by Jerri Hines
“I only want to go to a place where I’m loved,” Cathryn said and broke down. All the frustration and sense of loss again overwhelmed her. She cried.
Martha Pennington took her in her arms and held her gently. She patted her back and talked to her smoothly. “Now, now. It hasn’t been easy; I know much that has happened, but all will get better, once you hold the small one in your arms. You will see.”
“I have to go, Mrs. Pennington. You don’t understand. His Grace…he threw me out of his home…he took all that I had of Philip…everything.” Cathryn choked out the words. “He took my wedding ring…the only thing I cherished. He took my drawings of Philip. I’m left with nothing.”
“Well, now. I won’t let His Grace push me around, my dear. I want you to come home with me. You will find peace along the ocean shore if ever you can find peace again. We live high above the cliffs. A lovely spot.”
“I couldn’t impose upon you,” Cathryn said in a voice barely above a whisper.
“Impose? How could you think such after what Philip did for us? Not that Jake was happy, I know, but he will get over it, eventually.”
“Philip did what?”
“He didn’t tell you. Of course, why would he have? When I lost my brother, Franklin, last September, the estate was in such chaos. We were about to lose everything. Franklin wasn’t much of a manager. Jake was out of his mind. He knew well he could be deployed at any time and if we lost the estate, we had nowhere else to go. Besides, poor Julia, she has never known another place. It would have been hard on her. She knows the estate so well that even with her blindness at times one would never know,” Mrs. Pennington rambled on.
“What exactly did Philip do?”
“Well, he paid off all we owed and more. He sent a Mr. Hamilton down in December. He set up an account and had Mr. Hamilton hire a manager for the estate,” Mrs. Pennington answered. “Of course, Jake was livid. I can’t…”
Cathryn nodded. “I understand. Now I understand,” she uttered as her voice trailed off. Her mind raced back to the conversation with Jake…it was what he made reference. She looked back up to Mrs. Pennington. She didn’t have time to contemplate the past. She had too much within the present to worry about. She responded absentmindedly, “I’m happy that Philip could help.”
“Of course, I accepted only as a loan,” she said. “Jake, well, you understand. He has had much on his young shoulders. Always has. He’s a proud man, but, my dear, it is you that I’m concerned with at the moment. You understand now it wouldn’t be an imposition. Come, let’s get your things readied.”
“I appreciate your kind offer, but I need time to think about it…everything, Mrs. Pennington. I’m not convinced that you can protect me from the Duke. I know that Jake is going to be deployed shortly.”
“My dear,” she pleaded. “In all honesty, we don’t have time to evaluate the situation.”
“And why is that?”
“Because let us say that the Duke of Eversleigh has found out about your condition…and let’s say that he’s not going to let you take his grandchild out of the country!”
Startled, Cathryn looked up. The Duke of Eversleigh stood in the doorway.
Cathryn’s eyes hardened upon his appearance. Tacy stood frozen in her spot, as Mrs. Pennington launched around the bed in a protective manner. “Where is Jake? And how did you get here before him?”
“I ran into Cathryn’s cousin. He thought she had already departed. Jake is checking out another location, but I imagine he’s not far behind.” He turned to Tacy. “Are all her things packed? We can leave tonight.”
“I’m within the room, Your Grace,” Cathryn said, straightening up in her bed. “And since this is my room, I would like you to leave. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
“I have to agree with Lady Tinsley,” Mrs. Pennington broke in, in a protective manner. “This is uncalled for. She can come home with me. The child will be fine. A bit of Cornish air would do anyone good.”
“My grandchild will be born at Longwood as was his father,” His Grace stated emphatically. “Try me and see, Cathryn.”
“You have tried to take everything from me that is Philip’s. You won’t get his child,” she cried.
He laughed a cruel laugh. “You don’t know me very well, Cathryn.”
“What? Are you going to hold me against my will?”
