Chapter 31 #2
She was standing now, prepared to fight or flee – whichever she had to do.
‘I need to know the reason why. Is it purely because of my mother’s…
’ She took a breath. ‘Pedigree?’ She was the granddaughter of a slave.
Yet far from being the only one with a place in society.
Money talked no matter one’s pedigree. Nathaniel Wells, Lord Lieutenant of Monmouthshire, was evidence of that.
Plus he’d married the daughter of the deacon of St Paul’s.
‘Why do they hate me so much? Do they regard my blood as tainted.’
The words tasted bitter on her tongue.
There was an air of resignation when he closed his eyes and folded his hands on his lap.
‘Money.’
She sank back down into the chair only lately vacated and waited for him to continue.
‘I knew the moment would come when you could cope with knowing. I could see it in your face back up there in my house on the riverbank. The past was beginning to break through. It just needed a catalyst.’ His eyes flashed open. ‘Do you mind telling me what it was?’
She went on to tell him about the Shawnee, the burning of the village, the smell of the smoke and the sight of the flames lighting up the night sky.
‘Their houses were burned and some of the people were killed, but with a bullet or an axe. None of them were turned upside down and tortured.’
‘You were in the wrong place at the wrong time and surrounded by enemies.’
‘My family? My brothers and sisters?’
He stared at his hands as he told the tale. ‘As you know, your mother was Edward’s second wife. His other children are by his first wife.’
Lochranza nodded her head and stated what she thought was the truth.
‘No. They are your cousins.’
Lochranza frowned. Way back, when Lord Alexander had advised marriage to a man who would protect her, she’d wondered what from. The promise of adventure, away from a dull social life, had been attractive. So much so, that she’d failed to push for more information, to ask for other reasons.
‘My cousins.’ Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Downcast eyes signalled the captain’s reluctance until banished by resignation.
‘Your mother used to love to paint. She was already betrothed to Sir Edward when she visited the village of Lochranza accompanied by a chaperone who, rumour had it, was too fond of the whisky to be much good to anyone.’ His smile was a little sad.
‘Lochranza. The place they loved when they loved each other. Sir Edward’s older brother Alexander and your mother, that is.
Neither Sir Edward nor her family knew she’d struck up a liaison with Alexander, the man you’ve thought of as your uncle. ’
She inhaled deeply, the discomfort only just about bearable as the truth dawned.
The captain carried on.
‘Lord Alexander had arranged to meet her there. Neither could resist the other. No matter about her being engaged to Edward, she’d fallen in love with Alexander and in turn Alexander had fallen for her.
It was love at first sight, a sublime condition that few are favoured with.
The chaperone was drunk and…’ He looked down at his hands, one finger of one hand prodding at each finger of the opposing hand in turn.
‘Well. Not much painting got done. They loved where they were, which in turn brought you and your name into the world.’
‘My name! Lochranza?’
‘Edward found out. For the sake of propriety, they married before you were born. Edward Kildare was a devoted Christian. Your mother confessed on her deathbed that you were not his child but that of his brother. Much as he’d loved your mother, Edward could not stand to have you under the same roof.
The wound was too much to bear. So he placed you with the nurse, who took care of you.
He found it hard to even look at you. The rumour was put about that your mother had died giving birth and that you had died with her.
That seemed to suffice. The truth was that she had died but you had not. ’
Breathing became harder, her words strangled. ‘My father… correction… my uncle, Sir Edward Kildare died…’
‘Your siblings – pardon – your cousins, could not forgive him. You were a stain on the family name. There was also the matter of Cleveland Court and your uncle’s – your father’s – wealth.
They would inherit some on Lord Alexander’s death, but he’d made provision that you would inherit the lion’s share.
He felt he owed it to your mother’s memory. ’
Taking it all in was like digesting too big a meal.
There was so much to consider, so many twists and turns to the story.
As for her father, her real father… she looked deep within herself to see if she could feel any affection for the man who had always been so distant.
And now to find out that she was his daughter…
‘How does Molly fit into this? Why was she tortured and killed? The house burned down?’
He sighed. ‘She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
Lochranza looked down at the prayer book, the coordinates of ships. ‘Was Molly a spy?’
‘Of sorts. She collected information about ships coming in and out of Jamaica.’
‘Wasn’t it dangerous placing me with someone who did that?’
He paused. She sensed there was something very important he was not saying. She also guessed he had not expected her to know this.
‘What is it? What else aren’t you telling me?’