Chapter 1 Life with the Bartons #2
He shook his head. “Rebecca and I agreed that we should use that term for you. We thought that, if others believed you to be a family member, they would be more apt to accept you and treat you with the respect you deserve.”
A wave of dizziness descended upon me, and I pressed my palm to my forehead. “I do not understand. How…um…did I come to be here?”
“Rebecca’s father was a fellow at Cambridge.
Each summer, he took a few of his most promising students home to tutor them, including your father, Mr. Bennet.
Because of the close bond he had formed with Rebecca, her brother, and her parents, Mr. Bennet named her as your godmother and indicated in his will that she and I act as your guardians. ”
“So…” For a moment, my words remained trapped in my throat. “I am no relation to Noah or Cassie either.”
He released a heavy breath. “That is correct.”
My heart raced, and I blinked at the beginnings of tears. This explained why my parents’ portrait did not hang in the family gallery. Aunt Barton once professed to have placed the painting near the nursery for my convenience. “Who else knows the truth?”
“I have confided in my friend Mr. Hayward, and Noah has known for the past two years. I have not yet told Cassie, but I shall do so soon.”
Noah already knows. Yet he had always treated me the same way—as a sister. “What am I to call you?”
“You must continue to call me ‘Uncle’ and call Noah and Cassie ‘Cousin’ as before. Nothing has changed. We may not share your blood, but we shall always consider you to be family. This is your home, and you belong with us.”
His words of assurance settled over me, and my respiration calmed.
For a time, neither of us spoke. Then a rhythmic sound broke through the silence in the room: my uncle’s boot tapped on the wooden floor.
He coughed. “There is one final matter that pertains to your uncle Gardiner. When you have asked whether you might see him, I have made excuses to put you off. But you ought to know the truth. Your uncle is a dishonest and disreputable man. He appears to have no interest in seeing you, and for that I am grateful.”
“Oh dear, I had no idea.” Faint memories came to the forefront of my mind: Uncle Gardiner spending time with me in the nursery, and my aunt Barton encouraging me to visit him. Did those things actually happen? “But I…I remember my uncle Gardiner as a kind man, and Aunt Barton spoke well of him.”
His lips rose momentarily in a faint smile.
“That is true. My dearest wife tended to see the best in others. However, in this instance she had been deceived. Your uncle Gardiner is a clever man. He can be cordial and charming when he wishes, such as when he engaged you in the nursery, yet he is neither honourable nor trustworthy.”
“That is a shame.” Besides him, I had no other living relation on my late mother’s side of the family.
Mrs. Phillips, my mother’s sister, had succumbed to the same virulent outbreak of ague that took the lives of my parents and sister.
My late father’s estate, Longbourn, had been entailed and passed to a distant cousin whom I had never met, a Mr. Collins.
“Yes, it is a lamentable circumstance. But you need not be concerned, my dear. I shall never allow Mr. Gardiner anywhere near you.”
August 1806
Knight's Manor
Elizabeth
I jerked awake in my pitch-dark room to incessant banging; someone knocked upon my door.
“Lizzy, wake up.” Noah’s familiar voice could not be mistaken, despite his lowered tone.
I sat up. “Has the foal come?”
“Yes, she arrived fifteen minutes ago. She is healthy and so is Thea.”
“Thank goodness! I shall be ready in a few minutes.” I threw off the bed-clothes and dressed in haste.
Last night, Uncle had insisted I retire rather than sit up with Noah and our head groom, Joe, in anticipation of the foaling.
The ten-year-old dam, Thea, a grey Arabian, had been my favourite mount since I outgrew my sweet Shetland pony.
I had learnt to ride eight years earlier, at the age of seven, with instruction from my uncle, Joe, and Noah.
Both Joe and my cousin had a masterful way with horses, and I strived to emulate them.
When I burst from my room, Noah, who had been pacing, whipped towards me and grinned.
“Let us go.” We ran down the stairs whilst trying not to make noise lest we wake anyone.
At almost six feet tall, my cousin towered over me.
Like Cassie, he favoured his late mother in looks, with fair skin, blond hair, a dusting of freckles across his cheeks, and deep blue eyes.
I had harboured a childish infatuation with Noah from the age of five until I grew to be nine or so and began to view him in a fraternal way.
“What does she look like?” I glanced at Noah as we darted down the front steps.
“She is a beauty, a sorrel with a blaze and four white socks. When I left, she had not yet stood.”
