Journey's End (Marlbrook) (27 page)

Lady
Catherine
made a feeble attempt to interrupt, but Lord Henry halted her efforts.  “The mother is Laura
Jennings
, and the baby is a girl of six months of age
,
having been born this last November. She has been baptised
with
the name, Hope.”

Lady
Catherine
rose from her chair, stretching her lower back before replying to her son’s ruinous statement.  “And what of your wife? Does she count for nothing as you stand here announcing your bastard? You do her small justice, sir!”

Anger built and demanded to be heard.  Henry looked decidedly uncomfortable and with just cause
, as Lady Catherine continued
.  “So what is it that you expect of me?”

Lady
Catherine
had grown fond of Laura.  She remembered how the girl’s story of her impending marriage had not impressed her one bit, but that her suspicions were confirmed and her son had a hand in her fate grieved her deeply.  That Laura was a willing partner in his bed was another misgiving.

She had witnessed Laura’s unease in Henry’s presence but had selected to ignore the event.  Men like her son could be cruel to women servants, but she had never dreamed it would happen in the sanctity of her home.  Regretfully, it seemed that her son had lived up to the reputation of the Marlbrooks.  History in this family had a tendency to repeat itself.

Lady
Catherine
pulled herself from her pensive state.  “You care for the child?”

“Yes, ma’am, I care for my daughter.”

Lady
Catherine
clung to the one small but saving grace.  Despite the circumstances of the baby’s birth, she did not want to think of any grandchild of hers being mistreated.  Her son’s marriage had been a mistake and denying the facts would not help this cause.

By acknowledging her failure, Lady
Catherine
granted her son the forgiveness he solicited.  She listened attentively to the story of Laura with a contrite heart, and suddenly she felt very old.

“My son,” Lady
Catherine
began, the words a burden upon a mother’s breast
, “t
he House of Marlbrook has dictates
to which
we, as attendants, must listen. If one places emphasis on the priority of those responsibilities
,
then we would sacrifice our very souls a
nd be accursed for what we do.
I am not alone in this for your ancestors were faced, as we are today, with issues that often oblige our family to deviate from what is rightful and true. I shall accept and recognise your child as a Marlbrook for the sake of Marlbrook and not to aid your selfish demands or enable you to enjoy whatever end
you conspire to bring about.”

Lord Henry had won.

Lady
Catherine
added.  “I tell you now that I
have
not been taken in by your expressions of concern for the child or your professed interest in providing an heir to feed Marlbrook’s obligations.”

Lady
Catherine
’s lectures did not fall on deaf ears.  Lord Henry was the first to admit that he had committed a wrong, but he saw no use in wasting time berating himself for something that was out of his control.  He had a daughter and Marlbrook had an heir.  His part of the bargain was at an end, and his mother would just have to come to terms with it.  Hope would be welcomed, and Laura would be his.

#

Laura had lost the ability to confide in her journal
;
the solace her writing normally provided had been withdrawn.  Thomas’ accusations still stained the pages, and she was
reluctant
to reopen the book - afraid of facing them once more. 

Everyday living had become an effort and drained Laura of her strength.  The child became her sole reason for existing.

The day that Laura finally renewed her friendship with her pen was a long time coming.  Her writing reflected her bewilderment.

“Life has become strained, and I have to confess that I have used time as a form of punishment.  Today altered my outlook
. 
My latest revelations are so distressing that they have returned me to these pages and far outweigh any previous injuries that have aggrieved me.

Lord Marlbrook arrived this morning to collect Hope.  He judges her to be of a sufficient age to live in his home, and who am I to doubt his reasoning.

I have gained a slight reprieve in order to think this situation through, and I am grateful to him for the concession.  Too late, I realise that I struck a bargain that did not take into consideration any of the conclusions upon which I now dwell.

As always
,
I write of my torment and that ignorance has played a part, and I pray for guidance and that fate may be tempered in its dealings.”

CHAPTER
THIRTY
-ONE
– Sacrifices

It had been a sad but necessary affair that Laura dwell on the pain of separation from the child
,
for Lord Henry would have no bargaining point otherwise.

Lord Henry tethered his horse in the nearby field.  The walk to the cottage gave him time to collect his thoughts before he again confronted Laura.

Laura busied herself outside the cottage
,
tending to the child.  The crib was located on the shady side of the house.  The mother and child made a contented scene, one that would please any man.

“Good morning, madam. I hope that I find you and your charge well?”

Laura reacted to Lord Henry’s presence like a startled hare ready to take flight.

Aware of Laura’s turmoil, Lord Henry attempted to quell her unease.  “I appear to have alarmed you
,
Laura, but please accept tha
t this was never my intention.”

Terror swept through Laura.  She was not ready, and this was an encounter that she stood to lose.  Laura abandoned the child and retreated into the cottage. 
B
ut the end to this saga drew nigh
,
and there was nothing Laura could do to stop its progress.

The door closed behind them, setting the scene for the battle that would see a winner and a loser emerge.

