by Marie Silk
“How could anyone stay sane out there? I can’t imagine hell itself being any worse than where I’ve been. They starved us and messed with our heads deliberately.”
“The military?” William asked.
“No, the Germans. I didn’t want to say anything to the girls, but I was captured…stuck in a prison camp for six months. I was able to get through the barbed wire one day, but the others were not so lucky.”
“You escaped?”
“All I could think of was getting home to Abigail. Now I’ve ruined that too. I guess I’ll go find her and explain that I can’t stay here anymore.”
Ethan met her later in the upstairs sitting room. “I’m sorry,” he told her. “I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”
“Are you alright?” she asked in concern.
“I’m not alright. There’s something wrong in my head. I’m afraid that what happened last night might happen again, and that’s why I’m going to stay at the horse ranch in Yorktown for a while.”
“You’re leaving?”
“The ranch is short of stable hands. William agrees that it may do me good to work around horses until I start feeling like myself again. Maybe I won’t have the nightmares so much.”
“I want you to get better,” she told him sincerely. “If you believe that staying at the ranch will help, then I will wait for you.”
“I don’t know how long it will take, Abigail. What if it takes years, or what if I never get better?”
“Then I will wait for you for years or until the day I die, hoping and praying for you to return to me.” Both of them were quiet for a long while. Ethan looked down at the floor and Abigail wrung her hands in worry. She finally spoke again, “Before you go, would you stay for Easter dinner? It would help to spend the holiday with you after having so many holidays with you away.”
“I will stay for Easter dinner,” he promised.
The dining table was set in splendor. Joe Blake attended dinner as promised. He stifled a smile when Clara announced that the Easter meal would be a rib roast. Ethan held Abigail’s hand throughout the meal. Abigail could feel her heart sink every time she remembered that he would be leaving afterward. When the dinner was over, Abigail and Ethan slipped away from the others and said their tearful goodbyes at the front door. Abigail then retreated to her bedroom while Ethan and William drove away from the house. Downstairs in the drawing room, Clara was unaware of Ethan’s departure and she remained cheerfully conversing with Joe. He smiled slowly and announced that he wished to give a gift to the hostess, but that she would have to go outside to receive it.
“Where are you taking me?” Clara giggled.
“You’ll see,” he answered mysteriously. They walked to the stable where Sam was ready with the surprise.
Clara gasped. “Is it the same one I chose that day?”
“The very same one,” Joe promised.
She laughed in delight as she petted the lamb’s soft wool. “Thank you for sparing him for me, Mr. Blake.”
“It was my pleasure. I’m sure he’ll be glad to have you as a friend. It was you who saved his life, after all.”
Chapter 12
Summer of 1918, Davenport House
“Good morning, Mr. Collins,” Fiona quietly greeted Lawrence, while taking his hat and jacket.
“Good morning,” he replied. “Where is my lovely wife?”
“In the drawing room, Sir.”
Clara was speechless when Lawrence walked through the doorway. He went to her and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m pleased to announce that my mother is on the mend, and I am here to stay. Oh, and here is the money I promised you, darling. I’m sorry it took so long.” Lawrence handed her an envelope of nearly five thousand dollars. “Should I take it to the bank, or would you prefer to do so yourself?”
“Lawrence, I am astonished to see you! Why did you not telephone to tell me you were coming?”
“But then it would not have been a surprise,” he replied. “Aren’t you surprised?”
“Well, yes I am,” she laughed nervously. She had rehearsed what she would say to him the next time she saw him face to face, but she was beginning to forget it all.
“I got you a present while I was away.” He proudly presented her with a velvet box.
Clara opened it slowly. “It’s lovely,” she said about the diamond necklace that lay within.
Lawrence removed it from the box and clasped it around her neck. “My darling, I have a confession to make. When you found the necklace that day in the bureau, you were correct in thinking that I bought it for you. However, it went missing the very next morning. I could not find it, and even worried that one of the maids might have taken it. Since I was new here, I did not feel I was in a position to begin pointing the finger.”
Clara searched his face skeptically. “You truly bought the necklace for me?”
“Of course I did,” he laughed. “It is why I have come home with this one for you as a replacement. I wish for you to know your worth to me.”
Clara managed a smile and almost felt her doubts fading away. “Thank you, Lawrence.”
“Why don’t we take a drive around the countryside, like we used to when we were first married?” he coaxed.
Clara nodded and smiled. “I’d like that.”
While Clara was in her room changing her clothes, Fiona announced to Abigail that Gabriella had come to the house to see her. Abigail took a deep breath before meeting her in the Hall. “Good morning, dear,” she greeted her softly. Abigail could feel her heart swelling at the sight of her.
“Papa said that you are living here now and me and Donnie should call you Miss Abigail again,” Gabriella explained sadly. “Why don’t you want to be our mother anymore?”
Abigail felt her throat go dry and she swallowed painfully before answering. “You and Donnie are the dearest children in the world,” she responded. “You see, the War made many things difficult to understand. One of those difficult things is that I cannot be your mother any longer, but I will be your friend.”
