The Tutor's Daughter Page 39

  Mrs. Welborn frowned and said she would find it very difficult to vacate at present, because she was near her term, and her sister had traveled no small distance to help with the birth and the other children.

  Apparently seeking to soften her sister’s refusal, Miss Lewis added warmly, “But we are terribly sorry to inconvenience you.”

  Emma personally thought it would be rude to break the lease if the tenants were unwilling, especially given the circumstances, but feared her father would not agree. Seated across from Mrs. Welborn and Miss Lewis, Emma waited nervously for her father’s rebuttal. When he didn’t speak, Emma glanced over and found him looking at Miss Lewis, the vicar’s charming unmarried sister. He smiled and gallantly said that the ladies might have the house for as long as they needed.

  Emma nearly spilled her tea.

  For Emma’s part, she was happy enough to remain with her aunt and even began assisting her with the lessons as they had always dreamt of doing someday—should her father ever be able to part with her. Emma liked teaching and found girls easier to deal with than boys in the classroom. Even so, she missed having males around. At least, one male in particular.

  Her father, however, was uncomfortable in a house full of females. And, not wishing to impede his sister’s capacity for paying pupils, he approached the widower vicar about lodging in his spare room. The Reverend Mr. Lewis, perhaps feeling guilty because his sisters had taken over the Smallwood house, was only too happy to oblige.

  While Emma helped her father settle into his temporary home, Mr. Lewis told them that during their absence he had been approached by a member of the local gentry. The wealthy man had long wished to sponsor a charity boys’ school in Longstaple, and he had asked the vicar if he might consider undertaking the project and heading up the school’s board of governors. Mr. Lewis had hesitated to accept the time-consuming project. But now that Mr. Smallwood had returned and was free of other responsibilities, Mr. Lewis asked if he might consider working with him in planning and building the school, and then serving as its headmaster.

  Yes, her father decided, surprising Emma yet again. He would like that very much indeed.

  One evening, a week after their return, Emma and her aunt sat in the parlor together after the pupils had gone to bed. Jane was rereading one of the travel diaries they’d both enjoyed, and Emma held a geography book. But in reality she was doing more thinking than reading. Finally Emma rose, unfurled the book’s fold-out map, and spread it over her aunt’s lap.

  Jane looked from the map to Emma’s face, eyes wide in question.

  Emma knelt beside the chair. “Come, Aunt Jane. Let us go on an adventure of our own. Why should we merely sit at home and read of other people’s travels? We could do it, you and I. I have a little money put away from my mother. And you have the summer vacation.”

  Jane opened her mouth, thought the better of what she’d been about to say, and pressed her lips together. Then she looked at Emma, eyes twinkling. “Well, it would not hurt to research the possibilities, I suppose. In fact it could be quite fun. We might list our favorite places from travel diaries and begin a tentative itinerary.”

  “Are you saying you’ll go?” Emma asked eagerly.

  Her aunt shook her head, holding up a warning finger. “I am saying I shall think about it.”

  Emma was only too eager to begin a list.

  It is better to learn late than never.

  —Publilius Syrus, first-century writer

  Chapter 27

  Emma and Jane spent several cozy evenings over tea, maps, and dreams.

  Venice topped their list of longed-for destinations. But very quickly, they realized that both the cost and time to travel all the way to Italy were far beyond their expectations. The sea voyage alone would take two and a half to three weeks each way, depending on weather and the winds.

  They investigated the possibility of sailing to France and then attempting the overland route but learned that would take even longer, and it would be quite dangerous and expensive to cross the Alps.

  Two of Jane’s pupils were taking the entire summer off because they had brothers at Oxford who would be home for most of July, August, and September. But the others planned to return home for only one or two months. Jane could ask someone to take her place. But it would be difficult to find a willing and capable woman to do so. If Jane did go, the journey itself would take six weeks or more, giving them at most four weeks in Italy. That would leave only a fortnight for Jane to prepare for the new term when they returned. That was if all went well and they experienced no significant delays.

