His wife, Harmony, waited outside in the carriage, leaving Nathaniel right where Ambrose needed him — alone. Ambrose had no qualms about keeping the newest Lady Lambert waiting, for by doing so, it only solidified who was truly in charge at his home.
As Nathaniel opened up to Ambrose, pouring out his anguish, Ambrose developed a plan. He wanted to ascertain that the newest generation of Lamberts came to him for guidance in all matters, yet to ensure they would, he needed to create further problems that he would then aid in resolving.
“And now because of Isaac,” Nathaniel was saying, “I find my anger growing daily and my actions toward my wife horrible at best.” The young man looked up, his eyes conveying his worry. “I do not wish to send her away because of her actions, but if I do not, I have little doubt that Isaac will do all he can to woo her away from me.”
The two boys may not have grown up together, but sibling rivalry comes in all forms. Whether it was as simple as that which Charles and Silas encountered during their youth, Ambrose was uncertain, but the situation created the perfect scenario for him to gain more of Nathaniel’s trust.
“You say they were embracing beneath a tree?” Ambrose asked as he poured himself a measure of brandy. “What reaction did you have from that?”
“I became enraged,” Nathaniel replied, his cheeks reddening. “It is so unlike me, Reverend, and I do not know what to do. Every choice I make seems to be the wrong one.” He sighed. “Perhaps I should just give up any fight for the title and cede to Isaac. He is the rightful heir, after all, and by not doing so, I am only prolonging the inevitable.”
Ambrose nearly choked on his drink. From what he had heard of this Isaac Thorne, the man would never consider searching him out for advice, which only would lead to a break with his hold on whoever had control of Scarlett Hall. No, he could not have that!
“Now, now, such talk is foolish and unbecoming of a baron, for that is who you are.” He walked over and handed the boy a glass, a smile on his face. “Drink this. We shall find a solution to your problems before you walk out that door.”
As he returned to his seat, he recalled Charles Lambert coming to see him nearly thirty years earlier. The man had been on the verge of tears as he confessed to marrying Eleanor when he was already wed to another. Apparently, he had married a common woman in Scotland while in a drunken state.
The following morning, when reason returned, he had escaped without so much as a goodbye to Miriam Thorne, hoping to pay off the woman to keep their secret. Unfortunately, he later received word that the woman had given birth to a son – before he had made the necessary plans to annul the marriage. And after marrying Eleanor.
That was some barn you burned down, Charles, Ambrose thought with a silent chuckle.
Ambrose knew the day would come when the true heir arrived to claim what was rightfully his, and that he, Ambrose, would be there to give whatever aid he could to the man who would benefit him the most. And now that Charles was dead, that man was Nathaniel.
“Thank you for the drink, Reverend,” Nathaniel said. “It is helping. My mind has cleared so I am ready to listen to your words of wisdom.”
“You have two problems that are intertwined,” Ambrose said. “You seek to retain your title and home, but you also find yourself at odds with your wife. It appears these two issues revolve around one point — your brother, Isaac.”
Nathaniel nodded. “That is it exactly.”
“I must say that your distrust of your wife is only delaying the solution.”
With a frown, Nathaniel said, “I do not distrust Harmony. It is Isaac of whom I am skeptical.”
“Are you sure?” Ambrose asked as he sat back in his seat. “Tell me, what man would be pleased to find his wife in the embrace of another man? Least of all his own brother? Are you afraid she may leave you for him? Or perhaps you believe she will join him in his bed?”
Of course, the boy had not taken his suspicions quite that far, but what harm would it do him – Ambrose, that is – of adding a bit of water to the seed already planted?
“Reverend!” Nathaniel said with clear shock. “I can assure you that Harmony is not the kind of woman who would go to any man’s bed other than mine. Her heart is good, and she believes that kindness will be victorious. That is why she shows him such charity.”
