Embracing Ashberry

by Serenity Everton

  Ellie nodded, deciding she needed a cup of tea despite the early hour. “I know, Mama,” she sighed. “I’m sorry that I have caused you and Papa so much trouble.”

  Lady Whitney shook her head. “Do not be ridiculous, Ellie. You are not responsible for your father’s foolishness.” She waited as Ellie began to prepare the tea before asking, “Are you truly happy? Those things he said, they weren’t true?”

  Her daughter smiled, for though Ellie and Ashberry were hardly on the most intimate of terms yet, Ellie knew that they were headed in the right direction. Quite honestly, she said, “We are still adjusting to one another, Mama, but I made the right decision. Ashberry is a wonderful man.”

  Lady Whitney nodded. “Edward says so and I have no choice, I suppose, but to trust your word.” She smiled fleetingly. “It’s just that your father is excellent at inspiring doubts.”

  Ellie considered her words carefully. “He seems ... different.”

  Her mother’s face saddened for a moment. “Not really,” she said softly. “You never saw it, I know, because his temper never was focused on you.” Ellie had no reply. She poured her mother a cup of the tea and sipped her own, watching as her mother’s shoulders relaxed.

  Ellie was unsurprised when her mother continued. “And at Rose Hill, he was away fairly often. Out on the farms, in the greenhouses. Away in London.” She sighed and shook her head again. “Until Edward was old enough to come along, he even came to London without me, from February to April and again in October and November. And he didn’t interfere in the nursery very often.” Her lips twisted as she added, “Edward told me that he and Ashberry had spoken about you.”

  Ellie wasn’t sure how much her brother had revealed but she nodded. “Edward was supposed to come by last night to see Ashberry but I was asleep before he arrived. Ashberry didn’t have time to discuss it this morning either—he left early to ride with his brothers and do some final business with Sebastian.” Ellie knew the implication was that the two had seen each other early, probably in bed. In fact, she had woken to Ashberry already dressed, polished boots, breeches and coat already perfectly in place. He had kissed the corner of her mouth and left soon after.

  Lady Whitney had smiled, a wistful smile. “I shall miss you, Ellie.”

  Ellie had blinked but her smile to her mother was genuine. “And I shall miss you—perhaps the last ten days, Mama, have been a good adjustment.”

  Her mother nodded, her smile still strangely melancholy. “Perhaps they have.”

  Ellie noted with concern that her mother’s smile didn’t quite reach the lady’s eyes.

  She remembered the conversation later, when Ashberry joined her for a late breakfast. “Did you have a good visit with your mother?” he asked quietly, aware of the butler and footman.

  She nodded in assent but added, “Mama told me that Papa has always been stubborn but that before this, it was never about me. She also said he's not been as difficult in the last few years—especially since I, since we, since they decided to go to Europe.” She stumbled over the last phrase but Ashberry understood her euphemism. “I, I had the feeling that she wasn’t telling me everything, there was something she wanted me to know but wouldn’t say.”

  Ashberry accepted her comment but didn't remain on the topic for long. "I thought I should suggest, if you haven't thought of it, that you take a look at the books in the library. You'll be in the carriage for almost four days and it can be quite tedious." His eyes twinkled. "Unless you’d rather have my undivided attention the entire time, I mean.”

  Ellie flushed at him, ignoring the last comment. "Thank you. I will find some reading." She smiled at him, so easily that he almost forgot his lack of control the previous night. She added, "I've needlework as well."

  With only that little conversation, they separated, Ashberry not telling his wife about Edward's late-night call and Ellie not asking. Edward and Charlotte arrived soon after, however, and Ellie went to greet the two when Alexander showed them into the morning room.

  Edward came straight to the topic on his mind. "Did you have a good visit with Mama this morning?" he asked after Ellie and Charlotte settled into their seats.

  His voice was slightly odd, though Ellie could not see from his face what was wrong. Instead, she looked to Charlotte, answering her brother as she observed the other young woman's face. "I did. I thought she was ... downhearted." Ellie realized almost immediately that Charlotte seemed tired, not rested, but the girl's face showed no signs of distress.