  The cost of a two-and-half-month journey . . . ? Well beyond their combined means.

  Eventually, Jane removed the spectacles she’d been wearing to review estimated expenses, rubbed her eyes, and sighed. “Perhaps, Emma, we ought to start with something closer to home. There are many places here in England we haven’t seen. There is nothing to say we cannot have an adventure in our own country.”

  As much as she hated to admit defeat, Emma knew her aunt was right. She swallowed her disappointment and said brightly, “Perhaps a tour of the north. It would take only a fraction of the time and a fraction of the cost. Derbyshire is reputed to be absolutely beautiful.”

  Her aunt smiled at her, approving of her courage in the face of disappointment, perhaps even more so than her choice of alternate destinations.

  Henry found himself sitting in his bedchamber, once more looking through the mementoes in his cigar box. The chess piece was gone, of course, now in Adam’s possession. As was the perfume bottle, which he’d returned to Adam after showing it to Phillip. Instead, Henry turned his attention to the fragment of letter he had from his mother: “Be brave, my dear boy. And remember.”

  He had been meaning to once again ask his father to see the remainder of that letter. His father had put him off the last time he’d asked, but that had been years ago. Perhaps now that Henry was an adult, Sir Giles would not mind allowing him to see whatever it was his mother had written before she died.

  Henry went downstairs and found his father where he usually was at that time of day—in the library reading the newspapers and answering correspondence. He and his father had spent a great deal of time together in the library during the weeks since the Smallwoods’ departure. There had been much to see to—deciding what to do about Julian, severing all ties to Derrick Teague, and confronting Davies for his role in the business.

  When all was revealed, Henry decided their steward’s main fault was his blind loyalty to Violet Weston, whom he had known since her girlhood, when he’d served as her family’s butler. Realizing the Westons’ financial problems several years ago, Davies had suggested Lady Weston agree to Teague’s proposal—that she lend her name to the man’s merchandise for a share of the profits. Davies had acted as go-between. But the steward had quickly come to rue the day he had suggested the arrangement, because what began as a stopgap measure soon became a trap, an ongoing yoke, with increasing pressure from Teague to continue.

  After hearing the steward’s account of things, which Lady Weston confirmed, Henry and his father decided not to sack Mr. Davies, but rather to put him in charge of arranging to pay back what they could to ship owners they’d wronged.

  Meanwhile, Sir Giles made arrangements for Julian, spent a great deal more time with Rowan, and wrote to Phillip to make certain he finished the term well before returning home for the summer. Henry was pleased to see his father rise to the occasion and reclaim the reins of the family. This had left Henry at liberty to pursue his plans for a stone tower on the point.

  Now entering the library, Henry asked, “Do you still have Mother’s letter? The one this was torn from?”

  Sir Giles took the scrap Henry held forth and squinted at it through his reading spectacles. Then he sighed, unlocked a lower desk drawer, and from it withdrew a box not so unlike Henry’s cigar box. He rummaged through the papers inside until he came to one with a ragged edge, read a few lines t
o confirm its contents, and then looked up at Henry.

  “I hope you won’t be angry with me. It mentions Adam, and since your mother and I had decided not to speak of him and to keep his whereabouts quiet, I thought it best not to give you the whole letter. Please remember that I was in mourning at the time, and perhaps not thinking clearly.”

  The whole letter? Henry wondered. He asked, “Was the rest addressed to you?”

  Sir Giles shook his head and handed him the letter.

  Henry sank into a nearby chair, the breath going out of him when he saw the salutation in that dear hand.

  My dear Henry,

  Have you any idea how much I love you? When I look at your young face, so handsome and intelligent, my heart squeezes with love for you. It saddens me to see your eyes losing their spark of carefree innocence with the passing of each day. Yet I hope you don’t lose your childhood when you lose me. For I shall always be with you. Just a memory away.

