Journey's End (Marlbrook) (29 page)

“I know you, madam,” Lord Henry stated confidently.  “Your pride will stop you
from
embracing this relationship without a great deal of prompting. With this in mind, I have come here today
,
armed with a new proposal that may provide some answers. All I ask is that you make an attempt at this union, and in return
,
I shall sanction your continuation of the child’s care.  Hope may reside with you until s
he reaches the age of fifteen.
The measure of time that she is taken from you up
till
then will be minimal. You have my word, as a Lord and a gentleman.”

Laura’s natural instincts leapt into being, instructing her to challenge the validity of his vow
, b
ut she resisted the urge.  Instead, Laura listened with a mind beset with worry.  Her thoughts were still clouded by the expectation that Lord Henry would use her, as before, for his enjoyment.  Her body mutinied at the prospect of further abuse.

He hinted at influence over her life.  He had not returned to violate her, but to extend to her the right to raise her child.  Lord Henry demanded all of her
,
and
he
would not be satisfied with anything less.  However
,
the dream that she might attain a respectful footing in their clandestine relationship was more than yesterday had entertained and more than she had ever expected from him.  Laura steeled herself to look at her adversary.

Lord Henry cringe
d, as t
he irony of the situation suddenly became very clear.  The woman he had condemned by his callous actions was the woman he loved.

The agreement was struck, and Laura, in every sense of the word, was destined to become the mistress of the Lord of Marlbrook.

CHAPTER TH
I
RTY-
THREE
-
Deception

Laura adapted to a sedate existence.  The daily routines of the baby served to keep her occupied and any leftover, unwanted memories were suppressed.

The land surrounding the cottage was uncluttered.  Green fields spread to the far corners of the land and grass sprouted in parts to match the height of the small trees.  Together
,
Laura and Hope would often play in the meadows, secure within the familiar territory.  Their world was one limited only by the span of their imaginations.

Lord Henry had taken it upon himself to visit on a weekly basis, and so far he had adhered to his word.  Laura understood
that
her slow adjustment persecuted him, but he had not pressed her.  However
,
she knew his patience would not hold, despite his good intentions, and time would prove to be her enemy.

As his habit now decreed, Lord Henry knocked upon the closed door
,
the significance of the ritual recognised by both parties.  Today
,
however, he found both Laura and the child gone.  His initial reaction was that Laura had met with harm.  Curses filled the air, as he rained condemnation upon himself for having endangered her.

Laura had remained secluded at his insistence, selfish motives driving his reasoning.  He flung the door wide and called her name to the grasslands, but the pastures failed to echo a reply.  His fear had reached a crescendo by the time he entered the top fields.

In the meadow, safely snuggled together
,
causing a large indent in the grass, he found Laura and Hope asleep under the shade of a tree.  The gnarled limbs and large leaves
of the ancient oak
fended off the harsh sunlight.  He stood in silence while he observed the pair, appreciating what Laura and his daughter had come to represent.  He acknowledged that they were a meaningful part of his life.

As Lord Henry’s shadow passed over Laura, her subconscious woke her with a start.  Strands of grass clung to her face and hair.  The baby slept on, blissfully unaware of her surroundings.  Laura gently liberated herself from the child, indicating to Lord Henry to stay quiet while they moved a slight distance away.

Laura’s hair was dishevelled and Lord Henry observed the indentations left by the grass on her skin
;
however
,
they served to enhance not detract.

He regretted that
,
as a child
,
he had not sampled the experience of liberty. 
However
,
somehow he
doubted that any of the nannies designated to torment his childhood would have allowed him any such rudimentary freedoms.

“I am sorry, my Lord, that we were not home to greet you.  When the day is warm, I often bring Hope here to play. Is it your preference that we return? I am still able to carry the child,” Laura stated, the sharpness that normally accompanied her words absenting itself.

“Let the child sleep. I am not averse to admiring the scenery while she finishes her nap, and I have no constraints of time,” Lord Henry replied.  “While we wait, would you care to take a stroll around your park grounds, madam?”

Lord Henry’s gaiety took Laura by surprise, her usual defences failing to make an appearance.  She answered in like fashion, as he cocked his arm for her to take hold.

They strolled, not too far from Hope, in a circular pattern, Lord Henry
keen to engage in conversation.

“My mother misses you, Laura.  Her days are filled with the never-ending search for a new companion.”  Lord Henry laughed
,
as he recalled the events.  “The woman is on a seemingly impossible quest that should keep her out of mischief for some weeks to come.”

Laura smiled, and her contribution lightened Lord Henry’s mood further.  The afternoon proved to be a carefree and most enjoyable one - for both.

They returned to the shade and, as any gentleman would for a lady, Lord Henry removed his coat.  He
laid
the article upon the ground, motioning to Laura to take her seat.  Lord Henry placed himself at Laura’s side.

Laura studied Lord Henry’s refined features.  His white shirt, exposed by his gallantry, suited him well, but she was quick to remind herself of the dark person that resided within.

Suddenly, Lord Henry flung himself backwards.  At ease, he lay staring up at the sky.

