Chapter 14. An Unexpected Visitor

It so came to be one morning not long after, that Alexandra had remembered seeing some blackberry bushes out by the lake. She decided to ask William if Benjamin might accompany her on a trek to pick berries for a pie. He had agreed, not wanting her to become lost in the woods alone again and warned her not to wander off too far. This promise extracted from her, she decided to make a picnic lunch for them and brought a slate along to teach Benjamin his letters. William declined to join them because he had promised himself to repair the barn roof where the sheeting had rotted and shingles needed replaced. So off his wife went with Ben skipping ahead, happily leading her down the path to the lake, while William began dragging a ladder and tools out of the shed.

 

The morning seemed to progress quietly except for the sound of his hammer driving nails into the sheeting and then the shingles, and the occasional sound of the chickens cackling at each other, or the birds calling out morning greetings from among the trees and branches beyond the barn where they happily flitted about. He found himself whistling as he worked and enjoying the solace.

 

He was up and down the ladder quite a bit carrying various supplies up to his perch on the angled barn's roof. Had Benjamin been there, he probably would have been handing these items up to his master but William paid this thought no mind. He was comforted more by the thought of the boy accompanying his wife to the lake. In the short time they'd been there at Hanwell Farm, Benjamin had come to know his way about the property almost as well as he knew it himself.

 

Benjamin and Alexandra enjoyed their morning walk and she was encouraged that the little boy in their care opened up to her a little more about his mother. He called her his Mum.

 

“I'm sure you miss her very much,” Alexandra said after listening to him talk about his mother's cooking. He particularly missed her plum pudding.

 

“She worries 'bout me,” he said. “She wants me to go to school like other children...”

 

“Soon you'll be able to write her a letter, if you keep at your letters like you are.”

 

This thought brightened his eyes and spread a grin across his freckled face. “I'd like to write Mum a letter very much! That would be just grand!”

 

It took her some time to locate the berries by the time they neared the lake, but when found, she was pleased to see there were more than enough ready for a pie, and maybe a cobbler too. They set to picking berries and easily began to fill the basket she'd brought along. He chattered away on the progress of the kittens and seemed to share a story about each one with her. He told her how he had named each one. There was Tiger, Patches, Boots, Sadie, Hannah and Rory... She listened carefully to everything he said, being careful not to let her dress catch on the thorns, contented to let Ben chat away.

 

“You're very kind to teach me my letters ma'am,” he said, being careful not to stab his fingers on the tiny prickly thorns of the bushes. “I've never met anyone as kind as you are, except me Mum, o' course.”

 

“Why thank you Benjamin! The Lord keeps me cheerful and makes my heart happy. Do you know the Lord Jesus as your Savior?”

 

“Well, me Mum takes me to the church service when she isn't feeling poorly,” he said. “But I reckon I don't know exactly what ye mean.”

 

“I see. Let me see if I can explain it properly. Do you know that when Adam and Eve ate the forbidden apple in the garden that sin was born into the entire human race?”

 

He nodded, “Yes, I heard that part before.”

 

“Well that's exactly why we need a Savior, to save us from our sins, so that we can have life eternal.” She explained patiently.

 

“Eternal... that's forever, right?”

 

“Correct,” she said, putting more berries into the basket. “So since we were in need of salvation, God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us, that by the shedding of His blood, He became the Lamb of God and the perfect, sinless Savior of the world.”

 

“Hmmm,” he said, a little thoughtfully. “I think it must have been painful... to be on that cross.”

 

“Very! When we get to heaven we will see the nail holes in his hands and feet.” She continued, “So all we have to do is ask Jesus into our heart and believe that He died for us on that cross and turn from our selfish and wicked ways. Then we try to live for Jesus with all our hearts, souls and minds.”

 

“I try hard to be a good boy but I make a lot of mistakes sometimes,” he chimed.

 

“That's understandable. Simply ask Jesus to forgive you and do your best the next time not to sin,” she said. “Have you asked Him into your heart and asked Him to cleanse you from all sin and help you to live a good life before God the Father?”

