Chapter 7 #2
“Yes,” she lied, for she refused to give it a thought. Lizzie inhaled. “The scandal is nothing compared to such a precious child’s life and future.” How could she risk being forced to abandon Tyrell’s child? She would gladly bear any scandal for the sake of Ned.
“You are a wonderful mother. I have seen it with my own eyes. I suppose you are right. We cannot risk losing Ned.”
Lizzie smiled, in relief. “Mama might have an apoplexy, Aunt Eleanor, when I arrive with my child in my arms. Papa will be so disappointed, I think.”
“There will be no easy way to break the news, but it is time,” Eleanor said.
Lizzie knew that she was right. Eleanor had been overly generous in allowing her to stay for so long in her home.
It wasn’t fair to keep her secluded in the country this way.
She had every right to a rich and social life.
It was Lizzie who had decided to forgo all social intercourse for the sake of her child, but Eleanor was paying the same price.
“Elizabeth? Is that the real reason you do not wish to go home?”
Lizzie jerked.
Eleanor’s tone was terribly kind. “Anna told me of your interest in Tyrell de Warenne.”
Lizzie gasped. “Anna told you? Oh, how could she do such a thing?” She was mortified.
“There is nothing wrong with a young woman in love with a handsome older nobleman. Every girl dreams of a Prince Charming. But how ironic it is, that you have loved him from afar for most of your life and that you are now raising his child.”
“I have one favor to ask you,” Lizzie said boldly, facing her aunt. “When you have already done so much. I have no right to ask anything more of you.’
Eleanor smiled. “You can always ask another boon, my dear.”
“Would you consider coming to Raven Hall with me? I am so frightened, Aunt Eleanor. I am afraid of telling Mama and Papa.” She hesitated. “And you are right. I am afraid I will see Tyrell de Warenne one day, and that he will somehow know the truth.”
Ten days later, Lizzie stared out of the window of Eleanor’s handsome black-and-gold coach, gazing at the lush, rolling hills of County Limerick, her heart pounding wildly.
They had passed the outskirts of town a half an hour ago and were just a mile from Raven Hall.
Eleanor was beside her, Ned in the rear-facing seat with his nursemaid, Rosie.
Ned was soundly asleep, lulled by the rocking motion of the coach.
The countryside was painfully familiar, and Lizzie remarked every farm, every stone wall, every blooming rosebush.
She had refused to miss her home this past year; now she was acutely aware of being terribly homesick.
There was joy in returning; there was dread.
Eleanor took her hand. “We will be driving through the front gates in another minute or two, my girl. You are as white as a sheet. Chin up. There will be chaos, of course, but they will love Neddie. It is impossible not to.”
Lizzie somehow nodded, closing her eyes and trying to breathe as deeply as possible. She was assaulted by the smells of the morning rain, the fresh grass, lilac and hyacinth. Mama was going to be in hysterics, she thought miserably.
Lizzie reminded herself that she was not a child anymore. She had left home at sixteen, so naive and still more girl than woman; in May she had turned eighteen. She was a woman now, a woman and a mother…
“There they are!” Eleanor cried. “All turned out to greet you.”
Lizzie opened her eyes and saw Mama, Papa and Georgie standing in front of the house, smiling.
Mama began to wave as their coach approached, clearly in a state of excitement.
Georgie waved, too, beaming. Papa leaned on his cane—clearly, his arthritis was bothering him—but he, too, could not keep from smiling.
“I have missed them,” Lizzie whispered, suddenly forgetting the news she was bearing. Briefly there was nothing but anticipation and she leaned forward, smiling and waving back.
Eleanor spoke to Rosie. “Wait just a moment before you wake Ned and come down from the coach,” she instructed.
Rosie was a plump, freckled young woman just a few years older than Lizzie. She nodded. “Yes, mum.”
The coach had stopped. Lizzie did not wait for the footman to open the doors. She pushed them open, stumbling as she stepped down and her family rushed to her. “Mama! Papa! Georgie!” she cried, engulfed by them all.
Mama pulled her close first, embracing her for a long moment. “Lizzie! How could you stay away so long? Oh! Look at you! You are all grown up. Did you cut your hair? Have you lost weight? What a fine gown that is!” Mama was crying as she spoke.
“I did cut my hair and Aunt Eleanor was kind enough to buy me some gowns,” Lizzie said. “I missed you, Mama.”
“We have all missed you! And you did not even come home for Anna’s wedding!” Mama reproved, tears sparkling in her eyes.
Before Lizzie could answer, Papa had her in a bear hug. “How pretty you are!” he exclaimed. “But where is my chubby little girl?”