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable given the circumstances, to hold you until we get everything settled. You can go to the Pennington’s. It makes no difference to me until the child is due. At that time, we will see.”
“You can’t make me do anything, Your Grace. You have been cruel to me for no reason. So I see no reason that I should conform to your wishes,” Cathryn said. She swung her feet off the bed. “Now if you will excuse me, I need to get prepared…without visitors.”
“Not so quick, my dear,” the Duke interrupted. “If you’re thinking of running, don’t. I have already taken care of everything.”
Cathryn had had enough. Her temper flared. “Don’t threaten me. I have had quite enough. You have no rights with me. You kicked me out of your home as my husband…your son was being buried. I tried so hard to be a good wife to him. I made him happy. You took from me everything he left me to inflict pain in me, and you did. You took the ring he gave me, my wedding ring. You took my sketches I made of him. They were mine! You had no right!”
“You drew them. I didn’t realize. I thought…” He paused. “It’s no matter what I thought. The important part of all is no one, no court, will allow you to leave the country. To endanger a child in such a matter. You will lose the babe.”
“I will lose no more,” Cathryn said. “How can you think for one moment that England holds more for my child? For me it holds nothing! My grandparents asked for me to come. Why? Because they loved me? No, because they wanted to sell me to save Reggie.
“They handed me off to a madman who only wanted an estate. He almost killed me and what do I get? I get banished because he abducted me. For some reasoning that escapes me, I, the one that almost died at his hands, was tarnished beyond repair. Isn’t that one of the reasons you hated that your son married me? I embarrassed you. And that was one of the reasons I loved your son, Your Grace. He loved me. Me. The only thing I will take from here is that love and the child that grows inside of me.”
“If you want to know the truth, I will tell it to you. I see so clearly that it could have been Anne’s child now. He would have died without scandal.”
“Scandal? You forgave Philip. He was the one that left Anne. I didn’t ask him to. I didn’t even know he was to do such a thing. In honesty had I known, I would have tried to persuade him to maintain his commitment. I only knew afterwards and I couldn’t hold it against him.”
“This is senseless and getting nowhere. You aren’t going anywhere.”
“I will do what I deem is best. I won’t stay within England and wait until you steal my child from me. It is perfectly clear to me now. Tell me different. It is your plan to take the child.”
The Duke of Eversleigh studied her for a long moment and then said slowly, “Do you ever think for one minute I would ever let my grandchild be raised by you?”
“Have you heard enough, my lady?” a voice said from behind. “I have taken care of the situation downstairs.”
“Yes, I believe so. I don’t know what to do with them. We need enough time…” Cathryn nodded toward the voice.
“What the hell? A Frenchman! You have lost your mind!” the Duke exploded.
“Ah! Oui! A Frenchman. And there’s the rub!” Jean-Louis turned to Cathryn, holding a pistol aimed straight at His Grace. “Ready yourself, my lady. I assume you are packed. Your little companion did an admirable job noticing you had company. She is downstairs waiting for you. I will take care of your guests. Ah, do not look such at me. They will come to no harm, but it will give us the time we need.”
“Think, Cathryn!” the Duke roared. “Before you desc
end down this trail. Think!”
“I have thought. I have been given no other option,” Cathryn said calmly. “But you, Your Grace, you remember. Think every day after I leave. Did she deliver a healthy child? Is it a boy or a girl? Do I have an heir? And wonder. What if?”
Cathryn watched while Jean-Louis escorted the two out of her room. She didn’t have much time. She looked at Tacy.
“Help me get ready. We are going home.”
* * * *
Cathryn stood alone out upon the deck in the night air. The sea breeze helped her breathe better. Over the last month of the voyage, she had become increasingly uncomfortable.
Tired, but she had discovered that lying down only added to her discomfort. She needed to be in an almost sitting position to find the sleep. She longed to find a semblance of comfort. But despite her physical ailments, her spirits had grown over the last few days.
Her attention focused on the waves of the ocean. The full moon shone down, reflecting upon the moving water. She had had time to ponder over the time of the journey. How she missed Philip!
