by Jenna Brandt
He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her into an embrace as his mouth met hers. A flood of serenity washed over him. He realized Debbey always managed to be his calm in the storms of life.
Chapter 26
A few weeks had passed, and Matilda and Dora had settled into life at the Almonbury home. Debbey hired a nurse for Dora as well as a governess for Matilda. Daily routines for everyone formed.
Two letters had arrived in the mail for Debbey from back home. One from her best friend Amelie Leclaire, and the other from Lucy McCoy, her new sister-in-law. She read the contents of Amelie’s letter first.
My Dearest Debbey,
We miss you so much back here in West Linn. Although the town continues on in the same manner, we’re not the same without you and William here with us. We know you are busy taking care of William’s family matters, but we hope that soon, you will be able to return to us. I am due to have the baby in the next month, and once I am able, I will write to inform you if it’s a boy or girl. We are still unclear on names as Pierre and I have very different opinions on the issue, so my next letter promises to be full of surprises. I hope you are settling in to life in England, made many friends, and found a church you can call home. My prayers are with you always,
Much love,
Amelie
The letter was bitter-sweet. It warmed her heart to hear from her friend and to know all was well in West Linn, but at the same time, sadness cascaded over her because she was missing out on so much. She never thought she wouldn’t be there for the birth of Amelie’s first child. She had imagined their children growing up together, but all that seemed impossible now.
Debbey opened the second letter from Lucy and read the contents.
Dear Debbey,
I’m writing to you in my fourth month of marriage to your brother, Matthew. We have settled into the house he built for us, and marriage is treating us well. We finally saved up enough money to be able to buy the saloon from Pierre. I’m still managing it while William is the head supervisor at the mill. My relationship with your parents is going well. We have family dinner with them every week, and your mother is teaching me all the family recipes. I think I shall be as good as cook as you by the time you return home. Speaking of that, I hope it is rather soon. We all miss you terribly.
Your faithful friend and new sister,
Lucy
Debbey placed the letters in the second drawer of her vanity. As she reached out to pick up her comb, the door opened behind her. Lily came into the dressing room. “Here let me help you, my lady. You don’t need to be doing any of this yourself.”
She handed over the brush, allowing Lily to brush out and place her hair in a French twist with two combs securing it.
Lily fetched the dress which had been laid out the night before. She helped Debbey slip into it, then secured the dress in place.
“My lady, I need to speak with you about a delicate matter.”
“What is it, Lily?” Debbey inquired.
“One of my duties is to keep track of your monthly flows. You missed one this month.”
With a shrug, Debbey stated, “I’ve never been consistent. I’m not surprised I skipped a month.”
Lily shook her head. “This will make two months you have skipped. You haven’t had one since your second month here.”
Debbey froze in the middle of securing her left earring. “Are you certain?”
The girl nodded. “Yes, my lady.”
Her hand dropped to her stomach. She had felt ill several times over the past few weeks, but she had attributed it to getting used to the rich food, combined with stress.
“I’ve also noticed your dresses aren’t fitting the same. I’ve had to loosen the amount I can cinch your corsets. Your dresses have little room in the waist. You are either gaining weight from eating, or . . .”
“I am with child,” Debbey finished the statement.
It was like a puzzle piece fitting into place to complete a picture. Each of the pieces alone meant nothing, but together, it was obvious Debbey was pregnant. Now all she needed to do was find the right time to tell William.
Clara was waiting by the front door as Debbey descended the stairs. Her sister-in-law looked beautiful in a dark blue dress with matching hat and gloves.
“Good morning, Clara. You look lovely.”
“Thank you, Deborah. You also look charming.”
“I have to agree,” William stated as he came around the corner. “My wife looks magnificent in that dress.”
Debbey glanced down at her dark green dress and smiled. The dress was one of William’s favorites, causing her to keep it in a permanent rotation of what she wore. She knew he would appreciate her decision to wear it this morning.
“Shall we be on our way?” William asked the women.
Both of them nodded as the butler opened the door, allowing them to exit. They made their way down the stairs and into the carriage.
As they arrived at the church, Debbey was grateful for the reprieve. Over the past few weeks, she had learned to appreciate the reverend’s insightful sermons. She looked forward to hearing his teachings each week, and found comfort in the hymnals and time of prayer.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. This fine spring day, I wish to speak with you about the power of God’s love. Often, we find ourselves contemplating our lives and what truly matters. Are we giving to those in need? Are we showing God’s love to others in the way we conduct ourselves? Are we forgiving those who trespass against us? If we answer ‘yes’ to all of these questions, we are fulfilling God’s mandate in our lives. Only through His love are we able to successfully show compassion and forgive.”
As the reverend concluded his sermon, Debbey contemplated whether she was living up to God’s mandate in her own life? Was she choosing to forgive and show compassion? If she were honest, she had been so focused on fitting into the aristocratic world, she hadn’t been focusing on her Christian duties. She had been making choices to please others, not seeking to do God’s will. She needed to change what she was doing.