Although Ambrose agreed with the man’s sentiment, he shook his head as if reluctant. Now was the time to cultivate the seeds of dissension. “Perhaps you are right,” he said with a sigh. “Yet, I believe it is imperative you determine if that is true. Just to be certain.”
The younger man furrowed his brow. “What do you mean?”
“It is simple,” Ambrose replied. “Do not forbid her from speaking with the man, nor restrict what she does. After all, you have said yourself that your concern is not for the choices she may make.”
“But what of Isaac? I fear he may attempt to hurt her or try to…” Nathaniel swallowed visibly and lowered his head.
Ambrose went to kneel beside the boy. He was still quite young. And malleable. “Allow her to continue showing the man kindness. You must concentrate your energy on controlling your anger. Remember what King David sang in his Psalms. ‘Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it only leads to evil.’”
“And if I am unsuccessful? What then?”
With a smile, Ambrose rose and placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Then you will return to me. But I would like you to test your wife. Later today, you will tell Harmony she must continue to speak to your brother. Watch her reaction. Does she argue? Or is she happy to continue her work?”
Nathaniel looked up at him. “What will that tell me?”
“It is a simple test,” Ambrose replied. “What would it mean if she argues? And if she seems overly pleased to be kind to the man? What do you believe that could mean?”
The young man frowned. “It could mean a number of things. Arguing could mean she has no interest…” He paused, and Ambrose nearly jumped with joy as the realization came over Nathaniel. “You are saying that she may want to grow closer to Isaac?”
“I am unsure, in all honesty,” Ambrose replied. “I believe she will make the right choice and that you have nothing to fear. But whether or not she grows closer to Isaac, what you must focus on is preparing yourself for what it will take to retain your title.”
“Are you saying that my title is more important than my wife?”
Ambrose chuckled. “Not at all. However, your title is what will give you what you need to keep your wife at your side.”
“And what must I do to prepare?”
“We have spoken before about the power your position has,” Ambrose replied as he returned to the decanters. “You were successful in using it to secure your bride, were you not?”
“Yes, but the guilt I have carried since coercing her father has not sat well with me. In truth, it plagues me every day.”
With his back to the boy, Ambrose grinned. A heart full of guilt meant Nathaniel would come to seek his counsel for years to come – and with him great amounts of wealth. But only if the boy retained the barony.
“Do you love your wife?” he asked. “Your sisters? Your mother? Your title and Scarlett Hall?”
“Of course,” Nathaniel replied as if offended he would ask. “They mean everything to me.”
Ambrose turned and looked directly into Nathaniel’s eyes. “There are means to save what belongs to you that are far more effective than coercion — and sins far worse,” he said. “But we can discuss those later. Make no decision about that now, for I want you to take some time to consider how far you are willing to go to protect those you love. When you have that answer, then return to me and we will discuss other options.”
“I will, Reverend,” Nathaniel replied, He stood, reached into his coat, and produced several notes. “For your time.” He placed the notes on the table.
“Thank you for your offering,” Ambrose said, making the sign of the cross at Nathaniel. “Now,
send me your wife.”
***
Harmony had never felt more confused or lost in all her life than she did at this moment. A month earlier, she and Nathaniel had returned to Scarlett Hall, filling the carriage with laughter and love. Now, however, it was as if they lived separate lives, and she had no idea what to do about it.
But the good reverend will, she thought as she waited patiently in the carriage for her turn to speak to the vicar. At first, she had been surprised when Reverend Creassey asked her to remain outside, but then it occurred to her that perhaps the need for privacy was much more important than propriety in this situation. Sound has a way of traveling through hallways faster than a stick flows down a river if the house is not well-built, and she and Nathaniel would both desire privacy to discuss their problems.
When Nathaniel had emerged to inform her that she could speak to Reverend Creassey, he had a lightness to his feet that settled her stomach somewhat. She hoped the counsel she received was as encouraging as that which Nathaniel seemed to have gotten.
