The Visitor (33 page)

“I’ve been up for more than two hours, Lizzy. I really must lie down.”

“Of course, Anne. Shall I see you upstairs?”

“Jenny will do that.”

The two friends hugged and smiled at each other like schoolgirls.

“I have a selfish request,” Anne whispered, just before she let her friend go. “Don’t get married until after the baby comes. I want to be there.”

Lizzy laughed. That particular topic had yet to be spoken of, but it got her to thinking. Indeed, it remained on her mind all the way home.

Thornton Hall

Marianne Jennings needed to be alone. She loved her family very much, but suddenly she felt a need to separate herself. Whenever this happened, she went to the maze that stood outside her home.

If she were to look up at the house, she would be looking at Penny’s window, a window which gave a perfect view of the maze and that entire corner of the yard. There was a time when she needed someone directing her from that window to get through the maze, but no more. It was as familiar to her as the open fields, and now in an effort to gain solitude, she wandered the gravel path, hedges above her head on all sides, and just let her thoughts roam.

I have no reason to be down, Father, but I am. My heart is so sad. My siblings were just here with all their beautiful children. We had a marvelous visit. But lately I just want to cry over nothing and everything.

Marianne asked God to examine her heart. She worked to be thankful, and when she did she felt tears coming on. Weary of her own emotion, she squelched them and continued to wander through the maze.

“Mrs Jennings?”

Marianne smiled at the sound of her husband’s voice.

“Where are you, Mrs Jennings?” he called, his voice a tad singsongy.

“I’ll never tell.”

Marianne moved into an alcove that led nowhere, sure he would never find her without direction.

“Marianne?”

Marianne smothered laughter and moved a little deeper, wishing the day wasn’t so bright. If she could have hid in the shadows, he would never…

“Well, now,” Jennings said suddenly, having spotted her. “I do believe you might be hiding from me.”

Marianne laughed and put her arms around him when he came to her. Jennings pulled her close.

“How come you’re out here?”

“I just needed to be alone, I think.”

“I would offer to leave, but you’ll still have someone with you.”

Marianne nodded, sure he was talking about God, but Jennings went on.

“I have it figured out.”

“What’s that?”

“It was the same way with Catherine. You didn’t feel ill in the morning, but for some weeks you were rather blue.”

Marianne’s mouth opened, and Jennings smiled at her.

“It’s been weeks,” he continued, pressing his point home.

“How could you know this without my having once thought of it?”

Jennings shrugged.

“Just naturally brilliant, I guess.”

“Oh, Jennings! I think you may be right. I’ve been too busy to really take notice.”

Jennings smiled tenderly down at her and kissed her. When she looked into his eyes again, she found that flames had replaced the tenderness.

“Now, Jennings,” she protested when he pulled her even closer.

“Hush,” he said, already breathless.

Marianne did just that, her arms going around his neck. She only hoped the children were not watching from Penny’s window.

Newcomb Park

Lizzy wrapped her arms around Cassandra in a way that said she would never let go. She held her small, younger sister and cried tears of relief.

“Did Tate see you?” Lizzy finally managed.

“Yes, and Lizzy, I’m so sorry I didn’t listen. I was so foolish and blind.”

“We won’t let you go away again,” Lizzy told her. “Our hearts can’t take it.”

Barrington kissed his sister-in-law and then went to Henry, who was waiting to thank him. The hour was late, and all were tired, but Henry still asked Cassandra to see him in his study. Cassandra never thought to deny him and went there as soon as she thanked Barrington and told him she’d see him before he left in the morning.

“Sit down, Cassie,” Henry suggested as soon as she’d entered and shut the door. “I need to tell you something.”

Cassandra thought she should start by apologizing, but Henry didn’t give her a chance.

“I’m still working to get this right, Cassie, so I’ve asked you in here so I can express my regrets and ask you to forgive me.”

“For what, Henry?” The youngest Steele couldn’t imagine.

