Surrender the Wind (14 page)

“I am not rude to them.” Juleah tucked in the sides of the covers beneath her aunt's mattress. “They ask questions and I answer.”

“Yes, my dear, but that is all you do. Can you not smile or pay a compliment?”

“I do not know what to say. I find no reason to smile at them. That might give them ideas I do not wish them to have.”

Issy marked her Bible and set it beside her. She sighed. “You are ungrateful. Here I have taken you under my wing and invited
the finest gentlemen of my acquaintance to meet you. Though reluctant, I had hopes of helping you find a husband.”

Juleah flopped down on the edge of the bed. “These gentlemen are amiable, but they are not for me. Besides, I did not come here for that reason.”

Issy pressed the thin line of her lips together. “Well, why did you come?”

“To see you.”

“I don’t believe it. A girl of twenty-one has no time for elderly aunts. You are running away from something.” The wrinkles beside Issy's mouth folded up like an ivory fan. “I’ve become a haven, haven’t I?”

Juleah smiled in return. “Perhaps.”

Issy dropped her hands upon her lap. “Is there a man among those whom have called that you like? Is not there one you would consider for a husband?”

“You would not want me to marry where I do not love.”

“But you do love someone, don’t you? A man has declared his feelings for you, and that is why you are running away.”

Juleah lowered her head. “I suppose so.”

“Do you love this man?”

“I believe I do.”

“Then you must allow him to pursue you. Do you understand? Now I must write to your mother and apologize for my hard words. I was angry at first that she had sent you. I told her it was her responsibility to see you married, not mine. But I’ve seen the light.”

Juleah leaned over and kissed her aunt's cheek. She turned to go, but when she reached the door, she paused.

Issy opened her book of Shakespeare's plays and lifted the lace marker from off the page. “Is there something more?”

Juleah nodded. “I have not told you everything.”

“I thought so. You may if you wish, otherwise go to bed.”

“The man is an American.”

Issy's book fell from her grasp. The pages turned, and her place was lost. “An American, you say?” Her voice hissed in a somewhat humorous manner.

“Yes, from Virginia. He has inherited Ten Width.”

“Has he? So this American is Benjamin Braxton's grandson and Caroline's brother. How interesting. I have never met one, and I cannot say I have heard good things about Americans, except that the men are more amorous than English gentlemen.”

“He is a good man, Aunt,” Juleah assured her.

“God-fearing?”

“Yes, Aunt.”

“Do your parents know him? Are they aware of this attachment?”

“Father likes him a great deal. My mother doesn’t care whom I marry as long as he's wealthy and has a good name.”

“Any letters from him?”

Juleah felt her cheeks flush. “Two.”

“Two is good. I hope he spoke of more than the weather.”

“He did.” She glanced down at her hands and felt a strange sensation flutter within her. “Caroline and I have been writing

“If it were not for the fact this Braxton is of English descent, I’d insist you see him no more,” Issy interrupted “But, he does have the blood of nobles in his veins. Oh, it is a confusing matter.” Isadore threw up her hands. “I shall leave it up to you.”

Juleah was indeed surprised. “You do not disapprove?”

“I am not remiss in remembering my first amour, who was a Frenchman. Time will tell whether this is right for you or not.”

A
t an hour when the light of day painted the sky magenta, a man on horseback rode through the gates of Ten Width. His hat shaded his face, and the tall black horse beneath him gave him the appearance of being taller than he was.

Although he was eager to see Caroline, he slowed the horse, reined in at the front of the house, and glanced up to the window above. With a brilliant smile, he drew off his hat and waved it to the lady behind the glass. He watched her with a quickly beating heart. She returned his smile and lifted her hand in greeting.

“Caroline!” he called. “Come down and welcome me.” With a kiss, he hoped.

When she hurried away, he dismounted and paced. Will came out of the door to take his horse. “Welcome to Ten Width, sir. Been a long time.”

