Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Here we are,” Julian said, as the carriage drew to a halt outside Ferndale Grange. There followed the distant sound of a dog barking in the house, followed by the sight of a familiar, furry face at the parlor window. “And it would appear we’ve just been officially announced.”
Annie laughed. “Aww, Ruffy. I have missed him.” Excited and apprehensive at the same time, she regarded the house, which now held new meaning for her. “Are you sure you won’t stay, Julian?”
“No, my love, not on this occasion.” Julian stepped down from the carriage and turned to assist her. “This visit is meant only for the three of you. I’ll be back for you in the morning, of course.”
Annie’s feet had barely touched the ground before Ferndale’s front door flew open and Hattie appeared, nudged aside a moment later by Janet. There could be no doubting the delight on their faces. Fighting a sudden rise of emotion, Annie hesitated, swallowing against a threat of tears.
“Come on,” Julian said, opening the garden gate for her. “They’re waiting for you. Do you have the letter?”
“I do.” Annie patted the cloth bag in her grasp and looked up at him. “I wonder if you truly know how much I love you, Mr. Northcott. You have saved me in so many ways.”
Julian’s eyes softened. “I love you too.” He kissed her cheek. “Promise me you’ll not go wandering off alone.”
“I already did.”
“I want to hear it again.”
“I promise,” she said, drawing a cross over her heart. Then she picked up her skirts, and all but ran along the path to the front door. Stifling a sob, she flung herself into a dual embrace, breathing in Janet and Hattie’s sweet, familiar scents.
“I have missed you,” she said, kissing Janet’s cheek and then Hattie’s. “I have missed you both so much.”
“We’ve missed you too, love,” Hattie said, dabbing her eyes with her apron. “Oh, but you look well. How long can you stay? Is Mr. Northcott not joining us?”
“I’d like to stay the night if I may, and no, Mr. Northcott is not joining us. Good day to you as well, Ruffy.” Annie bent to pet the little dog who’d been pawing at her skirts. “But he’ll be back here in the morn—”
“Oooh!” Janet’s squeal startled Annie and Ruffy. “He proposed, Hattie. Look at that ring. Oh, Annie, it’s beautiful.”
“What? Let me see.” Hattie grabbed Annie’s left hand, her eyes widening. “Lord above, the size of that diamond. It’s a wonder you can lift your hand. Oh, but it’s magnificent, pet. I’m so happy for you. Only one night?”
The sound of the carriage leaving drew Annie’s attention. She turned and raised a farewell hand to Julian. “Yes, only one, I’m afraid,” she replied. “We’re leaving for Highfield tomorrow. We have a wedding to arrange. And you’re invited, of course.”
*
The atmosphere at Ferndale Grange had changed.
Or perhaps it was simply that Annie finally recognized what had always been there.
Whatever the case, gone were the feelings of uncertainty and resentment, in their place an impression of comfort and love.
A sense of coming home. Annie hoped the ambience was not about to be disturbed by the mysterious contents of a letter.
Frowning, Hattie regarded the envelope Annie had just given her. “You say you found it in a storage chest?”
Annie nodded. “The one where he kept all his paperwork. It was tucked into a bundle of receipts. I have to assume he didn’t want you to read it till after his death.”
“Why would your father write a letter to me?” she muttered, still staring at the envelope.
“That is for you to find out, Hattie.” Annie, seated at the kitchen table, took a sip of her tea, and tried to hide her eagerness to discover the answer.
“Are you going to open it?” Janet asked. “If you’d rather do so in private, we can leave.”
“Goodness, no, you don’t have to do that. Let’s see what it says.” Hattie went to a drawer, pulled out a letter opener, and sliced the envelope open. “Whatever it is, I cannot imagine it would be anything bad.”
“I hope not,” Annie replied, crossing her fingers beneath the table.
Drawing breath, Hattie removed the letter and began to read, her expression going from one of puzzlement to shock, her eyes filling with tears as she sank onto a chair. “Well, I’ll be,” she murmured. “All that time and he never said a word. Not a word.”
Annie shared a questioning look with Janet.
“Is it bad?” Janet asked.
