Gift of Love

by Cynthia Moore

  A discreet knock sounded on the door, and Cord entered with a flourish announcing the imminent arrival of the tea tray.

  “Rebecca, please do the honors and pour for us,” instructed her mother. “I will pass around Mrs. Teakle’s luscious apple tarts.”

  Lady Winton waited to speak until everyone was served. She took a drink of her tea and then turned toward their guest. “Is your father aware of his loss of memory?”

  “He’s certainly aware that appointments have been missed. But he’s a proud man and frankly the situation is delicate.” Adrian paused to take a sip of the hot liquid. “He assumes he was not told or reminded of the engagements. I will take care that my assistance with the management of the estate appears minimal to him when in reality I plan on taking more and more control of the daily operations. My mother and I will also do our best to interact as normally as possible with him and not to berate him in any way for his infirmity.”

  “Is Paul aware of your father’s affliction?” asked Rebecca.

  He nodded before speaking. “My brother arrives here tomorrow on holiday from his studies at Cambridge. I have written and advised him of the situation. I received a brief note in reply from him this morning. He is naturally dismayed to hear the news but agrees with our decision to treat father as if nothing had changed.”

  He lowered his empty plate to set it on a nearby table. “Before I speak any further on this subject, I must extend an invitation from my mother. She wishes for you, Lady Winton and Lord Winton, Lady Rebecca and Miss Frost, to join my family for a Christmas holiday celebration dinner two evenings from today.”

  Before a reply could be uttered, the sitting room door was thrust open. An older gentleman with sparse gray hair entered the chamber. It was the Earl of Winton himself. He was slightly taller than his spouse with a commanding presence, especially in close quarters. At present, he was dressed casually in buff-colored breeches, topped with a linen shirt, an informally tied cravat, and a dark green woolen waistcoat over which he wore a frock coat. “Do not fret, Cord. I can announce myself. Ah, it appears that I am only slightly tardy for tea.”

  “My dear, see who has joined us! Lord Burton has returned home at last!” Lady Winton proclaimed as she indicated an empty chair for her husband’s use directly across from his daughter’s seat.

  Lord Winton turned away from his wife to greet his neighbor’s older son with genuine pleasure. He strode across the room and clapped Adrian upon the back as that gentleman stood up and lowered his head slightly in deference to the earl.

  “Lord Burton! It’s wonderful to have you back, young man! But when did you arrive? Your father sent us no news.” Lord Winton stopped speaking and looked somewhat perplexed. “In fact I have heard very little from your sire of late. Is everything well at Haverston Hall?”

  Adrian shook his head. “I regret to inform you, my lord, that my father has recently suffered several serious lapses in memory. It is for that very reason my mother contacted me and requested my presence here in Amersham.”

  Lord Winton drew his eyebrows lower over his eyes and studied Adrian intently. “How long has your father’s memory loss been evident?”

  “We believe it started a few months ago. Fortunately, his health has not otherwise been adversely affected in any way.”

  A clock struck the hour in the hall.

  “I must ask you to excuse me, Lord Winton, Lady Winton, Lady Rebecca, and Miss Frost. I need to return to Haverston Hall. May I tell my mother that you will all attend the celebration?”

  “Yes, of course. I’ll provide my husband with the other details of your father’s illness. Please tell the duchess that we will gladly attend her gathering. I look forward to visiting with your parents and your brother as well.”

  “I expect a more detailed account of your recent activities in the British Life Guards at a later time, young man,” forewarned Lord Winton.

  “I’ll ring for your horse to be brought around, Adrian,” Rebecca offered as she stood up and crossed the room to the bell pull.

  Cord answered Rebecca’s summons promptly. She delivered her request for Adrian’s horse. The butler moved to do her bidding only to turn around once more as the countess hailed him.

  “Please ensure that all is in readiness for the delivery of the Yule log tomorrow morning.”

  Lord Winton added, “I instructed the lads this morning as to its location, my dear. They’ll collect it soon after dawn. We should have it here a few hours later.”