He had a carefree attitude that everything would be as he envisioned. He had the world at his feet. Problems he hadn’t wanted to deal with, he ignored, as he had when he married her. Yet, in the end his own actions had caused the dilemma she now found herself in.
She had no plan, only a purpose to find her way home. Sumner would be surprised, she imagined, but she hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed. He had asked her to come home, the only one to do so, but would he be as happy when he discovered that she had lost control of her inheritance? Would he understand she had no other option? Why? Why, she wanted to ask her father, did she ever have to leave? How different her life would have been had she stayed and married William.
Her hand went to her enlarged belly. The baby moved quite often as of late. No, she refused to look back. She would have her child. She would have to deal with the consequences after the birth.
Her main concern lay with delivering a healthy babe, but if anything happened to her, Cathryn wanted only Sumner to have the child. She didn’t care what the baby was, but life, she knew, would be easier if the child was a girl. So she prayed for a girl, a little one with blond hair and blue eyes like her father.
And Jake…Jake was in her past. She drew in a deep breath. Soon her past would be behind her. She would be home and all would be made right. Yes, all would be made right, she thought as she watched the lightening of the sky on the horizon.
CHARLES TOWN
Chapter Thirteen
Lady Cathryn Tinsley stood on the deck of the Aube Rouge and watched the waves break against the side of the ship. She breathed in the crisp sea air. It was a beautiful night, without a cloud in the sky to hide the moonlight reflecting off the moving water. Soon…soon she hoped she would be home.
How she had longed for home. Oh, she needed to be home. She gripped tight to the railing. Memories assaulted her. The last journey she had ventured on a ship, Jake had been by her side. Now he had become a part of her past.
Her heart ached. Cathryn had lost so much since the last time she set foot on Carolina soil, but she had no time to dwell on the past. She had another life within her to consider.
Closing her eyes, she pressed her face against the brisk wind. It was here she could see Philip’s face so clearly. How she longed for his smile, his carefree attitude, as if all would be as he envisioned…as if he had the world at his feet.
Ignoring problems he created—none greater than when he married her. He made it all seem like it would work out. Yet, in the end his actions had caused the dilemma she now found herself in. He could not help her now, not now.
Then Jake’s face emerged. Haunting words echoed within her. You don’t have any crazy schemes such as returning to Charles Town. You realize that war has broken out. It would be no place for you or the child. Philip wanted me to help you. You aren’t alone.
A sudden anger brewed at the thought. Oh, no, do not reprimand me, Jake Pennington. You promised. But in the end, he had failed to protect her against Philip’s father, the Duke of Eversleigh. Cathryn had no choice, no choice. She did the only thing she could do to protect her unborn child. She ran.
Cathryn had no plan, only a purpose to find her way home. Sumner, her brother, would be surprised, she imagined, but she hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed. He had asked her to come home, the only one to do so, but would he be as happy when he discovered that she had lost control of her inheritance? Would he understand she had no other option? Why, she wanted to ask her father, did she ever have to leave?
Her hand went to her enlarged belly. The baby moved quite often as of late. No, she refused to look back. She would have her child. She would have to deal with the consequences afterwards.
Her main concern lay with delivering a healthy child, but if anything happened to her, Cathryn wanted only Sumner to have the child. She didn’t care what the baby was, but life she knew, would be easier if the child was a girl. So she prayed for a girl, a little one with blond hair and blue eyes like her father.
“Ah, I see you are once again unable to sleep.”
Cathryn turned to see Jean-Louis Renton saunter up to the railing, the man hired to take her home. Thankful only that she hadn’t much longer in his company. She did not care for the Frenchman. His appearance would not give way to her discomfort around him.
A handsome man, tall, good-looking to the extreme, Jean-Louis carried himself as a gentleman with his immaculate clothes and manner. No. It lay with the airs he gave himself and the look in his eyes.
