The following day the sun shone brightly through the bare tree branches. A brisk wind whipped off of Lake Michigan as Renna and her parents traveled with Brian to his mother’s home. He still had the matter of her estate to settle, and Brian had asked them along for moral support, while Richard and Sarah were kind enough to stay behind with the children. Everyone sensed a difficult task lay ahead of Brian. But the Navises and Mum and Da were much more eager to help him than Renna. She still felt betrayed and manipulated—by the man she loved and by her own parents as well. What’s more, her own heart had betrayed her. Now she regretted her angry declaration that she would be leaving on Monday. Overnight the reality of Brian’s situation had sunk in, and she feared for his life.
“Are you sure it’s safe for us to inspect your mother’s estate?” She sat beside him inside the carriage, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. They passed small cottages with yards covered by fallen leaves, and now and again she caught glimpses of Lake Michigan. Her parents sat across from them.
“Perfectly safe, Renna.” Brian’s leather gloved hand covered hers, and he smiled, showing that he read her concern as proof of her love.
She snatched her hand away. “What about the children?” she asked briskly. She would show the concern of a friend. Nothing more.
“They’re fine. Richard is a smart, capable man.”
I’m capable as well! She wanted to scream it. Instead she inhaled deeply.
“Stop fretting, Renna.” Da leaned forward and clapped her knee affectionately.
She couldn’t seem to help it. A spirit of suspicion taunted her. Brian, Da, and Richard knew something and wouldn’t share it. More secrets.
The journey took nearly forty-five minutes, and when they finally arrived, Renna felt chilled. November was doing a good job of making itself known, a mark of winter to be sure. But inside the stately, gray-stone home a cozy fire burned in the parlor’s hearth.
The butler greeted them with a mournful grin. “I’m the only staff member left, sir,” he told Brian. An older man, he was perhaps the same age as Da. He had white hair and well-groomed white whiskers that came down along his jowls. “I’m so sorry for your loss, sir. I shall miss Mrs. Reil greatly. But I never gave up hope on you,” the butler added, his British accent suddenly apparent. “Since your body was never recovered, sir, I just knew you still had to be alive.”
“Thank you, Ramsey.” Brian shook the man’s hand before introducing Renna and her parents. “Ramsey has worked for our family for the past twenty-five years. He’s a trustworthy staff member.”
“I appreciate it, sir.” He paused. “I started gathering up Madam’s things. Her clothes and belongings are packed in wooden crates, sir. I left them upstairs until further notice.”
“Thank you. We’ll give them to charity.”
“Yes, sir.”
Watching the exchange, Renna sensed the butler’s remorse and Brian’s gratitude.
“May I take your coats?” Ramsey offered. Turning to Brian, he held out his arm. “Sir?”
Brian nodded and helped Renna off with her woolen cloak before removing his own. Likewise, Mum and Da handed their winter wear into Ramsey’s waiting arms.
The butler smiled. “It’s good to be of service again.”
“Would you consider coming to work for me, Ramsey?” Brian rubbed his palms together and glanced around the room. “I have a new housekeeper, and I sense I’ll soon have need of a butler as well. Hester is not as, um, experienced as Gretchen was.”
“I appreciate the offer, sir.” He bowed in deference. “I would be honored to work for you.”
“Very good. We’ll talk business later.”
Another bow and Ramsey left the room.
Brian turned his attention to Renna and her parents. “Would you like a tour of my mother’s home?”
Da smiled. “I think we’d all enjoy it.”
“I grew up in this home, and I’d wager it hasn’t changed in years.” He went on to explain. “Aurora was married several times during my upbringing. Each time we moved into a different house. Even so, Aurora never sold this place. She loved it. She called it home, and after her last husband died, she moved back here to stay.”
Brian showed them outside to the back. As he didn’t have to conceal the fact that he could see while in the company of Renna, her folks, and Ramsey, he led the tour. The wide yard gave way to a gently sloping hillside, which led to the sandy shores of Lake Michigan. To the right stood an elaborate stable.
“Aurora loved to ride. Every day at dawn she’d saddle her favorite horse, and with her hair loose and billowing behind her, she’d gallop along the beach.” Brian shook his head over the memory. “She didn’t sit sidesaddle, either. I used to think that if her socialite friends could see her, they’d be aghast! But Aurora didn’t care, and she was an excellent horsewoman. I believe she had my children on a pony by the time they were two years old.”
Listening, Renna looked out along the shores and tried to imagine such a woman. So eccentric, she rode like the wind and insisted that her son and grandchildren call her by her first name.