  Edward shook his head. "I think it's repressed, Ellie," he said sadly. "Ashberry and I had a long discussion last night about what he knows of Papa and I actually learned a few things." He stood in front of the fire as he spoke, warming his gloved hands. "In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the marquess joins us soon. I hurried Charlotte so that we would have some time to speak freely about Papa before Caroline arrived." His met his wife's eyes for a moment before he added, "I cannot keep a situation like this from my wife because I need to speak of it and also because it has already arrived on her doorstep, but she in turn will have difficulty keeping it from Caroline."

  Ellie sighed. "What situation?" she asked softly. "Papa is just being impossible. Mama says it is not the first time."

  "No, it's not the first time," Edward said quietly. "But it's not Papa just being impossible." He looked up as Ashberry entered the room and waited until the marquess stood behind his wife. "You were too little to remember, I suppose, but Papa used to have terrible tantrums. He threw things, heavy things. He shoved her one time against the railing of the stairs in the upper hall. Mama pretended he didn't, of course, but I could hear them even from the nursery."

  "But he stopped?"

  Edward nodded. "At least, he stopped having those fits in front of us. Being a child, I thought he had just grown out of it. I mean, I grew out of my tantrums." He shrugged. "I was little." He walked to the window and stared out of it, musing, "I haven't managed to figure out why, though."

  Ellie looked behind her, but Ashberry was focused on her brother and his sister. It was Charlotte who finally continued. "Ellie," she said softly, "After Edward took you away, he returned to your mother’s drawing room. Your father had your mother by the shoulders and was shaking her. He had already hit her once on the face, a slap, she said."

  Her mouth open, Ellie nearly turned in her chair. "Ashberry?" she asked uncertainly.

  He nodded calmly. "I know," he replied quietly. "He told me last night. But I thought it should come from Edward."

  Edward, his back still to the others, shrugged his shoulders. "I wouldn't be surprised if Papa disowns me, at least as much as he can," he said quietly. "Of course, he cannot take away the title or Rose Hill and its income, but as to the rest—it will probably all go to John and Richard if they aren’t forced into a similar situation in the next few years." He shook his head. “But I couldn’t allow him to continue as he was.”

  "Why?" Ellie still couldn't fathom her father in such a violent state of mind that he would cut out his beloved son, not after they had already survived together, so the question was incredulous.

  "I hit him," Edward explained defensively. "I turned him around and hit him, and told him to stay away from Mama."

  Ellie swallowed convulsively, grateful that Ashberry's hands came to rest on her shoulders. "Why didn't Mama say anything?"

  He shrugged. "She wants you to think about your marriage and yourself, Ellie, not worry about her. She thought you might be unhappy or even unwilling to leave with Ashberry if you knew." As he spoke, his eyes met Ellie’s for the first time, then drifted away to meet the marquess’ gaze.

  Ellie said nothing. Ashberry could think what he wanted, she told herself. In any event, he answered on her behalf. "Lady Whitney does not know me well," he spoke quietly. "You had better finish the story, Edward, before Ellie faints."

  Edward took a seat and faced his sister, squaring his chin as he did. "Mama and Richard spent the afternoon and night wit
h Charlotte and I while John listened to Papa rail about the injustice of it—of how Mama was to blame for forcing you to marry, how it wasn’t in your best interest and then taking Mama and I to task for leaving before he was finished ‘teaching her a lesson she wouldn’t forget’. I came by here last night—” he stopped until Ellie nodded before continuing, "And your husband and I agreed on a course of action." Edward's eyes flashed with an intensity that Ellie had not seen before and the look made her draw a deep breath. "I know it is not my place to dictate to Papa but I will do it in this case. I can support Charlotte comfortably without his allowance and I will not allow Mama to endanger herself."

  "Will Mama let you manage her?" Ellie doubted it, for she knew her mother resisted receiving orders from anyone, especially her children. The question was evident in her tone.

