She Will Rejoice (11 page)

“Finn does not drink,” she defended him. “Tessa told me he had seen too much of it while growing up.”

Diana looked at the young woman, swaying a bit even in her chair, “Tessa talks too much.”

“I have never known him to gamble either,” Naomi pondered the words as she spoke them.

Diana laughed, but it was a raucous sound that seemed more fitting a tavern than a proper sitting room, “You’re right about that. Finn isn’t much of a gambler, but don’t think that means he’s got no vices.”

Naomi watched Finn’s mother stumble from the room, feeling a shred of pity for her.

Another week went by before she heard anything regarding her husband. This came from a most unpleasant source.

“Mr. Haydn is back in custody,” one maid whispered to another as they stood outside the dining room. “If his uncle doesn’t bail him out again, he may end up in debtor’s prison.”

Naomi bit back a gasp and hurried from the
passageway. She did not want the servants to know she had overheard them.

She found her place in the music room at the piano. While she played, she contemplated what she had heard.

How could Finn be in such a serious situation? He had certainly given her ample pin money, and he had spent without hesitation while they were on the island. Was it all a ruse? The servants did not seem to be upset about missing their pay, and nothing was neglected on the grounds. It did not make sense to her, but she had little experience with money matters.

“
My brother told me you played like a master, but I believed him to be biased,” Tessa came into the music room unannounced.

Naomi looked up, “When did you arrive?”

“I stood in the passage, not wishing to disturb your playing.”

“It is no disruption,” she rose and greeted her husband’s sister. “I am glad to see you.”

They sat down, and Tessa came immediately to the point of her visit.

“When will Finn return?”

Naomi shook her head, “I do not know. Perhaps, he wishes to remain in London forever.”

“Naomi,” Tessa gripped her hands, “I love you like the sister of my own flesh. You are spirited and full of energy
, and you have a wonderful mind.”

Naomi sensed the praise was about to turn on her.

“But you have no concept of what is important in life.”

Naomi frowned.

“Our marriages are not meant to be drudgery, Naomi. We are meant to enjoy each other.”

Naomi pulled her hands aw
ay, “Clearly, your brother wants to enjoy other women as well.”

“Our husbands are never going to be perfect.”

“So you believe they have the right to find outside sources of entertainment?”

Tessa stood up and blocked Naomi from leaving, “I do not. I believe they are meant to be faithful and that they are capable of doing so.”

Naomi was confused.

“Only God is perfect,” Tessa spoke softly. “And Finn is not God. He’s going to make mistakes, but you need to forgive him.”

“Forgive his. . .adultery?”

Tessa led her sister back to the chair, “I do not know the details of what happened, and my husband refuses to share them with me, but I could see the pain on Finn’s face when he watched you.”

Naomi said nothing.

“And when you spoke to him with disrespect.”

Naomi’s head shot up, “If he is searching for respect, he ought to take care to behave in a respectable manner.”

Tessa shook her head, “You can wait around for that to happen, and watch your marriage crumble further, or you can follow my advice and see a progressive change.”

Naomi shook her head, “I don’t think I can do that.”

“
Not on your own,” Tessa agreed, “but if you turn to God, He will help you.”

“Is God your answer for everything?” she knew the question was rude.

Tessa laughed, unoffended, “Yes. Yes He is my answer.”

Naomi was so desperate for the answer – any answer – to her problems, that she was willing even to take religion into consideration.

She sighed, “Perhaps you should start from the beginning.”

“It is very simple, actually,” Tessa explained. “God created us to be like Him, but we chose sin. He wants to draw us back to Him, but we need to be clean.”

Naomi remembered hearing this in a sermon once. God was too holy to be in the presence of sin.

Tessa continued, “We can’t possibly pay for all our sins. They are too many.”

“Jesus,” Naomi knew that was coming next.

Tessa nodded.

“So, I am to believe He has done this for me, and I will suddenly find myself able to forgive Finn and be the perfect wife.”

“No,” Tessa surprised her by laughing loudly. “You are not going to be sinless, and you are still going to struggle.”

“Then why bother?”

“Because Jesus gives us hope – a hope that we will become more like Him as well as a hope for eternity.”

Naomi knew she needed that hope even if nothing improved in her marriage. She said as much to Tessa.

“You probably will need it more if things do not improve,” the other woman said in a wry tone.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Tessa left after a light dinner.

              “Nicholas is not pleased when I travel these days.”

             
“I should think not,” Naomi hugged her. “You have mere weeks.”

             
Tessa waved as she drove away.

             
Naomi went to find Mrs. Hollingberry to review the next week’s menu.