“Too long.” Michael Bray glanced over the front of the house. “What have you done to the old place? It looks changed.”

Will squared his shoulders. “The new squire and I been fixing things up.”

“I did not know you were such a craftsman.”

“Nor did I, but it got me out of the stables.” Will moved off with Bray's horse.

Through the door rushed Caroline. Her skirts floated above her ankles. Her eyes glowed as she thrust out both arms in greeting.

“Caroline.” Bray hurried forward and kissed her hands. “You haven’t changed at all. Still pretty.”

She stood a moment gazing at him. “Michael, I have thanked God the war did not take you from us. When we heard no word, we thought you were lost to us. Have we not been as close as family?”

“You know we have.”

“And yet not a single letter from you all this time?”

“After I left America, I went to Paris on business for my uncle. I confess my negligence. Say you will forgive me.”

“I will, but I’ll not let you forget how you have kept me worried and wondering.”

“I should have written. But I thought your husband would object.”

Her smile settled at the mention of Jeremy. “My husband died almost two years ago. My little son has died also. My heart is so broken over losing him, I dare not count the weeks since.”

Bray stepped forward. “I’m sorry, Caroline, deeply. I did not know.”

She looked at him, her eyes forlorn. “I shall tell you about it later.” She gripped her hands around his forearms and looked up into his face. “I know what you did for my brother. He would be dead if it were not for you. How can I thank you?”

He smiled down at her. “A hot mug of cider and conversation will be enough.”

Rounding the corner, Seth looked at the man who talked with his sister. His hands held hers. He was attired in a buff coat instead of a scarlet uniform. Seth remembered him as a lean man. Now he looked well-fed.

Seth waited, marked his sister's expression, a loving look that surpassed friendship. Bray glanced over at him and strode quickly across the lawn. Holding out his hand, Seth grasped Bray's and shook it.

“Seth, it is Michael Bray. Can you believe it?” she said.

Bray laughed and gave Seth a brotherly touch on the shoulder. “I had every intention of visiting Ten Width. But I must say I’m surprised to see you here in England, far from Virginia.”

“Grandfather died, Michael,” Caroline explained. “Seth inherited.”

Bray's brows pinched into one line. “I’m sorry. I liked the old man.”

“He lived a full life and died peacefully.” She linked her arm in his and led him inside.

Bray spoke of France and the troubles that brewed across the English Channel. “I felt uneasy there, being English and well-off.” He set down his riding gloves. “The poverty in France is reaching a crisis, and the king is too stubborn to do much about it. I’m afraid another revolution will grip the world, poor against rich, the lower classes apt to shed the blood of the upper.”

“I hope you’re wrong.” Seth led the way to a sitting room. The sunlight spread through the windows, fanned across the floor.

“Well, aside from that, I’ve brought other news,” Bray said.

“Good news? Since I arrived the wind has blown with nothing but bad,” Seth told him.

“I heard in town that Benjamin's widow, hearing of his death, disappeared from her house near the coast, and when found she attempted to throw herself off a cliff into the sea. She has gone mad, they say.”

Could grief have driven Benjamin's widow to such lengths? Seth had not yet met her and doubted he ever would. He had seen what the sting of losing someone had done to his sister, and thanked God that Juleah had been there to help her through.

Caroline's eyes narrowed with pity. “Though she was never warm toward me, I am glad someone prevented her.”

“I believe a local man held her back in the nick of time.” Bray breathed in through his nose and looked pleased. “Do I smell English beef?”

“Claire is setting out dinner, and you will stay,” Caroline insisted.

Bray smiled. “I’ve been away so long that I forgot how good English beef tastes. I’ve had enough goose and hen to last a lifetime.”

“Is that all you ate in France?” said Caroline.

“Most of the time. It is a far cry from the stale bread we had during the war. Am I right, Seth?”

“It wasn’t bad though, for us who knew the woods,” replied Seth. “There was plenty of game.”