 

“Well, no I don't think so, but I believe in God,” he said.

 

“That's wonderful that you believe in God, but the Bible tells us we must believe that Jesus was the Son of God, believe in Him, turn from our ways and do His will instead of our own will. Would you like to have forgiveness for all of your sins and eternal salvation?”

 

“Yes, I would!” He said.

 

“Then let's pray,” she said and they bowed their heads and closed their eyes and he repeated everything she said. “Dear Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God who died on that cross for my sins. Please come into my heart, cleanse me from all sin and unrighteousness and help me in everything I do from this day forward, to please you, Amen.”

 

When he opened his eyes, he said, “That's it?”

 

“Well, yes, that's it!” she said, “Just keep trying each day to live for Him and He will send the Holy Spirit to help you.” He seemed pleased with what had just transpired and continued to pick berries with a smile on his face. They continued to pick berries for quite some time and as they did, she thought how wonderful it was to lead this boy to Christ and how he had such a child-like faith, more than many adults she knew.

 

As William pounded away on the roof, he was surprised to see a curricle drive up the lane. He could see a woman driving a bay horse along at a rapid pace. “Oh dear Lord, what next?” he muttered to himself and hurried to finish putting in the last few nails. “Please don't let it be her.” He didn't want to climb down to speak with her and was fairly certain of whom those blond locks of hair belonged.

 

He kept his head down and hammered harder, muttering under his breath as the horse brought the curricle closer to the clearing where the honey colored cottage and barn sat adjacent to each other. He glanced down once to see the pretty blond woman in a pale blue frock with a white lace shawl. By now she was parked in her curricle far below the barn roof where he remained perched. Her matching blue bonnet shaded her eyes from the sun but she had to hold a gloved hand over them when she looked up to keep the glare from blocking her view of the handsome Duke.

 

He stopped hammering, glad he'd at least completed the roof repairs before her arrival. He rested clenched fists on his hips and couldn't even find a word to say as he peered back at her from his perch on the roof. She could see the strained look on his face and the unhappiness in his eyes, without even moving from her seat. The only thing they heard was the sound of the bay horse as his feet clopped twice in place and the curricle creaked slightly.

 

“Hartford,” she said trying to sound cheerful, “Why don't you come down from there and do be a gentleman and help me out of this curricle? I've come a long way to see you...” her voice trailed off.

 

“I see you were in the neighborhood.” The sarcasm and irritation in his voice wasn't lost on her.

 

“Mama has cousins we're visiting about half an hour from here,” she said, straining to be sweet.

 

“How convenient,” he remarked dryly. He gathered his tools and climbed down the ladder, reluctantly. He gave in only because he suddenly remembered he should really try to move the conversation along and send her on her merry little way. There'd be a great deal of explaining to do if Alexandra happened upon them.

 

Though her gloved hand was stretched toward him, he didn't offer her a hand once he was on the ground and remained firmly planted a few feet away at a comfortable distance. It was best for all if she stayed in the curricle and turned around. He stood back a few feet, guarded. “What do you want Catherine?”

 

When he wouldn't help her down, she rose in an attempt to help herself down. “Why Hartford! That's no way to greet someone you're practically engaged to!” The horse stomped again and the curricle creaked. The horse took two steps forward, the curricle lurched, and before he could catch her she tumbled down backwards onto the ground, a heap of skirts. She cried out as she fell and managed to land on her rear, the bustle of her dress cushioning some of the blow, but her right ankle remained caught and twisted on the curricle. By the time he reached her side, she was completely in a huff. The horse turned as if to look at her and as if to laugh, neighed.

 

He spotted the lace from her shoe had caught on a loose bolt in the curricle and freed her ankle at once. She groaned as he helped her resume a standing position, this time on solid ground. She was smoothing out the wrinkles and dust from her blue dress, trying to free her lace shawl from the curricle and muttering all at the same time. As she pulled her bonnet back in place she glared at the horse and stammered, “That horse doesn't like me at all!”

