5. Aunt Adelaide
AUNT ADELAIDE
“ Y our aunt is here to call on you, madam.”
I’d been curled up by the fire reading a book, tired of the relentless rain and desperate for just one day of sunshine. I looked up at Mary and sighed.
“Lady Brimworth?” I asked, and Mary nodded. “I thought one wasn’t supposed to call on a widow.” I closed my book and shrugged out of the shawl I’d wrapped around me. “My family does have such wonderful timing.”
“I apologise, madam, I thought you would want to see your aunt.” Mary’s pretty round face dropped. “On account of her being like a mother to you. In times like these, one must find comfort in the ones that love us.”
I reached out and gave Mary’s hand a squeeze. “You are right, and I am being a misery. All this rain and being stuck indoors is driving me rather mad. Where is she?”
“In the parlour, madam.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a warm smile. “Would you have some tea brought in? On a day like today I think we shall both need some warming up. ”
She bobbed a quick curtsey. “Of course.”
I steeled myself for the onslaught of my aunt’s affections.
She was a kind enough woman, a little loud perhaps, but always free in expressing her adoration for her children, amongst whom she counted me.
My own mother having died days after giving birth to me, my aunt was the only mother I had in memory.
And in place of my father’s gruff, almost dismissive demeanour, having a woman like my aunt around me was a boon indeed.
But one I could have done without at this moment.
The reading of the last will and testament of my deceased husband was only days away, and I had begun making inquiries about houses nearer my father. It was all so close I could practically taste it.
My aunt was waiting by the window in the parlour, a frilly purse clutched in her hands. I was surprised to see her observing mourning, dressed in a sombre black dress with long black sleeves. A small amount of colour was retained in the shawl about her shoulders, which was a deep crimson red.
As soon as her eyes landed on me, she rushed across the room to take me in her arms.
“Oh my dear, my poor child!” She hugged me close, then urged me to come sit by her on the chaise. “I came as soon as I returned from Derby. I am so sorry I was not here for the funeral. Was it very awful?”
“No, Aunt Adelaide, it was… I mean, certainly, it was a sad day. But it was also… such a wonderful celebration of Acton’s life.” The lie felt heavy and bitter in my mouth. “So many people loved him, and it was so very honouring to see him laid to rest by them all.”
“It is so distressing to see you so.” She lifted my hands as though to better observe the simple black dress I was wearing. “ Such a young woman, already in a widow’s garb. A cruel sight indeed. To have him taken from you after merely three years, how is it to be borne?”
“I… I was blessed to have the years I had with him.” I held her hand tightly, wishing so much to be able to tell someone, anyone, just what I had suffered, and how relieved I was that he was gone. But she would not understand. “And I know you all adored him.”
“Of course, my dear. He was the most devoted husband. I still remember when he came to ask for your hand.” She laughed lightly, and quickly dashed away a tear with her handkerchief.
“Like a lovestruck youth. Wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Your father knew he could not refuse such a declaration of love. ”
I swallowed down the venom that threatened to unfurl on my tongue.
I did not even want to think of that day.
Or the days before that, when my father informed me that a gentleman caller wished to see me.
When I had donned my blue dress and had my hair done especially, only to come down the stairs and be met with a man leaning on a cane, with thinning grey hair, and liver spots all over his chin.
I shuddered, and Aunt Adelaide laid her arm around my shoulders.
“I am sorry, my dear, I did not mean to upset you.”
I shook my head, my gaze fixed on my hands in my lap. “You haven’t, truly. I am just tired. It has been a hard week.”
“What will you do now? Where will you go?”
“I had started making inquiries for houses, nearer to Father.” I gave her a weak smile. “I wish to be closer to him, as he no doubt needs me. And I have no desire to stay here when it is Azriel’s family home. It is only right he remain here.”
My aunt’s face dropped instantly at the mention of that name. “Ah, I had heard he had a fortuitous return home. Just in time to bury his father. I suppose it’s the least that cad could do.”
“Aunt Adelaide!” I exclaimed, caught between amusement and surprise. “The poor man has just lost his father, and you speak of him so?”
Aunt Adelaide sniffed and huffed out a little breath before meeting my eyes with an apologetic glance. “I am sorry, that was un-Christian of me.” She leaned a little closer, and her voice dropped low. “But we all know he hated his father, and his father hated him.”
“And yet he is Acton’s heir, and I intend to leave this house to be closer to all of you.” I clutched her hand in mine. “Now, tell me, how is my new niece?”
Adelaide’s face instantly lit up. “Oh, she is a sweet baby, so much like her mother. Little red curls, can you imagine?”
“She sounds delightful. I look forward to seeing her when I return home.”
Adelaide shook her head and gave me a sad smile. “I have always admired your demeanour. You are so… in control of yourself. Even now, in mourning, you are the picture of calm.”
My chest tightened at her words, and I released her hand lest she feel the sweat that erupted on my palm.
I had thought to be playing the role of the grieving widow, and yet all anyone said to me was that I was too calm, too controlled.
I was handling Acton’s death rather too well, and panic clawed at my ribcage as I considered what would happen if anyone began to suspect.