Bray nodded. “But as the war went on, even game became scarce.”

Caroline lowered her eyes. “Seth told me what he thought I could manage.” She looked up at him with her eyes moist and shining. “It pains me to think of the hardships you both endured.”

Bray looped her arm through his. “Then we shall not speak of it.”

Leaning her head to one side, Caroline gazed at him, her hair a nimbus of curls. “We can walk in the garden after dinner.” She then looked over at Seth for approval. She needed none, but he nodded just the same.

Later, candles glowed under glass domes in the dining room. Claire carried in a roast and bowls of steamed vegetables. They ate, drank, and laughed together. But Seth's heart grew lonely, for there was one person missing. She was far away in windy Cheshire. When would she return? If too much time passed, he would go to her.

Before Bray left, he took up his hat and walked with Seth to the door while Will fetched his horse. “Perhaps it is too soon, but I would like to see your sister again.” A strained look surfaced on Bray's face. “Aren’t you going to ask what my situation is?”

“I suppose I should,” Seth replied with a wry grin.

“Two thousand pounds yearly, from my inheritance on my mother's side.”

“Good and well. But loving her is more important than money.”

“Indeed, I would say as much. I met Caroline before she married Jeremy Kenley. I stepped aside when she made her choice. My feelings have not changed in all this time.”

Seth nodded, while he lifted the right corner of his mouth into a smile. “That is the right answer.”

“I hope to acquire land someday, good for farming. I want to build a house, attend church on Sundays with a brood of children, and grow wheat the rest of the days.”

“Your goals are similar to mine, except I long to be in Virginia and raise horses.”

Bray stared up at Caroline's bedroom window. “I’ve not declared my intentions, not since I left England years ago.”

Seth gave the moonstruck Bray a smack on the shoulder. “If I were you, I would not wait too long.”

Bray returned a broad smile. “You’re right, Seth. I don’t want her to slip out of my arms again. Caroline told me you are fond of Juleah Fallowes. I’ve met her on more than one occasion and found her amiable and pretty.”

“She is all that and more, but prefers to avoid me.”

“I would have thought the contrary.”

“I am, after all, a foreigner here and to some undeserving of my inheritance.”

“Juleah is not prejudiced.”

“No, just cautious.”

“It is nothing that a love letter wouldn’t cure.” Bray slipped on his gloves and picked up the reins of his horse. “I wouldn’t doubt for a moment what Juleah wants is for you to pursue her. Women are indeed a mystery we men shall never solve.”

As Bray rode off, Seth stood outside in the fading light. A mist rose from the ground, curled around tree and bush, and sank into the lowlands. Trees stood stark still, and he looked at their shadows slant across the fields.

He gazed up at the sky and whispered a heartfelt request. He missed Juleah.

Shifting his gaze to the darkened hills beyond, he saw a man on horseback, cloaked in black, his face concealed by a slouch hat. Seth squinted his eyes and felt as though he were being spied upon. The rider turned the horse with a jerk and galloped off over the hill into the lowlands.

A
fter a late harvest, fresh hay lay in the stalls at Ten Width. The musty scent filled the air. The roof leaked and the walls were in need of repair where the stone crumbed. He’d fix them himself, beginning later in the afternoon, Seth decided.

When the stable door opened, Caroline, hooded and cloaked, walked in. Her gray mare swayed inside the stall closest to her and whinnied. Her gloved hand reached out, stroked the velvet nose, and rubbed the long face.

“Seth, I know you’re working, but will you take me to the churchyard?”

He set the bucket of oats he carried on the hook outside Jupiter's stall and wiped his hands along his coarse work breeches. “I’ll take you now if you are ready.”

Caroline leaned her head into the mare's. “I’m brave enough. I was his mother.”

Clouds stretched across the heavens, white as cream. Ribbons of mist touched the earth in silver pathways, as brother and sister rode alongside each other.