“Please, enjoy your stay, Laura.” He held her hand once more, gently squeezing it. “I’m sorry again. I didn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
She nodded and smiled at him. She didn’t want things to be awkward between them either. He smiled back, but the shine in his eyes had vanished.
* * *
Laura followed Arthur around the estate. After she left Robert’s office she had asked the boy to give her a tour. They walked to the farm just outside the house grounds, one of many belonging to Robert’s family, at least from what she could remember.
Rows of corn swayed around her ready to be harvested. She passed by a few farmhands busy tending to the livestock and the crops. They looked up, but didn’t smile, and after a hesitant nod or bow, usually they quickly returned to their work.
“Oh, don’t mind them, Mrs. Bennet,” Arthur said as they walked by a couple of workers who openly stared. “They’re just surprised to see you here.”
“Robert didn’t tell them I’ll be staying for –” Till when was she really planning to stay? She didn’t even know the answer herself, so she settled with “For a while?”
Arthur shrugged. “Mr. Smith doesn’t really spend a lot of time at the farm. Most of the workers have only seen him a few times.”
“Why is that?”
A couple of grazing goats bleated as Laura passed them by. At least they acknowledged my presence.
“Mr. Smith prefers to stay at the house,” Arthur said, but something in his voice gave her pause. As if it were more than a mere preference.
Not wanting to pry she changed the topic and asked him about the animals. The conversation led to a merry afternoon petting the goats, milking the cows – something Laura politely declined to participate in – as well as a tour of the stables.
As the sun leaned towards the horizon Arthur led her back home. Back to the small guest cottage adjacent to the main house.
“I have to check on Ma now, Mrs. Bennet, but if you need anything else I’m at your service.”
“Thank you, Arthur, I think I’m fine for now.” She smiled as the lad ran towards the side entrance leading to the kitchen.
Hoping to see Robert again Laura went back inside the main house. She wanted to talk to him about the conversation they had earlier. The expression she saw on his face when she left the office kept nagging her. But when she got to the large office door she found it empty and Robert didn’t seem to be around.
She waited around in the drawing room admiring his collection of books and the large globe marked with many small pins. She spun it around gently reading out the destinations. Robert and his father had truly travelled a lot.
“Dinner is ready, Mrs. Bennet.” Arthur’s presence made her step back from the globe. “It’s alright, Mr. Smith doesn’t mind people touching it. He even used to tell stories of his travels to me when I was younger.”
“Is that so?” She smiled and followed him to the dining room.
“Yes, what a life the Master had.”
He pulled the chair for her at the large oak table. She couldn’t help but notice that it was only set for one. Did she upset him? Would he ask her to leave?
“Is Mr. Smith not joining me for dinner?”
“Sorry, Ma’am, I forgot to mention. The Master sends his apologies. He left the house and said he might not return until late.”
“Oh.”
Arthur took the silence that followed as his cue and with a quick bow left her alone. She looked at the lone painting on the opposite wall and the few simple furnishings almost unfit for a room this size. The dining room felt empty and silent, and the sound of her cutlery clinking against the plate echoed as she ate dinner alone.
Chapter Four
Laura tossed and turned in bed that night. The shadows dancing across the white cottage wall did little to ease her anxiety. She wasn’t sure what time it was or how long she had slept for when a sharp knock on the door woke her up.
She fumbled around for her clothes. The room was still dark despite the dim moonlight seeping in through the window. Laura put on a robe and dragged herself to the door. Another, more urgent, knock followed as she grabbed the handle and cracked the door open.
“Arthur?”
“Mrs. Bennet, it’s Mr. Smith.” The boy’s brows furrowed and he bit his lip. The lantern he held beside his head cast shadows on his face, making him look older.
“What happened?” Laura’s fingers tightened their grip on the door handle.
“I heard a noise and when I looked out the window I saw Mr. Smith walking towards the farm.”
“At this time of night?” Laura frowned.
“Yes, but that’s not all, he was… uhm… he was in his night shirt.”
Laura’s eyes grew wide.
“I tried to call him, but he didn’t answer.” Arthur took a deep breath between the words quickly coming out of his mouth. “I ran after him, but he was way ahead and by the time I got there he was sitting with his back against the barn. I tried talking to him but he didn’t respond. The only thing he muttered was your name, and that I should take good care of you, Mrs. Bennet. Since he mentioned your name, I thought you might be able to do something…”
Laura was taken aback at what she had just heard. What was going on with Robert?
“Take me to him.” She closed the door behind her and tightened the robe as the night chill hit her cheeks.
She walked briskly by Arthur’s side until the barn was in view. Soon Laura saw Robert’s slumped near the door, but she couldn’t see his face as he hid it between his arms.
“Robert?” She ran towards him, heart thumping in her chest.
But he didn’t react, and soon both she and Arthur were by his side.
“Robert?” She almost reached out for him, but held back her hand at the last moment. There was no response.
“Mr. Smith.” Arthur tugged at the man’s shoulders.
This time Robert jolted awake and his eyes darted around. He blinked a few times and rubbed his hands against his face.