  “Excellent.” Lady Winton heard this news with pleasure. She turned toward her daughter. “We’ll decorate the rooms with greenery tomorrow shortly after breaking our fast.”

  Cord left to issue instructions. Miss Frost suddenly stood up, clasping her two shawls around her bony shoulders. She reached down awkwardly and endeavored to fold the blanket that had been resting across her lap. Quickly giving up on her attempt at neatness, she dropped the blanket into a jumbled heap onto a nearby empty stool. Then she gathered her embroidery and set it in a basket at her feet. “If you will excuse me, Lord and Lady Winton, Lady Rebecca and Lord Burton, I informed Mrs. Cord that I would assist Mrs. Teakle with the wrapping of the sweetmeats, almonds, and raisins in paper for the children on the estate, so they would be ready to place with the greenery tomorrow.”

  “Certainly you are excused, Miss Frost. I know they would greatly appreciate your assistance.” She exited the room and Rebecca moved to stand next to Adrian as her parents tendered their goodbyes to him.

  “I will leave you to your holiday preparations, Lord and Lady Winton.” Adrian bowed to the couple. “Will you accompany me to the door, Lady Rebecca?” he asked her with a trace of the warm smile that she remembered so well.

  “It would be my pleasure.” She turned back toward her parents. “I’ll rejoin you both momentarily.”

  Rebecca paused in front of the sitting room door as Adrian reached around her to pull it open. They left together and strolled down the main corridor toward the entrance.

  He suddenly increased his pace and stepped in front of Rebecca causing her to abruptly come to a standstill. She looked up at her companion with a questioning expression on her face.

  “It appears that you enjoy riding in the chill December climate. Will you join me for an early morning canter tomorrow?”

  Rebecca immediately began pondering how best to agree to Adrian’s plan as well as accomplishing her visit to the churchyard.

  He seemed to have mistaken her initial hesitation for reluctance. “I realize I materialized quite unexpectedly on your doorstep today. Certainly you must be quite occupied with holiday matters…”

  Rebecca reached out and lightly squeezed Adrian’s forearm before quickly releasing him. “You don’t understand. I wish to go riding with you, but I need to make a visit somewhere else before I meet with you. I was deliberating how best to accomplish both obligations.”

  Adrian placed his hand on her shoulder and gazed intently into her green eyes. “Will you tell me where else you propose to go? Perhaps I can join you.”

  She stared down at the thick hall carpet under her feet. “I planned to visit James’ grave once again in the morning.”

  Adrian released Rebecca’s arm and cupped her chin. He applied gentle pressure until she raised her head to meet his direct gaze with a slightly sheepish look of her own. “I meant what I said to you earlier. I would never berate you for visiting James’ grave.”

  Rebecca sighed with relief and smiled at Adrian. He gently rubbed the soft skin on the edge of her jaw before lowering his hand. She was disconcerted to feel a prick of moisture upon her eyelashes. She hastily reached up to pat her eyes with her fingers before answering. “You are very understanding. I assure you that I have not spent my days since the funeral languishing at his graveside. But the Christmas holidays seem to have brought his presence and spirit back to me in full force.” In more ways than you can know, she thought to herself.

  “Perhaps you will permit me to join y
ou shortly after you plan to arrive at the churchyard? We could go for a short ride through the park if you do not think it would be too cold for such activity.”

  “Of course, I would enjoy that. Contrary to what Miss Frost believes, I rarely become chilled when I am outside in winter.”

  “It must be the remnants of your hoydenish ways from when you were a girl. You were rarely at a standstill. You definitely kept warm with your constant pranks and rollicking escapades in those days.”

  She giggled as his words brought back somewhat embarrassing memories of their mischief-making. “I seem to remember that you and Paul were up to plenty of antics yourselves.”

  Adrian looked back at her in mock consternation. “I can see I will need to refresh your memories of what transpired during our ride tomorrow, Becky.”