I gave myself a mental shake. My guilt was causing my mind to play tricks on me, seeing discovery around every corner, a dark ghost festering in the howling crevices of this house.
Acton’s ghost, whimpering and whining as he climbed up from Hell, determined to trick me into revealing my crime, and send me to the gallows.
He would not take me with him.
I took a deep breath, and leaned back on the chaise. “Father always said the most attractive trait in a woman was the ability to keep quiet.”
Adelaide laughed out loud and waved a hand through the air. “Oh, your father and his ways. I’ve no idea where he learned them from, our father was nothing like that, and you’d think growing up with four sisters would have swayed him somehow.”
“Well, as his only child, and daughter, I can assure you he was not swayed by that influence.” My tone was more bitter and rueful than I intended it to be, but there was no denying it to myself.
Not anymore. More than three years ago, my father’s decision to place me in this marriage had set into motion the events that had led to Acton’s death.
He couldn’t have known. I did not know myself then what I was capable of.
How much we are able to learn about ourselves under duress.
Aunt Adelaide’s brows were pinched together, her lips pursed and pale, but before she could speak, reprimand me for my unbecoming tone, the door opened, and Mary appeared with a tray of tea.
And hot on her heels - who else, but Azriel. He was dressed in a fine suit, a heavy coat on his shoulders and his top hat in his hands. He smiled widely, a sickening flash of bright white teeth, and ran a hand through his unruly dark hair.
“Aunt Adelaide, I’d heard you’d arrived.” He advanced on us, and Adelaide rose to her feet, her face pulled into a taut smile. “What a pleasure to see you again.”
“Azriel, it has been so long.” She demurely pressed her cheeks to both of his in turn, looking as though the action might cause her physical pain, her lips pulled into such a tight line they had all but disappeared. “My sincerest condolences on the loss of your father.”
“Thank you. I know he thought highly of you.” His gaze swept to me on the chaise. “Evie, I trust your bath did you good?”
Adelaide made a tiny suppressed squeaking noise, and Mary’s hands shook slightly as she served the tea, causing the pot to rattle for a moment.
I held Azriel’s gaze and nodded. “It did, thank you.”
“My father used to complain about your bathing habits.” He gave me that damned cocky grin. “Said it wasn’t healthy to be so clean.”
“Yes, he often complained to me, too. But he did also appreciate a pleasant-smelling wife, so I suppose we shall never know how much it truly bothered him.” I was sure the smile on my face was anything but friendly, but Azriel’s face just beamed even brighter at my insolence.
He leaned on the chaise with one hand, his nose drifting closer to me, and I had to stop myself from physically recoiling at his proximity.
“Well, it is true,” he purred. “You do smell wonderful.”
Mary quickly straightened and cleared her throat. “I beg your pardon, Mr Caine, shall I fetch you a service too, so you may take tea with the ladies?”
“No, thank you, Mary.” Azriel waved a hand, and gave me another smile.
“I have business to attend to in town.” He turned to Adelaide and took her hand, raising it to his lips quickly.
“It was a pleasure to see you, Aunt Adelaide. I do hope we shall see each other again soon.” He strode to the door then looked over his shoulder back at me.
“I shall not be here for dinner, stepmother.”
“Very well.”
He disappeared through the door, and Adelaide clicked her tongue loudly .
“Upstart,” she spat out.
“Aunt Adelaide, he may still hear you!” I chided her, and she rolled her eyes.
Mary bit her lips together as though suppressing a laugh, and inhaled deeply through her nose. “Do you require anything else, madam? Mrs Hollings has just prepared a fresh cake.”
“Oooh, a cake?” Adelaide was suddenly very interested. “What kind of cake?”
“A Victoria Sandwich, I believe.”
“Excellent.” Adelaide patted my hand gleefully. “Let us take cake together, and you can tell me all about the houses you’ve found.”
“Certainly.” I gave Mary a nod, who bobbed into a curtsey and left the room.
“I’m sorry, my dear.” Adelaide lifted her saucer from the table and stirred a spoonful of sugar into her tea. “I know I should not be rude, especially given the circumstances, but… Oh, that man makes me wild with anger.”
“He is just a man, Aunt Adelaide, calm yourself.”
“He is a man with a reputation as foul as the women he beds,” she hissed, and I could not help the way my jaw dropped.
“And what do you know of such things?” I asked, sounding far too curious.
Aunt Adelaide huffed out an indignant breath through her nose, drawing her spoon along the edge of her cup and placed it back on her saucer.
“People talk, Evangeline, and they have talked about Azriel Caine for a very long time. Indeed, it was why…” She trailed off, taking a hurried sip of her too-hot tea, choking a little as it burned her throat.
“Why what?” I pressed as she spluttered softly.
She cleared her throat, fixing me with an earnest gaze. “Why I came to see you, to ensure that you are safe in this house with him. Lord only knows what he is up to here, and you, all alone with him?”
“He is my stepson,” I said, stirring sugar into my own tea and forcing a smile. “You have nothing to fear, I assure you. Soon, I will be miles away from Long, and none of you will ever have to see Azriel Caine again.”