“Are you hurt? Are you all right?” Laura knelt in front of him, peering up at his face. What happened here? Why would he sleep all the way out here?
He looked at her, frowned and then turned to Arthur.
“You shouldn’t have brought Laura out here,” he said in a cold tone as he hauled himself up onto his feet. He brushed the dirt from his night shirt. With an outstretched arm he begun ushering Laura towards the road home. “It’s late and cold and–”
“He did the right thing.” Laura cut him short. He completely failed to acknowledge the strangeness of the situation. “Why were you sleeping out here? Were you drinking?”
“No.” Robert paused. He sought her hand and held it. “I stopped drinking a long time ago.”
Laura found his warmth welcoming. She remained quiet, contemplating her next move. Robert must have taken that as a good sign, as he offered his arm. Not wanting to prolong their stay outside she took it and they walked back home arm-in-arm with Arthur by their side.
Something was not right. Questions formed in her mind. Laura thought back to their earlier conversation, then to the times before she married her husband. She’d seen this kind of behavior before, deflecting questions and acting like everything was fine. But by the time she gathered her courage to ask him about anything they had reached the house.
“Will you be all right?” Robert paused with one hand on the main door. “Would you like me to walk you back to your cottage?”
“I’ll be fine.” Laura smiled at him. She thought she should probably be the one walking him to his room. Just to make sure he didn’t wander off again… “Will you be resting now?”
He nodded. “I’ll head straight to my room. Do you require anything?”
“No. Don’t trouble yourself.” She waved one hand urging him to leave first. When he didn’t move, she rolled her eyes. “I want to make sure you actually go inside.”
Robert chuckled. “Of cours
e, Madame.”
He opened the door, stepped into the house, then paused and looked over his shoulder. “Goodnight, Laura.”
Once she was sure she had heard the creak of the footsteps on the old staircase she turned to Arthur. She took the lantern from the boy.
“The cottage isn’t far, and I just need to get something from the kitchen first,” she said. “I’ll walk back myself, you get some sleep now.”
He was about to protest but she gave him a stern look and he complied with her request.
Laura took a deep breath. If she wanted answers, there was only one place she could find them. She gently opened the door to the house careful not to make a sound. The flickering light of the lantern danced over the walls.
She tiptoed towards the office door. The cold metal of the handle almost burned in her hand. Will it open? She turned the handle, the lock clicked and she gingerly pushed the door. Should I be doing this? She paused on the threshold for a moment.
But Laura’s instincts were telling her that Robert needed helped, and she certainly wasn’t going to sit by and watch the man destroy himself. He had pulled her out of her darkness. She had to repay the favor if she could. Laura opened the door further and approached his desk. The light from the window fell on the papers scattered all around. She placed the lantern to one side and picked up a document from the top of the pile with trembling fingers.
She skimmed through the text: bank… final notice… unpaid loans… Her eyes grew large as she read the amount at the bottom of the statement. Every document she read told the same story. They were from several different institutions but were all notices demanding money with growing urgency.
She stood silently, wondering how this had happened. She was sure Robert came from a wealthy family with a great number of assets. However, the pile of papers clearly painted a different picture. If Robert didn’t pay his debts, he would lose the farm… Along with everything else.
Chapter Five
The next couple of weeks flew by quickly. Robert apologized for his erratic behavior. He explained he had sleep walked from time to time since he was a child and that it was nothing to worry about. Those words again. Laura struggled to hold on to her secret. She tried to think how she could help Robert, even with kind words or moral support. But to say something she’d have to admit she had been through his documents. So she did what she could – she smiled, she shared her meals with him, posed for portraits, listened to his poetry and tried to help around the house and in the garden.
Laura tried to get more information from Arthur, but the boy and his mother were tight lipped about Robert’s financial difficulties. Even if they knew something, they would not say. And Robert himself never mentioned any troubles. Some days she thought, that maybe she had misunderstood what she saw, and she should just enjoy her stay. But then she saw the empty look in Robert’s eyes when he thought she wasn’t looking. There were also days when he left the house very early, only to return late in the evening.
Finally she decided, she couldn’t hide her knowledge any longer. She prayed before going to bed for courage and strength. She prayed for forgiveness too, for intruding in his business affairs.
* * *
A loud noise woke Laura from her sleep. She sat bolt upright.
Laura gasped as she noticed thick black smoke curling into the sky. The sound of screams and crashing barrels came through her window. What on earth was going on? She dressed as fast as she could and ran towards the farm. Half way there it was clear – the barn was on fire!
She passed several people frantically rushing to the barn bringing big buckets of water. Where is Robert? She wandered around searching through the faces in the gathered crowd.
“What happened?” she asked the nearest farmhand dragging a huge barrel of water.
“The fire’s spreading into the field, Missus,” he shouted back without stopping.
By the time she reached the barn it had been consumed by the flames. She noticed a young boy near the barn door, trying in vain to put out the flames with his pail.
“Arthur!” Laura cried, tugging the boy back to a safe distance. “Where’s Robert?”
