But there was a knock at the door. She answered it.
“Miss Simmons, Mr Dawson has summoned you to the library."
“Thank you, please tell him I will be down straight away." She closed the door and moved into the room to freshen up. She pinned her hair and then put on her shawl over her shoulders. Then she made her way down to the library. As she walked, she very much remembered the moment that they shared together in the library. The time that she had been cleaning and that they shared glances at each other, that was the first time that she thought there was more than just master and servant between them. She had not been into that room ever since she had been kicked out of the house very long ago. Now it made her nervous to go there, it held so many memories.
She knocked on the door.
“Come in."
“You wished to see me." She walked into the room, looking at the very spot that she had been that fateful day, cleaning the bookshelves. Then she converted her gaze to his desk where he sat.
“Yes, how are you feeling today?"
“I am just fine. And you?"
“I am on edge.”
“Tell me."
“I have urgent business to attend to that cannot be delayed. I must leave immediately on horseback, for carriage would take too long."
“Is everything all right?"
“I have reached news that a business relation of mine is very ill. With the Captain and John Huntley both out on tour in Europe, I am the only of my business relations that can see to the manner of tying things up in case of his demise. I must go to him on his deathbed immediately. There is no time to lose.”
“Yes of course, then you must go quickly."
“But you must go too. I cannot take you with me but you cannot stay here."
“What? What do you mean?"
“If Ashford should return to retaliate against you... I would not forgive myself. If he gets word that I have left the estate that you remained he will definitely return. He is a dangerous man. There is no time for me to send for private guards to come here to guard you. Therefore you must leave."
Adeline was quiet. What's this the truth of it or was he getting rid of her? Had her time come. Did he decide he no longer wanted her in his life. “I understand. I will be gone as soon as may be. Perhaps I can trouble you for a carriage to take me to the Green Tavern where I might be able to have accommodations. Then I can make my way to Brentwood Manor to ask if I may stay on while waiting for Katrina.”
“No."
“What do you mean?"
“I have already made arrangements for you. I am not turning you out Adeline. You must know that. I will fetch you as soon as I return from business. But I do not want you out there on your own, you will go to a place that I know is very safe from Ashford, as well as most men. Go gather your things, you leave within the hour."
“Where? Where am I going?"
“It is a place that the Dawson family has relations with and owes us many favors. It is called The Sacred Heart Convent; there is nothing but nuns and young women there. You will be safe there until I can return to fetch you. I already have a carriage being readied for your trouble. Now go."
“Yes, of course. Thank you William."
* * *
Adeline was very much aware that this carriage had played an important part in her life without her realizing it. She had known the carriage when she was but a maid at Linwood. She often saw it coming and going and upon arrival, the servants would rally together in order to prepare for the master’s return and to be there for their needs. She had seen the fancy maroon and black carriage many times during her work at Linwood. It created a stir inside of her to think of William inside the carriage arriving.
Therefore the sight of the marroon and black baroush box was a sight that created deep feelings within her.
When she had lost her memories, the carriage still caused a stir in her. Of course she saw it parked out in front of the factory that day in Lonon, but because she had lost her memories then, she did not know why even then it made her feel something. Now she understood that it had caught her attention then, because she had seen it before and her mind was trying to show her that it was something familiar, but she couldn't put it together then. Illness was too strong, and she did not have her memories back. Her mind may had lost it’s way, but her heart knew. In that moment of seeing in front of the factory, her heart was screaming at her that this was something of import.
Then she saw the same carriage in front of the Green Tavern, that day that William had stepped out of it. During that time she had been frightened of the man, because he had been so adamant that he knew her and she of course thought it was a trick trusting no one. But the carriage had caught her eye when it rolled up to the Green Tavern and again now she knew why. It symbolized so much to her for so long.
Then it arrived at the hunting cottage to take her and William to his home at Linwood Estate, a very long journey but a pleasant one. She did enjoy being in his company even when she did not know who he truly was yet. That journey had frightened her because the carriage that she had seen before was now her mode of transportation.
But now she sat in that very same carriage on another journey. This time she was alone and quite frightened. Her memory had returned to her and she was still processing it all, it was quite stressful indeed. This very carriage that had tormented and taunted her with the sight of it for so long was now her means of transportation, all alone. It felt strange to be in it, as though she was a person of importance. Although she had remembered wearing fine clothes and attending elegant dinners while with the Douvaine’s, she still knew that being an actress was not a person that should have a carriage such as this all to herself. It felt like it was making a mockery of her.
She stared out the window in order to divert her eyes from the fine luxurious interiors of the carriage that made her feel so inferior.
Being on the road alone was a frightening thing for a woman, even though there was a footman, and a manservant aboard the carriage hanging on to the outside. Still there were many robberies that happened along the road and she did not know where she was going. William only said to her that it was a convent full of nuns and that she would be safe there from Ashford.
