Chapter Three
Both Jane and Cora stared up at the towering Harris House, a Scottish manor tucked away between the foothills of the highlands and forests, nestled on the edge of a great loch.
It was something out of a fairytale and neither Jane nor her sister could have imagined such a place.
Harris House had been built in a Gothic Revival style, with Scottish red granite; it had four turrets, large oval peaked windows, and a three-story, blackwood greenhouse built on the right side of the house.
The sun had just disappeared over the horizon, and the dozens of windows set in the red granite stone of the house glowed like warm honey. Cora took a step toward the front door, but Jane grabbed her arm.
“Don’t, Cora, not yet.”
“Why ever not?”
Jane couldn’t put it into words, but the sinking feeling she had been experiencing since leaving London had finally consumed her.
Nothing about their journey north made sense.
She had never even heard of the Harris family before last week and yet now here she was, with her sister, at their front door about to burden the entire Harris household with two more mouths to feed.
“It just… It doesn’t seem right, does it?”
“What doesn’t seem right?”
“All of this. Jeremy shouldn’t have sent us away, regardless of his feelings for Mother. We’re his sisters, after all. We’re Athertons.”
“Yes, but we always knew Jeremy wasn’t going to do right by us. Mama warned us for years.”
“Still, why should we become the burden of these people? Mama never spoke of Scotland or any family here. And then suddenly, out of nowhere, there are relatives that we never knew about, offering to take us in?” She shook her head. “It all seems rather unlikely, doesn’t it?”
“Likely or not, Jane, this is what it is. Come along. Let us finish this voyage and deal with the rest of our lives tomorrow.”
Jane gave her a half smile and released her arm. Cora knocked on the massive oak door three times before it opened to reveal a curious-looking butler. He squinted at the two.
“May I help you?”
“Er, hello. Um, we’re the Atherton sisters. Jane and Cora Atherton.”
The butler didn’t move an inch. Cora glanced at Jane who stepped forward.
“Hello. My name is Jane Atherton, and this is my sister, Cora Atherton. Some correspondence was sent to Sir Logan Harris a few weeks ago, about us visiting?”
“Visiting?” the butler repeated, suspiciously. “I was not made aware of any arrivals.”
“Really?” Jane asked, that sinking feeling growing to consume her.
“What about Miss Arabella?” Cora spoke up. “We have a note written from Miss Arabella stating that we should seek her out immediately upon arrival.”
The butler glanced over their shoulders at the waiting carriage. He nodded at it.
“Is that Mr. Milton’s coach?”
“Yes, it is,” Jane said instantly. “Mr. Milton said he was acquainted with Sir Logan.”
“Hm.” The butler glanced between the sisters. “And you said Miss Arabella wrote to you?”
“Yes.” Jane began to rummage through her carpet bag. “I believe I have it somewhere.”
“I’ve no doubt.” The butler stood back. “Please, come in.”
Jane abandoned her search for the letter, and she and Cora gathered their possessions and walked in.
The foyer was vast and startling. Dark-green walls were covered in hundreds of paintings all surrounded by gold-leaf frames.
The floors shined like a chess board and a cozy warmth engulfed them the moment they entered the house.
The furnishings were heavy and dark, but there was an air about the home that seemed to convey a sort of sturdy comfort. It was the exact opposite of Atherton Hall in almost every way.
“Lady Harris will be with you momentarily.”
“Lady Harris?” Cora repeated, her brow furrowed. “You mean, Miss Arabella?”
The butler glanced at her.
“No. I mean, the lady of the house, Sir Logan’s wife.”
“Oh,” Cora said as the man disappeared down the hallway. She turned to Jane. “I didn’t know Sir Logan was married.”
“I don’t see why he shouldn’t be.”
“Of course, it’s just, in my mind, I figured him for an older gentleman. Someone older than Mama.”
“And older men aren’t married?”
“Well, of course they are. But I don’t know, I just—”
“Hello.”
Jane and Cora whipped around to see an elegant woman dressed in a mustard-colored gown with maroon stripes.
Her dark curly hair was styled atop her head, with two braids looped behind her head.
She was smiling, with her head cocked to the side, almost as if she were waiting for them to introduce themselves.
“Oh, hello,” Jane said instantly, coming forward to curtsy. “I’m Jane Atherton. This is my sister Cora.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lady Harris.” A pause followed. “Might I inquire as to what brought you to Harris House this evening?”
Cora’s face fell as she turned to Jane.
“Oh dear… She doesn’t know.”
“Doesn’t know what?” Lady Harris asked.