 

He could only imagine why but refrained from sharing his thoughts. She was in so much disarray and now hobbling about as she tried to put her full weight on her ankle. “You've probably twisted it badly. Nothing a few days of rest won't cure.”

 

“Ow! Oh dear! Ouch!” She said, hobbling forward three times. She finally stopped and said, “I suppose you're right... oh this is simply dreadful! I won't be able to do anything for days! Maybe weeks!” She said, losing her balance and grasping his arm before she toppled over again. She winced in pain and tears brimmed in her eyes. “It feels broken...”

 

“It's not broken,” he said. “But you're going to be black and blue for at least a week.”

 

“This is your entire fault Hartford!” she complained, “If you'd just have helped me down! That horse isn't used to me yet. I'm just a guest and borrowed him from our cousins.”

 

She was right. He'd been a perfect cad about the whole thing. “I am sorry,” he offered, hanging his head in guilt. She continued to try to put weight on her ankle, wincing with every step and pulling him along with her in an effort to walk. He guessed she was luring him into the house and he didn't want to be alone with her, especially indoors. “Why don't we sit here on the porch and talk for a few minutes and then you can be on your way. I'll help you back in your curricle. I've got a lot of work to do today. I don't have much time...”

 

“Where are the servants? Don't tell me you are trying to run this farm alone?” She inquired as they hobbled to the porch slowly. She was still using his arm to steady herself. He tried to keep a safe distance, keeping his arm locked but stretched out stiffly away from his body so she wouldn't fall again, yet allowing her to use it to lean on until they reached the porch and managed to climb the steps. She sank into a chair and he into the other. She stared at him hard, feeling the coldness and indifference in his treatment of her. He stared back, expecting the worst. Finally she said, “Aren't you going to offer me tea at least?”

 

“I don't have time for tea,” he answered, truthfully. Alexandra might be back at any moment. He just wanted to get Catherine back into the curricle.

 

“The least you could do is offer tea after all this? Mama will be horrified if I tell her you didn't.”

 

“All right, tea. But then you have to be going, my... wife will be here soon.” He couldn't be any clearer than that.

 

“Your wife?” she breathed. Her mouth popped open. The color drained from her face. In that order.

 

“Didn't you read my letter when you were here with my brother? I'll explain, but let me get the tea.”

 

She was speechless. He left her there to gather her wits while he put the kettle on. In a few minutes he had returned with two mugs of hot tea, creamer and sugar bowl on a tray. “I'm sorry; I didn't get out the china. She's better at this sort of thing...” he said, another hint not lost on her, he hoped.

 

“She?” Catherine's wits had partially returned in his absence. “Why don't you start there?”

 

He didn't like her tone. He stood up. His patience had worn thin. “Look, I have never so much as even alluded to an engagement with you. I really have been patient about my well-meaning aunt and uncle throwing you at my feet at every turn, but we don't have anything in common. I don't feel it's any of your business, if you'd like to know the truth.”

 

“You don't have to raise your voice,” she said, tears forming in her eyes. She winced in pain to remind him of her ankle and how he'd behaved like a beast to her. Her voice was shaky and she sounded just above a whisper. “I thought ... I thought this engagement had all been arranged by our parents. I mean your aunt and uncle, and my parents.”

 

“Well, I'm not sure where the misunderstanding is,” he said firmly, “but there was never any engagement or any arrangement that I know of. If your parents led you to believe there was, I'm sorry. There is no breach of contract because there is no contract, at least not one that I'm aware of.”

 

“I see,” she said. She thought about that for a moment. “I'm not sure I believe you.”

 

“I'm married,” he said, “and in love, with someone else.”

 

“Well that's another thing,” she said. “Where were the banns posted? And how could you be in love with someone else? You haven't been away long enough to fall in love with someone else. How is it your brother didn't mention your wife?”

 

“I obtained a special license,” he said.