But a part of her doubted him. And yes she knew that he had urgent business of course, and he needed to attend to it without a woman holding him back and delaying him, but she did not know if he did not want her to stay at the estate because of Ashford and his sisters, or because he was getting rid of her. It would not be so unusual for a man to do such a thing, for married men that had affairs with women often pushed them out of their lives in such a way. Many mistresses were well taken care of far away from the man’s estate so as not to cause problems.
Sending her to a convent would make sure that she had shelter, food, and company, and that no other man could take an interest in her. It was a place that she could stay until she knew that Katrina had returned to Brentwood and then she could go to her – that is if Katrina would have her. She had no reason to doubt her friendship with Katrina, but much had changed in the years that she had known her, and of course there was always reason to doubt. Perhaps Katrina had put the actress behind her and was now a part of polite society and would not want a woman reminding her of her past to be in her home. After her dealings with Patty and Euron, she had started to have a distrust for many people that she thought she knew. For most villians she had met were villaneous from the onset, such as the owner of the Portsmouth brothel, or the machine factory manager. But it was those villains that disguised themselves as sheep, that later turned out to be wolves, that frightened her the most.
All of these thoughts made for great anxiety as the carriage jostled down the road making its way from the Linwood estate to the Sacred Heart Convent. She wasn't even sure in which county the convent was situated, for she did not have time to ask many questions to William before they were both off. She felt very sad departing from him; would it be the last
time she saw him?
She opened the bundle of food, assuming that it was halfway between Linwood and her destination. She bit into the small block of cheese, allowing the rich flavour to savor on her tongue.
* * *
chapter
4 2
* * *
She looked out the window at the rolling grasslands, it was quite beautiful and it made her heart ache for her dear friends the Carsons. She hoped she would see them again.
She was relieved that she was going to a convent at least. For the Sisters would not know her past as an actress and a courtesan, and it was a good Christian thing to do to accept all. If William had arranged it then they would consider her a very esteemed guest. She was glad for it, for after dealing with the Dawson sister she could not bear to deal with any more mean-spirited comments.
In truth she was very glad that she would be in a place where men were not allowed, for once. She had had enough of their assaulting ways and hungry looks. It would be a relief.
“Sacred Heart convent!” the driver shouted.
Adeline looked out the window as they came around the bend. She saw a very large compound of grey stone. It was very beautiful, surrounded by a tall fence. It was lush and there were gardens and tall trees. She would be very at home here.
The carriage pulled up to the iron gate and stopped. The manservant hopped off and grabbed a large rope and tugged on it. It rang a very loud bell that echoed across the compound.
A few moments later a servant opened the gate and the carriage rolled in, stopping directly in front of very large double wooden doors. The manservant opened the door for her and rolled out the steps. She stepped out and just as she was looking around the doors opened.
An older woman in a nun's habit stepped forward. She had a very pleasing smile upon her face which made Adeline immediately happy.
“You must be Miss Simmons. Welcome, welcome; we are very happy to have you stay with us. My name is Sister Mary.”
“I'm very happy to meet your acquaintance, Sister Mary. Thank you for having me stay with you. I am very grateful indeed.”
“Oh no, the pleasure is ours. Anything we can do for the Dawsons we are happy to do. They have done much for the convent, more than we could ever ask for. William Dawson and his sisters have treated us with such kindness and they have helped many of the girls here at our school make their way into society. Please come in come in, the maid will gather your things.”
“Thank you.” Adeline smiled and then follow the nun inside. She was led into a very large foyer, made of the same gray brick stone. But it was very empty and minimal, there were no rich tapestries hung on the walls. There were two benches on either side, both made of wood and not plush material on top. She liked it; it was just the bare essentials, not lavish and needing to prove itself the way most grand estates were.
“Please let me show you to your room and then I will show you around once you have settled. I am sure the journey has been long and you will want to wash up and rest awhile.”
“Thank you Sister Mary. I appreciate that and I look forward to looking around the convent, it is a very pleasant place.”
“This way to your room dear.”
The nun let her upstairs and down the hall. She could hear the giggling of many girls, and she realised that this was a school as well.”
“Are all these girls here to become nuns?”
“Oh no, dear. They are welcome to if they wish to take their vows, but we are an orphanage. These girls are orphans and have no place in the world. We offer them room, board, and an education. Then we try to place them in a position as a maid, governess, servant, anywhere that will have them. But there are those that want to stay and take their vows and become a nun. The Dawson sisters have placed many of our girls in a governess position, which is always highly sought-after.”
