commanded. “I will be there as soon as I can.”
“Yes, Your Grace,” Larkin said, hurrying from the room.
Mama broke away from Lady Verina, tears streaming down her face. Her gaze met his.
“I cannot go there,” she whispered. “You must bring Lady Adams back here, Matthew.” She began rubbing her wrist, and he knew exactly why she did so.
“It will take me half an hour to reach Throckmorton. I hope to retrieve Lady Adams without much fuss. I will return here with her, then I must see that Lady Verina gets back to Merrifield.”
“I am sorry I cannot go with you,” his mother said, her voice hoarse. “I can . . . never set foot in that place again.”
“I will go with you, Your Grace,” Lady Verina said, her gaze steadfast.
“No,” he said harshly. “You should not be exposed to something of this nature.”
“I will go with you,” she repeated, determination filling her face. “Lady Adams may be disoriented. Frightened. In need of a woman’s presence. I will be there to give her comfort until she is reunited with Her Grace.”
Rubbing her wrist more noticeably now, Mama said, “Let her go with you, Matthew. She is right. We do not know what state of mind you will find my friend. Having a woman with you will cause Lady Adams to trust you more.”
“Then let us go at once, my lady.”
He bent and kissed his mother’s cheek. She clung to him for a moment and then whispered, “Go.”
They left the drawing room and stopped by his study, where he kept a safe with funds used to bribe those so that the doves might be released to him.
Matthew took out a good bit of gold from it, placing it in a pouch.
Then he slipped a pistol from the safe into his pocket, wanting to be prepared.
He had vowed never to return again to Throckmorton, but he knew Mama would never rest easy until he brought Lady Adams to her.
They went outside to the waiting carriage. Larkin sat next to his coachman. Matthew handed up Lady Verina and climbed in after her. The vehicle went into motion immediately.
“Her Grace was rubbing her wrist,” noted Lady Verina. “I have never seen her do that before. Not until Throckmorton was mentioned.”
“You are observant. Mama always wears long sleeves no matter what the weather. She does so to hide the tattoo she was given at Throckmorton. They do not call women by their names. Instead, the patients are given a number and marked with that number. It is the way they are addressed, further dehumanizing them.”
Tears brimmed in her eyes. “I cannot imagine what Her Grace endured. What all these other women endure. I wish you could help them all, Your Grace.”
“I do what I can. Some administrators who run these places can be bribed. Others cannot. Mr. Larkin has worked with me ever since I left university and started these missions of mercy. He is the true hero in this endeavor, my lady. Mama and I turn over what little information we can gather from conversations with members of the ton. Larkin takes those breadcrumbs and finds the trail.”
He paused. “Well, not always, but a good deal of the time.”
They rode in silence for several minutes and then he took her hand in his, threading their fingers together.
“Thank you for wanting to come today. You are right. Although Lady Adams knows me as Mama’s son, sometimes the women in these places find their minds broken by their ill-treatment.
Oftentimes, they have been subjected to cruelty beyond measure, mostly done to them by men.
Your presence will be of great comfort to Lady Adams.”
“I am happy to help in any small way I can, Your Grace.”
She did not pull her hand from his, allowing him to continue to hold it until they reached their destination.
When the carriage came to a halt, a sick feeling washed over him.
Matthew had been in several asylums over the past few years, but returning to the one where his own mother had been imprisoned was proving difficult for him.
Glancing out the window, he saw a man at the gate. Larkin must have tossed down a coin to him because he opened the gates for them. The carriage continued on for a few more minutes before coming to a halt again.
Turning to Lady Verina, he said, “Stay here. It may take some minutes before I am able to free Lady Adams.”
He squeezed her hand and started to pull away, but she held fast to him.
“I am going with you, Your Grace.”
Though he wished to protest, he saw grim determination in her eyes.
“There are things that once you see them, my lady, you can never unsee them.”
“I understand,” she said resolutely. “Let us go.”
He exited the carriage and handed her down, going to the front door. His heart began racing, scenes from that awful day years ago flashing in his mind’s eye.
As they approached the entrance, he cautioned, “Stay close to me. I do not want anything untoward happening to you.”
With that, he pushed open the door.
And was greeted by the horrors of the past once more.