  Please look after your little brother even after you are grown. There is no one with whom you will share more common bonds. Phillip is very young, and I know he will not remember me. Selfishly, that thought brings tears to my eyes.

  I hope you, being older, shall remember me, Henry. But don’t feel guilty when my memory fades. That’s how life is. The present crowds out the past, and for the most part that is how it should be. I don’t want you to hang on to the past, to grieve overmuch (though perhaps a little would be nice).

  I imagine your father will remarry in time, though hopefully not too soon. And when he does, I want you to know it is all right to love your new mamma. I want you to. Don’t resent her out of loyalty to me. We all want to love and be loved. We all want affectionate arms around us from time to time. Well, most of us.

  I don’t know what to say about your brother Adam. He is different. He doesn’t like affection the same way you and I do. Yet I love him. How could I not? I pray we have made a good decision regarding his upbringing, as well as yours and Phillip’s. God forgive me if not. Mr. and Mrs. Hobbes will take good care of him, I know.

  Oh, the hopes I have for you, my son. I don’t care if you are renowned, build some great invention, or sway the nation with powerful oratory. I want you to possess what is really important. What brings true and lasting joy, not the fleeting happiness dependent on circumstances and so easily taken away. Cling to your childlike faith in God and the way of redemption He provided through His Son. For I want you with me in heaven someday, Henry. Though not for many, many years!

  And when you reach manhood, I hope you will choose a wife with a loving, loyal heart. Not a vain woman who is merely beautiful on the outside—for that will fade with time and, in my case, illness, as I know from the evidence of my looking glass. Your father says I am still beautiful to him. And that is enough for me.

  Make your life count, Henry David Weston. For when you reach the end of your days, you will not look back and wish you’d garnered more money, or power, or fame. You will look back and wish that you had been a better parent, spouse, friend, and Christian. And you will wish for just a little more time with those you love. This I know full well.

  Henry’s eyes burned. His chest squeezed with both sadness and joy. How he missed her, missed having her in his life all these years. Yet what an inestimable gift to receive this letter—especially now.

  “Thank you, Father,” he said hoarsely.

  Sir Giles regarded him warily over his spectacles. “You are not angry with me?”

  Henry shook his head. “I am grateful.”

  The next day, Henry stood at one of the front hall windows, watching his father lead Julian out to the carriage. Sir Giles was taking him to meet the ship where Julian would serve a former navy captain—an old friend of his—who had purchased his own merchantman with prize money from the war. Julian would be gone for at least two years. They all hoped the captain, who had gained the obedience and respect of hundreds of men in his time, as well as the rigors and harsh discipline of shipboard life, would instill responsibility and a sense of right and wrong in Julian.

  Privately though, Henry feared only God could accomplish such a transformation now. He wondered if facing legal action for his wrongdoing might have been good for Julian. But as his brother, he was relieved Sir Giles had decided to give him this second chance. At the very least, sending him to sea would keep Julian from getting into more trouble in England.

  Lady Weston stood a few feet away from Henry, at the next window. He glanced over and saw the tears glimmering in the woman’s eyes, though as soon as she realized he watched her, she averted her face and blinked away the evidence. The act reminded Henry of Emma Smallwood. Always determined to appear strong and in control.

  Henry said gently, “I know this is very difficult. It is for all of us, but especially for you. I know how close you and Julian are.”

  He saw her throat convulse. Her mouth tighten. Her fingers twist and retwist the handkerchief in her hand. He realized she waited for him to say something else. To say, “But you had it coming.” Or “But what did you expect?” Something cutting or critical.

  It smote his conscience.

  When he said no more, she managed a weak nod.

  Words from his mother’s letter returned to him. “I imagine your father will remarry in time. . . . And when he does, I want you to know it’s all right to love your new mamma. I want you to. Don’t resent her out of loyalty to me. We all want to love and be loved. . . .”

  Henry swallowed the lump of reluctance—the fear of rejection—and said quietly, “I am sorry . . . Mamma.”