“Yes, that is very kind.” She said remembering her time as a maid in the Linwood estate when various women would come through, from a convent, but she did not realize that it was this one. Indeed the Dawson family had a very close relationship with his convent and she could see why she was being treated with such kindness and care at the moment.
“Here you are, one of our guest rooms,” Adeline walked into a very large room with fine gets simple furniture. At a four-poster bed as well as a vanity, and a table with a chair as well as a reading chair in the corner and a very large hearth along the wall.
“This is a most agreeable room. Thank you so much.”
“There is fresh water in the picture here next to your wash basin. Your things are being brought up any minute now, please feel free to freshen up and I shall come to fetch you and half an hour's time to show you the grounds. Is there anything that you would be needing?”
“Only just parchment to write letters. I would very much like to send a letter to a friend of mine to let her know that I am here and have arrived.”
“Of course. Our post goes out in two days. I shall make sure that it is brought to you.”
There was a knock on the open door. The maid came in with Adeline's too small carpet bags. For that was all that she had, not enough to fill a trunk. William had been very kind to her to make sure that she had new clothing and new shoes. Indeed she very much looked like a lady in her brand new riding coat and hat.
“There now, there are your things. I shall return in half an hour. Then I will show you the grounds and we shall sit for tea before dinner is served. We go to bed quite early here.”
“Of course. And sister, if there is anything I may do for you, I do not like to sit idle for long. Mr. Dawson did not tell me how long I would be here, but I can read and write and teach singing and Shakespeare. If you have need of a teacher I am making myself available for you and the girls.”
“That is very kind and we may take you up on that offer. I shall return.” Sister Mary smiled and then walked out closing the door behind her.
She sighed and looked around. “Yet another home.”
Adeline had changed home so many times. She could not keep count any longer, but she was always grateful for a roof over her head and food in her belly now that she had known exactly what have been like to be homeless, and destitute. She had her memory back and could remember sleeping in fields, in the stable in London, and begging for work. These accommodations were far better than the workhouses of London, and she hated to think of that squalor. She wondered what had happened to her friend Ginny, was she still working in that work house?
Adeline took off her hat and coat and rolled up her sleeves. She poured fresh water in the Basin and began to wash her face and hands, washing the dirt from the road off of her. She opened her bag and found the plain gray wool dress that she had insisted William get for her. She did not want too many elegant gowns. She felt that it was quite respectable to wear it now, and not be wanting rich threads in front of these orphans. It would be very unkind.
She changed into the dress, and waited for the sister to return.
Sister Mary returned to her chambers just as she said she would, half an hour exactly. The sister showed her around the grounds which were quite extensive. It consisted of three buildings, each separated by a garden path. The orphanage paused the girls, and Adeline was quite delighted that it was very clean, and kept it. It was nothing like the workhouses that she had lived in and she was very glad for she did not want to see young girls suffer.
Large rooms held three to four beds, that the girls would share and have roommates, so that they would not be alone and have friendship. There was a very large dining hall where all the meals were served. Then of course there was the chapel where service was held.
Then there were the teaching rooms which were quite adequately furnished with learning tools. Adeline could see that the Dawsons had helped in maintaining the convent. It made her very proud of William.
There were gardens outside with herbs and vegetables, that was just a few feet away from the kitchens. It was a very vast compound that seemed to wor
k like clockwork, and she rather enjoyed taking it all in.
She learned that Sister Margaret was the superior sister that oversaw at all. But she was currently away attending church business. So she would not meet her, depending on how long Adeline was to stay.
That thought always was in the back of her mind, for William did not give her an exact day. He did not say one week or two, or one month. She only heard what he told her in the library, that he needed to be away on urgent business, and she did not want to question him any more than that. For she did not know if he even knew how long he would be.
After looking at the grounds, she had dinner amongst the young girls and was very delighted to meet all of the ones that she met, for they were quite educated and very kind. She hoped that the sisters would allow her to teach a course; reading, writing, or singing. She did not want to sit in her room or walk alone among the grounds and have time to think. There was too much in her mind and she would rather be distracted from it. She would rather be distracted from the notion that William may have abandoned her all together.
* * *
chapter
4 3
* * *
After dinner she made her way to her room and immediately set about writing a letter to Katrina.
Dearest Katrina, I know that you have received my other letters by this time, but if you are to open this one first I must tell you that my memory has returned to me. I was suffering from amnesia for years, and William Dawson found me and took me to his estate where my memory recovered. At the moment I am staying at the Sacred Heart Convent. William has told me that he has to attend to business and will return to fetch me once he has word that you have returned to Brentwood. However if things were to go amiss, I just wanted to inform you of where I was. I am at the Sacred Heart Convent, under the guidance of Sister Mary. I do hope to see you again sister, please write to me as soon as you return.
Love always, your sister in name, Adeline.
A Poor Girl's Peril (#4, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 19