His unexpected movement startled Laura.  Tears sprung forth and had to be suppressed
,
as she prepared herself for another violation.  Her eyes closed in self-protection.

Unaware of Laura’s concerns, Lord Henry resumed their conversation.  “To notice the days and the detail of their makeup is an indulgence
in which
I would not normally partake, and one that I suspect I would never have experienced if you, Laura, had not enlightened me.”  Lord Henry shifted his position to face Laura.  “This estate has belonged to my family for centuries, and not once in my thirty-six years have I ever stopped to investigate its splendour
,
thus was my hurry to always escape its demands.”

Lord Henry watched Laura closely, as she absentmindedly caressed the dry leaves that had fallen from the tree.  The fragrance of nature wafted in the air and he breathed deep of its fresh scent.

The sun struck Laura’s hair at intervals, donating a silky appearance to the long strands, tempting him to reach out and touch them.

Despite her resolve, Laura had to admit that she enjoyed Lord Henry’s company
.  H
is conversation reveal
ed
an intimate side of the man that she had briefly glimpsed in the early days of his return to Marlbrook
,
before -.  With a swift stroke of determination, Laura halted her thoughts.  Nothing would be gained by re-opening old wounds.

Gathering Laura’s hand in his, Lord Henry monitored Laura’s opposition.  He delayed his advances until he gauged that Laura had regained her composure.

At length
,
he deposited a tender kiss upon the lips he adored and then he withdrew a slight distance
,
wanting to
determine
the effect.  He saw then that Laura would keep her side of the bargain, regardless of any personal sacrifices, and rather than encourage his endeavours
,
the reverse occurred.

Depositing Laura’s hand clear of his, Lord Henry regained his feet.  His reason had divided.  The turning point had finally come about; he placed Laura’s needs before his own.

“I made a pledge, sir,” Laura began, while remaining seated.  “I am no longer ignorant as to the ways of men, and therefore I cannot hide behind a screen of non comprehension.  I made a promise to you, knowing the price.”

Laura bid her violent heart desist its antics before she could proceed.  “The joy your child gives me far outweighs any penalty
to which
I might be subjected, and the more I come to know you
,
the more I realise that your life, as mine, is not as free as one might presume. I shall adjust to what destiny has assigned.”

Kneeling beside Laura, Lord Henry kissed her gently before holding her in his embrace.  His fingers toyed with
Laura’s
glorious strands of hair, as he waited patiently for
her
to tell him what he needed to know.  At last Laura’s response, though slight, encouraged him.  His mouth again sought hers, spurred on by the stirring in his loins.

Lord Henry derived pleasure from laying Laura down on their bed of grass.  Haste did not accompany his response.  Anticipation and expectancy were eager to be placed at ease, but he did not want to
frighten
Laura or steer her from her course.  He contented himself with her closeness and the prospect of what was to come.  Minutes formed blocks of time before he bared her body to the sunlight.  Love accompanied his moves.

Laura had made her decision and regret was banished from her being.  She would find a way to count her blessings.  Lord Henry had feelings for her - in that he did not lie.  She was luckier than most women who had found themselves in her position.  Her circumstances were not uncommon nor the magnitude of her problems life
-
threatening.

As Lord Henry’s mouth explored hers, and his hands examined where they strolled, Laura felt her violation was complete, but as he entered her
,
she learned that she would survive - unlike her mother.

CHAPTER
THIRTY-
FOUR
– The Child

For decades, Lady
Catherine
had worked hard to find a basis for acceptance for what had been and
what
would now come to pass.  Her sanity had relied upon her achieving the balance.

“I have grounds to support my claim for grandchildren, and I shall have them anyway I can. Where is the grandchild that you so calmly threw in my face?”

Lord Henry remained calm, allowing his mother to finish having her say.

“I begin to believe that the child is just a figment of your imagination, conjured t
o aid your secret schemes.”

Lord Henry exercised caution.  While his mother had come round to his way of thinking, the critical success of his plan had always hinged on how much support he required
,
not if.  Too much and she would demand the child forthwith
,
thereby
jeopardis
ing
his hold over Laura.  He had to ensure
that
his mother experienced a degree of want
,
fused with a hint of loss.

“I agree, mother. The arrangements are made. It is time you met your granddaughter.”

#

The knock on the entranceway to Laura’s home was expected.  Laura opened the door to a girl of around fourteen years of age, her slight form standing meekly in the doorway.  Smartly dressed in her maid’s uniform, the colour of the cloth complimented the hue of the girl’s face.

The young woman appeared perplexed but Laura had no care either way.  Her concerns were of a far weightier variety.

The cottage, originally intended as a haven, had provided Laura with shelter and protection, but unknowingly
,
somewhere along the way
,
the dwelling had also become her prison.  Windows lacked bars and there
were
no sentries to mar the perimeters, but deprivation comes in many forms.  Fear guarded Laura.  Invisible boundaries denied her freedom, lines that had not been broken since Sarah’s departure.

Upon
exiting the cottage
,
Laura’s anxiety sharpened and the possibility of a stomach disorder added to her growing stockpile of concerns.