She poured drying powder over the ink waiting for it to dry. She would wait to fold and seal it in the morning and hand it to Sister Mary to send to Brentwood Manor. She was very excited to see Katrina again and could not wait for them to be reunited.
The days passed, and she did not get a return reply from Katrina nor a letter from William. She spent her days teaching singing to the girls, and it made her quite content. But she was very anxious; where could William be?
* * *
William Dawson frantically went about his business. He wanted to make haste as much as he could. He wanted to get back to the Sacred Heart Convent to fetch Adeline, heaven forbid Ashford find out where she is and try to retaliate against her. There were a number of things he could do, including calling out her true character as an actress or courtesan in her past, which would cause the convent to turn her out, no matter her current relations.
“Huntley, I am so glad you have returned. I'm doing my best here to deal with Mr. Stevenson, with him on his deathbed we are trying to tie up all the loose ends. I believe I have gotten him to sign most of the documents that hands over control to my lawyer in the matters of his business that is tied to ours.”
“Yes, I arrived with the tide this morning and made my way here quickly, leaving behind my wife at the end in Portsmouth, something she was not very fond of, but I gave her plenty to do by giving her a large coin purse to buy new items from the shipments coming in from the Orient. She is very fond of silk.” Huntley smiled.
“And I am glad for it, because I need you here. I will catch you up on everything that I have done, this pile of papers here on the desk. There is still much more to be done.”
“Indeed you look weary, William.” Huntley said.
“That I am, for there has been much more to my life that has been quite upturned as of late. Remember the woman I told you about, Miss Simmons, that I thought had perished in the fire?”
“Yes, the one that was your maid at Linwood that you thought you had feelings for. I remember and I remember how I disapproved; how you must have despised me then.”
“Indeed I did and I mean not to let any of my relations tell me how I should live my life from now on. No matter it turns out she is not dead, she is alive and she had amnesia for many years now. I found her and took her in, and her memory returned to her only recently under a traumatic event.”
“Traumatic event? Is she all right? What happened? Are you all right?” Huntley ass suddenly looking very concerned for his friend.
“I am fine. She is also quite adequate though possibly very weary from all that has happened to her. The traumatic event was none other than an attack under my very roof by Ashford.”
Huntley turned a very dark look on to his face. For he also had reasons to hate that man.
“Blast that man, William. When will you force him out of your life, out of your household, and out of marriage with your sister? He is a vile wicked man. He is a danger to all women that crossed his path, I know that better than anyone. You saw what he did to my wife. I should have his head for it.”
“Yes, I am quite aware and I have made amends with myself for allowing it to happen for so long. I knew what he was and turned a blind eye. We have wronged too many women because of him. But no longer, you will be happy to know that I did turn him out. I banished him all of my homes. As for my sister I do not know how to deal with that matter, if divorce is even possible, or if she will want it. She does not yet know of the attack on Adeline, the second one at least. I kept it from her so I can deal with other matters first. You know how dramatic my sisters may be.”
“Yes indeed, I know all too well. Why I'm glad to hear it man, I'm very proud of you. You have stepped up to him, something that you have never done. It sounds like you have made a decision as far as this Adeline goes as well, you said that you will no longer allow your relations to decide what makes you happy. Does that mean...?”
“Yes, I mean to ask for her hand in marriage. That is, if she will have me. I have been the means of misery for her for many years. I do not doubt that she might despise me. But I hope the opposite is true.”
Huntley gave William a very hearty patting on the back. “ That is exceptional news, William. Finally a woman that has captured your heart. I thought it would never happen. You are getting old sir.” He teased.
“Yes, I have a ring here that I bought here in town. I am ready to propose as soon as I fetch her from the Sacred Heart Convent. I took her there after Ashford, I did not feel safe leaving her at any of my home's where he might retaliate against her while I am not there. So I took her to a very safe place. We are just waiting for Captain Byers to return with his wife, for she is like a sister to Adeline, and she very much wants to see her. As soon as I wrap up the business here I am to fetch Adeline, I propose, and then we shall wait for the captain to return.”
“Byers? Well, he has returned.”
“What? When where?” William was suddenly panicked.
“I saw the docket today when I arrived. The portmaster was expecting Byers to arrive on the noon time. Byers had sent a man ahead of him, they were just weighing anchor out in the deep for the tide to come in. I myself would have waited to greet him but knowing that we needed to deal with these matters I came straight away on horseback.”
William panicked. If Katrina found out that Adeline was at Linwood estate she might go there straight away instead of going home to Brentwood. It would be complete chaos, too. He was also scared that Adeline would go with her and never want to speak with him again, making him lose the chance to propose to her.
“What if they fetch Adeline before me and I lose my chance to propose? What if I lose her again, Huntley? I don't think I could survive at this time. Once I thought she was dead, and it devastated me, you saw how I was.”
“Yes indeed I did. Go now man. Take that ring and take your horse and go to Adeline immediately. I will take over here, I know the business as well as you do and can finish what you have started. Go.”