  Rebecca’s smiling visage became serious when he used his pet name for her from their youth. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been called that.”

  “Since I was the only person who gave you that nickname, certainly it was I who last said it. You must have done something very outrageous to deserve the designation,” he teased her as he started to walk toward the front door. “I will meet you at the churchyard about eight o’clock tomorrow morning.”

  “You always did treat me like a sister.”

  Adrian stopped and turned back to her with an arrested expression. He looked intently at Rebecca before saying, “Conclusions are sometimes reached without the use of common sense.”

  With that cryptic comment, he turned to collect his cloak, hat, and gloves from Cord. He strode out of the door without a backward glance leaving Rebecca standing alone in the hallway attempting to comprehend Adrian’s parting words.

  Chapter Two

  “It doesn’t seem quite as cold this morning, Jacob. I shouldn’t be too long.” Rebecca handed her groom the reins. “Perhaps you can discover a patch of grass somewhere close by.”

  “Don’t ye concern yourself, my lady. I will keep your mare warm.”

  Rebecca nodded her thanks and turned to open the ornate iron gate that led to the churchyard. She walked toward James’ grave being watchful in case anything out of the ordinary should happen.

  Just as she had done the previous day, Rebecca stood and stared down at the headstone before reaching into the pocket of her riding habit and pulling out the locket.

  The trinket was still securely wrapped in her handkerchief. She carefully removed the fabric to reveal James’ profile on the front of the locket. She studied his image for a moment before she bent over and placed the token on the ground quite near the spot it had been resting on the day before.

  “Oh, my goodness!” She had scarcely removed her hand from the locket when it began to shine brightly. Rebecca stumbled backward, and her body began to shake, shocked anew by the uncanny phenomenon she was witnessing.

  The cold burst of air once again caressed her cheek. Rebecca squeezed her eyes shut and clasped her gloved hands tightly. She willed herself to stand tall and stiff as a soldier as she waited for the next episode to play out.

  “Good of you to visit me once again, Rebecca.”

  James’ voice sounded weakly in her ears. “J-James, is there some way to reassure myself that I’m not dreaming this? If I’m truly not in some kind of a trance, could you explain to me how this happens?” She raised her tightly gripped hands over her head in a pleading gesture. “Have pity on me, I’m a mere mortal. You were killed at Waterloo last June. How can you be here speaking to me now?”

  The bare branches of the trees which circled the churchyard made popping and cracking sounds as a sudden wind swirled through them. The loud noises caused Rebecca to open her eyes. She lowered her arms to her sides and studied the locket as it continued to glow brightly upon the chilled ground.

  “I’m unable to offer you any proof other than the evidence in your own heart,” the ghostly voice answered. “You promised me you would not mourn for me. Oh, yes, you present a calm, content façade to the people you come in contact with each day. You believe that’s enough to satisfy those who care for you and love you. But you’re wrong, Rebecca. They know you have changed. You’ve lost your sparkle and fervor. Yes, we loved each other, we planned to marry, and I was killed in war. It is right to mourn me for a time.

  “The problem occurred when you made a vow to me the last time we spoke. You promised not to waste your life lamenting my loss. You have not kept that pledge. For that reason, my spirit has not been at rest. When you placed the locket on my grave, it allowed my spirit to be released and to make myself known to you. I can’t tell you any more than that.”

  “Thank you for your explanation, James. Perhaps I will never truly understand how this has happened but your reasons have helped me to face the situation more calmly.” She raised her head and looked forward, not really seeing anything. “From what you’ve told me, I gather that your spirit is restless and you wish to be at peace. I believe somehow I am to play a part in restoring your serenity. How am I to do this? You know I wish you nothing but tranquility and repose in your afterlife.” The strands of hair that had escaped from underneath her hat brushed against her neck as the cool air surrounded her once again.