  Edward drew a deep breath. "In this case she agreed that it would be best if she allowed me to decide when and if it would be safe for her to return home. After all, she’ll not have anyone else except the staff to defend her after Richard leaves next week and John moves into his own lodgings. In my opinion, it isn’t safe anyway because we cannot be with her twenty-four hours a day—and it won't be unless we can find out why Papa is behaving so oddly and guarantee the episodes won’t be repeated."

  "I had done some research," Ashberry murmured from behind Ellie, "On your family, before Edward and Charlotte married. And with your brother's permission, I have asked my contacts to explore a little more deeply and into Whitney’s past than they did before."

  "Until then?" Ellie came to the point that concerned her. "How will you be able to keep him away from Mama? He could take a magistrate into your house and force Mama to go with him." She watched Charlotte carefully as she said her next words. “And it can’t be easy having a houseguest so early in your marriage—particularly Mama, who would run Parliament if she could.”

  “She was quite upset last night,” Charlotte said carefully, “And I’m sure I would never put her back into your father’s company simply because she is fussy about the way one’s house is organized.” She seemed to want to say more but Edward broke in.

  "He'll not find her there," he promised soberly. He sighed, finally taking his wife’s hand in his and squeezing it. "After you've left, John and I will talk to Papa."

  "And where will Mama stay, if not at your house?"

  Edward paused. He waited for Ashberry to answer. "Here," her husband announced calmly.

  Ellie nearly twisted herself until Ashberry came to stand by her side, allowing her to stare at him. “Here?” The word was faint, a bit incredulous.

  “It is unlikely your father would think look here, after seeing the knocker removed from the door. The house will be closed when we leave, the staff mostly dismissed. We’ll put her in a room that faces the courtyard and Riley, Winters, and Mrs. Shannon will do an excellent job of looking after her.” Ashberry’s logic was infallible. “In addition, she’ll be close to Edward and John—they’ll be able to see her easily. After all, it is hardly surprising if I have appointed Charlotte and her husband to check on the house and staff regularly.”

  Ellie nodded slowly, quickly trying to reason her way into acceptance. “Not surprising at all, actually; though Sebastian does your business, he can hardly understand the finer points of household management. I suppose it wouldn’t be unusual for Charlotte to call on Mrs. Shannon, nor for her husband to accompany her. Besides, one could always come in through the kitchens. Banning is very loyal to you—he would never tell.”

  Edward nodded. “Then you agree?”

  Ellie nodded, though her head was nearly swimming with grief. She struggled to keep the tears from spilling out of her eyes and down her cheeks. "If Mama agrees and you both think there is no better alternative, I have no objections."

  Edward nodded. And with a few careful words, they finalized their plans.

  It wasn’t until late that Ashberry came to Ellie’s boudoir. He expected her to be asleep but instead she sat by the fire, wrapped in her coverlet and staring at the flames. He didn’t hesitate but went directly to her, kneeling beside the chair.

  Ellie’s head turned to him, tears still rolling down her cheeks. “Why didn’t I know before?” she whispered. “I should have known.”

  The agony in her voice was obvious. “No, Ellie,” he shook his head, his hands cupping her face and caressing her cheeks with his thumbs. “No, you couldn’t have known.”

  She shook her head. “I thought Mama liked those high-necked gowns she always wears. I, I’m wondering now if she didn’t wear them to hide, hide, hide any bruises.”

  Ashberry stilled. “You think he’s beaten her before?”

  Ellie nodded, turning her head to rub against Ashberry’s hand. “Yes,” she whispered. “In Austria, she said she was so stiff and sore from being in the carriage for three days but I knew she and Papa had been arguing. And then again in Paris, last year, before we came home. We could hear them screaming, John and I. John said she wanted to come back to London but Papa didn’t. I thought he must be wrong because the next day Papa announced we were coming here. I suppose he was feeling guilty.”

  “As he should have,” Ashberry said. “Ella, I don’t wish to be cruel or rude, but if he beat your mother, I shall have great difficulty forgiving him.”

  Ellie nodded. “I know,” she whispered. With a sigh, she turned her head away from his gentle touches and closed her eyes, resting against the back of the chair. “I couldn’t sleep.”

  Ashberry, after a look toward the bed, nodded. “I see.” He stood and without a word, lifted her from the chair and into his arms, coverlet and all. “Perhaps it will be easier with me beside you,” he murmured.