“For not going after you. Morland volunteered, and I let him go, thinking the letter would be enough. Tate came along just after, and I let him go. It was my place as your brother, the oldest in this family, to go after you, make sure you were safe, and try to reason with you.”

Henry shook his head a little. “I found it easier to remain here, and that is what I did. I regret it very much.”

“But, Henry, don’t you see? None of this would have been necessary if I had remained and let Tate speak with me.”

“You should have stayed, Cassie. I realize that. But no matter what you chose to do, I have responses of my own to answer for. Walker has been talking to me for weeks about my responsibility to lead and serve as the head of this family. I should have gone to Bath. I should have checked on you myself and brought you home.”

Cassandra felt as though she could weep. She had put Henry in a terrible position, but how to describe to him the utter panic that filled her? She never dreamed that Tate would come after her. She never believed he could love her. She thought that her leaving would rescue them all. There would be no need to be ashamed in front of Harriet Thorpe or Tate before he returned to London.

“Late as it is, Cassie, I do wish to know what happened. I take it Tate arrived at Fairfax Hall and proposed to you.”

“On the contrary, he said we’re going to have a proper courtship. He said he’ll come to visit, sit in our parlor, gaze at me, and get to know my family.”

Henry couldn’t stop that small shake of his head.

“And you ran from this special man.”

“Foolish, wasn’t I?”

“As we all are at times, Cassie. Do you forgive me?”

“I don’t think there’s anything to forgive. Do you forgive me?”

“Always.”

Henry stood and came to her chair. Cassandra rose to hug him, thinking that the change in him was still something of a miracle.

Weary as she was, she retired but couldn’t sleep. It was very late before sleep came to claim her, but she was up in time to see Barrington off, thanking him for all his special care.

Pembroke

“Cassandra is home safely?” Harriet asked over breakfast. She had been asleep before Tate arrived the night before.

“Yes. Barrington brought her back.”

“You weren’t with them?”

“No, my coach was 30 minutes ahead of theirs, and I came directly here.”

“Tate.” Her hand reached for his. “I must know. Did you ask Cassandra to marry you?”

Tate smiled.

“No. We’re not going to rush this.”

“But you do care for her, and she cares for you, does she not?”

Tate’s mind went to the way she looked in the garden at Fairfax, her surprised and trusting eyes when she realized he was not repulsed by her. And he thought about the remainder of the day: the way she looked at lunch and dinner, and the sweet way she smiled at him as they sat and talked with Mr and Mrs Barrington.

“I would say our feelings are quite mutual.”

Harriet sat back with a sigh.

“I can’t tell you how pleased and relieved I am. I tried not to worry, but I was so fearful when she went away.”

“Why was that?”

“Well, Tate,” his aunt said logically, “I knew she’d taken your heart. I knew you would follow her anywhere.”

“That’s true,” Tate said. “I would.”

“Why did she go?” Harriet suddenly asked, tired of trying to guess.

“She thought I would find her looks abhorrent.”

Harriet’s mouth swung open in surprise.

“You can’t be serious.”

“
She
was very serious.”

“But she’s adorable, absolutely lovely!”

“She didn’t think I would find her thus.”

Harriet sat up and sternly shook her head. “She must have been confused about how completely you now see. There is positively no way you could look at that girl and find anything wanting.”

Tate had to laugh. “Aunt Harriet, I’m not the one who needed convincing.”

“Of course not.” Harriet calmed and even managed to butter her toast. “I was just being defensive.”

“Well, don’t be too harsh on her. She truly believed that I would compare her to her sisters and be disappointed once I’d seen her.”

Harriet’s own heart pained her as she thought about Cassandra’s turmoil. She had been slightly put out when she’d heard of it. But Tate was right, Cassandra didn’t need anyone to criticize her. It looked as though she’d been harsh on herself. Nevertheless, the older woman prayed that Cassandra would understand that true beauty lies within.