Jane opened her mouth to speak when suddenly a golden-haired woman came bounding down the stairs. She had rounded cheeks, a cheerful disposition, and looked almost identical to Cora.
“You’re here!” she said, smiling widely as she reached the landing. “I can’t believe you’re really here. This is amazing.”
“Arabella,” Lady Harris said, sounding somewhat amused. “What’s going on?”
“Forgive me, Faith, but these two ladies are my guests,” she said as she reached them. She quickly curtsied. “Hello. I’m Arabella. And you must be Jane,” she said, addressing Jane. “Which would make you Cora.” She whipped around to face Lady Harris. “They’re family, Faith. From my mother’s side.”
Lady Harris, or rather, Faith’s face suddenly fell.
“Your mother’s side?” she said cautiously. “Er, Arabella, did you tell Logan about this?”
“Well, no, not exactly.”
Frowning, Faith glanced at Cora. Then back at Arabella. Then back to Cora. Her eyes widened suddenly as her mouth fell open. Something was obvious to the woman which wasn’t to the rest of them, and the sinking feeling Jane had been experiencing all day grew.
“If I may, it’s so wonderful to finally meet some of my mother’s family members. We never met anyone from her side before,” Cora said, turning to face her sister. “Jane and I hadn’t even known there was any family left until after she passed away.”
“Come,” Arabella said at once. “We shouldn’t dawdle in the foyer. Let’s go into the parlor.”
She immediately took Cora’s arm and guided her into the parlor. Jane, however, held back to speak with the lady of the house.
“You did not know we were coming,” she stated flatly to the dark-haired woman.
“I did not, but in Arabella’s defense, she rarely tells anyone what her plans are.
” She tried to smile, but there was something in this woman’s dark gaze that set Jane on edge.
It was as if she were trying to read into her soul.
“I’m sorry, it’s just a little surprising to see you.
” Jane frowned, and she shook her head. “What I mean to say is, erm, I’m surprised that your sister looks so much like our Arabella. ”
Jane had noticed that too.
“Well, I suppose we are family. Similarities are to be expected.”
Lady Harris only smiled, but her eyes remained unsure as she held out her hand to shepherd Jane into the parlor.
Crossing the waxed floors, Jane entered a wholly magnificent room.
The walls were burnt orange and were outlined with white marble archways.
Dozens of gold-leafed frames held paintings of various animals, from birds to hounds and even horses.
“It’s a bit daunting when you first see it,” Lady Harris murmured to her as she passed. “Come.”
Jane followed, taking a seat opposite Cora and Arabella, who were sitting on one of the settees that was perpendicular to the large marble fireplace.
“Evans? Tea, please,” Lady Harris said as the butler who answered the front door disappeared. She turned to Jane. “So, Miss Atherton, how did you fare on your trip from London?”
“It was pleasant enough,” Jane said, shifting in her seat. “The train was thankfully swift if not spacious.”
“We met a very courteous gentleman at the train station. A Mr. Milton, who lent us his carriage,” Cora said. “It was a terribly kind gesture on his part, but he assured us that he was familiar with your family.”
“He is,” Faith said. “Actually, he was nearly a member of the family, but alas, it never came to be.”
“Mr. Milton is also very good friends with my beau, Mr. Dalton,” Arabella gushed.
“Mr. Dalton?”
“Yes, he’s a botanist. He just left on a passage to South America.” Arabella’s happy countenance didn’t dim a bit, however. “He’s scheduled to come back in six months, but I’m quite sure he won’t be gone for so long.”
“Oh? Why not?”
A blush appeared on Arabella’s cheeks.
“Well, he’s been tasked with finding at least twelve new species of orchids to add to the Kelvingrove Park. But he’s so terribly clever and observant that I shouldn’t imagine it would take him more than a few weeks to find at least a dozen orchids.”
“I’m sure the jungles of South America aren’t so easily traversed, Arabella,” Lady Harris said gently. “Even for your Mr. Dalton.”
But Arabella waved her hand back and forth in the air, as if swatting away her fears.
“Posh. Mr. Dalton is far too clever not to be a complete success, but enough about that.” She turned to Cora. “You must tell me, what was your mother like? I’ve always been so curious.”
“You’ve always been curious?” Jane repeated. “How could you have been, if you just learned about her?”
Arabella’s cheeks paled.
“Oh, well, I didn’t. I mean, well…” Arabella stumbled over her words.
“I think what Arabella means is that it’s so nice to finally meet someone from her mother’s side of the family.” Faith gave her sister-in-law a pointed stare. “Isn’t that right, Arabella?”
“Er, yes, that’s exactly what I meant.”
But something wasn’t right. Jane could sense it.