             
“Should you like a venison stew?” the older lady suggested in her typical helpful manner.

             
“Is it a great deal of trouble?” Naomi hated to have the staff make elaborate meals when she was the only one eating them. Diana never came to the dining room and rarely ate more than broth and toast.

             
The lady laughed, “It is not, but I do wish you would stop concerning yourself over such matters. I enjoy cooking.”

             
“Well, then, I have not had a stew of any sort for a long time. My mother used to order it regularly, but my father did not enjoy it.”

             
Mrs. Hollingberry chuckled, “And you would like to have chicken with a mustard sauce one night?”

             
Naomi smiled. She had requested it once a week since the cook had prepared it first. It was her favorite meal.

             
“Perhaps,” Mrs. Hollingberry suggested, “you might choose a lamb tagine one evening.”

             
Naomi did not care for lamb, but she did not tell the woman that.

             
“I have never had it. What is it?”

             
“It is like to a stew, missus, but a little more cream.”

             
Naomi was considering what to say when Mrs. Hollingberry spoke up again, “It is the older Mrs. Haydn’s favorite.”

             
Naomi knew the cook was concerned about Mrs. Haydn’s scant appetite.

“Certainly,” Naomi agreed quickly.

              Mrs. Hollingberry looked relieved.

             
“And if you think of any other foods that might entice her, please add them to our menu.”

             
The cook blushed a little.

             
“What is it?” the young mistress pressed.

             
“She is fond of sanguinaccio.”

             
Naomi laughed aloud, “That sounds like a foreign country rather than a meal.”

             
“It is neither,” Mrs. Hollingberry chuckled. “It is a dessert made of chocolate and eggs.”

             
“Please prepare that at your leisure.”

             
Mrs. Hollingberry left then, but Naomi remained in her chair, thinking about her husband’s mother.

             
There was no doubt the woman had a problem. She never made it through the day without the aid of liquor. The type of drink she chose varied, but it usually included gin and sherry. What a despondent life she must lead, drinking all afternoon and evening only to be sick from it in the mornings.

             
Naomi rose and went to gather a cloak for her daily walk. There was nothing she could do to help the woman. Diana Haydn was determined to live her life in a drunken and bitter state.

             
It did not occur to Naomi to ask Mrs. Hollingberry again about the meals until a few weeks after the discussion.

             
“Did Mrs. Haydn enjoy the lamb you made?”

             
The cook smiled, “She said she weren’t going to have any, but I sent it anyways. She complained a lot to the maid, but she ate it all.”

             
Naomi grinned, “And the dessert?”

             
Mrs. Hollingberry shook her head, “She said there was too much cream in it, and she sent it back.”

             
Naomi felt a flash of irritation, “I thought it was delicious.”

             
“So you said,” the older lady smiled.

             
“I think we could have the lamb again, since she liked it so much,” Naomi suggested.

             
“But you hardly ate a bite. I thought you must not care for it.”

             
Naomi hoped she had missed that, “Lamb is not my favorite food, but we should have it on occasion.”

             
Mrs. Hollingberry shook her head, “The missus asked for maple salmon.”

             
“And you are able to find what you need for this?”

             
Mrs. Hollingberry nodded vigorously, “The salmon was a simple thing. I had to send to London for the maple as we do not often have a request for it here.”

             
“Very good,” Naomi was pleased the cook had taken this matter into her hands. “If there is anything else that we can do to improve on Mrs. Haydn’s health, please feel free to discuss it with me.”

             
The cook pressed her lips together.

             
“What is it?”

             
“Are you fond of salmon, madam? I would not have you going hungry again.”

             
“I assure you,” Naomi smiled broadly, “I did not go hungry when I skipped the lamb. I just ate more of your wonderful dill bread.”

             
Mrs. Hollingberry did not look convinced.

             
“I do like salmon, however,” Naomi continued. “And you may serve it as often as you care to prepare it.”

             
The cook smiled, “I doubt it will be often. The missus will probably request something else next week.”

             
“I am glad to hear it. Is there anything else you need from me?”

             
“No, thank you, ma’am.”

             
“I will be taking a walk down by the pond then. It seems a bit warmer today, and I need some air.”

             
Naomi had discovered the joy of praying as she walked. She had ordered a Bible from the bookstore in the village since Diana had possession of the family Bible. Naomi read from the Scriptures every morning before meeting with Mrs. Hollingberry. Then she walked.

             
She was learning a lot about what God’s plan for her was. She would not claim to be following through in every area, but she was praying for strength to do what was right and best.

             
This morning, she had read in Romans about how Paul did not do that which he knew was right, but did exactly the opposite instead. Naomi felt she could understand that perfectly.