Renna turned, surveying the yard. Except for another small, gray stone cottage, which was Ramsey’s home, there wasn’t a neighbor for miles. The bustling city seemed so far away with its crowds and clamor.
She noted, then, that evergreens bordered the property, and the terrace looked like a marvelous place for children to play. In the summer, Renna could well imagine moonlit walks along the beach—and, of course, she imagined Brian by her side.
Glancing his way, she caught his gaze. He’d been watching her.
“This home originally belonged to my grandmother, and I hate the thought of parting with it. My grandmother lived with Aurora and me until I was about ten years old. When she died, I missed her terribly. My grandmother was more of a mother to me than Aurora.” Brian paused in momentary reflection. “Only now I realize that she had a strong faith and prayed often. I can recall my grandmother reading the Bible and doing all kinds of charity work. She belonged to a local church, although I can’t remember which one. I do, however, remember attending services with her from time to time. I have very pleasant childhood memories, and they’re a result of my grandmother’s nurturing.
“But then, about two years after she died,” Brian continued, “I started getting into all kinds of mischief. Aurora packed me off to boarding school and remarried. I never lived in this house again.”
In spite of herself, Renna stepped toward him, wondering over his melancholy. But in a flash it vanished.
“Let’s move on, shall we?”
Back inside the house, Renna and her parents toured the first floor—kitchen, dining room, sunroom, parlor, and sitting room. The latter, Brian said, once served as his grandfather’s study.
As they ambled about, Renna observed that each room opened to the next, save for the sitting room, which opened only to the foyer. This made the sitting room more private but allowed for easy access to and from the other rooms. The floor plan seemed homey to Renna, and though it was a larger home than her own, it wasn’t too different from the one she’d known all her life.
At last the tour concluded, and they ended up back in the parlor. Ramsey prepared hot tea, which he served by the fire. Only then did Brian excuse himself to talk business with his newly acquired butler.
They sipped from the dainty porcelain cups as an awkward silence fell. Finally Mum spoke up. “Renna, your father tells me that you have asked to leave Milwaukee on Monday, and I fear your decision might be partly our fault. Please don’t be angry with your father and me. We never meant to keep secrets from you.”
“That’s right, my little wren.” Da looked pained. “We thought we were helping matters.”
“And what matters would those happen to be?” Renna stared into the fire, refusing to meet their eyes.
Da let out a slow breath. “Renna, we’d like to see you marry Brian. He has a good heart. A blemished past, yes, but a good heart. He’s sensitive to God’s Spirit and wants to do the right thing.” Da sat forward. “He needs a devoted wife and loving mother for his children.”
Renna chafed.
“You’d be set for life, dear,” Mum added.
“Marriage and money.” Renna stood and walked to the hearth, inspecting the collection of wooden horse figures. Some were brightly painted. “What about love and happiness?” She spun on her heel, giving her parents a glare. “And trust? What about that?”
“Renna . . . ” Da spoke her name on a remorseful sigh.
“As Christians we are to forgive one another.” Mum’s eyes clouded. “Can’t you find it in your heart to forgive your father and me? We only want the best for you.”
“Of course I forgive you. Both of you.” Renna crossed her arms. “And Brian too.” She lifted her chin. “But you’d best know that Brian has not proposed. He’s only asked that I be patient.” She paused, regretting her reply. “I gave him my promise that I’d do so.”
“Reasonable.” Da gave an approving nod.
“Yes,” Mum agreed. “Now don’t you agree that patience is best exercised in close proximity? We’ve only just arrived in Milwaukee. You’ve had a trying few days, what with meeting the children, finding out about Brian’s sight, and attending that reception, not to mention these threats from a madman. This is hardly the time to be packing up to go. And what would the children think? Have you thought of them?”
“Of course!” Renna had thought of how she didn’t want to break their hearts if their father decided she wasn’t suited to be his wife. She’d all but decided it would be better if she made the break swift and clean. But her head and her heart both told her now that her parents were right. While her pride and insecurity told her to flee, love and common courtesy told her to stay.
She lifted her hands helplessly. “All right. I’ll stay at least a week longer. But no more talk of marriage. With all due respect to you both, that is for Brian and me to decide, not you.”
Slowly she turned back to the hearth. Little did they know her promise had enslaved her. It was becoming very clear that her pirate hadn’t changed much at all. And her parents were too dazzled by his wealth and charm to see straight. To them he could do no wrong.
She picked up a metal poker and jabbed at the dying fire. Brian’s children she could live with and love. His wealth and social status and mansion she could tolerate. But his manipulations and connivings to get his own way at the expense of everyone around him—never.