Hattie sniffed and shook her head. “He knew all along,” she said, her face crumpling as she gave the letter to Annie. “All along.”
Annie drew breath and pored over the paper.
My dear Mrs. Henshaw,
Well, it would seem I have gone to pastures new, otherwise you would not be reading this epistle of mine.
That being so, it is possible my beloved Annie is now aware of her unfortunate beginnings and how she came to be my daughter in name only.
If she is as yet unaware, I trust you will reveal the truth to her gently, for it will surely be a shock.
I confess I never found the courage to tell her myself.
The words, I fear, would have tasted too bitter on my tongue.
It is of little consequence now, of course.
Though I trust she knows it in her heart, please impress upon her that Muriel and I loved her as our own. She must never doubt it.
At this point, Mrs. Henshaw, I wonder if you have asked yourself why I am soliciting you to reveal the circumstances surrounding Annie’s birth.
After all, you should not be cognizant of them, should you?
That is, not unless you happen to be related to the child in some way. Which, of course, you are.
Yes, Harriet Caldridge, I am quite aware of your impertinent charade and always have been.
Your attempt at falsifying your references left much to be desired.
The motivation behind it, however, intrigued me, though I had my suspicions.
So, I decided to do a little digging. Much to my indignation, my suspicions turned out to be correct, and I fully intended to challenge your deception and send you on your way.
Muriel, however, changed my mind. Or perhaps I should say I acquiesced to the pleadings of the woman I loved.
When I told her of your chicanery and the reason behind it, she begged me to make a concession, the only concession my conscience would allow.
So, despite a multitude of misgivings, I employed you.
I did not, however, do so for your sake.
I did it for Muriel, whose sympathetic heart insisted my sister be allowed to maintain a connection with her illegitimate child, albeit a clandestine one.
Which was, of course, the original objective of your attempt to deceive.
My dear lady, I am compelled to concede, false references and misgivings aside, that your employment proved to be more than a reluctant concession on my part.
Your service to my household has been totally without blemish.
I am indebted to you for your kindness to Muriel during her final years, and I am thankful for the love and guidance you have shown Annie as she has grown into womanhood.
I depart this world comforted by the knowledge of your continued presence in her life.
As for Janet, though she disappointed me, I never stopped loving her. That love, in the end, was the cornerstone that determined my concession and my acceptance of you into my household.
More than this, I confess, would have taken a better man than I was able to be, may God forgive me.
I leave you with my sincere gratitude,
Clarence Fairfax
Scrubbing tears from her eyes, Annie read the words again, secretly admitting they were not quite what she’d hoped for.
But then, what she’d hoped for was of her own creation.
The letter in her hand actually epitomized the man she had known and loved as her father.
They were honest words, written from his heart, a testimony to his compassion and the steadfastness of his doctrine.
“He’s right, Hattie,” she said, passing the letter to Janet. “You have been an invaluable part of my life. Of all our lives, Mama’s included.”
“A privilege and an honor,” she replied, as Annie passed the letter to Janet.
Janet eyed the paper with obvious reluctance. “Given that you’re both in tears, I’m not sure I want to read it.”
“You must, Mama,” Annie said. “I suspect it might give you solace.”
Hattie, still sniffling, nodded. “Yes, indeed. Oh, my goodness, I did not expect that.”
Janet read quietly, her expression unchanging. Even when it seemed apparent she’d reached the end of the letter, she remained silent and continued to stare at the paper.
“Are you all right, Mama?” Annie asked.
Janet flinched as if waking from a dream.
“Yes, dear, I am. I was just thinking that my brother was under no obligation to do what he did. He could quite easily have cast us both aside. I cannot deny I’d have struggled without him.
All things considered, I’ve been fortunate, as have you, Annie.
” She laughed softly as she glanced about.
“I find myself thanking him for this day, with my child seated beside me, a royal diamond on her finger, readying herself to marry the nephew of a local earl.”
“I had a happy childhood, Mama,” Annie replied. “I truly did. I wanted for nothing.”
“I know,” she replied. “And that is all that matters.”
“I agree.” Hattie scrubbed her handkerchief over her nose and pushed her chair back. “Right, well, I’m going to put the kettle on, then I want to hear all about your wedding plans and how we fit into them.”