             
She wanted to behave in a respectful manner toward her husband, but with every passing bit of gossip, she found it more difficult to think of him in an honoring way. Perhaps it was best that they were apart, for she would certainly have difficulty controlling her tongue since she had not yet even reined in her mind.

             
She sat down on a bench to pray about her attitude and was just noticing the cold seeping through her skirts when Mr. Dillon came outside for her, frantic that she should hear his news immediately.

             
“Mrs. Haydn,” he hurried over the cold uneven ground, “you have an express. An express from Lord and Lady Dunham.”

             
Naomi leapt to her feet and hurried toward her butler, “Thank you, Dillon.”

             
She tore open the seal.

             
Dillon looked nervous, but she beamed at him, “It is a boy, Dillon. Lady Dunham has given birth to a healthy boy.”

             
Dillon’s grin nearly split his face.

             
“Please tell the staff,” she spoke as she continued toward the house. “I will inform Mrs. Haydn of her new grandson.”

             
Naomi hoped the woman was sober enough to comprehend the information. It was not yet the noon hour, so chances were good Diana had not yet begun to imbibe.

             
“Enter,” the elder Mrs. Haydn spoke harshly.

             
“I came to bring you good news,” Naomi stepped into the darkened sitting room, but did not sit down.

             
Mrs. Haydn met that statement with silence and an appearance of impatience.

             
Naomi held out the letter from Nicholas, “Tessa has given birth to a boy; you are a grandmother.”

             
Diana did not reach for the missive, “I suppose it would have been too much trouble for her to write to me as well.”

             
“She did include you in this one.”

             
Diana rose and moved to the cabinet along the wall, “When will she be bringing him to meet us?”

             
Naomi swallowed a sigh, “I thought we might go see them tomorrow. Tessa expressed a particular wish for us to come tomorrow.”

             
Diana poured herself a glass of red liquid, “I’ll not try to stop you if you wish to go, but it is rather unreasonable to ask that of us.”

             
Naomi planted her hands on her hips, “It is not unreasonable at all. Tessa is your only daughter, and Conrad is your first grandchild. It is not too much to ask that you participate in their lives a little bit.”

             
Diana’s cheek twitched, “They named him Conrad?”

             
Naomi wondered if the name had special meaning, “Conrad Nicholas Dunham.”

             
Diana took a sip of her sherry, “I suppose it was necessary to give him his father’s name.”

             
The younger woman glared at the older, “Is there nothing that pleases you?”

             
Diana turned and faced her son’s wife, “I beg your pardon?”

             
“You are determined to hate everyone and everything. Is there anything in the world – beyond your liquor – that gives you pleasure?”

             
Diana slammed the glass to the table, spilling its contents over the side, “How dare you speak to me in such a manner?”

             
“Very easily, I assure you,” Naomi took a step closer. “What was so difficult was keeping silent for as long as I have.”

             
A cold laugh forced its way past Diana’s lips, “I imagine you would not be so vocal if your husband were here to check your behavior.”

             
“Do not be so sure. My patience has reached its limit where you are concerned, and I do not know that the presence of any mortal could keep me from expressing myself as I have.”

             
“Perhaps it is your frustration with my son that causes your patience to wear so thin. That, and the knowledge that I was right.”

             
Naomi drew a deep breath, “You go too far, madam.”

             
Diana laughed again, “I told you he would not remain faithful. He has gone off to London and trapped you here.”

             
The woman took another drink.

             
“Has it ever occurred to you to think of someone else?” Naomi grasped the door handle. “You were so determined to block out the pain of your husband’s treatment of you that you destroyed your children’s youth.”

             
Naomi darted out the door and pulled it closed behind her, but it did not shut out the sound of the glass breaking against it.

             
She raced to her own wing of the house and closed herself up in her chambers the rest of the day.

             
Naomi did not want to give extra trouble to Mrs. Hollingberry or Missy, so she went to the dining room for her evening tea. Mr. Dillon’s extra care as he served her made her believe the encounter with Diana had probably been discussed among the staff.

             
“Thank you, Mr. Dillon,” she allowed him to assist her from her seat.

             
“Would you care for some coffee in the parlor?”

             
“No, thank you,” she looked at him. “I will be retiring early. Please send Missy to me when she is finished helping Mrs. Baker.”

             
“I will take some coffee in the parlor, Dillon,” a deep voice sounded from behind her.

             
Naomi’s heart picked up its pace, and she spun to see her husband. His beard had grown in, and he had let his hair grow out a bit, so it curled around his ears and the nape of his neck.