27

THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE

LUSH GREEN ACRES OF HORSE pasture surrounded the main house as far as the eye could see. Feed barns and horse stables made of brick were stationed beyond a large grove of sugar maples. The driveway leading into Maple Grove was lined with railed oak fences painted white. Fine thoroughbred racehorses grazed in the grassy knoll to the right of the house. The red brick two-story manor house was built in the colonial-style architecture dating the home back to the American Revolution. The drive arched around a manicured island, displaying several camphor down elm trees.

Andrew instructed the coachman to wait until he was certain that Mr. Jake Foster was indeed the proprietor of this estate. Katelyn waited in the carriage, wringing her handkerchief with nervous anticipation.

A stocky, pleasant-looking servant opened the center hall doorway. She curiously peered at the visitor standing at her door. The couple had arrived with no prior letter of introduction because time was of the essence, so it was little wonder the woman was surprised to see strangers knocking on the door.

Andrew lifted his hat and bowed from the waist. “Good afternoon, ma’am. My name is Andrew Dempsey. I have accompanied Lady Katelyn Richardson from Savannah on an important matter concerning Mr. Jake Foster.”

The woman frowned. “Is Mr. Foster expecting your company today?” She looked past Andrew to Katelyn, who was seated in the closed carriage.

“No, I’m afraid not. There wasn’t enough time for a formal introduction through our mail service, which could have taken weeks. This matter is of the utmost urgency, so we really must speak with Mr. Foster.”

“Yes, I understand, but he is not home. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have taken a short journey and aren’t expected back until the dinner hour. On his behalf, please have your driver take you around to the carriage house beyond the grove of maples down yonder toward the barns. There are accommodations for you and Lady Richardson to rest until the Fosters return. You can release your driver and carriage to return to Norfolk. We can arrange travel for you to return to town when needed.”

“Thank you. You are very kind to be so trusting and gracious to us. We’ve come a long way, and we are weary travelers.” He tipped his hat and returned to the carriage.

The carriage house was an exact brick replica of the main house but much smaller in size. The coachman assisted Andrew with his bags and the small trunk belonging to Katelyn. The men followed as she entered the house tentatively. It was a bright room with white curtains framing spotlessly clean windows. The fireplace set the room off nicely. The soft blue velvet sofa offered additional matching pillows for comfort and ease of mind. The room was surrounded with stylish antiques from the 1700s. Katelyn was walking about, running her gloved hand along the handcrafted period pieces polished and cared for by an efficient staff. Andrew could tell she admired Mr. Foster’s tasteful furnishings, and he hoped the loveliness of that room dismissed her fearful apprehensions about meeting Lilly’s father.

Andrew paid the driver and bid him off. Closing the door, he turned to Katelyn, who seemed lost in thought. “What a lovely room, dear,” he said cheerfully, but she didn’t respond.

He headed toward Mr. Foster’s vast book collection displayed on shelves lining an entire wall.

A soft rap on the door interrupted the awkward silence. The housekeeper headed in, followed by two younger servant girls carrying trays filled with an array of tea-time edibles that included fresh fruit, nuts, and small, bite-size sandwiches.

“My name is Ernestine Clarke.” She spoke with an easygoing smile. “Welcome to Maple Grove,” she said while waving the two girls into action.

Andrew was impressed with the efficiency in which one girl went about opening curtains and fluffing up pillows while the other prepared tea from a sterling silver service set.

“Thank you so much for your hospitality.” Katelyn’s forlorn face lifted for a moment while extending her gloved hand to curtsy. “I am Lady Katelyn Richardson, originally from England.”

“You don’t say!” The woman was beaming. “Our missus is from England, too, but you’ll soon meet Mrs. Foster to discuss your heritage. I need to get back to dinner preparation because they’ll be home soon. Please excuse us for now, but during the remainder of your time here Miss Iris and Miss Clementine are available to assist you in anything you might be needing during your stay at Maple Grove.”