Laura positioned herself with her back to Lord Henry, her hands clinging to the mantle for aid.  Distress played havoc with her body, while she waited and feared his condemning words.  Scenes formed in Laura’s mind of Lord Henry wrenching Hope from her arms and her anguish made her feel ill.

Lord Henry could see the results of his labour and was not entirely heartless over the affair.  He could afford to be gracious in his conquest.  He called upon Laura to make one final decision - the conclusion
w
ould be hers.

“Laura, I do not derive any pleasure from witnessing your torment and I confess that it grieves me to see you so greatly distressed.  Since our last meeting
,
I have had a change of heart and I am here today with a proposition
to which
I think you would be wise to listen to.”

Laura turned to face him, and t
he unhappiness depicted in
her
beautiful eyes was almost his undoing. 
Lord Henry
moved on
,
with haste.

“I can see that you have grown extremely attached to the child, and I presume that you would be eager for her to remain in your care? Laura, I ask that you conduct your speech with frankness
,
for there is a lot dependent upon your response.”  The quiet remained undisturbed.  “By your silence, may I assume that this statement is correct?”  Lord Henry asked the question, already informed as to the answer.

Faith returned Laura’s speech. “You are correct, sir.”

If wisdom had been Laura’s
,
she would have stopped there but she did not, and every word she sent forth fastened Lord Henry’s hold on her.  “The child is like my own.”

Laura’s answer sealed her fate, and Lord Henry’s smugness showed.  As the sunlight pierced the window located by the front door, Lord Henry moved position to where he could look out upon the garden.  Thus, he created distance between them before he replied.  The majority of the groundwork had been laid, and he gave himself stern counsel.  After waiting this long, a fraction more time seemed immaterial.

“Laura, I politely request that you consider my proposal very carefully and do not react out of turn. What I am about to suggest shall, I admit, cause you offence, but if you are sincere in your desire to keep the child
,
then you mu
st regard my offer seriously.”

Lord Henry turned and scanned Laura’s troubled features.  He could see her fear.  “My proposition is this. I am willing to entrust the upbringing of my child to you on the condition that you agree to become my mistress.”

Lord Henry halted.  He sought to measure Laura’s resistance before proceeding, but her response was indiscernible.  “If we can strike this bargain, you and I, then I shall ensure that y
ou are adequately compensated.
While the child must still spend time at the house, I shall temper the situation so that you do not lose her completely. So, madam, what say you?”

Laura paid Lord Henry’s last question no heed.  She had yet to conquer her instinctive behaviour to strike out at his cocksure expression.  The reply might have brought her some relief
;
however
,
the satisfaction would have been temporary
,
as Laura admitted what he had known all along.  Laura would n
ow pay the price for her folly.

Lord Henry had come here clothed in the knowledge that he would not fail.  The worst part that Laura endured was that he would now be rewarded for his skilful deception.

“My Lord
,
I can summon several occasions to mind where you expressed regret in your dealings with me. I pardoned you, releasing you from your professed torment, yet today you stand
in my home and ask this of me.
Your unholy terms are so adverse
that
I cannot believe you understand just how great
is
your demand.”

Lord Henry had not expected a response
;
therefore
,
he was unprepared to debate the subject.

Hurt pushed Laura forward.  “I must ask, my
L
ord, why I am the focus of your attention? You have everything and more than any man could covet, including women.”

In his certainty, Lord Henry had depicted Laura weeping, begging him not to take the child
,
before throwing herself into his bed.  Again, he had underestimated her ability to surprise.  The very traits that foiled him,
where those that
attracted him, and even in her moment of anguish
,
Laura had succeeded in locking the door even more soundly behind her.  He could do nothing but agree.

“You call me well, Laura, for everything you state is correct, and I shall not insult you by denying your accusations. I offer no rationale when it comes to you. I am a Lord of the highest ranking, and I have wealth beyond the reaches of most men. You are also accurate in your estimation as to the women in my life. If I desire a woman to be mine, then it is so. Forgive me. I admit this not out of pride but accuracy
–
everyone
,
that is
,
but you!”

Lord Henry began pacing the floor.  “You, madam,
you
are different with your puritan ways and reprimands. From the very first, you instilled in me a fervour
for which
I can find no answer for.
However
,
I will grant you that I am sincere in my expression of contrition for the harm I have caused you
. I
f it satisfies you in any way
,
I have paid de
arly for that wrongful misuse.
There, my admission is more than I have ever granted any woman
,
including my dear mother.”

Hesitation momentarily interrupted Lord Henry’s speech, as he sought words to express feelings that were foreign to him.  “All this summation, Laura, leads me to the fact that I must care for you.”  There, he had said it, more than he had ever intended.  This blasted woman had drawn the confession from him without even trying.

“Your speech is very fine, my Lord, and would impress the Ladies of the Court with its fancy bent
;
however
,
I must challenge your reasoning. You confess
to
care for me. But, if what you state is true, then surely you would cease your endeavours
,
knowing
that
you ask more than I can give?”