As the Almonburys exited from their pew after the service, Debbey inquired, “Did you enjoy the sermon, Clara?”
“I found it enlightening. I am not sure why Mother is so opposed to going to church, but I found it rather pleasing. It did my heart good to attend.”
“I am glad to hear it,” Debbey stated with a smile.
Lord Blanchard approached them, saying, “Good morning, Lord and Lady Almonbury.” He then made direct eye contact with Debbey’s sister-in-law. “Lady Clara.”
“Good morning, Lord Blanchard,” William greeted in return. “What may we do for you?”
“I simply wanted to greet all of you—” he paused for a moment, then added, “—and to see if you have made a decision regarding what we discussed at the club.”
William crossed his arms with a grin. “I understand you wanting an answer, but to be honest, I have had little time to regard the matter.”
Clara interjected, “What matter?”
“As it turns out, Lord Blanchard and I had a discussion about your future, Clara.”
“In what detail?” Clara asked with a hopeful expression.
“I asked for your brother to consider—”
William cut him off. “I think it best I make my decision before we discuss this openly.”
Lord Blanchard nodded his head. “Of course, Lord Almonbury. I will be on my way then.” He nodded to all of them and exited the church.
“What was he talking about, William?” Clara asked.
“When I have made my decision, I will go in to the particulars,” William responded.
Debbey raised an eyebrow as she placed her hand on William’s arm. “I would like to know as much as Clara. Do you plan on filling me in on the matter?”
“In due time, my love,” William promised.
Chapter 27
Debbey was exhausted from their time at church. She supposed it was another side
effect from being pregnant. She remembered how tired Amelie was during the first part of her pregnancy.
“I’m going to go lie down,” Debbey said as they entered the estate.
“Are you feeling alright?” William inquired.
With a nod, she stated, “Just tired from a long morning. I want to rest up before the evening meal.”
Debbey made her way into her dressing room and sat down at her vanity. She started to remove her pins from her hair when she noticed a couple of drawers were ajar. Everything was in its place in the first drawer, but when she reached the second one, the letters from her friends back in West Linn were missing. Quickly, she examined the rest of the drawers. A second look through the original drawer confirmed they were definitely gone.
Lily entered the room. “I am here to help you disrobe for your nap, my lady.”
“Has anyone been in my room while I was away?”
Lily shook her head. “No one has been in here since then.”
“Are you certain?” Debbey insisted.
“Why? What’s the matter, my lady?”
“I placed the letters I received from my friends in this drawer,” she pointed to the second drawer of her vanity. “But the letters are no longer there. Someone must have moved them.”
“My lady, I can look into the matter, but no one has been in your rooms since this morning.”
With a raised hand, Debbey whispered, “That won’t be necessary, Lily. I just need to lay down. I’m not feeling too well.”
What was going on with her? She could have sworn she put the letters in that drawer, but they were not there. She would have to look for them later when she was feeling better. Perhaps this lapse in recall was also a side effect of being pregnant.
Since Debbey decided she was going to rest, William decided to spend the afternoon reading in his study. There was a knock at the door, causing William to stop reading.
He looked up as he closed the book and placed it on the desk. “Enter.”
“William, we need to speak,” his mother stated as she entered the room with a worried look on her face.
With a sigh, William inquired with trepidation, “What is it this time, Mother?”
“Lily just came to see me regarding an incident which just occurred with Deborah.”
His eyebrows drew up in surprise. “Yes, yes, I know she is not feeling well.”
“It is more than that, William. Although that may be another clue as to what is going on with her.”
Frustrated with her never-ending criticisms of his wife, William blurted out, “What are you babbling about, Mother? Get to your point.”
“Lily informed me your wife accused someone in the house of removing letters from her room. She apparently received a couple of letters from friends back in America. She claims she placed them in her vanity drawer, but now they are missing. She told Lily she thought someone in the house removed them.”
William wondered what was going on with Debbey. It was unlike her to be so careless with her things, let alone accuse others of being responsible when they went missing.
“She probably misplaced them. I am sure she will find them in a day or two.”
“Agreed; however, my concern is over the fact of how she jumped to such a preposterous idea that someone took them. William, this is not the first incident where your wife’s thinking has been compromised. Do you think it is possible she is suffering from the early symptoms of rabies? Should we have the doctor come see her?”
William vehemently shook his head. “Mother, I think you are overthinking the entire situation. She is simply tired from all the social requirements of the Season. Perhaps she needs to temporarily taper down her activities for a couple of weeks.”
“If you are certain, William.”
“I am. And in case you have any inklings, let me warn you not to bring the matter up to her.”
“You have not told her yet, have you?”