“Huntley? You are sure?”
“Yes, but go now before I change my mind sir.”
“I am gone. I am gone. Thank you, you are a true friend.”
William gathered his things, frantically. He put on his coat and hat and ran out with the biggest grin on his face. Finally, he was going to make the woman he had always loved his wife, but would she have him?
* * *
chapter
4 4
* * *
“Anything?” Adeline asked at the gate.
“No my dear, I do not see anything for you.” Sister Mary said as she rifled through the mail that had just arrived by post.
“Thank you, I shall be walking in the gardens if you need me.” Adeline said and turned and walked away. She did not want the sister to see just how unhappy she was. It had been 10 days since William had told her that she needed to come to the convent.
Had he forgotten about her all together? Was he just making sure that she had a roof over her head and food so that she could figure out what she would do next? The thought made her stomach ache. She also expected word from Katrina any day, for the last that she heard Katrina was in Ireland with her husband, making trade. It was not too far from their home, but she did not know how long they would stay in Ireland or how many stops they would make along the way. But she hoped to hear from her friends soon, so that she could feel at ease.
She walked along the garden path, admiring the lush green plants, a bush of Wisteria grew marking that spring had arrived officially. It smelled of a delicious purple scent that she loved greatly.
She thought about spending Christmas with the Carsons, and how long it had been since then. Winter was indeed over, but would spring bring any better news to her life? She knew that she should be grateful that she had her memories back, if anything, that was the best gift of all, but with it also brought great pain.
She missed Mr and Mrs Douvaine, for they were like an aunt and uncle – family. How she mi
ssed them and the house servants. She remembered that frightful night, waking up and choking on smoke. It all replayed in her mind.
How something felt oddly wrong. It was in the moment that she sat up in bed and took a deep breath, that she realized what was happening. She immediately started coughing, the air was thick with smoke. In the dark of the night, she could not see at all. Getting out of her bed, her feet hit the cold floor and she patted over to the window, flinging it open. The rush of air hit her face and she was able to breathe, but only for a moment for the smoke that had gathered in her room quickly made its escape through the window. She coughed and choked again. Looking into the room with the moonlight streaming in from the open window, she could see just how smoky it was.
“Fire.”
In her white nightgown, Adeline made her way to the door of her bedroom. She needed to wake up the rest of the household. She lived in the townhome upstairs from the theater with the Douvaines, the couple that ran the theater.
“Ouch.“
She yanked her hand from the door knob which was considerably hot indeed. She folded the cloth of her nightgown in her hand and used it to open the door. But on the other side flames licked high toward the ceiling. Adeline shouted, and jumped back. The flames engulfed the entire floor and she could not see beyond them. The splintering and cracking of the word reached her ears as the floor began to collapse on the staircase. She panicked, there was no way for her to get beyond the flames.
She now remembered how hopeless she felt in that moment, that there would be nothing that she could do for them. Now she wished that she would at least have tried to jump through the fire, perhaps she could have dunked her blanket in water and wrapped it around her and ran through it it's only to wake up her friends. All these things she regretted greatly and felt that she was responsible for their death. Not that she was able to.
Tears streamed down her face as she stood underneath the wisteria, inhaling it's wonderful scent. She mourned her friends, and warned the years that she had lost to the amnesia.
“Adeline?”
She heard the deep familiar voice. she turned around to see William standing there, with a big smile on his face that quickly vanished when he saw the tears.
“What is it, Adeline? Are you all right?” He was immediately at her side.
“I am. I am sorry my sadness overtook me, I was remembering my friends the Douvaines, that is all. I am very glad to see you William, I did wonder if you were going to return at all.” She wiped the tears from her face.
“What? You doubted my return? Can you not see? is it not clear how much I care for you? Of course I will return for you always. I searched London for you. I was devastated when I thought you perished in the fire, I was a broken man. Then when I saw you I regretted that I had let you run away, but I was in such a state of shock and was not sure if it was you at all or my imagination, conjuring up things because I had missed you so. Then I searched London for you for years, do you think that I would have done that only to abandon you now?”
“No. I suppose not. I did not think of such a thing. Forgive me.”
“Then tell me what you think of this.” He reached into his pocket and then got down on one knee in front of her. Adeline looked as he opened his hand and sitting in the palm of his large strong hand was a ring with a sapphire gemstone in the middle.
“This ring, reminds me of you because it matches the beautiful colour of your blue eyes, my dear Adeline. Would you do me the great honour of being my wife? It would bring me great joy and pleasure for the rest of my days. Will you marry me, Adeline Simmons Proctor?”
“Oh William, is this for real? Is this one of my dreams my mind cannot tell any longer? I have longed to hear those words from you. Is this what you really want?”
“Yes indeed it is. I love you Adeline, you have my heart. I want you to be the Mistress of Linwood estate. Together we will run it and be happy; have a family together. What say you?”
“Yes. Yes, I will marry you, William.”