Andrew smiled while bowing as he held the door open as the three women scurried past him. He heard the two younger girls giggle as he closed the door behind them. Katelyn poured tea and offered him a cup.

“Ernestine is very nice. I hope she’s a reflection of her employer. This all seems too good to be true.”

“My dear, you need to be more trusting. You’ve been far too apprehensive of this meeting.” He spoke lightly, hoping not to offend her. The volatile discourse in the carriage earlier that day set her off, and he certainly didn’t want to bring up God again, but the truth of the matter was she did not possess unfeigned faith. He loved her dearly, but he could not ask for her hand in marriage if she refused to acknowledge a need for a Savior. They would be spiritually incompatible.

“There you go again.” Katelyn frowned. She sipped her tea and selected a sandwich made of thinly sliced cucumber, goat cheese, and dill weed. “This is scrumptious, dear. Try one.”

Andrew gazed at her, pondering whether or not to pursue the topic of trusting God. “Thank you, I think I’d prefer some cheese with some of those sliced apples.”

Katelyn stood up and wandered about the large sitting room. She mindlessly pulled a book from the bookshelf. “I suppose there are bedrooms on the second floor. I’m taking this book up to read if my mind will allow me. I’ve had such disturbing thoughts and fears about Lilly’s capture. I just don’t have any peace.”

She sighed from a breaking heart that only one who has deeply loved and lost could possibly understand. Her face was drawn, and her bright blue eyes were now faded gray from suffering.

Andrew felt helpless. He desired to take her in his arms and comfort her, but it would not be appropriate. He gazed at her with pity. You are just as lost as Lilly, he thought regretfully. You have no peace because you don’t have God as your anchor when things go wrong. “Mr. Foster is a well-read man. I’m impressed with his complete collection of Chaucer.”

“Later, I’d like to change into something more formal for dinner. If I happen to fall asleep, please awaken me in time to freshen up.”

Andrew nodded and continued reading through his paperwork he’d brought in his leather satchel. He was too burdened with the condition of her heart to get into another sparring match with such a lost soul. She was a woman he truly loved, but he could not become unequally yoked with one so stubborn.

“Would you mind taking my trunk up now?” She spoke sweetly. He sensed she was being mindful of interrupting his busy work.

“Yes, of course.” He tried to hide his frustration as he calmly stuffed the papers back into his satchel.

* * *

Katelyn entered the cheery bedroom and closed the door. She began pacing in the ample, well-lit room, which displayed a solid cherry, draped four-poster bed lavishly covered with stylish light blue linens that matched the colonial décor. She studied the opulent bed attire and wondered where Lilly laid her head each night. She slumped to the floor in a heap of complete brokenness, too distraught to carry on another minute. Her cries of anguish were muffled because her grief was buried among the soft panels of skirt she held to her face to absorb the flowing tears. Falling to her side, she cried herself to sleep still clutching her skirt. She remained asleep, curled up in a fetal position on the polished hardwood floor when Andrew found her an hour later.

He bent down to gently awaken her. “My dear, why are you on the floor? This beautiful bed beckons you to rest in comfort.”

The skin around her eyes was still splotched with red pigment, and her eyelids remained puffy. “How can I rest in such comfort when Lilly is probably sleeping on the ground as a slave?” She searched Andrew’s face for a hint of compassion.

Andrew lovingly assisted Katelyn to her feet. “I was out taking a prayer walk over these magnificent rolling grounds. I saw a carriage arrive at the main house, so I believe Mr. Foster will be greeting us anytime now.”

“Yes, of course,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “I just wish I had your stamina and grace. Nothing seems to rattle you, Andrew.”

“Thank you, Katelyn,” he said with a nod. “I appreciate the compliment. But my strength is not my own. I cannot take credit for what God alone has done in my life. The Lord has been my rock and high tower during great difficulty in my life, including the death of my father and my young brother. We have all known suffering and loss. I have faith that our Lord is protecting Lilly.”