  The twisting handkerchief stilled. He held his breath, and apparently, so did she. Would she sneer at his use of the term after so many years of refusing to do so? He deserved no less.

  She glanced over at him almost timidly, perhaps fearing a smirk of irony awaited her. He met her gaze evenly, earnestly.

  Tears, the ones she had fought so hard not to show him, filled her wide eyes and flowed down her powdered cheeks.

  Again the slight nod. Then a whisper so soft he barely heard.

  “Thank you, my boy.”

  Three weeks after their return to Longstaple, a letter arrived, addressed to both her father and herself. Emma recognized the handwriting as belonging to Rowan Weston. At least, she hoped it was Rowan’s writing and not another of Julian’s forgeries. She carried the letter to the vicarage to allow her father first opportunity to read it.

  He did so, then handed it back to her, saying, “I suppose it is well he plans to study art under a master, for if he wished to come to the Smallwood Academy at last, he would find lodging with Mrs. Welborn and her brood a rude welcome indeed.”

  Emma agreed and read the letter.

  Dear Mr. and Miss Smallwood,

  I hope this letter finds you both well and happy. Once more I apologize for the misdeeds that befell you during your stay at Ebbington Manor. And for my foolhardy part in that final disaster, I can never apologize enough and pray you will forgive me.

  I wanted you to know that I am leaving Ebbington to study under a master artist. Had Henry not convinced Father to offer me this opportunity, my desire would have been to come and study with you there in Longstaple, though it is presumptuous, I know, to think you would have welcomed me.

  Julian has been sent to sea to serve a former navy captain—an old friend of Father’s. We all hope the discipline of ship life will improve his character. I shall miss my brother, I cannot deny it. Yet at the same time I feel free, as though a heavy yoke has been removed from around my neck, one I barely realized was there but now feel the relief of its absence. Mamma says I stand two inches taller than I did only weeks ago. She no doubt exaggerates, as mothers do.

  Lizzie is gone as well. Mamma and Henry escorted her to Falmouth to rejoin her mother. And though Mamma would never admit it, I think she had grown fond of Lizzie and will miss her, regardless of her connection to Mr. Teague.

  Mamma looks forward to happier news for the Weston fam
ily soon. She still hopes for a wedding in the near future with Miss Penberthy as bride. But after recent scandals, I fear she hopes in vain.

  The rocky peninsula looks so bare, so naked without the chapel perched there, and Henry and I are not alone in lamenting its loss. A local man, a magistrate, has bought two of my paintings, which depict the Chapel of the Rock as it stood for so many years. “A way to preserve local history,” he said.

  I say, much-needed funds to finance my art studies.

  I still can hardly believe the chapel fell in that storm, only minutes after you, Miss Smallwood, and Henry were freed from its confines. For all my mistakes, I am happy I was able to come to your aid, in the end.

  I wish you both long and happy lives,

  Sincerely,

  Rowan Weston

  Emma was happy for Rowan’s good fortune and held no ill will toward him. Nor did she feel any vindication in learning of Julian’s fate. Life at sea could be very hard, from what she had read. And brutally dangerous. She felt sorry for him. And sorrier yet for his parents.

  Emma could not help but wonder if Lady Weston still hoped that Henry—or Phillip—would marry Miss Penberthy, especially now that Lizzie had left Ebford. Emma could more easily imagine either of them married to Tressa Penberthy than Lizzie Henshaw. She wondered if Phillip had resolved to give up Lizzie, or if he pined for her. And what of Lizzie herself?

  Emma would have liked to have known more about how they all fared—Phillip, Sir Giles, Adam, and yes, Henry. Still, it was good of Rowan to send a note. Though he was not the Weston she most wished to hear from.

  A remarkably temperate, sober, steady man, in a certain town in Cornwall, who is in every way qualified to render the marriage state desirable. Any agreeable lady, who feels desirous of meeting with a sociable, tender and kind companion, will find this advertisement worthy of notice.