 

“I still don't believe you're in love...” she shook her head thoughtfully. “You are too practical to fall in love with any woman in such a short time.”

 

Maybe there was some truth to what she said. She was sharper than he'd thought. He wasn't sure about all of his feelings for Alexandra. Catherine seemed to read the little bit of doubt about his feelings as if they were written on his forehead. Still, he wouldn't tell her anything. He had to sort things out for himself. The grain of possible truth in her assessment of his character did little to stop him from pursuing what he wanted. He wanted a life with Alexandra. She was sweet, kind and thoughtful. She was charming, gentle, smart … the perfect combination of everything he wanted in a woman. At least, he thought she was who he wanted by his side for the rest of his days. She'd also been very patient with him, for both of their sakes he surmised. He drank some of the tea in his mug and didn't deny or attempt to argue with Lady Catherine about what she'd said. Like he'd said before, it was none of her business anyways. He knew one thing; a marriage with Catherine was doomed from the start.

 

“Drink your tea Catherine,” he said. “It's time for you to be going.”

“I'm not going anywhere,” she replied, placing her mug down firmly on the table between them. “Not until I'm convinced of a few things Hartford. You see, I'm not convinced that there isn't a contract. I'm not convinced you're in love with this other woman. And I'm not convinced you're even legally married. Where is she?”

 

“Look here...” William started to argue with her, but he had no idea of what to say first.

 

She interrupted his train of thought before he could begin. “You're going to offer me a place to stay while my ankle heals so I have a chance to sort through all this. Everyone thinks I'm engaged to you and I won't have you humiliate me without good reason.”

 

“I wish you wouldn't be so concerned with a few rumors in the gossip mill,” he said.

 

“It's my future at stake here too,” she replied. He couldn't argue with that.

 

“Well, there isn't any contract, I can assure you of that... and I am most definitely, happily married!” He tried to sound as convincing as possible, but even he wasn't sure of anything at that moment, except that he did have a wife and he had obtained a special license.

 

None of which might hold up in a court of law if Catherine could prove he'd broken a contract to marry her. Blast it all... why did women have to be so complicated? Did Uncle James have a signed contract with her father? Could that stand up in court if he could prove the contract was drawn up without his consent? Things were as complicated as could be... and he had yet to consummate his marriage. Thankfully, he might still have time to work things out with Alexandra, if she didn't kill him first when she met Lady Catherine. All these thoughts raced through his head. He tried to appear calm and in control. It certainly seemed like he was in a heap of trouble. Please help me Lord... he prayed.

 

He hadn't bargained for all of this trouble. He knew of no such contract.

 

“And yes, I read your letter when Lord Marcus brought me here,” she added. “I'm not the least bit worried about your accusations. I doubt you can prove any of those matters. To me, those were just friends,” she added coyly. She batted her long eyelashes at him and sank back comfortably into the chair, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

 

She might be right that he couldn't prove anything had ever happened on her part to break any engagement, but then again, those individuals might be willing to admit something had transpired, which might deter her from pressing this matter further. His anger began to simmer. She certainly didn't appear the least bit fetching, not even her eyes, which he used to think were quite pretty. Whatever little bit of her that had been somewhat attractive seemed to go right out the window. He chose to not to divulge his thoughts on the matter. He could see she was not beneath using his own words or any other means at her disposal to trap him into a marriage with her, even if it meant dragging him through a court battle to get him to honor an alleged contract he'd never seen before.

 

The more he thought about it, the more he became convinced she might be completely bluffing him about a contract. Surely Uncle James would have mentioned such an important document... one that he didn't think could stand up... if it even existed. Right now, he had to think of how to remove Lady Catherine from his property before Alexandra returned from her morning walk. This was far too complicated a matter to explain to his new wife. And he'd best hurry and make her his wife in more than name only... and find a way to call out Lady Catherine's bluff, if she was bluffing her way through all of this... or prove his innocence in the matter, all while protecting Alexandra.