“I liked it more when you were my mother,” Gabriella pouted.
“I understand, dear—” Abigail was interrupted by Phillip entering through the open door.
He looked intensely at Abigail. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know that she was coming here,” he said.
Abigail felt butterflies in her stomach as soon as she saw him. It was the first time she had seen Phillip face to face since the day of the letter. When Abigail spoke, it was barely above a whisper. “She only had a question for me. It’s alright.”
Phillip turned to Gabriella. “Go back home now and we’ll talk about it later.” Gabriella obeyed and Phillip and Abigail were left alone in the Hall.
Abigail cleared her throat nervously. “I was explaining to her that although I care dearly for her and Donnie, they must only think of me as their friend from now on.”
Phillip nodded. “I heard that Ethan is staying in Yorktown now…”
“Yes.”
“Is he coming back?”
“He is coming back, but he has not told us when.” She paused when Phillip seemed to look at her expectantly. “I will wait for him—however long it takes.”
“I see,” Phillip replied, looking away from her. “And are you alright?”
“I’ve been keeping occupied with helping Mary. Um, Phillip…I never properly told you how sorry I am to have left you and the children.”
Phillip looked up into her eyes. “I’m sorry too,” he said, and turned to leave the house. “Goodbye, Abigail.”
“Goodbye, Phillip.”
As she returned up the grand staircase, Clara was on her way down. “Are you going to town today?” questioned Abigail.
“Lawrence is back,” Clara grinned. “He has brought the money and explained everything. I suppose it was all a misunderstanding when he left last year. We are going to take a drive through the countryside now.”
Abigail smiled. “Then I am glad you were ab
le to get it sorted. Um—Clara—” she stammered. “What was Phillip’s reaction—that day you told him about Ethan coming home?”
Clara looked at Abigail compassionately. “He was devastated, dear.”
Abigail held back tears. “Thank you, Clara. I only wondered. Have a lovely time on your drive today.”
Throughout the county and the nation, the outbreak of influenza seemed to be in decline. William returned to stay at Davenport House and intended to work at the clinic only during the day as he had in the past. On the morning that he moved back into the house, William noticed that Mary was about to leave the bedroom in her riding clothes.
“Are you riding alone today?” he asked.
Mary hesitated. “I was going to ask Abigail…”
“I don’t want her riding,” he replied sternly.
Mary looked at him quizzically. “I did not want to appear rude in not inviting her.”
“She is with child, Mary. She can’t be galloping through the fields right now.”
Mary was taken aback by his statement. “Has Abigail told you that she is expecting?”
“She has not spoken to me, but I can tell by looking at her. I suppose it’s an extra sense that I have. I can tell when a woman is expecting, sometimes before she knows, herself. I thought for certain Abigail would have told you by now.”
Mary shook her head sadly. “I suspected she may be pregnant, but she has not said a word of it to me. I wondered if I was imagining things.”
“You are not imagining things. But you should talk to her about it, Mary. She may be frightened because of what happened the last time she conceived.”
“I will talk to her,” Mary said. She went down the hallway to Abigail’s room. “Good morning,” she greeted.
Abigail was still in her nightclothes. Several dresses were laid out on the bed, and her sewing kit was beside them. “Good morning, Mary.”
“I was just going for a ride, and I wanted to see—how you were feeling,” Mary said.
“I am well,” replied Abigail. “Go on ahead without me. I will be occupied with altering my dresses today.”
“Because of the baby?” Mary whispered.
Abigail kept her gaze toward the bed. “I wanted Ethan to be the first to know…but he has not replied to my letters. He has sent me his wages, but there is never a note to accompany them.”
“I’m sorry, Abigail. We will take good care of you here,” promised Mary. “Perhaps Ethan only needs more time.”
“I said that I would be fine with however long it took, but I guess I believed he would be back by now.”
Mary put her arm around Abigail. “We all thought he would be. I suppose we must keep waiting for him to be ready.”
Chapter 13
Fall of 1918, Davenport House
Abigail shook her head sadly. “I don’t want my brother to know of this,” she told Fiona. “The War has taken enough from us. I won’t let it take my brother too. Every day, I expect to see the headline that the War is over at last. Instead they are asking for more of our young men.”
Fiona nodded solemnly as she watched Abigail place the daily newspaper into the fireplace. They watched the orange glow as the flames consumed the black and white print.
“Did the post go out today?” Abigail asked suddenly.
“It did, Miss Abigail.”
“And my letter to Ethan…it went out in today’s post?”
“Yes, I made sure of it,” Fiona answered.
“Then I will wait for his reply,” Abigail said wearily. She placed her hand on her growing belly. “I don’t want him to miss anything.”
In the billiard room of the house, Lawrence was discussing the handling of the estate with Clara. “I’m only saying that we can sell the land now and invest the proceeds. The land does us no good just sitting there. We don’t need five hundred acres anyway, and the rent you charge the tenants is meager at best.”