“They’re not quite finalized yet,” Annie replied. “The ceremony is to be a little different to what you’re imagining, I suspect.”
Janet wrinkled her nose. “So, not Westminster Abbey then.”
She chuckled. “Not quite. Actually, it’s to be a quiet ceremony in the family’s private chapel. Julian has already obtained the necessary license. His grandparents were the last to be married there, apparently.”
“Oh, I see.” Janet smiled and glanced away briefly. “Well, I’m sure it’ll be lovely.”
“I can guess what you’re thinking, Mama, but you’re wrong,” Annie said. “You and Hattie will be there, I promise. The decision to have a private ceremony has nothing to do with my birth.”
“Well, that’s good to know.” Janet pressed a hand to her chest. “Admittedly, I did wonder.”
“I’m sure it’ll be lovely, pet,” Hattie said, busy at the stove. “I have to say, without mentioning another name, you’ve had a narrow escape.”
“Odd you should say that,” Annie replied.
“You see, I have a confession to make and you’re not going to like it, though it will certainly explain our decision to have a private ceremony.
It’s about the weekend when I found out the truth of who I was.
I didn’t go looking for proof because I’d suddenly remembered something.
I went looking for proof because I had an encounter with someone atop Freya’s Farewell. ”
Janet exchanged a glance with Hattie. “What kind of encounter?”
“A rather unpleasant one,” Annie replied. “You’re right, Hattie. I’ve had a narrow escape.”
“Uh oh.” Hattie’s hand paused over the tea caddy. “I have a feeling I don’t want to hear this.”
“Probably not, but you have to,” Annie replied, and proceeded to recount her meeting with Leopold, softening the more unpleasant details of it substantially. Even so, their response was, as expected, a combination of remorse, horror, and indignation.
“Well, there’ll be no more walking out alone, young lady,” Hattie said, scowling as she set the teapot on the table. “At least not until this scoundrel is captured or, better yet, pronounced dead. Till then, he remains a threat.”
“Which is why Julian will not risk a church ceremony,” Annie said. “He fears an interruption, hence the need for privacy.”
“It makes sense, of course.” Janet cocked her head. “Are you disappointed, love?”
Annie tutted and shook her head. “Mama, I’m to be married in a private chapel located in an historic house which sits on the edge of the Yorkshire moors.
In my opinion, that exceeds the Westminster Abbey option by miles.
Truth is, I’d marry Julian Northcott in a barn if that had to be the case.
As for walking out alone, he made me promise I wouldn’t.
Twice, actually.” She smiled at the memory.
“Anyway, as you can see, I am perfectly fine, so do you think we might set all this unpleasantness aside for now and enjoy the rest of our day together?”
“Yes, of course.” Janet folded her arms atop the table and leaned forward. “So, what would you like to do? Piano? Card games? A jigsaw puzzle?”
“Actually, I wondered if I might spend some time learning more about my parents’ families,” Annie said, taking her mother’s hand. “If that’s all right with you.”
A slight flush crept into Janet’s cheeks. “Why, Annie, that’s a lovely idea.”
“Well, I’m going to do some baking,” Hattie announced. “Specifically, a batch of biscuits for my future nephew-in-law. He told me they were the best he’d ever had.”
*
Annie went to bed that night with a sense of fulfillment, as if all the loose pieces of her life had been gathered up and put into order, a puzzle complete.
Well, almost. One piece of the puzzle was missing.
Without it, she could not sit back and take joy in what lay before her.
A touch of resentment had her frowning into the dark.
Even now, wherever he was, Leopold De Witte was influencing her life.
Influencing Julian’s decisions about their lives.
Would it ever cease? The answer surely lay in Hattie’s words, which drifted back to her. At least not until this scoundrel is captured or, better yet, pronounced dead. Till then, he remains a threat.
Annie gave herself a mental shake and shifted her focus back to the pleasures of the day and her future journey to Highfield Hall.
Allowing her thoughts to wander, she closed her eyes.
When next she opened them, it was to Lancelot’s piteous clamor.
And, to her mild surprise, she realized how much she’d missed it.