“I dunno, Ma’am!” Arthur turned to Laura, his face sweaty and blackened by the smoke. “I saw him a while ago tryin’ to save the animals from the barn.”
Laura gasped and chills ran up her arms. Dear Lord, please let this not be true! The dread and terror crushed her chest as the fire towered up into the sky in front of her. What if he never made it out? No, she wouldn’t be able to take another loss. Not again.
“Robert!” She reached for the barn door. “Robert! Rob -!”
“Laura?” A voice came from behind.
She spun around, gasped and stumbled backwards.
“Robert!” Laura faced her host, who looked as if he had just left the burning barn – soot covered his skin, his clothes tattered and singed at the edges, his wide open eyes a stark contrast to the dirt on his face.
“Mr. Smith!” Arthur exclaimed almost at the same time.
“I thought you were still inside the barn,” she whispered against his warm face.
“I’m fine,” he murmured, holding her close.
But his tight embrace reminded her where she was and who he was. She loosened her hold and when he did too she stepped back. Laura cleared her throat. “Are you all right?”
Robert nodded and looked at Arthur. “What’ve we lost?”
Arthur wiped the soot from his face with the sleeves of his shirt, his eyes cast down.
“Everything, sir. Everything.”
Robert gazed at the burning flames, and Laura saw the hope in his eyes burn away like the crops behind the barn.
* * *
Laura insisted she would help carry the buckets and stay around to help with what she could until the situation was under control again, which took most of the day. Utterly exhausted she returned to her cottage for a short rest. She had just changed her clothes and was already half asleep when a soft knock on her door stopped her as she was climbing into bed. Despite her limbs feeling like lead she rushed to see who it was.
“Mrs. Bennet, good evening,” Arthur said. He still wore the dirt and dust stained clothes.
She fastened the robe she had hastily changed in to. The events of early morning came rushing back. She had to hold on to the door knob to steady herself.
“Is everything alright? Any good news?”
“Yes, Ma’am,” he said and for a moment she wasn’t sure which question he had replied to. “The barn and most of the corn field behind it is gone, but the animals were spared.”
“But you have other crops, other fields, right?”
The boy sighed and shook his head. “No, that was everything. I don’t know what we can do for the farm without the crops.”
“Everything?” Laura prodded, remembering pages and pages of debts, loans, and notices. “No more crops?”
“Only what we’d harvested a few days ago.” He sniffed and wiped his nose. “But that’s not why I’m here, Mrs. Bennet. Mr. Smith wanted to know how you are doing.”
“Where is he?”
“In his office.”
“I’ll talk to him.” She paused for a minute while giving the boy a quick look-over. The dark circles under his eyes gave away the burden placed on his young shoulders. “Thank you for everything you’ve done, Arthur. Why don’t you take a rest while I go speak with Mr. Smith?”
He raised his brows at her. “Are you sure, Ma’am?”
Laura nodded and sent him on his way. She went back inside, changed into something more appropriate and examined herself in the mirror. A simple prairie dress was all she had left in her cabinet – all her other dresses were either dirty or being washed.
After a quick readjustment of her hair Laura walked over to the main house and headed straight to Robert’s office. She knocked a couple of times before Robert invited her in.
“Robert,” she said in a quiet voice.
�
�Laura?” Robert rose from his seat to greet her. “I’m really sorry about earlier.”
She took a deep breath. “Robert, we need to talk.”
The man visibly gulped. To his credit, he merely nodded and invited her to take a seat.
“I know about this…” She gestured to the pile of papers he had pushed to the side as she sat down.
From his expression, Laura realized he dreaded the conversation about to happen. He didn’t even ask how she knew.
“You saw the bank statements?”
When she nodded but didn’t say a word, he continued, “I’m broke, Laura. Totally broke. I spent all the loaned money to save the farm.”
Her lips trembled. It was one thing to know of the debt, but another to hear Robert say it. The words hung heavy in the air.
“How did it come to this?” she asked. “Didn’t your family own a huge and prosperous estate?”
“My father, as a result of his extravagant travels, frittered away the family fortune. When he died, I tried to salvage as much as I could.” He leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. “The farm - it’s the only property aside from the house that I was able to keep. The rest had to be sold or used as collateral.”
He sighed, then turned to Laura, his hands shaking as he gestured. “I was struggling and desperate to solve the financial crisis. I wanted to give up, leave everything behind. But then I received a letter from you. You can’t possibly imagine the happiness it brought me.”
Laura blushed. Robert’s letters helped her cope following Anton’s death. It was a comfort to know that her letters had given him similar hope.
“I said to myself, this is it. I can’t let this chance pass. I can’t let you go again. So I applied for another loan with the intention of reviving the farm to rehabilitate it in some way. Then I came to see you, with high hopes.”
He got up from behind his desk, walked up to her, kneeled down and grasped her hand.
“I can’t lose you again, it would be the death of me. My feelings for you never ceased. But I knew you loved Anton. When you married, I thought all my hope for happiness was lost.”
Laura's Second Chance (Widows of Virginia 2) Page 3