Joe had said that a sound foal ought to stand within two hours of birth; she still had plenty of time. We entered the stable, with its comforting scents of horses, hay, and leather. Uncle Barton looked back at us, grinning.
“Ah, there you are, Lizzy.” He stepped away from the door to Thea’s stall and swept his hand, urging me closer. “Come and see our newest horse.”
I ran the rest of the way. Thea licked the newborn’s forehead. The sorrel filly stood on trembling legs beside her dam. I beamed at Uncle and Noah in turn. “She is already on her feet!”
My uncle nodded. “Yes, she rose up moments before your arrival as though to impress you.”
The foal moved to face me, and I stared into her shiny obsidian eyes.
What a fascinating creature—so glorious and yet so…
vulnerable. At the sight of her, an idea took shape in my mind: Would Uncle allow me to train her?
Noah had already trained several colts on his own.
My chest muscles clenched. Surely my uncle intended to keep this foal!
I tipped my head to view Uncle Barton. “I hope you are not thinking of selling this one.”
“Oh no. We shall keep her.”
“Do you promise?”
A soft chuckle stirred his chest. “Yes, I promise. We can always use another fine Arabian mare.”
“Would you allow me to train her? I know I can manage it—I have observed Noah, Joe, and the other grooms with the horses. And if I need assistance, Joe or Noah will advise me.” I met my cousin’s gaze.
Noah gave me a nod before confronting his father. “Lizzy has shown good instincts with Thea, and she has been helping me with the yearlings. She would do well with the responsibility.”
My uncle rubbed his chin. “I see no reason to object.”
“Thank you, Uncle!” I bounced upon my toes.
“You are welcome. You may begin when we separate her from Thea in five months.”
I moved before the stall door and stretched up on my toes. I itched to go near the fascinating creature. “Actually, I should like to introduce myself to the filly now.”
“Now?” My uncle’s eyes widened. “What is the hurry?”
“I want her to be comfortable with me from the outset.”
“Hmm.” Uncle Barton shifted back on his heels.
Noah cleared his throat. “Although this is not our usual practice, I see no harm in her approaching them. I expect Thea may allow Lizzy, of all people, near her foal.”
“Very well.” My uncle held his palm out to me. “Now, I caution you to be careful and make slow movements. One never knows when a mare might act out to defend her young from a perceived threat.”
“I understand.” I unlatched the door and passed into the stall.
The foal had wandered five feet or so from Thea, but as I neared them, she rushed back to her mother.
“All is well, little one.” I went to Thea and stroked her neck.
“You did an admirable job, my girl. I hope you do not mind if I meet your pretty filly.” Thea’s dark eyes held me, and her ears remained slightly drooped—so far, so good.
My glimpses in the foal’s direction revealed her to be watching me with apparent curiosity.
I inched closer to her position against Thea’s flank.
“You need not fear me. We shall be great friends.” I reached out, and she sniffed the back of my hand.
My fingers brushed against her velvety nose, and my breath slowly escaped.
She allowed me to touch her! In time, I progressed to caressing her forehead and neck.
“Well done, Lizzy!”
I shot a glance at Noah. “She does not seem to fear me.”
The foal shifted towards Thea’s belly, so I stepped back to allow her more room. She stretched for Thea’s teat, latched on, and suckled. I looked back at my uncle and cousin. “She is feeding!”
“That is wonderful,” said Noah.
“Indeed, I think this is enough for the first day, Lizzy.” My uncle gestured for me to return. “Let us leave them in peace.”
“Very well.” I gave Thea a final pat before I left the stall.
Uncle Barton sent me a sideways glance. “Our newest horse needs a name. Do you have a suggestion?”
Would he allow me to choose? Despite having had no expectation of being given this honour, I had nevertheless written down various possible names in my journal over the past few weeks; one of them seemed well suited to this foal. “What do you think of Lily?”
Noah met my gaze. “Lily is a fitting name.”
“I agree.” My uncle rested a hand on my shoulder. “Lily, it is.”
June 1808
Knight's Manor
Elizabeth
When I withdrew from the kitchen, the pockets of my pelisse bulged with pieces of carrot for Lily. Now a two-year-old, she had grown into a beautiful and singular filly. Her evident intelligence and trust in me allowed us to forge a powerful bond.
As I neared the door to my uncle’s study, the sound of raised, peevish voices prompted me to halt.
Noah argued with Uncle Barton. What could have made my cousin so angry?
Despite the temptation to remain and eavesdrop, I pushed myself forwards and settled upon a chair in the hall with a view of the study entrance.