Lizzie couldn’t explain that running after a toddler was simply exhausting. “I’m still plump, Papa.”
“You must have lost a stone!” Papa explained, cupping her cheek. “Welcome home, child.”
Lizzie smiled at him. Then she turned to Georgie.
Georgie was crying, and swatting at her tears. She looked the same—tall and handsome, her dark blond hair falling in waves past her shoulders. They went into each other’s arms and clung.
Georgie said roughly, “I see life in Wicklow has agreed with you!”
“And you haven’t changed at all,” Lizzie returned. “You are still the tallest woman I know!” she teased.
They smiled. “You’ve been away too long, Lizzie. I was beginning to think you would never come home.”
Lizzie didn’t know what to say. “It’s so good to be back. You’re right—I have been away for too long.”
Georgie smiled and then glanced past Lizzie at Eleanor. “She hardly looks ill,” she remarked, her gaze narrowing with some suspicion.
Lizzie tensed, recalling the crisis about to be unleashed when she introduced Ned as her son.
Mama had overheard, as she was listening to their every word.
“Hello, Eleanor. My, you must have made a remarkable recovery, as you are as handsome as ever! Or have you become so fond of my Lizzie that you decided you could not do without her?” Mama was displeased and hardly disguising it. Her tone was acid.
“I have become very fond of your youngest daughter, Lydia,” Eleanor returned evenly. “And I have had a remarkable recovery. Hello, Gerald.”
“Eleanor, we are so pleased you decided to come home with Lizzie,” Gerald said, meaning it.
She would tell them now, Lizzie thought miserably. But if Mama swooned she would have to be carried inside.
“What is it? What’s wrong?” Georgie asked quickly in a low tone.
Instead of answering, Lizzie looked at Eleanor, who smiled encouragingly at her. “I have news.” She could barely get the words out. “Let’s go sit in the parlor.”
Eleanor reached for her and squeezed her hand.
Both Mama and Georgie saw the gesture. “What kind of news?” Mama asked in surprise.
“Good news,” Lizzie said as brightly as possible.
“Did you meet a man?” Mama cried out. “Are you engaged? Oh, please, tell me that is why you have been gone for so long!”
Lizzie said, “I think we should go inside and sit down.”
Eleanor took Mama’s arm, guiding her to the house. “Come, we will all go into the parlor for a sherry.”
Mama glanced at Lizzie as she was led inside, the family following. “What is going on? If it isn’t an engagement, what news could you possibly have?”
Lizzie stood by the door as Eleanor led Mama to the sofa. Georgie took a chair, while Papa stood before the hearth, leaning on his cane. Lizzie felt light-headed and faint. She wondered if she should bring Ned in first or declare his existence instead. Everyone was staring at her expectantly.
There was, she decided, simply no way to avoid the shock. She stepped back into the front hall and signaled Rosie to alight from the carriage and come inside. Then she returned to the parlor.
Lizzie tried to smile and failed. “There is a reason I went to Dublin in the first place, the very same reason I stayed away for well over a year,” she said hoarsely. She was trembling so badly that she moved to the side of the pianoforte so she could lean on it.
Mama seemed bewildered. Papa said mildly, “We know why you went to Dublin. Aunt Eleanor summoned you so that you could take care of her.”
Lizzie glanced briefly at Eleanor. The encouragement remained in her aunt’s eyes. She avoided meeting anyone else’s gaze now. “No. There was no summons. I forged that letter. Eleanor was not expecting me or Anna.”
Mama gasped.
Lizzie had to look at her mother. She was as pale as a corpse. Georgie was wide-eyed with disbelief. “What are you trying to tell us, Lizzie?” Georgie asked harshly. Lizzie knew her sister was already feeling betrayed. Papa was the only one who was not disturbed, as he trusted her so completely.
“I am sure Lizzie had a good reason for doing as she did,” he said.
Mama cried, “Why would you make up such a summons? Are you saying Eleanor was never ill?”
Lizzie heard Rosie entering the house. “Aunt Eleanor has enjoyed nothing but good health. I, however, had to leave the county. Mama, Papa, I am sorry.” She wet her lips. “I left because I didn’t know what else to do.”
“You are not making sense,” Georgie said, her attention riveted on Lizzie’s face.
Lizzie turned to face the front hall. Rosie stood there, Ned in her arms. He was yawning sleepily. Lizzie took him from her and returned to the room.
A shocked silence fell.
“This is Ned,” Lizzie said in a whisper. “My beautiful son.”
Mama turned white, her eyes popping. Papa and Georgie wore almost identical expressions of shock. Her entire family was speechless, it seemed.