Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
RUE
Ihad forgotten myself in the instant I caused Theo pain, and hoped my aunt and grandmother hadn’t noticed.
If they had seen me use my powers against anyone so blatantly, let alone the Witchfinder’s assistant, they would have been furious, and rightly so.
The compulsion to hurt him had overwhelmed me and I had reacted before I had time to think.
Anyway, I reasoned, I was only paying him back for what he had done to me.
What was it about Theo that tormented me so much?
On the one hand, I wished I could repeat the kiss between us that I constantly struggled to banish from my thoughts.
On the other, I wasn’t even sure my hatred of him didn’t surpass what I felt for his father.
It didn’t make sense, but it was true. Theo Le Cerf, for all his good looks and melodic voice, was the man I despised most in this world.
I glanced at my grandmother and was relieved that she was still glaring at my father so would not have noticed my lack of self-control.
She hadn’t seen how I had played into Theo’s hands by causing him physical pain, giving him exactly the evidence he needed, nor could she know how delighted his father would be to have this information added to his arsenal of weapons against me.
I looked in Theo’s direction again. He was still watching me and I tried to find shock or satisfaction in his eyes to show that he suspected me of being the one to cause his pain.
I didn’t see anything to concern me and hoped he wasn’t just hiding his reaction to this new information about me.
‘I related my regret to Theo,’ my father said, still explaining his whereabouts and reasons behind his decision to become estranged from us.
Tension emanated from my aunt and grandmother, and more than likely from me too, as we sat and listened to his lengthy explanation.
He stopped talking for a moment. I saw him look around the room – at the peeling paint and the bare walls where once landscapes had hung – and frown.
My grandmother stiffened and I realised she had noticed his look of disdain. ‘Don’t you dare act as if you didn’t play some part in the dilapidation of this house.’
Blood rushed to his cheeks. ‘I don’t mean to, Ophelia, but I can’t help wondering what became of all the money I sent to you for the house and Rue’s care over the years?’
Surprised at the question, I turned to my grandmother. ‘What money? We didn’t receive any, did we?’ I said backing her.
She tilted her head to one side thoughtfully.
‘What is it, Grandmama?’ Had I not known about my father’s help?
She smiled at me. ‘You were young and this wouldn’t have been something your aunt or I discussed with you.’
She had a point.
Grandmama turned to my father. ‘We did receive monthly stipends from someone called Stephenson, but only for the first three years. After that, it stopped and we’ve had to do our best to grow whatever produce we can to eat and sell, likewise with our salves, tinctures and herbs to keep body and soul together for ourselves and what’s left of our servants, whom we regard more as friends than employees. ’
‘I daren’t send you anything in my name, hence no letters or contact.
’ He looked at Theo briefly before addressing us again.
‘Witchfinders have been known to persecute entire families, and I was informed that he didn’t believe I could be ignorant of the practices Martha was accused of.
’ He shrugged. ‘I therefore arranged for my lawyer, a trustworthy but elderly man called Stephenson, to make payment to you in his name.’
My grandmother’s expression towards my father softened. She nodded. ‘Which he did for that time only.’
I was stunned to learn not only that my father had given us a thought, but that he cared enough to make provision for us. It was a revelation and one that warmed my heart. I would need to reconsider my opinion of him.
I noticed him frown, he seemed confused. ‘You might need to speak to your lawyer about this,’ I suggested.
He groaned. ‘I would but Stephenson died seven years ago, which was when his nephew took over the firm. Stephenson always insisted my instructions would continue after his death, but it seems his nephew wasn’t the man I took him to be.
’ His look hardened. ‘It appears I have more than one fight on my hands.’
Shocked as the three of us were to see him alive and back here in the house, and anxious to learn what had happened to him in the past decade, we had recovered enough to remember the coven members still hiding in our attic. I needed to bring this reconciliation to an end somehow.
I chewed my lower lip. We couldn’t leave them there much longer.
Most of them had families and should probably have been elsewhere by now.
One thing I did recall about my father was that he could speak at length when talking about himself.
I needed to get the women out of the house before Theo discovered them up there.
He might not have reason to go upstairs, but I knew, whatever he professed about wanting to help me, he was still loyal to his father.
I couldn’t take the chance of my father inviting him upstairs for some reason.