William slid the sapphire ring onto her finger, then he stood up and pulled her to him, and placed a kiss on her lips that seem to last decades. She wrapped her arms around him, feeling his strength and fully enjoying this kiss, their first true kiss, that would be the beginning of their life together.
“Did you find her? Mr. Dawson! Such behaviour will not be tolerated at this convent.” Sister Mary came around the corner happening upon them.
William and Adeline stopped kissing and immediately stood at attention and began to laugh.
“You must excuse my behaviour, sister. For I just asked this woman to marry me and she has accepted. A kiss was warranted for such a celebration.”
Sister Mary clapped her hands together and bounced up and down. “ Oh! Such excellent news! congratulations to you both. Then yes a kiss is warranted, but nothing more. But please, come inside and we shall have a drink of sherry to celebrate before you are whisking the bride away.”
“Yes, we would be delighted.” Williams said and took Adeline's hand in his, leading her to the building. And as they walked together he whispered.
“I have another gift for you my dear.”
“Another? But William, asking me to be your wife is the greatest gift of all, I could not want for anything more.”
“But you will when I tell you the gift is news. I have heard upon good authority that Captain Byers and Katrina have made port today at the noon hour at Portsmouth. They should be returning to Brentwood in a few days. I believe that we should leave here and go to Brentwood and I will inquire to our stay to await their arrival. The house staff knows me very well, and we will be welcomed. I have had my carriage called for, and should be arriving within the next few hours to take us there.”
Adeline's eyes grew wide, tears begin to flow down her cheeks. “Oh William, this is the best day of my life. I am to be your wife and I get to be reunited with my dear sister Katrina. How can I ever be so happy?”
“It is all the happiness that you deserve and more. Enjoy it you have been through much hardship, but those days are gone, for I will make sure that your life is nothing but he's in idleness from now on.”
Adeline laughed. “ Oh William, then I shall get fat and be a sloth.”
He laughed. “ Once Katrina and the captain arrive at Brentwood, perhaps they would be good enough to allow us to marry there on those grounds. What say you to that? Is that too hasty of?”
“No, it is not at all. I cannot wait hardly another day to become your wife. The sooner the better, and the fact that I will have my sister at my side to be my maid of honour and witness is everything that I could have ever hoped for. I'm very excited to see Brentwood Manor, after it being such a mysterious word to me for so long. I love you, William.”
“And I love you, Adeline Simmons.”
* * *
As the carriage set out from the Sacred Heart Convent, Adeline had never felt so content in her life. Now that she had her memory back she could say that with confidence, for this was the best time of all those memories.
In truth she was still reeling for the proposal that the gentleman Mr William Dawson had bestowed upon her just two hours before. Now they sat in the travelling carriage that had grown quite familiar to her. Sitting across from her fiance, she looked at him with the biggest grin that she could muster; in fact she could not stop smiling all together.
She looked down at the sapphire ring on her hand that she refused to put a glove on just so that she may give it the occasional look to confirm that she had not dreamed up the proposal and it was in fact truth.
“Why are you sitting all the way over there?” William grinned.
“Over where? Where should I be?” she asked.
He placed his hand on the bench beside him and patted it gently.
“Sir, you wish me to sit in such a place when I have the luxury of all this room?” she teased putting her hands out and touching the sides of the carriage.
“Indeed I do, beca
use it would give me great comfort to have my fiance at my side,” he said.
“In that case I guess I am obliged to do so,” she smiled.
He put his hands out to her and helped her move across to him in the rocking carriage. She sat beside him and he encircled his arm around her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“The last time we were in this carriage together I did not have my memories back,” she said.
“Yes, and now you have them back and are still inclined to make me the happiest man by accepting me as a husband. I am quite content that having your memory back does not make you hate me as I thought it might. I had done you wrong Adeline and I will forever regret it.”
“Oh no William, do not say such a thing. All is forgiven and I am glad that I know the truth that my memories have now given me. It puts a veil on the world that makes me value everything all the more.”
“I understand your meaning for once having thought I lost you. I greatly value the second chance to be with you.”
She smiled at him as he beamed passion and home down on her. Adeline snuggled deep against him and exhaled in relief. She felt truly safe and happy.
“How long is the journey to Brentwood?”
“But three hours, however it will be a four hour journey so that we may stop for a short spell halfway through. There is an Inn to do so.”
“Glad I am for it. I do love to be able to see new places.”
“You do?”
“Oh yes.”
“Have you seen Europe?”
She gasped. “Heavens no. When would I do such a thing?”
“True, but would you have an interest to do so with me?”
“Oh yes, of course William.”
“Then I will speak with Captain Byers to see if he and his wife, your dear friend Katrina, would oblige us to take us on their next voyage there. Then once we are there you and I can do the tour... Paris, Rome, Vienna...”
“Oh William!”
“We will have the world to ourselves and make love in all these places.”
“William! Shocking reply!” she laughed.
A Poor Girl's Peril (#4, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 20