  “Therein lays the problem. My spirit can never be truly at peace if I tell you what needs to be accomplished. You must come to the conclusion without prompting from me. I can only ask that you let go of the pall of grief which still hangs over you. Expose the shadow that covers your deeper emotions. Allow your heart to beat freely once more.”

  Rebecca knelt and put one gloved hand on the gravestone. “I will attempt to do as you ask, James. I hadn’t realized that I am distressing my family and friends.”

  “Thank you. I’m certain you will once again find true happiness. Please return here on Christmas Eve morning. My otherworldly sense tells me that you may have something important to tell me then.”

  The iron gate clicked as it was opened.

  “Am I disturbing you?” Adrian inquired softly as he approached the gravesite carrying a small bouquet of red roses.

  Rebecca looked up in surprise and then swiftly glanced behind her. Nothing out of the ordinary was visible. She hastily shifted her stance and covered the gleaming locket with the bottom edge of her skirt. “No, no, please join me. Where did you obtain the beautiful roses at this time of year?”

  “My mother had a greenhouse built last spring. She has worked tirelessly with our gardener George Small. She’s enjoying the novelty of having roses in the house during the wintertime, too.” He moved past Rebecca and carefully placed the roses at the foot of James’ headstone.

  As he bent over, Rebecca reached down to retrieve the locket. When Adrian stood up once again, he glanced at her hand as she dropped the token into the pocket of her skirt. “Is that the memento James gave you before we left to join our regiments? May I see it?”

  Rebecca felt her face flush slightly as she realized Adrian had spotted her furtive movement. “Of course,” she quickly assured him as she pulled the locket back out of her skirt.

  He studied James’ likeness on the front of the token before turning it over in his palm to look at the lock of hair encased in the back. Then he reached out and placed the item back onto her gloved palm. He did not remove his hand. The locket rested warmly between their clasped hands. “I never said much about what occurred at Waterloo to you at James’ funeral. My time here was very brief and you were clearly too upset to listen to many details.”

  “Yes, that day was an unhappy one for all of us.”

  “I want to assure you that James felt no pain when he was killed. We were charging forward and our flank became mired in the thick mud and fell back. James and I were exposed momentarily, and a bullet from a French cuirassier’s gun struck him directly in his heart. He died instantly.”

  Rebecca stared down at their clasped hands. As she listened to Adrian’s description of the battle, her heart began to feel heavy, a brick inside her chest. She could picture James
as he valiantly pushed his horse forward into the center of the battlefield, not knowing that in the next moment his life would end forever.

  She looked up at her companion studying her with concern and knew instantly that Adrian’s presence at her side was playing an important role in her recovery from James’ death. As they continued to stand with their hands clasped together around the locket, Rebecca became conscious of a subtle feeling of relief. The pain was still present, but now it was softened by the knowledge she’d just gained. “I’m glad you told me. I must admit that I felt very sad when I first heard your description of the battle. But now that I know James didn’t feel any pain when he died, I feel very relieved and comforted.”

  “Perhaps now you can break free of the deep sorrow that I fear has dominated your life since you were told of James’ passing and you can begin to face each day with a lighter heart.”

  A whinnying came from the adjacent field. Adrian lightly squeezed Rebecca’s hand before releasing it and reaching out to gently bend her fingers to cover the locket. “Put that away safely. Are you ready to take a short ride now? It appears the horses are becoming restless.”

  Rebecca hastily wrapped the trinket back in her handkerchief and tucked it securely away in her skirt pocket once more. With a slight nod toward Adrian, she indicated she was ready to leave. They walked briskly toward Jacob who was patiently tramping back and forth across the gravel roadway with all three horses in tow.

  “Well done,” Adrian greeted the groom with praise. “Hand me the reins to Lady Rebecca’s mare.”

  He led her mare to one side and then assisted her to mount. Once she was seated in the sidesaddle, Adrian mounted his own horse. Jacob was left to follow behind them.

  They gave their horses their heads and allowed them to canter through the open fields. When they reached the meadow, they slowed their horses to a walk. Jacob followed at a discreet distance.