She turned back to her view of the ocean. “It is my hope this is the last night. The captain said he believed so.
This voyage has been uneventful and I pray it continues.”
“I can’t imagine it would not. I have heard they have spotted land. So, my lady, what are your plans now that you are almost home?” he asked as always, inquisitive.
Tacy had warned her that he would ask questions. He suspected more than he had been told. “You must be pleased to have your child back at your home.”
“Yes, it will put my mind at ease,” she answered simply. “I hope, though, the rumors of the outbreak of war are over-exaggerated. It is a concern.”
“I don’t know what you expect, my lady, but I do believe the colonies are preparing to break away from their mother country. Your child will be born with the promise of a new country emerging. That in itself is exciting, is it not?”
“Although it may not seem so, my loyalty lies with England, Monsieur Renton. My father served proudly and died serving his country. I have no desire to break away from anyone, but at the moment, my only interest lies in returning home.”
“You are full of surprises, for in your departure in England, I would have taken you for a patriot. Your strong desire to leave, to return to Charles Town, running away from powerful people,” he said and eyed her carefully. “Who are you, Mademoiselle? Have you left behind a lover? Or are you running from a cruel husband? More importantly, why was the gentleman so interested in the child?”
“Monsieur Renton, although I’m deeply indebted for your help in returning to my home, my situation is my own. I can assure you it’s nothing more than a family squabble. After I departed, that man will undoubtedly forget my existence, which I can assure you will make both of us happy.”
“If you say so, my lady. He seemed, should I say, quite upset with your intentions.”
“Monsieur, if he wants to see me again, he knows where I am heading. I didn’t conceal such and made perfectly clear my intentions. You are looking into the situation too deeply. My question to you is why?” Cathryn glanced over at the man beside her.
His face broke into a smile. He gave a slight shrug. “Just curious. Biding time. That is all, my lady. You seem so sad. Is it wrong to try to help a beautiful lady in distress? What if he comes after you now?”
“It won’t be your concern,” Cathryn said. “I appreciate your help, Monsieur, but I
assure you that my brother will be able to well look after my interests. You don’t need to worry on my account.”
“Ah, look, Mademoiselle, on the horizon!” Jean-Louis pointed out over the railing. “I believe I can see land. See, it will be a beautiful day.”
Her heart leaped. She was home. She held tight to her stomach. Little one, she thought, we’re home. Everything will be right for us now. Cathryn pushed back her uneasiness with the conversation and directed her focus upon the horizon.
* * * *
The city of Charles Town, the heart of the South, was situated on a peninsula bound by the Ashley and Cooper Rivers. The city served as the provincial capital and principal port in the South, which in turn led Charles Town to serve as the hub of political and economic life. The beauty of Charles Town couldn’t be compared with its affluence and splendor.
Cathryn had heard Jean-Louis comment on looking forward to what he had heard of Charles Town: playing cards, gambling, and attending horse races. She didn’t care, for she was home, away from all the pain she had come to know in England.
A sense of loss swept through Cathryn. The last time she had been here, she had her father beside her with hope in front of her. She had lost much since that time, but fortitude grew inside of her, a determination to begin life anew. She smiled, viewing familiar scenes.
Mary walked beside her. The little one’s own fears had emerged over the journey, but Cathryn had declared that Mary would have no worries. She would always have a home.
The problem that lay before them at the moment was travel. Not expecting Cathryn, there was no one here to greet the trio, but Jean-Louis had kindly offered his services. With his strange attentions during the journey, Cathryn hadn’t expected less. She would have Sumner deal with him after they were safe within her home.
Although Elm Bluff lay only seven miles south of Charles Town, the small group didn’t make it to the plantation until the sun had begun to set. Cathryn had forgotten how warm and oppressive Charles Town could be in May, but Cathryn dismissed her discomfort as they traveled down the long roll of tall oaks that led to her home. The tranquil beauty of it all descended upon her. How she had missed this.