  Ellie said nothing. Her body seemed weak but her mind and heart hurt from the pain of the early afternoon. Caroline and Lady Westhouse had come to visit as well and there had been the farewells when Sebastian, Spencer and Sidney had departed for their brother and aunt’s, not to mention the last minute details of closing the house and dismissing the staff. Hiding those emotions for long hours had been agonizing, fatiguing. Now, utterly spent, she simply lay close to her husband as he arranged the blankets around them. Only when he settled beside her did she whisper, “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Ashberry was tired but even now he cradled his arm around her and laid her head on his shoulder. The form of her body against him was nearly a perfect match to his, with her hip resting carefully against his. He wondered achingly how the following nights would pass, with the two confined to a small room and then to a smaller bed.

  “For taking care of Mama and helping Edward,” she whispered.

  Ashberry, despite himself, chuckled. “My dear, your brother is a financial genius. If he hasn’t made my sister’s dowry triple by this time next year, I’d be in shock. In fact, I’m putting some of my own money into his projects. Edward doesn’t need my help.”

  “Not money,” she murmured sleepily. “With Mama.”

  The marquess twisted his head to kiss her forehead. “I will not leave any woman, especially your mama to whom I owe so much, at the mercy of violence.”

  Ellie nodded, snuggling into his embrace, her leg rubbing unknowingly against his thigh. “Goodnight, Stephen.”

  Ashberry heard her but he didn’t reply. He already knew his night wouldn’t be good. In fact, he suspected it would be downright painful.

  TWELVE

  The morning dawned clear, though when the sun awoke, Ellie was already dressed. She had risen before the light, calling for Carrie. The maid, too, was still sleepy, but she helped Ellie dress in her new traveling gown and when she was ready, Carrie finished packing the last of her things.

  Ellie and Mrs. Shannon together lit the fire and opened the curtains in the room Lady Whitney would use. Only one bedchamber in the house faced the inner courtyard and this one was close to the service stairs and workroom, with the nurseries and servant’s quarters just above it. The fire was lit and Mrs. Shannon arranged a f
resh bouquet of flowers. The housekeeper, cook, underbutler and steward had been taken into Ashberry’s confidence and Mrs. Shannon had spent the evening the previous day preparing the room.

  Lady Whitney arrived in a hired cab, delivered to the kitchen door in a black veil and heavy cloak. She was hurried inside before the servants’ quarters of the nearby houses even woke and was installed in her chamber with very little fuss. Ellie met her there, with a tender hug that neither mother nor daughter wished to end.

  “You must remember, Mama,” Ellie said seriously, “that you won’t be able to use the dining room, conservatory or library at night, for they face outside the house. You will admire Ashberry’s library—in addition to the classics and men’s books, Charlotte and Caroline have stocked it over the last year with a wide variety of good reading. Also, there is a little chapel just next to Ashberry’s sitting room, and the billiards room if you can convince Riley or Alexander to play with you, and of course, the music room has a wonderful pianoforte and harp.”

  The woman, clearly exhausted and distressed, touched her daughter’s cheek with her own. “You are a good child, Ellie. You must relay my gratitude to Ashberry.”

  Ellie’s mouth twisted. “Mrs. Shannon will bring you a breakfast tray. Do you wish to sleep for awhile?”

  Lady Whitney shook her head. “Ellie, dear, go and do what you must. I’m sure Ashberry will send you to say goodbye.” She sat in a deep chair, sighing. “I have not slept well, but for now I will just sit, at least until you leave.”

  Ellie frowned, kneeling beside her mother. “Mama,” she said with concern, “Edward will take care of you. Do not be afraid of Papa anymore.”

  The woman’s mouth curved gently and she touched her daughter’s cheek. “Ellie, you know as I do that running away is no solution, that it only complicates the situation. I will give Edward and Ashberry some time, but if nothing can be done I must go and try to repair the damage that has been done as best I can.”

  “They will do something, Mama. I can’t say what but I know Ashberry will not just abandon you to Papa. He promised me.”