“We have enough money to live on comfortably. I don’t see why we should change anything.”
Lawrence rolled his eyes. “There is more money to be made, Clara. We are missing out on it.”
Clara crossed her arms over her chest. “Oh, why don’t you go back to your mother’s house in Pittsburgh. All you’ve done since you’ve been here is complain about the finances. I’ve already told you that the only land I wish to part with is what I have already promised to Sam. I don’t want to fight about this anymore.”
“Fine. Then don’t bother me until you have changed your mind about the estate. I grow tired of trying to convince you.”
Clara felt painful tears behind her eyes and she softened her tone. “I grow tired of quarreling this way. I truly wish you to be happy with me, darling. Perhaps, if we had a child, it could help settle whatever differences are between us now.” When Lawrence did not answer, Clara continued, “Abigail’s baby will come soon. Perhaps once you see what a little one is like, you will wish to have one yourself.”
Lawrence looked suddenly cheerful. “That is good news,” he said.
Clara smiled hopefully. “You think it is good that Abigail is having the baby?”
“Of course. It means she will pay rent for two boarders instead of one. How much is she paying now?”
Clara clenched her jaw in anger and did not answer.
“Clara, answer me,” he demanded. “How much does she pay us?”
“She lost her income from the manor house and does not always get paid when she works with Mary…the wages from Ethan are a pittance…” Clara trailed off.
“How much, Clara?” he shouted.
Clara glared at him. “She is staying in the house as my friend. She pays nothing.”
“You call her your friend? She is only taking advantage of you! Does she expect to stay here with the child for free?”
“Lawrence, it is an arrangement that I made with her. It is not your concern!”
“Did you forget that I am your husband, and this house became mine when you married me? Everything that happens here is indeed my concern!”
“The house belongs to me,” Clara fumed. “You are referring to antiquated laws that have no business in the modern world. I would think you should have known such a thing if you are indeed a real lawyer.”
“Get out, Clara,” he told her angrily. “Don’t speak to me again unless you are ready act like a real wife.”
Clara stormed out of the billiard room and out of the house. It was what she found herself doing often since Lawrence came home for the summer. She only began to relax as she made her way to the pasture and saw the little lamb waiting for her. “Hello, darling,” she cooed. “At least you are always glad to see me. I wish you could stay little and sweet forever.”
Sam approached Clara from the pasture. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Collins?”
Clara smiled at him. “Nothing just now. I only wanted to see this little one. How have you been, Sam?”
He shrugged. “Alright, I guess. Just working hard so I can get the property paid for by the spring. Thank you for arranging it so I can buy that parcel. It’s just what I wanted.”
“You‘re welcome, Sam,” Clara said quietly.
“Uh—if you don’t need me for anything just now, I’ll get these tools returned to Joe. Have a good day, Mrs. Collins.”
Joe seemed surprised when Sam approached his property. “Sam,” he grinned. “I didn’t think I’d see you this afternoon.”
“I promised I’d get these tools back to you today.”
“Well, after the news in the paper…” Joe replied.
“I don’t read the paper,” Sam told him. “What did it say?”
“There’s another registration for the Draft. Except this time they lowered the age to eighteen. You might be able to get an exception like me, but there’s no telling what they’ll do once you sign,” Joe explained.
Sam went quiet. “I didn’t realize. I guess I’ll go home now and figure out what I’m going to do about it.”
Late
r that evening in the servants’ quarters, the maids began clearing the plates from the kitchen table. Sam stood up and said to Fiona discreetly, “Can I talk to you outside for a minute?”
“Sure,” she answered. “I’ll meet you just near the servants’ entrance once I finish my duties.”
Sam was seated on a large boulder outside the servant’s entrance while he waited for Fiona to come out. He looked up when he heard her footsteps on the gravel. “Is everything alright?” she asked.
Sam looked at her seriously. “Did you see the paper today?”
“I did see it,” she answered quietly.
“So you know what the law says I have to do.”
“Your sister was distressed to discover that they are taking the young men now. She hoped you would never hear of it.”
“Were you going to tell me?” he asked.
Fiona looked into his eyes. “I was afraid that you would sign up.”
“I don’t want to. But the war office has different ideas.”
“Please don’t go, Sam. It will break Miss Abigail’s heart. It would be more than she can bear, especially while Mr. Ethan stays away.”
“How is Abby?”
“She is weary,” Fiona answered. “She was upset when she read about the new Draft. She said the War has already taken her husband from her, and now she is afraid to lose you too…and with the baby on the way…”
“I could go to jail for refusing. Does she understand that?”
Fiona’s eyes filled with tears. “Better to be in jail than never come home at all.” She started to cry in front of him.
“You want me to stay, don’t you?” he asked.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“I won’t sign up, Fiona,” he decided.
Fiona stopped crying. “Do you mean it?”
“I suppose it isn’t very honorable of me to disobey the law, but I don’t know that I could be so helpful to their cause anyway. I can’t imagine killing another man just because I’m told to.”