“And now,” she said as she sat on the sofa beside the vicar and poured out her heart and soul, “both my husband and my lady’s maid look at me as if I have done something improper. I can assure you that I have done nothing of the sort.”
“I believe you,” the reverend replied with a pat on her hand. “Please, continue.”
She drew in a calming breath. “I believe I may have been wrong in my decision to show Isaac kindness. Perhaps they are seeing something I am not.” Tears welled in her eyes, and she blinked them back. Everything she had believed all her life seemed to be proving wrong! “What is worse is that Nathaniel’s desire to retain his title has changed him. I want the man I married to return, not the angry and exasperated man I see daily. It is as if a chasm has developed between us, and I cannot see a way to overcome it.”
The reverend smiled. “Your attempts to help your husband are admirable. In fact, I rarely encounter such loyalty.”
Harmony felt her cheeks heat. “Thank you, Reverend. I only wish to do whatever I can to ease his burden.”
Reverend Creassey’s lips thinned. “The problem lies not with you but rather with Nathaniel.” He raised his glass as if to toast. “I am glad you came today. By doing so, you have shown that you remembered to seek my counsel in times of trouble.”
Harmony nodded. “Yes, Father,” she replied. “I know your wisdom will help us.”
The reverend placed his glass on the table and stood. “Come here to me,” he said.
The request seemed odd, but Harmony did as the man bade.
“Do you remember the promise you made that no matter what we discuss, it should never leave this room?”
Harmony nodded.
“Are you still a woman of her word?”
“Yes, of course. I will never repeat anything we discuss unless you say so.”
The vicar smiled and took a step closer. “You are a beautiful woman,” he whispered as he pushed back a lock of her hair. “Has that fact escaped you?”
Harmony had to force her feet to stay in place. This was a man of God and would never do anything to take advantage of her, but his closeness was uncomfortable. “I do not think myself plain,” she replied, “but I do not have such a high opinion of myself to call me beautiful.”
When the reverend took yet another step closer, her heart nearly stopped as confusion coursed through her.
“Your husband confessed to me today that he suffers from a great deal of jealousy. He sees your beauty and believes that his brother may take your offer of kindness wrongly and try to take advantage of it. But his greater concern is that you will become enamored with this man and leave him.”
“He believes that?” she asked in shock. “He has never said so.”
With a sad nod, Reverend Creassey took her by the elbow and directed her to the window. “He admits that his jealousy has fed his anger, that he has spoken sharply to you and others who are undeserving of such treatment.” He smiled and placed a hand on her arm. “But there is good news. You will be able to help him overcome this resentment that is festering inside him.”
“I can?” Harmony asked. “Please, tell me what I can do. I do not want him to succumb to such ill thoughts. I love him and want him to know he can trust me.”
“Although Nathaniel is unable to recognize it as of yet, I believe the kindness you are showing his brother is having a positive effect on him, or at least that is what I have gathered from what you have told me.”
“Do you believe Isaac’s motives are misguided?”
“Of course not, child,” the reverend replied with a kind smile. “You may release any guilt you may be carrying. Sadly, your husband and lady’s maid are blind. I know goodness when I see it, and I believe your goodness will have this Isaac fellow relinquishing his claim on the barony soon enough. How can anyone elude your goodhearted nature?”
For the first time in several weeks, Harmony felt hope. What she was doing was right; it was just that those around her could not see it. “Then I shall continue to do good and make the man feel welcome,” she replied.
“That is the spirit!” the reverend said. “But there is one more thing we must conquer – the jealousy that Nathaniel is battling. When I spoke to him, I advised him to request that you continue to sway his brother. Although he was reluctant, he agreed. Therefore, when he makes his request, you must agree, and with a great deal of exuberance.”
Harmony frowned. “But will that not only make him angry?”