What could I do? It was a pleasant shock to discover that my father had done his best to care for us behind the scenes. I reasoned that my mother, as good-hearted as she was, would have chosen a kindly husband. My anger towards him had been misplaced.
My grandmother studied her hands for a little while.
‘It seems that your father has suffered far more than any of us assumed.’ She looked at him.
‘I believe it’s only right that we give him a second chance and, maybe after we’ve all had time to reconnect, we can think about how we might change things for the future. ’
Did my grandmother mean to invite him to return to what was, after all, his home?
I hadn’t expected her to be willing to give my father a chance after all this time but found that I wasn’t opposed to her idea.
‘What do you say, Aunt Sorrel?’ I asked, eager to hear her answer.
My aunt smiled at me and then at my grandmother. ‘I believe it’s what Martha would have wanted.’
A wave of emotion rushed through me making me want to cry. The highs, lows and fears of the day had been exhausting. I rose to my feet, needing space to gather my thoughts.
Theo was the first to notice. He stood. ‘Mistress, are you unwell?’
The concern on his handsome face would have been touching if he had been anyone else. For a moment I revelled in his anxiety.
‘Rue?’ my aunt asked, reaching out and taking my hand.
I gave her a reassuring smile. ‘We haven’t yet offered any refreshment,’ I said, turning my back to Theo and my father and raising my eyes to the ceiling twice. I touched the base of my throat lightly. ‘I thought I would fetch some. I certainly need a cool drink after such a surprise.’
She didn’t show any reaction, but I knew she understood my meaning. She looked at my grandmother. ‘Mama?’
My grandmother seemed to sense I needed a reason to leave the room and changed her mind. ‘Maybe a camomile tea to soothe my nerves.’
Glad they had both deciphered my intention, I turned back to the men. ‘Would either of you care for something? Water, perhaps? We do not have much of a choice here anymore.’
‘Water would be most welcome,’ my father said gratefully.
I looked at Theo for his response. ‘That would be most gracious of you.’
I wanted to say that he did not deserve our hospitality after causing us all such upset. ‘I shall fetch the drinks now.’
I left the room as gracefully as I knew how, walking along the tiled hallway at my usual speed since I didn’t want the men to hear me run.
Once in the kitchen, I quickly placed a pan of water to heat on the range.
Then, concerned in case Theo thought I might be doing something suspicious, I looked out of the back door for Pierre, willing him to be somewhere near so I could ask him to go up and help the women leave the house discreetly by the back door. But he was nowhere to be seen.
Frustrated at my bad timing, I tore up the backstairs to the attic.
I opened the door slowly, not wishing to frighten the women by bursting into the room.
I raised a finger to my lips and took a breath to tell them to follow me – and was shocked to find no one there. How had they left without me knowing?
‘Rue?’ someone whispered behind me.
‘Iris? Is that you?’
She stepped out from behind a large chair and sighed with relief. ‘It’s Rue, everyone,’ she said quietly.
I stood open-mouthed as the rest of the women slowly revealed their whereabouts in the dusty, untidy room. ‘I’m so sorry you’ve been kept up here for so long.’
‘Was that Lord Thistlebury’s voice I heard with the Witchfinder’s son?’ Loveday Le Tissier asked suspiciously.
I had no reason to lie. ‘It was. They’re still here, I’m afraid. I’ve come to lead you out of the house because I suspect they will not be leaving for some time yet.’ I frowned. ‘My father has a lot of explaining to do and I believe we haven’t heard much of it yet.’
Appoline groaned. ‘I remember only too well how your father could talk when he came to the village and spoke to people on feast days.’ She gave me a sympathetic smile. ‘I am glad for you that he has returned and you will have some answers after all this time.’
‘I’m sure we all are,’ Clarice said. ‘But we do have families who will be wondering where we are.’
At the reminder I nodded. ‘You do.’
We stilled as one of the floorboards creaked. I raised a finger to my lips and retraced my steps into the hall, gasping to come face to face with someone.
‘It’s only me,’ Jem said keeping his voice low. ‘My father spotted you looking out into the yard and suspected you might need help. He sent me up here.’
I breathed a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you.’
I went back inside to the women. ‘You all know Jem.’ There was a mumble of agreement. ‘He’s here to ensure you leave without being discovered.’