“No, there is no reason to make her worry about a condition she does not have.”
“I think she has a right to know. If I were—”
Cutting his mother off, he added, “I am her husband. I will make the decisions as to what is best for her. There is no positive reason to tell her about the minute chance she could be suffering from rabies. Am I understood?”
William felt like he was trying to convince himself as much as his mother. Were all of these lapses in memories and events due to the wolf attack? Silently, William sent up a prayer and asked God to keep his wife safe.
Chapter 28
William had told Debbey he felt they could use a rest from their social activities for a couple of weeks. Considering Debbey was certain she was with child, she felt relieved to have time to try to figure out the best way to tell William. Additionally, taking up a majority of Debbey’s time at home was seeing to the care of Dora. Her condition had worsened quickly, and it was only a matter of days before the disease was going to run its course to the end.
Debbey tried to keep Matilda distracted by spending time with her. She enjoyed getting to know the child. She was bright for her age and had the kindest heart. Her favorite activity was to go into the garden to play hide and go seek, which they did every afternoon.
Matilda was down for her nap, allowing Debbey to spend the afternoon reading to Dora. She had taken to reading comforting scriptures from the Bible along with reciting Christian poems and stories. Dora didn’t object, so Debbey continued the pattern every afternoon.
As Debbey closed the Bible and placed it on the table beside the bed, she inquired, “Is there anything else I can get for you, Dora?”
“Will you pray for me?” Dora whispered with a raspy voice.
“Of course. What would you like me to pray for you?”
“For God to forgive me. I know I don’t deserve forgiveness, but I thought if a proper lady like you asked for me, He might be inclined to forgive me anyway.”
“Oh, Dora, it doesn’t work like that. God loves all of us just the way we are. He wants us to come to Him with all our flaws. None of us are perfect. His forgiveness is open to all of us. All we have to do is ask.”
“Will you help me?” Dora asked in a vulnerable tone. “I want to make sure I do it right.”
“Do you want to accept Jesus into your heart?”
Tears started to fall down the woman’s face as she whispered with conviction, “I do.”
“Then all you have do is repeat after me.”
That afternoon, Debbey led Dora in the sinner’s prayer, allowing Dora to accept Jesus as her Savior. Later that same evening, Dora passed away. Dora’s soul was finally at peace.
Chapter 29
The Earl of Bunsdure was having a ball. Though Debbey and William had taken a reprieve from the majority of social functions, William knew they had to attend the event to keep up appearances for the family.
As he put on his formal three-piece suit, he wondered if Debbey was feeling up to it. She did not seem like her normal self. Over the past few weeks, she continuously retreated to her room, claiming to need rest. There also seemed to be a wall between them, something she was not telling him, yet he was unable to figure out what it was she was keeping from him.
Perhaps tonight after an enjoyable evening of dancing, he would be able to broach the subject of what was bothering her.
His valet finished fastening his golden cuff links, then moved on to adjusting his black necktie which matched the black suit. He handed William his white gloves after adding his gold watch chain.
“Thank you, Clifford. That will be all for now.”
“Yes, my lord. Ring if you need anything else.” Quietly, the valet let himself out of the room while William finished up preparing for the ball.
Debbey pulled at the edge of her corset, adjusting it to accommodate her growing pregnant body. Considering how uncomfortable her clothes were getting, she was surprised no one had noticed the change in size.
The dark blue ball gown was exquisite with its
velvet fabric and black lace trim. It was bustled in the back with multiple layers cascading down in effortless folds. She also wore black lace gloves and a beaded clutch to match. Her curls were pinned up in an artful arrangement on top of her head, allowing a couple of tendrils to fall down, framing her face.
“You look beautiful, my lady,” Lily stated with approval.
“Thank you.” Pulling on the edge of the dress again, she added, “This might be the last time I can wear this dress, Lily.”
“What you need, my lady, is a new wardrobe since you are carrying a wee little one inside you now.”
“Shhh—” Debbey raised her finger to her mouth. “That’s enough about that. Someone might hear you.”
“I still don’t know why you haven’t told the viscount. He will be so happy.”
In her heart, Debbey knew Lily was right. Debbey wished she knew why she continued to postpone telling William about the baby. At first, she was waiting for the right moment to tell him. Then, she felt like there was something William was keeping from her. She found she wasn’t brave enough to ask him about it. Finally, strange things kept happening such as the letters going missing, items in her room being found in places she never put them, and stories of things she did or said she couldn’t recall. She tried to keep as many incidents secret as possible, worried what others might think. Part of her wondered if she were going mad, and if it was the case, what did it mean for the baby?
“I plan on telling his lordship, but I haven’t found the right moment yet,” Debbey defended out of guilt.
With a shake of the head, Lily didn’t comment further. Instead, she asked, “Do you need anything else, my lady?”
“I’m just going to rest for a few moments before it’s time to go.”