“It likely will,” Reverend Creassey said. “I imagine that his jealousy will surge over the next few months, but no matter what happens, you must remain steadfast in your pursuit of helping your husband. It will not be an easy task, but dealing with jealousy never is. As Proverbs teaches us, ‘A sound heart is the life of the flesh; but envy the rottenness of the bones’.” He must be forced to confront his jealousy, for it will eventually give way to what is truly in his heart. You will see it often in the beginning, but you must be strong, otherwise he will never overcome his sins. Just know that I shall be here if you need someone in whom you wish to confide. I am always ready with a listening ear.”
“If this is what it will take to help Nathaniel retain his title and overcome his jealousy,” she said with firm conviction, “then it is what I shall do.”
Reverend Creassey laughed. “I am beginning to wonder if it is not you who should be advising me! Now, I have other matters I must attend to but do not forget to come and see me at the slightest hint of any problem. Do not wait until it has become as serious as this.”
“I give you my word,” Harmony replied. “And thank you.” Then she remembered his payment. Reaching into a small hidden pocket Lydia had sewn into her dress, she took out two five-pound notes. “An offering to the Church.”
He gave her a small nod in acknowledgment. “And I thank you. It will go to a good cause, I assure you.”
“May I inquire as to the cause?” she asked.
The reverend gently took her by the arm and guided her from the room. “One of my servants is with child but she is unwed. This money will help her toward a better life in a village far from here and the judgment of those who would cast her aside.”
As they reached the front door, Harmony turned toward the vicar. “You truly are a kind man,” she said. “To think your hand of kindness even reaches out to servants!”
“Everyone in Rumsbury is of my flock,” Reverend Creassey replied. “Those of noble breeding as well as those of common stock. Now, continue on in hope and we shall see Nathaniel overcome his weaknesses.”
Harmony walked outside light of step. Granted, the next months would not be pleasant, but she was willing to endure the difficulties if it meant she would have her husband returned to her as he once had been.
***
Nathaniel studied his wife from across the carriage as it trundled along the road. He could not push away the sadness that filled his heart. If only he could find a way to h
eal the rift that had grown between them.
However, it was the advice he had received from Reverend Creassey that raised his hackles. What would be her reaction to his request? How should he interpret that reaction? And what could be worse than coercion? Well, there were many greater sins but none he would ever be willing to commit. Perhaps the vicar was right; Nathaniel had not committed the worst of sins.
“I have done some thinking about my behavior as of late,” he said, bracing himself for what would come when he made his request. “I have been unfair to you, and therefore, I would like you to continue to do what you can to win over Isaac.” He held his breath, but when her face lit up with a wide smile, his stomach cramped.
“You do not know how happy it makes me to hear you say so,” she said. “I will honor your request, and you will see that, in time, Isaac will offer you the title on a silver platter.”
His head felt as if it were wrapped in cotton wool as he nodded, and for the first time since they met, he doubted his new bride. Could it be that she found Isaac more intriguing than him? Or was it his title and wealth she had wanted all along?
No, that made no sense. Although she had known he was a baron, she had wanted to marry him even when she knew nothing about his wealth.
Yet, the conversation he had shared with Reverend Creassey came to mind, and he took a moment to consider her reaction. There was no hesitation nor any reluctance at being in Isaac’s company. Truth be told, she seemed eager in her response.
“Do you truly believe that you will be able to convince him to relinquish his claim?” he asked.
Harmony nodded. “Indeed I do,” she replied.
Nathaniel sighed. Had he already lost his wife? “I do not want you to believe that I am forcing you to spend more time with Isaac. If you would rather stay away, I will understand.” Even as he said the words, he wondered if the advice he had been given was indeed good, for in his heart none of this felt right.
“Not at all,” she replied, nearly with glee. “The best course of action is to keep the man close to me. I am making progress and I believe that I will see success.” She paused. “Do you not want me to do so?”
Cry of the Baroness: Secrets of Scarlett Hall Book 9 Page 9
